Hiram C. Shouse, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1376-1377 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	Photos of Hiram C. Shouse, M. D. and Mrs. H. C. Shouse are 
	bound between pages 1376 and 1377.


	HIRAM C. SHOUSE, M. D., who is successfully engaged in the 
practice of his profession in Plankinton, merits consideration in this 
work as one of the able physicians and surgeons of the state. He was 
born in Johnson county, Indiana, August 10, 1844, being a son of Lewis 
and Sarah (Kelly) Shouse, of whose eleven children only four are living, 
namely: David, Louisa and Harrison, all of whom are resident of the 
state of Illinois; and Hiram C., whose name initiates this paragraph. 
The father of the Doctor was born in Germany, in 1800, and the mother 
was a native of Ireland. Lewis Shouse emigrated to America in company 
with one of his brothers, when eighteen years of age, resided for a time 
in Kentucky and thence made his way to Indiana, where he engaged in 
teaching in the common schools, having thus devoted his attention to 
pedagogic work in one building for the long period of eighteen years, 
while later he was engaged in farming, while for several years prior to 
his death he was engaged in merchandising, his death occurring in 1883 
while his wife passed away in 1867 both having been members of the 
Campbellite or Christian church, while in politics he was first a Whig 
and later a Republican. 

	Dr. Shouse was reared on the home farm and in his youth received a 
good common-school education. At the age of seventeen years, in July, 
1861, he tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting in 
Company G, Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served 
until late in the following year, when he received his honorable 
discharge. In 1864 he re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company C, One 
Hundred and Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and receiving his discharge 
in October of that year, after which he continued in the government 
employ for some time as forage master. On the 15th of February, 1862, 
the Doctor was severely wounded in the engagement at Fort Donelson, 
being injured in the leg, arm and hand. After the close of the war he 
returned home, where he remained until January 1, 1867, when he entered 
the Illinois Soldiers' College, at Fulton, Illinois, where he was 
graduated in 1871, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. In the same 
year he was matriculated in the Hahnemann Medical College, in Chicago, 
having previously devoted three years to reading medicine under the 
direction of Dr. A. O. Blanding, of Lyons, Iowa, while he was 
prosecuting his studies in the Soldiers' College. He was graduated in 
medicine in the spring of 1873, receiving his degree of Doctor of 
Medicine. He soon afterward located in Davenport, Iowa, where he built 
up a large and remunerative practice. In 1885 he came to Plankinton, 
South Dakota, with the intention of remaining but a brief interval, but 
the outlook appeared so favorable that he determined to take up his 
permanent residence here, and the success that has here attended his 
professional endeavors has amply proved the wisdom of his choice, for he 
controls a very large and representative practice and has the esteem of 
all who know him. He is public-spirited and progressive, is independent 
in his political views, voting in support of men and principles meeting 
the approval of his judgment, and in 1900 he was a delegate of the 
People's party national convention, while he has frequently served as 
delegate to state and county conventions, though invariably refusing to 
permit his name to be used in connection with nomination for office. He 
and his wife are zealous members of the Baptist church. He is a member 
of the South Dakota State Medical Society, is superintendent of the 
county board of health and fraternally is identified with the Modern 
Woodmen of America, the Home Guardians, the American Yeomen and the 
Fraternal Brotherhood, being examining surgeon for the local lodges of 
each of these orders and also for the New York Life Insurance Company. 

	On the 14th of October, 1874, Dr. Shouse was married to Miss 
Jennie Jacobs, of Fulton, Illinois, and of their eleven children eight 
are living, namely: Alice J., a graduate of the Sioux Falls University, 
class of 1893, who was for four years -superintendent of schools for 
Aurora county, being the youngest incumbent of such office ever known in 
the history of the state, is now the wife of B. J. Thompson, of Denver, 
Colorado; Willis D. is a member of the class of 1905 in the law 
department of the State University; James B. is instructor in 
mathematics in the high school at Red Wing, Minnesota, having graduated 
from the literary department of the State University, class of 1891; 
Arthur C. is a student in the State University; Aion W. is a graduate of 
the Plankinton high school, and will enter the university in 1904; and 
Kara, Raymond and Gerald are attending the public schools, the Doctor 
making it a special effort and ambition to afford all of his children -
the best possible educational advantages. Mrs. Dr. Shouse departed this 
life January 4, 1904, at the age of forty-seven years, and at the time 
the following mention was made in the local pa-per: 

	On last Friday morning the sad news was passed around that Mrs. 
H. C. Shouse had answered the last summons and but the earthly remains 
were left of one of Plankinton's most respected residents, a noble 
Christian mother and wife. The final summons came late Thursday evening, 
after an illness extending over a period of a year. The cause of her 
illness teamed the most expert medical knowledge and she suffered 
greatly until within a short time of her death when all pain left her 
and, with it, hope for the saving of a useful life. 

	To the members of the bereaved family the most sincere sympathy is 
extended, and, in conclusion we can but echo the following sentiments 
expressed by Rev. Janes in his remarks concerning the dead woman: 

	"Death has invaded our community and taken from us one of heaven's 
choicest gifts, a devoted Christian mother and a virtuous woman. 

	"What can we say in honor of our departed sister and loved one, 
but to tell of her patient toiling, her unselfish devotion, her daily 
sacrifice to her home and family which was dearer to her than any other 
earthly thing. All those among her large circle of acquaintances 
understand as well as the speaker, how much of her thought and labor was 
given to the interest of her children, how anxiously she watched over 
them and how earnestly she sought to promote their moral and 
intellectual development. When those faithful mothers leave us here we 
wonder if there is not a larger place awaiting them in the world beyond. 

	"Our departing sister had the larger part of her family here, but 
some had preceded her to the better world and were there waiting to give 
her welcome. She went out from one home where there were tears and 
sorrow into another where there was gladness."