History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

McIndoe M. D., Thomas B. who may rightly claim the title of pioneer physician of Rhinelander, Oneida County, as he has been in practice here for 39 years, was born at Wausau, Marathon County, Wis., Nov. 6, 1861. His parents were early settlers in Marathon County; the father died when Thomas B. was young and his wife was left with six children to feed, clothe and educate. She proved that she was a remarkable woman by successfully accomplishing this task, and most of the children had a college education. Thomas B. MCINDOE was educated in the common and high schools of Wausau, being graduated from the latter with the class of 1880. He was then a student for one year in a medical college, after which he entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, from which he was graduated with the class of 1883. Commencing practice in his home town of Wausau, he remained there one year and then, in 1884, came to Rhinelander and opened an office. It was in July of the previous year that the Brown Bros. had erected a sawmill here, the lumber for which was brought in on the first train that entered the village on the old "Lake Shore," now the Chicago & Northwestern road, and Abner CONRO had built a large saw and planing-mill in the same year. It was these mills, together with the railroad, that were responsible for the existence of the village, which was still a pretty place when Dr. MCINDOE located here; but the surrounding country was covered with timeber and the new place grew with the exploitation of the forest resources. Dr. MCINDOE'S practice grew in a similar ratio until he was obliged to share it with other physicians who came in in the course of time. But by that time the place was larger and he had enough to do to keep him busy. Since becoming firmly established he has always enjoyed a good practice, both city and rural. In the early days he was often called to long distances in the country and when his destination was anywhere near the railroad he used a sort of velocipede, or rather, a hand-propelled cal which ran on the track and which he worked himself, sometimes making a 40-mile trip. On one occasion, on his way back from visiting a patient, he came to a train of 40 cars which stood on a single track blocking his way. As he had no notion when it was going to start, he had to take up his hand-car and carry it by the whole length of the train, which was no light task. Dr. MCINDOE, although he has been in practice here so many years, has never allowed himself to get into a rut or lost his ambition for self-improvement, but has kept well in touch with the progress of his profession. He has been physician and surgeon for the "Soo" Railway since 1886 and for the Chicago & Northwestern since 1888, and is a member of the Oneida, Vilas and Forest Counties' Medical Society and of the American Medical Association. He is also a member of Lodge No. 242, A. F. & A. M. For his long years of hard work he has been able to obtain sufficient pecuniary reward to buy some city property, including a good residence at 22 S. Pelham Street and is stockholder in the Merchants State Bank.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 386, History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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