- CHARLES M. SMITH, SR., M.D., of Evansville is one of the
older physicians of Rock County,
- and has been identified with its interest for forty-one years.
He entered the State as a teacher, and taught school for a time
following his arrival here. It is as a physician, however, that
he has made himself felt in the community, and it is not too
much to say that he has lived up to the best ethics of his profession.
- Dr. SMITH was born in Cattaraugus County, N.Y., June 25,
1834, and is a son of Jacob and
- Delana (RICH) SMITH, natives of that State. Three sons and
six daughters, seven of whom are now living, were born to this
worthy couple. Catherine is the wife of George PAINE, and lives
in Cattaraugus, N.Y. Dr. Charles M. is at Evansville. Elvira
died in infancy. James R. is in New York. Arvilla is the wife
of C. M. RUMSEY, and lives in New York. Judson lives in the
same State. Mary R. is the wife of Rev. C. M. PULLEN, an Episcopal
clergyman, now of Buffalo, N.Y. Matilda, who died in February,
1901, was the wife of Orrin RICH, of New York. Jacob SMITH was
a farmer and breeder of fine stock in Cattaraugus County, and
died there at the age of seventy years. His wife, the mother
of our subject, died at the age of fifty years. They were members
of the Methodist Church. His father, John SMITH, was a native
of New York, of German descent, and was a farmer by occupation.
He reared a family of ten children. He reached the age of eighty.
The maternal grandfather of Dr. C. M. SMITH was a native of
Onondaga County, N.Y., of English descent, and was a farmer.
He participated in the war of 1812. He died in old age, and
his wife reached the age of ninety. They had a large family,
and Delana was the youngest of their thirteen children.
- Dr. SMITH lived in Cattaraugus County, N.Y., until he was
twenty years old, was a student in
- the district school, and for a time was clerk in a drug and
commission store in Forestville, N.Y. In 1854 he came to Wisconsin,
taught the first school in Dayton, and later was a teacher for
two terms in Evansville. He then entered the academy at Albion,
Wis., where he attended three terms, and was graduated in 1856.
That year he took up the study of medicine with Dr. EVANS as
his preceptor, and was graduated from Rush Medical College in
1860. He began the practice of medicine at Footville, Rock County,
Wis., and was there two years when he obtained the appointment
of assistant surgeon to the 13th Wis. V.I., in which position
he served throughout the war. Returning to Evansville at the
conclusion of hostilities, he formed a medical partnership with
Dr. EVANS that continued for eighteen years. In 1873 he took
a special course in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
In 1882 he was made an honorary member of the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical
Association; he is also a member of the American Medical Association,
the State Medical Association, and the Central Wisconsin Association.
- Dr. SMITH and Miss Julia SAWIN were married May 16, 1861.
Mrs. SMITH is the youngest
- daughter of Rev. John SAWIN, a clergyman of the Baptist Church,
and one of the earliest settlers of Wisconsin. To Dr. SMITH
and his wife have been born two children, Flora D. and Charles
M., Jr. Flora D. married George O. GORDON, of Lodi, Wis., and
is the mother of one child, Doris. Charles M., Jr., is mentioned
elsewhere in this volume. Dr. SMITH, Sr., and his wife are members
of the Episcopal Church. He is a Mason, and holds membership
in Union Lodge, No. 32, A.F. & A.M.; Evansville Chapter,
No. 35, R.A.M.; and Janesville Commandery, No. 2, K.T. He also
belongs to Leota Lodge, I.O.O.F., and Evansville Post, No. 46,
G.A.R., of which latter he has been surgeon ever since its organization.
He lives at the corner of Church and Madison streets, and his
office is at No. 204 Main street. Politically he is a Republican,
was president of the village board in 1876, and was clerk of
the high school fourteen years from its organization.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, pp. 26-27.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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