The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-16

little thought that DR.. Weschckofe
New Ulm could possibly be with us.
Just before we opened our meeting
we saw from Main street lone man
on horseback advance to the river 8
side. He plunged his horse into the
water and it swan splendidly across
the river. We met him on the Makato
side. and behold to our establishment
it was Young DR.. Weschcke of New
Ulm. as wet as rat The doctor
staid with us two days and assisted in
organizing the first medical society Of
Minnesota valley, called the Mime
sofa Valley Medical Medical society.
The Doctor has always been popular
in his own city and county. He is
now n wears of age which rests upon
his shoulders kindly. He is the pres
emit mayor of New Ulm.
Written for the Minnesota Valley
Medical society, May 9Th, 1902, by DR..
il. W. B. Welcome Sr.
DR.. Alfred Muller of New Ulm.
In writing up the history of this
celebrated physician and surgeon l am
aware that I am not able to do him
full Justice. He was borL in Switzer-
land in 1S-and received classical
education previous to entering the
medical department. of Berne univer-
sity from which he graduated in 1862.
Having fully equipped himself for
the practice of medicine and surgery
he thought that the United States
would be the best field for his profess
sional work. In about 1855 he sailed
to the U. s. and landed at Saltwater,
MINI. He hung out his shingle at
once and commenced the practice of
medicine and continued in that city
till he was appointed assistant sur
geon in the U. S. army and stationed
at Fl. Ridgley in 1851. He remained
government surgeon at this post for six
years. He was in that memorable
battle with the Sioux Indians in
August, 1862. 1t was battle that
tried men and women's hearts, a bat.
tie whose record will always be kept.
During the fight three hundred wo-
men and children lay fiat on their
faces in little out building for hours
without food or water, during which
time three children were born in this
little building. Col. Sheehan who
commanded the fort says: 1t was in
this trying place that Dr. Muller
showed his ability and skill as a
surgeon. He continued his work
through the din of battle, expecting
every moment to lose his own scalp by
the Sioux devils. 1t is said of him
that he never faltered through the
entire siege, assisted by that noted
American Nightingale. his wife. Dr.
Muller will always live in American
history in the part he took at Fort
t. hn -
Ulm, Brown county, where he opened
an Office and for years had large and
lucrative business He has always
considered one of the best surgeons
in the upper Minnesota valley, man
of sound judgment in his profession.
He treated with respect his brother
physicians that he considered worthy.
He loathed with the greatest abhor-
renee the quack, professionally OF
socially. For few years before his
departure for Switzerland he did but
little professional practice During
his practice in the Minnesota valley he
performed many wonderful operations
with great success, one of these was
the taking off of both arms and legs
of one Franklin, in 1858 at Ft. Ridg.
ley had been frozen, who now lives al
Blue Earth City, the man making q
complete recovery. The Doctor died
in Switzerland in 1899. Peace be &c
his ashes.
Dr. Jasper Bedient of kssson,
Mimi, entered into partnership with
DR.. W. r. McMahon, and practiced
two years or more and then concluded
to strike out for himself. He went tt
Madelia, Watonwan county, where be
remained one week. AS prospects in
that early day did not look very
bright at this place he concluded, al
he had a call from Kasson, from
one of the leading citizens,
to settle there for the practice of med
icine The doctor was very fine
scholar and man of ordinary ability,
excellent Judgment, and for youne
man a good diagnostician. He haG
many friends in Mankato, social
sds9e, keen in his perceptions, and 6
great reader of human nature. The
writer understands that he has made {
success at Kasson and stands high il
the medical profession, and is re
spected as a man and a physician
and member of the state medica
society. r