My Genealogy Hound

ROBERTS, ABEL CUMMINGS, M. D., was born in Queensbury Tp., Warren Co., N. Y., Jan. 15, 1830; he was the fifth child of Jonathan and Melita (Cummings) Roberts, who had a family of fourteen; in his youth, he attended the winter district schools, and, in the summer, worked on his father’s farm; as he grew older and advanced in education, he attended the High School at Adrian, Mich., for one term, but most of his studies were pursued at odd times at home; he selected medicine as a profession, and bent all his energies to acquire a sufficient degree of knowledge to enable him to properly pursue it; after making such progress as he could with this end in view, he attended lectures during the winter of 1850-51 at the University of Michigan; his means being too limited to complete his studies, he went to the Eldorado of America — California — where he spent two years; in 1853, having accumulated a considerable sum, he returned, again attended lectures at the University, and graduated as M. D. in 1854; the same year, he began to practice in Otsego, Mich.; in 1859, he removed to Fort Madison, and engaged actively in the practice of his profession; in 1862, he was appointed Contract Surgeon in the Government Hospital at Keokuk; in March, 1863, he was commissioned Surgeon to the 21st Missouri Regiment, and served with it until mustered out in April, 1866; returning home, he resumed practice; the doctor is a man of wide popularity, and, in 1869, was elected Treasurer of the county, holding the office for six successive years; in 1873, he was elected Mayor of Fort Madison. He was united in marriage, in 1854, to Emily A. Cole, of Ann Arbor, Mich., but a native of New York; they have three children — all sons — Frank, the oldest, is a physician, now a partner in practice with his father; Dr. Roberts is often called upon to perform important surgical operations on patients from a distance; this was particularly the case since his return from service in the army, when he found a number of cases waiting for him; he has, for instance, ligated successfully the left subclavian artery, and performed many other capital operations; he was in all the battles in Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama; after each, the medical officers were kept busy operating for several days and nights without rest; when the army was disbanded, he returned home and was appointed Pension Surgeon; but being then, as now, owner and editor of the Fort Madison Democrat, he was deposed, for political reasons, in 1876; he is a member of the Iowa Medical Society, and was a delegate from it to the American Medical Association, in 1871; he was Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, in 1862-63, and delivered two courses of lectures; the doctor is a man of great mental activity and untiring industry and perseverance, and popular and successful in whatever he undertakes. He is a member of the Masonic order, and at present High Priest of the Chapter at Fort Madison, a member of the Fort Madison Medical Association, American Medical Association and an honorary member of the California State Medical Society.