S. T. Blades
S. T. BLADES, M. D. The problems of health are really the problems of life and must pertain to all questions of human interest. Useless is wealth or station and vain are great achievements if good health is lacking. Thus comes the great value placed on the services of that body of noble men who have dedicated their lives to the healing art. The most necessary resident in any community is the physician, although he probably is never fully appreciated and seldom does he claim any foremost place, although his usefulness entitles him to it. Among the well known medical practitioners of Mitchell County, Kansas, Dr. S. T. Blades, the only physician and surgeon at Scottsville, where he is also proprietor of a well stocked drug store, Dr. Blades being a graduated pharmacist.
S. T. Blades was born at Minneapolis, Kansas, in 1875. He attended the public schools in his native place and after completing the high school course at Minneapolis and at Salina, entered the Kansas City University Medical College as a medical student, and later the Kansas City University, from which he was graduated. As an interne he spent two years in practical training work in the Kansas City hospitals, leaving there in 1903.
In 1904 Doctor Blades came to Scottsville and began the practice of his profession here and has been a continuous resident and practitioner although not the only one, for he has seen other medical men come to the village and has seen them go. His professional standing is so well established here that, although the field is wide, little encouragement has been given other physicians. He controls an extensive practice. Doctor Blades is not the only member of his family in the profession, his brother Dr. Joseph E. Blades being equally prominent at Randall. Doctor Blades keeps thoroughly abreast with the times through post graduate courses on special subjects and through membership with such representative medical bodies as the Mitchell County, the Kansas State and the National Medical Associations. His drug store was established in 1906 and he has been owner and proprietor since 1910.
Doctor Blades married in Kansas Miss Minnie Hoffmeister, who is a daughter of W. C. Hoffmeister, and they have one son, Bryan.
In politics Doctor Blades is a democrat. He is identified fraternally with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. Doctor Blades' popularity with his fellow citizens does not rest solely upon his professional skill, his personality has much to do with it, for they know him to be kind, generous, sympathetic and companionable, worthy of their friendship and confidence.
A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, written and compiled by William E. Connelley, Secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, copyright 1918; transcribed 1997.