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Dr. William F. Whyte
1851 - 1926
Whyte, Doctor, b. 1851, d. 1926, Sec 6
WAS
PROMINENT PHYSICIAN HERE FOR MANY YEARS
(Picture, Watertown paper)
The death of Dr. William F. Whyte, a
practicing physician of Watertown for forty years and one of the most widely
known doctors in Wisconsin, occurred in the family home in Madison on Christmas
day. He had been in failing health for
several months, but his critical condition was not known to his friends here
until near the end. When the news of his
death reached here there were many expressions of sympathy and regret. The
family moved to Madison after Dr. Whyte disposed of his practice here in 1914
but through frequent visits here kept up the friendships of former years.
The funeral took place this afternoon, the
body arriving over the Milwaukee road at
Dr. Whyte was a native of Kinross, Scotland
where he was born on
He was graduated from the medical school of
Northwestern university in 1873 and after spending a year at Mercy hospital,
Chicago, he came to Watertown where he practiced medicine for over forty years.
Dr. Whyte was for 26 years a member of the
state board of health. He was first
appointed to that body by Gov. Scofield in 1898. He was again reappointed by Govs. LaFollette,
McGovern and Philipp. In 1903 he was
elected president of the board and re-elected every year since then, until 1923
when he resigned.
Served
During War
When war was declared against the central
powers by the United States in 1917, Dr. Whyte enlisted and served at Camp
Custer and Camp Dix and won the post of contract surgeon with the rank of first
lieutenant. After his retirement he returned to
Madison. In recent years he has written
a great deal, including a series of articles on historical subjects and
sketches for the State Historical society.
Some years ago Dr. Whyte wrote a series of interesting articles for the
Daily Times following a trip to the Holy Land.
Surviving Dr. Whyte are his wife, formerly
Florence Kohn, sister of Charles A. Kohn of this city, and three children, John
Whyte, professor at New York City college, Mrs. Homer Watt of East Orange, N.
J. and Malcolm K. Whyte of Milwaukee.
There are five grandchildren.
Dr. Whyte was born of Scotch ancestry and
possessed the sturdy traits and character of the race. He was a man of liberal tastes and education
and as a physician early took a high rank in the profession to which he devoted
the better share of his life. He was
always the student with the faculty of retention in a remarkable degree. His mind, broadened by study and travel,
developed the faculty of imparting to others the knowledge thus attained and he
was probably one of the best posted men on current events and the early history
of this section of Wisconsin.
He was primarily the keen professional man
but withal a man of liberal views and cultivation and possessed of a fund of
diversified information. Of a genial
nature he possessed the social gift and capacity for wholesome and liberal
enjoyment that never flagged during his life.
Bright, kindly, witty and most companionable, Dr. Whyte will long be
missed by the many friends whom he attracted during his long and arduous life,
especially in the community in which he passed the greater share of his
being. His life was an example of true
manhood and he devoted the greater share of it and his best efforts to
relieving as far as was in his power the sufferings of humanity.
His large practice brought him in contact
with people in many sections of the country and his memory for names and faces
was truly remarkable, easily recalling them years after the acquaintance was
formed.
Contributed
To Press
Dr. Whyte was a forceful and interesting
writer and his many contributions to the local press were always read with
interest and avidity. He had a faculty
for vivid description of the places he visited in his travels which possessed a
literary as well as historical value.
His contributions to the State Historical society are of especial value,
especially those treating of early days in Jefferson and Dodge counties, which
form a valued part in the archives of that body. His views and opinions on public matters were
pronounced and not easily shaken and he was a power in debate but he always
accorded to his opponent the same latitude which he retained for himself.
Whyte, William Foote 1851 - 1926
Definition: physician, author, local
historian, b. Kinross, Scotland. He migrated with his parents to the U.S. and
to Wisconsin in 1855, settling in Watertown. He graduated from Northwestern
Univ. (M.D., 1873), interned at Mercy Hospital, Chicago (1873-1874), and from
1874 to 1914 practiced medicine in Watertown. Whyte was a member of the State
Board of Health (1898-1924), and was its president from 1903 to 1924. He was
the author of numerous articles on local and Wisconsin history, and served for
many years as a curator of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. After
retiring from active practice in 1914, he moved to Madison, where he made his
home until his death. Wis. Mag. Hist., 10; Wis. State Board of Health, Bull., 4
(12), 1926; Madison Wis. State Journal,
[Source: Dictionary
of Wisconsin biography]
1908
09
11 John
Whyte
GONE TO GERMANY. John Whyte, son of Dr. and Mrs. Wm. F. Whyte,
left on Monday for Leipsic, Germany, where he will study for a year. On Saturday he will sail on the steamer
Pennsylvania of the Hamburg-American line. Recently he received the Ottendorfer
fellowship given by the University of New York. Dr. L. Oswald of the Wisconsin University will
be his travelling companion, having been appointed to the exchange teachership
at Kiel, Germany. WG
Cross Reference:
Whyte, W F,
Dr 1907, physician.
Whyte,
William F 1913, 500 Second, physician
