Biography of Dr. A. M. Oswalt, pages 429/430.  History of 
DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



Each calling or business, if honorable, has its place in 
human existence, constituting a part of the plan where by 
life’s methods are pursued and man reaches his ultimate 
destiny. Emerson said the “all are needed by each one.” And 
that is as trued in one avenue of life’s activities are in 
another. However, the importance of a business or 
profession is in a very large measure determined by its 
beneficence or usefulness. So dependent is man upon his 
fellow men that the worth of each individual is largely 
reckoned by what he has done for humanity. There is no 
class to whom greater gratitude is due from the world at 
large than to those self-sacrificing, sympathetic, noble-
minded men whose life work has been the alleviation of 
suffering that rests on humanity, this lengthening the span 
of human existence.  There is no known standard by which 
their beneficent influence can be measured; their 
helpfulness is as broad as the universe and their power 
goes hand in hand with the wonderful laws of nature that 
comes from the very source of life itself. Adam M. Oswalt 
was born June 30, 1870, at Three Rivers, Michigan, and is 
the son of Adam and Anna (Detwiler) Oswalt. At the age of 
five years the subject was deprived by death of a mother’s 
love and care, and he then went to live in the home of 
Charles Shelhart, who reared him to manhood. Soon after 
becoming a member of this household the family moved to a 
farm at Sherwood, Michigan, where Mr. Oswalt spent his 
boyhood days, securing his education in the common schools 
there, supplementing this by attendance at the Tri-State 
College at Angola, Indiana, where he received his diploma. 
The two following years were spent in farm labor at the 
home of his foster father. In 1897 Mr. Oswalt engaged in 
general merchandising at Ray, Indiana, which he carried on 
successfully for five years, relinquishing that line of 
effort at the end of that period, however, in order to take 
up the study of osteopathy which he had determined to make 
his life work, to this end he entered the American School 
of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri. He graduated on 
January 25, 1905. He immediately engaged in the practice of 
the profession at South Bend, Indiana, but one year later 
came to Auburn, where he has since been located, and in the 
practice of his profession here he has been markedly 
successful. The science of osteopathy is comparatively new, 
but because of the notable success which has was 
accompanied its practice, it has gained many adherents, and 
its practitioners have gained an enviable standing in the 
profession. Dr. Oswalt has applied himself closely to his 
profession and has gained the confidence and regard of all 
with whom he has come in contact because of his 
professional ability and personal worth.  In 1897 Dr. 
Oswalt was married to Jessie Marie McNaughton, of Ray, 
Indiana, the daughter of Archibald and Fidelia (Lewis) 
McNaughton. Dr. and Mrs. Oswalt are members of the 
Presbyterian church at Auburn, which they attend regularly, 
and to which they contribute liberally of their means. They 
move in the best social circles of the community and enjoy 
the loyal friendship of all who know them.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com