Dr. ROBERT H. TREMPER

Occasionally in this column I like to feature a biography of some person in Albion’s history. This week I’d like to feature a 19th century Albion dentist, Dr. Robert Haines Tremper (1853-1933). This topic was spurred by current research being done by an Ontario, California historian whom I’ve been corresponding with, Jack Rexroad.

Dr. Tremper was an 1875 medical school graduate of the University of Michigan and an 1877 graduate of its dental school. Immediately upon graduation he located in here in Albion to begin his dental practice. He was first located in the former office of dentist Dr. George W. Stone at 73 S. Superior St., now the site of Homestead Savings Bank. His home was adjacent one door south.

His later office was located on the second floor above then-65 S. Superior St. (now 315) on the northeast corner of Superior and Erie Sts., above what is today Sander’s Furniture in the Brockway Block. From our Historical notebook this week we present an advertisement for Dr. Tremper which appeared on page 93 of the 1885 Albion City Directory. In it is stated: "Nitrous Oxide Gas administered when desired."

Dr. Tremper’s wife was Ida Stone (1855-1884), daughter of dentist Dr. George W. and Minerva (Warner) Stone. The couple had three children. One of them Lollie, who was born here and died at the age of 8 months in August of 1881. Dr. Tremper purchased a family plot in Riverside Cemetery, Block 38, Lot 13. Lollie was buried there along with a small marker. Mrs. Tremper unfortunately passed away here in December, 1884 and is also thought to be interred in the family plot.

After his wife died, Dr. Tremper lived at the Commercial Hotel on W. Porter St. according to the 1885 Albion City Directory. We knew it as the "Moose" building which was demolished a couple of years ago. His seven year old son Robert Jr. however, boarded at Crawford Green’s residence at 47 W. Center St. Apparently the Green’s were given the task of raising young Robert during this period.

Dr. Tremper remarried, this time to Ida Young, daughter of local farmers William and Jane Young. The couple moved to Ontario, California in August, 1888 for health reasons of Mrs. Tremper. Dr. Tremper became the first dentist in Ontario, CA. where he practiced for 30 years. His office was located at 302 N. Euclid Avenue in that city. Son Robert Jr. also moved west with his father, and passed away in San Bernardino County, CA in December 1897 at the age of 19 while attending Chaffey College. Dr. Tremper divorced Ida and was eventually remarried, to Birdie Briggs. She was a sister of one of Dr. Tremper’s classmates at the University of Michigan. Dr. Tremper passed away in Los Angeles on October 16, 1933, and sadly his wife the next day on October 17. There was a double funeral with interment in the Bellevue Cemetery in Ontario. Next: Albion 100 Years Ago - September 1914

	Frank Passic — Albion Historian An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page. Historical Notebook \| From the Archives \| Subject List \| 100 Years Ago \| Alphabetical Index \| Frank Passic Home Page \| Albion History Books \| Contact Frank
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