Pioneer Doctor
January 14, 1968
The Reporter’s Notebook
by Mac McGalliard
Some local oldtimers may remember when Dr. John J. Chapman was the doctor at Pooleville, formerly Elk in Indian Territory days, in morthwest Carter county.
In a recent issue of “Prairie Lore” magazine published by the Southwest Oklahoma Historical Society at Lawton, Dr Chapman’s daughter, Edith Chapman Northrop, reported the following in a story in the life of her father:
“After attending medical school in Michigan, Dr Chapman came to Fort Sill as an army medical officer. When discharged from the army, apparently in the early 1890s, he bought a good horse and saddle and road east to the little town of Elk where he established his first practice. His parents were farmers, ranchers, Indians with headrights, and Negroes who had been granted 40 acres of land.
The town consisted of two general stores, two gins and a saloon and a hotel.
The tall bachelor doctor, speaking in a clipped English accent, but soon being whined and dined by all the mothers with eligible daughters, but a professional call to a home of John Williams and an introduction to the youngest daughter. Ollie soon ended in their marriage in 1895.
They had three children, Frederick deceased, Granville deeased, and Edith, who is now Mrs Floyd Northrop
The doctor was paid for his practice with produce, cattle and horses, and soon had a ranch of 2,000 cattle in the Arbuckle Mountains.
He was very successful in the treatment of pneumonia. A patient was not allowed to be bathed or their clothing changed and was required to have fresh air and only one person in the room at a time using up the oxygen. When the nineth day crisis came and the fever broke, the doctor was there to see that all went well.
He learned that typhoid germs multiplied faster in sweet milk, so patients were giving nothing but buttermilk and white eggs for 21 days. I can remember eight patients in one house with typhoid.
A “through” of six or eight doses of one grain calomel tablets, followed by a liberal dose of castor oil, was a common treatment for most diseases.
Iron, quinine and strychnine tonic, cream of tartar for children, aspirin, syrup of squill, infusion of digitalis made (in our kitchen), capsules for grown ups and powder folded in paper for babies, ointments mixed and boxed were among his medical remedies.
In 1903 becoming tired of ordering his drugs, he opened a drug store in Elk and Mrs Chapman, my mother, became the first woman registered pharmacist when Oklahoma became a state in 1907.
In 1910 the Chapman family moved to Marlow. Dr. John Chapman is buried in Marlow, Oklahoma.”
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22904547/john-j-chapman
Note: The Reporter’s Notebook was written by Mac McGalliard, c. 1973. Containing 120 of his “Reporter’s Notebook” columns that had appeared in the Daily Ardmoreite during the years 1964-1973.
Zaneis School, District 72, located in western Carter County
Wilson, District 43, South Ward School
Dundee School, District 65. Picture of the football team
Overton James. Governor of the Chickasaws. The 27th tribal governor, appointed in 1962 at age 37 or 38. Picture taken in 1971 at the age of 45
Dr Frank Clark – May 1972
A quick remembrance of mine from the 1980s.
We had taken an elderly man to Memorial ER in the ambulance with heart problems. Dr. Frank Clark was his physician. Dr. Clark told the elderly wife, “I have called for an ambulance to take your husband of OKC, he needs to leave now.” The poor lady said, “But doctor, I have not money with me to go to OKC now.” Dr. Clark took a $50 dollar bill out of his wallet and gave it to her, he needs to go now. Don’t worry about the $50 just get in the ambulance, they are ready to leave now.” Just one of many memories of mine of the kind, wonderful man Frank W. Clark.
Negative of a fully loaded wagon pulled by two teams of horses in front of an early church
Camping grounds in what became Platt National Park. Boys in Bathing attire stand for their picture to be taken. Speed limit of 8 mph is posted on a nearby tree along with a ‘NO DOGS’ warning.
November 22, 1971 the mortgage note was burned in front of a large crowd for the Masonic Temple on North Commerce and Cherry Street in Ardmore
The Mailbag
Museum Memories
submitted by Melinda Taylor
June 22, 1917 – We still have a few people who say that they do not believe in germs. You may not have been bothered with germs when you were growing up, but it is a fact nevertheless that the people who live in a clean city enjoy better heath than those who don’t care anything about their surroundings.
The war has proven the advantages of science in medicine and sanitation. Deaths caused by disease among the soldiers in Europe are very small in number compared with those of past wars. During the Spanish-American war more than twice as many soldiers died of disease as were killed in battle.
P. W. McKay spent several days in Oklahoma City last week. He made the return trip through the country in a Reo Six sedan car, which he purchased while in the City. Eugene and Earl Brimer and Clarence and Home Means attended the auto races in Ardmore on the Fourth.
Wilson museum is now open Fridays and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Visit us online at https://www.WilsonHistoricalMuseum.org
The Daily Ardmoreite
August 18,1946
Sun Popping Popcorn in City Fields
It’s hot, brother, when popcorn starts popping in the fields and that is what is happening right here in Ardmore, state of Oklahoma.
And it is borne out by the statement of the official weather observer that the high was 103 Saturday as compared with 101 Friday.
The Rev. G. T. Ford, who lives at 102 Twelfth vAenue NE, appeared at the office of this newspaper on Saturday with an ear of popcorn from his corn patch. Some 40 kernels on the ear had popped open just as nice as you might please. Says the Rev. Mr. Ford, the whole patch of popcorn he has is doing the same way.
HAM Radio Talk KC5JVT via EchoLink
I’ve made only one contact the past week via Echolink.
269. 08/12/23 7:15pm WA5TX Bill in Springtown, Texas
Below is from my Vol 4 Issue 173 August 12, 2000 newsletter:
There is something strange at the Konawa, Oklahoma cemetery. A monument in memory of a teenage girl who died in 1899 at Konawa. On the grave stone it reads, “Murdered by human wolves”. I wonder what the message is they are trying to tell?
Wetumka, Oklahoma is most widely known for the circus that never came to town during the early 50s. A circus promoter came into Wetumka, or at least he said he was a circus promoter, and sold tickets during the week to the townspeople for a circus that was suppose to be in town the coming Saturday. The circus never came, and the folks knew they were had by a quick talking con artist. The people of Wetumka still have their Sucker Day the last Saturday of August each year to celebrate the circus that never came.
One of your reader’s was looking for info. on deacon jim miller their is a book called Shotgun For Hire that has a story about the outlaw and photo’s of other outlaws that (hang) with him”
https://www.biblio.com/shotgun-for-hire-by-shirley-glenn/work/1734157
“I’m looking for pictures of my Great Grandmother’s hotel that she owned in Ardmore many years ago. My mother says that the hotel was called, Jordan Hotel or Babe’s Rooms or the Dixie Hotel. My Great Grandmother may have owned more than one hotel. Her name was Susie Mary Jordan. She married George Washington Jordan. The address of the hotel could have been, 12 A Street, Northeast in Ardmore, Oklahoma. I’ll guess and say the years were between 1930-1948. Here is my email if anyone can help.” [email protected]
I had some interesting visitors this week from Canada. Elmer McGinnis and his wife were in Ardmore doing some research on the infamous deputy sheriff Bud Ballew. Bud Ballew was the right hand man for Sheriff Buck Garrett, the most famous sheriff of this county for all time. The McGinnis’ are planning to do a book on Bud Ballew soon, and were seeking info. So I put them in touch with Bud Ballew’s great-granddaughter whom I had met, Ann Ballew Carlton down in Natchez, Mississippi. Ann too, has been to Ardmore doing research on her famous Great Granddaddy Ballew, so I’m sure they will have lots to talk about!
A reader who was born at Wirt, Oklahoma (western Carter County) sent me a pic of the First Baptist Church at Wirt. Wirt is just a ghost town now…. nothing left but memories.
If you use Outlook Express as you email program, and want so really neat and beautiful stationary to make your emails special, just go to http://www.thundercloud.net and download. They’re free!
https://thundercloud.net/stationery/
“Die when I may, I want it said by those who knew me best that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” -Abraham Lincoln
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823