Biography of A. Bryon Darby, M. D., pages 402/403/404/405.  History of 
DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 
1914.



A. Bryon Darby, M. D.



	Devoted during a long period of years to the noble work which he 
profession implies, the gentleman whose career we essay to briefly 
outline in the following paragraphs has been faithful and indefatigable 
in his endeavors and has not only earned the due rewards of his efforts 
in a temporal was but has also proved himself eminently worthy of 
exercise the important functions of his calling, by reason of his 
ability, his abiding sympathy and his earnest zeal in behalf of his 
fellow men. His understanding of the science of medicine is regarded by 
those who know him as being broad and comprehensive, and the profession 
and the public long ago accorded to him a distinguished place among the 
men of this class in Indiana. His has been along life of earnest and 
persistent endeavor, such as always brings a true appreciation of he 
real value of human existence---a condition that must be prolific of 
good results in all the relations of life.

	A. Bryon Darby was born in Fulton county, Ohio, on November 18, 
1839, and is a son of 

Samuel Bryant ad Sepharna (Guilford) Darby, the former a native of 
Vermont and the latter of Massachusetts. These parents were married in 
Allegany county, New York, in 1826 and in 1836 they moved to what was 
then Henry, now Fulton county, Ohio, the long, tiresome and oft-times 
dangerous journey being made with two yoke of oxen and a lumber wagon.  
They were among the first settlers of Henry county, and in the 
organization and development of the county Samuel B. Darby was a 
prominent figure, he having helped to organize the first township in 
the county, was postmaster of the first postoffice, taught the first 
school and opened the first store, conducting the latter for several 
years.  In his political affiliations he was first a Democrat, but 
after the organization of the Republican party he allied himself with 
that organization and was thereafter active in its support.  He was a 
member of the historic convention which nominated John C. Fremont of 
the Presidency, and also the convention four years later which 
nominated Abraham Lincoln.  His death occurred on July 15, 1884, and he 
was survived many years by his widow, who died in 1909, when nearly 
ninety-nine years of age.   They were the parents of nine children.

	A. Bryon Darby received his education in the common schools and 
then became a student in Arford College, Allegany county, New York, and 
later studied at Oberlin College, Ohio, where he paid his school 
expenses by teaching and working hours not required for study. Having 
determined to make the practice of medicine his life work, he devoted 
his spare time to the study of the necessary text books and in 1862 and 
1863 he was a student in the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, 
Ohio, where he was graduated in the spring of the latter year.  
Immediately after his graduation he located at Flint, Indiana, and in 
partnership with Dr. H. Smith practiced his profession for about a 
year, and at the end of which time, Dr. Smith moving from the place, 
the subject became the only physician in that locality.  Here he built 
up a large and profitable practice, but his health becoming impaired he 
moved to Waterloo, DeKalb county, Indiana, which has been his home 
since that time. Proper intellectual discipline, thorough professional 
knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and 
attributes essential to success made Dr. Darby eminent in this chosen 
calling, and during all the years since he located at Waterloo, he has 
stood among the scholarly and enterprising physicians and surgeons in 
the community long distinguished for the high order of its medical 
talent.  His life here has been characterized not only by high 
professional ability, but also by the most profound human sympathy, 
which has overleaped mere sentiment and become an actuating motive, for 
in youth he realized that there is no honor not founded on genuine 
worth; that there is a vital purpose in life, and that the best and 
highest accomplishment must come from a well trained mind and an 
altruistic heart.  Those who have known him well have been unstinted in 
their praise of his superior ability and the younger men in his 
profession have frequently sought his counsel, all admitting his 
eminence.  The large success which has crowned his life work, coupled 
with his ripe experience and kind heart, have enabled him to bring 
comfort and confidence to the sick room and he has carried sunshine 
into many a home, his practice having extended over a wide radius of 
the surrounding county.  Professionally, the Doctor is a member of the 
DeKalb County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society and 
the American Medical Association.  For many years he was the efficient 
secretary of the board of health of Waterloo.

On April 28, 1864, Dr. Darby was married to Linda M. Huyck, who was 
born in Huron county, Ohio, on February 7, 1842, the youngest daughter 
of John P. and Lucinda (Bisil) White, the former of whom was born in 
the state of New York, and the latter in Vermont.  Mrs. Darby came with 
her parents to Williams county, Ohio, when a young girl and lived there 
until her marriage to Dr. Darby.  She acquired a good, self-secured 
education and taught a number of terms of school in Ohio and also 
several terms in Illinois.  After her removal to Waterloo she gained 
many warm friends during the long years of her residence her and was 
closely identified with the social and church circles, being always a 
leader in moral reform and actively interested in the work of the 
Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.  She was possessed of more than 
ordinary talent and until late in life was a leader in the circles in 
which she moved in her community.  She engaged in literary pursuits and 
was a charter member of the Ladies’ Minerva Club, also and earnest and 
faithful member of the Christian church.  Her death occurred on 
December 10, 1900. To the Doctor and Mrs. Darby were born three 
children, namely: Hadsell Byron, born June 3, 1865, now lives in Fort 
Wayne, Indiana, where he manages a drug store for Jacob Bills; he 
married Edith Griffith, of Corunna, this county, and they have two 
daughters, Nina and Naomi; Frank William Darby, born on February 11, 
1868, and who is engaged in the drug business in Waterloo, married Neva 
Smith, of Steuben county, this state; Verna Darby, born November 6, 
1878, is the wife of O. C. Lampland, who is conducting the Lowell 
Observatory at Flagstaff, Arizona.  Mr. and Mrs. Lampland were fellow 
students and graduated in the same class at the Indiana State 
University, and Mrs. Lampland gives valuable assistance to her husband 
in his observatory work.

	Dr., Darby has been a life-long supporter of the Republican party 
and has been active in is support.  In 1900 he was elected to the state 
Senate and served during the sessions of 1901 to 1903, with credit to 
himself and honor to his district.  He is a member of the Church of 
Christ, and for many years was an active worker in the Sunday school. 
Fraternally, he is a member of Waterloo Lodge No. 307, Free and 
Accepted Masons	, and of the Knights of Honor. Personally, Dr. Darby 
is genial and approachable, possessing those qualities, which win 
friends, and he has been scrupulously conscientious in all that he has 
said and done.  He was always deeply imbued with the courage of his 
convictions and his relations with his fellow men have ever been such 
as to win and retain their confidence and esteem.	



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@cltnet.com