" Dr. Richard H. Todd, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in New Sharon (town), was born in Carroll county Missouri August 7, 1860. His father, John Todd, was a native of Kentucky and died in Denver Colorado (the author assumed it was Denver Co. BUT John died in Denver Illinois)in February 1905 at the venerable age of eighty years. He had served as a soldier of the civil war, enlisting from Missouri and soon after the close of hostilities he removed to Illinois. He followed farming and stock raising his entire life. He wedded Miss Mary Elder, also a native of Kentucky, who is now living at Carthage, Illinois, at age of eighty-three years. In their family were eight children, six of whom yet survive.
Dr. Todd, the only representative of the family in Iowa, lived upon the old homestead farm until nineteen years of age, after which he pursued a literary course in the college at Abingdon, Illinois. He afterward took up the study of medicine in the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville and was graduated there in 1887. He also has a dipolma from the Medical Laboratory of Chemistry and Microscopy at Louisville and one from the Surgical Laboratory of Operations and Bandaging of the same city. He entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Donnellson (Lee county) Iowa, in 1887, there remaining until seven years ago, when he came to New Sharon where he purchased a stock of drugs. He conducted the business for two years then sold out, since which time he has given his undivided attention to his practice.
He has a liberal patronage and in the faithful performance of each day's duty he finds encouragement and inspiration for the work of the succeeding day. He maintains a high standard of professional ethics so that he enjoys the unqualified regard of his brethern of the medical fraternity, while the consensus of opinion regarding his capability is most favorable.
On the 10th of December 1885, Dr. Todd was married to Miss Laura A. Powell, who was born in Ohio, July 3, 1860. They now have two sons, Ray H. and Fred E. The former, eighteen years of age, is a graduate of the New Sharon high school and is now pursuing a course in electricl engineering under the direction of a correspondence school. He is also working at the electric light plant in New Sharon for practical experience and is thus earning money to pay his tuition in school. The younger son, Fred, sixteen years of age, will complete the high school course at New Sharon in 1906.
In his political views Dr. Todd is a republican but without aspiration for office. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity at Donnellson and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Oskaloosa. With a conscientious understanding of the obligations that devolve upon him in connection with his lifes work he has so directed his efforts as to win success and his social and professional prominence are equally creditable.
Maggi's Genealogy Page