My Genealogy Hound

EUGENE HENRY DICKENSHIED, M. D. This prominent physician and surgeon of Allentown is a native of this county, having been born in Lower Milford Township, August 5, 1859. He is the son of Dr. John Henry Dickenshied, also a native of Lehigh County, who is engaged in the practice of his profession at Plover, this county, where he has a large patronage.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, who was also a physician, bore the name of Charles Frederick Dickenshied, and was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, and a surgeon in the War of 1812. He departed this life in November, 1881, at the remarkable age of ninety-eight years. The Dickenshied family in America originally came from Prussia, and on their arrival in America located in this county, where they were among the first families.

The maiden name of our subject’s mother was Amanda Stoinman. She was the daughter of George Steinman, a prominent lumber merchant at Berger’s Station, this state, who died in Bethlehem in 1873. The wife of Dr. Charles F. Dickenshied was Annie Catherine Eberhart, a daughter of Henry Eberhart, and a native of this county, in which locality her parents were old pioneers. On this side of the house our subject is able to trace his ancestry back to Eberhart the Noble, who lived in 1265 in Swabia, now Bavaria.

Eugene H., of this sketch, spent his boyhood days in Lower Milford Township, and when far enough advanced in his studies, entered the preparatory department of Muhlenberg College. He remained there until the fall of 1876, when he entered Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, and after a course there of one year became a student in the University of Pennsylvania, being graduated from the medical department of that institution with the Class of ‘81.

Dr. Dickenshied after graduating located for the practice of his profession in Lower Milford, and for nine years following carried on business in connection with his father. In June, 1890, he came to Allentown, and opening an office, has since been engaged in a large and successful general practice. Since locating here he has taken several special courses on the treatment of the eye and can and is considered an expert in treating the diseases of these organs.

In 1881 the Doctor was awarded the first Morbid Anatomy prize which was ever given in America, it being offered at that time in the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Lehigh County Medical Society and of the Lehigh Valley Medical Association. He is also a member of the Board of School Controllers for the city of Allentown, representing the Seventh Ward, and is now Chairman of the board. In politics he is a true-blue Republican. A prominent Mason, he is Past Master of Lodge No. 469, at Coopersburg, this county.

May 2, 1882, Dr. Dickenshied was united in marriage with Miss Clara C., daughter of Andrew C. Bryan, formerly a resident of Allentown, but now deceased. To them have been born a son and a daughter: Henry M., now in his ninth year; and Margaret C., a child of seven years. The Doctor and his wife are members of St. John’s Reformed Church.