Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead (1898-1978) began practicing chiropractic in 1923, in a small farming community of 1,200 residents in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin. Dr. Gonstead's reputation spread throughout the state, the country, and ultimately around the world, as a multitude of patient's health problems were corrected remarkably fast by his brand of chiropractic. Hundreds of patients were seeking his care on a daily basis, and with his dedication to helping these patients, Dr. Gonstead worked from 8 a.m. to midnight, six days a week plus every Sunday morning from 5 to 10 a.m., to accommodate the growing patient numbers. When Dr. Gonstead's schedule was at the limit of his physical capability, he knew the only solution to meet the public's health needs was to build an unparalleled chiropractic facility and staff it with Gonstead trained associates.

Dr. Gonstead built the largest chiropractic facility in the world.  The Gonstead Clinic of Chiropractic was completed in 1964. It was the third and final clinic Dr. Gonstead would design to treat patients in the little town of Mt. Horeb before his death in 1978. A 22,000 square foot clinic, it composed of a waiting room to seat over 100 patients, 11 adjusting rooms, x-ray facilities a lab, and a lower level to hold chiropractic seminars. It was to become the most renowned chiropractic facilitiy in the world. Next to his new clinic, Dr. Gonstead added a 78 room, full-service motel to accommodate the clinic's numerous long distance patients. Dr. Gonstead and his fellow staff members attended 300 to 400 patients on a daily basis. This huge following of patients led Dr. Gonstead to start the Gonstead Seminar of Chiropractic, helping to teach and develop even more chiropractors in the art and philosophy of the Gonstead system of chiropractic treatment.