Henry Munson Dean

As printed in 1889

R. HENRY MUNSON DEAN, physician and surgeon, of Muscatine, and the eldest son of Henry and Almira (Munson) Dean, was born in Canaan, Litchfield Co., Conn., on the 8th day of November, 1836, and is descended on both sides from English ancestry. His paternal great-grandfather emigrated from England and settled in Canaan soon after the Revolution, where a large colony of his descendants still reside. His material ancestors emigrated at an early period to America, and some of them fought under Washington in the war for independence.

Our subject received his primary education in the public schools of his native village, and when thirteen years of age was sent to a private academy in the vicinity, where he studied the usual branches of learning, including the Latin language and higher mathematics. At the age of eighteen years he taught a district school, following that profession during that winter, and spending the summer months upon a farm. He commenced the study7 of medicine in 1857, under the direction of Dr. L. H. Aiken, at Falls Village, Conn., and subsequently attended two courses of lectures at the medical department of Columbia College, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, from which institution he was graduated with honors on the lath of March, 1861. He soon afterward commenced the practice of his chosen profession at Canaan Center, some two miles from the residence of his father, where he remained until 1862.

At that time Dr. Dean offered his services to the Government as a volunteer medical officer, and on being examined at New York City by a board of medical men, consisting of Dr. Valentine Mott, President; W. H. Van Buren, Secretary7; Thomas

H. Markoe, Austin Flint and H. B. Sands, he was ordered to Fortress Monroe, and thence was sent to Gen. McClellan at Harrison’s Landing, where he was assigned to the ist Massachusetss Infantry. He remained with that regiment, excepting a few days that he was with the 2d New York Infantry at the battle of Malvern Hill, until after the second battle of Bull Run, when, the 3d Corps Hospital being organized at Ft. Lyon, near Alexandria, Va., he was assigned to duty at that institution. He there remained until the spring of 1863, when the hospital was removed, and he was ordered to report to the medical director at Washington, D. C., by whom he was placed on duty in the Lincoln United States General Hospital of that city, on the 5th of February, 1863. He remained in that hospital over two years, the last six months having charge of Barrack Branch Hospital of over

I, 000 beds, which, although one-fourth of a mile nearer the capitol, was considered a portion of that institution. On the 20th of February, 1865, by order of the War Department, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the United States Veteran Volunteers, and assigned to duty with the ist Regiment, ist Brigade, and ist (Hancock's) Army Corps, and was with them in the field, where he was appointed Surgeon in Chief of the operating bureau of the corps, and remained as such until after the close of the war. He subsequently had charge of several military hospitals connected with the defense of Baltimore, including Fts. McHenry and Federal Hill, then under command of Gen. Hancock, until he was mustered out of service on the loth of January, 1866, having served in all some three years and six months.

As a military surgeon the record of Dr. Dean is second to that of no other man in the service. His fame as a successful operator was spread far and wide, and whenever a critical and peculiarly delicate operation in surgery7 was to be performed, Dr. Dean’s services were brought into requisition, if at all available. He was transferred from ward toward in Lincoln Hospital, as the exigencies of his service seemed to require, and his skill and success became so noted that he was ultimately placed in charge of the wards appropriated to disabled officers, and the most severe surgical cases. He served as Medical Inspector of Lincoln Hospital, as Superintendent of the pathological department of the hospital, as President of the board of officers for the examining of men recommended for furloughs, veteran reserve corps, for duty7 or for discharge from the service, and for pensions, and as a leading member of the council of the board of administration of the hospital. He was one of the most prominent and distinguished surgeons of his years and experience in the institution. In addition to his official duties in the hospital, which were of a most exacting nature. Dr. Dean prepared and furnished to the United States Army Medical Museum as large a number of rare and valuable specimens as any other contributor. Among the many items bearing his name in the great 6atalogue of the mu scum are the smallest and the largest hearts, the former weighing only five and a half ounces, and the largest seventeen and a quarter ounces. The body from which the smallest was taken weighed 160 pounds, and that from which the largest was taken weighed 155 pounds. Both men had been perfectly healthy and died from injuries received in the army. Dr. Dean is also credited with having contributed to the museum the only specimen of hernia of the stomach through the diaphragm into the left thoracic cavity. He has performed successfully nearly every operation hitherto known in military surgery. The testimonials as to his efficiency, skill and professional qualifications, contained in "general orders," and his private letters from those in highest rank, are both numerous and flattering, and may well be a source of just pride and gratification to himself and friends.

On retiring from the array Dr. Dean located at Sandwich, Ill., where he remained in practice for nine months, and on the 30th of February, 1867, moved to the city of Muscatine, which has since been his home, and where he has built up a large and a lucrative practice. He has held several honorable positions since coming to this city, among which is that of surgeon of the G. A. R. Post located here, which position he held as long as the organization lasted. At the reorganization he was again given the position, and he was also the first surgeon of the Veteran Association of Muscatine County. He was instrumental in organizing the Muscatine Medical Society, of which he has been Secretary, Treasurer and President. He has also been President of the Iowa and Illinois Central District Medical Society, which meets alternately at Davenport and Rock Island, and of the Eastern Iowa Central District Medical Society. He is now Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Iowa State Medical Society, is also a member of the American Medical Association, and was on two occasions one of the examiners of the medical department of the Iowa University. He is surgeon of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroads at this point, and is also surgeon of four accident insurance companies: The Travelers’, of Hartford, Conn.; the United States, of New York City; the AVorld’s Industrial, of Dubuque, Iowa; and the South Bend, formerly the American; also is the examiner for several life insurance companies. For twenty years Dr. Dean has been United States Pension Examiner at this place, and President of the board wherever there has been one. Politi call, he is a supporter of the Republican party.

On the 20th of June, 1866, the Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Emma Johnson, of

Phdadelphia, Pa., and by their union three children have been born — Harry Johnson, Lee Wallace and Ray Herbert. Dr. and Mrs. Dean are members of the Congregational Church.

To the most thorough qualifications as a physician, Dr. Dean adds promptness and energy in professional duty, and is ever ready, regardless of distance or weather, to render immediate attention to calls. An honest, upright man, fearless of censure, strong in the right, he not only enjoys the confidence and respect of the citizens of Muscatine County, but is held in the highest regard in the medical world wherever he is known.

ffiOHN ZEIGLER, formerly a leading and influential pioneer of Muscatine County, was born in Westmoreland Countv, Pa., Aiio. 29, 1803, and wien eleven years of age removed to Butler County, in the same State. He received scarcely any educational advantages, but was forced to obtain his knowledge from observe tion and study in later years. When fifteen years of age he began life’s battle as a clerk in a store, in which he remained for several years, when, attain ing his majority, he engaged in mercantile business for himself. While in Butler County he was united in marriage w’ith Miss Sarah Hoffa, who was born in Butler County. In 1839 he came West to view the country, with the intention of choosing a location, and the same year returned for his family. They traveled as far as Allegheny, Pa., but on account of low water, being then forced to make the trip in boats, as there were no railroads, they were compelled to remain in Allegheny until the following spring, when they continued their journey to the West, locating at Muscatine. Mr. Zeigler brought a stock of merchandise with him, and again embarked in that line of business in a rented store, but the following year erected a store building, his goods being kept in the lower story, the family residing above. He continued in business until 1846, when he removed to a farm, but in a short time returned to the city.

Mr. and Mrs. Zeigler were the parents of six children, who lived to man and womanhood: Anna

R., the wife of J. G. H. Little, of Muscatine County; George H., who enlisted in the 2d Iowa Cavalry, Company A, serving three years as Orderly Sergeant, when he veteranized and served until the close of the war, but died in 1874 from disease contracted while in the service; Mary E., wife of Eli Dawson, died in 1873; John, Jr., died Oct. 4, 1872, he having previously served in the late war, responding to the call for 100-days men; Isabella, wife of Thomas Morton, died in 1870; Stella M. is a resident of Muscatine. Mr. Zeigler was reared in the Methodist faith, and his wife as a Lutheran, but both were members of the former church formally years before their death. In early life he supported the Democratic party, but later affiliated with the Republican party, tie served as Secretary of the Agricultural Society for many years, was a man of strong convictions and decided in his views, and was held in high regard by all.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Muscatine County, Iowa (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.