John Child Maxson, M. D. For over twenty-four years Doctor Maxson had practiced his profession in Kansas and is now located at Corning, where as a physician and surgeon of thorough attainments he had an extensive practice.
His family were early settlers in Sonthern and Southeastern Kansas. Doctor Maxson is in the tenth generation from the immigrant of the family from England to the American colonies. The founder of the Maxson family in this country was Richard Maxson. Doctor Maxson’s grandfather, James Maxson, spent his life as a farmer in Alleghany County, New York. James S. Maxson, father of Doctor Maxson, was born in Alleghany County, New York, in 1823. He grew up there, and when a young man went to Wisconsin, where he married. For some years he taught school both in Kentucky and Wisconsin. In the fall of 1873 he moved to Lyon County, Kansas, and was one of the early settlers there. By trade he was a painter, and he combined that occupation with farming until 1880, when he removed to Coffey County for three years and then for ten years lived at Parsons in Labette County and finally located at Erie in Neosho County. Late in life he retired to Kelly, Kansas, and died there in 1905, Twice during the Civil war he tried to get enrolled in the Union army, but was rejected on account of a paralysis in the right hand and arm. He was a republican in politics and was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. James S. Maxson married Amelia Betsey Child, who was born in 1834, and died at Erie, Kansas, in 1896. A brief record of their children is as follows: Emma, who died at Moberly, Missouri, in 1881, was the wife of James French, a railroad carpenter of Moberly; Julia, who died at the age of twenty-two; Mary A., who lives at Campbell, California, married Samuel Emory Lanphear, a physician and surgem; Dr. John C.; Sarah, who is unmarried and lives at Campbell, California; Gertrude, living at Campbell, California, widow of Mr. Reynolds, who was a farmer.
Dr. John Child Maxson was born at Lima Center in Rock County, Wisconsin, January 14, 1867, and was about six years of age when his parents came to Kansas. He began his schooling in his native town and subsequently attended public school at Lyon, Coffey and Labette counties of this state. He also took the course of the Kansas City College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated Ph. G. in 1891. Instead of taking up work as a pharmacist he continued his studies in the University Medical College of Kansas City, Missouri, from which he obtained the degree M. D. He practiced in Kansas City from 1893 until May, 1894, and at the same time took postgraduate work in the University Medical College. While there he specialized in surgery, which had always been a strong part of his attainments in the profession.
Doctor Maxson began practice at Goff, Kansas, on leaving Kansas City and remained there until January, 1906, when he came to Corning, in which community he had continued his work as a general medical and surgieal practitioner. He is owner of and had his office in the Maxson Building on Washington Street. He formerly owned one of the good homes of the village but sold it in 1917. He also had a farm of eighty acres in Gove County. Doctor Maxson is now serving as county coroner of Nemaha County. He is a republican, is affiliated with Nemaha Lodge No. 13, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Corning, Corning Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand, and Corning Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Nemaha County Medical Soeiety, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
Doctor Maxson married September 13, 1892, in Kansas City, Kansas, Miss Addie B. Westherby, daughter of James and Caroline (Gill) Westherby. Her father was a cabinet maker and carpenter, also a contractor, and during his last years lived retired. Her mother is now living with Doctor and Mrs. Maxson. Doctor and Mrs. Maxson have five children, three still living. Bernice died at the age of twelve years at Goff, Kansas; Harold, who was born December 1, 1895, is now a student of mechanical engineering; Mildred, born May 12, 1898, graduated from the Corning High School in 1916; Hilda, born March 17, 1900, is a junior in high school; Alberta died when seven months old at Goff, Kansas.