ࡱ> UWT'`  Dbjbj{P{P .\:: <40$`````;;;ikkkkkk$h:;;;;;``;``i;i`T P$, FU0BSZBB;;;;;;;;;;;;;;D  HISTORY OF DENTISTRY IN MISSOURI The Springfield District Dental Society is component District No. 6 of the Missouri State Dental Association. It comprises the counties of Hickory, Polk, Dallas, Laclede, Dade, Greene, Webster, Wright, Lawrence, Christian, Stone, Douglas, Taney, and Ozark. In a population of 259,596 there are one hundred and seven dentists. With a population estimated at 60,000, Springfield is the principal city of the district. By reason of its location, it is called the Gate to the Ozarks. The city was founded in February, 1830, and ranks fourth in size in the State. The cities of Lebanon, Mountain Grove, Mount Vernon, Greenfield, Aurora, Marionville, Bolivar, Branson, Hollister, Marshfield, Ozark, and Pierce City are included in this district. THE SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY Dentistry in the South Central Missouri Ozarks When the white man began to settle in the Ozarks, Indian tribes, some war-like, others peaceful, had to give up their happy hunting grounds and move away. Their habits of like were incompatible with those of the pale-face people. The first cabin on the site of what became Springfield was built in 1830. Eight years later, the town, with two hundred and fifty inhabitants, was incorporated. It will help in understanding early life in the Ozarks to remember that Southeast Missouri was being settled contemporaneous with the founding of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, 1840. It was a period of financial uncertainty, of social, religious and political unrest. To the western pioneer, dental service was not available except as given by the practicing physician. He necessarily had to extract teeth as well as treat all kinds of ailments. Like civilization of which it is a part, dentistry here, as elsewhere, has necessarily changed a great deal. The truth of this gives greater honor to many of the early pioneers. J. A. NATTRASS was the first dentist in this district. But little has been found recorded about him. He was here before the Civil War probably many years before, and for a considerable time after. The first and second city directories (1878 and 1881) listed him with office and residence at 230 South Street. The first history of Springfield (1878) refers to him as a pioneer dentist and a highly respected citizen. ELEAZER HOVEY was the next pioneer dentist. (See page 33.) CHARLES F. WRIGHT was the third in the trio who fathered and established dentistry here. He was especially known for fine gold work. He came from Ohio with his fathers family. He moved to Springfield in 1864 and studied practical dentistry under J. A. Nattrass. Later he opened an office for himself and continued until his death in 1895. He married Jennie Smith, daughter of a Lebanon business man, in 1868. LUCIAN B. SMITH, HENRY R. YOUNG, and A. J. WEST are listed in the first city directory of 1878. SILAS A. WRIGHT came into the office of his brother, Charles, in 1880. He had practiced fifty-three years at the time of his death, March 1933. In the eighties also came A. H. Eversol, Jacob Bayer, J. M. Clyde, Romeo H. Hovey, C. E. Jones, D. E. Morrow, E. S. Sweet, R. W. West, and George W. Erskin. After the Civil War, dentistry made a gradual advance despite the rugged country and want of roads. None of the towns were very large, so it was a common practice for a dentist to make professional visits to other towns within reach of his home town. Pioneers in Bolivar and Polk County were: Steven Haydon, 1865 to 1872; James E. McCabe, 1866 to 1895; and T. J. Wilson, 1870 to 1908. G. M. Patterson studied under E. Hovey and practiced in Marshfield from 1876 to 1833. He came to Springfield and worked for the Wright brothers from 1883 to 1892, when he was elected county collector and was re-elected in 1894. he is not retired. The History of Springfield, 1878, by George S. Escott, says that LITTLEBERRY HENDRICK settled in Springfield about 1833, and that later he was a circuit judge. Edward, his youngest son, was a dentist and surgeon in Mt. Vernon. From The Directory Gazeteer of the New Southwest, 1881, one learns that E. E. DAYTON practiced in Marshfield, R. H. GREENE in Verona, and J. H. and M. J. McCLURG, sons of a well-known Governor of Missouri, in Lebanon. The latter was later claimed by Carthage. Also early in Lebanon was J. L. TITTERINGTON. C.E. TRAW was in Linn Creek but later came to Lebanon. In the early eighties, G. W. FARINGTON and MANOIL L. GAITHER were in Aurora. The latter practiced there for a number of years. T. E. ELLISON was in Forsythe and is active now in Hollister. CHRISTIAN P. SCRIVENER cam to Wheatland and is now in Bolivar. A. S. WRIGHT, of Humansville, is still active after a hal century of service. JOHN GEORGE practiced in Buffalo and CHARLES AARON BADGLEY, SR., studied with his uncle. In 1887, he practiced a short time in Illinois. He moved to Greenfield and then to Springfield in 1894. After forty-four years of service, he died, March, 1921. G. W. MUSGRAVE, Ash Grove, joined the Missouri State Dental Association in 1886. He often remarked that the association made him what he was. W. E. TUCKER, ST., became a member of the Missouri State Dental Association in 1877. He practiced in Otterville and Butler, and then moved to Springfield, where he was a leader in dental society affairs until his death, December 11, 1928. J. B. McBRIDE, Greenfield, was graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College in 1890 and located in Springfield, where he practiced until his death, July 26, 1936. (See page 151.) In no way do these names represent the dentists in the district at any time, but they are some of the early dentists. A criticism may be made of incompleteness in this report but the best available sources of information have been consulted. Not even a business and professional directory existed before 1878, and there is no State record of dentists for a long time after that date. At this time there are fifty dentists in Springfield and sixty-five or more in the other parts of this district. Many of them have taken part in the activities of local and State organizations. The Springfield District Dental Society has supplied three presidents to the Missouri State Dental Association, J. B. McBRIDE, R. E. Darby, and R. H. McCrum. W. E. Tucker was president before he located in Springfield. The Springfield Dental Society was organized in the fall of 1905. It was organized as a local society. A majority of its members, however, were also members of the Missouri State Dental Association, and it was but natural to cooperate with that organization from the first, especially so, as local provision had to be made for the annual meeting of that association in Springfield the following June. The organization meeting was called by William E. Tucker, Sr., J. Benton McBride, and Robert E. Darby, who were at that time the Executive Committee of the State association. This meeting, as well as later meetings for some rime, was held in the office of Ralph H. McCrum. Those present as founders of the society were: William R. Anderson Harry C. Kitchell Wilbert S. Sweet Howell Boatner J. Benton McBride William E. Tucker, Sr. Jesse V. Boswell Ralph H. McCrum William E. Tucker, Jr. Robert E. Darby Jerman C. Park T. T. Umbarger John A. James Harry T. Rand John L. Wetzel The society became quite active in dental affairs. It proved to be a better means of developing local talent, in harmonizing activities, and in promoting a much needed feeling of common interest and good fellowship. The society admitted to membership dentists from towns in the surrounding territory. This made it easy to expand into the Springfield District Dental Society, following the action of the Missouri State Dental Association in 1920 to reorganize the State association into districts. The territory designated in its charter for this district was the Counties of Greene, east one-half of Lawrence, Dade, Polk, Hickory, Douglas, Stone, Taney, Ozark, Howell, and Oregon. This was considered a large district before the days of the automobile and good roads. However, the difficulties in the Ozarks, as in other parts of the State, have yielded to the skill of the engineers. So it again became necessary to re-locate district boundaries. The committee to which that task was assigned by the Missouri State Dental Association published its recommendations in the Bulletin of that association, March, 1933. At the April meeting of the Springfield District Dental Society, these changes were discussed. The new plan combined the Springfield District Dental Society and the Southwest District Dental Society under that name of the latter. The combined territory was the same except that addition to the northwest of the Counties of Vernon and Cedar and the loss of the east of Camden, Pulaski, Texas, Howell, and Oregon. It was plain that the Springfield District would lose its name and in part its identity. A look at the new map showed that it was also evident that the committee, in carrying out its plan, could hardly do other than make this recommendation, both as to name and as to size of district. The outline of districts for the whole State looked to be just. So the Springfield Society voted unanimously to support the measure and to help it to succeed. The Southwest Society opposed the changes at the annual meeting of the Missouri State Dental Association in St. Louis, May 1933. However, after the meeting, when the State association adopted the new plans, the Southwest Society with the Springfield Society began to plan for the reorganization. At the request of Joplin dentists, a committee of Springfield and Joplin dentists met unofficially in Springfield and informally discussed plans for reorganization. To save time at a meeting that should be called for that purpose, a sub-committee was named and asked to have ready essentials of new by-laws to be offered to that meeting. The Southwest Society had already arranged to hold a joint meeting with the Southeast Kansas District and the Northeast Oklahoma District in Joplin at the time of their annual meeting, so the Springfield Society agreed to meet with them without disturbing the literary program, and to have a joint business meeting with the Southwest District Dental Society and to reorganize. This was done October 10, 1933. Tentative by-laws were adopted. The Springfield members, through the joint committee, had proposed a plan to hold the annual meetings alternate the selection of the officers. Following that plan, the organization elected Lura Paul Hyde, Springfield, president; Oric B. Brite, Joplin, president-elect; D. Raymond Kingery, Springfield, secretary-treasurer; Dean H. Phelps, Nevada, member of the Executive Council of Missouri State Dental Association; and selected Springfield for the place of the next annual meeting. It was decided to hold meetings quarterly. Two such meetings were held, one in Springfield, January 17, 1934, and one in Joplin, April 18. At the latter meeting, Wilfrey W. English, speaking for the old Southwest District, explained that it was the judgment of that society that it would be better to operate as formerly, and that they had petitioned that Missouri State Dental Association to restore, as a separate society, their district as formerly, except the loss of the west half of Lawrence County and the addition on the north of the Counties for Verona and Cedar. The State association, in annual session in Kansas City the following month granted their petition. This left the Springfield District as it had been previously except the gain of the west half of Lawrence County and the loss of Camden and Pulaski to the new Central District, with Texas, Howell, and Oregon Counties to the Southeast District. However, since the Springfield District was to be continued, and because it was more convenient for them, the dentists of Texas and Howell Counties asked to be restored to that district. After this the Springfield District Dental Society confirmed that election of President Lura Paul Hyde and D. Raymond Kingery, secretary-treasurer. A new constitution and by-laws were adopted, the organization completed and monthly meetings resumed as formerly. In its activities, this society has had its struggles, but in the main it has kept faith with the high ideals that called it into being. The members have been interested in scientific study and in development worthy of the profession. It has been a practical and definite means for broadening the judgment, and of adding to the efficiency of the individual dentist, and a means of making better guardians of the public health. Many talented persons, physicians, and dentists from here and elsewhere, have contributed to the local programs and many members have been interested in scientific study and in development encouraged in different ways. Occasional dinner meeting have been help, sometimes with the Ladies Auxiliary and also with other guests. This society has rendered public service in social, medical, and dental surveys; it has made careful examination of school childrens teeth, and has given considerable free dental service. When the young men in this territory were drafted for service in the World War, many of them were given free dental attention before going to boot camp. The founders of the society elected officers in the autumn of 1905, their official term ending with the annual meeting in 1906. Following this order, those who have served as president and secretary-treasurer are as follows: Year President 1906 William E. Tucker, Sr. Springfield 1907 Robert E. Darby Springfield 1908 Ralph H. McCrum Springfield 1909 William R. Anderson Springfield 1910 Howell Boatner Springfield 1911 Richard Jefferson Winn Bolivar 1912 T. J. Umbarger Springfield 1913 Harry Clyde Kitchell Springfield 1914 G. W. Musgrave Ash Grove 1915 W. Ed. Tucker, Jr. Springfield 1916 John L. Wetzel Springfield 1917 E. G. Schmitt Springfield 1918 J. Benton McBride Springfield 1919 Jesse Hayes Coffman Ava 1920 Jesse Virgil Boswell Springfield 1921 J. B. Leekinzy Aurora 1922 R. T. Peak Springfield 1923 Judson Hugh Hewlett Aurora 1924 Leroy Williams Springfield 1925 F. J. Johnson Lebanon 1926 W. T. Avery Springfield 1927 Charles B. Holt Springfield 1928 James Arthur Roper Ozark 1929 Paul R. Nolting Springfield 1930 Eugene Jordan Hume Springfield 1931 Mathew C. Amyx West Plains 1932 W. E. Lockwood Springfield 1933 Norton J. Scott Mountain Grove 1934 Lura Paul Hyde Springfield 1935 Frank Oviatt Raney, Sr. Springfield 1936 Clyde Emmett Blythe Aurora 1937 D. Raymond Kingery Springfield President Elect 1937 O. L. Cardwell Marshfield Secretary-Treasurer 1906-1908 J. A. James Springfield 1909-1910 T. T. Umbarger Springfield 1911 H. C. Kitchell Springfield 1912 H. D. Johnson Springfield 1913-1917 T. G. Plummer Springfield 1918 V. R. Wheeler Springfield 1919-1925 Howell Boatner Springfield 1926-1928 R. P. Smith Springfield 1929 J. V. Boswell Springfield 1930-1935 D. R. Kingery Springfield 1936 Jack E. Hume Springfield 1937 Jack E. 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