Dr. Heman Spalding (1852-1926)
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Copies of the following unidentified newspaper articles were found in a scrapbook owned by Town Historian Richard Schmal:
DR. SPALDING DIES; NOTED AS SMALLPOX FOE
Was City Health Official for Last 32 Years.
Dr. Heman Spalding, for the last 32 years chief of the bureau of communicable diseases of the city health department, died last night in Wesley Memorial hospital of heart disease. He has been seriously ill only two days.Dr. Spalding was born at Lowell, Ind., on Sept. 10, 1852. He attended De Pauw University for three years, and was graduated from Northwestern University medical school in 1881.
Made Bureau Head in 1894
He was appointed head of the communicable disease bureau in 1894. He was a first lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps, U.S.A., a Fellow A.M.A. and a member of the Illinois State and Chicago medical societies, American Public Health association, and the Institute of Medicine of Chicago. His home was at 1300 East 56th Street.
Noted for Smallpox War
One of Dr. Spalding's first acts that brought him to public notice was his war on smallpox in 1901 when he conducted a wide vaccination campaign which was credited with checking the disease in the city.
He was married when 73 years old, and is survived by his widow and a son.
HEALTH OFFICE HONORS MEMORY OF DR. SPALDING
All activities in the city health department were suspended for one minute yesterday while employees of the office stood in silent respect for the memory of Dr. Heman Spalding, for 32 years head of the bureau of communicable diseases, who died of heart disease at Wesley Memorial Hospital Wednesday night.Head of the bureau since 1894, Dr. Spalding gained wide fame in 1901 by conducting a general vaccination campaign and was credited by the medical profession with having a large part in the checking of smallpox in Chicago. He was the author of medical works and occasionally was called to other parts of the country to aid in fights against epidemics of communicable diseases. He is survived by a widow and one son.
The following September 30, 1926, Lowell Tribune article appeared on page 1, column 3:
DR. H. SPALDING CALLED BY DEATH
WAS FORMER RESIDENT OF LOWELL; HERE AT M.E. CHURCH HOME COMING
Dr. Heman Spalding, formerly of Lowell, died very suddenly at the Wesley hospital, in Chicago, last Wednesday night. The cause of his death was heart trouble, from which he was only sick for a few days.Dr. Spalding was born in Lowell September 10, 1852. He was a brother of the late Joshua and James Spalding, and Mrs. M. Sims who resides at Shelby. He made frequent trips back to his old home and was here at the M.E. church home coming a week ago last Sunday. At that time he seemed to be enjoying the best of health.
He attended DePauw University for three years and was graduated from Northwestern University Medical School in 1881.
He was appointed head of the communicable disease department of the Chicago Board of Health in 1894 and has held that position ever since. He was a First Lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps, a Fellow A.M.A., a member of the Illinois and Chicago Medical Societies, and the Institute of Medicine of Chicago. One of Dr. Spalding's first acts that brought him into prominence after he became head of the communicable disease department was his war on small pox when he conducted a wide vaccination campaign which was credited with checking the disease in the city.
His home was at 1300 East 56th Street. He is survived by his wife and son.
Dr. Spalding was well known to many of our people who greatly regret to hear of his death.
Go to Dr. Heman Spalding, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
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