My Genealogy Hound

J. W. COAKLEY, M. D.
Dr. J. W. Coakley, physician and surgeon of Creston, and the senior partner of the firm of J. W. Coakley & Sons, proprietors of the Coakley Public Hospital, was born at Bangor, Maine, on the 12th of October, 1860, and after spending the first thirteen years of his life in the Pine Tree state, accompanied his parents to Winterset, Madison county, Iowa, where he completed his literary education in the public schools. Having determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, in 1879 and 1880 he attended the Kansas City Medical College of Kansas City, Missouri, and in 1883 was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago. He has always been a student, and in 1893 he graduated from the Barnes Medical college of St. Louis, Missouri. He also attended the Illinois School of Electro Therapeutics in 1900; the Chicago Polyclynic in 1904; and the New York Polyclynic in 1906. On leaving the Chicago school he located at Mount Etna, Iowa, where he remained in active practice until 1896, when he went to Europe for further study and investigation, pursuing post-graduate courses in London and Paris under some of the most eminent medical educators of the old world. Upon his return to his native land he again located at Mount Etna, whence in 1904 he came to Creston, where he has since remained in active practice.

In 1882 Dr. Coakley was married in Mount Etna to Miss Cynthia A. Davis, and they are now the parents of two sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Orlo E. Coakley, is a graduate of Barnes Medical College in St. Louis, of the class of 1903. Dr. Grover C. Coakley is a graduate of the Northwestern Medical College of the class of 1904, and in his practice has made a specialty of the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Ruby, the eldest daughter, is a graduate nurse, and Gladys is at home.

In his fraternal relations Dr. J. W. Coakley is an Elk and an Odd Fellow. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained high rank, being now a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise identified with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and his Christian faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. While he is neglectful of no duty of citizenship his attention is chiefly given to the efforts which he puts forth in behalf of his fellowmen, in the restoration of health and in checking the ravages of disease. His two sons have been admitted to partnership with him and they are now practicing successfully in Creston, with office at No. 117 North Maple street. They have also established and conduct a hospital called Coakley’s Public Hospital, which has been accorded a liberal patronage. The father is a man of broad scientific attainments and the sons are continually progressing in their profession, this constituting one of the strong medical firms in Union county.