Oscar Ramsey Searl, M. D. The name Searl had been associated with the medical profession in Northern Kansas for fully half a century. Dr. O. R. Searl is a son of a pioneer doctor of Solomon, Kansas, Dr. O. F. Searl. The son had practiced for nearly twenty years at Belvue, and besides his success in the profession he had made himself an influential factor in local affairs.
He was born at Solomon, Kansas, July 5, 1872. Dr. O. F. Searl was of English family and represented Colonial settlers in Massachusetts. He was born in Massachasetts November 15, 1841, grew up there, and in 1861 enlisted in the medical department of the regular United States Army. He served throughout the war and was promoted to eaptain. He finished his studies in medicine at Harvard College, from which he had the degree Doctor of Medicine, and in 1867 he established a practice at Solomon, Kansas, where he was the first permanent physician. He looked after a large following of patients in that community for over thirty years. He is a man of adventurons spirit and when nearly sixty years of age, in 1900, he went to Alaska, being a passenger on the first boat that went to Nome. He spent twelye years in Alaska practicing his profession and since his return to Kansas in 1912 had lived retired at Solomon. He served as mayor of Solomon and was received of the United States Land Office at Salina, Kansas, during Cleveland’s administration from 1885 to 1889. Politieally he is a democrat, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and the Grand Army of the Republic. Dr. O. F. Searl had been twice married. The maiden name of his first wife and the mother of his children was Lizzie R. Ramsey. She was born in Iowa in 1842 and died at Solomon, Kansas, in 1894. Dr. O. R. Searl is the second of their five children. The oldest, J. S. Searl, conduets a racket store at Harrington, Kansas. Mabel was married in 1916 to Mr. Fletcher, a Canadian, and a centractor for state roads living at Seattle, Washington. Ada is the wife of D. W. Tappen, now Probate Judge of Dickinson County, living at Ahilene. Raymond, the youngest child, died at the age of eighteen months.
Oecar Ramsey Searl attended public school and for two years was a student in the Military School at Salina. He first contemplated becoming a civil engineer and with that in view studied givil engineering in the University of Kansas for three years. together with other studies. From there he entered the Kansas City University Medical College, from which he received his degree M. D. in March, 1898. Since then he had taken post graduate work, at the Chicago Policlinie in 1905 and with the Mayo Brothers in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1914. His first experience in practice was at his father’s old home in Solomon, where he remained nine months. In November, 1898, he came to Belvue and had ever since steadily maintained a high professional reputstion both as a physician and surgeon. His offices and residence are on Fourth Street.
Doctor Searl owned an interest in a farm of 160 acres five miles south of Solomon. At Belvue he served two years on the city council and two years as mayor. His political actions are independent. He is a member of Pottawatomie Lodge No. 52, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Wamego Chapter No. 53, Royal Arch Masons, and Topeka Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite.
Doctor Searl married at Solomon, Kansas, June 12, 1890, Miss Luey Shaver, daughter of John and Victoria (Bennett) Shaver. Her parents are deceased. Her father was an early merchant at Solomon, but spent his last years retired. Doctor and Mrs. Searl have two sons: Ronald F., born May 5, 1904; and Oscar S., born December 18, 1908.