government » francis a. pomeroy
Francis A. Pomeroy

One of the early day physicians and surgeons to practice in Cheney was Dr. Francis Pomeroy whose parents pioneered in California.

Francis A. was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 10, 1849 while his parents were enroute to California. One wonders if perhaps they were among other intrepid Forty-niners lured west by the reports of the fabulous gold fields there, in particular "Sutter's Mill" where gold had been discovered in 1848.

His parents established a home in the Golden State and young Francis received his elementary schooling there before being sent to Salt Lake City to attend high school for three years then taking up the study of medicine under the guidance of Dr. J.H. Greer in that city. While in high school he met Mary Ann Rich who had also been sent to Salt Lake for further education. Her father was the founder of San Bernadino, California where the family had resided since 1850 when Mary Ann was one year old. They, too, had left Utah for the new frontier. The young couple had much in common, leading to a courtship and marriage. Their wedding was held in Salt Lake City on January 10, 1875 where they remained until 1879 when a move to Tombstone, Arizona offered opportunities for a start in the drugstore business. Both worked in that store until Francis decided to resume his studies to become a physician. Mary Ann had taught school in Paris, Idaho before her marriage, a location she much preferred to Tombstone. It seemed logical for her to move there for the duration of her husband's absence. She applied for and was appointed Postmistress of Paris, rounding out her work day as a clerk in a drugstore.

The first year of medicine was spent in Rush Medical College in Chicago, followed by two years in Long Island College in Brooklyn from which he graduated in 1883 with his M.D. degree. Dr. Pomeroy started his private practice in Cheney in 1884 at the time he brought his family from Paris, Idaho here to make their home. Several years later he opened a drugstore in his two-story building near the campus of the Benjamin P. Cheney Academy. The drugstore occupied the downstairs room with the doctor's office and examination rooms above.

In the early years of their marriage the couple became parents of three children. Mamie was born in Salt Lake City, Jane in Idaho. A son, Richard, died not long after birth.

The good doctor was a bluff, straight-forward man with a hearty manner which gained the respect and loyalty of many friends. It didn't take much persuasion from these friends before he became involved in City government. His appointment as City Health Officer took place soon after he settled here, followed by a term of Mayor in 1887.

Sanitation was considerably different in those days from what we know as sanitary conditions. Stressing the need for cleanliness Dr. Pomeroy enforced the existing ordinances and saw to it they were closely followed. He was a man of strong convictions and insisted all other laws then in effect were also observed.

A doctor's routine was not governed by office hours nor were service boundaries observed. The city office might be his headquarters but a doctor made house calls whenever illness or injury precluded a patient's trip to the office, be the emergency in the city or country. Mode of transportation was not of speedy nature, being by horseback, horse and buggy or horse and sleigh depending on the season. In many cases time consumed in reaching the patient made the difference between life or death. Dr. Pomeroy was fond of spirited horses both from a professional and personal standpoint. One favorite steed proved to be a bit too lively, however, demolishing the buggy top in one runaway. Not long after that episode he stepped in a hole while tied to a post and raised so much cain he tore up the buggy shafts.

In 1894 Dr. Pomeroy went to Europe to take a post-graduate course at a medical school in London. When finished he once again resumed his practice in Cheney. Not only was he one of the preferred physicians here but was local surgeon for the Northern Pacific R.R. for years.

As time went on the doctor's house calls began to cover a wider area, even at times as far away as Lind, WA. For such a trip he would hop the next train through Cheney to answer an urgent call to assist in births in that community, although at times arriving too late to save the infant.

In 1898 the voters again elected Dr. Pomeroy as Mayor. Busy though he was with his duties as physician, surgeon and druggist he willingly gave another year to the city in that office.

In the 1920's the automobile was fast replacing the horse and the doctor conceded to progress. He purchased a car and from that time on could be seen behind the wheel of that new invention. The only improvement he admitted to was that it would stay in the same spot in which he left it, with no change in its condition on his return.

Dr. Pomeroy had business interests other than his profession. He could discern a good real estate investment as readily as he could diagnose a patient's ailment. History shows he was owner of extensive property in and around this city. At times throughout his years here he owned a flour mill structure, several rental buildings including the old Post Office by the Brown and Holter agency on First St., as well as some good farm land a short distance south of town. The Pomeroy name was as well-known in connection with real estate as it was professionally.

The fast pace of life slowed considerably for Dr. Pomeroy in his later years. His wife of nearly sixty years had preceded him in death leaving him alone and in failing health. His over fifty years in Cheney came to a close when he became terminally ill and entered the N.P.R.R. hospital in Tacoma. He expired there on January 31, 1938. Cremation followed.

Contributed by Ellen Proctor, 1988.