U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- McMaster, R. O. (1852-1907) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 759-760 DR. R. O. McMASTER, one of the most prominent physicians and surgeons of Wheeling, West Virginia, is the proprietor of the McMaster Hospital at No. 1108 Chapline street, which he founded in 1886. It is an institution well known throughout this and adjoining States for its excellent facilities and the superiority of its medical attendants. Dr. McMaster was born near Jacobsburg, Belmont County, Ohio, and is a son of Robert McMaster. Robert McMaster, who is deceased, was a farmer by occupation, although in early life he occupied the Circuit Court bench for some years. R. O. McMaster was primarily educated in Belmont County, Ohio, and then attended Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1875. He subsequently took a course in post-graduate work in Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City, and a three months' course in the Polyclinic Hospital in New York City. He first practiced in New Athens, Ohio, for five or six years, and located at Wheeling in the fall of 1883. He established a high-class practice, and in 1886 began keeping patients, which marked the inception of the McMaster Hospital. So successful was he that in 1892 he remodeled the building and added to it, so that it has about 30 rooms and 20 patients can now be accommodated at one time. It is a private hospital, and excludes those having acute of infectious diseases. The Doctor has made a specialty of diseases of women, and in Wheeling is a pioneer in abdominal work, having operated successfully on 107 patients in 1900. It was the first private institution of this character established in the State, and it draws a high class of patients from all over West Virginia, and also from Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. All rooms have foul-air ducts, while fresh air is admitted so as to come in contact with the radiators, thus avoiding cool draughts. All rooms are well lighted and kept scrupulously clean, and the place is a model of convenience. The hospital possesses one of the finest operating rooms in the State, which is perfectly lighted from the sides and top and supplied with the latest improvements for sterilization. All clothing and the gloves worn by the physicians are sterilized before using, as well as the surgical instruments. A separate room, or closet with glass shelves, is provided for the many surgical instruments used, and the supplies of batting and bandages are kept in sealed packages. The water is boiled before using in operations. Pus, formerly considered unavoidable, is eliminated by this process of sterilization in handling patients. Dr. McMaster is largely engaged in practice in diseases of the throat and nose, and although this is not a specialty he has considerable work along this line. His attention is mainly given to specialties, notwithstanding he has quite an extensive general practice. He is a student of his profession, which he has thoroughly mastered, and has written several articles for different medical journals. He also invented a much needed surgical instrument, which is now largely in use. Dr. McMaster was united in marriage with Ella M. Ault, a daughter of Thomas Ault, of Ohio, and their residence, which adjoins the hospital is a very cozy and convenient home. They have two children: Mrs. Frank Armstrong, of - Buffalo; and Thomas Austin, who is in the office of the National Steel Company, of Bellaire, Ohio. The Doctor is a member of the Ohio County Medical Society. He is a Mason, Knight Templar and Shriner. In his religious connections he is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. ------------------------------------------------------------------- CERTIFICATE OF DEATH, City of Wheeling, W.Va., #383 FULL-NAME: Dr. R. O. McMasters BIRTH-DATE: January 5, 1852 BIRTH-PLACE: Belmont Co., Ohio DEATH-DATE: December 6, 1907 AGE-AT-DEATH: December 6, 1907 DEATH-PLACE: 37 N. Broadway St., 7th Ward, Wheeling, Ohio County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married (Eleanor Ault McMasters) OCCUPATION: Physician & Surgeon FATHER: Robert McMaster (born in Pennsylvania) MOTHER: Mary A. Staley (born in Virginia) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Cancer of Pancreas & adjacent parts INFORMANT: Mrs. R. O. McMaster (of Wheeling) BURIAL: Greenwood ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ohio County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/Ohio/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------