Hervey A. Tarbell, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 862-863 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	HERVEY A. TARBELL, M. D., is one of the representative physicians 
and surgeons of the state, being established in the practice of his 
profession in Watertown, Codington county, where he has built up a 
large and lucrative business. The Doctor comes of stanch old New 
England stock and is a native of the Green Mountain state, having been 
born in Windsor county, Vermont, on the 16th of November, 1854, and 
being a son of Addison and Florella (Parker) Tarbell. His father was a 
farmer by vocation and passed his entire life in Windsor county, being 
a son of Captain Oliver Tarbell, who was likewise a prominent farmer 
and a man of much influence in his locality, having been captain of a 
company of militia during the progress of the war of 1812. The mother 
of the Doctor was likewise born in Vermont, the Parkers having been the 
first settlers in Cavendish, that state, in the early colonial epoch, 
while the lineage is traced back to Scotch Irish derivation. Rev. J. W. 
Parker, brother of Mrs. Tarbell, was a prominent clergyman of the 
Baptist church and held for many years an important pastorate in the 
city of Washington, while another brother, Rev. H. I. Parker, was 
likewise a clergyman of the same church, the family name having for 
many generations been prominently identified with public affairs and 
professional work.  

	Dr. Tarbell passed his boyhood days on the home farm and after 
completing the curriculum of the common schools, he continued his 
studies in the Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, New Hampshire, where 
he was graduated as a member of the class of 1874. He was soon 
afterward matriculated in the famous old Dartmouth College, where he 
completed the classical course and was graduated in 1878. After leaving 
college he came west to Minnesota, where he was engaged in teaching in 
the public schools, in the meanwhile devoting much attention to the 
reading of medicine, with a view to adopting the practice of the same 
as a life work. He entered the medical department of the University of 
New York, where he was graduated in 1883, receiving the degree of 
Doctor of Medicine and coming forth well fortified for the practical 
work of his chosen profession. In 1896 he took a special post-graduate 
course in the New York Post Graduate Medical College, while he 
continues at all times a close and discriminating student of the 
sciences of medicine and surgery and keeps in touch with the advances 
made in both departments of his profession. After receiving his 
professional degree Dr. Tarbell came to South Dakota and located in 
Plankinton, Aurora county, where he built up a fine practice, 
continuing his residence there until 1890, when he removed to 
Watertown, where he now controls a large and representative practice, 
which places exigent demands upon his time, attention and energies. He 
is recognized as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of this 
section and his friends are in number as his acquaintances, since he 
enjoys marked popularity in business, professional and social circles. 
He and his brother, Oliver H., established the first drug store in 
Watertown, in 1879, but the Doctor finally sold his interest in the 
enterprise to his brother, who had had the supervision of the business 
from its initiation. The Doctor was also one of those primarily 
instrumental in the establishing of that noble and valued institution, 
the Watertown hospital, of which he is secretary at the present time. 
For several years he served as county physician, and at the time of 
this writing is incumbent of the office of county coroner, while for a 
number of years he held the same offices in Plankinton. He is 
identified with various professional and fraternal organizations, and 
both he and his wife are prominent members of the Congregational church 
in Watertown, of whose board of trustees he has been a member for 
several years. In politics the Doctor gives his allegiance to the 
Republican party.  

	In Mankato, Minnesota, on the 24th of May, 1884, was solemnized 
the marriage of Dr. Tarbell to Miss Anna M. Gleason, who was born and 
reared in that state, having been graduated in the State Normal School 
at Mankato, and having been for several years a popular and successful 
teacher in the public schools of that city. Dr. and Mrs. Tarbell have 
three children, Lilla M., Helen I. and Hervey Gleason. The family home 
is one of the most attractive and modern residences in the city, being 
pleasantly located on Warner avenue and having been erected at a cost 
of about eight thousand dollars, while it is recognized as a center of 
gracious and refined hospitality.