Name:
James Stott McDiarmid 
Location served:
Dover Centre, Ridgetown  
Years in Practice:
1904 to 1941
Area of Specialization:
Family Medicine  

Biography:

Dr. James Stott McDiarmid was born in Highgate, Ontario on the 22nd of January, 1879.  Dr. McDiarmid was the eldest of 2 children born to Hugh McDiarmid and the former Kate Mitton.  His father was a school teacher and his sister Jean Catherine McDiarmid was born on the 6th of December, 1885.  When he was a young boy his family moved to Ingersoll, Ontario where Dr. McDiarmid attended public school.

Dr. McDiarmid graduated from Ingersoll Collegiate High School and enrolled in an arts program at The University of Toronto.  After completing 1 year in Toronto, Dr. McDiarmid transferred to the B.Sc. program at McGill University.  It appears he completed the course and left the university in 1905.  Dr. McDiarmid returned to McGill in 1911 and he graduated M.D.,C.M. in 1913.  His first medical practice was located in Ingersoll.

Dr. McDiarmid married Grace Robertson on the 22nd of December, 1915 in Ingersoll.  Mrs. McDiarmid was born in London, Ontario on the 29th of March, 1885.  She was the eldest of 2 children born to Rev. John Robertson and the former Louisa Berdeta Edwards.  Her father was a Baptist minister and her brother was named Thomas Robertson.

An ad appears in the November 2nd, 1918 edition of the Chatham Daily Planet reporting that Dr. McDiarmid was taking over the practice of Dr. C. R. Newman.  According to the 1921 census, Dr. and Mrs. McDiarmid and their children, Max Robertson McDiarmid and Catherine Louise McDiarmid were living in Dover Centre where Dr. McDiarmid was practicing medicine.  He eventually moved his medical practice to Ridgetown (Chatham-Kent).

Dr. McDiarmid enjoyed gardening in his spare time.

Dr. McDiarmid semi-retired in 1931 due to ill health.

By 1935, records indicate that the McDiarmid’s were living on Lisgar Street in Ridgetown and Mrs. McDiarmid was working as a nurse.

Dr. McDiarmid died at Victoria Hospital in London on the 30th of November 1941.   He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Ridgetown near his parents.

Mrs. McDiarmid was remarried to a gentleman with the surname of Blong.  She died in St Catharines in 1971.   She was buried at the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery near her mother.

*Dr. Robertson’s son Max died in 1974 and he was buried at the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery. 

**Dr. Curtis Richard Newman also appears on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.

***Mrs. McDiarmid’s brother Thomas Robertson served with the United States Armed Services during WWI.