Riffle - John S.
Source: Record# 86395 in database 19th Indiana Century Physicians
Riffle,
John S
Civil
War
Rank:
Asst. Surg.
Civil
War Regiment: 40th Membership in Medical
Orgz.:
Indiana State Medical Society 1882-83
County:
Montgomery (Crawfordsville)
Source: Beckwith, H. W. History of Fountain County, Indiana.
Chicago: HH Hill, 1881, p. 282.
John
S. RIFFLE, physician and surgeon, Newtown was born near Piqua, Ohio 1832. He
was left an orphan when quite young but was kindly provided a home in a family
by the name of Hilliard, who resided in Piqua. By an arrangement of his
guardian he was sent to the academy in Piqua 3 years. After having completed a
scientific course he began school teaching and the study of medicine in 1849
and was engaged in notable schools in 4 different states in the Union. He
sailed in 1851 with an invalid brother to the isthmus of Panama and returned
across the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans then went to Houston, TX. He taught in
the HS there 14 months and continued study of medicine under Dr. Parker. He
started home in 1853 crossing the Gulf the 3rd time. Arriving at New Orleans he
found navigation stopped on account of yellow fever except that a single
steamboat bound for St. Louis would start in 3 hours. Having a little time he
visited some of the hospitals to see the patients suffering from the disease
and as far as possible to study its cause and nature. Deaths at that time were
about 100 a day. He took passage on the Bunker Hill for St. Louis at 4 o'clock
in the evening. He remained there two weeks after arrival, then crossed the
river to Alton, ill; thence to Jerseyville where he continued the study of
medicine under Dr. Harriman until the beginning of the session at the Missouri
Medicial College of 1853. There he received his first medical degree at the
close of the session of 1855. His last was obtained at Long Island College
Hospital, Brooklyn, NY. He entered the Union Army as a private soldier in 1861
in 40th Reg Ind Vol. Inf. he was promoted hospital steward and soon after
assistant surgeon and served as such until he was honorably discharge at
Texanna, Texas in 1866. Thence he crossed the Gulf making his 5th passage
across that body of water; 3 times before the war, twice during. After the
close of the rebellion he located in Newtown, Indiana in the practice of
medicine and surgery where he still remains. - kbz