Richard Botsford (1872-1907)

BOTSFORD

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/15/2023 at 22:14:30

Richard Botsford, M. D.
(June 20, 1872 - August 30, 1907)

Although one of the young members of the medical profession in Calhoun County, Dr. Botsford's ability does not seem to be limited by his years and he has already attained a very high position in the ranks of the medical fraternities. He was born in Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa, June 20, 1872, and is the son of A. N. and Mary (Scotts) Botsford. The father was a native of Connecticut and in the year 1868 came to Iowa, locating in Fort Dodge, where he is now engaged in the practice of law. He married Miss Scott, who was born on the steamer in which her parent were crossing the Atlantic from Scotland to the new world. During the Civil war the Doctor's father served as a quartermaster in the Union Army. He is now a well known attorney at Fort Dodge and has a distinctively representative clientage. Geis, the only brother of our subject, is now city editor of the Des Moines Leader, published at Des Moines,
Iowa. In the public schools of his native town the Doctor acquired his early education and at the age of seventeen he entered the State Military Institute in Burlington, Vermont, where he was graduated with the class of June 1894. Determining to make the practice of medicine his life work, in the fall of that year he entered the State University of Vermont and was graduated in the medical department in July 1898, with the degree of M. D. He then returned to his native state, where he opened an office and engaged in practice until November 1900, when desiring to perfect himself in his chosen calling he returned to his alma mater and pursued the post-graduate course. On the 25th of April 1901, he came to Lake City, where he opened an office. Little more than a year has passed and he has already gained a good clientage from among the best families of the city and surrounding district. From the 1st of September 1897, until January 1, 1898, he took clinical and ward work in the Cook County Hospital of Chicago and has broadened his knowledge of the practical methods of treating diseases and of performing surgical operations. He has a wide and comprehensive knowledge of the science, which he is making his life work, and does everything in his power to advance his profession and render his services more effective and valuable in the important task of restoring health.
On the 15th of September, 1898, the Doctor was married to Anna Goodsel, the daughter of E. R. Goodsel of Burlington, Vermont. He is a well known contractor and now has charge of the breakwater on
Lake Champlain. One child graced the marriage of the Doctor and his wife: Mary, who was born December 20, 1899, and is the life and light of the household. Our subject is identified with the K. P. fraternity and with the Knights of the Maccabees and in the line of his profession, he belongs to the Fort Dodge Medical Society. On the first of January 1899, he was appointed city and county physician for the term of one year. He is yet a young man and the future undoubtedly holds in store for him success for he is ambitious, determined and capable.
[Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.527]