05/21/2026
Simeon Seymour Todd was born on March 10, 1826 in Vevay, Indiana to David Andrew Todd and Mary Ogle Todd. His paternal grandfather, Owen Todd (1762-1817) served in the American Revolutionary War. Simeon Todd was considered brilliant with extraordinary talents. He became the pupil of a Scotch physician named Dr. William Davidson. Dr. Davidson tutored him in the fundamental branches of medicine, Greek, Latin and French. After four years with Dr. Davidson, Simeon spent a few months of hospital service with the army in Mexico during the Mexican War. Afterward, he entered the senior class at the Indiana Medical College. In February, 1849 he received the degree of doctor of medicine and was awarded the highest honors of his class. Soon afterward, he began practicing medicine in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. In October of 1850 he married Judith Ann Ridgeway. They had two sons. In 1854 he moved his family to California, arriving in Sacramento in September. He spent two years mining for gold while also practicing medicine at the same time. For the next five years he lived a quiet life in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County where his two children were born.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Dr. Todd was practicing his profession in San Francisco. He offered his services to the government and was appointed surgeon of the 4th regiment in California. He served in this capacity until the close of the war when he mustered out of Company S Infantry Regiment on April 3, 1865 in Drum Barracks, California.
In September of 1865 he left California. His first wife had died, so he came to Kansas City. In January 1867 he married Thirza F. Dean, a widow.
Dr. Todd founded the Kansas City College of Physicians and Surgeons. He filled the chair of professor of obstetrics for several years. In 1873 he was elected president of the college. He was a well-respected member of many medical societies.
Pneumonia was not kind to Dr. Todd and his family. His second wife Thirza Todd died of the disease in 1888, his third wife, Frances Williams died of pneumonia just eight days before Dr. Todd succumbed to the disease on October 12, 1899. His wife’s sister also died of the disease three days before Dr. Todd. In addition, a nephew, Elmer Todd, son of his brother Robert Smith Todd, died of pneumonia in 1901, and is buried in the family plot at Elmwood.
