ADAIR, Dec. 5.—Dr. L.C. White, 75, who came to this Mayes
county community in 1905 to begin his practice of medicine
and who delivered upwards of 4,000 babies, is dead.
Dr. White was a physician of the old school, and he
permitted no obstacle to prevent ministering to those who
needed his attention. Many times he forded creeks in his
buggy. When the water was too high, he just unhitched the
horse and borrowed a saddle. His mount then could swim the
flooded streams.
He went in early, however, for modern conveniences and
purchased an automobile in 1911. But road conditions and
lack of bridges or ferries within his practice area kept its
use down in the early years.
In trips to Locust Grove and Strange, he frequently found
the Grand river flooded and crossed horseback.
Talking to friends recently, Dr. White estimated he had
delivered an average of about eight babies a month during
his 43 years of practice here, which would place the number
well over the 4,000 mark.
Among these babies were many sets of twins, three to one
family. His first set of twins still is living. One of them,
Mrs. T.R. Barnhart nee Nan Poplin, in Muskogee, and the
other, Van Poplin, in Adair. He has been called on to
deliver grandchildren of babies of his early practice
completing three-generation service.
He practiced surgery in a small way, but sent major cases to
hospitals in Muskogee and Tulsa.
He was born in Kentucky and after finishing at the
Louisville medical school came to Adair in August, 1905.
Except for a few years he has been the lone physician in
Adair.
He was on the Adair school board 14 years, served on the
town council, was for 20 years president of the County
Medical society. He was a Mason and a charter member and
elder of the Christian church and held membership in other
organizations.
Dr. White died at his home in Adair Saturday at 6 p.m.
following a heart attack.
Besides the widow, he is survived by a son, Carl Chandler
White, a teacher at Springfield, Mo. Arrangements are
incomplete at the Luginbuel funeral home in Vinita.
From The Oklahoma, 12/6/1948
Donated by:
Emily Jordan
