Biographical Sketches
SIMEON SEYMOUR TODD, M.D.
One of the most progressive physicians of Kansas City, is a native of Indiana. He was born in Vevay, March 10, 1826. The West has been settled up by a class of men who came to this section of the country to secure homes and who have bent every energy to this undertaking. The entire section of the country therefore has become imbued with the spirit of enterprise and progress, producing a phenomenal development that could not be accomplished by the conservative East. Amid such surroundings the Doctor was reared and has naturally partaken of the spirit of the times, and this has characterized his entire professional career.
He traces his parental ancestry to this country to John Todd, a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, who with his parents fled to Ireland under the persecutions of the reign of Charles II, and in 1736 accompanied his son Robert and 2 other sons and a daughter to America, making his home near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. David Todd, son of Robert, born in the county of Down, Ireland, came with the family to America, and soon afterward married Hannah Owen, of Welsh parentage. Both died at Lexington, Kentucky. Their son, Owen Todd, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1762, and in early life took up the study of law, but coming West afterward entered the employ of the government as a surveyor of bounty land reserves in Kentucky and southwestern Ohio. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, holding the rank of captain under General Wayne in the battle of �Fallen Timbers,� and was the first presiding judge of the court of quarter sessions of Clermont county, Ohio. �Todd's fork,� of the Little Miami river was named for him. He was reared in the Presbyterian faith, and died in Vevay, Indiana, at the age of 55 years. One of his 11 children was David Andrew Todd, father of the Doctor. He was born in Clermont county, Ohio, October 7, 1799, and for many years engaged in merchandising. He became a pioneer settler of Indiana, and erected one of the first brick houses in Madison, that state. His last years were spent at his home in Vernon, Indiana. He wedded Mary Ogle, born March 27, 1802, a native of Montgomery, now Carroll county, Virginia, and a daughter of Hiram Ogle, who was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, and married Sarah Richardson, of Grayson, nor Carroll county, Virginia. Later he made his home near Vevay, Indiana, where he carried on farming and milling. He was of English descent, and died in 1845. David A. and Mary Todd became the parents of 10 children, 7 sons and 3 daughters, of whom 6 are now living, namely: Hiram H., Simeon S., Owen W., Elhanan P., Robert S. and Catharine M., widow of Alexander Lattimore, of Washington, District of Columbia. Those who have passed away are John H., Marion D., Sarah J., and Mary B. Marion D. Todd was a prominent minister of the Christian church, preaching for some time in Chester, and in Liverpool, England, and was a warm personal friend of Spurgeon, the great Baptist divine. He died at Los Gatos, California. The parents were both members of the Christian church and the father, David Todd, was for many years an elder in that church. In early life he served as justice of the peace for many years. His death occurred in 1864, when he was aged 65, and his wife in 1865, at the age of 63. Both are buried at Vernon, Jennings county, Indiana.
The Doctor was reared in Madison, Indiana, and acquired his education in the common schools, studying the classics under private tutorship. He took up the study of medicine at the age of 18, under the direction of Dr. William Davidson, of Madison, Indiana, a Scotch physician of considerable repute, but before he had completed his course he enlisted for service as a private in the Mexican war. On his return he entered the Indiana Medical College at LaPorte, Indiana, and was graduated at that institution in the class of February, 1849. Immediately afterward he began practice, opening an office in the autumn in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where he continued until 1854. In that year he emigrated to California, practicing his profession in Plumas county, where he remained for 2 years. In 1857 he removed to Santa Rosa, Sonoma county, where he continued the practice of his profession till the breaking out of the civil war. In 1861 he opened an office in San Francisco, and soon after was commissioned surgeon of the 4th California volunteer infantry, and served until after the South had laid down its arms and the preservation of the union was an assured fact.
Dr. Todd then returned to �the states� and settled in Kansas City, where he has since continuously engaged in practice. Up to 1885 he engaged in general practice, but since that time has made a specialty of the diseases of women. He was the projector and prime mover in the establishment of the Kansas City Medical College, and for many years was dean of the facility, and for 27 years has been a teacher of the diseases of women, to which chair he was appointed on the organization of the school. He now holds the chair of emeritus professor of obstetrics and diseases of women - an honorary position - and continues to deliver lectures occasionally. He belongs to the Jackson County Medical Society, the Kansas City District Medical Society, the Kansas City District Medical Society, the State Medical Society, of which he has been vice-president and president, and the Missouri State Medical Association, of which he is an honorary member. He is also an honorary member of the Kansas State Medical Society, and other organizations of his profession. He was the pioneer west of the Mississippi in introducing surgery in women's diseases, and his superior skill and ability has given him a foremost place in the ranks of the fraternity.
On the 10th of October, 1850, Doctor Todd was united in marriage with Miss Judith Ann, daughter of Jeremiah Ridgway, of LaPorte, Indiana. Her mother bore the maiden name of Sarah Ann Willetts. 4 children were born of this union, but 2 died in infancy. Rush B. and Frank S. are now residents of California, and the latter married Miss Nannie E. Mann, by whom he has 4 children. The mother of this family died in 1861. She was a member of the Society of Friends, and a most estimable lady. On January 21, 1867, the Doctor married Mrs. Thirza F. Dean, widow of Dr. William H. Dean, and daughter of Thomas Scott, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. She also was reared a Quaker, and was called to the home beyond this life March 14, 1888. On the 7th of November, 1889, the Doctor was joined in wedlock with Miss Frances Williams, of Lucas county, Iowa, daughter of Alonzo and Rachel Williams. They are both members of the Unitarian church, and the Doctor is a Master Mason, also belongs to the Loyal Legion, and to George H. Thomas post, G. A. R. In politics he is a republican.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.