Woman seeks Grants information for book

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

Edward Farmer

GRANTS — A Tennessee woman is seeking information about a doctor, Edward Farmer, who practiced in the Grants area from 1939-1941.

Martena Koken is writing a book about the physician because he delivered her and her four sisters, one prematurely, in Wisconsin after working in an American Indian Mission Hospital here.

“I don't know the name of the hospital or who he might have worked with, so I would really like that information as well,” Koken said.

When Koken’s sister Kathy was delivered prematurely, her lungs were not fully developed and doctors in Green Bay, Wis., told Farmer there was nothing that could be done, she said.

He didn't give up and gave her a “liver” shot, which helped her live. Kathy turned 53 in May of his year. It was later learned that “liver” shot was one that boosted Kathy’s hemoglobin.

Koken wrote in a story that she reads for a radio station in Ardmore, Tenn. That Farmer's “common sense approach to doctoring, his willingness to try anything, his knowledge, faith and little black bag filled with compassion stirred up a lot of dust along he country roads of Washington Island (Wis.), and I bet if you look hard enough at the star filled night sky there is a Farmer constellation stirring up some interstellar dust still today.”

The book that Koken is writing is titled: “Sepia Colored Dust of Memories.”

Farmer moved to Washington Island following practicing in the Grants are and served the island residents there as the only doctor of the next 19 years, Koken said.

She said she has many stories of his work there but is lacking information about the three years in Grants and would like the public's help.

Anyone with information on Farmer's years here, who may have stories to tell about his medical practice, saving people's lives, etc., is asked to contact Koken at the following telephone number or addresses:

Telephone: (256) 655-3874.
E-mail: kokenfarm@ardmore.net
Mail: Martena Koken, 31450 Pleasant View Drive, Ardmore, Tenn., 38449.

Koken said she has about 40 stories from the island and to balance the book she needs stories from Grants.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.