Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 648 - 651 

DR. J. E. OLDHAM, of the firm of Oldham & Graham, physicians and surgeons, who have their office at No. 224 East Douglas avenue, Wichita. The talent and culture of these gentlemen have gained them an honorable position in the medical profession and they enjoy an extensive practice.

            Dr. Oldham was born in New Albany, Floyd Co., Ind., Nov. 6, 1847, and is a son of Nathan G. and Annie (Bottorff) Oldham, natives respectively of Maryland and Indiana. His grandfather, Nathan Oldham, was a life-long resident of Maryland, his forefathers coming from England to that State. His father left his native State when a young man, and proceeded to New Albany, Ind., of which city he remained an honored resident until his death, of cholera, in 1849. He was an extensive leather manufacturer, and was well and favorably known as an enterprising and able business man. The respected mother of our subject is now living at Charlestown, Ind., and is sixty-six years old. She has three children: William R., of Carroll County, Mo., where he is engaged in farming; Mrs. Jane Nickles, of Clark County, Ind.; and the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Oldham's parents, William and Mary (Lynam) Bottorff, are natives of the States of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. They are now living at the advanced ages, respectively, of ninety-two and ninety years. They moved to Camp Point, Adams Co., Ill., where they are now living in retirement from the cares of life; he was formerly a farmer. They are worthy descendants of Pennsylvania and Kentucky families.

            The subject of this biography was deprived of a father's care at a very early age. His boyhood days were passed on a farm, and during those years he gained the foundation of his education at Barnett Academy, Charlestown, Ind. He afterward entered the State University at Bloomington, remaining a student within its walls until 1867. After leaving college he started out in life as a teacher, as so many men now eminent in various professions have done. He continued to exercise that calling in his native State for five years. He then entered upon his medical studies at The Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, and after a few years of hard study was graduated from that institution with an honorable record in 1875. He opened an office at Charlestown, Ind., and began his career as a physician, and by close application to his professional duties gradually built up a good practice and gained for himself a good local reputation for skill and successful treatment of difficult cases.

            In 1879, while a resident of Charlestown, Ind., Dr. Oldham was married to Miss Ida L. Hess, a native of Henry County, Ind., and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Hess, natives of Virginia. Of this union two children have been born -- Warren H. and Gordon C.

            In 1884 Dr. Oldham left his native State and came with his family to Wichita, and has ever since been in active practice here. In 1887 he took his friend, Dr. Graham, into partnership with him, and they have since labored together, building up a large practice. They are graduates of the same college and studied at the same medical school, and lived in the same neighborhood together. Their lives are devoted to the demands of their profession, and they are still close students in their leisure hours.

            Our subject takes a conspicuous part in educational matters in this city. He is one of the Directors of Garfield University, was one of its organizers (a charter member), and is Secretary of the Executive Committee. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity; in politics he is a Republican. The Doctor and his amiable wife are devoted to the interests of the Christian Church, of which they are members. They have an elegant and pleasant home at No. 202 East Central avenue.

[ Home ]