DR.
OSTRANDER PASSES AWAY IN KANE HOSPITAL
MILITARY FUNERAL SERVICES HELD
HERE ON TUESDAY
McKean County
Democrat February 17, 1938
Dr. W. A. Ostrander, 65, prominent
local physician, pharmacist, and president of the Smethport council,
passed away Saturday evening at 10:00 at the Kane Community Hospital.
Death came a week after Dr. Ostrander suffered a stroke of paralysis
at McCoy’s Drug Store, where he was employed as pharmacist. He
was taken to the hospital in Sasse’s ambulance and never regained
full consciousness, although at times he appeared to understand conversation
of physicians and members of his family.
Four years ago Dr. Ostrander suffered his first stroke. He was confined
to his home on West King Street for some time but was eventually able
to become fairly active again.
William Alonzo Ostrander was born in Smethport on December 5, 1872,
a son of the late William Wallace and Orrisavilla Phydella Ostrander.
He attended the Smethport schools and graduated from the old Smethport
Academy, predecessor of the Smethport High School.
In 1886 he went to work as a printing apprentice in the office of the
McKean County Miner. He was also employed for a time as clerk in Jay
Abbey’s general store.
After accepting a position in Frank Foster’s drug store, he decided
to become a registered pharmacist and entered the University of Buffalo,
graduating in 1893. Dr. Ostrander managed a drug store for A. W. Colegrove
for 18 months and was employed in A. B. Armstrong’s drug store.
He entered Jefferson Medical School, Philadelphia, in 1897, graduating
with the Class of 1899. Thus he attained the unusual distinction of
becoming both a registered pharmacist and a medical doctor.
Dr. Ostrander’s education, even more remarkable in those days
than now, was attained by a great deal of effort. He told the writer
he was actually hungry at times while attending college, in spite of
managing to secure some funds by tutoring other students of better financial
status.
His health suffered from his zeal to attain the goal of his ambition
and he was threatened with tuberculosis when he graduated from Jefferson.
Dr. Ostrander returned home and engaged in general practice. His health
improved and he withstood an arduous existence for many years. Life
of a country doctor was no bed of roses in those days. There were no
paved roads and deep mud or snow frequently made it almost impossible
to travel. Even in comparatively recent years, Dr. Ostrander’s
picture was taken while he was starting out on a wagon to answer a call
to a farmhouse off the paved highway system.
Dr. Ostrander was not only a highly skilled physician and surgeon but
was progressive, always endeavoring to keep abreast of the latest discoveries
in his profession.
He was first named as McKean County medical director for the Pennsylvania
Department of Health in 1903 and served in that official capacity with
short interruptions up to four years ago. One of the writer’s
first recollections of Dr. Ostrander was his annual examination of school
children. This and his manifold other activities made him a well-known
figure throughout this section.
Dr. Ostrander was a lifelong Republican- one of the Old Guard who might
die but would never surrender. For approximately 35 years he served
as a councilman and burgess, being re-elected a member of the council
last November. On the first of this year the new council unanimously
elected him president, a position he had held for numerous terms.
During his long years of public service, Dr. Ostrander constantly endeavored
to improve the town and was always a leader in movements for public
benefit. |