•January 27, 2016•

Thomas Duke Seldomridge was the first baby born at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Born Jan.19, 1916, he weighed 10 pounds.

He was born at DMH because of the vision that Sue Hagaman had in 1896 on her front porch in Bethany. She dreamed of a hospital in Decatur where babies could be born.

This dream spurred her driving passion for the next two decades. Hagaman worked tirelessly until the day her dream became a reality.

On Jan. 1, 1916, Decatur Memorial Hospital opened its doors. Within a week, 17 patients had been admitted, and on Jan. 19, the first baby— Thomas Duke Seldomridge was born.      Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.