Biographical Sketches
LEROY DIBBLE, M.D.
Who limits his practice to the diseases of the eye, ear and throat, is a representative of the regular medical profession, in which he ranks high.
The Doctor is of French descent. His paternal grandfather, Major Cecil Dibble, who came to this country as a French soldier, was stationed at Detroit, Michigan, at the time that city was surrendered to the English. He subsequently settled in the state of New York, after his marriage to the eldest daughter of Captain John Ellis, of the British army. When the colonists made their attempt to secure independence, he joined the patriot army, participating in most of the important campaigns and engagements, and was present at the memorable surrender at Trenton and at Yorktown. The maternal grandfather of the Doctor was John Bitley, who was born of Dutch parentage at Albany, New York. He also served throughout the entire struggle that was succeeded by the establishment of the American republic. He was with Washington during the never-to-be-forgotten winter at Valley Forge, and also participated in the battle of Saratoga. Previous to the Revolutionary war he married the only daughter of Captain Christopher Van Dusen, a retired officer of the Dutch navy, and when his military service was over settled on a farm near Fort Edward, New York.
The parents of Dr. Dibble were Grodus and Catherine (Van Dusen) Dibble. The father was born in Watertown, New York, in 1783, learned the trade of a tanner and currier, and opened the first boot and shoe store in Albany, New York. On the breaking out of the war with England in 1812, he joined the army and participated in the battles of Lake Erie and Plattsburg, New York. His death occurred at the age of 77. His wife, who was born January 1, 1800, at Fort Edward, New York, lived to the advanced age of 86.
The subject of this sketch was born at Saratoga, New York, December 14, 1843, and when 8 years of age came west to Chicago, Illinois, with his father's family, whence they afterward removed to Ottawa, Illinois. At the beginning of the civil war, although only 17 years of age, he offered his services to the government and became a member of the 7th Illinois cavalry, participating in the principal campaigns and battles of the Armies of the Tennessee and Cumberland. He was also in the Army of the Gulf and was present at the surrender of Port Hudson. He received an honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1865, at the close of the war.
The same year the Doctor entered Kalamazoo College, Michigan. He afterward read medicine in the office of Dr. H. G. Field, then entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, and was graduated at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, of New York, in 1871. After his graduation he served a short time as an assistant at quarantine and then accepted a position as surgeon on a �coast liner,� thus visiting the principal Central and South American cities. He finally entered practice at Paw Paw, Michigan, and subsequently removed to Albion, Michigan, where he served as division surgeon of the Michigan Central Railroad. In 1881 he entered the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and in 1882 went to Europe, studying his specialties in Berlin, Vienna and Zurich, Switzerland. On his return to this country, in 1887, he settled in Kansas City, Missouri.
In 1889 the Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Martha H. Cleveland, the eldest daughter of Rev. Edward Cleveland, and a native of Bath, New Hampshire.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.