William Franklin Grinstead
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 8 Oct 1853 - Charleston, MIssouri Christening: Death: 1 Apr 1929 - Cairo, Illinois ( at age 75) 1 Burial: in Thebes, Alexander Co., Illinois Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Andrew Jackson Grinstead (1827-1861) Mother: Rachel Brewer (1831-1875)
Notes
General:
In the Directory of Deceased American Physicians, 1804-1929 he is William Franklin Grinstead, born 8 Cot 1858 in Charleston, Missouri and died 1 Apr 1929 in Cairo, Illinois.
OBITUARIES:
The Dexter Statesman, Friday, April 5, 1929:
DR. GRINSTEAD, CAIRO, DIES
Cairo, Ill., April 2.--- Dr. William F. Grinstead, 75, surgeon chief of staff of St. Mary's Infirmary here for many years, died at the hospital last night after a year's illness that followed an attack of influenza. He retired from practice after celebrating his fiftieth anniversary in the practice of medicine December 14, 1927. He was never married.
Sikeston Standard, Sikeston, Missouri, Tuesday, April 9, 1929:
DR. W. F. GRINSTEAD DIED MONDAY NIGHT
Dr. William F. Grinstead, aged 75 years, dean of the Cairo, Ill. Medical Fraternity, widely known as a physician and surgeon and former Charleston, Mo., resident, passed away about 6 o'clock Monday evening in the St. Mary's Infirmary, the institution to which he devoted a large share of his attention and interest.
It was on December 14, 1927, that Dr. Grinstead celebrated fifty years as a practicing physician. At that time a testimonial dinner was given him at the Halliday Hotel, which was attended by a large number of his neighbors and friends in this section, as well as his associates in the medical profession, from Chicago, St. Louis and from the medical organizations with which he was actively allied.
That occasion marked the zenith of his career. It was only a few months later that his health failed. He had contracted the flu while attending the College of Surgeons in Montreal in the year 1926. The following year there was a recurrence of the ailment, and in May of 1928 he was compelled to remain in his room at the Halliday, and after two months removed to St. Mary's Infirmary, where his death occurred.
Dr. Grinstead was born in Charleston, Mo., October 8, 1853. As Dr. Hutcheson expressed it at the testimonial dinner, "he was born twelve miles from where he now lives, and from his residence window he can see his native county in Missouri, just across the Mississippi river from Cairo".
He was educated in the public schools and the Charleston Classical Academy. He received his medical training in the old Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, and in the medical department of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. He graduated from the latter institution in 1877. Unable to get an interneship at that time, he took a position in a drug store, later an interneship in the City Hospital at Nashville, Tenn. In addition to this, the professor of anatomy in the medical school discovered that Dr. Grinstead was spending time in the dissecting room and making demonstrations to the class in anatomy. As a result, he was offered the position of prosector to the Chair of Anatomy in Vanderbilt during the fall and winter. During that service, he performed a very difficult operation, which involved the complete dissection of the spinal canal and the exposure of the spinal cord, an operation that had only been performed once before at Vanderbilt, and that by his professor.
At the end of his interneship, Dr. Grinstead returned to Charleston, where he embarked in medical practice. After a few years, he realized the need of hospital facilities, so he removed to Cairo in January, 1892 where he has resided since.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Beckwith, 521 Cross Street, the Rev. G. P. Comer, pastor of the Tigert Memorial church, officiating, assisted by the Rev. J. Turner Hood, pastor of the First Presbyterian church.---Cairo Evening Citizen.
The Enterprise-Courier, Charleston, Missouri, Thursday, April 4, 1929:
EMINENT PHYSICIAN DIES AT CAIRO MONDAY
Dr. Grinstead, Native of Charleston,
At Age of 75 Passes Away
After Long Illness
----------------------
Dr. William F. Grinstead, aged 75 years, dean of the Cairo medical fraternity, widely known as a physician and surgeon, and eminent there as a civic leader and banker, passed away at about 6 o'clock Monday evening.
Death ending an illness of nearly a year's duration, nine months of which was spent at the St. Mary's Infirmary, the institution to which he devoted a large share of his heart's interest.
It was on December 14, 1927, that Dr. Grinstead celebrated fifty years as a practicing physician. At that time a testimonial dinner was given him at the Halliday Hotel, which was attended by a large number of his neighbors and friends in this section, as well as his associates in the medical profession, from Chicago, St. Louis and from the medical organizations with which he was actively allied.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Beckwith, 521 Cross Street, the Rev. G. P. Comer, pastor of the Tigeret Memorial church, officiating, assisted by the Rev. J. Turner Hood, pastor of the First Presbyterian church. Dr. Grinstead's mother was a member of the Southern Methodist church, and the church in Cairo received his financial support on her account.
The funeral party took a special train on the Illinois Central to Thebes, leaving at 2 o'clock. Dr. Grinstead selected a burial lot in the cemetery on the hill at Thebes, a number of years ago, and had it prepared for his last earthly resting place.
Dr. Grinstead was born here on October 8, 1853. As Dr. Hutcheson expressed it at the testimonial dinner, "he was born twelve miles from where he now lives, and from his residence window he can see his native county in Missouri, just across the Mississippi river from Cairo".
He was educated in the public schools and the Charleston Classical Academy, a flourishing educational institution in his home town. He received his medical training in the old Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, and in the medical department of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. He graduated from the latter institution in 1877. Unable to get an interneship at that time, he took a position in a drug store, later an interneship in the City Hospital at Nashville, Tenn. In addition to this, the professor of anatomy in the medical school discovered that Dr. Grinstead was spending time in the dissecting room and making demonstrations to the class in anatomy. As a result, he was offered the position of prosector to the Chair of Anatomy in Vanderbilt during the fall and winter. During that service, he performed a very difficult operation, which involved the complete dissection of the spinal canal and the exposure of the spinal cord, an operation that had only been performed once before at Vanderbilt, and that by his professor.
At the end of his interneship, Dr. Grinstead returned to Charleston, where he embarked in medical practice. After a few years, he realized the need of hospital facilities, so he removed to Cairo in January, 1892 where he has resided since. Not only did he use the hospital facilities of St. Mary's, but he improved them from time to time, contributing largely of his means to the development of that institution. He added a private operating room of his own. He was generous in furnishing many of the rooms when the hospital was enlarged.
Dr. Grinstead's civic spirit was not confined to the hospital. He took an active part in community enterprises, and was closely identified with the Cairo Association of Commerce, and a member of its board of directors much of the time. He was active in the organization and direction of the Cairo National Bank, and has been its vice president from its institution.
Dr. Grinstead never married. He leaves his sister, Mrs. Q. E. Beckwith, who was his devoted companion during his illness, and a brother, Thomas Grinstead, living in Oklahoma. He also leaves an aunt by marriage, Mrs. May Ellen Brewer, of Bertrand, who mothered him in his boyhood days, for his own mother died when he was young.
1
"Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 98736459.
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