DAVID PAULSON was the third child of Jörgen and Carrie Paulson. His parents were both born in Denmark, and came to the United States in the year 1863. They first settled on a farm at Raymond, Wis., about sixteen miles northwest of Racine. There were six children in the family, five boys and one girl. It was at Raymond that David was born, Oct. 27, 1868. He was forty-seven years, eleven months, and eighteen days old at the time of his death, Oct. 15, 1916.
When he was only six years old, his parents journeyed west to what was then the frontier of civilization. They settled on a farm twenty miles north of the little town of Vermilion, Clay Co., S. Dak., and with them David passed through all the hardships incident to pioneer life.
In 1867, while yet in Wisconsin, Mr. and Mrs. Paulson were converted to the Seventh-day Adventist faith, under the labors of the late Elder John G. Matteson, so it may be said that David was born in the belief of the near advent of the Lord. When but a child of tender years, he was of a deeply religious turn of mind, having a firm belief that the providence of God would provide for all his needs.
At eight years of age, he attended the first camp meeting ever held by the Seventh-day Adventists in Dakota. This was at Sioux Falls, and Elder and Mrs. James White were present. Their earnest labors made a deep impression upon David’s heart, and before the meeting closed, he was baptized.
In 1888 David attended a camp meeting at Mitchell, S. Dak., where he heard Prof. W. W. Prescott, then president of the Battle Creek College, deliver a stirring address upon the subject of Christian education. That sermon filled him with a great desire to attend college. Through the kindness of his brother Nels, the way was opened for him, in the fall of 1888, to leave home and go to Battle Creek, where he entered the Seventh-day Adventist college.
In the summer of 1890, he was graduated from the academic course in the Battle Creek College, and in the autumn of that same year he entered the sanitarium as a medical student. One year was spent in that institution, and in the fall of the next year he entered the College of Medicine of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. His senior year’s work was taken at the Bellevue Medical College, New York, from which he was graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in the year 1894.
Dr. Paulson was united in marriage with Dr. Mary Wild, Dec. 15, 1896. After spending a number of years in earnest work in connection with the Battle Creek Sanitarium, he connected with the work in Chicago, and acted a prominent part in the extensive medical missionary work which was carried on in that city. Here, in the course of changes which took place, he succeeded to the editorship of the Life Boat, of which he continued in charge till the time of his death.
In the month of March, 1904, he became deeply impressed that God would have him found a sanitarium in one of the suburbs of Chicago. The late Mr. C. B. Kimball nobly assisted him in this project by placing a part of what is now the Hinsdale Sanitarium property at his disposal. With his wife and a few faithful helpers, Dr. Paulson began work in a barn on the Hinsdale premises. This barn was altered and rebuilt so that it made a fairly comfortable though very humble home for the first few patients, and in that lowly place was begun the work of the Hinsdale Sanitarium, and here was laid the foundation for the institution as it now is.
DAVID PAULSON, M. D.
The Hinsdale Sanitarium soon became known as a place where not only good scientific medical work was carried on, but where also earnest prayers were offered to God in behalf of the sick. To this many men and women are able to bear testimony. A few weeks before Dr. Paulson died, one noted Chicago surgeon remarked to the writer, “There has many a man and woman been brought to Hinsdale to die whom Dr. Paulson has prayed back to life.” He was ever solicitous for the spiritual welfare not only of the patients, but of the nurses and institutional laborers.
About ten years ago Dr. Paulson became president of the Anti-Cigarette League, aiding Miss Lucy Page Gaston in her noble work. He traveled extensively, lecturing upon the cigarette evil and on other health and temperance topics.
Dr. Paulson was never strong or robust. His entire life was a battle against a naturally frail constitution. He always knew and thoroughly understood that Providence had not endowed him with any great degree of physical strength or endurance. His life battle was fought in the face of physical infirmities.
February 14 of this year he was taken very ill with a raging fever and a profound toxemia. He did not make the recovery that his friends hoped he might, and even after the acute condition had subsided, other symptoms began to develop. He was loath to quit his post, but finally agreed to spend a while resting with some of his friends in the sunny Southland, at Madison, Tenn. He improved slightly and returned home, and in the month of June went to Boulder, Colo. The salubrious climate of Colorado was beneficial to some extent, but the altitude affected his heart, and he desired to return to the scene of his love and labors at the Hinsdale Sanitarium.
After this he rapidly grew worse, and on September 24, accompanied by his wife and his brother Julius, he went to Asheville, N. C., where it was hoped that the mild climate might be of material benefit to him. For a while he seemed to rally, but then a change came, and he sank into the final and fatal decline.
Even these days in the valley of the shadow were not without their rays of comfort and of hope. Many earnest seasons of prayer were held for the doctor by his friends, all of which brought peace and blessing to his heart. Old friends, some from among the noted of earth, journeyed hundreds of miles to visit the sufferer in his humble cottage.
On the afternoon of Sunday, October 15, he quietly yielded his life into the hand of the kindly God whom he had so faithfully served, and to whose fold he had been the instrument of leading so many souls.
A great life has passed away, and while now we see through a glass darkly and cannot fully understand the providences of the One who keepeth Israel and numbers the very hairs of our heads, our hearts blend together in the words of one of the greatest of Bible characters, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
