Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 700 - 703 

DR. J. H. FORDYCE, of the firm of Fordyce & Van Nuys, physicians and surgeons, Wichita, with their office in Getto Block, corner Main and Second streets, is a young man of superior attainments and culture, and is well fitted by many years of study for the practice of his profession. He comes of good stock of mingled Scotch and Scotch-Irish blood. He was born in Putnam County, Ind., on the 14th of July, 1853, and is the son of Joseph B. and Rebecca (Elliott) Fordyce, natives of Ohio, and both of Scotch and Scotch-Irish parents. His father's parents were William and Ruama (Buck) Fordyce, natives of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where they followed the occupation of farming until their emigration to Nova Scotia, whence they finally came to the United States, and settled in Ohio. From there they removed to Boone County, Ind., a few years before death, his death occurring in 1861, and hers in 1874. They had a family of ten children, of whom the following is the record: Nelson, Patience, George, Asa, Jesse, Mary, Sarah, Joseph, Malvina and Amos; the latter three are deceased. Patience is now Mrs. Wymer; Mary is Mrs. McKnight; Sarah is now Mrs. McDonald; Malvina is Mrs. Bone.

            Joseph, the father of our subject, was reared on a farm. When twenty years of age he turned his attention to the manufacture of fanning-mills, and followed that business with great success for fifteen years. Subsequently he purchased a large farm in Putnam County, Ind., to which he removed with his family, and there engaged extensively in farming and rearing horses, cattle and mules, and buying and selling stock on a large scale. During the war he supplied the Government with thousands of horses and mules for use in the army. He was associated with various banking concerns, and was one of the solid, wealthy men of Indiana. He was a man of decided character and great ability, and during his many years' residence in Indiana always took a prominent part in public affairs, and was a member of the State Legislature for the years 1858 and 1859. He was a warm personal friend of O. P. Morton, the great War Governor of Indiana. He and his wife were influential members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he had been an Elder for many years. His death, Feb. 17, 1883, was a blow to the community where he had made his home for so long a time, and to whose citizens he had become endeared by many acts of kindness. His wife makes her home in Russellville, Ind. She is seventy years old. To her hearty sympathy and co-operation her husband was greatly indebted for his popularity and success. Their union was blessed by the birth of six children, of whom the following is the record: William A., John N., James C., Elizabeth, J. H. and Annie; the three latter are deceased; Elizabeth is now Mrs. Ashby.

            The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood days in attendance at school, and in assisting in the farm labors. As he grew to manhood he was often sent away from home to transact business for his father, and finally was sent off to complete his education. In 1876 he commenced the study of medicine in Waveland with his present partner. In 1877-78-79 he attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, where he attained high rank for superior scholarship. After graduation he commenced the practice of his profession at Russellville, in his native State, remaining there until 1886. In the meantime he further prepared himself for his calling by taking a course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis, and was graduated from that institution in March, 1884. There are few physicians in the State who are better prepared for their life-work than our subject. He is a prominent member of various medical societies, namely: The Putnam County Medical Society; Indiana State Medical Society; the Tri-State Medical Society, and American Medical Association; and, in this city belongs to the Wichita Medical Society.

            Dr. Fordyce was married to Miss Lucy Allen, of Greencastle, Ind., in 1881. She is the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Allen) Allen, natives of Kentucky. Of this union three children have been born -- Maggie, Donald A. and Joseph B.

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