BIO:  JOHN J. KOSER, M. D., Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 659-660
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    JOHN J. KOSER, M. D. Dr. Koser is a native of Pennsylvania, having been
  born in Franklin county, upon a farm, June 5, 1857, the eldest son of Jacob
  and Elizabeth (Wingert) Koser, and descended from German and French Huguenot
  ancestry. Jacob Koser, Sr., the grandfather of John J., was born in Lancaster
  county, Pa., near the old White Oak Church. He married Elizabeth Plasterer, a
  native of Pennsylvania whose ancestors were among the earliest settlers in
  the State.
  
    Jacob Koser, son of Jacob, Sr., was born Nov. 2, 1827. He was a farmer
  until 1872, when he moved to Shippensburg, and there resides, retired from
  active life. His wife in her maidenhood was Elizabeth Wingert. She was born
  in Franklin county, Feb. 14, 1828, daughter of John and Catherine (Zimmerman)
  Wingert, and died in Shippensburg Dec. 9, 1897. Two children were born to her:
  Newton A., a registered pharmacist, of Oakland, Cal.; and John J., the subject
  of this sketch.
  
    Dr. Koser received his primary education in the schools of Shippensburg,
  where he prepared for college. Leaving the high school of that city, he
  entered the Cumberland Valley State Normal School at Shippensburg, where he
  continued for four years, taking a special course. The next six
  
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 660
  
  months he spent traveling through the Western States and Territories. He then
  returned to Shippensburg and read medicine with Drs. A. Stewart and Robert C.
  Stewart. Later he entered the Medical Department of the University of
  Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1881. After graduation he
  located at Shippensburg, where he has devoted his whole time to the practice
  of his profession, in which he has been very successful, and he is now in the
  enjoyment of a lucrative patronage, standing very high among his brother
  physicians. He is surgeon for the Western Maryland and Philadelphia and
  Reading Railroad Companies and does much of the work of the Cumberland Valley
  Railroad Company.
  
    In 1892 Dr. Koser was united in marriage with Miss Ada C. Atkins, of
  Provincetown, Mass., daughter of Capt. Thomas G. Atkins, a sea captain and
  much respected citizen of Provincetown, who died in early life. The mother of
  Mrs. Koser bore the maiden name of Rachel C. Brown.
  
    Dr. Koser is a member of the Cumberland County Medical Society (of which he
  has served as president), the State Medical Society and the American Medical
  Association. In 1901 he was appointed by the State Medical Society of
  Pennsylvania as a delegate to represent that organization at the State
  Medical Society of Massachusetts. About 1882 Dr. Koser became convinced that
  tuberculosis was contagious - a conviction he communicated to his personal
  friend; Dr. William Pepper, of Philadelphia, who recognized its importance,
  and who from the data furnished by Dr. Koser prepared a paper which was read
  before the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. This was in time
  copied in the proceedings, and published in various medical magazines. With
  the data therein as a stimulus, Dr. Koch began his researches and discovered
  the bacillus of tuberculosis. Dr. Koser has at intervals contributed articles
  to minor papers. The Doctor is a prominent Mason, being a member of the
  Cumberland Valley Lodge, No. 315, A. F. & A. M., in which he has filled the
  important chairs; of St. John Chapter, No. 171, R. A. M.; of St. John
  Commandery, No. 8, K. T.; and he is also a member of Cumberland Lodge, No.
  90, I. O. O. F., in which latter organization he has passed all the chairs.
  In 1891 he served as burgess of Shippensburg. In addition to being prominent
  in the civic orders and his profession, he is a most genial and affable
  gentleman, who has many friends in the city and county.