Past and Present of

Hardin County, Iowa

1911

William J. Moir, Editor in Chief

 

 

The Physicians of Iowa Falls (Iowa)

The following are the names and dates of coming to Iowa Falls of all of the physicians that can now be recalled by the writer: Dr. J.F. Simonds, 1853; Dr. J.H. Foster, 1855; Dr. J.L. Evans, 1874; Dr. W.M. Morton, 1881; Dr. M.W. Hill, 1882; Dr. T.M. Camack, 1883; Dr. Depew, 1863; Dr. W.O. Beam, 1887; Dr. J.W. Angell, 1889; Dr. Otto A. Pagleson, 1900; Dr. J.H. Jackson, 1891; Dr. Ed. William Burke, 1894; Dr. Mary Helen Parsons, 1901; Dr. Bessie J. Garver, 1899; Dr. Frank H. Gaffey, 1907; Dr. B.E. Shattock, 1884.

Other Iowa Falls physicians who have been in practice here at one date or another are these: Dr. J.A.N. Burgess, Dr. B.. Purcell, Dr. D.A. Davis, Dr. Hart, Dr. Easton, Dr. J.F. George, Dr. James, Dr. C.H. Guilbor, Dr. L. Pattee, Dr. Felt, Dr. M.L. Haarvey and possibly a few others.

 

Dr. J.F. Simonds, of 1853, was the first to locate in Iowa Falls; removed to Little Rock, Arkansas. The second to locate in Iowa Falls was Dr. J.H. Foster, who was successful professionally and financially. He died in that city a few years since.

 

The present physicians at Iowa Falls are: Drs. W.M. Morton, Lewis B. Morton, B.J. Garver, O.A. Pagleson, J.A.N. Burgess, F.J. Evans, R.E. Purcell and Dr. Gaffey.

 

Perhaps one of the best known of the early-day physicians was Dr. J.H. Foster, born in North Carolina in 1826, of a family of Friends. He went to Indiana when about of age, and when the gold exitiment in California was at its height he joined the rush to the Paific coast, returning in 1853 to Indiana. Early in life he took to the study of medicine, attened Rush Medical College, Chicago, and located to Iowa Falls in 1855. He built up an excellent practice and managed to accumulate much property. At his death he leftone son, Frank Foster, now a well knownand identified with the best interests of Iowa Falls.