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Iowa Official Registers

1927 -1928

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Department of Health


HENRY ALBERT, M.D.
Commissioner of Health, was born at Walcott (Scott county), Iowa, October 11, 1878. Moved with his parents to Grundy county when three years of age. Graduated from the Reinbeck (Iowa) high school in 1896, and from the University of Iowa with the degree of B.S. in 1900, and the degrees of M.S. and M.D. in 1902. Spent two years in Europe, chiefly in Vienna, studying pathology, bacteriology and public health. Was professor of pathology and bacteriology at the University of Iowa, college of medicine, from 1905 to 1920, and director of the laboratories for the Iowa State Board of Health from their establishment in 1906 to 1920. Throat trouble caused him to go west in 1921. He was director of the Nevada state hygienic laboratory at Reno, Nevada, four years, or until September 1, 1926, when he was appointed commissioner of health by Governor Hammill. He was married to Edith Whiteis in 1905.

WILLIAM DUKE HAYES, M.D.
Member of the Iowa State Board of Health, was born February 7, 1888, at Bowling Green, Kentucky. Attended public schools, the Southern Normal School, Bowling Green, and Kentucky State Normal School at Bowling Green. Later attended medical college, University of Colorado, getting a C.P.H. degree in public health at that institution. Was with the state board of health of Kentucky from 1909 to 1914, first as assistant chemist and later as chemist and bacteriologist and assistant state sanitary engineer. Was with the state board of health of Florida from 1914 to 1915 as assistant state bacteriologist and chemist. Connected with the Sioux City board of health since 1916, with the exception of the latter half of 1918 at which time he taught hygiene and sanitation or preventive medicine to prospective officers at Iowa City until the armistice was signed, returning to Sioux City at that time as health commissioner.

A.A. ROBERTSON, M.D.
Member of Iowa State Board of Health, was born April 6, 1878, at Washington, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Nebraska medical college in 1901, and has practiced medicine in Council Bluffs for the last eleven years where his father, Dr. James C. Robertson, practiced for many years. Was married to Miss Claudia Ward of Neola, Iowa, and has two daughters. Dr. Robertson is a member of the staff of the Jennie Edmundson hospital, has served many years as local surgeon for the Union Pacific, Rock Island annd Illinois Central railroads and is not serving his second term as city health officer of Council Bluffs, Iowa. A thirty-second degree Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine. Republican in politics.

H.L. SAYLER, M.D.
Member Iowa State Board of Health, was born in Illinois in 1870. Received a high school, college and medical education, graduating in medicine in 1898. Came to Des Moines in 1908. City health officer for the past seventeen years. Appointed to the Iowa State Board of Health in the fall of 1924.

D.C. STEELSMITH, M.D.
Member of the Iowa State Board of Health, residence Dubuque. Born in Grundy county, Iowa, June 11, 1877. Completed medical course in State University of Iowa in 1902. Began practice of medicine at Melvin, Osceola county. Member of Iowa house of representatives from that county in thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth general assemblies. Was graduated from Harvard Institute of Technology, June, 1917, with degree of D.P.H. In charge of county health department, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1917 to 1919. Was for a year instructor of health and sanitation at State University of Iowa, director of health one year in Columbus, Georgia. Came to Dubuque in 1921 as county-city director of health and agent of the United States public health service, in which work he is still engaged. A democrat in politics.

HERBERT R. SUGG, M.D.
Member of the Iowa State board of Health, was born July 20, 1874, at Preston, Iowa, of American parentage. For generations back his father and grandfather were physicians. With his parents he moved to Sabula, Iowa, in 1880 and to Clinton in 1892, where he has since resided. Graduated from the Sabula high school in 1892 and the following year from the Clinton high school. Completed his medical education at Rush medical college in 1896 at the age of twenty-one, and for the following year was house surgeon at the Chicago Policinic Hospital, Chicago. Has been in active practice in Clinton since 1898. Was married in 1901 to Florence Olney of Clinton. They have one son. Is a member of the staff of Jane Lamb Memorial Hospital and is past president of the staff and of the county medical society. President of the Wapsipincon club, member of the Clinton Country club, Rotary, De Molay Consistory and other civic organizations. Was instrumental in organizing the Red Cross chapter during the war, and has served continuously on the executive board. From 1907 to 1915 was a surgeon in the Iowa national guard. Elected health officer of Clinton in 1912 and has been reelected every two years excepting for the period of 1920-1922 while the farmer labor party was in control. Appointed a member of the Iowa State Board of Health in November 1924; reappointed by Governor Hammill in 1927. He is a republican.

 

Department of Health

(abstracted)
The state department of health is headed by a commissioner appointed by the governor for a term of 4 years...... the department is aided by an advisory body known as the state board of health, which is headed by the comissioner. Members of the state executive council are ex-officio members and five members appointed by the governor. The 5 appointive members receive no compensation but are allowed traveling expenses. They are:
H.L. Sayler, M.D., Des Moines
D.C. Steelsmith, M.D., Dubuque
H.E. Sugg, M.D., Clinton
W.D. Hayes, C.P.H., Sioux City
A.A. Robertson, M.D., Council Bluffs

Personnel of the Department of Health
Commissioner, Henry Albert, M.D., annual salary $5,000
Deputy commissioner, James Wallace, M.D., annual salary $4,000
Director, H.W. Grefe, annual salary $2,400
Chief Clerk, Lynn Clemens, annual salary $1,800
Stenographer, Naomi Bradley, annual salary $1,200
Stenographer, Gladys Hunter, annual salary $1,200
Secretary to the commissioner, Cara Handschin, annual salary $1,500
Bookkeeper, Christy Crispin, annual salary $1,200
Clerk, Genevieve Shea, annual salary $1,200
Vital statistics clerk, Julia Clark, annual salary $1,200
Vital statistics clerk, Helene Dash, annual salary $1,200
Vital statistics clerk, Mrs. Wm. Price, annual salary $1,200
Assistant registrar, Robert L. McLaren, annual salary $1,800
Lecturer to girls, D. Pirie Beyea, annual salary $2,400
Technician assistant, George Hollingsworth, annual salary $1,000
Janitor clerk, Frank Yost, annual salary $1,200
International Health Bureau clerk, W.E. Baldwin, annual salary $1,500
International Health Bureau clerk, Ada Koser, annual salary $1,500
Engineer, A.H. Weiters, C.E., annual salary $3,300
Assistant engineer, L.A. Christensen, C.E., annual salary $1,800
Chemist, M.J. Lonergan, annual salary $2,000
Assistant junior engineer, Milburn Johnson, annual salary $1,600
Stenographer, Amy Brooks, annual salary $1,200

Boards of Examiners - Authorized to hold examinations of persons applying for licenses to practice the professions for which a license is required. Members appointed by the governor. Administration of these measures was placed under the board of health.

Medical examiners: Wm. Jepson, Sioux City; Frank M. Fuller, Keokuk; F.T. Launder, Garwin
Podiatry examiners: Wm. von M. Gerard, Cedar Rapids; S.J. Olson, Des Moines; Paul M. Hawk, Waterloo
Osteopathic examiners: H.J. Marshall, Des Moines; D.E. Hannan, Perry; Sherman Opp, Creston
Chiropractic examiners: S.E. Julander, Des Moines; Myrtle E. Long, Des Moines; J.E. Slocum, Webster City
Nurse examiners: Frances G. Hutchinson, Council Bluffs; Jane M. Wiley, Cedar Rapids; Marianne Zichy, Marshalltown
Dental examiners: H.D. Coy, Hamburg; C.B. Miller, Des Moines; H.J. Altfillisch, Dubuque; J.J. Booth, Marion; Hardy F. Pool, Mason City
Optometry examiners: A.J. Meyer, Davenport; Fred Beauchamp, Rockwell City; Clarence Brunk, Boone
Embalmer examiners: J.A. West, Sioux City; Carrie E. Snider, West Liberty; F.W. Alexander, Conrad

 

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