USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854 > Part 37
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" We have intimated, that like a true son of New England he was the firm friend of the Bible, the Sabbath, the public worship of God, and the ordinances and institutions of his house ; this he manifested by his continued and untiring efforts to sustain these institutions. We fear no contradiction when we say, that his counsels, influence and exertions, were ever regarded by the members of the ecclesiastical society to which he belonged, as highly conducive to its best interests. Said a plain, unlettered man, lamenting his departure, ' when we have come together as a society, with different views and divided feelings, Bellamy would get up and tell us what was right, and make us sec and feel that it was right, and straighten us out.'
" A little before his death he remarked, 'This society, in its business meet-
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ings, is never characterized by discord or nnkind remarks.' We may add, if it ever should be thus characterized, it may be more apparent to whose influence its former harmony should be in part attributed. If we mistake not, its records will show, that a single vote, which with much care and skill he prepared, vir- tually erected and completed the commodious house of worship which the so- ciety now enjoys. When its members came together to deliberate and decide upon a great subject, one which has divided and distracted many ecclesiastieal communities, the vote, previously prepared, was presented and explained, and the members had only to raise their hands, which they did with entire unanim- ity, and the deed was done, or committed to hands in which all had confidence that it would be satisfactorily done.
" Being a dircet descendant of one of the most able and useful ministers of the gospel with which this land was ever blessed, Mr. Bellamy loved and re- spected all aceredited ministers of Christ. While he was an active member of the society, it had five different individuals as its ministers-inen differing as much in their general character, disposition and temperament, as it is possible perhaps for five good men to differ. Yet he manifestly loved and respected them all. They all recognized him as a valuable and faithful friend. Though there are many who have heard him speak freely in regard to them all, they do not recollect over to have heard him utter an unkind, disrespectful, com- plaining word or insinuation in regard to any one of them.
" He well understood that trials and embarrassments tended to hinder the minister of the gospel in the performance of his arduous work ; hence, instead of endeavoring, like some, to multiply and increase his burdens, it was his pleasure to do what he consistently could to relieve them.
" He had confidenee in God as a prayer-hearing God. Often and in differ- ent ways did he manifest his confidence in the efficacy of prayer. Even down to the last hour of life he expressed his desire to be interested in the prayers of God's people. Ilis standard of piety was higher than that of many others. This was probably the ground of his doubts in regard to his own personal in- terest in the religion of the gospel.
" It is an interesting fact that the day, and probably the hour on which Mr. Bellamy died, Nov. 2d, 1515, completed the exact term of one hundred and ten years, since Dr. Joseph Dellamy, his grandfather, commenced his labors in the parish of Bethlehem. During that period the name of Bellamy has always been somewhat prominent in the place ; by the removal of the subject of this sketch, in the male line, it became extinet."1
HON. NOAH B. BENEDICT.
Noah B. Benedict was the son of Rev. Noah Benedict, and was born at Woodbury, April 2, 1771. IIe graduated at Yale College in 1788, and was admitted to the bar in Litchfield county in 1792. He was appointed judge of probate in 1805, and resigned in 1816,
1 This sketch is extracted from the minutes of Rev. Fosdick Ilarrison.
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on being elected an assistant, or member of the council, which office he filled two years. He was elected a member of the House of Rep- resentatives in October, 1796, and was reelected to ten sessions sub- sequently, between this date and May, 1827. IIe was clerk of the House in 1809, and May, 1810.
In the third week in June, 1831, Mr. Benedict came to Litchfield, to argue, among other cases, that of Fairman v. Bacon, 8 Conn. Rep., 418. Just before that case came on, he was taken ill at his lodgings, and could only send in the brief he had prepared. He was carried home, but survived only a few days. Judge Daggett, in giving the opinion of the court, in the case referred to, says, he made " great use of the brief furnished by Mr. B., because he found it presented the argument in that dense, yet luminous view, for which that gen- tleman was so conspicuous, and by which the court were so often in- structed and enlightened ; and rarely more so than in this, one of his last efforts."1 Ilis death occurred July 2, 1831, at the age of sixty years. He was twice married, but died without issue. His last con- sort still survives, and resides in the "old homestead." " He was honorably distinguished in his profession, courteous, affectionate and kind in his feelings, and endeared to the circle of his relatives and friends by his numerous virtues." Such is the modest record on his tombstone.
DOCT. ANTHONY BURRITT.
The subject of this notice was the son of Benjamin and Mary Bur- ritt, and born in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 4, 1752. He studied medi- eine with Doct. Joseph Perry, of Woodbury, and commenced the practice of the profession in Southbury society, a short time before the Revolution. During a part of that period, he acted as surgeon's mate in the service. He was taken prisoner, and carried to Long Island. Jabez Bacon, of Woodbury, a friend of his, happening to come where he was, and finding in what condition he was there held, interceded with the British authorities, and induced them to release him. He was of respectable attainments, and had good success in his practice. He died April 12, 1839.
1 In this sketch of Mr. Benediet, the author has restricted himself to a mere statist- ical account, at the request of the one most nearly interested in him.
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ANTIIONY B. BURRITT, M. D.,
Son of the preceding, was born in Southbury, January 12, 1810 ; studied medieine with his father, and Doets. Abraham L. Smith and Joseph L. Tomlinson, and graduated at the medical department of Yale College, in 1832. Commenced practice in his native town im- mediately, and is now in practice there.
ZACHERIAII BEERS.
Woodbury has not been prolific in poets. About the time of the Revolution, however, the subject of this sketch was in full life, and possessed a decided talent for versifying. He would with the great- est ease and fluency, turn an account of any or all the ordinary inci- dents of every-day life into rhyme. Ile never had the opportunity of improving his mind by culture, and therefore most of his productions were of an exceedingly crude nature, wanting all the finish of gram- matical construction, and true poetical polish. Accordingly, his rhymes were all of the Hudibrastie order, but there were frequent specimens of high poetie ability, which, if it had been preceded by proper culture, would have enabled him to rival the MeFingal of John Trumbull. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and entered heartily into the spirit of the times. As a mediocre specimen of his powers, the following is given, entitled by its author,
"THE INDEPENDENT BANK."
" Come, freemen, come, assist to sing The blessings that surround us ; "Tis true we've lost a sapient king, But liberty has found ns.
Chorus. Then join your voices from the heart, A heavenly chorus lend us ; We never but with life will part With glorious Independence. Let idiots talk of state and rank, And bend to those who care it; Our freedom is a common Bank, And equally we'll share it.
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In seventy-six, 'twas founded here, And has this wondrous tally ; The oftener divide our share, The greater is its value.
God gave the charter first to Man, But Priests and Kings concealed it ; Columbia's sons regained the plan, And with their blood they sealed it.
Let us, who share her stock look in, And frequently inspect her ; 'Twill please the Cashier, Gallatin, And Jefferson, director."
A Doct. Enos Weed, of Stamford, some fifty years ago, published a long advertisement, setting forth that he, as an itinerant physician, would travel through the country, and cure all diseases " that flesh is heir to," by a long list of patent medicines, of which he possessed the right. Mr. Beers paraphrased the whole of his long and bombastic notice, with inimitable sarcasm, too long, and too free in its details, to be admitted into these pages, but a few passages are given as a specimen of the style. It was printed in a Danbury paper.
" Pandora long a pest to human case, Mother of ills, and mistress of disease, Slipped, one by one, from her envenomed chest, Till mortals all were near deprived of rest ; Until the namesake of old Jacob's son, Enters the list, and bids distress begone ; Lays in of antidotes so large a store, That De'il shall rage and reign no more ; And by a long detail their virtue shows, With patent right, just brought from Lee & Co's. Oh ! happy land where remedies will cure, And, legal made, infallible and sure ! The exulting muse without Poetic fame Delights to call cach Antidote by Name ; And as she sings their efficacy o'er, Without a Patent-blesses Baltimore, Whence Hamilton's Elixir must arrive To keep the people of these states alive- From thence to lere, consigned to Doct. Dar- Who dares infection to begin the war !"
After going through the whole advertisement, characterizing each
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antidote on his way, and giving by far the best description of a pill, extant, he closes as follows :
" At last the Patent right is made so sure, It helps his purse-if it performs no cure. This we believe-Oh ! Faith, what is thy power To help poor mortals in a dangerous hour ! An Antediluvian race will soon arrive. And people here for many centuries live ; And then, by patent rights, all crimes forgiven, Wear ont at last-and gently go to Heaven !"
WILLIAM COTHREN,
Son of William and Hannah Cothren, was born at Farmington. Maine, November 28, 1819. HIe fitted for college at the Farmington Academy ; graduated at Bowdoin College. Maine, in 1843 ; received his second degree in course at the same institution in 1846, and the degree of Master of Arts, ad eundem, from Yale College, in 1847. Ile studied law under the direction of Hon. Robert Goodenough. of Farmington, Me., late member of Congress from his district, and with the Hon. Charles B. Phelps, of Woodbury. He came to Woodbury in 1844, taught school for a while, and was admitted to the Litchfield county bar. 1845. He commeneed the practice of his profession in Woodbury, immediately after, and has there continued in the per- formanee of its duties till the present time. He was elected corres- ponding member of the New England Historic, Genealogical Society at Boston, Mass., May 5, 1847, and a member of the Connecticut IIistorical Society, November 23, 1852. IIe was also elected a county commissioner for Litchfield county, at the May session of the General Assembly, 1851.
CONANT CATLIN, M. D.,
Was a practicing physician and surgeon in the town of Bethlem. nearly twenty years. He came there about 1813, when what was called the " New Milford fever," was extensively prevailing, and very fatal. He was the immediate successor of Dr. Fowler, who had him- self fallen a victim to the epidemic. Seldom has a physician, a young man, an entire stranger, risen so rapidly in the esteem and confidence of the community, and obtained so permanent and exten-
24
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sive a practice as the subject of this notice. The immediate cause of this, was, doubtless, his success in the treatment of the prevailing epidemic, and the favorable influence of Dr. Perry, of Woodbury, but the continnance and increase of this confidence must have de- pended on something more. This may be found not only in his gen- eral skill and industry in the practice of his profession, but in his sterling worth as a man and a citizen. Few men ever possessed in a higher degree those rare virtues in their intercourse with others, which command respect, confidence and esteem.
Left penniless at the age of fourteen, by the death of his father, Daniel Catlin, of Harwinton, he succeeded by untiring zeal, in securing a fair academic education, and then paid his way through five years' study of medicine, commencing practice at the age of twenty-one. During all this time, he was one of three sons, who supported an in- firm and feeble mother. He commenced practice fifty dollars in debt, for his horse and saddle. Notwithstanding an expensive family, and a connection in mercantile business which met with frequent and heavy losses, his heirs received nearly $2,500 from his estate, while about the same amount in worthless debts was found upon his books. His practice was universal in the town of Bethlem, and extended largely into the adjoining towns. If he was successful in winning the confidence and esteem of his patrons and the public, he was emi- nently so in seenring that of his medical brethren in the county and state. The records of the Litchfield County Medical Society fully attest this. His mind seemed wholly absorbed in his profession, often to the neglect of his pecuniary affairs ; and few men, it is believed, have contributed more largely than he, both by his pen, counsel and practice, to elevate the dignity of his profession in this county. Per- haps no paper has contributed more to this end, than his truthful yet sarcastic and scathing treatise on "Quaeks and Quackery," read before the county society, about the year 1820. Its peculiar adapt- ation to the existing state of things at the time, as well as its correc- tive influence, is within the memory of all the older physicians now living in the county. The honorary degree of M. D. was conferred on him by Yale College, in 1828, and at the time of his death he was corresponding in regard to a professorship in that institution, which was about to be tendered to him.
In private life, in the social cirele, he was beloved by all. Unas- suming in manners, remarkable for the paucity of his words, calm, clear and dispassionate, yet firm in the expression of an opinion, his remarks were always instructive, and commanded a powerful though
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often a quiet influence. Usually sedate, he was nevertheless apt to arouse the mirth of the company by an unexpected though opportune joke. Naturally quick in temper, he liad succeeded in obtaining an almost perfect control over it, and scarcely an instance is remembered where his anger found vent in words. He was a consistent Chris- tian, warmly attached to the Congregational church, of which he was a member, but liberal in his sentiments toward all denominations. At the age of twenty-one he was seriously attacked, several times, with hemorrhage from the lungs, and during the remainder of his life he was troubled with consequent infirmities. Ile often remarked in his last years that " horseback riding had prolonged his life many years." Ile died in June, 1830, beloved and esteemed by all, and his memory is still cherished by his cotemporaries in Bethlem. They feel that his loss has never been supplied. His disease was called consumption, though not well defined. He wore himself out by years of laborious practice. ITis age was forty-one.
DOCTOR JOHN CALIIOUN,
Was for many years a practitioner of medicine in Washington. Ile was a very respectable man, and an approved physician. He was much engaged in the public business of the town, and died leav- ing a somewhat numerous posterity, many of whom have become noted in the various professions of life. His children were, Daniel, Calvin, Jedediah, Joseph and Philo.
DOCTOR AZARIAII EASTMAN,
Was the son of Azariah Eastman, and born at New Fairfield, now Sherman, Conn., August 5th, 1746. At the age of twenty, he com- meneed the study of medicine with Doctor James Potter, of his na- tive place, and was licensed to practice the profession, October, 1768. He removed to Roxbury, a parish in Woodbury, and entered into practice, in which he continued for many years with great success, and obtained a high eminence not only in his profession, but as a firm supporter of those principles which elevate and ennoble man. IIe died May 27th, 1818, and was buried in the old burial ground near the place where the first meeting-house stood.
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DOCTOR JOSIAH R. EASTMAN,
Son of the preceding, was born in Roxbury society, February 14tli, 1771, and in the nineteenth year of his age, he commenced the study of medicine and surgery, with Dr. Nathaniel Thayer, a physician of his native parish. He studied two years with him, and the rest of the time spent in preparatory studies, he passed under the tuition of Dr. James Potter, of Sherman. He was licensed to practice, May 2d, 1793, by the Medical Society of Fairfield county, at a meeting held in Danbury.
Previous to his license, he had intended to settle in East Haven, but the scarlet fever being at this time very prevalent in his native place, he returned there, and immediately entered into the practice of his profession. The skill and judgment which he manifested in the management of the prevailing epidemic, laid the foundation for his permanent residence and future usefulness in Roxbury. He was the only permanently settled physician in his native society for nearly thirty-four years. During all this period he was called to practice extensively in the adjoining towns, and frequently to meet his pro- fessional brethren in council, in difficult cases. His success in his profession may not be traced directly to his early acquirements in medical science, but to an inherent, native genius. In 1813, when an epidemic fever prevailed in the southern part of Litchfield county, and nearly all who were attacked fell before it, under the treatment of the most eminent physicians, he introduced a mode of treatment not recognized by any author, with such marked success, that he gained for himself an extended reputation.
He became religious in early life, and connected himself with the Congregational church in Roxbury. He remained during his whole life one of its most efficient and useful members. He was also elected to various civil offices in his town, and in all his ministerial and judi- cial acts was traceable the divine precept, " Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you."
DOCTOR SYLVANUS FANSHER.
Dr. Fansher was a native of Plymouth, Conn., but resided for many years in Southbury. He devoted more than fifty years of his life to the extension of the vaccine or kine poek inoculation, as a rem- edy against that scourge of the human race, the small-pox. For his
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discoveries in expediting the kine pock, he received a diploma from the " Royal Jennerian Society of London." About the year 1802, when the kine pock had become apparently extinct in this country, it was found that a number of persons in Danbury and Goshen had taken the infection, or virus, from milking cows. Dr. Fansher sta- ted that he took the virus from the pustule on the milkmaid's arm, and inoculated an infant with it, which proved to be the genuine kine pock. He also stated that he had known several instances where the infection was taken without any connection with the cow ; and it was his belief that the infection is taken from some shrub or plant, from which, when discovered, we shall know something of the origin of the small pox, and have a sovereign remedy against it, at hand. Dr. Fansher died two or three years ago, after a long life devoted to the investigation of this subject.1
PARLEMON B. FOWLER, M. D.,
Was the immediate successor, in the parish of Bethlem, of Doctors Z. Hull and John Meigs. He was a very skillful physician, and a highly respectable man.
WARREN R. FOWLER, M. D.,
Studied the profession of medicine with Dr. Sheldon, and com- menced its practice in Judea society, in Washington, about the year 1810. He continued in the practice of his profession till his death in 1826. Ile was of excellent repute, both as a man and a physician. In 1818, he received from Yale College the honorary degree of doc- tor in medicine. He married Polly Hanford, and had two children, Henry, a respectable physician at South Bend, Indiana, and George, who died young.
REMUS M. FOWLER, M. D.,
Is a brother of the preceding, and studied medicine with him. He also settled in Washington, and still continues there in full practice, respected as a man and a physician. In 1834, Yale College confer- red on him the honorary degree of doctor in medicine. He has been twice married, and has had three children, Maria, who married Doc-
1 Barber's Historical Collections of Connecticut.
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tor Seth Porter Ford, and resides at the Sandwich Islands ; Jane, who married William W. Leavitt, and Harriet, who also resides at the Sandwich Islands.
DOCTOR STEPHEN B. FAIRCHILD,
Is a native of Newtown, Conn. He studied medicine the usual length of time, and after taking a course of medical lectures, was licensed to practice. Immediately after this he removed to Wood- bury, and is now engaged in the active duties of his profession.
DOCTOR ANDREW GRAHAM,
Was the son of Rev. John Graham, the first minister of Southbury society, and born at Stafford, Conn., in 1728. Having prepared him- self for the practice of medicine, he settled in that profession in South- bury parish, about 1750, and continued in its practice till his death, June 17th, 1785, at the age of fifty-seven years. He resided in the house next south of the White Oak school-house. He obtained a fair reputation as a physician, and an unsullied reputation as a man. Ile was much employed in the public business of the town, especially during the period of the Revolutionary War. He was for a time surgeon's mate in the army. He was a jovial, agreeable and com- panionable man, much endeared to his neighbors and friends. John A. Graham, LL. D., a lawyer of New York, was his son, and erected a plain monument over his grave some years ago, on which is the following inscription :
" Andrew Graham, M. D., a descendant of the Duke of Montrose, departed this for another and better world, in June, 1755, aged 57 years. Out of respect to the memory of an honest man, this marble is placed by his son, John A. Graham, LL. D.
" New York, 1505.
Ne oublie."
DOCTOR ZEPIIANIAH HIULL,
Was born in Cheshire, Conn., in the year 1728; studied the pro- fession of medicine at an early age ; married Hannah Cook, March 28th, 1749, and soon removed to Bethlehem, in Woodbury, probably on account of the influence of Dr. Bellamy, who was a native of the same town, and a few years his senior. He died November 10th, 1760, the same day with his wife, in the " Great Sickness." They
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were buried in one grave, and two of his children, and a young man living in his house, died a few days later. Soon after these deaths, and while others were sick in the house, a Deacon Strong going by, raised a flock of eleven quails, which flew over the house and dropped in the garden. Immediately after three of them rose and flew into the bushes, but the other eight were found dead, and in an hour after putrefied, became offensive and were buried.1 As a physician, and as a man, he ever sustained a high character in the place of his adoption.
DOCTOR TITUS HULL,
Son of the last, was born in Bethlehem parish, March 25th, 1751 ; was the eldest of his surviving children, and lived with an uncle at Cheshire, some six years. After this he studied medicine with Doc- tor Seth Bird, an eminent physician of Litchfield ; settled on the farm owned by his father, now occupied by Benjamin T. Lake, and resided there till 1805. He then removed to Danbury, Conn., where he resided two years, when he removed to the state of New York. Ile was a respectable physician, and perhaps more celebrated in treating diseases of the bowels, particularly every variety of colie, than any other man in the state, in his day.
SAMUEL EUGENE IIARTWELL, ESQ.,
Is a native of Strong, Maine. He prepared for college at Far- mington Academy, Maine ; entered Wesleyan University, at Middle- town, Conn., in 1837, for the purpose of taking the " scientific course" in that institution, and gradnated as bachelor of science, in 1841. Ile studied law with IIon. William W. Ellsworth, at Hart- ford, a judge of the superior court ; commenced the practice of his profession at Suffield, Conn., in 1843, whence he removed to Wood- bury, in 1845. In 1846, being engaged in the invention of a ma- chine for the making of cigars, he removed to the city of New York, where he has since continued to reside. IIe realized some $15,000 from his invention, and is now a land broker in New York.
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