Biography:

Dr. Miar Jacob McLaughlin was born on a farm near Fingal, Ontario in March of 1840.   Dr. McLaughlin was the 8th of 10 children born to Thomas McLaughlin and the former Lydia Pettit.  Dr. McLaughlin’s parents were farmers and his siblings were; John, Thomas Jr., Nancy, William, Michael, Lawrence, James, Daniel and Mary .

There are publications that indicate that Dr. Miar J. McLaughlin joined his older brother Dr. James McLaughlin, in a medical practice in Ridgetown around 1862.  The medical office was located at 56 Main Street East.

During his medical training at Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York in the early to mid 1860’s, Dr. McLaughlin was appointed as an Assistant Surgeon at MacDougall Hospital at Fort Schuyler (New York City), during the American Civil War.  Dr. McLaughlin served at the military hospital from June of 1864 until the fall of 1864.  Dr. McLaughlin presented his medical thesis in 1865 to the Bellevue Hospital Medical College.  The thesis topic was diphtheria and the paper outlined his own symptoms from July 26th, 1864 until his gradual recuperation which started around October 20th, 1864.  (This paper is available to be viewed on-line).  Dr. McLaughlin graduated M.D. from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1865, and returned to MacDougall Hospital for a short time.

After being discharged from military service, Dr. McLaughlin returned to Ridgetown to practice medicine with his brother James. He was officially licensed to practice medicine in Ontario in 1869.

In March of 1870, Dr. McLaughlin traveled to Ireland, Scotland and England, before settling in Jackson City, Michigan in late 1870.  According to the 1871 Jackson City Directory, Dr. McLaughlin’s medical practice was located at 166 Main Street and he boarded at Hibbard House.

Dr. McLaughlin married Emma Amelia Croman on the 21st of April, 1875 in Detroit, Michigan.  Mrs. McLaughlin was born in Waterloo, Michigan on the 20th of November 1850, the daughter of Frederick Croman and the former Mahala Randolph.  She was the youngest of 5 children and her siblings were; David Croman (born and died in 1839) George H. Croman (see note below), Olive A. H. Croman and Daniel M. Croman (see note below).  Mrs. McLaughlin was raised in Waterloo Twp, in Jackson County, Michigan, where her family farmed.

Dr. and Mrs. McLaughlin had 5 children; Frederick McLaughlin was born in 1876 and died of scarlet fever on the 25th of March, 1877, Lawrence Harry McLaughlin was born on the 9th of May, 1877 (died 05 May, 1959), Lydia Mahala McLaughlin was born on the 12th of April, 1879 (died in 1976), Mabelle McLaughlin was born on the 19th of December, 1882 and Miar John McLaughlin was born on the 11th of September, 1888 (died in 1976).

Dr. Miar Jacob McLaughlin also operated a drug store in Jackson, Michigan.  Dr. McLaughlin appeared in the 1897 Jackson City Directory and his residence was listed as 341 Main Street West.

Dr. McLaughlin died on the 2nd of March, 1908 in Jackson City, Michigan.  Mrs. McLaughlin died on the 13th of July 1950, at the age of 99.  Dr. and Mrs. McLaughlin were buried in Section C, Lot 41 at Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson City, Michigan, along with other members of their family.

*Dr. McLaughlin’s sons Lawrence McLaughlin and Miar John McLaughlin served during World War I and World War II with the United States Army.  

**Dr. McLaughlin’s son Dr. Miar John McLaughlin practiced medicine in Jackson City, Michigan.  His grandson (son of Dr. Miar John McLaughlin) Dr. John Miar McLaughlin (1922-1995) also became a medical doctor in Jackson, Michigan.

***Dr. McLaughlin’s brother Dr. Lawrence McLaughlin practiced medicine in Elgin County.  He died at the age of 31.  and James both became physicians.  

****Dr. McLaughlin’s brother Dr. James McLaughlin also appears on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.

*****Mrs. McLaughlin’s brother, Sgt George H. Croman enlisted in the American Civil War with the Union Army on the 13th of August, 1862.  He was taken prisoner on the 26th of October, 1832 in Loudon, Tennessee.  He died of disease in prison on the 4th of March, 1864 at the age of 24.  

******Mrs. McLaughlin’s brother Private Daniel M. Croman enlisted in the Union Army during the American Civil War on the 5th of August, 1862.  He died in Regminental Hospital in Columbia, Kentucky on the 2nd of June, 1863 of “Congest of Lungs”.