Organized Medicine in Clay County

The Clay County Medical Association was so named, before the less ponderous word "society" was in general use. It is the second oldest medical organization in the state, being founded in 1854, according to the best available data. It is therefore, in its sixty-sixth year of progress, and yields only to the St. Louis Medical Society in point of age.

When the serenity of "Old Glory" was menaced by the threat of a dangerous foe, the Clay County Medical Society sprang to arms as one man! Sometimes it takes war to show the stuff of which the civilian is made. "Every man a volunteer" became the slogan of the Clay County medical profession. The true M. D. does not need conscription when duty calls. I consider it an honor to name the following participants in the recent unparalleled war. Would that a better historian than I might have this privilege!

Dr. George M. Dagg, of North Kansas City, served during the entire war, was decorated with the Croix de Guerre and medals for distinguished service.

Dr. Burton Maltby, of Liberty, participated in the surgery of the awful conflict, and won medals for bravery in America's cause.

Dr. H. O. Leinhardt, of North Kansas City, one of the first to enlist, rendered efficient service.

Dr. John F. Grace, after intensive training, embarked, and did not come back "till it was over, over there."

 Excelsior Springs is proud of Dr. Grace. Dr. Roy H. Milligan, of Kearney, was one of the brave young men, who locked his office, without a word, and risked his life for America, in the American Expeditionary Forces, now famous.

None the less patriotic, and none the less deserving of our country's gratitude, were the boys who were ready to sail when the armistice was flashed over the wires:

With the rank of captain, Dr. J. E. Musgrave trained in Fort Riley and Camp Pike

Dr. Young D. Craven, at Leavenworth and Camp Dix

Dr. O. C. O'kell at Leavenworth and Camp Zachary Taylor

Dr. J. Ed. Baird, at Camp Oglethorpe

Dr. E. L. Parker, at Fort Riley

Lieutenant Dr. Andrew Grace trained at Fort Riley, and served regular at Salt Lake University

Dr. Roy W. Prather at Fort Riley, all the above from Excelsior Springs.

From Smithville,

Dr. E. C. Hill took intensive training at Camp Kearney;

Dr. Howard Calvert, ready at his country's call, trained at Fort Riley;

Dr. S. R. McCracken, then a senior medical student, joined the medical reserve corps, and was transferred to an army medical training school; was on duty when the armistice was signed.

Dr. George A. McCulloch trained at Fort Riley, from Excelsior Springs.

Dr. G. P. Alton, of Gashland, served in the medical corps, with honors, until the close of the war.

As may be imagined, the drain upon medical service in the well-populated areas was heavy, and the men, women, and children at home, were faced with a shortage of physicians. And the healthful climate of Clay County became saturated with the deadly germis of influenza.

The entire population was in danger. Thousands were stricken. It was then that the true physician battled, even beyond his strength. Gray heads and pudgy forms were traversing the country roads day and night, because duty demanded. These men were patriots as well:

At Excelsior Springs

At Liberty
Dr. E. H. Miller, Dr. J. H. Rothwell, Dr. R. E. Sevier

Members of Advisory Board
Dr. W. H. Goodson, Dr. W. L. Wysong, Dr. W. N. Cuthbertson,  Local Board"
At Holt
Dr. H. L. Tadlock
At Nashua
Dr. E. E. Peterson;
At Smithville
Dr. J. F. Rupe, Dr. Wicker, Dr. R. J. Woods
North Kansas City
Dr. H. M. Dagg

It remains to further illustrate the completeness of the Clay County Medical Society's war organization, for me to give the personnel of the Auxiliary Medical Defense Committee:

Many of the above quota of Medical Defense men and members of the Volunteer Medical Service Corps, held from one to four positions on the various war boards, without a single slacker or drafted man.

The necrology of the Clay County Medical Society must not be omitted in a history of this character. These men still live in the memories of their successors:

The present membership of the Clay County Medical Association is made up of thirty-nine participating physicians. The official roster for 1920 is, president, Dr. R. H. Milligan; vice-president. Dr. W. H. Goodson; secretary-treasurer. Dr. J. J. Gaines; censors, Drs. Burton Maltby, W. J. James, and W. H. Goodson. The meetings are held monthly, alternating between Liberty and Excelsior Springs, the last Monday evening in each month.

The period of the Civil War was not a favorable one for undisturbed medical reflection. But the Clay County Medical Society was not forgotten on the tented field, or within the crude hospitals of the dread conflict. And, when it was over, meetings were resumed, and re-organization perfected. Experiences in war-surgery were adapted to the restoration of civilian accidents, and the progress of "medical invention and discovery halted not, in its trend onward and upward."

Clay County| AHGP Missouri

Source: History of Clay County, Missouri, by W. H. Woodson, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, 1920.