Dr. Charles T. Newkirk, a
prominent physician of Bay City, Mich., was found dead in his bed at his
home at 6.30 o'clock last Thursday morning. The cause of death was heart
disease, from which he had been a sufferer for some years, having
contracted it in Cuba during the Spanish-American war.
Dr. Newkirk had lived in Bay City
for 37 years. He is survived by a widow and two children, Dr. Harry
Newkirk, of Iron Mountain, Mich., and Mrs. Delores Crockett of New York
city, besides two grandchildren and two brothers, Dr. M. F. Newkirk, of
Bay City, and Dr. Moses Newkirk, of South America. His widow, to whom he
was married in 1862, was Miss Mary J. Anderson of Woodhouse, a sister of
Mr. J. E. Anderson of Port Dover.
Dr. Newkirk was born in St.
Williams, Norfolk County, December 10, 1841. He early manifested his
desire for study, but there being a large family to support and educate,
his early opportunities were somewhat restricted.
Acting upon the advice of a
friend, he taught school when but 14 years of age and, with the money thus
obtained was enabled to finish his literary course at the high school at
Hamilton, Ontario. He afterwards studied medicine with Hon. John Rolph,
and in the twenty-first year of his age was graduated from the university
of Victoria college, at Toronto, of which his preceptor was dean.
He practiced his profession for a
short time in Canada, when, with his family he removed to South
America. He spent nine months learning the Spanish language, and
immediately on passing his examination, was appointed by the governor,
director of the province.
He was also made a doctor to the
Argentine hospital, which position he resigned in three months to accept a
similar one in the Brazilian army. He afterwards became first surgeon with
the grade of captain. This position he held for three years when he
returned to Canada.
After a brief visit among his
friends there he again went to South America and at Assumption in Paraguay,
began the practice of medicine in connection with the drug business. He
passed through several epidemics of small pox, yellow fever, and cholera.
Of the first mentioned, his brother, Dr. Daniel Newkirk, with whom he was
associated in practice, died. This event, together with the constantly
failing health of his family, so disheartened him that he determined to
return to Canada, and engage in but quiet practice.
With this intention he closed up
his business in Assumption; but, on arriving in Buenos Ayres, where he had
engaged passage, he learned that the yellow fever had broken out there in
the most malignant form. Hundreds were dying daily, and those of the
citizens who were able, fled the city. Only a small number of the resident
physicians could be induced to remain.
Dr. Newkirk, with a degree of
heroism and self-denial characteristic of himself, decided to remain.
Having sent his family on to Canada, he again devoted himself to the work
of saving life and alleviating suffering.
He was in constant communication
with the authorities for the prevention of the spread of the disease; and,
by his advice, many sanitary precautions were taken which doubtless cut
short one of the most frightful epidemics ever known.
An idea may be formed of the
danger which Dr. Newkirk was compelled to face from the fact that 26,000
persons died in twenty-five days of this disease alone. He was engaged four
months in Buenos Ayres during this plague, rarely working less than
eighteen hours daily.
His heroic conduct during this
time was highly applauded by the press of Buenos Ayres, and the commission
of Montsorrat [sic] presented him with a splendid album in testimony of his
services to the sick. The ovation paid him upon his departure was a most
distinguished compliment.
On his way home he stopped a short
time in Rio Jansiro, where he was warmly welcomed by the old army officers
and surgeons with whom he had served in Paraguay.
Immediately on arriving home he
set about finding some good location in which he could again enter upon
the practice of his profession. After visiting New York, Chicago and other
places, he decided to settle in Bay City.
His previous experiences soon
secured for him a good practice.
