MILITARY HISTORY IN PAULDING COUNTY
By: Mark Holtsberry
Dr. Edwin H. Underwood was born on May 13, 1871, in Payne, Ohio. He was the son of Hiram Underwood, who was born in January 1840 in Logan County, Ohio. Hiram served in the Civil War with the 96th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Edwin’s mother was Rachel (Haines) Underwood, who was born in 1837 in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Hiram and Rachel were married on September 22, 1860.
The couple was living in Payne by 1868. By 1870, Hiram was working as a blacksmith. Hiram and Rachel were the parents of David, born in 1862; Mary, born in 1863; Louisa, born in 1866; and Sarah, born in 1867.
By 1880, the family was still living in Payne, where Hiram had taken up farming. In 1871, the family had grown with the birth of twin sons, Elmore and Edwin. Additional children followed: Ida, born in 1875, and Charles, born in 1877.
By 1890, the family remained in Payne, although most of the children had moved out on their own. Edwin graduated from Payne High School with the Class of 1889. His goal was to become a physician.
By 1900, Edwin was still living at home. After graduating from high school, he attended Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana. He later became a teacher in the Payne school system.
On September 14, 1904, Edwin married Nannie Ella Rogers, who was born on March 7, 1876, in Darlington, Wisconsin. She graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic Training School for Nurses. Edwin attended Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago, Illinois, from 1905 to 1908, graduating with a medical degree. He began practicing medicine in Brook, Indiana. The family’s home was located at 2610 Broadway Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
In 1907, their daughter, Helen Troy Underwood, was born in Fort Wayne. By 1910, the family was still living there. Edwin enjoyed a large general practice and developed a reputation as a skilled physician. He also worked at Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital.
On April 19, 1910, a second daughter, Dorothy, was born.
On September 1, 1918, Edwin entered military service during World War I. He served with the Medical Officers’ Training Corps at Camp Greenleaf, Georgia, and was promoted to First Lieutenant in the Medical Corps. He was honorably discharged on October 16, 1918.
In 1919, Edwin’s father, Hiram, passed away.
By 1920, Edwin, Ella, and their daughters were still living at 2610 Broadway Street in Fort Wayne. Edwin also constructed a four-room office building at 2901 Broadway Street. In addition, he built one of the city’s most attractive homes at 4230 Indian Avenue in Fort Wayne.
In 1921, Edwin’s mother, Rachel, passed away.
By 1930, the family had settled comfortably into their new home.
In 1933, while operating on a patient, Edwin accidentally pricked his right index finger with a scalpel. An abscess developed, and the finger was drained on March 17, 1933. Unfortunately, he contracted septicemia and died on April 3, 1933.
Dr. Edwin H. Underwood was buried in Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Section 2, Lot 34. His wife, Nannie Ella Underwood, died in 1962 and was laid to rest beside him.
…Until Next Time!
