History of Fort Madison, (Lee County) Iowa United States of America

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Abel Commins Roberts, M. D.,is a native of the state of New York, and was born January 15, 1830. His father was a farmer in that state, but removed while Abel was a child to Lenawee county, Mich. to secure a share of the advantages offered by the then unsettled west. In Lenawee county Abel attended the country school and acquired an education which enabled him, as soon as he was old enough, to teach school. His education from this time on was secured entirely by his own unaided efforts. In 1850 he entered the medical department of the Michigan university at Ann Arbor, determined to get a first-class medical education. Being very poor at that time, he had hard work to support himself through the first term and subsisted for many weeks on less than many of the other students spent for tobacco.

In the spring of 1851 he borrowed money enough to pay his passage to California, arriving there sick and destitute. After a year and a half of the hardest kind of life, during which luck came to him, he returned to his studies at Ann Arbor with gold enough to carry him through college, graduating with the degree of M. D. there in 1854. In 1876 he received an ad eundem degree of M. D. from the Louisville (Ky.) Medical college.

He married Emily A. Cole, of Ann Arbor, and soon after located at Otsego, Mich., where he remained until removing to Fort Madison in 1589. Mrs. Roberts died May 19, 1898.

In 1862 he was given the position of surgeon at the government hospital at Keokuk and later received the army commission of surgeon, with rank of major of cavalry, to the Twenty-first Missouri volunteers, with whom he served three years, being mustered out in April, 1866. Upon his return to Fort Madison at the close of the war, he continued the practice of medicine. While never making special pretensions as a surgeon, he was noted for his success in this branch of his profession both during his work in the field and in private practice, and once ligated, successfully, the left subclavian artery. While army surgeon he was most of the time in charge of a brigade or division, and though many times operating during and after serious engagements, from twenty-four to forty-eight hours almost continuously, he had the satisfaction of never having a man die on the operating table, though frequently that table was necessarily mother earth, and often the work had to be done by candle light.

He was for two terms a lecturer on theory and practice of medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk. He was, while in active practice, a member of the American Medical association, and a delegate to its meetings. He is also an honorary member of the California Medical society.

The doctor has always been an ardent democrat and has labored faithfully and efficiently for the cause of true democracy. He has the respect and confidence of his community and has been several times honored by election to important offices. In 1869 he was selected for county treasurer and filled that office very satisfactorily for six years. The citizens of Fort Madison elected him mayor of the city in 1873 and he served in that position for several terms. In 1893 he had the honor of being commissioner to the Columbian exposition at Chicago.

He has always been an active promoter of Fort Madison's interests and was the originator of the Chicago, Fort Madison & Des Moines railway, at that time the Fort Madison & Des Moines railway, and was its first president. He was also one of the hardest workers in securing the Southwestern railway from Fort Madison to Carrollton, Mo., now known as the Chicago, Burlington & Kansas City railroad. In all matters connected with the prosperity of Fort Madison, he has always worked heart and soul and has given much time, cash and energy to promote her interests.

The doctor has not been engaged for a number of years in the active practice of medicine, having surrendered the practice to his oldest son, F. C. Roberts, M. D. He has been for many years the owner and editor of the Fort Madison Democrat and is regarded as one of the strongest and most influential editorial writers in the state. He has made several trips abroad and once made a trip around the world. He is an active member of the Masons and is an Odd Fellow. His church connection is Baptist.

Dr. Roberts has three sons, Dr. F. C. Roberts, his successor in practice; Nelson C. Roberts, a newspaper man, who, during Cleveland's last term, was postmaster, and who is now manager of the Fort Madison Democrat, and Edward M. Roberts, engaged in dramatic and literary work.

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

History of Fort Madison, (Lee County) Iowa

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