Ensminger - Samuel L.
Dr. SAMUEL LEONARD ENSMINGER
Source: Zach, Karen Bazzani. Montgomery Medicine Men ... Crawfordsville, Indiana: Montgomery County Historical Society, 2002.
Samuel Leonard Ensminger, son of Joseph E. and Jane (Fulton) Canine Ensminger was born just north of Crawfordsville. When Samuel turned 16, he enlisted in the Civil War, but his father (then Marshall of the town) pressured authorities into releasing him. Young Sam was persistent though, and joined Co. I, 11th Ind. Volunteers under General Lew Wallace. This time, Joe let his young son go and the young man soon rose in rank to Lt.; however, he was so seriously wounded at the Battle of Cedar Creek (in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia) that it was reported to his parents that the boy was dead. Samuel Leonard Ensminger was one tough cookie, though and recovered. In fact, upon the completing of a three-year-tour, he reenlisted as a veteran. Another wounded at Cedar Creek was J.H. Coffman who would eventually become the editor of the Crawfordsville Argus-News (Review). Coffman and the good doctor were neighbors and at the anniversary of the battle each year (October 19, 1864) the two men would take dinner and talk over the incident. Following the war, he was a member of the Montgomery County Guards and entered Wabash College where he left his junior year in order to study medidine.
He graduated from Miami Medical College of Cincinnati. He joined in partnership with Drs. McClelland Cowan, pioneer physicians of the city. Their office was just east of the Crawford Hotel. He was widely known as a surgeon with great success.
In 1876, Dr. Ensminger married Louise Webb Austin. They had one son, Dr. Leonard Ensminger who became a noted surgeon in Indianapolis, working for the Big Fur Railway Company.. Leonard was a Major in the first World War. They may have had a daughter, Katherine Frances, as well. Sam Ensminger helped his nephew, John, with his medical career.
Dr. Sam stood for high ideals and honestly and was known as an outstanding surgeon. Active in the Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church, K. of P, he was a charter member of McPherson Post, GAR. Dr. Samuel Leonard Ensminger passed away September 26, 1921 of a stroke and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
One interesting story of Dr. Ensminger was that Sam would drive anywhere to administer to his patients. One particular night, there was a "heavy spring freshet." there were few bridges then and he found it necessary to ford a stream that had become a raging torrent. While trying to cross, his buggy and horse were carried down the stream. The doctor managed to cut the horse loose from the buggy and although Dr. Ensminster had lost his medicine case, he still made the call. The horse? He was discovered the next day in a pasture down the river!