Dr. Edwin C. Ernst, a Roentgenologist of St. Louis, was born in this city June 26, 1885. His father, the late Charles W. Ernst, was a native of Germany but came to America with his parents in 1856, when but twelve years of age. The grandfather, William Ernst, settled in St. Louis, where he continued to spend his remaining days, and his son, Charles W. Ernst, was here reared and educated. In early life he became a wood carver and later engaged in the real estate business, which he followed to the time of his death, which occurred in 1909 when he had reached the age of sixty-five years. His wife, Catherine (Koch) Ernst, was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, now a part of France, and came to America when twenty years of age, arriving in 1874, her birth having occurred in 1854.
Dr. Ernst, their only child, was educated in the public schools of St. Louis, in the St. Louis University, in Washington University, and in the Moravian College at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He completed a medical course in the Washington University Medical School in 1912 and after winning his M. D. degree served for one year as interne in the St. Louis City Hospital. During the succeeding two years he was resident physician at the St. Louis Mullanphy Hospital and then entered upon private practice. During that period he qualified for the line in which he is now engaged and has since specialized in Roentgen ray work and radiotherapy. He has likewise taken post-graduate courses in eastern hospitals and colleges and is accounted one of the leading Roentgenologists of St. Louis. He is a member of the staff and Roentgenologist of St. Luke’s Hospital and the St. Louis Mullanphy Hospital and is consulting Roentgenologist to the United States Public Health Service Hospital in St. Louis and the United States Marine Hospital. He belongs to the St. Louis Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association, the American Medical Association and the American Roentgen Ray Society. He likewise belongs to the Radiological Society and is vice president of the American Roentgen Ray Society, central section.
In St. Louis, August 2, 1905, Dr. Ernst was married to Miss Mildred Vogt, a native of St. Louis and daughter of Charles Vogt. They have become parents of one son, Edwin C., born in St. Louis, October 4, 1916. During the World war Dr. Ernst left his practice and his family in St. Louis to render active aid to the country, becoming Roentgenologist in Base Hospital No. 21, in France. He served for two years, won the commission of major and was honorably discharged in May, 1919. He finds his recreation and diversion in athletics, hunting, fishing and especially in canoeing. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and his membership relations indicate the variety and nature of his interests outside of his profession, for he is a member of Beacon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of the University Club, of the Missouri Athletic Association and of the Evangelical Protestant church.