CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS: Martha Washington Questers

Martha Washington Questers

Nine members of Martha Washington Questers No. 1032 met Friday, Dept. 27, at the home of Dorothy Miller, with Connie Pence as co-hostess.

The meeting was opened by President Marilyn Whitenack, followed by the recitation of the invocation. Rach member answered roll by telling if they had ever been a patient of Dr. McCreedy, which as the subject of the day. Minutes of the past meeting were read, followed by Treasurer Janet Peterson's report. Both were approved. Discussion was held regarding bills to be paid to State for scholarship and preservation fund. Checks will be written this month and sent to the proper offices.

Miller informed the group that money donated to the D.A.R. was used for framing a land grant given tot he Youngs for original property where the log cabin in Sunset Park was built. There were no committee reports. Acknowledgment was made about the picture and article to the Questers Quarterly for the group's contribution to F-Troop.

The group will be having a window display Dec. 2-30 at the Washington Public Library. Membership information, antiques, articles and more will be placed there. The group is encouraged to contribute to that. Next order of business was information on the International Convention April 27 in Colorado. Possible side tours can be reserved, also.

A program on local doctor Murry Love McCreedy was given by Miller. Facts of his life in various stages of his career were given, with humorous anecdotes about him and his wife Dorothy. Born in 1903, Dr. McCreedy attended Monmouth College and the University of Iowa, where he earned his degrees. His internship was served in Wichita, Kansas. He was then recruited to Brighton, where there were no doctors. At that time, if a doctor was desperately needed, one would come by train from Ottumwa or possibly Davenport. Also, the druggists at that time issued medicines for the locals in absence of a doctor. Most people depended on homeopathic medicine, home remedies and folk tale concoctions for ailments. Items used for croup were honey, molasses and sulfur, blowing smoke in the ears for earaches, vinegar for burns, cow manure on bottom of foot for sores and a chew of tobacco placed on skin for eczema. Dorothy McCreedy, herself a nurse, was a great help to him over the years and worked tirelessly beside him.

In the 1930s, when banks began to fail and money wasn't available, patients would pay for services with garden vegetables, animals, other goods and supplies. House calls were $3, but to travel over mud roads to get to the hospital, the visit was $15. Most opted to receive care at home. Others feared the ride in a hearse, which often served as an ambulance, to get to the hospital. About 300 drugs were available in the day, and were often on display sitting on shelves and tables in the office.

Eventually Dr. McCreedy was appointed county coroner. With so many deathly diseases and epidemics in the '30s and '40s, such as small pox, diphtheria, pneumonia and scarlet fever appearing, the official cause of death on certificates sometimes red 'G O K” pr 'God Only Knows.” Dr. McCreedy passed away in 1998, ending a lifelong career in medicine.

The group adjourned, and assorted refreshments were served by Miller and Pence.

The Oct. 25 meeting will be with Jane Fehr. Dorothy Miller will be co-hostess.