The citizens of Gratiot and vicinity were startled Tuesday morning, July 3, 1917, when the news flashed around that Dr. Birkbeck had passed away. His death occurred about 6:00 AM, an hour after arising from a seemingly peaceful slumber.
When dressed he felt somewhat indisposed and said to his wife he would go to the office and get some medicine. Upon returning he walked around a while and sat down and was sipping a cup of hot water when the final summons came. The day previous was spent as usual paying his daily calls on the sick and attending the general routine of office duties.
In the evening he attended the annual school meeting, where as president of the Board of Education he spent an hour or so with the other members examining the premises, libraries, etc., after which he took an active part in the meeting. He retired early and apparently the best of health.
Dr. Birkbeck was born Nov. 18, 1866, at Millberg, Ill. His early life was spent on the farm where he developed habits of industry and integrity, which in after years served him well and working out problems in overcoming obstacles incidental to his chosen profession.
He attended the district school where his bright intellect was soon recognized by his various teachers. After completing the elementary course here he entered the Galena high school where he graduated with honors. He followed the profession of teaching for a time and next entered the College of Pharmacy at Keokuk, Iowa where he received the degree of ? H.G. After this he took up the study of medicine at the Medical College of Des Moines, Iowa, where he finished as M. D. In 1898. In the spring of the same year, he located at Gratiot, where the last 19 years of his life were spent.
In Nov. 1899, he was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Lauterbach of Gratiot, who still survives him. Of this union five children were born, Cyril, Norman, Helen, Lucile and Virginia. All living except Lucile who died in infancy.
The pen falters in an attempt to do justice to this beloved man, friend and doctor. Every man, woman and child in the community personally knew and loved Dr. Birkbeck. Always on duty, studious, ever ready, day or night, to respond to the call of the afflicted. No night too dark nor stormy, no roads too rough or heavy, no obstacle that could not be overcome, if his mission and relieving pain and misery could be fulfilled. Aside from his profession he was always ready to advance every proposition for the uplifting and betterment of the village. He served as president of the council for a number of terms and have been a member of the Board of Education for many years.
With his immediate family he is survived by an aged father, three sisters, Mrs. Thomas Graham, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. P. Bartel, and two brothers, Benjamin and Thomas, all of Galena, Ill.
His funeral was conducted by the I.O.O.F. and took place Thursday morning from his late home, interment being made at the cemetery in Gratiot. The Rev. Yundt of Galena, Ill., officiated. Hymns were sung from the ranks of the R.N.A., of which he was a member.
Dr. Birkbeck was also affiliated with the American Medical Association, the M. W. A. and was chairman elect of the Gratiot chapter of the Red Cross. His funeral was largely attended. A number of physicians from the neighboring towns were present.
The pallbearers were Drs. Peck, Czbulka of Gratiot, Shockley, Scott and Quinn.
Darlington Democrat 19 Jul 1917
Contributor Audrey Quinn Porter Fag#47005894
When dressed he felt somewhat indisposed and said to his wife he would go to the office and get some medicine. Upon returning he walked around a while and sat down and was sipping a cup of hot water when the final summons came. The day previous was spent as usual paying his daily calls on the sick and attending the general routine of office duties.
In the evening he attended the annual school meeting, where as president of the Board of Education he spent an hour or so with the other members examining the premises, libraries, etc., after which he took an active part in the meeting. He retired early and apparently the best of health.
Dr. Birkbeck was born Nov. 18, 1866, at Millberg, Ill. His early life was spent on the farm where he developed habits of industry and integrity, which in after years served him well and working out problems in overcoming obstacles incidental to his chosen profession.
He attended the district school where his bright intellect was soon recognized by his various teachers. After completing the elementary course here he entered the Galena high school where he graduated with honors. He followed the profession of teaching for a time and next entered the College of Pharmacy at Keokuk, Iowa where he received the degree of ? H.G. After this he took up the study of medicine at the Medical College of Des Moines, Iowa, where he finished as M. D. In 1898. In the spring of the same year, he located at Gratiot, where the last 19 years of his life were spent.
In Nov. 1899, he was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Lauterbach of Gratiot, who still survives him. Of this union five children were born, Cyril, Norman, Helen, Lucile and Virginia. All living except Lucile who died in infancy.
The pen falters in an attempt to do justice to this beloved man, friend and doctor. Every man, woman and child in the community personally knew and loved Dr. Birkbeck. Always on duty, studious, ever ready, day or night, to respond to the call of the afflicted. No night too dark nor stormy, no roads too rough or heavy, no obstacle that could not be overcome, if his mission and relieving pain and misery could be fulfilled. Aside from his profession he was always ready to advance every proposition for the uplifting and betterment of the village. He served as president of the council for a number of terms and have been a member of the Board of Education for many years.
With his immediate family he is survived by an aged father, three sisters, Mrs. Thomas Graham, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. P. Bartel, and two brothers, Benjamin and Thomas, all of Galena, Ill.
His funeral was conducted by the I.O.O.F. and took place Thursday morning from his late home, interment being made at the cemetery in Gratiot. The Rev. Yundt of Galena, Ill., officiated. Hymns were sung from the ranks of the R.N.A., of which he was a member.
Dr. Birkbeck was also affiliated with the American Medical Association, the M. W. A. and was chairman elect of the Gratiot chapter of the Red Cross. His funeral was largely attended. A number of physicians from the neighboring towns were present.
The pallbearers were Drs. Peck, Czbulka of Gratiot, Shockley, Scott and Quinn.
Darlington Democrat 19 Jul 1917
Contributor Audrey Quinn Porter Fag#47005894
The citizens of Gratiot and vicinity were startled Tuesday morning, July 3, 1917, when the news flashed around that Dr. Birkbeck had passed away. His death occurred about 6:00 AM, an hour after arising from a seemingly peaceful slumber.
When dressed he felt somewhat indisposed and said to his wife he would go to the office and get some medicine. Upon returning he walked around a while and sat down and was sipping a cup of hot water when the final summons came. The day previous was spent as usual paying his daily calls on the sick and attending the general routine of office duties.
In the evening he attended the annual school meeting, where as president of the Board of Education he spent an hour or so with the other members examining the premises, libraries, etc., after which he took an active part in the meeting. He retired early and apparently the best of health.
Dr. Birkbeck was born Nov. 18, 1866, at Millberg, Ill. His early life was spent on the farm where he developed habits of industry and integrity, which in after years served him well and working out problems in overcoming obstacles incidental to his chosen profession.
He attended the district school where his bright intellect was soon recognized by his various teachers. After completing the elementary course here he entered the Galena high school where he graduated with honors. He followed the profession of teaching for a time and next entered the College of Pharmacy at Keokuk, Iowa where he received the degree of ? H.G. After this he took up the study of medicine at the Medical College of Des Moines, Iowa, where he finished as M. D. In 1898. In the spring of the same year, he located at Gratiot, where the last 19 years of his life were spent.
In Nov. 1899, he was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Lauterbach of Gratiot, who still survives him. Of this union five children were born, Cyril, Norman, Helen, Lucile and Virginia. All living except Lucile who died in infancy.
The pen falters in an attempt to do justice to this beloved man, friend and doctor. Every man, woman and child in the community personally knew and loved Dr. Birkbeck. Always on duty, studious, ever ready, day or night, to respond to the call of the afflicted. No night too dark nor stormy, no roads too rough or heavy, no obstacle that could not be overcome, if his mission and relieving pain and misery could be fulfilled. Aside from his profession he was always ready to advance every proposition for the uplifting and betterment of the village. He served as president of the council for a number of terms and have been a member of the Board of Education for many years.
With his immediate family he is survived by an aged father, three sisters, Mrs. Thomas Graham, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. P. Bartel, and two brothers, Benjamin and Thomas, all of Galena, Ill.
His funeral was conducted by the I.O.O.F. and took place Thursday morning from his late home, interment being made at the cemetery in Gratiot. The Rev. Yundt of Galena, Ill., officiated. Hymns were sung from the ranks of the R.N.A., of which he was a member.
Dr. Birkbeck was also affiliated with the American Medical Association, the M. W. A. and was chairman elect of the Gratiot chapter of the Red Cross. His funeral was largely attended. A number of physicians from the neighboring towns were present.
The pallbearers were Drs. Peck, Czbulka of Gratiot, Shockley, Scott and Quinn.
Darlington Democrat 19 Jul 1917
Contributor Audrey Quinn Porter Fag#47005894
When dressed he felt somewhat indisposed and said to his wife he would go to the office and get some medicine. Upon returning he walked around a while and sat down and was sipping a cup of hot water when the final summons came. The day previous was spent as usual paying his daily calls on the sick and attending the general routine of office duties.
In the evening he attended the annual school meeting, where as president of the Board of Education he spent an hour or so with the other members examining the premises, libraries, etc., after which he took an active part in the meeting. He retired early and apparently the best of health.
Dr. Birkbeck was born Nov. 18, 1866, at Millberg, Ill. His early life was spent on the farm where he developed habits of industry and integrity, which in after years served him well and working out problems in overcoming obstacles incidental to his chosen profession.
He attended the district school where his bright intellect was soon recognized by his various teachers. After completing the elementary course here he entered the Galena high school where he graduated with honors. He followed the profession of teaching for a time and next entered the College of Pharmacy at Keokuk, Iowa where he received the degree of ? H.G. After this he took up the study of medicine at the Medical College of Des Moines, Iowa, where he finished as M. D. In 1898. In the spring of the same year, he located at Gratiot, where the last 19 years of his life were spent.
In Nov. 1899, he was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Lauterbach of Gratiot, who still survives him. Of this union five children were born, Cyril, Norman, Helen, Lucile and Virginia. All living except Lucile who died in infancy.
The pen falters in an attempt to do justice to this beloved man, friend and doctor. Every man, woman and child in the community personally knew and loved Dr. Birkbeck. Always on duty, studious, ever ready, day or night, to respond to the call of the afflicted. No night too dark nor stormy, no roads too rough or heavy, no obstacle that could not be overcome, if his mission and relieving pain and misery could be fulfilled. Aside from his profession he was always ready to advance every proposition for the uplifting and betterment of the village. He served as president of the council for a number of terms and have been a member of the Board of Education for many years.
With his immediate family he is survived by an aged father, three sisters, Mrs. Thomas Graham, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. P. Bartel, and two brothers, Benjamin and Thomas, all of Galena, Ill.
His funeral was conducted by the I.O.O.F. and took place Thursday morning from his late home, interment being made at the cemetery in Gratiot. The Rev. Yundt of Galena, Ill., officiated. Hymns were sung from the ranks of the R.N.A., of which he was a member.
Dr. Birkbeck was also affiliated with the American Medical Association, the M. W. A. and was chairman elect of the Gratiot chapter of the Red Cross. His funeral was largely attended. A number of physicians from the neighboring towns were present.
The pallbearers were Drs. Peck, Czbulka of Gratiot, Shockley, Scott and Quinn.
Darlington Democrat 19 Jul 1917
Contributor Audrey Quinn Porter Fag#47005894
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