USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Vol. I > Part 18
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In the next decade, 1831 to 1840, only thirty new members appear in the list of practising attorneys. Five of these, perhaps more, are living. These are James H. Holcomb, William R. Cone, Henry A. Mitchell, Henry Nash, and Francis Fellowes.
Isaac E. Crary, born in Preston, was an attorney in Hartford, 1831-1832. He removed to Michigan, where he became a major-general of militia, representative to Congress, etc. Hiram Hunt was in Farm- ington, 1831 ; perhaps he removed to New York. Anson Bates was in Granby and East Granby, 1831-1869. Chauncey P. Holcomb was a law- yer in Granby, of which place he was a native, in 1831. He removed thence to Philadelphia, then to Newcastle, Delaware, where he died about 1850.
William Hungerford
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Charles Chapman, mentioned elsewhere, was in Hartford, 1832-1869 ; the latter being the date of his death. He was a most successful crimi- nal lawyer within and without this State, and a famous wit. John B. Watson was in Hartford, 1832-1838; then in East Hartford, 1839. Philo A. Goodwin was a Hartford lawyer, 1833-1840. Edmond Holcomb practised in Granby, 1833-1872 ; Hector F. Phelps, in Simsbury, 1833- 1848. Richard G. Drake -in Windsor, 1833-1838, in Hartford, 1839- 1858- was associated with Charles Chapman. He was one of the most active grand-jurors in Hartford. A. A. Loomis practised in Hartford, 1834-1837. James H. Holcomb, a native of Granby, practised in Hart- ford from 1834 until his removal to Nice, France, some years ago, where he now resides. William R. Cone, a native of East Haddam, was asso- ciated with Mr. Hungerford, in Hartford, from 1834 until the date of Mr. Hungerford's death, and still lives in Hartford, president of the Ætna National Bank and prominent in affairs in the city. Henry Nash, now of New Britain, has practised in Hartford, Berlin, and New Britain, successively. Royal R. Hinman, a native of Southington, once Secretary of State, was a Hartford attorney in 1849. He also practised in Southington, 1833-1834. Henry R. Buckland practised in Windsor, 1834-1835.
Edward Goodman practised in Hartford from 1835 until his death in 1882; James Raymond in Hartford, 1835. Benning Mann came from Stafford to Hartford, where he was an attorney, 1835-1863. As a trial-justice, many criminals were prosecuted before him. M. A. Nickerson practised in Berlin, 1835-1836; Henry A. Mitchell (men- tioned elsewhere), in Hartford and Bristol since 1836. Frank G. Mer- riman, in Hartford, 1837-1839, removed to Galveston, Texas, where he may be still living. He married a Mexican lady for his second wife, and became a judge, besides holding other offices.
James Dixon, a native of Enfield, practised in Hartford, 1837-1847, when he was elected a representative to Congress. After this he re- sumed practice, 1850-1857, when he became United States Senator, and so remained until 1869. He did not again resume practice in his profession. He was a very adroit debater, and was accomplished in literature. Henry Perkins practised in Hartford, 1838-1862; Giles Pettibone, in Hartford, 1838-1841, then in Simsbury until 1852. Fran- cis Fellowes, born in Montville, came to Hartford about 1838, where he opened a law office, and from that date has been one of the most promi- nent and learned in his profession. He is a scholar in the classics and modern languages, and has recently published a manual of Astronomy. William N. Matson began practice in Hartford about 1838. He became Judge of Probate, and was a reporter of decisions of the Supreme Court. He ceased practice some years before his death, which was in 1876. William M. Durand practised in Hartford, 1839-1841. Thomas H. Seymour's name was borne on the list of Hartford attorneys many years, beginning in 1839. He was never, however, active as a lawyer. He was noted for his courtesy, and was admired and loved by a great many friends. He was a colonel, by brevet, in the Mexican War, Gov- ernor of the State, Minister to Russia, etc. He died in 1868.
From 1840 to 1849, inclusive, the new members of the Bar numbered about thirty-six. Of this number probably ten or twelve are living.
Chauncey Howard, who came from Coventry to Hartford about
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1840, was many years Clerk of Courts, and has been Comptroller of the State. He has retired from the profession. A. R. Park had his office in Hartford, 1840-1841 ; Silas Gridley, in Bristol, 1840-1846; Charles H. Tuthill, Hartford, 1841-1847 ; John Brocklesby, Jr., Hartford, 1842. He has since been a professor and acting president of Trinity College. He is an author of several works relating to physics, astronomy, etc. He came from England when about ten years of age. James C. Walkley, of Haddam, began practice in Hartford in 1842, but is now in private life. Thomas M. Day (son of Thomas, elsewhere noticed) an attorney in Hartford since 1841, has been long out of practice. He was for some years an editor of the " Courant." John Chenevard Comstock, of Hart- ford, a son of John Lee Comstock, the noted author of works on natural history and physies, was a Hartford lawyer from 1842 until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he entered the service as a commissioned officer. He has since died. Thomas S. Williams, 2d, appears in Hartford, 1842, the year of his death.
Aholiab Johnson, who began in Enfield, in 1842, is still living. John Hooker, of Farmington, practised there, 1842-1851, since which time he has been a Hartford lawyer. He has been reporter of decisions in the Supreme Court of the State since 1858. Frederick M. Walker was in Enfield, 1842-1844 ; Seymour N. Case, in Hartford, 1843, until his death in 1872; Governor Richard Dudley Hubbard (noticed elsewhere), in Hartford, 1843-1884 ; William D. Ely, in Hartford, 1844-1856; Samuel E. Hartwell, Suffield, 1844-1845 ; Henry T. Welles, Hartford, 1845-1846.
Charles De Wolf Brownell, the artist, is registered as a Hartford lawyer, 1845-1848 ; Henry Howard Brownell, Hartford, 1845-1848; East Hartford, 1851. He was Admiral Farragut's Secretary, and the author of several stirring "War Lyrics," published during the late Civil War. Elihu Spencer practised in Hartford, 1846 ; Horace Cornwall, Hartford, 1846-1850 ; East Hartford, 1851, whence he returned to Hartford.
Lucius F. Robinson practised in Hartford from 1846 until his death in 1861. He ranked very high in his profession, though cut off before he had reached his prime. His wife was the only daughter of Governor Joseph Trumbull. The world is indebted to him for some fine literary productions, among which are his notes and translations from the Greek, Latin, and Hebrew in an edition of Mather's Magnalia. The Hon. Henry C. Robinson is his brother. Edwin O. Goodwin was a Hartford lawyer in 1846 ; in Bristol, 1849-1860. Charles K. Atwood, of Newington, was in Hartford, 1847 ; Eliphalet Adams Bulkeley, of Colchester, 1847-1871, the latter year being the date of his death. He had practised in East Haddam before coming to Hartford. He was the first judge of the Hartford Police Court. He had retired from practice, long before his death, to become president of the Etna Life Insurance Company. Andrew Miller was in Hartford, 1847. Dwight W. Pardee, mentioned elsewhere, began practice in Hartford in 1847. Hubert F. North was an attorney in Berlin, 1847-1850 ; R. A. Erving was in Hartford, 1848- 1854, and was lost in the steamer "Pacific;" A. R. Wadsworth was in Farmington, 1848-1849. Calvin W. Phileo was in Suffield, 1848-1853 ; in Hartford, 1854-1858. He was the author of "Twice Married," and other published works. He died young. Lewis J. Dudley was in Hart- ford one year, 1849. Samuel P. Newell has practised in Bristol, his
Joan P. Kvalita
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native town, since 1849; Thomas Cowles, in Farmington, where he was born, 1849-1884, the year of his death; Alfred J. Works, in Thomp- sonville, 1849-1850 ; Jeffrey O. Phelps, Sr., of whom mention is made elsewhere, in Simsbury, from 1849 until his decease about 1877. He was admitted late in life, upon an examination ; a wholly self-taught student.
From 1850 to 1859, inclusive, there were nearly, if not quite, seventy members added to the Hartford County Bar. Probably more than one fifth have since died. Among those who have passed away are: Colo- nel Henry Champion Deming, noted as a scholar and orator, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere ; Henry Sherman, a native of Albany, who came to Manchester from New York City about 1850, thence to Hartford, 1852, where he remained until about 1863 ; author of a Digest of the Law of Marine Insurance and of a Governmental His- tory of the United States ; Heman Humphrey Barbour, a native of Canton, a successful lawyer, and judge of the Hartford Court of Pro- bate ; Jerome B. Brown, in Hartford ; Goodwin Collier (died 1885), a native of Hartford, where, while a resident of Connecticut, he prac- tised, was possessed of a large amount of general information, and was an authority in musical matters. He was judge of the police court. Wait N. Hawley was in Thompsonville and Hartford ; Seth E. Case, in New Britain ; George W. Gidding, in Hartford ; died young. John C. Palmer, a native of East Haddam, practised a short time in Hartford, when he became president of the Sharps Rifle Manufac- turing Company. Julius L. Strong, a native of Bolton, and student of Judge Martin Welles, and died in 1872, while a member of the lower house of Congress.1 Henry Kirke White Welch, a native of Mansfield and former resident of Wethersfield, though dying at the age of forty-nine years, was in the front rank in his profession.
Some of the most prominent citizens and lawyers still living, who joined or were admitted during the decade ending in 1859, may be men- tioned here. They include : the Hon. Charles R. Chapman, now post- master of Hartford ; General Joseph Roswell Hawley ; ex-Police-Judge George S. Gilman ; ex-United States Senator William W. Eaton (born in Tolland) ; Francis Chambers, from Rocky Hill; Samuel Finley Jones, from Marlborough ; Frederick B. Perkins, a well-known author and magazine writer, now of San Francisco; Judge Nathaniel Shipman, of the United States District Court for Connecticut ; David S. Calhoun, now Judge of the Court of Common Pleas ; Walter S. Merrell, of South- ington, ex-Judge of Probate ; Robert E. Day, from East Haddam, now president of the Security Company, Hartford ; James Nichols, ex-Judge of Probate for Hartford ; ex-Judge William D. Shipman, United States District Court, now of New York City ; George Griswold Sill, ex-Lieutenant-Governor of the State; Zalmon A. Storrs, once judge of the County Court for Tolland County, now treasurer of the Society for Savings ; Roger Welles, of Newington, and historian of that town- ship ; Charles H. Briscoe, of Enfield, ex-Judge of the Common Pleas Court ; Charles W. Johnson, son of General Nathan Johnson, now clerk of the Supreme and Superior Courts ; Elisha Johnson, ex-Judge of the
1 His former law-partner, the Hon. John R. Buck, of this city, now occupies the seat in Congress.
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City and Police Courts ; Henry C. Robinson, who was twice the candi- date of the Republican party for governor of Connecticut ; Charles J. Hoadly, a noted historian, and, for many years past, State Librarian ; Charles E. Perkins, a leading lawyer, president of the Bar Association ; Charles Whittlesey, an officer in the late Civil War, perhaps deceased ; Austin Hart, once in Farmington, now in New Britain ; Major John C. Parsons, son of the late Judge Francis Parsons ; John Hurlburt White, Judge of Probate for Hartford; William S. Goslee, the historian of Glastonbury.
The decade ending in 1869 witnessed the advent of about eighty additional members of this Bar. Probably one sixth, or more, of these have died. Many are in parts unknown to the writer. Among the dead are: Captain Charles Edwin Bulkeley, son of the late Judge Eli- phalet A. Bulkeley, of Hartford, died in the late war ; Francis Fellowes, Jr., who served in the late war, died a few years after its close at Hart- ford ; Albert W. Drake, who was first lieutenant of Captain Joseph R. Hawley's company, organized April 22, 1861 ; Henry L. Miller, a judge of the City Court ; Ezra Hall, a native of Marlborough, a State Senator, and president pro tem. of the Senate; Monroe E. Merrill, from Bark- hamsted, Judge of the Hartford Police Court. Loren Pinckney Waldo, who came to Hartford from Tolland, 1863, was one of the ablest and most upright members of the Bar. He was honored with many minor offices ; was State's attorney for Tolland County, Judge of Probate, rep- resentative to Congress, Commissioner of Pensions under President Pierce, twice on the committee for the revision of the Statutes of Con- necticut, and Judge of the Superior Court. He was also president of the Bar Association and author of a History of Tolland.
George Dennison Prentice and William Henry Burleigh, both once residents of Hartford, were members of the Bar. But they were more conspicuous as poets and journalists.
In the last sixteen years many have joined the ranks of the legal fraternity, some of whom have already risen to positions of honor and trust or have become prominent in their chosen profession. Some have passed from earth, some have removed to other places, some (a very few) have been expelled, and the standard of qualifications for admis- sion is higher than ever before. With all the vacancies that have occurred, the ranks are still over-full ; and we cannot, with the limited time and space at command, even mention many whose names we would gladly include in this too long-drawn sketch of members of the Hartford County Bar.
S.Mteams
NOTE. The writer is indebted to the Hon. Henry C. Robinson, and to Charles J. Hoadly, Esq., for valuable suggestions made by them during the preparation of this article. It is to be especially observed that, owing to the limited space of this paper, no attempt is made to name the living attorneys admitted to the bar since 1859. This accounts for the absence of the names of some of the leading lawyers of the present time.
CHAPTER VII.
THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
I.
BY W. A. M. WAINWRIGHT, M.D.
THE history of medicine in the Connecticut Colony, for a hundred years after its first settlement, is meagre enough. During this period very few regularly graduated practitioners of the old country appear to have been attracted by the "opening " offered to them in the new. For instance, Judd, in his History of Hadley, Mass. says, that from the year 1667 to 1730 there was no physician or surgeon in Northampton, which was " a large and rich town."
Dr. Samuel A. Green, in his " History of Medicine in Massachu- setts," is authority for the following statement : "Harvard College was founded in the year 1638; and during the period from this time till 1750 there were but nine of its graduates who had ever received a medical degree."
In anticipation of their exodus to this country, many ministers studied the medical art, so that they might be able in their new habita- tion to care for the bodies as well as the souls of their flocks. Many of them were able physicians ; and some, after a time, relinquished their ministerial duties, and confined themselves to the practice of medicine and surgery ; being licensed as regular practitioners by the General Court of the colony. The " goodwife," with her knowledge of " sim- ples," and the horrible compounds of bugs, animal secretions and ex- cretions, and the like, which were in common use, was also a medical power, and held her own in the practice of the healing art. Each of the early settlements doubtless had one or more " old women," whose services were usually called for in cases of sickness, and whose opinions were looked up to and relied upon. This was particularly the case in childbirth, as for many years the practice of obstetrics was entirely in the hands of the midwives. In the early years of the colony, all that was necessary to become a " respectable practitioner" of medicine was to study, or, as it was often called, " to ride," with some medical man for a year or two, seeing his patients, and getting from him what medical knowledge he was able to impart. Application was then made to the General Court of the colony for a license to " practise Physic and Chirurgery." If the application was indorsed by a few respectable names, the license was granted, and the applicant became a " Doctor." There were many, of course, who practised medicine without this license, as it was not required by law. Any one, after "riding " with a doctor, could go into practice as soon as he felt able to ride alone.
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The earliest medical name found in the records of the colony is that of Dr. Bray (or Bryan) Rosseter, who was the first physician, and one of the most prominent men among the first settlers of Windsor in 1636. He was admitted to practice by the General Court of Connecti- cut shortly after his arrival, " being first tried and approved by Rev. Mr. Hooker, Rev. Mr. Stone, and old Mr. Smith, of Wethersfield, in the face of said Court."
He was also a magistrate, and served as town clerk until 1652, about which time he moved to Guilford, where he died in 1672. In January, 1655-6, the town of Hartford granted £10 "towards [the Rev.] Mr. Stone's charge of Phissick which he hath taken of Mr. Rossc- ter." The next year Mr. Stone gave, as one reason of his proposed removal from Hartford, that " we have no Physician at Hartford or near at hand," and made it a condition of his remaining, that the church should engage " to procure some able phisitian to dwell and settle here in Hartford before the next October (1657), if it be possible that such a man may be obtayned."
Stiles, in his History of Windsor, says, "The first post-mortem ex- amination made in the colony of Connecticut was made by Dr. Rossc- ter." " March 11th 1662-3. The Court allows unto Mr. Rosscter twenty pounds in reference to opening Kellies child, and his paynes to visit the Dep. Governor, and his paynes in visiting and administering to Mr. Talcott."
It is not absolutely certain that this " opening Kellies child " was not some ante-mortem surgical operation ; but if it was post-mortem, as is most probable, it was the first antopsy made in New England, of which any record has been found, antedating by a dozen years the one made in Boston in 1674, an account of which is given by Dr. Green in his " History of Medicine in Massachusetts," and said by him to have been " one of the carliest recorded instances of a post-mortem examina- tion to be found in New England."
From 1636 to 1652 there appears to have been but one other regu- larly authorized practitioner of medicine in the colony. This was Dr. Jasper Gunn, who came over to this country in 1635, at the age of twenty-nine. In May, 1636, he was made a freeman of Massachusetts, and settled in Roxbury. He removed to Milford, and afterward, about 1646, to Hartford. The inventory of Giles Whiting, April, 1656, men- tions his indebtedness " to Jasper Gunn for physic and visits £2.10." In May, 1657, the General Court of Connecticut freed him from " train- ing, watching, and warding during his practice of Physic." Soon after this he returned to Milford, where he died in 1670. In the Trinity Col- lege Library is a curious old Almanac published in London in 1652, by Sir George Wharton, which belonged to Dr. Jasper Gunn. It is in- terleaved, and was used by him as an account-book, and on its pages are charges for medical services and drugs, against many of the promi- nent citizens of Hartford of that day. There is also in the library a book which belonged to Dr. Rosseter. It is a large vellum-bound folio, a Commentary on Hippocrates, by Vallesius, published in Cologne in 1588. On the titlepage is written, " Ex dono dimi Hopkins, Bray Rosseter his book."
In 1652 Thomas Lord was licensed by the General Court to practise physic and surgery in Hartford and the neighboring towns. His fees
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were as follows : "This Court doth grant that he shall be paid by the County the sum of fifteen pounds for the said ensuing year, and they do declare that for every visit or journey that he shall take or make, being sent for to any house in Hartford, twelve pence is reasonable ; to any house in Windsor, five shillings ; to any house in Wethersfield, three shillings ; to any house in Farmington, six shillings ; to any house in Mattabeseck [Middletown] eight shillings (he having promised that he will require no more) ; and that he shall be freed for the time afore- said from watching, warding, and training, but not from finding arms according to law." Dr. Lord died in Wethersfield in 1662.
In 1654 Daniel Porter of Farmington was licensed to practise " Physic and Chirurgery," and was allowed "six pounds a year with six shillings to each town upon the river to exercise his art of surgery." He seems to have had considerable reputation as a bone-setter. In 1670 the General Court raised his salary on the condition that he would instruct one or more persons in his art. Thomas Hooker, of Farming- ton, and Samuel Mather, of Windsor, were the two selected, and in due time were licensed to practise " Physick and Chyrurgy in this Colonie." The first really noted medical name to appear in the records of the " good old colony times " is that of Gershom Bulkeley. He was the son of the Rev. Peter Bulkeley, who came from England and settled in Concord, Mass., in 1635. Dr. Bulkeley was born during the voyage. He graduated at Harvard College, and after pursuing the study of Divinity and Medicine for several years, removed to Connecti- cut. For twenty years he followed the ministry, and was pastor of the churches in New London and Wethersfield. In one of the Indian wars he was chosen surgeon to the colonial forces. He then gave up the ministry, and in 1686 the General Court, " being acquainted with the ability, skill, and knowledge of Gershom Bulkeley in the art of physic and chirurgery, did grant him full and free liberty and license to prac- tise as there shall be occasion and he shall be agreeable." From this it is evident that during the twenty years of his ministerial life he practised as well as preached. He finally removed to the east side of the river, afterward incorporated as Glastonbury, and for thirty years followed the practice of medicine. He died in Glastonbury, in 1713, at the age of seventy-eight years. From the inscription upon his grave- stone in the churchyard in Wethersfield it appears that he was regarded as a "man of rare abilities and extraordinary industry, excellent in learning, master of many languages, exquisite in his skill in Divinity, . Physics, and Law, and of a most exemplary and Christian life. In cer- tam spem beate resurrectionis repositus." Most of his medical library is now in the possession of Trinity College.
Mention should be made of John Winthrop, Jr., who while Governor of Connecticut lived in Hartford (1657 to 1676). He was a noted physician and an accomplished scholar, and doubtless practised his profession in the colony.
Dr. Samuel Mather, of Windsor, was born at Branford in 1677, graduated at Harvard College in 1698, and was licensed to practise by the General Court in 1702. He was held in high esteem both as a physician and a citizen, holding civil and military offices of importance. He died Feb. 6, 1745, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. Samuel Higley, of Simsbury, was licensed to practise in 1717. He kept school
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for three years, during two of which he studied medicine with Drs. Thomas Hooker and Samuel Mather, and was a man of considerable scientific attainments. He discovered a process of making steel, and in May, 1728, received a patent for it from the General Assembly. The record reads as follows: "The said Higley hath found out and ob- tained a curious art by which to convert, change, and transmute com- inon iron into good steel sufficient for any use, and that he was the very first that ever performed such an operation in America . .. asks for the privilege and license for the sole practice of the said art for a term of ten years. We, being willing to give all due encouragement to works of this nature, are pleased to condescend to this request."
In 1722, Dr. Jonathan Bull, who, Dr. Sumner says, " was for many years the physician of the county," was, after studying with a physician in Boston for seven years, licensed to practise medicine in Hartford.
In 1736, Dr. Norman Morrison, a native of Scotland, bearing a medical diploma from the University of Edinburgh, came to this country and settled in Hartford. He was regarded as a learned physician, and became the instructor of many young men in the colony. "He died much loved and lamented, April 9, 1761, in ye 55 year of his age." Dr. Sumner says of him : " He was the first man in the colony who separated the practice of medicine from pharmacy and encouraged the establish- ment of an independent apothecary in this city [Hartford], and by so doing he proved himself in advance of the other physicians."1 Dr. Joseph M. Toner, of Washington, D. C., in his " Contributions to the Annals of Medical Progress in the United States," says that Dr. John Morgan of Philadelphia was, in 1765, the first American physician to adopt and publicly advocate the theory that medical men should confine themselves to prescribing remedies, leaving to the apothecary the com- pounding of medicines." Perhaps Dr. Morgan got his ideas on this subject from Dr. Morrison, who had, some years before, advocated the same theory in Hartford.
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