Norman R. Hook, M. D., b. 1842
Dr. Norman R. Hook, physician and surgeon
of Oskaloosa, was born in Waynesburg,
Pennsylvania, April 23, 1842. His father,
Morgan M. Hook, also a native of Waynesburg,
was a saddler by trade and in 1853 came
to Iowa, at which time he located on a farm in
East Garfield township, Mahaska county. He
finally took up his abode in Oskaloosa, where
he died at the age of seventy-three years. Opposed
to the institution of slavery, he advocated
the principles of the abolition party in early
manhood and when the republican party was
formed to prevent the further extension of
slavery he joined its ranks. His wife, who
bore the maiden name of Sarah Lappen, was
born in Waynesburg and died at the age of
seventy-four years. She was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
Dr. Hook, the eldest in a family of nine children,
remained upon the home farm until seventeen
years of age and was a student in the
country schools. He then attended the old
normal school in Oskaloosa until twenty years
of age, when in response to his country's call
for troops he enlisted in 1862 for the Civil war,
becoming a member of Company C, Thirty-
third Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served for
three years and was mustered out at Davenport
on the 10th of August, 1865. He was promoted
from the ranks to sergeant, second lieutenant
and assistant commissary of musters of
the Third Division, Thirteenth Army Corps,
and was in the campaign that resulted in the
capture of Spanish Fort and Mobile. He spent
a year in the hospital at St. Louis, being ill
with pneumonia and was afterwards made
steward of the hospital. He also participated
in a number of important battles and skirmishes
and on all occasions was found faithful to his
duty, no matter what the character of the service,
realizing that every task faithfully performed
by the soldier contributed to the sum
total of the success which crowned the Union
arms.
When the war was over Dr. Hook returned
to Oskaloosa and, having in the meantime resolved
to make the practice of medicine his life
work, he began reading in the office and
under the direction of Dr. S. A. Rhinehart,
who acted as his preceptor for two years. In
fact he had spent one year in his office before
enlisting. He afterward spent a year as a
student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons
at Keokuk, Iowa, and was licensed to
practice in 1866, at which time he opened an
office in Fremont, where he remained continuously
until 1874, when he pursued a postgraduate
course at Keokuk. He remained in
Fremont until 1885, at which time he removed
to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he spent six
years and then took up his abode in St. Louis,
Missouri, where he remained for three years.
In 1894 he came to Oskaloosa, where he has
now practiced continuously for twelve years.
In 1866 Dr. Hook was married to Miss Lucetta
J. Kissick, who was born in Pennsylvania,
a daughter of Thomas and Mary Kissick.
She died in 1873, at the age of twenty-seven
years, leaving two children: Charles Wilmer,
who is now living in Oskaloosa; and Nellie K.,
who died at the age of eight years. In 1874
Dr. Hook was again married, his second union
being with Florence K. Kissick, a sister of his
first wife and a native of Pennsylvania. They
had three children: Walter, who is now a clerk
in Oskaloosa; William T., employed in a
grocery store; and Pearl, who died in infancy.
Dr. Hook holds membership relations with
the Masonic fraternity and Modern Woodmen
of America. He is a democrat in his political
views and has been alderman from the second
ward, while for two years he served as health
officer. He has also been a member of the
board of education for three years and gives
helpful support to every measure for the general
welfare. He also served as a member of the
board of education in Fremont and was
senior warden in the Masonic lodge while living
there. He was post commander of Hamilton
Scott post at Fremont and a member of Farragut
post at Lincoln, Nebraska. He was likewise
medical examiner for the Woodmen in
Lincoln and has also been medical examiner
for the Woodnien in Oskaloosa. He is a busy
and successful practitioner. He is also an
industrious and ambitious student. Genial in
disposition, unobtrusive and unassuming in
manner, he is patient under adverse criticism
and in his expressions concerning brother
practitioners is friendly and indulgent.
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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy
Iowa Genealogy
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