Why Does This Indiana Doctor Who Lived in the 1800s Keep Going Viral on Instagram?

This Haunting Quote Reminds Us Just How Quickly We're Forgotten

The other day, I heard a quote that hit me like a gut punch:

It’s true, isn’t it? I knew my two grandmothers and one grandfather. But my other grandfather, and all the people who came before him, are just sepia photographs on my parents' wall. I never met them. I couldn’t tell you their stories or even their names.

It’s sad, but it’s also the cycle of life. Most of us will eventually fade into memory.

But not Dr. Arthur Leslie Shidler.

The Handsome Indiana Doctor Who Became an Instagram Star

Thanks to the internet and his strikingly handsome face, one Indiana doctor who died in 1899 is still turning heads over a century later.

Meet Dr. Arthur Leslie Shidler.

He was born on February 25, 1860, in Lakeville, St. Joseph County, Indiana. Raised on a farm, he later pursued a career in medicine, studying in Chicago and New York City to become a physician. Though he only made it to age 39, his face lives on, having been featured on popular Instagram accounts like @HotVictorians and @HistoryCoolKids.

Why? Because of his cherub-like features that many say resemble a young Justin Bieber. Honestly? I see it.

Dr. Shidler’s Life and Legacy

According to one Instagram post:

"This good lookin’ fella is Dr. Arthur Leslie Shidler. He was born on February 25, 1860, in Lakeville, St. Joseph County, Indiana. Raised on a farm, he later pursued a career in medicine, studying in Chicago and New York City to become a physician."
After finishing his education, Dr. Shidler practiced in Ellisville, Illinois, specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders. He married Laura B. Hughes (1865–1920), and together they had one daughter, Merle Ione Shidler (1890–1955).

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What Happened to Dr. Shidler?

Though his exact cause of death was not named, it’s believed he passed away from Addison’s disease on August 1, 1899, back in his hometown of Lakeville. In the 1800s, Addison’s disease, a rare adrenal condition, was difficult to diagnose and treat.

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A Face That Lives On

While most of us may never be remembered past a couple of generations, Dr. Arthur Leslie Shidler has found digital immortality. You can visit the hot doc's grave at Riverview Cemetery in South Bend, Indiana.