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IRA B. OLDHAM, M. D.
Vol. 3, 1237
Book has photo

One of the able and successful physicians and surgeons contributed
to Oklahoma by the fine old Bluegrass State is Dr. Ira Brown Oldham,
who has been engaged in the practice of his profession in the City of
Muskogee since 1903 and who had become on the representative
physicians of Muskogee County prior to the admission of Oklahoma as
one of the sovereign states of the Union. Through the territorial and
state regimes Doctor Oldham has stood exponent of civic liberality
and progressiveness and he is one of the well known and highly
esteemed citizens of the fine Oklahoma city in which he has found a
most attractive stage for successful professional activities.

On the parental homestead farm in Madison County Kentucky, Doctor
Oldham was born on the 2nd of March, 1851, and he is a son of William
Kavanaugh Oldham and J. Catherine (BROWN) Oldham, both
representatives of sterling old families early founded in Virginia.
The father of Doctor Oldham was born in Madison County, Kentucky,
where his parents settled upon their removal from the historic Old
Dominion State, and the mother was born in Albemarle County,
Virginia. Hezekiah Oldham, grandfather of the doctor, was born in
Caswell County, North Carolina, and was a son of Capt. John Oldham,
who was a gallant soldier and officer in the War of the Revolution
and who was a son of William Oldham the latter having immigrated to
Virginia from England and having became the founder of the family in
America. The foregoing statement indicates that Doctor Oldham is
eligible for membership in the noble and patriotic organization, the
Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was the youngest
in order of birth in a family of nine children, of who three are now
living, the parents having continued their residence in Kentucky
until the time of their death.\t

Doctor Oldham passed the period of his childhood and early youth on
his father's farm and in the meanwhile made good use of the
advantages afforded in the local schools, after which he completed an
effective course of higher academic study in Central University, at
Richmond, Kentucky. After having formulated definite plans for his
future career he entered the medical department of the University of
Louisville, in the metropolis of his native state, and in this
institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1892. After
thus receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine he was engaged in the
practice of his profession as a country physician in Madison County,
Kentucky, for a period of ten years, the incidental discipline, of
varied order and involving arduous work, having done much to fortify
him more fully for his exacting and humane calling, of the dignity of
which he has ever been deeply appreciative, the while he has shown
his ambition to live fully up to its responsibilities by devoting
himself continuously to study of the best standard and periodical
literature of his profession, besides which he has completed most
effective post-graduate courses in the polyclinic institutions of
Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Doctor Oldham has been engaged in practice in the City of Muskogee
since 1903 and here controls a large and representative professional
business, the same being based on his distinctive ability, close
devotion to his work and his unqualified personal popularity. While
his practice is of general order he has devoted much attention to
surgery and in this field has gained high reputation, with numerous
delicate operations, both major and minor, to his credit. The doctor
is a valued member of the Muskogee County Medical Society, is
actively identified also with the Oklahoma State Medical Society, and
is a member of the American Medical Association. He was one of the
organizers of the Oklahoma Baptist Hospital Association and has
served continuously as a member of its board of directors. He is a
stalwart supporter of the basic principles and policies for which the
democratic party stands sponsor and while he has had no ambition for
political office he served two years as superintendent of health for
Muskogee, an office which he filled with characteristic loyalty and
efficiency. Both he and his wife are zealous members of the Baptist
Church in their home city.

The year 1895 gave record of the marriage of Doctor Oldham to Miss
Mary NEWLAND, who was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, and who is a
daughter of Rev. Christopher Newland, a clergyman of the
Predestinarian Baptist Church. Doctor and Mrs. Oldham have six
children, namely: Elizabeth, Catherine, Ira B., Jr., Philip, Newland,
and Caroline.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Charmaine Keith, November 04, 1998.