CAPLINGER, Charles - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Mary Virginia, a retired teacher, is the granddaughter of Dr. Charles A. CAPLINGER. He was born in Montgomery County in 1861. His great grandfather came to Indiana in 1824 from Shelby Co KY. Her father, Theophilus Parvin Caplinger was born in 1880. After attending Wabash College he taught in Jackson Twp. In 1907 he graduated from Indiana University Medical School and married Lena RICHEY, a nurse he had met as an intern at Indianapolis CIty Hospital. Indiana University sent Dr. TP and some friends to the Tomboy Mine near Telluride, Colorado. This town was used as the background for the movie, The Unsinkable Molly Brown. He was contracted as a a physician and surgeon at a gold mine. The Johnsons visited this location and found a few traces of mining life. The Caplingers returned to wallac ein 1909. The father-son team had an extensive practice and they were known for their integrity and sound judgment. On Aug 15, 1917, he enlisted and was trained at Ft. Riley, KS; he was later transferred to a base hospital at Camp Logan, Houston. From Medical Ward Sugeon he was advanced to Offeicers' Ward Surgeon and promoted to the rank of Major. The Medical Association commended him for innovative research with a serum in the treatment of influenza and spinal meningits. His article was included in theMedical Journal. On Dec 26, 1 918, he suffered a ruptured appendix and died Jan 1, 1919 from peritonitis. His body was given military escort to the station where he where he received a gun salute from the 43rd Infantry. The military escort was one of the largest seen in Houston. His death was a loss not only to his family and friends but to society and to the medical profession which he so proudly represented. Ted's father, Earl Emerson Johnson was born in Warren County in 1885. He received several honors as a student at Kansas City Univ where he graduated in 1911. He began practicing medicine that fall at West Lebanon. In 1917 he enlisted in theservice and was stationed in France 2 years. Upon his return the family, consisiting of three sons moved to Kingman. He followed his profession the remainder of his life.