The Niles Star

People stood in line to be seen by Dr. Bonine

By Staff
While many stories surround the Bonine family perhaps none are more fascinating than those of the medical duo Dr. Evan J. Bonine and his son, Dr. Frederick N. Bonine.
Dr. Evan was the son of Isaac and Sarah Bonine the Quaker couple we met in an earlier story. He was born when his parents were living in Richmond, Ind., Sept. 10, 1821 and after school, began practicing medicine in the office of Dr. J. Prichet of Centerville, Ind.
After three and one half years there, he moved to Michigan settling in Cassopolis and carried out an extensive practice. The History of Berrien County states that he did leave and go to California in 1849, but returned and settled in Vandalia, in 1851.
Dr. Evan was a politically active individual and while in Vandalia he also served as postmaster and as a member of the legislature. In 1858, he moved to Niles.
With his nature toward community service it is no surprise when war erupted, the good doctor volunteered. In 1862, he became surgeon for the 2nd Michigan Infantry and served as the division surgeon for the 3rd Division of the 9th Army Corps.
A picture of Dr. Bonine in front of one of the medical tents during the war can be seen online at www.nileslibrary.com/Administration/PDF/onceupon/chapter5.pdf.
Following the war, he returned to Niles and continued to develop his practice. He was a member of the lower house of the legislature from 1865 to 1869 and again in 1875. Dr. Evan was Niles mayor for three terms and postmaster from 1873 to 1885.
It was his son, however, that was once called Niles' most distinguished citizen. Dr. Fred was ranked as one of the world's most outstanding eye and ear specialists. The four-part headlines from the obituary in the New York Times summarized the illustrious doctor's career:
"Dr. Bonine served 1,500,000 Patients; Niles, MI eye specialist who treated 500 in a single day dies at 77; Star Runner in Youth; Held 100-meter dash record 36 years-Ex-mayor also had been an alderman."
Quite a tribute to a doctor from our town. A Niles Daily Star article dated March 25, 1961 stated that Dr. Fred was "born October 21, 1863 in the old Loban Harter residence northeast of Niles where the New York Central terminal is located."
However, it is the New York Times article written Aug. 23, 1941, the day after the doctor succumbed to pneumonia aggravated by a stroke at the age of 77, that garners our interest. It stated that the report flocks of patients came to the doctor's "old-fashioned upstairs office in a drab business block" in downtown Niles, often standing in lines for hours in search of the good doctor's assistance.
If 500 patients in a single day seems unbelievable; what about the fact that the article says that 200 per day were commonplace? Furthermore it seems that Dr. Fred never made an appointment and normally charged $2 for an initial treatment and $1 for all subsequent visits. His rates only changed when a patient was in need. Then they paid nothing at all.
Next?
One of the favorite stories those questioned about the doctor had, concerned his policy of equality. It seems that in the days when buses ran to Niles from Chicago twice a week to accommodate those who wished to see the doctor and the trains brought many more; Dr. Fred kept an Admiral of the United States Navy waiting his turn in line while he was busy treating others.
No surprise that the doctor and his reportedly small office staff often burned the midnight oil to clear their lineup of the day.
His sports record held an equal amount of interest. The article says he was "an ardent follower of baseball, boxing and horse racing and was a former member of the Michigan State Athletic Board of Control. National League baseball clubs once presented to him a collection of 16 baseballs autographed with the names of the players."
That he earned his 100-meter dash record of 10.8 seconds, which stood for 36 years "until Charley Paddock clipped a fifth of a second from the mark," was run on a track normally used for horse racing is also amazing.
All evidence suggests that Dr. Fred adopted his father's passion for community. Where he found the time to serve as an alderman and mayor of Niles for nine years would be the question this writer would love to ask. A member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles, he also was a member of the Masons.
In his youth, Dr. Fred counted the Dodge brothers, John and Horace, among his high school classmates. They were, of course, great pioneers in the automotive industry and will be featured in a future Silverbrook Legacy story.
They were not the only celebrities of note that crossed the famous doctor's path. It is said that Dr. Fred travelled thousands of miles to indulge his sports passion and that he became a great friend of the former world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. He was at ringside when the champ won the championship from Jess Willard in 1919.
Dr. Fred was in Dempsey's corner professionally as well. He is credited with saving the icon's eyesight.
Money and fame however did not matter to the dedicated physician when came to who he treated. Rich and poor, famous and infamous, from every state in the union and many foreign countries: he served them all.
It is said he never forgot a face and that he was so popular with the railway that if the doctor was not going to be in the office, they would post a note to that effect in the old Michigan Central Station in Chicago to save patients the trip.
A famous author of the day, Rex Beach, wrote about the doctor in 1935. He told of arriving on a snowy Sunday. Beach described the office waiting room as having "nothing in it but straight-backed chairs pushed up against the walls' and filled with waiting patients.
Dr. Fred Bonine is credited with using a method of curing cataracts without surgery. He was married to Viva Thomas, had one daughter, "Mrs. Willard French" and two grandchildren at the time of his death.
For more information on Friends of Silverbrook with regards to memberships and work days to help restore and catalog the monuments contact: Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery c/o 508 E. Main St. Niles MI 49120, Tim and Candace Skalla at 684-2455, wskalla@sbcglobal.net or contact Ginny Tyler at (269) 445-0997, SPHINX1974@aol.com.