Showing posts with label Park Hospital. Show all posts

24 February 2020

There Is A Doctor in the House

By Teresa Martin Klaiber Feb. 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znTVi3CDouY – then and now!

Halderman home left, Feyler Home right, Carriage House behind, 9^th & Gay, Portsmouth, OH

All my life I have been surrounded by medical professionals. My father was a veterinarian. A maternal great granduncle was a veterinarian in Europe before WW I. Don’t forget to spay and neuter.

My maternal grandfather was a dental surgeon who promptly diagnosed, at my birth, that my mouth was to small, my teeth would be crowded and I would need braces. He was spot on. I wonder if that is why I always have had such a booming voice, to compensate for the small mouth. There should be a joke somewhere in that but I digress.

My great uncle was a physician, to please his father, who practiced a few years, stated medicine was bunk, and stopped practice to enjoy homegrown philosophy, collecting clocks, books, cats and stamps. But he is a story for another time. He was not the only medical person to drill into me that every medicine you take will have cause and effect. Try to stay away from them.

Henri Halderman doing home visits 1910, Powhatan Point, Ohio

In our family, my great grandfather, Stephen Simpson Halderman, was believed legendary. He was a successful physician and surgeon, who had a wonderful practice, built a hospital, and was good at real estate. He had been deceased twenty years when I was born but his presence was felt by the family. Maybe my thinking he had a bigger than life personality comes from my hauling around the huge ornate framed portraits of him and his wife. I think I inherited them simply because I had the wall space.

Stephen Simpson Halderman

He was also written up in several 1880’s history books with vanity biography’s included. Those were not always correct and several errors appear in his. S. S. Halderman was born Stephen Simpson Halterman 31 January 1852. The family bible, his passport and letters all say he was born at Chillicothe in Ross County, Ohio. But those vanity biographies stated he was born in Beaver, Pennsylvania and moved to Jackson County, Ohio. It would take genealogy sleuthing to unravel the error and realize that the family was from adjoining Beaver, Pike County, Ohio; not Pennsylvania.[i]

Stephen Simpson Halterman/Halderman

His parents John J. Halterman, a circuit riding minister and farmer, resided in Scioto Township, Jackson County prior to Stephen’s birth. He was the youngest of eight children. One of his brother’s Daniel Ripley Halterman died in October that same year S. S. was born.

By the time Stephen was ten, the family had moved to Miami County. His father died in 1866[ii] when Stephen Simpson Halderman was only fourteen. His mother remarried in 1870 in Shelby County, Ohio. Stephen went back to Pike County, Ohio to reside with an older sister, Nancy Halterman Brown. The 1870 census states S. S. is a carpenter and joiner, now seventeen. Through the years the family knew that his older sisters had been close and helped to raise him. Carpentry may have been a way to earn money for his medical education.

Stephen Simpson Halderman a young man.

The family never discussed or appears to have known that mother Isabella had remarried.[iii] Over the years Stephen Simpson Halderman set moral proprieties that his growing family must follow. When Isabella died in 1889 she was buried in Pike County as Mrs. Isabel Halderman.

Stephen married Anna Katherine Gorath at Berlin Cross Roads, Milton Township, Jackson county, Ohio 28 August 1873. He managed to put himself thru the Medical College of Ohio and graduate in March 1875, with a wife and tiny daughter Ruhama May Halderman who was born in May 1874 at Berlin Cross Roads. By the time they married Stephen is consistently spelling his name Halderman.

Stephen Simpson Halderman in top hat with school mate Dr. Robinson at Medical School of Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio

Halderman set up his first medical practice in Sciotoville, Scioto County. Those first few years were colorful. He purchased property and Arson struck three members of the Pension Examination Board of which he had become a member, in 1886. When interviewed he stated “…he did not lose any sleep in keeping a vigilant watch…the board aimed to impartially discharge the duties of the office and report according to the nature of the disease of the applicant.”[iv] By then the Halderman’s were proud parents of Ruhama, Henri Gorath and Laura Halderman.

At the age of 33, a no nonsense, doctor removed to Portsmouth, Ohio where his family and practice could grow.[v] The Halderman’s purchased a brick two story home, with an amazing curved staircase on the corner of 9^th and Gay[vi] where their youngest daughter Katherine Marie Halderman was born, in 1892, in the upstairs room overlooking City Park, later named Tracy Park. The Portsmouth Daily Times reported:

“Dr. S.S. Halderman is the happiest man in town. He is so happy he can't talk over the telephone for laughing. Somebody brought a girl baby to his house last Thursday, and now he acts just as if the thing never happened to anyone before. It has been thirteen years since the like occurred in Doc's family - a long time between children, one would imagine. That is what makes him so happy. He rang the curtain down thirteen years ago and supposed the show was over.”

As his practice grew, so did articles in the local Portsmouth, Ohio newspapers. Papers of the era were sometimes dramatic but one particular article shows, again his love and care of people. 1892 July 16 Portsmouth Times Nellie Purtle a girl of 14 took an overdose of laudanum Thurs morn because her mother scolded her for hanging over the gate so late with her fellow. Dr. SS Halderman administered an emetic and gentle Nellie was rescued from a sad end.

Portsmouth, Ohio was a hub for the Scioto Division Norfolk and Western Railroad, and short lines. In 2003 this compiler published Scioto Division Norfolk & Western Railroad Life and Limb 1895-1928. Halderman was the Scioto Division surgeon and kept detailed records of the many maimed, wounded and healing success’s which I hope have helped others on their own genealogy journey.

By 1902 S. S. Halderman needed to move his family practice out of his home. Stephen Simpson Halderman and Joseph S. Rardin purchased property at 44 East Ninth Street, Portsmouth, Ohio. The property faced Tracy Park. They converted the existing building into Park hospital. Rardin and Halderman along with other area physicians saw a need for seriously ill and injured people to receive proper care that they could not receive in their own home or at a boarding house.

Park Hospital, Portsmouth, Ohio

Stephen Halderman’s son, Henri Gorath Halderman was house physician. A total of twelve patients could be treated at any given time. Park Hospital included an operating room six private rooms and a ward. It had a reception room, nurses’ quarters and dining room. The laundry was in a separate building

Patient records were carefully handwritten in a 8 ½ x 14" lined ledger maintained by Dr. Stephen Simpson Halderman. Park Hospital records from November 1903 through December 23, 1908 were carefully preserved by his granddaughter Mary Helen Feyler Martin who in turn has shared them with daughter and compiler Teresa Lynn Martin Klaiber. The records have been transcribed for my blog readers in six entries posted in 2018 at this site.

Stephen Simpson Halderman loved to travel. His oldest daughter Ruhama married Eugene Graham Anderson in 1897. The Anderson brothers were well known for their mercantile business both in Portsmouth and Huntington, West Virginia. Ruhama and Eugene moved to the state of Washington. Halderman kept a tight watch over his family and in 1909 travelled to Saskatchewan and King County, Washington. When he returned he wrote about his western trip for the Portsmouth Daily Times.[vii]

Anderson Brothers, Portsmouth Ohio Postcard

He was politically active in the Democratic party donating a whopping $1.00 to the election of Woodrow Wilson as president and Thomas R. Marshall for vice-president. His family attended the Episcopal Church where he was a vestryman. When Katherine married and the military shipped them to Honolulu, S. S. was determined to meet his new granddaughter. They travelled to San Francisco and took the S. S. Sachem in December to meet baby Betty Lee Feyler born there in October.

In January 1920 he sat down to write his son and report on the family:

“Dear son, rcd our mail letter and razor strop now I have 2 bought one in Frisco. The folks have a nice house and seem to enjoy … Howard works from 8 to 12 as is in the office then comes to lunch returns to the office at one and is usually through at 3. It is wonderful how --- you -- sleep ...the weather is warm but then is always a breeze that one does not feel the heat except in the direct rays of the sun. Yesterday about 4 pm I looked at the thermometer mercury stood at 72 degrees f. We sleep under blankets ..with the doors open - out on to the porch. Betty has a crib on wheels on the upper porch - screened and less than ---up her bare feet and legs....Tell Ada May that the first thing Betty Lee tried to play with was the rattle she sent. Now about the --- tax report. I talked with ... definitely collect ...advised me I will write B. E. Williams Columbus O and tell him that my income will be mostly the same as last year. Send a ck for about half the amount and tell him that I will send a complete report in April. You will receive blanks for the purpose. Keep them carefully and also keep a -- book for ---I have not advanced any suggestions but only listened and both Howard and Katherine have their faces set towards the states and civil life. This post is the finest of the few I have even seen. Large area several miles long - perfectly saved roads and ...side walks Everything in circles for the officers quarters and in squares of the privates. Fine con...and...slate roofs vines and flowers and...of very description. We had ...breakfast...plenty of sweet milk.Betty Lee is perfect in development ...healthy and sleeps ...of the time...seldom cries and only when hungry. The parents are particular that she be not disturbed or taken except at feeding. She gets her last meal at 6 pm or at times 6.30 is put in her crib in her own room adjoining Howard and Katherine and that is the last you hear of her until the next morning then she does not cry. I think she would wait longer for her breakfast but Katherine and Howard...but everything is on the dot....I don't know how long I can stand this idleness but if it becomes to dull I will try to get an earlier boat. I am booked now to leave here March 3rd and will advise you if I should decide that we sail earlier....We spent a pleasant 2 days in Frisco ....”

Katherine and Howard, along with Betty returned to Portsmouth, Ohio where Stephen’s second granddaughter Mary Helen was born in the same room, as her mother, overlooking Tracy Park, 13 December 1921. A home was built next to Stephen and Anna, on Gay Street, with a dental office attaching both homes. He kept his youngest close. While Ruhama was residing across the country there continued constant contact, letters and news articles. Henri, as stated before, was not happy as a physician but lived his life in the house on the corner of 9^th and Gay. Their sister Laura also grew up in Portsmouth, never married and lived at home until her death in March 1944.

The Ohio State Medical Association presented Stephen and Anna Gorath Halderman with a beautiful silver set on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary. This compiler treasures the set complete with two goblets and engraving and I try to keep it polished.

Stephen Simpson Halderman died 30 March 1929. The editorial for the Portsmouth Daily Times, like the published biographies, has a few flaws. The Medical College of Ohio was well established by the time he went there.

The late Dr S S Halderman was truly a man who had lived a life of service to his fellow man. He was one of the few survivors … older type of country doctor and physician. He began his practice in the rural sections and there he learned to respond at all hours and at all times...When later he came to the city to practice he did not deviate from the habits of his young manhood. He was at the call of any one who desired his services...doctor prepared himself well for his profession and he kept up with the progress of medicine. He became an expert surgeon, in addition to being a general practitioner, in fact was an all around medical man, one of the best in the state....president of the Ohio State Medical Association....organized the Medical College of Ohio...organized the Central National Bank...associated with the Commercial Building and Loan Company...His death causes much regret to many...

I always wonder what makes a person “tick.” My great grandfather left home at such a young age, and succeeded beyond expectations. He had this drive to keep his family in the best of positions and close yet, I would find out along my genealogical journey, in his own words he knew very little about his own background:

Sciotoville, Ohio March 15, 1889 Mrs. O A Barbe McLaughlin Mt Auburn, Cin., O Dear Madam Yours of March 4th received promptly and I did not answer immediately ...I tried to get accurate data but could get nothing very definite. Father died while I was quite young and his books and papers were not preserved. He had quite a library and many valuable papers. I know very little of my ancestors. Trusting the enclosed may be of some value. I am very resp. Stephen S. Halderman[viii]

He is legendary in this compiler’s mind. He took care of not only his own but many others. From a teen with nothing to financial stability, he taught the family dignity, work ethics, love and financial responsibility. He invested wisely and I wonder if he realized those choices would help all his children thru their final years and beyond. It is quite a legacy.