Eddingfield - George
GEORGE EDDINGFIELD
Source: Zach, Karen Bazzani. Montgomery Medicine Men. Crawfordsville, Indiana: Montgomery County Historical Society, 2002.
Having practiced medicine in Montgomery County for almost half a century, George Williamson Eddingfield moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he died at St. John's Hospital, December 1, 1926. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, the son of John and Sarah Eddingfield (one source says Jameson and Sarah Primrose Eddingfield). He received his medical education at Miami Medical College, graduating in 1872 although he was listed as a doctor in the 1870 census. He had at least three brothers; William, Oscar and James. On March 23, 1880, George married Georgianna Johnson in Montgomery County (Bk 9 p 382). Georgianna was a native of Canada. Eddingfield practiced in the Mace area on a farm possibly entered by his grandfather, John J. Eddingfield. The Eddingfields had at least one child, June.
In 1891, Dr. Eddingfield was sued by one Thomas Burks for $5,000 because Charlotte, Burks' wife died and Dr. Eddingfield didn't go see Charlotte at Burks' request. Eddingfield won the case as he was at another death call at the time of the Burk request. One source stated that Dr. Eddingfield kept a small room on his property which he used for his office. In 1894, Dr. Eddingfield charged $2.00 for a house call and 25 cents, 50 cents or one dollar for an office visit, depending on what was done. He made notation in his record book that his mother died Sunday, May 28, 1899 and he charged her the same as anyone else. On July 22, 1895, he wrote that he had been doctoring for 25 years.
Dr. Eddingfield was buried in Mishawaka, St. Joseph County, Indiana (Fairview Cemetery). In the Crawfordsville Weekly Journal on May 14, 1887, we find a humorous tidbit regarding this man under a "Mace" news item: "Dr. Eddingfield sports a new bicycle called the 'Perpetual." He says he will be able to challene Mr. Nicholson of your ity in a few days." Wonder if the race ever came about and who, oh, who won?