Memories of Dr. Tom Bentley Throckmorton

Both the city of Chariton and The Herald-Patriot newspaper celebrated their centennials during September of 1957, a century after The Chariton Patriot had been established. As far as the city was concerned, it had been decided for some reason to celebrate the year the town was incorporated, 1857, rather than the year it was founded, 1849.

The 40-plus page edition of The Herald-Patriot, issued on Sept. 12, was an impressive one; and the letter that follows adds a few details that I found interesting. The author was Dr. Tom Bentley Throckmorton, whose great-grandmother was Mary Howard --- I've been writing a little about her lately because her remains occupy Lucas County's oldest marked grave.

The Throckmorton family, which produced many physicians, is identified largely in Lucas County with Derby, but Dr. Tom (left) was a son of Dr. Thomas Morford Throckmorton, who practiced for more than 50 years in Chariton, and his wife, Mary Ann Bentley.

Dr. Tom and his sister, Dr. Jeanette Throckmorton, attended medical school at the same time, but he practiced and taught in Des Moines from 1911 until his death in 1961 at the age of 76. Here's the letter:

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Glancing through the Centennial issue of the Chariton Herald-Patriot, which someone kindly sent to me, I felt a peculiar nostalgia for the old town where I was reared and schooled.

My memory goes back to the old brick courthouse which was replaced by the present cut stone structure in the early '90's. It is my impression that the early stopping place for stage coaches was on the south side of the square where later the Knights of Pythias Temple was erected. Dave Buffington, a harness maker by trade, made my father's saddle bags in which he carried his medical and surgical supplies when he rode horseback over the prairie. Buffington had his office in the old wooden building for a number of years before the Temple was built.

I recall the Patriot location on the west side of the town square where the sign "Job Printing" intrigued me as a child for I thought it meant the paper would give a man a job if he applied. This idea was further strengthened when I observed a colored man turning a big wheel on the press as the paper was printed, first one side and then the other. The reporter then was Grace Blouse who allowed  me to sit in the front room and watch the men as they worked on the new courthouse.

The picture of Old Betsy brought back a flood of memories, for my grandfather, John A.J. Bentley, and my uncle, John Bentley, belonged to the volunteer fire company. I recall seeing my uncle, at work in the blacksmith shop, drop his uplifted hammer, jerk off his leather apron and start running down the alley for the fire station when the bell rang out its first warning that a fire had broken out somewhere in town. Day or night, fair or foul weather, the fire boys always responded.

Meeting the trains at the old station was a pastime for a few of the town's loafers. It was a delight to see the picture of the old depot. Another of my early recollections was to watch the goings and comings of the Bates House bus, which met all passenger trains. Grandfather's house and shop were across the street south from the Bates home and the hotel, so it was easy to observe the happenings from my seat on the corner post of the picket fence which ran across the front of grandfather's yard.

Ilion, of course, was the show place of the town with Crocker's magnificent residence, encircled by an iron fence, running a close second. Beardsley's Funeral Home now occupies the latter.

I recall when the first electric lighting system was built; also when the first telephones were installed in the town. The paving of the town square in the early 1900s was a big improvement as was likewise the more modern buildings which sprang up from the ashes of the wooden structures which were destroyed by fire.

Your reference to the Mormons --- the first white settlers in Lucas county --- brought to mind a story which my Grandfather related. In the mid 1850s, smallpox broke out at LaGrange. The disease was virulent and devastating in those days. The citizens in Chariton became alarmed and a town meeting was held at which time ways and means were discussed as how best to handle the situation. It was decided to quarantine the town --- no exit or entrance of people to be allowed.

At this state of the meeting Dr. Charles Fitch (left), the town doctor, entered, and on learning as to what had happened, he suggested putting a sign at Chariton Point, southeast of town, warning all travelers that Chariton was quarantined. This was agreed upon. Then the good doctor made the coup de grace. He informed the merchants that a Mormon train was en route west and had expected to take on fresh supplies at Chariton. However, he  reminded his listeners, that since the town was quarantined they would be unable to do this. At once the merchants sprang forth to denounce the action taken so shortly before and the motion to quarantine was rescinded. Fortunately, no new cases of the disease appeared in the county at that time and everybody was happy.  It shows what can happen when one's  pocketbook is touched.

There are many other things I could mention which the perusing of the Centennial Edition brought to mind. Permit me to congratulate you on the fine job you did in bringing out this special number. It is of great historical value. What the 200th Centennial will bring forth only  the Omnipotent One can foresee. I am confident were we to behold what the next hundred years will bring forth in Lucas county, we would be as much dismayed as would those folks who pioneered the county a century ago, were they permitted to see the great changes due to the remarkable progress of the last 100 years.

Cordially yours,

Tom B. Throckmorton, M.D.