BY: BG EDITOR
Sep 24, 2016 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
JAMES ERNEST SPANKIE, M.D.
In a recent business profile on Greenwood's Copper Eagle Cappuccino & Bakery, mention was made of a doctor who lived upstairs in the Guess Block building during the early 1900's. We were interested to learn more about Dr. Spankie, and found some very interesting biographical sketches about him, written during his lifetime.
The first is a 'who's who' listing from a book on early British Columbia history, which describes the years of his early medical training, his service to the Greenwood community, and his later move to Vancouver, where he also practiced medicine.
We also learn in these brief biographies that the very first political meeting held by Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister, was held in the home of the native Scotsman, William Spankie — Dr. James Spankie's father.
James Ernest Spankie, M.D., from British Columbia from the Earliest Times to the Present, Volume III (1914)[1]:
"This is an age of specialization. Investigation and research have so broadened the field of knowledge that it is impossible for any single individual to become an expert in all lines of medical and surgical practice, and therefore after attaining the basic principles it is usual for the individual to concentrate his efforts upon one or more lines, thereby attaining marked proficiency in his chosen field. In accordance with this custom Dr. James Ernest Spankie has given his attention more specially to surgery and the diseases of women and in both displays notable skill.
He has been a resident of British Columbia since 1899, arriving here when a young man of about twenty-eight years. His birth occurred at Kingston, Ontario, September 22, 1871, his parents being William and Margaret Spankie. The father was proprietor of a hotel in Kingston, Ontario, in what was known as the old hay market, and it was in that hotel that the late Sir John A. MacDonald held his first political meeting.
After attending the public schools of his native city Dr. Spankie entered the Queen's University at Kingston and was graduated in 1891 with the degree of M. D., C. M. Following his removal to the west in 1896 he practiced for three years as assistant to Dr. R. G. Brett at Banff, Alberta. In 1899 he went to Greenwood, British Columbia, and practiced in that mining camp for a decade.
In 1909 he came to Vancouver, where he has since remained, and although he practices to some extent in a general way, he specializes in surgery and diseases of women and his knowledge along those lines has made him particularly skilful and successful. To some extent he has invested in Vancouver realty but otherwise concentrates his energies upon his professional duties.
On the 24th of June, 1903, Dr. Spankie was married at Yonkers, New York, to Miss Grace Isabel Mulligan, a daughter of John and Isabel Mulligan. The father was a prominent lodge man of New York city, being an organizer of Masonic and other lodges. Dr. and Mrs. Spankie have a son, Donald F.
The Doctor is a conservative in politics but has never been an office seeker. He holds membership in Melrose Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Vancouver."
("British Columbia from the Earliest Times to the Present", Volume III - 1914)
William Ernest Spankie in a New York hospital
[ Photo courtesy Glenbow Museum ]
The above biographical sketch states that James Spankie was a political conservative, but had never run for office. In fact, there is a provincial electoral district record which states that James Ernest Spankie did indeed run for office, in Greenwood. It was the 10th British Columbia election of 1903.[2] He ran as the Conservative candidate but placed 3rd, losing out to both the winning Liberal and the 2nd place Socialist candidate. This is confirmed below, in the second biographical sketch of James Ernest Spankie, M.D., this one from the book,
A History of British Columbia by R. Edward Gosnell (1906)[3] This bio offers more interesting details of Dr. Spankie's life, and his practice in Greenwood:
"Dr. James Ernest Spankie has during the thirteen years which have marked the period of his professional career met with gratifying success and during the years of his residence in Greenwood he has won the good will and patronage of many of its best citizens. He is a thorough student and endeavors to keep abreast with the times in everything relating to the discoveries in medical science. Progressive in his ideas and favoring modern methods as a whole he does not dispense with the time-tried systems whose value has stood the test of years.
Dr. Spankie was born in Kingston, Ontario, September 22, 1871, his parents being William and Margaret (Langtry) Spankie, both of whom are now deceased, the father having died in 1896 at the advanced age of ninety-two years. The first political meeting held by Sir John A. McDonald
was held in the home of William Spankie. Mrs. Spankie was a native of New York and died in 1880.
Dr. Spankie was a public-school student in Kingston, Ontario, and also attended a private academy which was a preparatory school. He studied medicine in Queens University, pursuing the full course and being graduated with the class of 1891. Previous to this time he had pursued a full course in the drug business and received a diploma from the College of Pharmacy in Toronto, but desirous of entering upon the practice of medicine he began preparation for that in Queens University and following his graduation there he pursued a post-graduate course of study in the Bellvue Hospital Medical College of New York City, devoting most of his time while in the institution to the subject of surgery.
He practiced with his brother in Kingston for a year, and following his post-graduate work he returned to Kingston, where he remained for six months. On the expiration of that period
he went to Banff and assisted Dr. Brett in a sanitarium for four years, gaining broad and practical experience there. The fall of 1899 witnessed his arrival in Greenwood, where he has since remained, and in his practice here he has been quite successful. Concentration of purpose and a persistently applied energy rarely fail of success in the accomplishment of any task however great and in tracing the career of Dr. Spankie it is plainly seen that these have been the secret of his rise to prominence. In addition to his practice he is largely interested in mining, recognizing that the country has a brilliant future in store for it in this particular.
In June, 1903, occurred the marriage of Dr. Spankie and Miss Grace Isabel Mulligan, of New York. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias lodge, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Canadian Order of Chosen Friends.
He is a Conservative in politics and he contested the late election for Parliament for the Greenwood district. He was offered the unanimous nomination but refused. On the party insisting he finally decided to accept the nomination but was defeated by the influence of the Socialist party.
He belongs to the Presbyterian church and is deeply interested in all that pertains to the social, intellectual and moral progress of his community. In his professional relations he is connected with the New York State Medical Association, the Ontario Medical Association, the Northwest Territory Medical Association and the British Columbia Medical Association, and is interested in everything that tends to bring to man a solution to the difficult problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to check the ravages of disease and restore health.
Recognizing the benefits of a genial atmosphere as well as of the great remedial agencies Dr. Spankie always brings to the sickroom a cordial sunshiny disposition and has the faculty
of inspiring his patients with hope and courage."
("A History of British Columbia" by R. Edward Gosnell (1906)
As this biography notes, Dr. James Spankie practiced medicine with his brother in Kingston for a time. In fact, it seems that the Spankie family may have had a number of doctors in it. We're now working on a follow-up article on the Spankie family, and will hope to confirm whether the person shown in the New York hospital photograph above is James Spankie's brother, or father. The family history and medical practice is also interweaved with the history of Wolfe Island, Ontario, and that will covered in the next segment.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] British Columbia from the Earliest Times to the Present, Volume III - 1914
[3] A History of British Columbia by R. Edward Gosnell (1906), pp. 352-3
