Dr. John C. Batsell lived about two and one-half miles northwest of Monrovia. He was a native of Kentucky, and was born in Marion county March 16, 1818. He was reared and educated in his native county, where he took up the study of medicine, and became proficient in the science. He commenced the practice of his profession in Valeene, Orange county, Indiana, where he continued successfully for over seven years. In the autumn of 1855 he came to Atchison county, along with John Graves and others, and after looking around, went to DeKalb, Mo., where he remained until the spring of 1866, when he returned to Atchison county, and preëmpted a quarter section, upon which he lived, northwest of Monrovia. He engaged in the practice of medicine in connection with farming, being frequently called into Doniphan and Brown counties. Malarial diseases prevailed to a great extent in those early days, and the people were in straitened circumstances. He furnished medicine and attended to their wants, losing largely in a financial way, as the greater portion of the first dwellers moved away. In 1863 Dr. Batsell organized one-half of Company D, Thirteenth Kansas, of which he was tendered the captaincy, but declined and accepted the position of first lieutenant. On account of serious illness he only served three months in the army. He was major of the Thirteenth Kansas during the Price raid, and at the close of the war was elected to the legislature by the Republican party. He was originally an old-line Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party he joined it, as he was in favor of the abolition of slavery. During his latter years he discontinued his practice and devoted his time to his farm. He died about ten years ago. Dr. David Wait came from Missouri to Kansas in 1859 and settled on a farm near Eden postoffice, now known as the Vollmer farm. He was a striking-looking man and was looked upon as very proficient in his profession. He was an ardent Union man. In fact, Dr. Moore, Dr. Batsell and Dr. Wait were all of great help to the Union cause in the days before the war. Among other leading physicians of the county, outside of Atchison, of the early days, were Dr. J. F. Martin, Dr. S. G. Page, Dr. C. C. Stivers, and Dr. Desmond, concerning whom the following information is available: Dr. J. F. Martin was one of the first practitioners in Atchison county. He was a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and was born September 29, 1828. He graduated at the Transylvania Medical University, in 1854, and afterwards took a course of lectures in St. Louis Medical University. Subsequently he removed to DeKalb, Mo., where he practiced until 1856, coming to Kansas about the same time that Dr. Batsell came. He had a large practice in Doniphan and Brown counties. He practiced ten years, and returned to Decatur, Ill., in 1866, where he remained seven years, and returned to Kansas, locating in Effingham. He died in Effingham in 1877.