Sacramento
County
Biographies
IRA E. OATMAN, M.
D.
(1819-1888)
Dr. Ira E. Oatman, a pioneer immigrant, came West in 1949 (sic) via the overland route. One source¹ stated he arrived in California 'in 1849, bringing his family with him and locating in Sacramento, not, however, making that city his permanent residence until 1852. After working in the mines during the gold excitement from 1849 to 1852 he settled down to the practice of medicine at his home.' Another source² stated 'he came to California in 1849, where he mined and practiced medicine, returning to Illinois in 1850. He came back to this State and resumed his practice in Sacramento, where he has since remained.'
The Sacramento City Directory of 1853-1854 first mentions Dr. Oatman, listing his office at 264 J street. The Directory of 1854-1855 gave his dwelling at the corner of G and Eleventh streets. It seems probable the Doctor, like many fellow practitioners of that time, came West to gain fortune through mining, intending to return to Illinois when enriched. The avocation seemingly was unsuccessful but the western spirit, climate and future possibilities persuaded him to live and practice in the area. He then returned to Illinois for his family. In 1852 he began to practice medicine in Sacramento City, and then medical center of the mining region, and practiced continuously until death.
Dr. Oatman was born near New Albany, Indiana, October 18, 1819. Little is recorded of his earlier life. What influences prompted him to study medicine remain obscure. In February, 1845 he received his M.D. from Rush Medical College, Chicago, 'and lived in Chicago and Dundee, Illinois, until 1849, practicing his profession.'³
He was a charter member of the Sacramento Medical Society of 1856, and actively participated in its activities. At the first meeting in April he, with others, discussed actions of chloroform and opiates, and in May reviewed the history of a case of monstrosity. He was elected Vice-President of this Society for 1857-'58.
Dr. Oatman gave active support to the first State Medical Society in 1856; he, Morse and Harkness were three of its Board of Censors. At the session of the State Society, February 11, 1857, he presented a paper on “Typhoid Fever.” He was chosen a member of the Committee of Practical Medicine, Medical Literature and Hygiene. When the Society met in San Francisco, February, 1858, Dr. Oatman was elected one of its Vice-Presidents.
He was an original member of Sacramento's first Board of Health, 1862, and at the organization nominated Dr. Logan as the first Secretary. He was one of three appointed by the Chair to prepare By-Laws and rules of order for government of the Board. Active and conscientious in sanitary advancement the Doctor won the respect of his fellows. He was elected President, April 3, 1871, serving until April, 1879. Perpetually he used influence to enforce street sanitation. He revealed courage, demonstrating integrity in the matter of posting smallpox placards and building the City Dispensary.
Doctor Oatman was one of the charter members of the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement, fourth to sign the Constitution. For over twenty years he gave energy to the advancement of that Society. Essays he presented before the Society were medical rather than surgical. His papers on obstetrics and gynecology were written around practical experiences. The miasmatic emanation as the cause of disease was a pronounced theorem in Dr. Oatman's reasoning. Until death he believed a pathological condition of the system pre-existed appearance of germs and doubted 'there is a special parasite for each disease.' though admitting 'the theory is plausible, but in my mind not quite established.' In 1887 he was appointed a member of the Section of Obstetrics of the Ninth International Congress,4 and was a member of the Gynecological Society of Boston.
Dr. Oatman was Commissioner of Insanity for five years; assistant Surgeon of the Fourth Regiment of Infantry, California Militia; United States Recruiting Surgeon; and from 1870 until death an Examining Surgeon for Pensioners. He was a kindly, honored and respected citizen, and commanded the confidence and affection of his patients.
Dr. F. B. Sutliff, humorist and droll raconteur, told of Dr. Montgomery operating a patient in a hotel room. Dr. Oatman assisted and Dr. Simmons gave the anaesthetic. At an early stage of anaesthesia, as sometimes happened, the patient suddenly became rigid, turned blue, and ceased breathing. Dr. Simmons said to Dr. Montgomery: “Doctor, the patient isn't doing well; he isn't breathing.” Dr. Montgomery looked up from his work and said: “He isn't, is he!” Dr. Montgomery then leaned over and laid his ear on the man's chest to check heart sounds. Meanwhile, Dr. Oatman became excited and looking for water grabbed a bucket nearby and dumped it on Dr. Montgomery's head. It was a potent pail of slop! The patient gasped a breath, Dr. Simmons thanked God and felt better, and Dr. Montgomery ! ! ! !
Dr. Oatman married Miss V. C. Freer, a native of Auburn, New York in 1845. They had three sons---Eugene F., Charles H., and William H.---and one daughter, Mary. Eugene Freer Oatman, 'while attending the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, enlisted in the army, in May, 1864, with Co. F, One Hundred and Thirty-Fourth Illinois Infantry. After the close of the war he decided to finish his studies at a business college, and entered such an institution at Poughkeepsie, New York, where he graduated with honor. In 1866 Mr. Oatman came back to Sacramento. His first business enterprise was with the firm of Waterhouse, Lester & Co. of that city, with whom he was connected for two years. He rose rapidly from a humble position with the firm to that of manager, which office he filled one year. In 1888 he became connected with the banking house of D. O. Mills & Co. and was with this well known firm for eleven years. In June, 1879, he assumed the office of secretary and auditor of the Eureka and Palisade Railroad Company, at Eureka, Nevada, which company was controlled by D. O. and Edgar M. Mills, and filled this important position for a period of nine years. December 1, 1888, Mr. Oatman came to Fresno and entered upon the duties of his present position, that of cashier of the First National Bank. He was married in 1880 to Miss Lucy R. Nichols, a native of Sacramento. They have two children.'5
Mr. Charles H. Oatman, born in 1862, graduated from the University of California in 1882, and was a partner in the Sacramento law firm of Beatty, Denson and Oatman. He removed to San Francisco in 1898, and returned to Sacramento in 1913 when appointed attorney for the State Reclamation Board. He died in Sacramento, September 26, 1923.
Mr. Wm. H. Oatman for years was an employee with the firm of Baker and Hamilton. Mary Oatman married A. P. Soule of Santa Rosa, and one of her daughters, Helene, from this union, married Reginald K. Hart of Berkeley, and another daughter, Violet, became Mrs. Jenz.
In October, 1888 the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement adjourned 'to meet at the residence of Dr. I. E. Oatman, the third Tuesday of November, 1888.'6 However, the Master arranged differently. Taken ill with a brain 'insult' soon after the October meeting the Doctor never rallied, and resigned his cares, December 19th, to join former professional comrades with whom he had so honorably associated for many years.
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1 Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, 1892, p.377.
2 History of Sacramento County, Thompson and West, 1880, p.289.
3 Sacramento Daily Record-Union, December 20, 1888, p.3 col. 1.
4 Sacramento Medical Times, v. I, 1887, p.39.
5 Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern, 1892, p. 377.
6 Minutes of the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement.
Transcribed
3-1-17 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
Source: “Memories,
Men and Medicine A History of Medicine In Sacramento, California by J. Roy
Jones, M.D., Pages 349-352. Publ. Sacramento Society for
Medical Improvement, 1950.
Golden Nugget Library's
Sacramento County