When Winter Came: A country doctor's journey to fight the flu pandemic of 1918

by Mary Beth Sartor Obermeyer

Dr. Pierre Sartor wrote an inspiring first-person account of how he treated more than 1,000 patients – and by his reckoning, lost only five – which lay forgotten in a lockbox of family artifacts until it was discovered decades later by his granddaughter, Beth Obermeyer, a journalist and author of three previous books. Beth knew her grandfather through her teenage years and grew up absorbing family stories. Based upon Dr. Sartor’s memoir and her years of research, she vividly reconstructs his life from childhood in Luxembourg, where he overcame a debilitating hearing problem, to medical school in Chicago, courtship and marriage.

A pioneer in the geographic as well as the medical sense, Dr. Sartor left his flourishing urban practice and settled his young family in rural Iowa where, he said, “I am needed.” Those words took on special resonance when Dr. Sartor moved to another Iowa town in the early months of 1918, amid the gathering storm of the influenza pandemic. He had barely settled into the community of Titonka, when, as he wrote, the disease “spread like wildfire on wild prairie land.”

Dr. Sartor traveled for hours and miles to serve his patients, but he did not go alone. His steady, reliable companion was Guido Sartor, his son, who drove a horse-drawn sleigh as well as the family’s Model T Ford so Dr. Sartor could reach his patients. Twelve years old at the time, Guido, in his knickers and mask, was an able assistant on many trips – including one February day when he drove through a blizzard – a searing journey whose denouement would occur more than 30 years later. In the meantime, Guido, inspired by his father, became a physician. The author is Guido’s daughter. Growing up in a medical family, Beth writes with insight and candor of the strain that well-intentioned caregivers can place upon the people they love most.

Humor was a saving grace for Dr. Sartor. Beth takes us along when young Guido gets their car stuck fast in mud … and when, Pierre, exhausted, was roused from bed by a ringing telephone. He answered all the patient’s questions but then could not forbear asking, “Why, why do you always call me at night?” Whereupon the patient helpfully explained, “But, doctor, you’re so busy during the day!”

Why was Dr. Sartor successful – so accomplished, in fact, that he was named General Practitioner of the Year by the Iowa State Medical Society? Among many factors, Dr. Sartor established a close collaboration with Mayo Clinic, about 130 miles away, starting a decade before the pandemic and continuing throughout his career. Referring patients and sharing best practices, Dr. Sartor personifies the respectful relationships that Mayo establishes with community-based physicians throughout the country.

Beth’s story is rooted in a certain time and place. Yet it speaks across generations to the qualities that make a compassionate, skilled physician – a compelling example of doing the best of things in the worst of times. Because, when winter comes, we all want a doctor like Pierre Sartor.

Genres: History, Medical, Memoir

351 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 2023

Reviews

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story, lovingly written. I am a richer person for having read it.

I almost missed out on it because I was put off by the foreword from Mayo Clinic. I am so glad I kept reading.

[Joy Kidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an immigrant story, of a sickly boy who was eventually healed. That experience led to medical school, but a longing to serve in a small town setting, using the same kindly medical care he'd experienced. Dr. Pierre Sartor was new in his northern Iowa town when the influenza pandemic broke out. He forged a partnership with what is now Mayo Clinic, which was beneficial his entire career. The author's father, who at age 12 began driving his father to patients, also became a doctor. Dr. Pierre Sartor's box of treasures was passed to his son, who later gave it to the author, setting her on an exciting journey of discovery. She reveals even more of that at the end of the book. An important chapter in Iowa history, medical history, and of a well-loved Iowa country doctor, who had immigrated from Luxembourg. A beautiful book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy local medical history you will like this book. This is a beautiful story of immigration and the benefits of a country doctor to rural communities. It captures the essence of an era when doctor’s spent all their time traveling in the road to their patients. This was a delight to listen to.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. Author Mary Beth Sartor Obermeyer writes the story of her grandfather's life. Born in Luxembourg, Pierre Sartor was afflicted with inner ear problems. After a long treatment and recovery, Pierre was blessed with a quality education. He then immigrated to America to join his older brothers where he attended medical school in Chicago and became acquainted with the Mayo brothers. After medical school, Pierre marries and moves his family to rural northern Iowa to set up his medical practice. And then...Winter of 1918-1919.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book a delightful read. I might be prejudiced since I live in Titonka in the Sartor Home. Having just lived here over 10 years I have heard many different stories about the Sartor family and Dr. Sartor. This book helped me put many of these things in their proper perspective. It is a well written biography/memoir of a country doctor.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars is generous. While I enjoyed the personal details of the family, and the historical aspects, it was very repetitive. Interesting, but just 'ok'.

[Laura Beckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was way more than I imagined. I was expecting a book about the flu pandemic, and it was... but it was also a story about a boy who overcame an illness, an immigration story, a love story, a story of starting a new life in small town Iowa after living in big city Chicago, and the story of a father and son.
We delved deep into the connections of family, of neighbors, and fellow medical practitioners who all helped each other through a very trying time. Everything is backed up by records, it was fun hearing his own words in his memoir or what others said in newspaper clippings and letters.
After just experiencing a pandemic of our own, it was especially interesting to see how those battling the flu pandemic paralleled our own struggles. The main themes that I pulled through the whole book was go where you are needed and kindness. Dr. Pierre Sartor can be proud of all his hard work saving lives and of his family, who brought his story to light 100 years later.

[Alice Frati · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book about a doctor born in Luxembourg, who overcame a hearing problem, went to medical school, came to the USA and served as a country doctor because he was needed. He was smart. He knew what to do save lives during the Spanish flu. You learn about the Mayo brothers and the Mayo Clinic. It was difficult being a rural doctor, but don’t take my word for it. The doctor kept a lock box with all his papers and a journal which was passed down in his family. Living history at its best.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a unique insight into the effects of the 1918 influenza pandemic on a rural community. It's worth reading for the excerpts from Dr. Sartor's memoir and the descriptions of early 20th century medicine. At heart, it's a family history, with understandable but repetitive praise for the author's grandfather.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought when I picked up this book it would be more about the doctor treating people during the flu pandemic of 1918 in the winter in a small Iowa town. Per the book, he treated about 1,100 patients and only lost 5. While there is a section about this, most of the book is just about the doctor's whole life. He had an interesting life but I was expecting something different.

[Cathy Koerner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting description of the pandemic of 1918-19. Methods used by a country doc w ties to Mayo Clinic: isolation; trained caregivers and social distancing. Very similar reactions to the restrictions and false beliefs as in 2020. Science will save the day not politics or individualism.

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book mainly because I grew up in Titonka and Buffalo Center, which are towns featured in this book. While it was somewhat interesting I was disappointed that it was rather repetitive of some information and lacking in variety of tales that surely could have been told.

[Tammy Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great story of amazing strength and compassion

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book especially for someone who grew up in Buffalo Center. Pretty sure the Albert Meyer mentioned in the book was Grandpa Meyer to me.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

One wonders where the heroes of medicine will come from some day. This story of a country doctor in the early 20th century in rural Iowa is a reminder of many of the good things about rural America that sprang from immigrants of that time. There is a tenuous tie to the Mayo Clinic that is also of some interest.

[courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much. What an interesting story about a man in the Midwest who touched so many lives at a time when despair was everywhere you turned.