RICHARD J. DEPEW, M. D., St. Paul.
Mr. Depew is at present the oldest practicing physician in Decatur County, For more than forty years, he has been constant in duty, attending to the numerous calls of a large and extended practice, and has won for himself both honor and distinction in his chosen profession. He is the son of Abraham and Mildred (Sebree) Depew. His maternal grandfather had the honor of fighting for the independence of the colonies. He fell during the siege of Cornwallis at Yorktown.
The father and mother of Richard J. were born in Virginia, coming to Kentucky at an early day, where they lived (in Boone County), and where his father died during the war of 1812, his father was with Johnson's command, Kentucky troops, and, while on the campaign in Canada, contracted disease from which he never recovered, although he lived for some time after the close of the war, his death taking place about 1820. His mother survived her husband for many years, and died in Indianapolis, Ind, in 1869. She is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Richard J. was born in Boone County, Ky., in the year 1815; had a common-school education and lived on the farm till he was seventeen years of age, when he commenced the study of medicine with his half brother, Dr. W. T, S. Cornett, of Versailles, Ind, Dr. Cornett was a man of note, and prominent as a physician. He was the father of the Indiana State Medical Society, serving as its first President. Dr, Depew studied with him for four years; then (in 1836) commenced the practice of medicine with Dr. Wort, at Brownstown, Ind. He was with Dr. Wort, who had an extensive practice, until 1839, when, he went to Lexington, Ky,,and entered the Transylvania Medical College there, under the charge of Benjamin W. Dudley. Here he graduated in the spring of 1840, and from there came to St. Omer, Adams Township, Decatur Co., where he located and went into the general practice of medicine. He was successful from the first, and soon built up a large and lucrative practice, which he has been increasing ever since.
Dr. Depew was married, on the 15th day of February, 1866, to Emma Ely, of St. Paul, Ind., and in 1869 moved from St. Omer to St, Paul, which is only a short distance. Dr. Depew is a man of sterling character, who stands high in his community and wherever he is known. He is one of the few representatives of old-time worth, and has, by many years' untiring practice and close attention to business, won a competency for himself and become one of the most important factors of his community. His place would be difficult to fill. Politically, Dr. Depew is a Republican. He is now living in St. Paul, well situated to enjoy the evening of life, and still actively engaged in the duties of his profession.
