Dorcas Sharp Hoover - House Calls and Hitching Posts: Stories From Dr. Elton Lehmans Career Among The Amish

Accept my talents, great or small, Choose thou the path for me, Where I shall labor joyously In service, Lord, for thee.

a verse from Dr. Lehmans favorite hymn, Teach Me Thy Truth

With gratitude to the many patients who entrusted their medical care to me for two generations;

and to Dorcas Sharp Hoover, without whose tireless efforts there would be no book;

and to Phyllis, my wife, and our children, Dr. Randy and Brenda Benner, Dr. Brent and Dr. Claudia Lehman, and Bev Lehman, for their support.

Dr. Elton D. Lehman

Copyright 2014 by Elton Lehman as told by Dorcas Sharp Hoover

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Design by Dawn J. Ranck

Print ISBN: 978- 1-56148-438-5

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-68099-040-9

Printed in the United States of America

Credits

The two large photographs and the photo of the doctors bag on the front cover of the dustjacket, the two photographs on the back cover of the dustjacket, and the photograph on the back flap of the dustjacket are all by Chris Russell/ Columbus Dispatch.

The inset photograph on the front cover of the dustjacket above the title, and on the spine of the dustjacket, is by Karen Schiely/ Akron Beacon Journal.

The photograph on the front flap of the dustjacket is by Dennis Valentine, Valentine Photography.

Teach me thy truth in Hymnal: A Worship Book, copyright 1992, by Brethren Press, Faith and Life Press, and Mennonite Publishing House: Scottdale, PA 15683.
Used by permission.

The photograph on the title page is by Chris Russell/ Columbus Dispatch.

Excerpt from The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder, found on , is used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers. Text copyright 1940, 1968 Little House Heritage.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lehman, Elton.

House calls and hitching posts : stories from Dr. Elton Lehmans career among the Amish / as told to Dorcas Sharp Hoover.

p. cm.

ISBN 1-56148-438-5

1. Lehman, Elton. 2. PhysiciansOhioHolmes CountyBiography. 3. Medicine, Rural OhioHolmes CountyAnecdotes. 4. AmishMedical careOhioHolmes County Anecdotes. I. Hoover, Dorcas. II. Title.

R154.L366A3 2004

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS

Elton, middle, and brother Merlin, right, with their pony on the Sylvester and Martha Lehman farm in Kidron. Individual on the left is unknown.

The Sylvester and Martha Lehman family in 1953, with their 12 children from left to right. Back row: Ruth (Lehman) Bontrager, Florine (Lehman) Yoder, Beth (Lehman) Wiebe, Doris (Lehman) Sommer, Merlin Lehman, Elton Lehman. Middle row: Jenelle (Lehman) Gould, Don Lehman, Larrry Lehman, Dave Lehman. Front row: Sylvester, Geraldine (Lehman) Mumaw, Martha, Carol (Lehman) Burkholder.

Dr. Lehman at his graduation from Midwestern University-Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, with his fianc Phyllis Schloneger in June 1963.

Dr. Elton and Phyllis Lehman at their wedding on June 15, 1963.

Dr. Lehman hangs his shingle in July 1964 at the square in Mount Eaton.

The Mount Eaton Care Center.

This pencil sketch of Barb Hostetler hangs in the Mount Eaton Care Center. Barb opened her home to women in labor and assisted Dr. Lehman with many deliveries. She died August 6, 2003.

Five thousand pennies for 5,000 deliveries in June 1993. Lehman would deliver more than 6,300 babies in his career before retiring.

Awards Received by Dr. Elton Lehman

Outstanding Mentor Award, 1991Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Outstanding Achievement Award, 1994Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Alumni Association

Country Doctor of the Year Award, 1998Staff Care, Inc.

Alumnus of the Year Award, 1998Eastern Mennonite University

Family Physician of the Year Award, 1998The Ohio State Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians

Shining Light Award, 1998Mental Health and Recovery Board of Wayne & Holmes counties

Citizen of the Year Award, 1998 Wooster (Ohio) Daily Record

Distinguished Rural Health Provider, 2000Ohio Department of Health

Distinguished Service Award, 2002Ohio Osteopathic Association

Distinguished Service Award, 2004American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians

Elton and Phyllis Lehman with children Brenda (standing), Brent, and Bev in 1979.

The Lehman family in 1987. Standing left to right are Bev, Elton, Phyllis, Brenda, and Brent.

Dr. Lehman thanks children, Bev, Brent, and Brenda at the Country Doctor of the Year celebration on April 24, 1998.

Dr. Brent Lehman reviews a patients charts at the Mount Eaton Medical Center.