THE ENTERPRISING DR. C. H. CRETZMEYER

“Enterprising Men of Algona” was a book that was printed by the Upper Des Moines Republican in 1917.  It consisted of 28 cartoons of well-known Algona businessmen.  The cartoons had been printed in previous issues of the newspaper during 1916-17 before being combined into a book.  Each cartoon featured information about the subject which included hobbies, background facts and tidbits about their lives.  I find the artwork remarkable—sadly I have been unable to determine the identity of the artist that created the unique drawings.

From time to time, I plan to feature one of the enterprising men so that I can share their story—and their cartoon—with you.  To begin, let’s take a look at enterprising man Dr. C.H. Cretzmeyer.  Pictured as a very dapper man, complete with bow tie, the drawings scattered around the edge of the picture offer a peek into an active life.

THE DOCTOR COMES TO ALGONA

Born and raised in Waverly, Charles H. Cretzmeyer taught school for a short time following graduation from high school before enrolling in the University of Iowa.  He graduated from medical school in 1901 and completed his internship in 1902.  At the time the young doctor was undecided where to set up his practice.  During a trip to Chandler, Minnesota, to visit his grandfather, he had an all-night layover in Algona. Charles had several acquaintances in the area including Bill Hinchon, a young lawyer.  They spoke very highly of the community and urged him to consider casting his lot here.  Before leaving on the rest of his trip, Dr. Cretzmeyer toured the new Galbraith building at the corner of Moore and State Streets.  He selected several rooms on the second floor and became John Galbraith’s first tenant.  On April 16, 1902, the doors officially opened.  His office would remain in the same spot for 51 years. 

The new doctor set up housekeeping at the Durdall Hotel with unique payment arrangements.  He told proprietor Harry Tremain “I’m a young doctor. . .I’m going to work here. . I haven’t any money, but when I have some I’ll pay you.”  Tremain agreed, stating that he looked honest, and that arrangement lasted until the doctor had a home of his own.

When reminiscing in his later years, the doctor recalled that in the early days when he did not have many patients, he would sometimes grab his medical bag and run out of his office and down the street, hoping that observers would think he was called out on an emergency.  It didn’t take long for his practice to grow.  At that time he would travel by foot, horseback or buggy over dirt roads.  In the spring they were often bottomless mud pits.  Dr. Cretzmeyer would use a cutter to make his calls during the winter. 

HIS FAMILY LIFE

In March of 1904, Maude Low came to Algona and for the next year worked as a trimmer in the millinery store of Mrs. James Taylor.  She caught the eye of the young doctor and they were married the next year on her birthday, June 5, 1905.  The two were quite devoted to one another and the marriage was a happy one.  However, Mrs. Cretzmeyer’s health began to fail.  An operation was recommended to relieve her symptoms and Dr. Guthrie of Dubuque came to perform the surgery.  Complications followed and Maude died on the 9^th of December, 1909.  Her father took her remains to Osceola for burial in the family plot.

Dr. Cretzmeyer did remarry a few years later.  Bertha Henry of Oskaloosa had come to Algona to serve as a piano teacher and organist in the Methodist Church and had made a large circle of friends.  She and the doctor were married quietly at the Catholic parsonage by Fr. Halpin on October 14, 1915.  Although they attempted to keep the nuptials quiet, neighbors and friends discovered their plan and as they made their departure from the parsonage, the couple were showered with rice, cheers and well wishes.  They then drove to Fort Dodge and caught a train for St. Louis where they spent their honeymoon.

The couple went on to have two children—Dr. Charles H. Cretzmeyer, Jr., who like his father became a medical doctor, and their daughter, Jane Cretzmeyer, who became a teacher.

HIS PRACTICE

Dr. Cretzmeyer became well known for his surgical skills.  Shortly before he died he estimated that he had performed over 6,000 surgeries during his career.  I was amazed to learn how many cataract surgeries he performed.  To think over 100 years ago he was capable of such delicate operations on the eye is very impressive.  He was often called in on the most dangerous and gruesome of accident cases—a young man who jumped from a hay mow into a wagon landing on the handle of a pitchfork which punctured his rectum and colon as well as a railroad fireman who fell off a platform and beneath the approaching train.  Although he and several other area physicians did everything they could, these patients did die. 

He had many success stories, however.  The doctor loved to relate the story about a farm hand who came to his office one hot summer day begging for help for his very sick 11 year old son.  Going to the man’s home, Dr. Cretzmeyer found it to be a tent.  An examination of the child confirmed the physician’s suspicions that he was experiencing an appendicitis.  Despite the flies and unsanitary conditions, it was imperative that the surgery be performed immediately.  Dr. Cretzmeyer sterilized his instruments in an old Rochester sterilizer and called upon the assistance of Dr. Stull who administered ether. They placed the boy on a cleanly scrubbed old door set atop two salt barrels and the doctor successfully removed a gangrenous appendix. 

Ella Burke who served as the office nurse for Dr. J. W. McCreery for 25 years, recalled another incident when a lady who lived near Bode required emergency surgery in the middle of a very bad winter.  It was a bitterly cold night and Drs. McCreery, Cretzmeyer and Kenefick were called in.  Snow had closed the roads so they traveled by horse and cutter through the fields, cutting the fences as necessary.  The surgery was performed by lamplight in the home.

The delivery of babies also took much of the doctor’s time.  Once being called to the home, the practitioner would stay with the expectant mother until the arrival of the new little one.  This could mean many long hours monitoring labor.

OUTSTANDING CITIZEN

Charles was very involved in the community of Algona as well as in the medical community.  He served a term as president of the Kiwanis club and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.  He was a member of the American Medical Association, the American Association of Railway Surgeons, the Austin-Flint, Cedar Valley, and Twin Lakes medical societies, and was a past president of the Kossuth County Medical Society.

He served as the first Chief of Staff of the new St. Ann’s Hospital and was active in setting the policies for the facility.

HIS HOME

Bertha and Charles built a beautiful home which still stands at 400 East Nebraska Street in Algona and is known as Hearten Bed & Breakfast.  An inviting porch wraps around the house providing the residents a place to catch a soft summer breeze.  The home features a staircase with a landing large enough for the placement of a piano to showcase Bertha’s musical talent.  One can picture the family seated in the parlor and patients coming by after hours, seeking help from the good doctor. 

At the time the house was built, Bertha Cretzmeyer special ordered two chandeliers made from Austrian crystal.  The fixtures featured large amber teardrop crystals at the top surrounded by gold filigree with icicle-like clear prisms hanging in the lower portions.  These two fixtures were later sold along with other original fixtures.

An article in the Kossuth County Advance published on November 4, 1920, describes a Halloween party held at the house.  “Seventy-two ladies were delightfully entertained at a one o’clock luncheon Saturday given by the Mesdames C.H. Cretzmeyer and F. H. Seiler at the former’s home.  The spacious and beautiful Cretzmeyer house was decorated with yellow chrysanthemums and Halloween conceits in bright orange.  A “witch” showed the ladies where they were to sit at table.  One of the interesting and amusing features of the afternoon was a fortune-telling booth.  This had been fitted up with kettle, firelight, and a skeleton borrowed from Doctor Cretzmeyer.  The ladies had their fortunes told in turn.  The rest of the afternoon was spent at bridge.”

THE END OF THE STORY

Charles continued to practice medicine right up until his passing on Monday, May 6, 1957 at the age of 78.  He had suffered a heart attack late Sunday evening and was rushed to the hospital.  A second attack the next day took his life.  Bertha died three years later following a long illness.  Both are buried in Calvary Cemetery.

William C. Dewel, a good friend, wrote a tribute at the time of the doctor’s passing which was published in the Kossuth County Advance on May 7, 1957.  He stated, “In both public and private the doctor was upright and faithful to the best concepts of physician and citizen.  I regard his passing as a symbol of the end of an era in the history and growth of Algona and Kossuth county.  Fifty-five years ago he came to just another country town, and now he leaves as it is blossoming into a new era as a rising small city.”

Until next time,

Jean

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