Lafayette Daily Courier
Sat, Dec 04, 1880 ·Page 4
The Caesarian Operation Successfully Performed.
MOTHER AND CHILD DOING WELL.
A Garfield Boy Ushered Into the World as Young Caesar Came.
Moses Baker, M. D., of Stockwell, in this county, has furnished the COURIER with the facts touching a case of surgery in child birth involving the Caesarian operation.
DR. BAKER’S STATEMENT.
On the 3d of November last part I was called to Mr. Luther Lucas’ wife, a farmer living in Sheffield township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. On examination I found her in labor at full time, and on examination I found a tumor filling the pelvis below the child in such a manner that it would be impossible to deliver her by the natural process, and on further examination I found another tumor connected with the fundus or upper part of the womb that would probably have weighed some five pounds. Now, the child was placed between these two fibroid masses, and the woman was in labor, with not the least possibility of natural delivery, and feeling the great responsibility (to me at least) of such an uncommon case, I requested the assistance of my neighboring physicians, and had Drs. David H. Crouse of Dayton, Indiana, and John Simison of Romney called in, and on careful examination of the case we concurred in the opinion that the only hope for both mother and child, and either mother or child, was in performing on the mother the operation of gastro hysterotomy, or, in other words, the cocearia [sic] section, one of the most dangerous operations known to surgery, even when the operation has been performed for deformed pelvis and the womb healthy; but very much more so is such a case like this, where the child was, as it were, imbedded in tumors of the womb. But as it was the only possible chance to save either mother or child, we decided to try it, and on Saturday, the 6th of November, we operated assisted by and in the presence of Drs. D. and J. Crouse and L. Strather, of Dayton, John Simison and Pike, of Romney, A. A. Wells and Wm. Lambert, of Stockwell. The operation consisted in no less than making an incision through the abdominal walls of the mother of some seven inches in length, commencing in the measian line just above the pubic bone, and extending it some two inches above the umbilicus, and when the womb was reached we made an incision some five inches in it from below, upwards so as to extract the child and afterbirth through it. The balance of the operation is not of interest to the general public. Suffice it to say the mother and son (for the child is a Garfield boy) are doing well, with every prospect of a speedy recovery.
MOSES BAKER, M. D.
Stockwell, Ind.
December 3, 1780. [sic]
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 13 Feb 2026
Lafayette Daily Courier
Thu, Jun 02, 1881 ·Page 4
A Delicate Operation.
Dr. Moses Baker, of Stockwell, who astonished the community by his wonderful success in bringing little Garfield Lucas into the light of the world by the Caesarian operation a few months since, performed another operation equally as wonderful. One of his patients, Mrs. Storms, a very worthy lady of that village, has suffered greatly from hydrated ovarian tumors, which were a source of definite trouble to her. Dr. Baker, without the use of the knife or any surgical instruments, removed several thousand of them, which weighed three or four pounds. He brought over a thousand of them to this city this morning, and had them photographed at Phillips'. Mrs. Storms is around, as well as over. The operation was an exceedingly delicate one, and the number of tumors removed seems almost incredible, but having seen we believe.
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 15 Feb 2026
Lafayette Weekly Courier
Tue, Dec 20, 1887 ·Page 3
The Cesarean Operation.
A Baltimore special says: "The Cesarean section, one of the rarest and most difficult operations known, was performed at the Lay-In Hospital of the University of Maryland by Dr. J. Ernest Neale, physician in charge, the subject being a young colored woman named Hester Cox. The operation was commenced at 6 o'clock and lasted an hour and a quarter. Both the mother and child are doing well, and indications point to a complete success. This operation has only been successful once before in hospital practice of the United States, the other instance occurring in New York a number of years ago, when Prof. Lusk performed the operation." The writer of the above is in error as to the number of Cesarean operations performed in this country. Dr. Moses Baker, of Stockwell, performed the operation most successfully about seven years ago on the wife of Luther Lucas, of Lauramie township, both the mother and child being now alive and well.
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 15 Feb 2026
Lafayette Weekly Courier
Tue, Aug 21, 1888 ·Page 3
THE DEATH OF Dr. MOSES BAKER
Dr. Moses Baker died at eleven o’clock last night at his home in Stockwell. Death was the result of an infection of the brain with which the deceased had been troubled of late and by which he was confined to his bed for two weeks previous to his death. All that skill and science could do to save his life was done, but the efforts were unsuccessful and at last the man who had saved hundreds of lives by his zeal and skill was forced to succumb to the inevitable.
Dr. Moses Baker was a pioneer physician of Tippecanoe county and an honored and respected citizen of much influence. He was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, January 29, 1823. Reuben Baker, his father, was a native of Maine, who in early life settled near Wheeling, West Virginia, afterward removing to Hamilton County, Ohio, and then to Montgomery in the same state. He came to Tippecanoe county in 1837, and made his home in Lauramie township, where he died January 12, 1849. The mother, Hannah Whidden Baker, died October 15, 1863. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker, of whom but two are living- Mrs. Phoebe Wilson and Mrs. Hannah Bartholomew. Reuben Baker was a ship carpenter in early life, but in this country turned his attention to agriculture. Moses was reared to manhood on the home farm and received his schooling from the common and subscription schools of the township. He graduated from the LaPorte School fo Medicine, at LaPorte, Indiana, in March, 1849, and from Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, Pa., in 1852. He began his medical practice in Lauramie township in the spring of 1849, and made his home at Monroe. Soon afterwards his brother, Dr. Reuben Baker, laid out what was known as Baker’s Corners, now Stockwell, and the subject of this sketch removed to that place, where he has resided ever since. His practice took him many miles from Stockwell in every direction, and in a few years his reputation had spread to other counties, then all over the State, and to-day the name of Dr. Moses Baker is placed at the head of the list of surgeons in the United States as the only surgeon in Indiana who had successfully performed the Caeserian operation, which both mother and child survived and are living to-day. In late years the Doctor turned over the greater part of his practice to his son, Dr. Joseph H. Baker, and turned his attention almost entirely to the difficult surgical operations, in which he was most successful. His services were in constant demand when expert medical testimony was needed, and there are hundreds of persons who suffered with tumors whose lives have been saved by his skill. His death will prove a severe loss to the medical profession throughout the State, and especially in the county where his advice was oftenest asked and his skill most frequently tested. Dr. Baker was married June 6, 1850, to Miss Eliza SKinner, of this county, and to them were born seven children- Harriet J., wife of Jewell S. Willis, of Stockwell; Joseph H., who married Miss Belle Miller; Mary C., deceased; Kate, wife of J. L. Caldwell, of this city; Florence, Bessie and Annie. Their married life was indeed a happy one and upon the bereaved widow and children the blow falls with crushing force. In 1868 the doctor erected a handsome brick residence, the pride of Stockwell, at a cost of $15,000. Besides this valuable property he owns 400 acres of land throughout this county and 200 acres in Pulaski county. He belonged to the Masonic lodge at Clark’s Hill and was an honored member of the Tippecanoe County Medical Society. In politics he was a firm and loyal Republican who had the courage of his convictions. In his business life he was square and honorable and his integrity and genial disposition won him the confidence and esteem of all. Socially he was highly regarded and his conversation was replete with wit and interesting information. At his home he was revered, and while a firm governor was ever the kind father and the indulgent husband. His death has caused a void not only in his family and social circles, but in his profession, which can never be filled.
Contributed by Karen Zach
Added 11 June 2023
Lafayette Weekly Courier
Tue, Aug 21, 1888 ·Page 3
The Medical Society on the Death of Dr. Moses Baker.
The Tippecanoe Medical Society held a special meeting Friday night to make arrangements to attend the funeral of the late Dr. Moses Baker in a body. An invitation was extended to the medical profession of the city to accompany the society. The following named physicians were selected to act as pall-bearers: Drs. Beasley, Webster, Crouse, of Dayton; Mofitt, John Simison, of Romney, and Parker, of Colfax. The following resolutions of condolence were passed:
Whereas, The messenger “Death” has claimed as one of its victims our worthy and esteemed member and ex-president, Dr. Moses Baker. Resolved, That we, the members of the Tippecanoe County Medical Society, attest our sincere sorrow at the death of Dr. Moses Baker, and our highest appreciation of his eminent attainments as a physician and surgeon. Resolved, that as a society and individual members we shall keenly miss his genial features, his earnest, sympathizing friendship, as well as his wife, efficient counsel. Resolved that in his death the community lost a good citizen, and a zealous, skillful and painstaking physician. Resolved that we extend to the family of the deceased our heartfelt sympathy. Resolved that we, as a society, attend his burial services in a body. Resolved that a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of this society, and one be sent to the family of the deceased.
Wm. S. Walker
Geo. F. Beasley
J. C. Webster
Lafayette, Ind., August 17, 1888.
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 3 Dec 2024
Journal and Courier
Mon, Mar 10, 1930 ·Page 7
The first successful Caesarian operation in this part of Indiana was performed in Lafayette by Dr. Moses Baker, who came here from Stockwell. His operating room was the kitchen of an old farm house, with an old kitchen table and dingy lamps for equipment, and his son, Dr. Joe Baker, to administer the ether.
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 14 Feb 2026
Lucas Family File, Tippecanoe County HIstorical Association
Kokomo, Ind. Feb. 13th, 1935
Dear Cousins Will and Mary:
[EXCERPT]
You have asked some questions concerning the Lucus family and I shall try to give you all the information we can. First, the name Lucus is spelled L-u-c-u-s instead of Lucas as you have it. We do not know what year Luther Lucus's house was built in which the Caesarean operation was performed. Kate says the little house that stood west of the new one in which Luther Lucus formerly lived she thinks it was a log house containing two rooms and a summer kitchen built on it. She says she stayed all night with the girls Adelia and Elva when they lived in that house. She does not know who built the little house. Luther Lucus's first two wives were twin sisters of George W. Hardwick. His first marriage was to Miss Susan Hardwick in 1853. She died about two years after her marriage leaving a daughter, Adelia, who died in her eighteenth year. His second marriage was to Miss Adelaide Hardwick who died in about two years leaving a daughter Elva. Elva became the wife of Harry S. Shaffer and died in her twenty-second year. No, Will, we never heard of Dr. Crouse being a doctor in the Lucus family. It was Dr. Moses Baker and son Joe who performed that operation. There was other doctors present I presume, but our knowledge of the case was that the Bakers did that work. We are surprised that the Crouse relatives abuse Dr. Baker and son Dr. Joe Baker as they wish the notoriety of that case to belong to the Crouses. We know that is not true. We are glad to know that the Historical Society are planning to erect a marker at the Lucus home. The operation was performed on Nov. 6th, 1880.
[END OF EXCERPT]
With kindest regards to both, we are, as ever, Alice Hoffman and Laura B. Ilgenfritz
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 11 June 2023
Journal and Courier
Sun, Dec 03, 1995 ·Page 16
Dr. Baker noted for area’s first successful Caesarean section
Motorists on US 52 southeast of Lafayette pass an historical marker by a wood frame farmhouse west of the pavement. It calls attention to the date November 6, 1880, and to the site of the first successful Caesarean surgery ever performed in Indiana by Dr. Moses Baker, 57, of Stockwell.
Born on an Ohio farm, Baker had studied for his profession in the LaPorte (Ind.) School of Medicine, and from Jefferson Medical College (Philadelphia) where he graduated in 1852. He located in Lauramie Township, Tippecanoe County, and lived near the community called Monroe.
While his long record of good service spread to many townships and nearby counties, people most remembered Moses Baker for the Caesarean birth episode. The Lafayette Courier of Dec. 4, 1880, printed his first-person account:
On Wednesday, Nov. 3, I was called to Luther Lucas’ wife. He is a farmer living in Sheffield Township. I found her in labor at full term, and found a tumor filling the pelvis below the child in such a manner that it would be impossible to deliver her by the natural process. I found another tumor connected with the upper part of the womb that would probably have weighed some five pounds. The child was between these two fibroid masses, and the woman was in labor with not the least possibility of natural delivery.
Feeling the great responsibility (to me, at least) of such an uncommon case, I requested the assistance of my neighboring physicians, and had Doctors David H. Crouse, of Dayton, and John Simison, of Romney, called in. We concurred in the opinion that the only hope for both mother and child, and either mother or child, was in performing gastrohyterotomy or, in other words, the Caesarean section.
It is one of the most dangerous operations known to surgery, even when the operation has been performed for deformed pelvis and the womb healthy; but much more so in a case like this, where the child was embedded in tumors. But as it was the only possible chance, we decided to try.
On Saturday, Nov. 6, we operated, assisted by and in the presence of Doctors D. and J. Crouse andL. Strather, of Dayton, Doctors Simison and Pike of Romney, and Doctors A. A. Wells and William Lambert, of Stockwell. The operation consisted in making an incision through the abdominal walls of the mother of some seven inches in length, commencing in the measian line just above the pubic bone, and extending it some two inches above the umbilicus. When the womb was reached we made an incision some five inches in it from below upwards so as to extract the child and afterbirth through it.
The balance of the operation is not of interest to the general public.
Suffice it to say the mother and son (for the child is a Garfield boy) are doing well, with every prospect of a speedy recovery.
Why Baker’s jocular reference to “a Garfield boy?”
Republican James A. Garfield won election to the US Presidency four days before the operation, helped by 5,061 votes in Tippecanoe County.
Dr. Moses Baker died in the summer of 1888, when he was 65.
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 13 Feb 2026
SITE OF FIRST SUCCESSFUL CESAREAN SECTION IN INDIANA
On the kitchen table of this house, the morning of November 6, 1880, Mrs. Luther Lucas, a farmer's wife, was delivered of a healthy infant son, after a mid-line incision made by Dr. Moses Baker, a pioneer physician-surgeon of Stockwell. Observed by six attending doctors who refused responsibility for its success or failure, it became the first in Indiana medical history in which both mother and child lived.
Donated by Tippecanoe Medical Society
Erected by Tippecanoe County Historical Association.
Located in front of the old Luther Lucus residence near Stockwell on U.S. 52. This home was demolished in the early 2000’s and the site is now vacant.
Lafayette Daily Courier
Mon, Mar 14, 1910 ·Page 8
CAESARIAN OPERATION.
Mother and Child Survive Ordeal at the Home Hospital.
For the first time in the history of the city, it is said, a Caesarian operation has been performed so successfully as to save the lives of both mother and child. Mrs. Arthur M. Charlesworth, of Oxford, and her infant son, are at the Home hospital, and both are reported doing nicely. The operation was performed there Tuesday and for several days the life of the mother hung in the balance, as the dangerous operation rarely succeeds. Mrs. Charlesworth is a granddaughter of Hon. F. E. D. McGinley. Her child is a boy. The operation was performed by Drs. Morrison, Wetherill, Van Reed, Throckmorton and Lairy. The late Dr. Moses Baker performed a similar operation at Stockwell thirty years ago. The mother in that case, Mrs. Luther Lucas, is still living, and her child, Garfield Lucas, is now a practicing physician ta Dallas, Tex. Mrs. Charlesworth before her marriage several years ago was a nurse at the Home hospital.
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 15 Feb 2026
Lafayette Weekly Courier
Fri, Mar 18, 1910 ·Page 5
CAESARIAN OPERATION.
Mother and Child Survive Ordeal at the Home Hospital.
For the first time in the history of the city, it is said, a Caesarian operation has been performed so successfully as to save the lives of both mother and child. Mrs. Arthur M. Charlesworth, of Oxford, and her infant son, are at the Home hospital, and both are reported doing nicely. The operation was performed there Tuesday and for several days the life of the mother hung in the balance, as the dangerous operation rarely succeeds. Mrs. Charlesworth is a granddaughter of Hon. F. E. D. McGinley. Her child is a boy. The operation was performed by Drs. Morrison, Wetherill, Van Reed, Throckmorton and Lairy. The late Dr. Moses Baker performed a similar operation at Stockwell thirty years ago. The mother in that case, Mrs. Luther Lucas, is still living, and herchild, Garfield Lucas, is now a practicing physician at Dallas, Tex. Mrs. Charlesworth before her marriage several years ago was a nurse at the Home hospital.
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 15 Feb 2026
The Lafayette Morning Journal
Tue, Mar 03, 1914 ·Page 1
CAESARIAN BIRTH FOR DORIS WILSON THIRD IN COUNTY
Babe Twenty-Two Days Old Nestles in Arms of His Mother at Their Home on Center Street.
OPERATION WAS PERFORMED FEBRUARY SEVEN
First Case Was Reported from Stockwell in 1881 With the Late Dr. Moses Baker as the Surgeon.
Mrs. Ace E. Wilson and don, Doris Elmer, survive the third successful Caesarian operation recorded in the medical annals of Tippecanoe county. While the operation is not rare, there are few that prove successful. Some times the life of the child is sacrificed, and some times the lives of both mother and child are forfeited. Mrs. Wilson passed through the ordeal at the Home hospital on February 7, and she and her son were taken to their home at 1504 Center street on last Wednesday. Mrs. Wilson is now able to sit up and her little son is as bright and lively as a baby born under less difficulty. The operation was performed by Dr. E. B. Ruschli and he was assisted by Drs. M. M. Lairy, Don C. McClelland, H. J. Laws and C. V. Dawson.
The first operation of this kind in Tippecanoe county was performed at Stockwell in 1881, by Dr. Moses Baker, grandfather of Dr. Moses Baker, of this city. It was a revelation in surgery to the profession in this county and was reported in all of the medical journals. For years it stood without a parallel in the practice of surgery in Indiana. Garfield Lucas, who is now a druggist at Dallas, Tex., was brought into the world in this unusual manner. He was given the name of President Garfield, who was assassinated the year that he was born. His mother is Mrs. Luther Lucas, and she is still living at Stockwell.
The next oepration of this kind was performed by Dr. John S. Morrison in this city several years ago and the mother, Mrs. Blanche Charlesworth, of Oxford, is a granddaughter of Hon. F. E. D. McGinley, ex-mayor of Lafayette. The child born in this way is now a bright and active little lad and the mother is enjoying excellent health. Such cases as these attract a great deal of attention, not only from the medical profession, but from the laity on account of their unusualness.
Mrs. Wilson was formerly Miss Stella F. Patchett, and she and Mrs. Wilson were married on October 26, 1911. Mrs. Wilson is a small woman, but she is vivacious and is meeting her friends with a happy smile when they call to congratulate her. Mr. Wilson has been employed at the Stockton house for a number of years and has a wide acquaintance. There is no happier home today in Lafayette than the Wilson home on Center street.
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 15 Feb 2026
Lafayette Daily Courier
Tue, Mar 03, 1914 ·Page 5
CAESARIAN OPERATION.
Mrs. Ace Wilson and Baby Survive Unusual Surgical Ordeal.
Mrs. Ace Wilson and her 24-day-old son, Doris Elmer, are recovering from a Caesarian operation performed February 7 at the Home hospital. The number of cases of this kind where the operation has been a success in this county are very small. Mrs. Wilson and her child were taken to their home at 1504 Center street last Wednesday. Dr. Moses Baker performed the first operation of this kind in this county at Stockwell in 1881. Garfield Lucas, now in the drug business in Dallas, Tex., was the child brought into the world in this unusual manner. The next operation of the kind was one by Dr. J. S. Morrison several years ago. Mrs. Blanche Charlesworth being the mother.
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 15 Feb 2026
Journal and Courier
Sat, Dec 06, 1980 ·Page 14
100 YEARS AGO TODAY
In the Lafayette Daily Courier
The report in the Courier, detailing the Caesarian operation performed by Dr. Moses Baker of Stockwell, on a Sheffield township woman, is being criticized. Deacon Dobelbower of the Dispatch, proclaims his holy horror of the publicity given the operation.
Contributed by Lena H.
Added 15 Feb 2026