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B.A. CATHEY, M.D. The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has attained wealth by honorable business methods, acquired the highest reputation in his chosen calling by merit, and whose social prominence is not the less the result of an irreproachable life than of recognized natural gifts. We pay the highest tribute to the heroes who on battlefields win victories and display a valor that is the admiration of the world. Why should the tribute be withheld from those who wage the bloodless battles of civil life, who are conquerors in the world of business? Greater than in almost any line of work is the responsibility which rests upon the physician. The issues of life and death are
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in his hands. An incorrect prescription, an un-skilled operation may
take from man that which he prizes above all else--life. The physician's
power must be his own; not by purchase, by gift or by influence can he
gain it. He must commence at the very beginning, learn the very rudiments
of medicine and surgery, continually add to his knowledge by close study
and earnest application and gain reputation by merit. If he would gain
the highest prominence it must come as the result of superior skill, knowledge
and ability, and these qualifications are possessed in an eminent degree
by Dr. Cathey. He is known as one of the most eminent members of the pro-
fession in the Willamette valley and his opinions are largely recognized
as authority throughout this section of the state.
Dr. Cathey was born near Gresham, Multnomah. county, Ore., on the 17th of February, 1854, and is a son of W. G. and Thersa J. (Cornutt) Cathey. The father was a native of Johnson county, Mo., and the grandfather, Andrew Cathey, died in that state. W. G. Cathey was reared as a farmer boy and in the fall of 1853 he came to Oregon, making the overland trip with ox-teams. He settled near what is now Gresham in Powells valley and purchased a do- nation claim of three hundred and twenty acres of land, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He now resides on the old homestead, retaining possession of eighty acres of land. His farm is along the street car line from Portland. His wife, also a native of Missouri, is a daughter of Alfred Cornutt, who was born in Virginia, whence he emigrated west- ward, becoming a Missouri farmer. In 1853 he made the journey by ox-team to Oregon and here followed farming near Gresham for a period of ten years. He then removed to Douglas county where he purchased a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits until his death. He was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Cathey, the doctor's father, is now living at the age of seventy years, but the mother passed away in 1888. In their family were eleven children, of whom six yet survive.
The doctor spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm. If the roll of successful and prominent business men were called to determine what were their early surroundings it would be found that a large majority had been reared amid rural scenes, gaining there strength for the duties of later life. The doctor attended the district schools and for a short time was a student in the Portland high school. He en- gaged in teaching for six months and then en- tered the Albany College, where he remained for a period of six months. He then accepted the position of principal of the North Brownsville school, where he served for four terms, after which he again spent a year in Albany College. Thus he worked his way through, meeting the expenses of his course by teaching in the public schools and also by teaching vocal music. For one year he was the principal of the Halsey school and he afterward taught in Canyonville and in Riddles. He was principal of the Roseburg school for three years and then returned to Canyonville as principal of the schools of that place. During four years of this time he was also engaged in reading medicine, for he had determined to engage in the practice of the profession as a lifework. Soon after his return to Canyonville he had to dismiss his school on account of an epidemic of diphtheria. Some difficulty arising, the local physician had to leave the town and his patrons came to Dr. Cathey for medical assistance, knowing that he had for some time been studying. It was thus that he began practice and the doctor said that his early work in that direction was the hardest he had ever done in connection with his professional career. It was not his desire to engage in practice before he had completed his medical studies, but he finally assented to the wishes of the people of the community and was very successful in his work. He lost only three cases out of thirty and two of these had been treated by others before his services were called upon. The disease had reached its last stages when he attempted to render as- sistance, so that in reality he lost but one case out of twenty-eight. A year later another physician located in the town and began practice. Dr. Cathey then proposed to discontinue his own labors in the profession, but those who had employed him opposed this step and he therefore continued in practice at that place for four and a half years. He sold out his drug store in order to give his entire attention to the alleviation of human suffering, and his success indicated that nature certainly intended him for that line of activity.
In the fall of 1888 Dr. Cathey entered the medical department of Willamette University, which was then located in Portland, and was graduated in that institution in 1890 with the degree of M. D. He then located in Woodburn, where he practiced until 1899, when the medical college was transferred from Portland to Salem, and in that school he was elected professor of physiology, filling the chair for four years, when he resigned in order to establish his home in Corvallis. Since coming to this city he has built up a very extensive practice, in fact, is regarded as one of the leading physicians in the valley. As a medical and also as a surgical practitioner he has been extremely successful and has the largest surgical practice in the city and county.
Dr. Cathey was married in Brownsville, Ore., to Miss Lucinda Elizabeth McFeron, who was
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born in Missouri, and their marriage has been blessed with five children
: Cecil C., George A., Collins F., Alice Marie and Evelyn. The second son
is now a student in the medical department of the Willamette University.
The doctor became a Mason in Canyonville, became a charter member of the
lodge at Woodburn and is now affiliated with Corvallis Lodge, No. 14, A.
F. & A. M. He is also connected with the Order of the Eastern Star
and the Woodmen of the World. His religious faith is indicated by his membership
in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as a trustee.
Professionally he is connected with the State Medical Society and he is
continually reading and studying in order to promote his skill and efficiency
in the line of a profession which by many is regarded as the most important
to which man can direct his energies. His knowledge is broad and comprehensive,
and not only has he a love of his calling because of his scientific interests,
but also because of his broad humanitarian spirit. Dr. Cathey today stands
among the most eminent members of the profession in the Willamette valley
and is possessed of marked ability and comprehensive professional learning.
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