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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 2:20 o’clock. Services were held at the Moravian church at
2:45 o’clock, Bishop Karl A. Mueller officiating. William Sproesser sang a solo during the service. Attending the funeral were many prominent
physicians and citizens of Madison and members of the state board of health
were also in the party from Madison.
Burial was in Oak Hill
cemetery.
Dr. Whyte was a native of
Kinross, Scotland where he was born on February 14, 1851. He came to America at the age of four years,
settling in Watertown with his parents.
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,
Dec. 26, 1926; W. F. Whyte Papers.
[Source: Dictionary
of Wisconsin biography]
1883 A Curious Specimen / Watertown Republican
06 20 One day
last week there appeared here a member of the sable race, dark, uncomely and in
tattered garments whose general appearance attracted considerable attention on
the street. He talked quite wild as to
his origin, history, experience in life and other things.
The swarthy stranger gave his name as Aziah Cetewayo and insisted to
all the curiosity seekers that he was the oldest son of Cetewayo, King of Zulu, whose warlike encounters with
the English a few years ago will be remembered.
He said he had been captured and taken to England from his home in South
Africa. Many of his expressions and
statements "gave him away" bad, and the general inference to be drawn
from his remarks and demeanor was that he was a genuine negro
tramp. Yet notwithstanding all this,
upon examination he proved himself to be a remarkably queer specimen of
humanity.
From his pockets he produced certificates from physicians
showing that he was the happy possessor of two hearts and two sets of
ribs. At the office of Doctor W. F.
Whyte before a select audience he bared his body and exhibited his peculiar
anatomical makeup. The heart beat was
distinctly felt and heard on both sides, and he could at will stop the heart’s
action so that it was imperceptible, and would remain in this condition for
several minutes. He also claimed to
throw each heart down in the lower part of the abdominal region. Whether or not this was done the heart’s
action could be distinctly heard at these points.
He had complete control of the abdominal muscles and
could at will cause the most uncouth motions in this region. Another
peculiarity was the power, as he claimed, to cause one set of his ribs to
descend down over the abdomen so that apparently the ribs covered the entire
front of the trunk.
As a sample of his great strength he bent a one inch
iron rod by striking it over the muscles of his arms.
He is certainly a clear abnormality, and while some
things in his makeup can be explained, others are surely out of the usual order
of things.
He has been a study to medical men for years, and has
visited all the leading medical schools and been examined by most of the
eminent doctors of this country, they all pronouncing him a mystery. Dr. Moulding was
one of those who examined him and saw the same man in ’76 at the University of
Michigan. He was before the medical
class and was examined by the different professors there.
The curiosity there was equal to what was evinced
here, and they could come to no positive conclusion as to the internal
arrangements of the man. The case has
been cited in medical works as one of the curiosities of nature.
1898
04 06 Audubon Society Founded
The meeting at the home of Mrs. W. F. Whyte last
Wednesday, called for the purpose of forming an Audubon society, was well
attended and resulted in accomplishing the desired end. The society was launched on its laudable work
of perpetuating bird-life with a membership of some thirty ladies, which will
be materially increased as the movement grows in favor. A meeting for a permanent organization and
election of officers is to be held shortly.
WR
11 23 Appointment to State Board of Health and
Vital Statistics
Friday last Dr. William F. Whyte received formal
notification of his appointment by Governor Scofield as a member of the State
Board of Health and Vital Statistics, to succeed Dr. F.H. Bodenious , of Madison,
lately deceased. The appointment is to
fill the unexpired term, which ends the first Monday in February, 1904. Dr. Whyte is a graduate of the Northwestern
University Medical School, Chicago, and has been a successful practitioner here
for twenty-four years. His medical education was also enhanced by attendance at
the universities of Berlin and Vienna . . . The position is solely an honorary
one, as no salary is paid to members of the board except the secretary. When called on duty the members are paid
their expenses out of an appropriation made annually by the state. WR
1914
01 08 Dr. WILLIAM F. WHYTE RETIRES FROM PRACTICE
Dr. William F. Whyte, one of Watertown's ablest and
best-known physicians, has retired from active practice of his profession, much
to the regret of the people of this city and vicinity. Dr. Whyte graduated with the class of 1874 of
the Northwestern University medical school and for a year following interned at
Mercy hospital, Chicago. He then came to
this city and has been in continual practice here ever since, excepting while
abroad on three different occasions, on one of which occasion in 1884 he
studied for eight months in Vienna and Berlin.
Dr. Whyte was born on February 14, 1851, in Kinross,
Scotland, and in 1854, came to this city with his parents. In 1884 he was married to Miss Florence A.
Kohn of this city, the result of the union being one daughter and two sons.
The doctor has served over 15 years of the state board
of health, having been appointed first by Governor Scofield in 1898, and since
then has been reappointed by Governors La Follette
and McGoven, his present term not expiring till
1918. He has been president of the board
since 1903.
Last August Dr. Whyte announced his intention of
retiring and associated himself with Dr. F. C.
Ableman, who now is his successor. Dr. and Mrs. Whyte have gone to Madison and
for a time will visit at the home of their daughter, Mrs. H. A. Watt, and about
January 31st they will go to New York and sail on the Cunard steamer Caronia
for Alexandria, Egypt, where they will remain a while and then visit Palestine,
Greece and many other European countries, intending to return next fall to this
state. He is undecided as to whether he
will make his home here, Madison, or elsewhere.
Our people all sincerely hope he and Mrs. Whyte will have pleasant time
in their travels and that they will return to reside among us. WG
01 15 Dr. W. F. WHYTE NAMED PRESIDENT
Madison, Wis., Jan. 9. — The state board of health, at
its annual meeting today, elected Dr. William F. Whyte of Watertown, president,
and Dr. Edward S. Hayes of Eau Claire, vice-president. Dr. C. A. Harper of Madison, holds the office
of secretary at the pleasure of the board.
WG
___________________
1908
09
11 John Whyte, son of Dr. 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
