The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-04-13
MANY MOURN PASSING OF
DR.. HENRY W. M'COMAS
Succumbs To Lingering Illness
After Intense Suffering; Fun
eral Service Held Yesterday
PRACTICED FOR so YEARS

PRACTlCED FOR so YEARS
DR.. Henry W. McComas, &C
lively identified with community
life, and who served this area as
a medical practitioner for more
than fifty years, died at the resi-
dence of his son, R. Carlton Nc
Comas, Route PIG, on Monday
morning, April 10, at 11:30
o'clock, following an illness Of
year. DR.. McComas had been
belfast for more than two
months suffering intensely as
the result af an incurable NAL
ady, Notwithstanding the efforts
of medical and surgical special
lists to stay the progress of the
disease. Many hundreds mourn
his passing.
DR.. McComas was born in Oakland
on February II, 1866, son of the late
DR.. J. Lee McComas and Ellen
Wheeler McComas, natives of Balti
more, who came to Oakland at the
close of the Civil War. He was aged
70 years.
DR.. McComas received his early edu-
cation in the public schools of Oak
land, subsequently attending the UNI
versity of West Virginia and later the
Penlucy School at Baltimore, at that
time under the direction of Colonel
johnson. AS his ambition led to the
medical profession he entered the
medical department of the University
of Maryland and was graduated April
II, 1888, with the degree of MD.
Upon completion of his profess
sional education he returned to Oak
land where he established himself in
the general practice of medicine. A
close and thorough student, and pos
sessing an inherent love of his pro-
fession, he attained a high standing
among physicians Of the county and
was recognized by all as one of the
most able practitioners in this section
of Maryland.
DR.. McComas, even in his early days
as a physician did many delicate sur
gical operations and later established
a hospital here which was patronized
by residents for number of years.
On January 81 of the present year,
at the annual meeting of the Allegany-
Garrett Medical Society in Cumber-
land, DIR. McComas was honored for
his service as a physician. His col
leagues paid tribute to him for his
fifty years. practice and praised him
for skill and courage which saved the
lives of many man, woman and child
on prosperous farms or in mountain
cabins of Garrett county. Leaders OF
the profession told how DR.. McComas
pioneered in kitchen-tabe surgery at a
time when there was no hospital IN
Garrett county and for lack of trans
DOraUlOQ 1dClllIleS IOoploetIo III Yum
berland might as well have been as
far distant as five hundred miles. They
told also there was no hope for the dy-
ing except in this country doctors kit
of instruments and a few walls of
drugs. He was presented at that time
with big silver platter with names
of members of the society engraved
upon it. He at the time of the meeting
was a patient in Memorial Hospital
in Cumberland, but he attended the
meeting and related some of his ex-
times when he rode as
many as seven hours on horseback
through blizzards to relieve distress.
Politically DIR. McComas was Re-
publican and was actively identified
with his party. He served two terms
as a member of the Oakland Town
Council and as Mayor of Oakland dur
ing 1896 and 1897. He was a former
State Senator from this county and at
the time of his death was a member
of the Maryland State Conservation
Commission, having been appointed
on that important commission by
former Governor Harry w. Nice. He
was interested in the wildlife of the
county many years before being
appointed to the Conservation Com
mission and since his appointment had
done many things tending to improve
! conditions along these lines.
He was not only active in the prac-
tice of medicine and in politics, but
had been identified with number OF
community interests. He was charter
member of Garrett Lodge, No. 1l3,
Knights of Pythias, and in October
would have been a member of that or
ganization for fifty years. He was
one of the organizers of the Oakland
Rotary Club and it's first president. He
was a member of the Methodist church
and served officially on the Board OF