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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 22 Volume VI, Issue VI July 1, 2002 Dr. Alexander William Shields Compiled by Stanley F. Wangsgaard Ogden Valley Historian Dr. Alexander William Shields was born in Irvine, Ayr, Scotland, December 21, 1864, the son of Dr. William Bruce Shields and Jessie Henderson. In 1884, at the age of 20 he graduated from the University of Edinburgh in medicine, and in 1886 immigrated to the United States where he took a post graduate course in Chicago at the College of Physicians From left to right: Leona Stoker, Dr. Alexander William Shields and Marvel Engstrom in Huntsville circa 1920. and Surgeons, also the University of Illinois. He was a gifted student, graduating with highest honors of anyone west of the Mississippi. In 1892 he was married to Ella Catherine Kimball, daughter of Judge James N. Kimball, in Charleston, Coles, Illinois, and came to Utah immediately after the marriage. They eventually took up residence in Huntsville, renting the home of George and Charlotte Langlois, at 7583 East 300 South, from about 1905 until 1909. Then they lived in the brown house attached to the two-story frame building at the corner of 300 South 7400 East, renting from Carl E. Peterson. For a time they lived in the house east of the Valley House, and in James C. Wangsgaard’s large red brick home, renting a room upstairs. In 1921 he bought the house at 110 South 7500 East. Dr. Shields had his office at several locations, one being in the east room of William R. McEnire’s Barber Shop. Another was in the frame addition on the south side of James C. Wangsgaard’s brick store that, at that time, was run by Schade Brother’s. Also, Roy Bailey remembered when Dr. Shields had his office in the downstairs east room of the Valley Hotel, which was run by Matilda Sprague. There appeared in the Ogden Standard Examiner on June 27, 1913 an article telling of a determined effort on the part of Sheriff T. A. DeVine to stop the sale of cocaine and other prohibited drugs in Ogden, and that, “Dr. A. W. Shields, formerly of Huntsville, was arrested this morning.” Dr. A. W. Shields was arraigned July 10, 1913, before Judge N. J. Harris on the charge of selling cocaine. He entered a plea of not guilty. This case, #832, was later set for trial on October 20, 1913, at which time the record shows that “Upon motion of John C. Davis, Esq., District Attorney, IT IS ORDERED that this case and the suit herein be, and the same is hereby dismissed.” In the above case, it was stated that Dr. Shields was formerly of Huntsville. However, he and his wife lived in Huntsville after that date, and bought their home. He died in 1926. His widow apparently lived there until November 15, 1935 when it was then sold to Floyd Jensen. Over the years Dr. Shields served well as a country doctor in Huntsville, Eden and Liberty, and it seems that he was well liked, according to the stories passed down by those who knew him. They are all favorable, though sometimes comical. Remembering Dr. Shields, Darald E. Michelson said that he was an immacu- The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS is interested in collecting and printing historical stories and biographies. Please contact Jeannie Wendell at 745-2879 or Shanna Francis at 745-2688 if you have stories of this nature. You may also mail copies of them to: OGDEN VALLEY NEWS PO BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 Thank you for your contributions. Financing Available late dresser. “His suit fit perfectly with a white handkerchief in the breast pocket. His manners were always above reproach, kindly, and sympathetic. A highly intelligent, educated man.” Dr. Alexander William Shields with horse in Huntsville circa 1920. In law enforcement, recruits were required to take first aid, and Dr. Shields was one of the instructors teaching how to prepare a patient before gong to the hospital. He showed them how to splint a compound fracture with a newspaper. He was an artist in the way a patient was prepared, and he learned it all by doing, not in school. He was original and artistic. Virginia McEntire Stallings said, “I heard people say that he knew more about medicine than any couple of doctors put together. A very smart man. Dr. Shields had a son named Bruce, and he was in the same class in school as I was. He was always dressed kind of military, had his legs wrapped up to the knees in the kakki color. They never went to church or anything. Bruce was always very smart in math. He always had the answer right now.” Leota Hislop Allen said that Dr. Shields always carried a white handkerchief, and while diagnosing, would flip it past his face holding it close to his mouth so it was hard to hear the diagnosis. “He sometimes had a cigarette in his mouth when diagnosing, also making it difficult to understand him, but most of the time would dust off the cigarette, and leave it outside. He would prescribe little pink pills for almost everyone, regardless of their illness.” LeRoy Bailey told that Dr. Shields was the attending doctor when Kay Wood was born, and apparently it was a hard birth. Afterward someone asked Ben Wood what kind of doctor he thought Dr. Shields was, to which he replied, “A ‘humdinger.’’ This was later shortened to “Hummer,” and after that, some called him Dr. Hummer. This was one story. Another was told by Harvey Wangsgaard, who said that Dr. Shields held his handkerchief close to his mouth, and would be humming a tune while diagnosing, thus he became known as Dr. Hummer. Some men would get together and play cards at Christian Wangsgard’s. One time when Doctor Shields stopped by to play, it happened that Leo Allen had a bad cough. He asked Dr. Shields if he had anything for a cough. The doctor opened his bag and brought out a patent medicine, which he gave three or four spoonsfull to Leo, curing his cough. Leo told many times how his cough was cured by the doctor. Most of the doctor’s contacts with patients were house calls. Midwife Lizzie Froerer Wangsgaard liked him. She assisted him with many births and minor surgeries, and said he was a good doctor. Dr. Shields owned a Model T Ford Coupe that he drove around, and he ran it off the road now and then. One time Henry Wangsgard fixed his car at his blacksmith shop, and Dr. Shields argued with him over the price he charged. Edgar Allen told that when his office was in the east room of the barbershop, Dr. Shields sewed Edger’s thumb on with a curved needle and no antiseptic. Edger’s friend was watching, and after the third stitch, he had to leave. Dr. Alexander William Shields, 61, of Huntsville died Monday, February 1, 1926 at the Dee Memorial Hospital in Ogden of an operation for appendicitis. The obituary continued, “Dr. Shields had lived in the United Stated for forty years, and practiced in Huntsville for 21 years, 1905-1926. “Dr. Shields was a Mason, belonging to a lodge in Glasgow, Scotland. Surviving are his widow and one son Bruce Gordon Shields, now a senior in Ogden High School. The body was viewed at the Kirkendall Mortuary until Thursday, 4 Feb. 1926 at 11:30 o’clock when the funeral cortege proceeded to Huntsville, where services were held at 1:00 o’clock in the Huntsville Ward Chapel with Rev. John W. Hyslop of the Episcopal Church officiating. Burial took place at the Mountain View Cemetery in Eden.” His widow of 30 years, Ella Catherine Kimball Shields, 85, died Tuesday, March 20, 1956 in Monrovia, California. Funeral services for her were conducted Saturday, March 24, 1956 at Aultorest Memorial Park in Ogden. She was survived by her son J. Bruce Shields. |
