Nairn, William M. D.

The following data is extracted from Muskogee And Northeastern Oklahoma.

     For thirty-five years Dr. William Nairn has been a resident of Nowata County, his residence here dating from 1882. While he has long stood in the front rank of his profession he has also be-come a prominent factor in agricultural circles and is now living on his farm three and one-half miles northwest of Alluwe.
     William Nairn was born in Jersey County, Illinois, on the 5th of December, 1848, a son of James and Susan (Barker) Nairn, the former a native of Georgia and the latter of Alabama. For some time James Nairn engaged in farming in his native state and later removed to Tennessee, thence to Kentucky and in 1812 he located in Illinois, settling in the old French town of Cahokia, across the River from St. Louis. That town has long since disappeared, having been washed away by the River, when the Channel was changed by Colonel Robert E. Lee, then governmental engineer. That engineering feat caused a controversy that nearly resulted in war between the two states. Subsequently James Nairn located on a farm in Jersey County, Illinois, and he resided there until his death in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Nairn were married in Illinois, Mrs. Nairn having come to that state with her parents. Her demise occurred in 1872.
     In the acquirement of his early education William Nairn attended the public schools of Jersey County and subsequently en-rolled in the St. Louis Medical College. He was graduated from that institution in 1870, with the M. D. degree and immediately returned to his native state, practicing in the place of his birth for five years. In 1875 he came to Indian Territory and locating at Calvin's Prairie, he practiced there for one year, at the termination of which time he returned to his native state. In February, 1877, he went to western Kansas and practiced at La Crosse for one year, subsequently removing to Hayes, where he resided three years. He returned to Indian Territory in 1880 and located at Coodys Bluff for one year, also living at Pryor creek for a like period. In 1882 he came to the neighborhood in which he now resides. Dr. Nairn has ninety acres of fine land three and one-half miles northwest of Alluwe and his wife owns a one hundred and sixty acre tract on Snow creek in Nowata County, near the Kansas line. Dr. Nairn has all of his land under cultivation and, in addition to general farming, engages in stock raising. His home and outbuildings are located a good distance from the road and are surrounded by beautiful old trees. Oil has been found on the place and Dr. Nairn is drawing royalties from the operation of twenty wells. For nearly fifty years Dr. Nairn has practiced medicine and he is now gradually retiring from the profession. He has ever maintained a foremost position in the ranks of the medical profession in the state. He has kept pace with the march of improvement that has brought the medical profession to its present high standard of knowledge and efficiency and his duties have always been performed with a sense of conscientious obligation that has won the confidence and trust of his patrons. For four years he was President of the Nowata County Medical Society, of which body he is still a member, and he is identified with the Medical Association of the Southwest and the American Medical Association.
     On the 1st of October, 1.883, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Nairn to Miss Mary Newcomb, a native of Leavenworth, Kansas, and a daughter of Artemus and Hannah (Blackstump) Newcomb, both of whom are deceased. The father belonged to the tribe of Stockbridge Indians in New York State. He later removed to Kansas, where both he and his wife lived until death. To the union of Dr. and Mrs. Nairn, five children have been born: Marie, who is deceased; James; William, Jr; Etta Louise; and Eva, whose death occurred in early life. The eldest son, who is but thirty-five years of age, is County attorney of Nowata County and one of the prominent young men in the state. He enlisted for service during the World war and was promoted to a lieutenancy, being stationed at various camps throughout the United States to assist in training the raw recruits. William, Jr., who is thirty-four years of age, was likewise in service in the World war, having been with the Graves Registration Department. He is now a resident of Nowata and is married to Miss Edith Freer, a daughter of Dr. Freer of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Etta Louise is now Mrs. M. F. Meyer, her husband being a well known and successful oil producer at Norman. They are the parents of one son, Milton Nairn, five years of age.
     During the many years Dr. Nairn has been a resident of Nowata County he has made many stanch and true friends, who recognize his true personal worth and sterling traits of character. He has always been a public-spirited and progressive citizen and his influence has been a dominant factor in every movement for the development and improvement of the civic welfare.

Source: Muskogee And Northeastern Oklahoma

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