Mordecai Willson, M. D.

	This biography appears on pages 997-998 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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MORDECAI WILLSON, M. D.—The success achieved by this scholarly and 
enterprising physician and surgeon has won him recognition among the 
leading men of his profession, not only in the city of his residence, 
but throughout this section of the state, he being regarded as one of 
the most skilled surgeons in the northwest, while his success in the 
treatment of diseases peculiar to the female sex has gained him a 
prestige such as few attain.  

Dr. Willson was born in New York state and spent his early years 
there, entering as soon as old enough, the public schools, after which 
he prosecuted his studies for some years in an academy. Still later he 
entered an educational institution in Vermont, and there applied himself 
very closely to study, the meanwhile receiving special training on the 
violin, an instrument for which he early manifested a fondness. Leaving 
the above institution he continued his musical studies under the 
direction of competent instructors, making rapid advancement and 
becoming an accomplished violinist. He taught music and also played in a 
number of high-class concerts both in Canada and the United States.  

During the latter year of his concert work Dr. Willson studied 
medicine and later entered the Detroit Medical College, from which he 
was graduated. Prior to his becoming a student of the above institution, 
he was united in marriage with Miss Helen Volser, and after his 
graduation removed to Kansas, where he practiced his profession very 
successfully during the following several years. He then located in 
Nebraska, where he did a large professional business, also erecting and 
maintaining a hospital.  

Disposing of his interests in Nebraska, Dr. Willson came to 
Yankton, South Dakota, where he has since been actively engaged in the 
practice of his profession, devoting special attention to surgery and 
female diseases, in both of which lines his success has been such as to 
gain him much more than local repute. As a surgeon he ranks with the 
ablest in the state, having performed many difficult operations.