Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-09-11
FORMER RESIDENT
DIED AT OMAHA
WAS PROMINENT PHYSICIAN IN
HOME TOWN WHERE HE WAS
A LEADING FIGURE

will be panied to learn of the death
of DR.. G.. II. Rathbun of Fremont,
Neb., son of Mrs. John Davis of
this city. The Fremont Evening
Tribune under date of SEPTEMBER 5
has the following concerning the life
OF DIR. Rathbun:
'Dr. Grove H Rathbun one ofthe
best known surgeons in the state
this morning at 1920 o'clock. His
condition had been critical for the
last three weeks and while physi-
clans, including the leading special
its of the country, who were called
in on the case, entertained some
hope the last few days that he might
survive the end was not unexpected.
He was 38 years of age.
DR.. Rathbun during his compare
lively brief residence in Fremont
made a host of friends. He was
unusually popular with members of
the medical profession and his
friends were limited by his &C
quaintances. When it became known
that he was i'll and that his condi-
tion was serious expressions of re-
greet could be heard on all sides.
First symptoms of the ailment, an
Infection Of the hip bone developed
soon after his return from the army
last spring. At first he thought lit
tie of the trouble and continued his
duties. About the middle OF June
his condition became such he was
forced to take trip to Rochester,
Mimi, and Chicago to consult spe-
cialists. On his yeturn he stopped
at Omaha for treatment for two
weeks, coming to Fremont a month
ago. He remained here for a week
and three weeks ago returned to
Omaha
4 Since that time he grew weaker
gradually, complications setting in
that lessened his chance of recovery.
Through all his suffering DR.. Rath-
bun bore up bravely and endeavored
to issue members of the family and
FELLOW surgeons and physicians that
he would pull through.
The best surgeons and specialists
in the country were called into con-
suit with in regard to his case and
every treatment known to medical
skill was resorted to. ONLY tenn
porary relief was given.
Y DR. Rathbun was born at Extra.
Ia. and attended the schools of that
place. After graduating from the
high school of Extra he entered the
Omaha medical college where he
completed the course at the age of
III. He was attracted to the Black
Hills country by the rush to the
gold fields and went there to locate
after graduating. from the Omaha
institute. He entered the employ Of
the Homestake Mining company as
head surgeon at the company's hos
pital. Four months later he went to
the Cloverleaf Gold Mining COM
panv as surgeon at Lead City.
A year after he went to the Black
Hills he was married to Miss Mollie
Macarthur. the wedding taking place
at Lead City. Mrs. Rathbun was
head nurse at the hospital DR.. Rath-
bun was running for the mining
company. In 1901 DIR. Rathbun
went to Belle Fourche where he con-
tinued the practice Of surgery with
increasing success. At Belle
Fourche he was associated with DR..
L. J. Townsend OF Sioux City, for
merly of Fremont
Looking for larger field DR..
Rathbun was attracted to Fremont
and on the recommendation OF
friends came here seven years ago.
At once gaining the confidence OF
the medical fraternity he soon built
up a large practice. His fame
spread to adjoining states and hun
dreds of persons came or were
brought to Fremont for treatment at
his hospital.
AS the result of the steady
growth of his patronage the need
for larger hospital facilities became
so urgent that he purchased the
block of ground on Nye avenue for
merly owned by John G. Cleland
and converted the large residence
into a hospital. He had plans for
a modern building to accommodate
large number of patients when
this country entered the war and he
offered his services.
Among the first Dodge county
physicians and surgeons to enlist
DR.. Rathbun was called into the SER
vice last fall II served for a pc
Rod at Camp Greenleaf. S. c.. and
during the Influenza epidemic was at
Camp Bowie.
Surviving are the widow and three
children. Grove. jeanette and San
ford and mother of Audubon. Iowa.
A brother, Howard resides at Gree
ley, Colo and sister. Mrs. II.
Lauritzen at Sandusky, Ohio.
Funeral services were held at Ere
mont last Friday afternoon and his
mother Mrs. John Davis of this city
was In attendance. returning to Au-
dubon Tuesday morning. She has
the sympathy of the entire commun-
ity in her hour of grief.