STUART ERNEST SKIFF, M. D.

For thirteen years Dr. Stuart Ernest Skiff has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in New Haven and, well qualified by thorough training for his profession, he has made rapid advance through all the intervening years and is now occupying an enviable position in the front ranks of the medical fraternity in New Haven. He was born October 29, 1878, in Dundee, New York, and is a son of Plummer G. Skiff, who is also a native of the Empire state and a representative of one of its old families. Several generations remote his ancestors lived in Connecticut, the American branch of the family being founded by James Skiff, a Pilgrim. Members of the family later settled on Skiff Mountain in Kent, Connecticut. The great-grandfather of Dr. Skiff, however, lived in the Empire state. Plummer G. Skiff was a successful agriculturist throughout his active busi-ness life and is still occupying the old homestead at Dundee, New York. He married Velnette Bailey, a native of Dundee and a representative of one of the old families of the Empire state of English lineage. She, too, is living.

Dr. Skiff, the only child of this marriage, was educated in the public and high schools of Dundee and after leaving the high school continued his studies in Starkey Seminary at Lakemont, New York. His youthful days were spent upon the home farm, where he early became familiar with the beat methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He early took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in the district schools of his native county for three years, and from his earnings he saved a sum sufficient to meet the expenses of his later educational training. He continued his studies in Palmer Institute, where he did preparatory work with the idea of taking up the study of medicine. He next entered Yale Medical College, in which he pursued a two years' course, and later he became a student in Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1903 with the M. D. degree. He had thus through his own efforts qualified for a professional career and entered at once upon a work in which advancement must depend entirely upon individual merit and ability. Following his graduation he served as house physician and surgeon from June, 1903, until 1904 in Grace Hospital at New Haven and has remained a member of the staff, being at present attending surgeon. His hospital experience has given him broad knowledge that has further qualified him for his professional career. In 1904 he opened an office at 159 Elm street, where he remained for three years. His office was at 1193 Chapel street for six years and then removed to his present address, 1194 Chapel street. Through all the period of his residence in New Haven he has made steady advancement in his profession, winning a creditable name and place as a suc-cessful general practitioner. He enjoys the confidence not only of the public but of his professional colleagues and contemporaries as well. In 1907 he took a post-graduate course and at all times he has read and studied along lines leading to the development of his powers.

On the 20th of March, 1907, Dr. Skiff was united in marriage at Augurville, Connecti-cut, to Miss Grace Esther Hartley, a native of New Haven county and a daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Collett) Hartley, the latter of Welsh and English descent. The mother is now deceased. To the Doctor and his wife has been born a daughter, Nancy Stuart, on the 18th of May, 1913.

In his political views Dr. Skiff is a republican. He was reared in the Methodist faith and is a member of that church. His influence, therefore, has always been cast on the side of right, truth and progress and he cooperates heartily in many plans and measures for the public good. Professionally he is connected with the New Haven County Medical Society, the Connecticut State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Connecticut Homeopathic Medical Society. He thus keeps in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress. In fact advancement has been his watchword from the beginning and, actuated by laudable ambition, he has progressed step by step. His advancement has been assured because of his earnest purpose and his deep desire to qualify to the greatest extent possible to meet the onerous and responsible duties which continually devolve upon the physician.