Koelle, J. Marcus, M. D.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Koelle, J. Marcus, M. D., of New Orleans, born in that city, March 12, 1877, the son of Rev. F. O. Koelle, native of Elberfield, Germany, (1839; died in New Orleans, Oct. 28, 1904), and Anna (Lotz) Koelle, (born at Hesse-Cassell, Germany in 1839; died in New Orleans.). The subject of this biography was educated in a parochial school, next, in a school conducted by his father, later in Boothby's private school, and entered the high school of Tulane, which he left to attend Port Gibson academy. While at the latter institution, the young student, thinking he was called to the ministry, went to the Southwestern Presbyterian university, but after studying for 1 year, experienced a change of idea, and in 1897 matriculated in the medical department of Tulane university, from which he graduated in 1901. An epidemic of smallpox among the students at Tulane, during the time Dr. Koelle was following the courses, caused a panic; and he was the only one who volunteered to nurse the sick; faithfully and courageously fulfilling that altruistic service until the last patient had recovered. Since graduating, the doctor has been in continuous practice in New Orleans, and is a specialist in anesthesia, which he had studied at the Skin Cancer hospital in New York City, under Dr. Gwathmey, in 1910. Before leaving Tulane, and until 1911, he was the house physician at Bethany Home sanitarium, founded by his father in 1889. At one time he was lecturer in the Orleans Dental college; and is now visiting special anestheist to the Presbyterian hospital, the Hotel Dieu, and the French hospital. Is a member of the Democratic party; and in religion, a Presbyterian; and is affiliated with the Orleans Parish and State Medical societies; the Pan-American Medical and Surgical and the American Medical associations, and editor-in-chief of the Department of Anesthesia of the Pan-American Medical & Surgical Journal, the new official organ of the State Medical society; Past Master in the Masonic order, member of the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows, the Druids, and the Red Men. Jan. 18, 1905, Dr. Koelle married Miss Mary Henderson, a daughter of Zachary Taylor Henderson, of Pointe Coupée parish, La.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 235-236. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.