History of Tipton, (Cedar County) Iowa United States of America

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Otis Blair Wyant, one of the leading physicians of Tipton, Cedar county, is the son of Isaac Wyant, who came to Iowa in the early fifties, and was one of the pioneers in the settling of Cedar county. Upon a farm in Iowa township he made his home, brought up a family of eight boys and girls, and was one of the leading citizens of the county. In politics he was a democrat, and his son has inherited his father's opinions in that respect. Mr. Wyant was a progressive, wide-awake farmer, as is evidenced by the fact that the first McCormick reaper ever brought west of the Mississippi river, was bought by him for use upon his farm. In the early days all of his trading was done at Davenport and Muscatine, they being then the nearest trading points.

Judith Ann Guild, Dr. Wyant's mother, was a thoroughly energetic and good woman. When her husband died the five younger children were left to her care and guidance. Such was her capability, she was able to manage the farm in a businesslike and successful manner, keep the children together, and give them all a good education.

Otis B. Wyant, the youngest of this family of children, was born in Cedar county, January 6, 1865. Until he was 17 years old he remained at home, attending the country school, and later, the West Liberty high school, working on the farm during his vacations. His medical studies were pursued at the State University of Iowa, and at Rush Medical college, Chicago; from the latter school he graduated, the youngest member of a class of 160, in February, 1886, being then just 21 years of age. So fine was his standing in his class that he was offered, upon graduation, an assistantship to a prominent specialist of Philadelphia.

Immediately after finishing his medical studies, Dr. Wyant came back to Cedar county, locating at Clarence, where he built up a large practice in a few months. Here he remained until 1890, when, desiring to study further, he returned to Chicago, where he spent eleven months in the different hospitals and in taking post-graduate courses of study.

In June, 1891, the doctor located in Tipton, where he enjoys a lucrative practice. Constantly being called in consultation, his reputation as a careful, well-informed physician, is rapidly growing.

He was United States examining physician during Cleveland's second administration, where his services were highly satisfactory. All old soldiers were treated with uniform courtesy.

He was one of six men who organized a fraternal beneficiary association, known as the Modern Brotherhood of America, being elected their head physician. This association has grown to a membership of more than 50,000, with more than $7,500,000 in force, thus making the most remarkable record ever known in insurance circles. During the first two years of the existence of this association there were issued more than 15,000 certificates, every loss paid in full from the start, thereby gaining the world's record for any association two years old.

Mr. Wyant is a Knight of Pythias and vice-president of the Hawkeye club of Tipton. He is a member of the Eastern Iowa Union Medical society. His religion is briefly paraphrased as, love, truth and good will toward all.

Dr. Wyant was married on March 4, 1886, to Norma D. Maxson, daughter of Eliza Maxson, of Springdale, who figures prominently in our history of John Brown in this volume.

SOURCE: Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa published by Conway and Shaw, Des Moines: 1899.

History of Tipton, (Cedar County) Iowa

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