Dr. Fate’s Office
We can’t be sure what led Jesse Fate to attend Hahnemann Medical College and become a homeopathic doctor, but perhaps it could be attributed to the early deaths of his first wife and infant son, and younger brother Robert, who most likely died of illness while serving alongside Jesse in during the Civil War.
Dr. Jesse C. Fate was born in Clayton, Ohio in 1840. In 1858, Jesse moved to Spring Valley, Minnesota. His father and the rest of the family following in 1860. On October 11, 1861, Jesse enlisted in the 3rd Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Co. C. He re-enlisted in December of 1863. His company participated in the Battle of Fitzhugh’s Woods in Woodruff County, Arkansas on April 1, 1864. On October 5th, 1864, Fate’s younger brother Robert died at Devall’s Bluff on October 5, 1864, most likely of disease. Jesse Fate served until the regiment was mustered out at Devall’s Bluff, Arkansas in September of 1865.
After the Civil War, he returned to Spring Valley, where he attended the State Normal School and afterward taught for a number of years. In October of 1870, he married his first wife, Josephine McAdams. Daughter Edith was born in 1872 and son John was born in 1874. Sadly, both baby and mother died less than a month after his birth. In 1876, Jesse began his study of medicine at Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago, graduating in 1880. During that time Edith was cared for by his parents and sister Rebecca. While still in Illinois in 1882, Dr. Fate married Cecilia Baker. They had two children, daughter Clara in 1883 and son John Edgar in 1886. Cecelia passed away in 1887 at the age of 28. Just two years later, on August 6, 1889, daughter Edith died at her father’s home at the age of 17. A few months later, Dr. Fate married his third wife, Ella Palmer. They were only married 3 years before she passed away shortly after moving to Weeping Water in 1892.
In 1892 Dr. Fate set up his office in rented space downtown and boarded with the Reed family until he purchased the former Congregational Church parsonage in 1893. He then sent for his children, Clara and John. In 1894 he built his office next door. In November 1895, Dr. Fate married his fourth wife, Ellen Heffley. They remained married until his death at age 87 in 1928.
He practiced medicine until 1926. When he retired, he locked up his office and it hadn’t been touched until the Weeping Water Valley Historical Society bought the property from Dr. Fate’s grandson, Col. Robert Fate in 1967.
Dr. Fate’s office is located on Randolph Street, just north of West H Street.
