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STORY INDEX Service still most important product at Ligonier Telephone Co. A black and white sensation: Tiny Screens a big attraction in early years of television A man works from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done Indiana Extension Homemakers better the lives of families Small towns once supported their own movie theaters William Jennings Bryan among among orators at Rome City's Western Chautauqua Dr. David Rogers - Man of mystery, and benevolence DNR restoration programs working: Once abundant wildlife returning to area Rise of girls athletics have changed face of school sports Decades of intramurals: Ruth was greatest player ever: Frick Frick's predictions for 2000 not far off Small Wolf Lake big winner in 1942 basketball regional Four in a row: Finally with a gym of their own, KHS cagers went to 'Sweet 16' four straight years Ink to flow into 21st century at county's newspapers Broadcast media: Manahan was pioneer in Noble County broadcasting WAWK's history dates back to 1959 Health trends: Changes through the century occurred in medicine, health care Scarlet fever, polio were early health scares From sanitarium to partnership: A century of Noble County's medical care Funeral directors ran ambulance service in county prior to '74 'EMS arrives in time for '74 tornado LaGrange County doctors once made house calls by horseback Country doctor delivered babies in his home and drove a Thunderbird Service to mankind condensed to footnotes of history Who are the people of the Amish faith? Two controversial religious sects from the 1970's have impact on Noble County Churches with rich heritages served parishioners in LaOtto, Ege
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Country doctor delivered babies in his home and drove a Thunderbird
Albion's Dr. Justin Russell
Nash was not your typical kind of country doctor in the early
and middle decades of the 20th century. He was not your horse-and-buggy kind of guy, the image most
associate with a rural doctor. This doctor delivered babies in
his home and drove a two-seater Thunderbird. Nash was never a healthy man. He battled allergies and the
disabling effects of a youthful bout with scarlet fever. "Most of the time his patients were healthier than he,"
says Linda Shultz about her dad. "He loved to eat. He ate
anything." The community regarded Nash as a jolly, good-natured fellow,
according to Shultz. "He was nice and always fair. He set a good example for
children," says Shultz. "When I get to talking with
people over 35, they'll often say, 'Well, I'm one of Dr. Nash's
babies.' He is known for that." Nash and his wife, Gladys, moved to Albion in 1931. He had
attended the University of Illinois and gone to medical school
in Chicago. He worked at a train station while attending medical
school and met his wife, who owned a beauty shop, at a dance. They were married on June 8, 1929, the same afternoon that
Nash graduated from medical school. The couple moved to Plymouth, while Nash interned in South
Bend. The first opportunity to practice medicine came in 1931
in Albion. Nash's office was located within the family's home at 202
N. Orange St. Numerous families and community members visited
the home. People were born and died in the house. "I think he was the best baby doctor around. He delivered
all five of mine," says Shultz. It was in the midst of the Great Depression when Nash opened
his Albion office. Some of his customers paid him with chickens
and produce. Shultz still has payment notices from customers
who never paid the doctor for his services. The doctor packaged and prescribed all of his own medicines.
He never administered paregoric. He had been forced to take the
bitter potion as a young child and promised to never force it
upon another human being. When Nash practiced medicine, his office was open all day
on Saturdays. That was the day farmers came to town. During summers,
the office was open Wednesday nights as well. The downtown square
in Albion hosted concerts on Wednesdays. Country folks gathered
in town for concerts and doctor visits. "My brother and I liked going on calls with him,"
says Shultz, who remembers nailing signs to the fronts of houses
with her father. The signs signified homes of people sickened
by contagious diseases such as scarlet fever. When Nash sold medicine out of his house, a "no touch"
policy ruled his two children. "Now they have kid-proof everything," Shultz says.
Nash also had a passion for movies, his daughter said. He
filmed life in Noble County, using an eight-millimeter camera.
He spliced the film and manufactured full-length home movies. Nash died on Nov. 24, 1965. He was only 64. He had served
as Noble County health officer for 25 years, and was president
of the Noble County Medical Society at the time of his death. Shultz thinks her father would be amazed at the progress of
medicine today. Because of his specialization with infant deliveries,
Shultz says he would be fascinated with ultrasound and 24-hour
release programs. "I always stayed in bed a week after childbirth. Then
Dad would only let me go because I was crying and pleading,"
remembers Shultz. Computers would amaze the doctor as well, she said. Shultz's
mother, Gladys, who was Nash's receptionist, used an old typewriter
like those showcased in museums. Shultz never desired to be a nurse. Her brother, Ronald, never
became a doctor though his father encouraged him to do so. But Shutlz's father loved his chosen profession and never
regretted entering it. "He told me he had watched a cow being milked when he was a young boy,'' said Shutlz. ''He vowed right then he would never become a farmer.'' |
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