110 years of Clarke County medical history

Clarke County really portrayed the country doctor in his real setting. Restless nights spent behind a team of horses or on horseback with a saddle bag seemed to be the rule.

During the inclement season, no doctor ventured forth without a good wire cutter as many roads were impassable and short cuts had to be resorted to. Even in the early days, the doctor was paid after everything else, if there was anything left.

Dr. Jerome Bartlett was the first doctor to settle in the county at Green Bay in 1851. Two years later, he moved to Osceola to find he had been preceded in this city by Dr. L.M.D. Sherrick.

Fortified with a bottle of rum and a trustworthy horse, Dr. Sherrick ventured far and wide over the adjacent countryside. In 1860, Dr. J.C. Miller and Dr. E.M. Laws moved into the county and practiced medicine and prospered. Laws soon found out his drug store was far more lucrative than his medical practice.

Many other doctors followed to the towns of Hopeville, Woodburn, Ottawa and Murray. In Murray, many tales were told of competing physicians, even to the point that no physician walked on the same side of the street if they saw the other coming their way. Dr. F.S. Bowen conducted a lucrative practice in Woodburn until his death.

Dr. W.F. Dean truly exemplified the role of family doctor. Dr. F.W. Sells inaugurated X-ray diagnosis in the county. There were many rumors and legends regarding his practice, none having bearing on he medical history of the county.

Dr. C.R. Harken pioneered the era of modern surgery in this county. Dr. H.E. Stroy delivered more than 5,000 babies in his long practice in Osceola. Dr. H.N. Boden became associated with Stroy for 10 years. Dr. H.L. Hollenbeck entered practice in Osceola, followed by the husband and wife team of Dr. J.D. and Dr. Eva Shively.

Drs. G.I. Armitage, E.E. Lauvstad and G.B. Bristow were the next additions to the medical roster.