Long before there was a hospital in Mandan, before there was a nursing school in the State of North Dakota, Anna Knox Stark served as able assist to her physician husband, but gained enough medical experience from his practice that this mother of seven provided medical services to the Glen Ullin and Mandan residents when he was unavailable.
Anna was born on September 2, 1950 in Hartford Connecticut to Walter and Elizabeth Knox. The family relocated to Milwaukee in 1867 when Anna was 17.
Her future husband, George Stark Sr., moved there in 1872 after his graduation from medical school in Canada. They were married on October 16, 1878 and remained in Milwaukee until 1882. But an opportunity presented itself in Dakota Territory to provide medical services to Northern Pacific Railroad work crews and become the first medical doctor in Morton County.
Their plan was to settle in Glen Ullin. While the city had been platted, very few lots had been resold and none had standing buildings.
Dr. Stark opted to board his wife and infant son Carlisle initially at Mandan's Inter-Ocean Hotel. A railcar of lumber for a five room bungalow accompanied household furniture, chickens, a cow and a team of horses was sent ahead to Glen Ullin to establish their residence.
Inter-Ocean Hotel c.1883
At the end of two weeks, the house was complete enough to the provide shelter so that Mrs. Stark could join her husband. Accustomed to the comforts and advantages of a large city, she made the adjustment common among the pioneer wives of her day.
In the summer of 1882, the Northern Pacific Railroad was under construction west of Mandan, with a large crew station at Glen Ullin. Mrs. Stark boarded this crew serving meals to forty men each day. The in-town Glen Ullin depot was also constructed that summer.
Local travel was by horse and/or horse and buggy. A country doctor would be expected to be away for days at a time. Anna took care of both their home and the livestock chores. But sometimes patients were brought to town for treatment including cowboys with broken bones and little children who could not be given proper care at home.
During the sixteen years they lived in Glen Ullin, Mrs. Stark cared for hundreds of patients. The only disinfectant available at the time was carbolic acid (i.e., dilute solution of phenol similar in composition as the original formulation of Pine Sol®) and her hands were often sore and cracked from using it. Patients suffered injuries that might easily become infected, but none were lost through blood poisoning.
In the fall of 1882, the couple filed on a claim two and a half miles south of Glen Ullin and built a log house and barn, moving the family onto the claim in the Spring of 1883. In the summer months, they lived on the claim where the doctor looked after the crops. Wheat and corn were grown, but the high-grade potatoes were most profitable, supplying them to the Northern Pacific Railroad for their dining cars.
Mrs. Stark owned the homestead with a clear title as presented to them by the government.
Five children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Stark. Carlisle was born before they left Wisconsin. Dawson Stark was born after they moved to Mandan. Daughter Mary Stark would devote her life to educating children of the Mandan School district. George would settle in Mandan while his sister Elsie would eventually move to New York City.
Dr. Stark had been working in cooperation with Dr. Reid in Mandan during most of the years the Starks had resided in Glen Ullin. When Dr. Reid died in 1900, the couple moved to Mandan, enrolled their children in a larger school system and took over Reid's established medical practice. They purchased the home at 201 3rd Ave NW. Built in 1879, it was one of the first homes in the city.
In 1913, Dr. Stark suffered a minor stroke but continued to practice, In 1915, he suffered a second stroke and died on May 6.
<Click to Enlarge>
Anna, with her children almost full grown, turned to involvement in civic affairs. For a time, she was the oldest woman in the state to hold an elected office as a member of the Mandan Park Board.
Over her ten-year tenure, she established several parks within Mandan including the Civic Memorial Park (location of the current Collins Avenue Post Office.)
With her focus on city beautification, she helped to organize the Civic Improvement League, serving as its President for the first 23 years of its existence and subsequent multiple terms on its Board of Directors. She was active in the State Chapter of the "War Mothers" including serving in several officer roles. She was also Past Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star.
Anna Stark died on October 6, 1944 at 94 and is buried in Union Cemetery beside her husband, daughter Mary, son George Jr. and his wife.
The MHSoc's museum and office is located at 3827 30th Avenue NW; Mandan, ND 58554 Contact us at info@mandanhistory.org
