He whose name initiates this paragraph is a representative of one of the
old and honored families of Marion county, Illinois, where he has lived from
the time of his birth and where he has gained personal prestige and success
in one of the most noble and exacting of all vocations to which a man may
devote himself, being engaged in the practice of his profession at Salem and
controlling a large business as physician and surgeon, while he has gained
precedence by reason of his devotion to his profession and his marked
ability as an exponent of advanced and practical medical science, at the
same time establishing a record of honor.
Dr. Carlos A. Feltman was
born in Salem, Illinois, September 11, 1856, the son of Charles Feltman, a
man of much sterling worth and influence in his community who was born in
Strausburg, Germany, and was one of the earliest German settlers in Marion
county, Illinois. He was a successful baker for many years and later was
engaged in the mercantile business at which he was equally successful,
having built up an excellent trade with the surrounding country districts.
He spent nearly his entire life in Salem and passed to his reward in 1875.
The subject's mother, who was a woman of many admirable attributes, was
known in her maidenhood as Mary Appel. She was born in
Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, and she passed to her rest in 1888. The
parents of the subject were married in St. Louis, Missouri. They received a
fairly good education and were people of refinement and high character,
having reared their children, of whom there were eight in number, in a
wholesome atmosphere which modified and deeply influenced their subsequent
careers. Following are the names of their children: Emil, deceased; Ellen,
who married R. E. Fletcher and who died in Grand Junction, Colorado; H. C.,
deceased, was a prominent attorney at law and was grand scribe of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows at the time of his death; William W. is
deceased; the next in order of birth was Carlos A., our subject; Lenora,
deceased; C. E., who is with the Eli Walker Dry Goods Company, of St. Louis,
Missouri; R. B., who is in the mercantile business at Grand Junction,
Colorado.
Doctor Feltman remained a member of the home circle until
he reached manhood, having attended the common schools in Salem until he
finished the prescribed course. Being a diligent student he made excellent
grades and received a good education. He went into newspaper work, believing
that journalism offered peculiar attractions. He worked as a printer for
three years. In the meantime he felt that his calling was in another
direction, the more praiseworthy art of medicine, consequently he began
studying during spare moments and finally entered the Louisville Medical
College at Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained one term, after which he
attended the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, from which he
graduated with high honor in 1882 in the same class with Dr. M. D. Foster,
the present Congressman from this district. Our subject showed from the time
he first entered medical college that he had a peculiar aptitude and unusual
talents for this line of endeavor and his subsequent life, which has been
remarkably successful, shows that he would have made a grave mistake had he
adopted any other profession as a life work.
Doctor Feltman returned
to his native community after graduation, beginning practice at Salem. His
success was instantaneous and his ability became so generally known that he
was selected to the important post of United States Indian Physician at Fort
Apache, Arizona, during President Cleveland's first administration. He was
eminently successful in this new field, but he finally desired to return to
his native state, and in 1888 began practice at Beardstown, Illinois, which
he carried on with the greatest success for a period of fourteen years,
building up a very large practice and becoming City Health Officer, also a
member of the Board of Education. He was also Secretary of the Pension Board
under Cleveland's second administration, also Coroner of Cass county from
1896 to 1900; later County Physician of Cass county. After filling all these
positions to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, showing pronounced
innate executive ability as well as superior medical skill, in 1900, greatly
to the regret of his large patronage, Doctor Feltman moved away from
Beardstown, locating at his old home in Salem. Useless to say that his
practice was large from the first, for he had long ago firmly established a
reputation here. He is a member of the Board of Education at Salem, and is
County Physician. He was nominated by his party for Coroner in 1908 and his
nomination was regarded by not only the Democrats, but members of other
party affiliations as well, to be a most fortunate one. He was elected at
the ensuing election by a large majority over his opponent.
The
domestic life of Doctor Feltman dates from January 1, 1888, when he was
happily married at Salem to Mayme E. Fulks, the refined and accomplished
daughter of T. Charles Fulks. She received a fairly good educational
training and is a representative of a well known and influential family.
Two interesting children, who, in their youth, give promise of
successful and happy future careers, have added cheer and sunshine to the
cozy home of Doctor and Mrs. Feltman. Their names are Blanche and Mabel,
nineteen and seventeen years old, respectively, in 1908. They are both apt
students and of winsome personalities.
Fraternally our subject is a
member of the Masonic Order, the Woodmen and the Independent Order of
Foresters, and his daily life would indicate that he believes in carrying
out the sublime precepts of each. He is a strict Presbyterian in religious
faith. However, he is not a member of any church, although all his family
subscribes to the church in Salem.
Doctor Feltman is of a
public-spirited nature, genial personality, uprightness of principle and
habits of industry. He is regarded by the people of Marion county as one of
their ablest and most eminent citizens.
Extracted 07 Jul 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 62-64.