My Grandfather, Dr. Glenn W. Brewster
My Grandfather, Dr. Glenn W. Brewster
Grandpa was a doctor for railroads in the West Virginia coalfields and often found a horse to be the best mode for getting to his patients. Mother said he kept a horse until around 1940 when he would have been 60 years old. He carried a pistol, which mother originally said was to shoot snakes that might frighten the horse but when we were older she said the gun was to make a point to anyone who might try to rob him of the morphine in his medical bag.
It looks like he's enjoying a cigar here though I never knew him to smoke anything but a pipe filled with Prince Albert. He's been gone 51 years now and I still miss him.
Wow,..great post Mike. Looks like you've been saving the best for last, so to speak. :-)) Very cool photo and an admirable doctor gentleman.. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou said,.."he kept a horse until around 1940 when he would have been 60 years old",..so I was wondering what year this photo was taken ? seeing that he's no where near 55 or 60.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Woodall - Good question and I don't know exactly when. I'd guess from having zoomed in on his then-young-looking face and his attire that it was taken around 1920.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo whenever it was taken Mike.
ReplyDeleteGosh, Mike Martin Truly a wonderful post as Matthew has said. Takes a special kind of man to be a Country Doctor and he looks to have been it.
ReplyDeleteI can't thank you enough for sharing this wonderful news about your family with us. Many thanks as always.
Great post, because it's not just a man on his horse !
ReplyDeleteThere is a story behind it.
And what's more, it's your story !
LT
Excellent post and also the background story. Seems strange now how someone like a doctor would do his rounds on a horse. But I remember my mother saying how the owner of the local shipyard, where she lived, would go to work on his horse. How times have changed.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 6 years old, our family doctor would make house visits. His office was only 2 blocks away from us, and he came to see me when I was sick, I remember. He also was the doctor that delivered me.
ReplyDeleteHis name was Dr. Owsley, and he would walk down to the house with his big doctor's medical bag. Things were so much better back then. :-)
ReplyDeleteNow your lucky if you can get an appointment with a Doctor when you need one. And if it's a specialist you are going to wait months. lol
ReplyDeleteI agree that his clothing -- collar, vest, hat, and glasses -- suggest around 1920. This is great.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how I missed this post, but I'm glad to have found it! That is a marvelous picture and a great story as well. He looks very tidy and groomed in spite of his rides to the coalfields!
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