Representative Charles L. Marston View All Years

DR. CHARLES LEMUEL MARSTON, physician, died at his home in Mason City, June 25, 1942. Dr. Marston was born February 6, 1870, at Seward, Illinois, of old American stock. His first American ancestor came to this country in 1832, his father, George W. Marston, a pioneer in the middle-west, came from Vermont before the Civil War and served with Illinois troops in that war. His mother, Sarah Scott Marston, was a Pennsylvanian.

Educated in the high school of Rockford, Illinois, Dr. Marston received his medical education at Rush Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1893. He came of a family of doctors. A grandfather, Dr. Amos Scott, was a surgeon in the Civil War, and an uncle, Dr. Charles Scott, of Belvidere, Illinois, was also a physician.

Dr. Marston and his wife arrived in Mason City on April 6, 1893, in a snowstorm and since that time in storm and sun he carried on the best tradition of American medicine. Some years ago his record showed that he had brought into this world more than 5,000 children, and it was with great pride that he said he had lost but five mothers during that time.

His patients all over Cerro Gordo County will remember well the brown team which he drove making his calls in winter and summer, and how that team was so well trained that it needed no guidance when the Doctor returned late at night from some call. His experiences, those of every pioneer doctor—frozen hands, face, and feet—were a part of every winter and the perils and suffering which he underwent justify the love his patients had for him.

Shortly after the outbreak of the first World War, he joined the Army of the United States, in August, 1917, being commissioned a captain. Training at Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia, he was commissioned a major before going overseas in July, 1918.

Shortly after his return from the World War in May, 1919, he was invited to become a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons, being sponsored by Dr. Will Mayo of Rochester, Minn., and Dr. Charles Oeschner, of Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Marston was also a member of the American Medical Association, the Iowa State Medical Society, and the Cerro Gordo County Medical Society, of which he was a former president. He was one of the sponsors of the Story Hospital of Mason City.

Dr. Marston was a charter member of the Clausen-Worden Post of the American Legion, and one of the organizers of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Mason City. He was for many years active in the First Regular Baptist Church of his city, a member of the board of trustees. He was also an active member of the Masonic orders.

He served his county in the 32nd, 32nd Extra, and the 33rd sessions of the Iowa State General Assembly, 1907-1911.