History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 18

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506

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or about the year 1800, being the first lawyer to locate in the town. He soon became very popular and was an effective pleader. He was known especially as the "honest lawyer." He was twice married and had ten children. His first wife was Anna Dorinda Brown, and his second wife was Anna Spalding Gay. He died June 11th, 1858.

Simon Davis, son of Captain Simon and Zorinah (Knight) Davis, was born in Thompson August 1st, 1781. He practiced law in Thompson, also served as paymaster and pension agent. He was a man of exceedingly courteous manners and sound judgment. He was very widely known and respected. He was married three times-first to Rebekah Larned, second to Harriet Ketcham, and third to Hannah Ary. He had seven children. His death took place April 21st, 1850.

CHAPTER XII.

THE MEDICAL FRATERNITY.

The first Physicians in the different Towns .- Their influence on Society .- Later Practitioners .- Conspicuous Members .- Jonathan Huntington .- Albigence Waldo .- Samuel Lee .- Benjamin Hubbard .- Elisha Perkins .- After the Revolution .- Raising the Professional Standard .- Glimpses of the Physicians practicing in the early years of the Century .- The County Medical Society .- Lewis Williams .- Justin Hammond .- Samuel Hutchins .- Charles H. Rogers. -Ernest D. Kimball .- Frank E. Guild .- Che-ter Hunt .- David C. Card .- E. D. Card .- Eliphalet Huntington .- Charles James Fox .- Theodore R. Parker- Samuel David .- Oliver B. Griggs .- Dewitt C. Lathrop .- Francis X. Barolet .- Gardner L. Miller .- Frederic A. Morrell .- Omer La Rue .- Daniel B. Plimpton. -Lowell Holbrook .- Ichabod L. Bradley .- Louis Oude Morasse .- William Richardson .- Levi A. Bliss .- Frederick G. Sawtelle .- Seth Rogers .- John B. Kent .- Elisha K. Robbins .- S. P. Ladd .- F. S. Burgess .- Nathaniel Hibbard. -Henry L. Hammond .- Harvey L. Converse .- James F. McIntosh .- Jesse M. Coburn .- S. C. Chase .- William H. Judson .- Orin Witter, Sr .- Orin Wit- ter, Jr .- Hiram Holt .- William Witter .- Henry R. Lowe .- William A. Lewis. -Isaac B. Gallup.

M ANY of the foremost men of Windham county, during all the years of its history, have been found among the medical fraternity. We regret the arbitrary conditions of space limitations which compel us to omit many interesting details. But we must pass over many honored names with but little more than their mere mention. Early in the his- tory of the county we find the physicians assuming their position of prominence among the people, receiving their con- fidence and becoming their leaders in social, business and polit- ical movements. The first practicing physician regularly estab- lished in Windham county, of whom we can gain any knowledge, was Jonathan Huntington, son of Joseph, who was one of the first settlers. Doctor Huntington belonged to an honored fam- ily, and resided at Windham, practicing during the early part to the middle of the last century. Doctor Thomas Moffat, the first physician practicing in Killingly, was there about the year 1740, and probably before and after, but how long we are unable

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to state. The first practicing physician established in Pomfret was Doctor Thomas Mather, of Suffield, who purchased land of Samuel Nightingale and established himself here in 1738. He was one of the original members of the "United Society or Company for propagating Christian and Useful Knowledge," or- ganized in 1739. He probably removed hence at some time previous to 1760. Doctor John Hallowell was at this time also practicing in Pomfret. The first physician in Abington was Elisha Lord, who purchased land " on the road from James In- galls, inn-holder, to the meeting-house," in 1760. He had already married Alethea Ripley, a sister of Reverend David Ripley, min- ister of the Abington church. Doctor David Hall, son of Rev- erend David Hall, of Sutton, was a physician in Pomfret about 1760. At about the same time Doctor William Walton was practicing both in Pomfret and Killingly. Doctor John Weld was also among the early physicians of Pomfret, but the date of his practice is unknown to the writer. Doctor Elisha Perkins, son of Doctor Joseph Perkins, of Newent So- ciety, Norwich, commenced practice in Plainfield about the year 1759. He afterward married the daughter of Captain Douglass, and was eminently successful. At this time Doctor Edward Robinson was also established in practice in Plainfield; and Doctor Gideon Welles, who graduated from Yale College in 1753, was practicing in both Plainfield and Canterbury. Doctor Nathan Arnold was a distinguished and successful physician in his day. He was the son of John Arnold, one of the early set- tlers at the " Ponds " of original Windham, and studied medicine with Doctor Jonathan Huntington. Jabez Adams, a son of Phineas Adams, of Canterbury, was for many years a prominent physician at Mansfield. Doctor Jabez Fitch was a leading cit- izen and practitioner of Canterbury about 1755. Doctor Joshua Elderkin was practicing in Windham about this time.

Albigence Waldo, son of Zechariah Waldo, about 1760 suc- ceeded to the practice of Doctor David Hall, who removed to. Vermont. He studied for the profession with. Doctor John Spalding, of Canterbury, and is said to have been a young man of uncommon energy and promise. Doctor Spalding was a native of Canterbury, and established himself there contemporaneously with Doctor Gideon Welles. The latter died in 1811. Doctor David Adams also practiced considerably in Scotland during the latter half of the last century, though his home meanwhile was.

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elsewhere. About 1760 three young physicians were established in Ashford-Doctors Joseph Palmer, Nehemiah Howe and Thomas Huntington. Doctor Ebenezer Gray, of Boston, settled in the medical profession in Windham about this time. He died in 1773. Doctor Jonathan Huntington, now full of years and honors and ripe Christian virtues, died in 1777, after a life marked by "piety to God and benevolence to mankind." The place made vacant by the death of these two venerable practi- tioners of the healing art was occupied by Doctor Samuel Lee, of Goshen, a young man noted for his herculean strength and agility and ardent patriotism, and who had been a student of Doctor Ezekiel Porter, of Wethersfield. John Brewster, of Scot- land, after studying medicine with Dr. Barker, of Franklin, married a daughter of Captain William Durkee, and settled in " Windham Village," now Hampton, and gained there an exten- sive practice, being the first physician located in that vicinity.

About the year 1763 Doctor Samuel H. Torrey, a young man of much more thorough medical training than was common at. that period, established himself at Killingly, and soon gained an extensive practice. He was a brother of Joseph Torrey, who had preceded him hither from South Kingstown, R. I. The wife of Doctor Torrey, Anna Gould, of Branford, brought with her four slaves, as a part of her marriage portion. Doctor Tor- rey identified himself with the various movements of the town and church, and became very active and influential. Doctor Samuel Lee was one of the practicing physicians of Windham at the close of the revolution. He died in 1804, and was suc- ceeded in his practice by his son Samuel, who had also been as- sociated with him for several years. The younger Doctor Lee had already become somewhat distinguished as the originator and proprietor of "Lee's Windham Billious Pills," one of the first patent medicines that came before the public. These ac- quired so great a reputation that it is said the lawyers at court used to maintain that a box of them carried in the pocket would ward off disease. Doctor Thomas Gray also practiced in Wind- ham about the close of and after the revolution. Doctor John Clark was contemporary with the last mentioned. About the: beginning of the. present century he removed to central New York. Doctor Penuel Cheney was very active and useful in town and society matters in Scotland during the latter part of the last century. At some time during the early years of the

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

present century he was succeeded in practice by Hovey, who practiced in this town and Hampton for several years.

Doctor John Brewster of Hampton was widely known about the year 1790, and perhaps for a quarter of a century after that date. Joseph Baker was a physician in Brooklyn about 1790. Doctor Elisha Lord was practicing in Abington in the latter part of the last century. Doctor Jared Warner was cotemporary with him. Doctor Jonathan Hall was at the same time settled in Pomfret and in the early years of his practice gave promise of future eminence. He was held in high repute at home and abroad, both professionally and socially, and his children, as they came upon the stage of action, were shining ornaments of that polite and refined society which distinguished Pomfret at that day. He died about the year 1830.

Perhaps one of the most active and conspicuous members of the medical profession of Windham county a century ago was Doctor Albigence Waldo. He was a surgeon in the army dur- ing the revolution, and after its close returned to practice in the northern part of the county. He was a man of much breadth and energy, devoted to his profession and greatly interested in scientific questions and discoveries. He was interested in the association of medical men, and through his efforts in this direc- tion the movements were set on foot which led to the organiza- tion of the Medical Society which exists at the present day with so much vigor and usefulness. He was also one of the organizers of the State Medical Society in 1792. Doctor Waldo was famed for literary accomplishments, and wrote much upon scientific and political questions. He excelled in public speaking, especi- ally upon funeral occasions. His eulogies at the burial of Put- nam and other prominent persons were greatly admired, as were also the eulogies and epitaphs composed by him on various oc- casions. He was born February 27th, 1750, and died January 29th, 1794. Passing away in the prime of life and height of professional eminence, he was greatly mourned "as a man en- dowed by the God of nature with the most brilliant and distin- guished abilities, and with a heart susceptible of all those amiable and benevolent virtues which adorn the human breast." He left many scientific and medical treatises which it was hoped " would afford great light and benefit to future ages." He was buried with Masonic honors, and his fellow Masons of Moriah Lodge erected a monument to his memory, on which they declare of

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him, " His name was Charity ; His actions Humanity ; His inter- course with men Benevolence and Love."

Doctor Darius Hutchins succeeded to the practice of Doctor Lord in Abington in the early years of the present century. To. his practice he also added a store after a few years. Doctor Thomas Hubbard, a son of Benjamin Hubbard, a young man yet under age, one of the pupils of Doctor Waldo, succeeded to the practice of that eminent physician. He had made such pro- ficiency in medical studies and had such natural aptitude for the profession as to fill the position with great credit and usefulness, and gain in time a reputation even surpassing that of his pre- decessor. In later years his surgical skill became widely noted, attracting many students, who accompanied him on horseback on his daily rounds, striving to keep pace with his swiftly run- ning sulky, and thinking themselves most favored if they could. ride a few moments by his side and catch his oracular opinions. or enjoy his humorous anecdotes.

Doctor Huntington, of Westford, already noticed, was succeed- ed in the latter part of the last century, by a relative of his, Doc- tor Andrew Huntington, of Griswold. About the beginning of the present century Doctor Nehemiah Howe attended to his patients and took a prominent part in town management in Ash- ford. He died in a good old age, about the year 1838. Doctor Joseph Palmer of that town had a son Joseph practicing at the same time, and still later a son of the latter; a third Doctor Palmer practiced for a while in Ashford and then removed to Canterbury. Doctor Elisha Perkins was a prominent citizen and medicine man in Plainfield during the latter years of the last century. He became much interested in experiments in mag- netic action and effects, and invented instruments called "me- tallic tractors," which were widely known and used. They were. patented in this country and introduced into Europe, where they received the approval of medical and scientific men to a greater extent even than in this country. In Copenhagen twelve phy- sicians and surgeons instituted a series of experiments which re- sulted in the verdict that "Perkinsm " was "of great import- ance to the physician." An institution was established in Lon- don for the purpose of applying the " Perkinian " principles in the treatment chiefly of the poor which was done without charge. It was claimed at one time that one and a half millions of cures. had been effected. Of Doctor Perkins it was said, "Few men in

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the world were more public spirited, more hospitable, more free from all guile." He was ever active in public matters, the friend of the poor and a ready helper of those who needed help. The fate of his daughter, Mrs. Merwin, who, with her husband and two children, died of yellow fever in Philadelphia in 1793, turned his experiments in a new direction and he produced an antisep- tic preparation which he used as a preventive of the disease, but he fell a victim to his own theories, dying of yellow fever in New York city in 1799, where for four weeks he had been earn- .estly engaged in attending the sick.

Doctor Robert Grosvenor, of Pomfret, succeeded to the prac- tice of Doctor Moffat in Killingly, at some time between the close of the revolution and the close of the century. After practicing some thirty or forty years he was assisted and succeeded by his son, Doctor William Grosvenor. Contemporary with the elder Doctor Grosvenor was Doctor Josiah Deane, of Killingly. The first resident physician in Thompson was Doctor Daniel Knight, who was also made, in 1805, the first postmaster of that village. About the close of the last century Doctor Ephraim Carroll, of Thompson, was established in medical practice in Woodstock. Doctor Lathrop Holmes was also engaged in practice and also in trade in that town About the same period Doctor Isaac Backus practiced at Plainfield, a little later removing his residence to Sterling, where he continued to pursue his profession. Doctor Charles Moulton was also practicing medicine about the same time in Hampton.

In the early years of the present century the standard of the medical profession seems to have been raised to a somewhat higher level. The old class of physicians, who had attended patients when nothing of more importance was on hand, was giving place to younger men, who had won by study the title prefixed to their names, and devoted themselves to their profes- sion with more singleness of purpose. Doctor Andrew Harris at Canterbury Green and Doctor Elijah Baldwin in South Can- terbury, harmoniously occupied the field, the former practicing more especially with the knife and the latter carrying around the saddle-bags. Doctor Johnson continued his daily rounds through Westminster Parish. Doctor Hough retained his dual office, administering pills and official whippings with equal lib- erality and alacrity. Doctor Gideon Welles died in. 1811. Doc- tors Baldwin and Harris continued their practice for a consider-

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able term of years. In 1818 Doctors Thomas Backus, John Part- ridge and Oliver Howlett were reported as practicing physicians in Sterling. At this time the list of physicians practicing in Woodstock embraced Doctors Haviland Morris, Ebenezer Bishop, Joseph Seagrave, Thomas Morse Daniel Lyman, Amasa Carrol and Amos Carrol. Doctor Lyman gave his attention more par- ticularly to surgery. Doctor Thomas Morse, now settled in West Woodstock, was noted as the third Doctor Morse who had practiced within the town. His grandfather, Doctor Parker Morse, Sr., was graduated from Harvard College about 1735, and settled in East Woodstock immediately after acquiring his pro- fession, and was succeeded by his son of the same name. The grandson maintained the medical reputation of the family, and served many years as clerk of the County Medical Society. Doc- tor Waldo Hutchins was at this time established in medical practice in Brooklyn. After his death, some fifteen years later, Doctor James B. Whitcomb engaged in the practice which he left. William Hutchins, of Killingly, and Thomas Huntington, of Norwich, both very promising and spirited young men, took the place of Doctor Ebenezer Baker, deceased. A few years later we find young Doctors Burgess and Cogswell in Plainfield, shar- ing the field with Doctor Fuller. In Sterling at this time Doc- tor William H. Campbell engaged in medical practice, having his residence near the hill, also Doctor Nathan S. Pike, who was widely known in the profession.

About 1840 we find Doctors John Hill, Jr., and William Wit- ter engaged in medical practice at Willimantic. Doctor Orin Witter had been practicing many years in Chaplin. He was a prominent man in society and town matters, being the first town clerk on the organization of the town in 1822. In Hamp- ton about the time referred to Doctor Dyer Hughes was practic- ing medicine, assisted by his son and Doctor Clark, previously of Canterbury. Doctor Daniel Hovey engaged in practice in East and South Killingly. After pursuing his calling here for nearly half a century, Doctor Hovey died some ten years since, being at the time of his death the oldest member of the County Med- ical Society. Doctor William Grosvenor practiced on Killingly Hill about forty years ago. Doctor Hiram Holt practiced in Pomfret about fifty years. He was a native of Hampton, and his labors closed with his death in 1870. Doctors Lewis and Elisha Williams also practiced in Pomfret. Doctor Alexander

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Vinton practiced for a short time in Abington before entering the church ministry. The first physicians of the modern village of Putnam, about forty years ago, were Doctors Hough, Plimp- ton and Perry. Doctor C. H. Bromley practiced medicine in Scot- land for many years. Doctors Orin Witter, senior and junior, occupied the field in Chaplin so long that their names became household words among the people. Doctor Elijah Baldwin, after practicing in Canterbury and adjoining towns for more than sixty years, died in March, 1867. A son of the same name succeeded him in practice. The third Doctor Palmer, of Ash- ford, practiced for a time in Canterbury village. Doctor Wil- liam H. Cogswell, of Plainfield, after a long life spent in the medical profession, died about ten years since. He was widely known in professional and public life. His services as agent for Connecticut in charge of sick and wounded soldiers during the late war, were especially valuable. In public and pri- vate, in church and state, he was alike useful and honored. Doctor Charles A. Fox practiced medicine in Thompson from 1852 about to 1860, when he moved hence. Doctor Charles Har- ford practiced several years in Thompson, gaining there a very strong constituency. He died March 18th, 1877. Later, Doctor E. T. Morse practiced three or four years on the same field. He came hither from the lower towns of the county, and removed hence to East Hartford. Doctors McGregor, Holbrook and Bowen have also practiced in that town. Doctor Lathrop prac- ticed in Grosvenor Dale, and died there several years since. Doctor Sargent also practiced in that village, and afterward re- moved to Webster, Mass.

The Windham County Medical Society is one of the oldest in the state. Its origin is largely due to the active spirit of Doctor Albigence Waldo, through whose efforts the leading physicians of the county and its vicinity instituted a monthly meeting some years previous to the formation of the Connecticut Medical So- ciety. In June, 1786, they held a meeting at Dudley ; in August at Stafford; in September at Cargill's (now Putnam); in October at Canterbury. At the latter meeting there were present Doc- tors Coit of Thompson, Palmer of Ashford, Gleason of Killingly, Lord and Warner of Abington, Clark of Hampton, Spalding of Mansfield, and Huntington of Westford. These meetings were continued with increasing numbers and interest till 1791, when a more formal organization of a Windham County Society ap-

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pears to have been effected. Of this organization no record has been preserved, beyond the fact that Doctor Waldo was clerk, either of the preliminary organization or of the new one. He was doubtless a prominent figure in the new society, and was also one of the organizers of the State Society in 1792.

The records of the County Society previous to 1793 have been lost, but the roll of members at that time was as follows: Doc- tors Jonathan Averill, Thomas Backus, Leonard Bacon, Joseph Baker, John Barker, Samuel Barker, Gershom Beardsley, John Brewster, Allen Campbell, Benjamin Carter, Penuel Cheney, John Clark, Sen., John Clark, Jr., Thadeus Clark, Josiah Coit, Noah Coleman, Azal Ensworth, Thomas Glysson, Daniel Gordon, Jonathan Hall, Walter Hough, Jacob Hovey, Penuel Hutchins, Isaac Knight, Elisha Lord, Joseph Palmer, Elisha Perkins, Thomas Robinson, Albigence Waldo, Roger Waldo, Jared War- ner and Jesse Wheaton. Parts of the records are defective, but as far as they are complete enough to show it the list of presi- dents has been as follows : John Clark, 1793; Elisha Lord, 1794, '96; Elisha Perkins, 1795 ; John Brewster, 1797-99, 1801 ; Joseph Baker, 1800, 1802 ; Thomas Hubbard, 1803, 1807-8, 1811-12, '14, '18, '22, '27, '29; Jonathan Hall, 1806; Joseph Palmer, 1809; Erastus Robinson, 1810; Penuel Hutchins, 1813, '15-16, '19, '21, '30, '35; Rufus Johnson, 1817; Samuel Hutchins, 1823; Josiah Fuller, 1824; Silas Fuller, 1825; Darius Hutchins, 1826, '28, '38; Joseph Palmer, 1831, '33-34; Andrew Harris, 1832, '37, '39; Morey Bur- gess, 1836, '45; Elijah Baldwin, 1840, '44, '59; Eleazer Litchfield, 1841; Chester Hunt, 1842; Hiram Holt, 1843, '46, '68; William Witter, 1847; Lorenzo Marcey, 1848, '50; William H. Cogswell, 1849, '52-53, '57-58, '61; Orrin Witter, 1851, '55; Lewis Williams, 1856, '69, '74; Harvey Campbell, 1854, '65-66; Samuel Hutchins, 1860, '63, '80, '83; C. B. Bromley, 1862, '64; James B. Whitcomb, 1867; Lowell Holbrook, 1870, '76; Milton Bradford, 1871; Justin Hammond, 1872; E. Huntington, 1873; Elijah Baldwin, 1875,'79; William A. Lewis, 1877, '84; John Witter, 1878, '82; H. W. Hough, 1881; T. M. Hills, 1885; R. Robinson, 1886; Charles James Fox, 1887; F. G. Sawtelle, 1888. The successive secretaries of the so- ciety in the same time have been : Thadeus Clark, 1793; Jo- seph Baker, 1794-95; Thomas Hubbard, 1796-1800 : Josiah Ful- ler, 1801-03; record blank, 1804-5; Thomas Morse, 1806-10 ; Darius Hutchins, 1811-13; William A. Brewster, 1814-19 ; record blank, 1820; Waldo Hutchins, 1821-25; William Hutchins, 1826-

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31; James B. Whitcomb, 1832-35; William Hutchins, 1836-41 ; James B. Whitcomb, 1842-44; William Hutchins, 1845; James B. Whitcomb, 1846-61 ; W. Woodbridge, 1862; Gideon F. Bar- stow, 1863-64 ; Samuel Hutchins, 1864-75; John B. Kent, 1876- 80; R. Robinson, 1881-83; W. W. Foster, 1884; Charles James Fox, 1885-86; Charles N. Allen, 1887-89.

The officers of the society for 1888 were: President, Doctor F. G. Sawtelle, of Pomfret ; vice-president, Doctor J. B. Kent, of Putnam ; censors-Doctors O. B. Griggs, Lowell Holbrook and H. F. Hammond ; county reporter, Doctor N. Hibbard, of Dan- ielsonville ; clerk, Doctor Charles N. Allen, of Moosup. The present membership comprises Doctors John H. Simmons, of Ashford ; A. E. Darling, H. F. Hammond, of Killingly ; Edwin A. Hill, Charles E. Hill, of East Killingly ; Rienzi Robinson, Nathaniel Hibbard, W. H. Judson, of Danielsonville; E. H. Davis, of Plainfield ; Charles N. Allen, William A. Lewis, of Moosup; Charles H. Rogers, of Central Village; F. G. Sawtelle, F. W. Chapin, of Pomfret ; H. W. Hough, John Witter, J. B. Kent, F. A. Morrell, Omar La Rue, F. X. Barolet, of Putnam ; E. D. Kimball, of Scotland ; Lowell Holbrook, of Thompson ; A. A. Latour, of Grosvenor Dale; Frank N. Olin, of North Wood- stock ; Frederick Rogers, T. Morton Hills, O. B. Griggs, Charles J. Fox, F. O. Bennett, T. R. Parker, D. D. Jacobs, Samuel David, W. J. Connor, E. D. Card, of Willimantic ; F. E. Guild, of Wind- ham ; and E. E. Gaylord, of Woodstock.

Doctor Lewis Williams was born in the town of Pomfret in 1815. At the age of fifteen he entered Amherst College, but was prevented by disease of the eyes from completing a reg- ular course at that time, abandoning his studies during the second year. Regaining his health, he began the study of med- icine, and graduated at Harvard Medical College in 1842. He married Clara Baldwin, of Woburn, Mass., in 1843, and com- menced practice in his native town, where he continued to work almost unremittingly for nearly forty years. He was an active member of the Windham County Medical Society, and for many years a permanent member of the American Medical Association. In 1850 he was appointed one of the examining committee for the medical department of Yale College, serving twice for a term of three years each time. For eleven years before his death he was one of the quarterly visitors to the In_ sane Retreat at Hartford, and his name was associated with all

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 18

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: New York, Preston Number of Pages: 1506

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506