S.S. Still
Encyclopedia
Summerfield Saunders Still (b. 1852, Macon County, Missouri
; d. 1931, Kirksville, Missouri
) was an American osteopath and founder of a school of osteopathy.
Still was the son of James Still, a medical doctor trained in Chicago, Illinois, and Rahab Saunders Still. The family moved to Kansas
, where Still was educated at Blue Mound, Eudora and Baker University at Baldwin. He taught for a while, and then attended the University of Kansas
. For a decade, Still conducted a mercantile business at Maryville
. In 1893, he enrolled at the American School of Osteopathy (now the A.T. Still University
) in Kirksville, founded by his uncle, Andrew Taylor Still
, the developer of osteopathic medicine in the United States and the president of the school. After graduating, Still remained to teach at Kirksville and after attending postgraduate studies in Chicago was considered an expert in anatomy
. Still's specialty was osteopathic medicine, and his goal was to bring higher standards and increased respect to the system.
The college he later founded and which bore his name was the forerunner of today's Des Moines University
— Osteopathic Medical Center.
By 1898, when Iowa legalized the practice of osteopathy, Still started his own school in Des Moines, the second such osteopathic school in the United States, with the help of his professional partner and wife, Ella Daugherty Still, a respected gynecologist and teacher. Their new S.S. Still College and Infirmary of Osteopathy was first located at 1429 Locust St., and they also acquired a building across the street at 1422-28 Locust. The couple had married in 1877 and had two children, George, who became a surgeon, and Delia.
Still studied law at Drake University
, receiving degrees in 1903 and 1904. Throughout his life, Still was known as a voracious reader and a wonderful conversationalist who could discuss a wide range of subjects. In 1905, Still sold his interests in the school and devoted himself to private practice until 1913. He then became an anatomy professor at the Kirksville school and, after his son's accidental gunshot death in 1922, succeeded him as president of the facility, serving two years. From 1924 on, Still contributed a column to the Kirksville Graphic newspaper, with his last column published the day of his death. The physician's body was brought back to Des Moines the next day for burial at Woodland Cemetery.
Macon County, Missouri
Macon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 15,566. Its county seat is Macon. The county was organized in 1837 and named for Nathaniel Macon, a North Carolina politician...
; d. 1931, Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
) was an American osteopath and founder of a school of osteopathy.
Still was the son of James Still, a medical doctor trained in Chicago, Illinois, and Rahab Saunders Still. The family moved to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, where Still was educated at Blue Mound, Eudora and Baker University at Baldwin. He taught for a while, and then attended the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. For a decade, Still conducted a mercantile business at Maryville
Maryville, Missouri
Maryville is a city in Nodaway County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,581 at the 2000 census. The town, organized on February 14, 1845, was named for Mrs. Mary Graham, wife of Amos Graham, then the county clerk. Mary was the first Caucasian woman to have lived within the boundaries...
. In 1893, he enrolled at the American School of Osteopathy (now the A.T. Still University
A.T. Still University
A.T. Still University is the world's first osteopathic medical school. Founded in 1892 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still , the school is based in Kirksville, Missouri, and has other campuses in Arizona...
) in Kirksville, founded by his uncle, Andrew Taylor Still
Andrew Taylor Still
Andrew Taylor Still is considered the father of osteopathy and osteopathic medicine. He was also a physician & surgeon, author, inventor and Kansas territorial & state legislator. He was one of the founders of Baker University, the oldest 4-year college in the state of Kansas, and was the founder...
, the developer of osteopathic medicine in the United States and the president of the school. After graduating, Still remained to teach at Kirksville and after attending postgraduate studies in Chicago was considered an expert in anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
. Still's specialty was osteopathic medicine, and his goal was to bring higher standards and increased respect to the system.
The college he later founded and which bore his name was the forerunner of today's Des Moines University
Des Moines University
Des Moines University is a United States' osteopathic medical college and is located in Des Moines, Iowa. Des Moines University is the second oldest Osteopathic medical school and the fifteenth largest medical school in the United States. There are 14,124 total alumni .-History:Des Moines...
— Osteopathic Medical Center.
By 1898, when Iowa legalized the practice of osteopathy, Still started his own school in Des Moines, the second such osteopathic school in the United States, with the help of his professional partner and wife, Ella Daugherty Still, a respected gynecologist and teacher. Their new S.S. Still College and Infirmary of Osteopathy was first located at 1429 Locust St., and they also acquired a building across the street at 1422-28 Locust. The couple had married in 1877 and had two children, George, who became a surgeon, and Delia.
Still studied law at Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
, receiving degrees in 1903 and 1904. Throughout his life, Still was known as a voracious reader and a wonderful conversationalist who could discuss a wide range of subjects. In 1905, Still sold his interests in the school and devoted himself to private practice until 1913. He then became an anatomy professor at the Kirksville school and, after his son's accidental gunshot death in 1922, succeeded him as president of the facility, serving two years. From 1924 on, Still contributed a column to the Kirksville Graphic newspaper, with his last column published the day of his death. The physician's body was brought back to Des Moines the next day for burial at Woodland Cemetery.