USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Norfolk > History of Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut, 1744-1900 > Part 42
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He had an extended reputation for the successful treatment of Typhus Fever, and it was well deserved.
WILLIAM WICKHAM WELCH, M. D.
Dr. William Wickham Welch was one of Norfolk's best beloved and most honored citizens. For more than fifty years he prac- ticed his profession in his native town, and for many years was frequently called in counsel through the county and state. He was graduated from the Yale Medical School in 1839, and was a Fellow of that Institution. Dr. Welch represented his town in the General Assembly during the years 1848, 1850, 1869, and 1881, and was State Senator from the Seventeenth District in 1851 and 1852. He was a Representative in Congress from the Fourth Con- gressional District of Connecticut from 1855 to 1857.
He was a wise counselor; always deliberate in his judgments, he rarely had reason to reverse them. He was a man of peculiar strength of character, with a great love for humanity, which was deepened and broadened by his profession. While his love for his native town was as enduring as the hills which surround it, his patriotism was broad, and his love of country and faith in her in- stitutions, unwavering. One of his profession well says of him: "He was a noble type of the American physician; liberal in his
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views, kind, courteous and hospitable in his manner, stately in his bearing.
His unassuming, honest ways made him ever genial, hopeful, and sunshiny-traits that we all love and respect. Dr. Welch's in- fluence, character and life will long be remembered and revered."
In his funeral discourse Dr. Hiram Eddy said:
"On these everlasting hills, Norfolk has grown and matured many noble specimens of humanity; but none more noble and more deeply to be lamented than Dr. William Welch. He was a son who has honored an honored family. He was a physician who has adorned a noble profession.
"When the sad tidings came to me that Dr. William Welch had gone within the vail whence no traveller returns, a vision of great manly beauty, both physical and moral, rose before me. I had looked upon him with admiration and love for nearly thirty-nine years. I have never met him but with a sense of high apprecia- tion and profound respect, both as a man and a physician.
"He represented to me all we understand by the word 'gentle- man.' Although so robust in his physical make-up, so strong, yet the word had to be applied to him in its most delicate sense; truly a gentleman; gentle in his ways, gentle in his salutations, gentle in his oft coming repartees. The quality of rough was not there, al- though an abundance of strength. His was that gentility which has its foundation in a profound reverence and love of humanity. This was what imparted such a high tone to his professional char- acter, which he so highly honored.
There are men who, however high and holy the profession may be, honor the profession more than the profession can possibly honor them, and Dr. William Welch was one of those men. Al- though honored outside of his profession by the elective choice of the people, yet no higher honor could he receive than that which he received in his devotion to the healing art. Here was his life work; here were his sacrifices, and they were many. Here were his victories, and they were many more; here was his joy, his si- lent enthusiasm, which burned down into the socket; burned until the scalpel, and the probe and the medicine, in aid of Nature's reme- dial action dropped from his hand. Today ministering to his pa- tients; the next day finishing his long and honored career.
"Never have I known a physician whose presence in the sick- room was so sweet and encouraging a benediction. He had a sym- pathetic courage for his patient, and the patient caught it like a contagion. The warm, sincere and cheerful feeling for his patient was an anodyne which helped his prescriptions. His goodness had a healing power. His touch, when examining the pulse and diag-
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nosing the disease, was a professional touch indeed; but it was more; it was a touch of kindness; you loved to have him feel your pulse, and the pulse itself felt a sort of thrill, and wanted to be as he would like to have it. While his quiet and unostentatious sympathy, one of the powers of the ideal physician, was conspicuous in Dr. Welch, still this warm sentiment was connected with a pro- found skill, that called him in council and practice, over the State and out of it. His presence and skill have been invoked, and brought him into more sick rooms in all this region during his long professional career than any other man. He understood his work. He was an honest and loving physician, and therefore was skilful and thorough. These two qualities, briefly referred to, namely, true, humane sympathy, without which no man has any right to be a physician,-and profound skill, formed for him a character, that made him beautiful as a man; brought him confidence and trust as a physician.
"I don't know that he ever thought he was making sacrifices when on errands of love and mercy. I have seen him with his car- riage, a light gleaming under it, in the darkest nights, and in storms as dark, visiting his patients; in hundreds of cases it was a deed of love, with no remuneration but that which love brings. Thus for half a century his lantern has flashed over these hills, in these by-roads, and among these eternal rocks.
"The light has been snuffled out, as by a breath of wind on these hills; but the fragrant light of his memory will shine on, in cabin and in mansion, thousands of hearts still feeling the genial touch of a loving friend and devoted physician, whose commanding and genial presence always brought comforting thoughts and feelings. The poor will remember him with the profoundest and most tender affection, for he was their care-taking friend. He has embalmed himself in the hearts of all this region. He was a citizen who has honored and served his town, county and state; and what need we say more?"
JOHN HOPESTILL WELCH, M. D.
Dr. John Hopestill Welch was the youngest of the five brothers, all of whom were at one time in active practice within thirty miles of Norfolk, and all now lie buried with their father in the family lot in the Norfolk cemetery. Dr. Welch was graduated from the Pittsfield Medical College in 1848, and began practice in New Hart- ford, and afterwards practised in Salisbury, and Cornwall, and came to Norfolk in 1856, where he practiced medicine till 1871, when he removed to Hartford.
He represented the town of Norfolk in the General Assembly of 1861. After removal to Hartford he was not in active medical
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practice, except among his friends, who were loath to give up his advice and counsel.
Interest in Life Insurance engaged his attention for a number of years.
One of Norfolk's successful manufacturing interests, now known as the Norfolk and New Brunswick Hosiery Company, received its first encouragement and capital from Drs. William and John Welch, as is mentioned elsewhere, and was originally "The John H. Welch Company;" the pioneer in the knitting business in this region.
Dr. Welch was a genial, whole souled man; a most successful physician and true friend. He was of attractive personality, had an unusual gift of winning friends, and was a good judge of men. His executive ability and promptness enabled him to make the most of many opportunities. He died from pneumonia at the age of sixty-five, deeply regretted by a wide circle of relatives and friends.
SAMUEL COWLES.
An eminent family connected with the Welch family, unknown to most residents of this town in these later years, was that of Samuel Cowles, who in the early part of the present century lived in the South End district, and a few years later moved over the line into the town of Colebrook. Two of the sons of Samuel and Olive Phelps Cowles, his wife, became very celebrated men in their day. Some of the Commentaries upon the "Minor Prophets," and other books of the Bible, by Rev. Henry Cowles, D. D., are to be found in old libraries in this town. Dr. Cowles married Alice, daughter of the Senior Dr. Benjamin Welch. A grand-daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Cowles is Mrs. Alice Welch-Doane, wife of Rev. John Doane, pastor of Plymouth Church, Lincoln, Nebraska.
REV. HENRY COWLES, D. D.
Rev. Henry Cowles, D. D., of Oberlin, Ohio, died Sept. 6, 1881. He was born in Norfolk, South End, April 24, 1803, the eldest son of Samuel Cowles and Olive Phelps Cowles. His parents soon re- moved to an adjoining farm in the South West angle of Colebrook, where their eleven children were reared and trained. Henry and his younger brother, afterwards Rev. John P. Cowles of Ipswich, Mass., the famous educator, prepared for College at home, usually reciting to Rev. Ralph Emerson at Norfolk once a week. They graduated at Yale College in 1826, one the valedictorian and the other the salutatorian of the class.
Dr. Cowles was pastor of the church in Austinburg, Ohio, from 1830 for five years.
In 1835 he was called to join the Oberlin enterprise, begun two
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years before, and he continued as Professor in the College until 1848. From 1848 to 1862, when it was suspended under pressure of the war, he gave his time and strength to the editing of the Oberlin Evangelist, a paper almost unknown to the people of this day.
Soon after 1862 he began work upon his Commentary upon the Bible, issuing first "The Minor Prophets." He said his purpose was "to reach the full and exact thought in these sacred words and then to present it with clearness, brevity and force."
In the next eighteen years he issued sixteen Volumes of Notes covering the whole Bible. Some months before his death he exe- cuted a deed of gift of the copyrights of all his Commentaries to three great benevolent societies: the American Board of Commis- sioners of Foreign Missions, the American Home Missionary So- ciety, and the American Missionary Association, with the provision that they shall continue the publication and distribution of the volumes and receive the profits.
LOUISA WELCH PETTIBONE.
The children of Rev. Ira and Louisa Welch-Pettibone were Ira Welch Pettibone, graduated at Yale College in 1854. Was by Gov- ernor Buckingham appointed Colonel of the Tenth Regiment Conn. Volunteers, and served in that position in the war of the rebellion. He was for several years Principal of the "Winchester Institute." Was Professor in Beloit College, and for many years an honored teacher in the Chicago High School.
Asa Guiteau Pettibone was the first Cashier of the Norfolk Bank, established in 1856, and afterwards became its President. Has been a successful business man in Indianapolis and Chicago. He now resides at New York Mills, N. Y.
Benjamin Welch Pettibone, now resides at Winchester, Con- necticut. He graduated at Amherst College, and for ten years was the efficient teacher of the "Winchester Institute." He is fond of local and other history, and is an acknowledged authority in his part of the state, upon historical and other subjects.
Mary Louise Pettibone married the late A. A. Smith, Editor of the "Ogdensburg Daily Journal," and the "St. Lawrence Repub- lican."
PROFESSOR WILLIAM H. WELCH, M. D., LL. D.
Of one of the sons of this town who has already attained great distinction, who is known and recognized as an emi- nent scholar, teacher and authority in his profession throughout this, our broad land, in Europe, and beyond,
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whom every true son of Norfolk would gladly honor, we are pleased to be able to present a brief sketch:
William Henry Welch, M. D., LL. D., the son of William Wick- ham Welch, M. D., and Emeline Collin Welch, was born in Nor- folk, April 8, 1850. He received his earliest education in the schools of his native place, and was prepared for college in the Rev. Ira Pettibone's school in Winchester, Conn.
Entering Yale College in 1866, he was graduated A. B. in 1870. The year following graduation he was principal of a school in Nor- wich, N. Y. In 1871-'72 he studied Chemistry in the Sheffield Scien- tific School, and in the autumn of 1872 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, (Columbia University,) New York, from which he received the degree of M. D. in 1875. He served as in- terne in Bellevue Hospital, N. Y., for eighteen months, after which he studied in Strassburg, Leipzig, Breslau, and other German Uni- versities, for two years, devoting himself chiefly to Pathology. Upon his return in 1878 to New York he was appointed demon- strator of Anatomy, and soon after Professor of Pathological Anat- omy in the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, where he estab- lished a pathological laboratory. He remained in New York, en- gaged in teaching and investigating in pathology, until his appoint- ment in 1884 to the Professorship of Pathological Anatomy in the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Before assuming the duties of the latter position he spent a year in Germany, devoted mainly to the study of the new science of Bacteriology, under Professors Koch, Flugge and others. On the opening of the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1889 he was appointed pathologist to this institution, and on the opening of the Johns Hopkins Medical School he was elected Dean of the medical faculty. His work in Baltimore has been mainly the teaching of pathology and bacteriology, and that of an investigator. He has been active in the promotion of higher medical education.
He has held the positions of President of the 'Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland,' of the 'Maryland Public Health Association,' of the 'Maryland State Board of Health,' of the 'Con- gress of American Physicians and Surgeons,' and of the 'Associa- tion of American Physicians.'
Dr. Welch has written many monographs and papers in books and medical journals, on subjects relating to pathology and bac- teriology, and has delivered many occasional addresses on these subjects, and on medical education. He was recently presented on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his doctorate with a large volume of contributions to medical science dedicated to him by his pupils.
He is a member of the 'National Academy of Sciences,' of the
WILLIAM H. WELCH, M. D. LLD.
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'American Philosophical Society,' of the 'American Academy of Arts and Sciences,' of the 'London Pathological Society, and other scientific societies in this country and Europe.
He has received the honorary degree of M. D. from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and of LL. D. from the 'Western Reserve University,' 'Yale University,' and 'Harvard University.'
EPHRAIM GUITEAU, M. D.
Dr. Ephraim Guiteau, born in Bethlehem, then part of Wood- bury, settled in Norfolk about 1760. After ten years residence in New Marlborough, Mass., after 1770, he returned to Norfolk and remained there until his death, April 21, 1816, aged 79 years. His elder brother, Dr. Francis Guiteau, was a life-long physician in Lanesboro, Mass. The family was of Huguenot extraction, and fled from France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Oct. 21, 1762, Dr. Ephraim Guiteau was married to Phebe Humphrey, daughter of Dea. Michael Humphrey of Norfolk, and tradition says theirs was the first wedding in the town solemnized in a frame house. Mrs. Guiteau was an excellent woman, and died Feb. 27, 1828, aged 83 years, having outlived all her children. Their son, Philo Guiteau, M. D., died in Norfolk in 1810, and their grandsons, Dr. Corydon Guiteau in Lee, Mass., in 1853, and Rev. Sheridan Gui- teau in Baltimore, Md., in 1872. With his death the name was ex- tinct in this branch of the family. Miss Phebe Sophia Guiteau, who died unmarried, was one of the earliest teachers in Norfolk, whose name has come down to us. Another daughter of Dr. Ephraim Guiteau, Louisa, married Dr. Benjamin Welch, Sen., of Norfolk and was the mother of eight of his ten children.
Dr. Guiteau was an original member of the Medical Associa- tion of Litchfield County, formed in Jan., 1767, and composed of the most eminent physicians then in practice here. In 1783 he rep- resented the town in the General Assembly.
Dr. Guiteau had a good reputation as a physician, and was the instructor of many Medical Students, some of them from other states. He was in advance of his times as a medical practitioner, and was acquainted with the Latin and French languages.
He was a member of the Congregational Church in Norfolk. and at New Marlborough was chosen a Deacon in 1772. After his return to Norfolk he united with others in organizing an Epis- copal Society in 1786 and meetings were held at his house.
At a meeting Dec. 3, 1787, it was Voted "To write our wishes to the Right Bishop Sebra (Seabury) for a Curate or preaching."
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FREDERICK M. SHEPARD.
Norfolk has been remarkably fortunate in retaining the affection of numerous sons and daughters who, leaving it in their youth to do their life work in other places, remem- ber their birth place by many tokens of their appreciation.
The record of the lives of these children of Norfolk would fill many volumes and be helpful to those starting in life as examples of what can be accomplished by industry and perseverance.
Among those who have taken a large place in affairs is Frederick M. Shepard, the eldest and only surviving son of Capt. John A. Shepard of this town, mentioned else- where. Although his life in great part has been in the city of New York, he has shown his love for Norfolk by giving the lawn and fountain at the side of the railroad station, the site and grounds for the new Episcopal Church, also a large tract of land for a park near the Hillhurst, and many other benefactions.
The following is a sketch of Mr. Shepard's life:
Frederick M. Shepard was born in Norfolk, Conn., Sept. 24, 1827. His early life was spent in Norfolk, attending school, aiding his father, and serving as clerk in the store of William Lawrence & Co. At the age of eighteen he left Norfolk for employment in the store of Collins & Bros., Hartford; from there went to New York and found employment in the India Rubber business, with which he has since been actively identified. In 1853 he was elected Sec- retary and Treasurer of the Union India Rubber Co. He is now President of that Company, also of the Goodyear Rubber Com- pany, The Rubber Clothing Company, The United States Rubber Company, and The Lambertville Rubber Company.
He is also President of the Orange Water Company, which sup- plies East Orange, Bloomfield and Glen Ridge, N. J .; President of the East Orange Safe Deposit and Trust Co., First President of the East Orange National Bank, and Director of the Mutual Bene, fit Life Insurance Co. of Newark, N. J. These Corporations, in the management of which he takes an active part, and in some of the smaller ones is the controlling owner, represent a capital of more than one hundred millions of dollars, doing business in all parts of the world.
In addition to business activities he is one of Five Commis-
Your verytruly
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sioners to construct a system of Parks for Essex County, N. J., for which four millions of dollars has been raised. He is also Presi- dent of the East Orange Free Library, to which Mr. Andrew Car- negie has given fifty thousand dollars; also a member of the Ad- visory Board of the Orange Memorial Hospital, where in 1896 he and his family erected and equipped a pavillion for treatment of lung diseases as a memorial for his son, Joseph Minott Shepard.
He still retains the ownership of the old homestead in Norfolk with considerable land, and desiring to do some substantial good to his native place undertook five years ago the work of bringing water from Lake Wangum on Canaan Mountain to the village, a distance of about 4 miles. This supply is of the best in quality, and sufficient in quantity to supply Norfolk perpetually.
In this day of bustling business activity, to find a man who is carrying on great business enterprises, and who also devotes time to active Christian work, in Church or Sunday School, is a rare thing. John Wannamaker of Philadelphia, and John V. Farwell of Chicago are notable examples of this kind. Norfolk is honored by one of her sons being one of those rare men.
In about 1880 there was a district in East Orange, N. J., known as a hard community, where it was scarcely safe for people to be upon the streets at night. A mission Sunday School was opened there and has been continuously carried on. The following modest words tell the whole story :-
"For twenty years F. M. Shepard has been Superintendent of the Elmwood Mission Sunday School of East Orange, which, be- ginning with about thirty scholars, now numbers over four hun- dred. A church has been organized, and a building erected which will accommodate about 600 persons." The character of the whole region has been changed, and it is now as quiet and orderly as any part of the town.
September 28, 1854, he married Annie C., daughter of Theron Rockwell of Colebrook, Conn., and they have six children, viz., Annie Rockwell, Frederick M., Clara Margaret, wife of Alfred Boote; Joseph Minott, died in 1895; John Andrus, and Edith Mills.
He resided for many years in the city of New York, but for twenty-five years has lived in East Orange, N. J.,-one of the pleas- ant suburbs of New York City.
LAURA HAWLEY-THURSTON.
(FROM BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY. BY PAYNE KENYON KILBOURNE, 1851.)
"Mrs. Thurston was the daughter of Mr. Earl P. Hawley, and born in Norfolk, December, 1812. Her parents being in moderate circumstances, her early advantages for education were such only
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as were afforded by the common district school. On arriving at mature years, however, she found means to enter Mr. J. P. Brace's "Female Seminary," in Hartford, where she prosecuted her studies with unusual diligence and success, and secured the marked ap- probation of the Principal and teachers. After leaving this insti- tution, she was for a few years engaged as a teacher in New Mil- ford and Philadelphia, and subsequently became an assistant in Brace's Seminary. Here she remained until 1837, when, upon Mr. Brace's recommendation, she left Connecticut to take charge of the Academy at New Albany, in the State of Indiana. In 1839 she was married to Mr. Franklin Thurston, a merchant of New Al- bany. She was at this time a frequent contributor to the western papers and periodicals, usually over the signature of "Viola," and soon won for herself the reputation of being one of the best female writers in the west.
But in the midst of her growing fame, and ere her dreams of earthly happiness had scarcely begun to be realized, death marked her for his victim. Yet, when he came to execute his dread com- mission, he found her not unprepared. In the bloom of youth and health she had consecrated herself to God, and the hopes she had long cherished did not desert her as she descended the dark valley. When told that she must die, her joyful exclamation was, "Is it possible I shall so soon be in Heaven!" She expired on the 21st of July, 1842.
In the autumn of 1843 the author of this volume accompanied a literary friend to the 'Childhood's Home' of Mrs. Thurston. Her early residence is situated about three miles to the north-east of the village of Norfolk, Litchfield county, Connecticut, in a quiet se- cluded nook, shut out as it were from the great world; in short, just such a place as a poet might choose for the undisturbed indul- gence of his day dreams.
On our way thither we paused for a moment over the founda- tions of the now demolished school-house, where in early child- hood, my friend had been the school companion of the future poetess, and many pleasant reminiscences of those halcyon days were called to mind, and related by him as we pursued our way down the green lane, toward the cottage which had been her home from infancy. The dwelling is a small, venerable looking, wood- colored building, of but a single story, located about half a mile from the main road, on a path which has the appearance of being but seldom traveled. Her father still lives there, and appears to take a pride in the growing fame of his daughter. He pointed out to us the spot on which she was born, about two miles distant, near the borders of a small and picturesque lake, from whence he re- moved to his present residence during her first year. He also showed
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us several of her poems, and gave us the materials from which the annexed brief sketch of her history is drawn.
The following beautiful poem, descriptive of the home and scenes of her childhood, the frequent perusal of which first induced in us the desire to visit them, is preserved in the Appendix to Gris- wold's "Poets and Poetry of America." It was written after her removal and settlement in the west, and but a short time previous to her death."
"THE GREEN HILLS OF MY FATHER LAND."
"The green hills of my father land, In dreams still greet my view. I see again the wave girt strand, The ocean depth of blue; The sky, the glorious sky, outspread Above their calm repose; The river o'er its rocky bed, Still singing as it flows. The stillness of the Sabbath-hours, When men go up to pray; The sun-light resting on the flowers; The birds that sing among the bowers, Through all the summer day.
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