Biography:

Dr. Milton Coulson Edsall was born in Leamington, Ontario on the 7th of July, 1904.  Dr. Edsall’s parents were Charles Arthur Edsall and the former Rose Mary Mayhew.  At the time of his birth, Dr. Edsall’s family lived at 16 John St., in Leamington.  His father was a merchant.  Mrs. Edsall was born in Springfield, Illinois where she married George P. Bressmer on the 16th of November, 1887.  They had 2 children Elizabeth “Bessie” Mayhew Bressmer and Ralph Waldo Bressmer.  Ralph Bressmer was just 10 months old when his father died on the 25th of January, 1892 of tuberculosis.  Rose Mary (Mayhew) Bressmer married Dr. Edsall’s father on the 9th of September, 1893 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  At the time of their marriage, Mr. Edsall was a telegraph operator in Thamesville, but Mr. and Mrs. Edsall started their married life in Leamington where Mr. Edsall became a merchant.  Mr. and Mrs. Edsall had 5 more children; William “Karl” Edsall, Raymour Langford Edsall, Bernice Nelle Edsall, Harold Bressmer Edsall and Dr. Milton Coulson Edsall.

Dr. Edsall received his education in the Leamington schools, then looked to a future in telegraphy. In time his interest turned to medicine. Dr. Edsall attended The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine graduating M.D. in 1929. He interned at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and the Edward Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan.

Dr. Edsall set up his first medical practice on Pelee Island (Essex County) in 1930 and he stayed there for 3 years.  From 1933 until 1937, Dr. Edsall practiced medicine in Kingsville (Essex County) and Leamington.   He moved to Wheatley in August of 1937.  He was the President of the medical staff of Leamington District Hospital in 1967.

Dr. Edsall married Helen Morton Stevens on the 15th of June, 1929 in Woodstock, Ontario. Mrs. Edsall was born in Woodstock on the 20th of January, 1906.  She was the 2nd of 4 children born to Dr. Joaquin M. Stevens and the former Edith Imogene Burgess.  Her father was a general medical practitioner in Woodstock and her siblings were; Harold Burgess Stevens, Nathan Stevens and Edna Elizabeth Stevens.  At the time of her marriage, Mrs. Edsall listed her occupation as a secretary.

Dr. and Mrs. Edsall were the parents of 3 daughters; Carol, Jill and Lynne.

Dr. Edsall was a member of the Wheatley Friendship Club and The Lion’s Club. He enjoyed playing golf and he was a member of the Talbot Trail Golf Club.  Dr. Edsall also enjoyed swimming, gardening, water skiing and ice skating.  He was a member of the Gay Blades Skating Club in Leamington.

Mrs. Helen Edsall died at the Leamington District Hospital on the 16th of March, 1985.

Dr. Edsall married Alma Fitzpatrick in 1986.

Dr. Edsall retired in 1992.

Dr. Edsall died at the Leamington District Hospital on the 14th of February, 2001.  He was buried at the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Leamington beside his wife Helen.  He was survived by his second wife Alma, his children and their families, his step-children and their families.

*Dr. Edsall had 4 brothers serve during WWI.  Ralph Waldo Bressmer, William Karl Edsel and Harold Bressmer Edsall served with the United States Army.  His brother Raymond Edsall served with the Canadian Armed Forces.

**Dr. Edsall’s brother Dr. Harold Bressmer Edsall became a dentist after serving with the United States Army in WWII.

Tombstone Photo Credit: Anne F.