Springfield-Greene
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of Many of the Representative Citizens
CHARLES H. McHAFFIE, M. D. The humanizing influences of Christianity are shown in thousands of directions, but in none to a more marked degree than that of medicine, and although there are pretenders and incompetents in every profession who, for a time may seem to succeed as well as those more worthy, if not, indeed, overshadow them, they eventually reach their level and the deserving are then shown in their true light. Of the younger element of Greene county's energetic and promising physicians is Dr. Charles H. McHaffie, of Springfield, for during the years that he has practiced his profession he has shown that he is endowed with superior ability and his comprehensive knowledge of materia medica, together with the soundness of his judgment, secured him almost immediate recognition among his professional brethren.
Doctor McHaffie was born in Christian county, Missouri, September 21, 1879. He is a son of Marion and Mary I. (Miller) McHaffie. The father was born in Tennessee in February, 1845, and he grew up in Christian county, Missouri. He began life as a farmer, and continued general farming until his death, which occurred on December 21, 1897. The parents of the mother of our subject died when she was very young, and she was reared by her uncle, Solomon Miller. She is still living on the homestead in Christian county with her youngest son, Marion A. Besides our subject, Dr. Charles H., there are also three other sons, Oliver Newton, James D. and, Marion A.
John McHaffie, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Tennessee, where his parents were among the earliest settlers, and there he grew up, married and devoted his life to farming and other business. The date of his birth was 1818, and he died in Christian county, Missouri, on June 6, 1876. He was of Scotch and Irish ancestry.
Dr. Charles H. McHaffie grew to manhood on his father's farm and there assisted with the general work when a boy, and during the winter months he attended the district schools of Christian county. When but a boy he determined on the medical profession and began bending every effort in that direction, and entered, when twenty-two years old, Ensworth Medical College, at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he made a very satisfactory record and from which institution he was graduated with the class of April 21, 1906. Soon thereafter he began the practice of his profession at Cross Timbers, Hickory county, Missouri, remaining there from the spring of 1906 until August 5, 1907, enjoying a very encouraging general practice. He then located at Rogersville, Webster county, where he practiced with his former success until April 4, 1914, removing to Springfield at that time, and after a year's stay he has proven to be not only a capable physician but also a man of upright principles and is building up a lucrative practice, maintaining an office at 400 West Commercial street, where he intends to remain permanently.
Doctor McHaffie was married December 15, 1897, to Myrtle Phillips, a daughter of Pleasant R. Phillips, a farmer of Christian county, where she was reared and educated. Three children have been born to our subject and wife, all of whom died in infancy.
Politically, Doctor McHaffie is a Republican in principle but is inclined to vote independently. He is a member of the Christian church. He belongs to the Masonic order, the Woodmen of the World and the American Yeomen. He also holds membership with the Greene County Medical Society, the Southwest Missouri Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He makes every effort to keep fully up-to-date in his profession.
[735-736]
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