Dr. Martin E. Dittmer, of Colesburg, Iowa, is one of the representative and progressive medical practitioners in this county and holds the confidence and goodwill alike of the general public and of his professional colleagues. He was born in Clayton county, this state, August 9, 1862, and is a son of Ernest and Mary (Redlingshofer) Dittmer, more extended mention of whom is found in the sketch of Dr. H. A. Dittmer in this work.

        In 1866 the family removed to Delaware county and the subject of this review received his early education in the public schools. In the fall of 1883, when a young man of twenty one years, he began the study of medicine, entering Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, from which institution he was graduated in 1886 with the degree of M. D. He continued his study for a time, reading with Dr. Triern, and then began the practice of his profession at Earlville. After a few years spent at that place he removed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he lived for six years, but at the end of that time he came back to Colesburg and has since remained here. He is engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery and has to his credit a large percentage of cases cured. He is up to date in his methods and is careful in making a diagnosis to take into account all symptoms and the pathological history of the patient. His practice has increased steadily and many of the best people of the community are numbered among those who retain his services in case of sickness. He belongs to the county and state medical societies and to the American

 Medical Association, and in this way keeps abreast of the latest discoveries in the field of medical science and investigation.   

     On the 15th of June, 1887, Dr. Dittmer was married to Miss Virginia B. Wickersham, a daughter of James Wickersham, of Westville, Indiana. To Dr. and Mrs. Dittmer have been born four children: Howard, who is in the United States Navy; Lillian, who is taking nurses' training in Chicago; and Edgar and Theodore.
    Dr. Dittmer gives his political support to the republican party and is much interested in public affairs. For twelve or fifteen years he has been a member of the school board and, as he has made a careful study of educational needs and requirements, has proved very efficient in that capacity. He is not only respected as a physician but highly esteemed as a man, as his life is guided by high and honorable principles of conduct.