Taylor N. Snow, M.D.

An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, 1902
published by Western Historical Publishing Company

Taylor N. Snow, M.D.

Dr. Snow is the county physician and coroner and holds his offices in the Crabill building. He was born in Portland, Indiana, on July 4, 1835, being the son of James and Susan A. Snow. His father was born in Boston in 1754 and served through the Revolution and the war of 1812. His mother died when he was born and his father, when he was eight years of age, and he early began a life of roving adventure traveling by stage coach to most of the important cities of the United States and by working his way on board ships made the tour of the principal seaports of the world. In 1851 he settled down to the study of theology, intending to enter the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, and to this end he entered Asbury University. Later he relinquished this purpose and commenced the study of medicine in the medical college of Louisville, Kentucky, but completing the course before he was twenty-one was refused his degree, still he entered on the practice of his profession before he had reached his majority. From 1856 to 1858 he lectured on physiology and phrenology in addition to his practice. In 1859 he started on foot from Des Moines, Iowa, to California, and in due time he landed at Santa Rosa in the Golden state. During the toilsome journey he experienced many perilous adventures, encountered hostile Indians, met Horace Greeley, General Albert Sydney Johnston, and other historical characters. From 1860-4, he practiced medicine in San Francisco, and at the same time conducted a drug store. For about two years, he was assistant surgeon in the city and county hospital. In 1861-2 he attended two courses of lectures at the Cooper Medical College of San Francisco and at the time of the gold excitement in Idaho in 1864 he went thither and was appointed county coroner and physician of Alturas county in that territory, but he soon returned to California to take a further course of lectures at the state university, following which he repaired to Corvallis, Oregon, and practiced medicine during 1865-6 and then came to Baker City the next year. From that time until 1876, he held the offices of county coroner and physician of Baker county and at the same time he also acted as surgeon for the Idaho and Oregon Stage Company. He then practiced medicine for a brief period in Susanville, California, and then again attended a course of lectures at the Cooper Medical College, taking a degree from that institution on November 2, 1876. On July 2, 1876, the Eclectric Medical Society of California awarded him a certificate of honor upon examination and a similar token of merit was awarded him by the state board of medical examiners on March 21, 1877, and the Doctor also holds certificates from the state medical boards of Colorado and Oregon dated respectively 1881 and 1892. From his work at the Cooper Medical College he went to Reno, Nevada, and there practiced medicine until 1880, following which he gave himself to his profession in Gunnison, Colorado, for one year, where also he was surgeon for the Barlow and Sanderson Stage Company, and medical officer with rank of major on the staff or Brigadier-General Curtis. He also practiced in Bellevue, Idaho, where he was health officer of the city and now for nearly twenty years he has been well known and highly appreciated as a leading physician in this city. Since 1882 he has been examining surgeon for the government and in 1887 he was appointed examining surgeon with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, in the Oregon State Militia on the staff of General Comston and here he served for eight years. He is also surgeon for the U.P. Railroad, chief surgeon for the S.V.R.R. Company, and the S.V.L. Company and chief medical examiner of the N.Y. Equitable Life Insurance Company. He has been elected county coroner and physician a number of times. He enjoys a very lucrative practice and has performed some of the most difficult and delicate surgical operations known to the profession.

The Doctor is a charter member and organizer of the A.O.U.W. and has twice represented the local organization in the grand lodge. He joined the I.O.O.F. twenty-six years ago in Baker City and also belongs to the Rebekah degree. He was a charter member and the first presiding officer of the Queen City Camp, No. 48, W. of W., and a charter member of the auxiliary of this order. He also belongs to the Foresters of America, the M.W.A., the Royal Neighbors, Order of Pendo, and American Order of Protection. He is medical examiner, physician and surgeon for the Court of Foresters and medical examiner for the A.O.U.W., the W. of W., the M.W.A., the Order of Pendo, the American Order of Protection, the Ladies Maccabees, and the Royal Neighbors of America. He owns a pleasant home in the city and many property interests in various places.

The marriage of Dr. Snow and Miss Susan A., daughter of Hon. Charles Chandler, was solemnized in this city and they have become the parents of three children: Dr. Charles V., deceased, Dr. Frederick, deceased; Jesse B., with
his father in the office.

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