Dr. Hiram E. McNutt, born on September 21, 1848, in Warren County, New York, is a distinguished physician based in Aberdeen, South Dakota. A Dartmouth graduate, he initially practiced with his father before moving to Ohio and then Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1883, he relocated to Aberdeen, becoming a leading medical professional. McNutt played a crucial role in forming the State Medical Society and the State Board of Medical Examiners, significantly impacting medical practice regulations in South Dakota. A dedicated Republican and active in fraternal organizations, he is also a prominent Mason. McNutt married Delia L. Snow in 1874, and they have a daughter, Fanny.
Hiram E. McNutt, A. M., M. D., of Aberdeen, is a native of Warren County, New York, where he was born on the 21st day of September, 1848. His lineage is of a distinguished order and has long been noted for high intellectuality and scrupulous honor. His father, Hiram McNutt, who was also a physician and surgeon, rose to a position of signal usefulness in the profession and practiced for many years in the state of New York. After receiving a preparatory education, the subject, when a young man, entered Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1869, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and two years later received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the same institution, in addition to which he was also honored with the degree of Master of Arts. With a mind thoroughly disciplined by intellectual and professional training, the Doctor, in the early seventies, began practicing with his father, but two years later left New York and located at Huron, Erie County, Ohio, where he built up a lucrative professional business and remained until 1879, when he found a new field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His career in the latter city covered the greater part of four years, during which time he continually added to his reputation as an able physician and surgeon and rose to a high rank among his professional associates.
Closing out his practice in Milwaukee in the spring of 1883, Dr. McNutt, on April 23rd of that year, came to Aberdeen, South Dakota, being among the first medical men to open an office in this city. He soon won an extensive practice, which for some years extended over thirteen of the surrounding counties, and to visit his patients scattered throughout this large territory required almost constant travel and an expenditure of vital energy of which the present-day physician can form but a faint conception. He has been continuously in practice ever since, and is now regarded as the leading physician and surgeon of Aberdeen and one of the ablest men of his profession in the state of South Dakota. In 1885 Dr. McNutt took a leading part in organizing the State Medical Society, of which he served for several years as secretary. He was also prominent in establishing the District Medical Society of Aberdeen, serving for several years as its secretary. He was honored by a place on the state board of health, retiring from the position in March, 1903, to accept the appointment as a member of the state board of medical examiners under the new law of that year, of which body he has ever since been secretary. He served as United States pension examiner for some years, and has for several years held the position of local surgeon for the Northwestern Railroad Company. For several years he has served as superintendent of the Brown County board of health. Perhaps the greatest service rendered South Dakota by Dr. McNutt, greater than that of any other man in his profession, was his work in bringing about favorable action of the legislature in creating the state board of medical examiners, and regulating the practice of medicine and surgery in the state. This was accomplished in 1903, in March of which year Governor Herreid signed the bill providing for a board of seven members representing the different schools of medicine, the object of the board being the issuance of licenses to physicians practicing in the state and for the protection of the people against quacks, charlatans and itinerant doctors without professional standing. This bill, which embodies the most careful investigation in the matter of medical supervision, has received not only the sanction, but the highest encomiums from the leading men of the profession in the United States and stands as a model document of the kind, both from a literary and professional standpoint. Suitable recognition has been accorded Dr. McNutt for his earnest and untiring efforts in securing its passage, and in the capacity of secretary of the board he has been equally as strenuous in enforcing all of the provisions and requirements of the much-needed law.
While living in Milwaukee, Dr. McNutt became identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, joining Lodge No. 74, of which he was a charter member. He rose rapidly in the councils of the order in Wisconsin, was chosen representative to the grand lodge in 1882, and, after removing to South Dakota, was elected grand overseer of the grand lodge of this state in 1891, two years later being honored with the highest office within the gift of the organization, that of grand master. During his incumbency in the latter position, he traveled extensively over the jurisdiction, which includes both North and South Dakota, at a great sacrifice to his professional business, visited and established lodges in a number of counties, increased the membership by over three thousand, and not only greatly strengthened the order, but systematized its work and added much to its efficiency and usefulness. The impetus given the work of the organization under his official direction is still maintained, and today the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Dakota is in as good if not better condition than in any other state in the Union.
Dr. McNutt is prominent in Masonic circles, being a thirty-second-degree Scottish-rite Mason. He holds membership with the Valley of Aberdeen Consistory No. 4, and served two years as venerable master of the Lodge of Perfection. In addition to this high station, he has been honored with other important positions in the order from time to time. Being a man of scholarly tastes, he is well read, not only in his profession but in general literature, and is well informed on the leading questions and political issues of the day. Since his twenty-first year he has been an ardent and uncompromising Republican, and as such has attended a number of county, district and state conventions as a delegate. He has always manifested a pardonable pride in the city of Aberdeen and, as a member of its common council for two years, was instrumental in bringing about a number of needed reforms and improvements, although conservative in the matter of public expenditures. He has faith in the future of South Dakota and, being imbued with the energetic and optimistic spirit characteristic of the true western man of today, lends his energy and influence to whatever makes for the present growth and ultimate development and prosperity of the commonwealth.
On the 20th day of May, 1874, Dr. McNutt married Miss Delia L. Snow, of Albany, New York, a lady of many estimable qualities of head and heart. Mrs. McNutt was reared and educated in New York, and a number of years ago united with the Presbyterian church from which time to the present her life has been consecrated to the Master’s service and to the good of humanity. She has borne her husband a daughter, named Fanny, who is now pursuing her studies under favorable auspices at St. Marguerite’s Boarding School for Young Ladies at Buffalo, New York.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.