Joseph Nash McDowell

McDowell, Joseph Nash, one of the most eminent of Ayestern surgeons, was born in 1805, and died in St. Louis in 1868. He was well educated, studied medicine, ami first practiced at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was associated with Drs. Drake, Gross and other distinguished physicians in the conduct of the Cincinnati Medical College. He came to St. Louis in 1840, and soon afterward founded as the medical department of Kemper College, what later became known as McDowell's Medical College. Dr. McDowell was a man of many eccentricities, but of great ability. He was not only one of the most skillful surgeons of his day, but was a polished orator, and had a happy faculty of adapting himself to any audience.

McDowell Medical Collegre. — This institution was established in St. Louis in

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1840 by Dr. J. N. McDowell, who had associated with him in the advancement of the enterprise Dr. John S. Moore, of Tennessee. These two physicians organized a medical faculty to work under the charter of Kemper College, and their institution was first known as the "Medical Department of Kemper College." Its first session opened in November of 1840, with a class of thirty-seven members. This session was held in a building at the corner of Ninth and Cerre Streets, which subsequently became the Wainwright brewery. In 1847 Dr. McDowell erected the building at the corner of Eighth and Gratiot Streets, which became famous on account of its peculiar style of architecture and the historic events of which it was the center in later years. As an educational institution the college was prosperous from the date of its founding, and soon became one. of the leading medical colleges of the West. It was made the medical department of the State University of Missouri in 1847, and retained that connection with the university until 1857. Soon after the beginning of the Civil War the pronounced Southern sympathies of Dr. McDowell brought down upon him the heavy hand of the Federal government, and his college building was taken possession of and used first as a barracks and later as a military prison. In 1865 Dr. McDowell, who had been compelled to leave St. Louis, returned to that city and reorganized the college, with himself at the head of the faculty and in the position which he had formerly held in that connection. After his death the college was moved to the corner of Sixth and Elm Streets. After that it underwent various changes until the reorganization was effected which made it the Missouri Medical College. The institution was then transferred to a new building at the corner of Twenty-third Street and Lucas Avenue.

McElhiniiey, John W., lawyer, banker and judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Missouri, was born February 4, 1851, in St. Ijouis County, near Manchester, son of Alexander and Martha J. (Hibler) McElhinney. His mother was a native of the same County, and his father was born in Pennsylvania. The elder McElhinney came from the Keystone State to Missouri and settled in St. Louis County about 1845. He was a schoolteacher in early life, but later was admitted

Vol. IV— 17 to the bar and practiced his profession in St. Louis County. He also served as a justice of the peace and as a member of the Legislature. The son obtained his early education in the public schools near his home, and later attended the public schools of St. Louis., For one year he was a student at the famous old-time educational institution known as "Wyman's City University," in St. Louis. In i8i57 he went to Amherst, Massachusetts, and was fitted for college under a private tutor. The year following he entered Amherst College, and was gduated from that institution in the class of 1872. Returning to St. Louis after completing his collegiate course, he taut school for two years, and then matriculated in the St Louis Law School, from which he was graduated in 1876. He was admitted to the bar the same year, and began the practice of his profession in St. Louis County. Thereafter he was continuously engaged in professional labor until he relinquished his practice to enter upon the discharge of official duties. After the separation of St. Louis County from the city of St. Louis, which took place soon after his admission to the bar, his practice was largely in the newly organized county, and was general in character. Natural capability and a finished education combined to make him an able and accomplished practitioner and a wise counselor, and he has long been recognized as one of the leaders of the bar in that portion of the State. A judicial temperament, thorough knowledge of the law, rigid integrity and eminent fairness in everything, caused him to be regarded both by his contemporaries at the bar and the general public as a man admirably fitted to adorn the bench, and in 1900 he was nominated for judge of the Circuit Court for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Missouri. From the time he became a voter he had been an active member of the Republican party, and he was nominated for the judgeship on this ticket. So highly was he esteemed, however, by his political opponents, that they made no nomination against him, and he was elected without opposition. In business affairs Judge McElhinney has been no less prominent than as a member of the bar. He was connected with the St. Louis County Bank, at Qayton, shortly after its organization, and in 1891 became a director, and afterward vice president of that institution. Later he was made

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president of the bank and still fills that position. He was brought up a Presbyterian, but in later years has been independent in his religious views. For many years he has been a member of the Mt. Olive Saengerbund, a German singing society at Qa)rton, serving as a member of its executive board, and during one year as president. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Honor and the Legion of Honor. June 8, 1887, Judge McElhinney married Mary E. Suter, daughter of John J. and Lucy Suter, of Palmyra, Missouri. Their children are Lucy May, Robert W. and Herbert G. McElhinney.

As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.