| Notes |
- Dr. Erastus M. Drollinger, pioneer physician of South Bend died yesterday. The deceased was a native of this county and burial will be Sunday at Mill Creek, the old family home.
Erastus attended the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute, graduating in 1878, the same year he wed Mary Alice Jarrell. He quickly established his practice in South Bend, Indiana, where he practiced for 34 years. In an article in The Archives of Surgery, a peer-reviewed journal, Dr. Ira M. Rutkow describes eclectics as those "who used only botanical preparations in the treatment of disease and for preoperative and postoperative care." Dr. Rutkow's article is a brief biography of Andrew Jackson Howe, who he calls "the leading eclectic surgeon of his time." Erastus and his brother Schuyler, also a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Eclectic Medicine and Surgery, studied under Dr. Howe, the college's surgery chair 1858-1892. Dr. Rutkow writes that eclecticism "had its origins in mostly rural areas populated by the lower class," and that "most eclectic physicians were poorly trained."
Nonetheless, the Cincinnati College was probably the best place to become an eclectic physician. Bemoaning the training and education of physicians in America, the American Medical Association and Carnegie Foundation sponsored a two year investigative study of medical education. The resulting 1910 report of Dr. Abraham Flexner doomed many an educational institution, but Cincinnati's survived as the only one turning out eclectic physicians. The college did not flourish, however. A lack of research, the rise in allopathic medicine, and problems of accreditation dogged Cincinnati College. With enrollment and applications down the college graduated no one between 1929 and 1933. The Great Depression contributed to the general morbidity and in spite of a reorganization, the school closed forever in 1939.
Typical of the times, Erastus's office and his home were one in the same. Directories list him at 106 Michigan throughout his life. Besides being a physician, Erastus was the South Bend coroner for at least one year about the time of his mother's death. Although Erastus's office and residence are listed in a 1905 directory of South Bend, he is not in the physicians' list, nor is any occupation listed for him. He may have had a gap in his career, but this is more likely a directory error.
Typical of the times, Erastus's office and his home were one in the same. Directories list him at 106 Michigan throughout his life. Besides being a physician, Erastus was the South Bend coroner for at least one year about the time of his mother's death. Although Erastus's office and residence are listed in a 1905 directory of South Bend, he is not in the physicians' list, nor is any occupation listed for him. He may have had a gap in his career, but this is more likely a directory error.
Mary Elizabeth had penned a codicil to her will in 1890 giving Erastus's willed portion to his wife, her "beloved daughter-in-law, Mary Alice." Presumably Erastus at least helped take care of his mother in spite of their falling out because her estate paid a bill for his services. But another doctor also billed the estate, so one wonders if Mary Elizabeth had earlier disagreed with Erastus's care of her. Her will was so eccentric that the onset of some senility must also be considered.
Erastus's last directory listing was in 1912 when he was both a physician and surgeon. Also living with Erastus and Mary Alice in 1912 was daughter Mabel, a teacher. Erastus died 2 October 1913 in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana. Mary Alice probably died in 1924. in South Bend. She appears in the South Bend directories in 1916 (widow with daughter), 1920 (with daughter), and 1923 (without her daughter), but is not in any directory thereafter. No records of marriage or death have been found for Mabel and no record of death for Mary Alice, but they likely died soon after their last directory appearances. No cemetery records have been found for the family. They are not buried in the Sauktown Cemetery where many in Erastus's extended family rest. Mary Alice may have buried him wherever her family is or some place in South Bend yet undiscovered.
Kay Germain Ingalls 2003
South Bend Tribune Obituary
Saturday December 5, 1891
Found Dead in Bed
Sudden Death of Mrs. John M. Zeitler, of Clay Township
From the Daily Tribune of Thursday
Mr. John M. Zeitler, a well known farmer in Clay township, awakened this
morning and hearing their two-months-old babe crying, spoke to his wife.
Receiving no answer he touched her and was horrified to find her dead. He
aroused his children and one of the girls ran to the next neighbor, Mr. John P.
Pierce, for assistance. The members of the family as well as the neighbors
were greatly overcome by her sudden death. The night before she was at work as
usual, and said she had not felt well in years. She had arranged to go Mr.
Phillip Strickler's (a neighbor's), to-day along with other neighbors to a
butchering bee. She had been troubled with heart failure, and (CORONER DROLLINGER) Coroner Drollinger (CORONER, DROLLINGER) , who reviewed the remains this forenoon decided that was the cause of her death.
Mrs. Zeitler was a daughter of Mrs. and the late Joshua Johnson and brother of
ex-Trustee John Q. Johnson, of Clay township. Her grand-father's family was
one of the first whole families to settle in South Bend. Sarah, or "Sadie' as
she was familiarily (sic) known, was about 52 years old and leaves six
children, all girls, the oldest about twenty and the youngest but two months.
Although a delicate looking lady, Mrs. Zietler (sic) had a great deal of
vitality, loved her home, husband and children and was an adorable wife and
mother. He loss will not only be greatly felt by her family, her aged mother,
brothers and sisters, but by the neighbors among whom she had lived all her
life.
The funeral will take place from the Ullery church one mile north of the city,
near her home, on Saturday forenoon at ten o'clock.
"Typical of the times, Erastus's office and his home were one in the same. Directories list him at 106 Michigan throughout his life. Besides being a physician, Erastus was the South Bend coroner for at least one year about the time of his mother's death. Although Erastus's office and residence are listed in a 1905 directory of South Bend, he is not in the physicians' list, nor is any occupation listed for him. He may have had a gap in his career, but this is more likely a directory error." (Email response from Gordon L. Drollinger to me, David H. Drollinger, dated 13 Dec 2013)
|
1853 - 1913 (60 years)
