Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 95.
 
JERALD S. BACKSTRAND, M. D.

     The successful practitioner of medicine must possess a kindly and
sympathetic attitude towards those to whom he ministers, and in no branch of the
practice is this more important than in dealing with children. Dr. Jerald S.
Backstrand, of Salem, conducts a large general practice, but specializes in
pediatrics and possesses to a marked degree the happy faculty of inspiring
confidence on the part of his patients. Because of this he has been unusually
successful and is numbered among the leading physicians of this locality. The
Doctor was born in Portland, Oregon, on the 26th of June, 1897, and is a son of
John A. and Caroline (Osterdahl) Back-strand, both of whom were natives of
Sweden. The father came to Portland in the early '80s and she who was to become
his bride arrived two years later, their marriage occurring in that city. Mr.
Backstrand was a building contractor, in which business he became prominent and
successful. He erected a number of the most important structures in that city,
including the public library, the viaducts over Sullivan's gulch, also buildings
at St. John's, and various other public buildings and schools. His death
occurred April 1, 1925, and his widow now lives in that city.
     Jerald S. Backstrand secured his preliminary education in the public
schools and then entered the medical school of the University of Oregon,
completing his professional studies in the University of Pennsylvania, from
which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1923. He served
an interneship in the Emanuel Hospital in. Portland, the Shriners' Children's
Hospital, the San Francisco Hospital and the Oakland Baby Hospital, and on March
15, 1925, came to Salem and engaged in the practice of his profession,
specializing in diseases of children. He enjoys a large practice and commands
the confidence of all who have come in contact with him, professionally or
otherwise.
     The Doctor is a member of the Delta Tau Delta and Nu Sigma Nu college
fraternities, the Marion County Medical Society, the Oregon State Medical
Society and the Northwestern Pediatric Society, and is the only physician in
Salem who specializes in children's diseases. In his political views he is
independent but maintains a commendable interest in public affairs. While in
college during the war he was a member of the Students' Army Training Corps.
Energetic in manner, a close and constant student of his profession, more than
ordinarily successful in the practice, and friendly and affable in manner, he
has won a host of warm friends since coming to Salem.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.