|
|
Edwin Saunders Ricketts was born May 18, 1853 in Proctorville, Ohio. Edwin's father, Girard Robinson Ricketts, was a doctor as were his brothers, Benjamin Merrill Ricketts and Joseph Vincent Ricketts.
His early education was acquired in the village schools and later he was graduated from Marshall College (visit the Marshall site for a story about Edwin) at Huntington, West Virginia, with the class of 1871. He went into the general mercantile business for four years at Proctorville, Ohio, and at the same time studied medicine under the direction of his father, having determined to make its practise his life work. He completed his professional course in the Miami medical College in March, 1877, and located in Portsmouth, Ohio, where he opened an office and remained for ten years, engaging in the general practise of medicine. In 1887, for the purpose of further study along special lines, he went to Europe and spent a year in England and on the continent, studying under Mr. LawsonTate, of Birmingham, England, who directed his researches in abdominal surgery and gynecology, while for a time he also studied under Dr. Granville Bantock, of London. He served in the Frauen Clinics under Dr. Henri Martin, of Berlin, Germany, and pursued his investigations in the Gynecological Clinic under Dr. Pierre Budot at the Hospital of Paris. Further knowledge came to him through his connection with the Hospital of Vienna and he also visited and investigated methods in various hospitals of ROme, Florence and Naples. In 1888 he returned to America, having spent one year in study and research, and, thus splendidly equiped for additional responsibilities of a professional character, he opened an office in Cincinnati, where he has made his home since August, 1888. He limits his practise to abdominal surgery and gynecology and his work is done strictly by appointment. His practise extends over the states of Ohio, Indiana, West Viginia, Kentucky and other sections of the country, and not only the public but the profession largely regards him as an authority upon subjects connected with his specialty. He is an honorary member of the Hempstead Memorial Academy of Medicine of Portsmouth, the Virginia State Medical Society and is an ex-president of the American association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He was also at one time president of the Cincinnati Obstetrical Society and belongs to the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He was formerly a member of the British Medical Society and is also an ex-member of the British Gynecological Society. On the 31st of October, 1877, Dr. Ricketts was married to Miss Romaine E. McCormick, a daughter of John R. and Sallie McCormick, of Gallipolis, Ohio. Mrs. Ricketts died January 17, 1886, leaving a son, Halliday M., married to Miss Ottilie Steinborn, February 22, 1910; they now have one son, Girard P. Ricketts. Dr. Ricketts has comparatively little time for social interests, for he is constantly overburdened by the professional demands made upon him. It is well, therefore, that he finds genuine pleasure and delight in his work. He has carried his researches and investigations far beyond that of the average practioner and has been a prolific writer upon special subjects for medical journals. With a nature that could never be content with mediocrity he has worked his way steadily upward, finding his reward not only in material gain but in that deeper satisfaction which comes with a consciousness of service well performed and a sense of the value of one's aid to his fellowmen.
More information on the life and medical contributions of Dr. Edwin Saunders Ricketts can be found at the Cincinnati Historical Society. The Society was the source for the above information.
| |