USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Vol. I > Part 19
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Jonathan Williams graduated from Yale College in 1722, and prac- tised medicine in Wethersfield. He died in 1738, aged thirty-two years.
Samuel Porter, of Farmington, was licensed in 1720, and was a sur- geon of some repute. The following certificate is in existence : -
" This may certify that I, the subscriber, do judge the abovesaid Thos. Thomp- son has a considerable insight in the art of physic and chirurgery, and has for many years practised the said art and with good success in his administrations.
SAMUEL PORTER, allowed Chirurgeon. " FARMINGTON, May the 12th, 1721."
Among the early physicians of Farmington were Drs. Hart, Judd, Stanley, Thompson, and Wadsworth. Little is known concerning them.
1 Two establishments for the sale of drugs and medicines were opened in Hartford in 1757 : one by Dr. Sylvanus Gardiner, an eminent physician of Boston, who set up here a branch of his establishment in that city for the importation and sale of drugs, intrusting the business to a junior partner, Dr. William Jepson, under the firm name of Gardiner & Jepson ; the other by Dr. Daniel Lothrop, of Norwich, in connection with Solomon Smith. Dr. Lo- throp, "the first druggist in Norwich, and probably the first in Connecticut who kept any general assortment of medicines for sale," was a graduate of Yale College, and had prosecuted his professional studies in London. Solomon Smith was one of his apprentices and students. In July, 1760, " Lothrop & Smith, at their store in King [now Main] Street," advertised "just imported from London, a large and universal assortment of medicines genuine and of the best kind, sets of surgeon's instruments," etc.
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MEDICAL HISTORY.
Dr. Timothy Hosmer was born in West Hartford, but began medical practice in Farmington, and resided there many years. He served in the Revolutionary War as a surgeon, and after leaving the army returned to Farmington, where he resided until 1790, when he removed to the State of New York, and was appointed the first judge of Ontario County.
Dr. John Hart, a native of Kensington, was also a surgeon in the Revolutionary War. He came to Farmington at some time during the war, and remained there until about 1798, when he entered the naval service of the United States, and soon after died at sea.
Dr. James Hurlburt was born at Berlin in 1717, and for many years practised medicine in his native town. He was a noted character of his time, learned, eccentric, and unfortunate. He died penniless, and but for the friendship of one of the patrons of his early days, would have died homeless as well. The last years of his life were spent in Wethersfield, where he died April 11, 1794, aged seventy-seven years.
Dr. Alexander Wolcott, a distinguished practitioner of Windsor, was born Jan. 7, 1712. He was a son of Governor Roger Wolcott, and a great-grandson of Henry Wolcott, the first ancestor of the family in Connecticut. He studied medicine with Dr. Norman Morrison, and about the year 1740 began the practice of his profession in his native town, where he lived honored and respected until his death, in 1795.
A word must be said of " Dr. Primus," who practised medicine with much success, and gained considerable reputation for being a skilful physician. Primus was a negro slave, and for many years a faithful servant of Dr. Wolcott. He accompanied the Doctor on his medical drives, and helped him in compounding medicines, etc. In his old age, and as a reward for his faithful service, the Doctor gave him his liberty. Primus very soon went to the other side of the river, and, as "Dr. Primus," obtained a considerable practice, often running across the tracks of his former master.
Another prominent medical name connected with Windsor is that of Dr. Elihu Tudor, son of the Rev. Samuel Tudor, and born in that town, Feb. 3, 1732. He graduated from Yale College in 1750, and studied medicine with Dr. Benjamin Gale, of Killingworth, who was a famous physician in his day. Dr. Tudor went to London in 1762, and pursued his medical studies there for two years, after which he returned and settled in East Windsor, where he practised for many years. His reputation as a surgeon was at one time equal if not superior to that of any other in New England. He was one of the founders of the Con- necticut Medical Society, and its second vice-president. He died in 1826, at the advanced age of ninety-three years.
Dr. Timothy Mather also practised in Windsor. He died April 5, 1788, aged thirty-four years.
Dr. Charles Mather graduated at Yale College in 1763. He prac- tised in East (now South) Windsor until about 1795, when he removed to Hartford, where he gained considerable reputation, especially in the treatment of the diseases of women. He died in 1822.
Dr. Christopher Wolcott also practised in Windsor. He was one of the founders of the Hartford County Medical Society.
Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, of Hartford, was in the last quarter of the eighteenth century one of the most eminent practitioners of the county, and ranked among the first physicians of the State, if not at the head
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
of the profession. He was born at Waterbury, June 19, 1750. He practised for some years (1776 to 1784) with Dr. Seth Bird, of Litch- field, with whom he studied medicine, and then removed to Hartford, where he continued in practice during his life. He was a learned man outside of his profession, and a poet and political writer of much note in his day. In 1784 he received an honorary degree from Yale Col- lege. He was one of the founders of the Connecticut Medical Society. He died April 14, 1801, in the fifty-first year of his age.
Josiah Rose, a native of Wethersfield, was a leading physician and surgeon in his day. He died in 1786, aged seventy years.
Dr. William Jepson was a prominent physician of Hartford, in the last half of the last century (see note on a previous page).
Dr. Isaac Mosely, graduated from Yale in 1762, was a practising physician of Glastonbury. At the outbreak of the Revolution he re- moved to England, his sympathies being with the mother country.
Dr. Elizur Hale was also a practitioner, and a native of Glastonbury. He graduated from Yale College in 1742. His son Elizur was a practi- tioner in the same town. He died Dec. 6, 1796.
Dr. Aaron Roberts, of Cromwell, served throughout the Revolution- ary War, and settled in New Britain in 1783. He died in that town, Nov. 21, 1792, aged sixty-two years.
Asaph Coleman, born in Colchester, began the practice of medicine in Glastonbury in 1774. He served throughout the Revolution as a surgeon of Connecticut troops. He was one of the founders of the Hartford County Medical Society. He died Nov. 15, 1820, aged seventy-three years.
Dr. Eliakim Fish, a prominent physician of Hartford, was born in 1741, and graduated from Yale College in 1760. He was the first presi- dent of the Hartford County Medical Society. He died May 7, 1804.
Dr. Josiah Belden was born in Wethersfield, March 29, 1768, and graduated from Yale College in 1787, at the age of nineteen years. He was a pupil of Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, and settled in his native town, where he was held in great esteem both as a physician and as an up- right and godly man. He died June 6, 1818, at the age of forty, of spotted fever, in the fatal epidemic of that disease.
The Hartford County Medical Society was established Sept. 25, 1792. On the 19th of the April preceding, a meeting of the physicians and surgeons of the county had been held at Hartford, in accordance with a request from the Medical Society of New Haven County, which had been established in 1784. The object of this meeting was to appoint delegates "to unite with delegates from the several counties in the State (in a general convention at Hartford in May next ensuing) in fram- ing a General Bill of Incorporation of the Faculty thro'out this State, and to present the same, that it may be passed into an Act by the then convened General Assembly." Dr. Elihu Tudor was chairman of this meeting, and Dr. Elihu H. Smith, clerk. The convention was held at the time appointed, and the Act duly passed by the General Assembly, and " agreeable to Act," etc., the first meeting of the Hartford County Medical Society was held at Hartford, Sept. 25, 1792. From that time to the present, a period of ninety-two years, a meeting of this society has been held each year at Hartford. The officers of this first meeting were Dr. Eliakim Fish, moderator ; Dr. Elihu H. Smith, clerk ; and
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MEDICAL HISTORY.
Dr. John Indicott, treasurer. The delegates elected to represent the county at the first meeting of the Connecticut Medical Society, which was held at Middletown on the second Tuesday of October, 1792, were Dr. Eliakim Fish, Dr. Elihu Tudor, Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, Dr. Josiah Hart, and Dr. Samuel Flagg. The first roll of membership had forty- one names, comprising most if not all of the prominent medical men in the county. They were as follows : -
Howard Alden.
Josiah Hart.
George Olcott.
John Bestor.
John Hart.
Caleb Perkins.
Eliphalet Buck.
Asa Hillyer.
John Potter.
Isaiah Chapman.
Josiah Holt.
Josiah Root.
Mason F. Cogswell.
Lemuel Hopkins.
John Skinner.
Asaph Coleman.
John Indicott.
Elihu H. Smith.
Solomon Everett.
Jason Jerome.
Adna Stanley.
Eliakim Fish.
Joseph Jewett.
Eli Todd.
Samuel Flagg.
Charles Mather.
Elihu Tudor.
Samuel Flagg, Jr.,
Charles Mather, Jr.
Edward Tudor.
Amos Granger.
Titus Merriman.
Theodore Wadsworth.
George Griswold.
Dwell Morgan.
Sylvester Wadsworth.
Joseph Hale.
Abner Moseley.
Christopher Wolcott.
Timothy Hall.
Mark Newell.
There are at this date one hundred and eleven names upon its roll of membership. It would be impossible in this article to mention the names of all who have died since the society was founded, although something could be said of each one who " fought the good fight and kept the faith." It must suffice to mention some few of the more prominent medical names of the county during the present century.
Dr. Elihu H. Smith, the first clerk of the County Society, was born at Litchfield, Sept. 4, 1771, and graduated from Yale College in 1786. He first settled in Hartford, where he practised medicine until 1793, when he removed to New York, and in 1796 was appointed physician to the New York Hospital. He was a man of considerable literary attain- ments. In 1797 he published an opera in three acts, entitled " Edwin and Angelina," and was the supposed author, in 1798, of " André," a five-act tragedy. He fell a victim to the yellow fever, September, 1798, at the age of twenty-seven years, in the epidemic of that year.
Dr. Mason Fitch Cogswell was born at Canterbury, Sept. 17, 1761, and graduated from Yale College in 1780. He is said to have been the " youngest scholar, but the most distinguished, of his class." He studied medicine with his brother, and was associated with him in practice in
Stamford and afterward in New York. In 1789 he settled in Hartford and became a prominent physician in that city, and noted as a skilful surgeon. He ligated the carotid artery in 1803, " at a time when it had been attempted by no other surgeon in America." It was mainly by his efforts that the American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb was established in Hartford. His daughter, Alice Cogswell, was a mute, and the Asylum was the result of his endeavors to ameliorate her unhappy condition. He died Dec. 17, 1833, aged seventy-two years.
Dr. Sylvester Wells came to Hartford in 1806. He was a brilliant man, and became noted for his extreme political views, being a prominent Democrat. His religious and medical views were also extreme. He had many friends, and made many enemies. He lived to an advanced age.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
Dr. Eli Todd, one of the most prominent men of his time, was born in New Haven, July 22, 1769, and graduated from Yale College in 1787. He began the practice of medicine in Farmington. At the age of fifty he removed to Hartford, where he remained until his death. He was the first to call public attention to the condition of the insane in this State, and the necessity of an asylum for these unfortunates, and it was owing mainly to his efforts that the Retreat for the Insane was established in Hartford. He was its first superintendent, and retained the position until his death, which occurred in November, 1833.
Dr. John L. Comstock was a surgeon in the War of 1812. He resided in Hartford, and was the author of several popular books on natural philosophy, chemistry, geology, physiology, etc.
Dr. Elijah F. Reed was for many years a successful practitioner in East Windsor. In 1848 he published a " History of Febrile Diseases," occurring in his practice between the years 1779 and 1837.
Dr. William Tully, who, his biographer says, "was doubtless the most learned and scientific physician of New England," was born at Saybrook Point, Feb. 18, 1785, and graduated from Yale College in 1806. He studied medicine with Dr. Mason F. Cogswell, and afterward with Dr. Eli Ives, of New Haven. In October, 1810, he was, after examina- tion, licensed by the Connecticut Medical Society to practise medicine and surgery ; and in 1819 the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon him by Yale College. Early in life he devoted him- self to the study of botany, and afterward from his writings and teach- ings became noted for his knowledge of the Materia Medica. He first practised in Enfield, then in Milford, and afterward in Middletown. In June, 1822, he removed to East Hartford, from which place he was called in 1826 to fill the chair of Theory and Practice in the Vermont Academy of Medicine. In 1829 he succeeded Dr. Eli Ives as Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Medical Department of Yale College. He resigned his professorship in 1841, and in 1851 removed to Springfield, Mass., where he died Feb. 28, 1859, aged seventy-four years.
Dr. Samuel B. Woodward was born at Torrington, June 10, 1787, and at twenty-one years of age was licensed to practise medicine by the Connecticut Medical Society. He settled in Wethersfield, and became eminent for his professional abilities. He was one of the most active and earnest workers for the establishment of the Retreat for the Insane in Hartford, and about the year 1830 was elected first superintendent of the State Lunatic Asylum at Worcester, Mass., which office he held thirteen years. He was the first president of the Association of Super- intendents of Insane Asylums in the United States, which was founded in 1844. A few years before his death, and on account of ill health, he gave up his position in the asylum at Worcester, and removed to Northampton, where he died Jan. 3, 1850, aged sixty-three years.
Dr. Amariah Brigham was born at New Marlborough, Mass., Dec. 26, 1798, and early in life began the study of medicine with Dr. E. C. Peet, of Marlborough, and afterward with Dr. Plumb, of Canaan. He began the practice of medicine before he was twenty-one years of age, in Enfield, Mass., where he remained two years, after which he removed to Greenfield, Mass., where he practised seven years. He then went to Europe, remaining abroad about two years. In 1831 he settled in Hartford, and in 1840 was chosen superintendent of the Retreat for
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MEDICAL HISTORY.
the Insane in that city. This position he retained until the fall of 1842, when he was chosen superintendent of the Insane Asylum at Utica, New York, which office he held until his death, Sept. 8, 1849. He was the author of several books upon subjects connected with his specialty, and was the founder and editor of the first journal in the United States devoted exclusively to the subject of insanity.
Dr. Edwin Wells Carrington, a prominent physician of Farmington, was born at Woodbridge (now Bethany), July 8, 1805, and graduated from the medical department of Yale College, March 4, 1828. He settled in Farmington, where he remained in active practice until his death, Feb. 8, 1852, at the age of forty-seven years.
Dr. Archibald Welch was born in Mansfield, March 13, 1794. In September, 1816, he was licensed to practise medicine by the board of medical censors of Windham County. In 1832 he removed to Weth- ersfield to take the place of Dr. S. B. Woodward, upon the removal of the latter to Worcester. He removed to Hartford in 1848, and prac- tised there during the remainder of his life. He was killed May 6, 1853, in the Norwalk drawbridge disaster on the New York and New Haven Railroad, while returning with other delegates from the meeting of the American Medical Association, which had been held in New York City.
Dr. George Sumner was born in Pomfret, Dec. 13, 1794, graduated from Yale College in 1813, and received his degree of Doctor of Medi- cine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1817. He went to Hart- ford, Jan. 1, 1819, and practised his profession in that city until his death, which occurred Feb. 20, 1855. He was a man of more than ordinary attainments, and an honored and successful practitioner. He was the Professor of Botany in Trinity College for more than twenty years, and was the author of a valuable work on that science. He was one of the founders of the Retreat for the Insane, and a most energetic and zealous worker in its behalf. At the death of Dr. Todd he was unanimously elected to fill the office of superintendent ; but he de- clined the offer, though he remained a director and a medical visitor until his death.
From the year 1855 to 1870 there were but few deaths among the medical practitioners of the county.
William S. Pierson, M.D., of Windsor, a descendant of the Rev. Abraham Pierson, who emigrated from England in 1640, was born at North Killingworth, Nov. 17, 1787, graduated from Yale College in 1808, and received his medical degree from Dartmouth College in 1813. After practising his profession in his native town for a few months, he removed to Durham, where he remained four years, and then, in 1818, removed to Windsor, where he spent the remaining forty-two years of his life. It was the custom in those days for the people of a town, when they were in want of a physician, to extend to him a formal invitation to settle among them ; and it was in answer to such an invitation that Dr. Pierson went to Windsor. He died July 16, 1860, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.
Jared Whitfield Pardee, M.D., was born at East Haven, Jan. 2, 1792, graduated from Yale College, and received his medical degree from the same institution. IFc settled in Bristol, where he practised for many years, and where he died Jan. 7, 1867, aged seventy-five years.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
During the next decade, a number of physicians, prominent in their profession, dropped from the ranks; among them were the following :
Henry Holmes, M.D., a genial gentleman of the old school, was born at Litchfield, Feb. 14, 1795, and graduated from the medical de- partment of Yale College in 1825. He first practised in Durham, and removed to Hartford in 1833, where he remained until his death, July 31, 1870, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.
Samuel B. Beresford, M.D., well known throughout the State as a suc- cessful physician, a skilful surgeon, and an accomplished gentleman, was born in Dutch Guiana, July 5, 1806. In 1826 he received a surgeon's diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons at Edinburgh, and a degree in medicine from the University of Edinburgh. On the 3d of Novem- ber of the same year he was made a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in London. He came to Hartford, May 12, 1834, with his father, Dr. James Beresford, who was also a member of the Royal Col- lege of Surgeons of London, and a surgeon in the British army. Father and son practised together until the death of the former, March 4, 1843. Dr. James Beresford was born Jan. 8, 1783. Dr. Samuel B. Beresford remained in Hartford in active practice until 1870, when he was obliged to relinquish it on account of ill health. He died at Hartford, Oct. 13, 1873, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.
Dr. Albert Morrison, of Windsor, was born at Hebron, March 13, 1820, and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, in 1847. His death was a very sad one. While driv- ing one of his cows from the railroad track, he was struck by the locomotive of a passing train and instantly killed. "He died on the 18th of July, 1873, and was buried from the church which he so dearly loved. The attending crowd bore witness to the honor and respect in which he was held."
William R. Brownell, M.D., was born at Providence, March 30, 1828, and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, in 1851. He settled in Hartford, where he practised until 1861, when he entered the service of the United States and served as a surgeon in the army throughout the Civil War. At the close of the Rebellion, in 1865, he returned to Hartford and resumed the practice of his profession. He died at Hartford, Dec. 1, 1873.
Lucien S. Wilcox, M.D., was born in Granby, July 17, 1826. He graduated from Yale College in 1850, and received his medical de- gree from the same institution in 1855. In 1857 he settled in Hart- ford, where he remained until his death. In 1877 he was elected to the Chair of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in the medical department of Yale College, which he held at the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 26, 1881.
James C. Jackson, M.D., was born at Cornish, New Hampshire, Aug. 22, 1818, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1844, and re- ceived his degree of Doctor of Medicine from Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, in 1847. He settled in Hartford, where he remained in active practice until his death. He obtained considerable reputa- tion as an obstetrician, and his practice in that branch of the profession was very large. He died from pneumonia, Feb. 7, 1882, aged sixty- four years.
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MEDICAL HISTORY.
George B. Hawley, M.D., was born at Bridgeport, Feb. 13, 1812, graduated from Yale College in 1833, and from the medical depart- ment of the same college in 1835. In 1836 he became associated with Dr. Silas Fuller, then superintendent of the Retreat for the Insane at Hartford. In 1840 he commenced general practice in Hartford. Dr. Hawley was the founder of the Hartford Hospital, and it is owing chiefly to his untiring labors and keen oversight that this institution is so admirably adapted for carrying out the charitable purposes for which it was established. He began his work for the Hospital in 1854, and from that time it became the work of his life, and he was the lead- ing spirit in its management until his death, which took place April 18, 1883, at the age of seventy-one years. To Dr. Hawley is also due in a large measure the founding of the Old People's Home in Hartford. A history of both of these institutions, as well as that of the American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb and the Retreat for the Insane, will be found in another part of this volume. It is to be noted, however, that the first promoters of all of these noble charities were members of the medical profession. "By their works shall ye know them."
Charles W. Chamberlain, M.D., was born at Providence, July 21, 1844, graduated from Brown University in 1867, and from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, in 1871. He settled in Hartford soon after his graduation, and early in his carcer turned his attention to sanitary matters and became an authority throughout the State on questions of public hygiene. It was in a great measure due to his efforts that a State Board of Health was established by the legislature of Connecticut. He was appointed its first secretary and did much toward making it effective. He was Secretary of the Connecticut Medical Society from 1876 to 1883. He died Aug. 21, 1884, in the forty-first year of his age.
Harry Allen Grant, M.D., was born at St. Simon's Island, Georgia, Jan. 23, 1813. He graduated at Union College in 1830, received his medical education at the Baltimore Medical College, began practice in Albany, New York, and settled in Hartford in 1837. Here he re- mained for twelve years, when, owing to ill health, he was obliged to give up the practice of his profession. He died at Enfield, Nov. 30, 1884, in the seventy-second year of his age.
The following is a list of physicians of Hartford County who served in the War of the Rebellion : -
Matthew T. Newton May 13, 1861-Feb. 17, 1864.
Benjamin N. Comings Nov. 6, 1861-Jan. 26, 1863.
George Clary Nov. 9, 1861-April 25, 1866.
William R. Brownell 1
Nov. 9, 1861-Dec. 2, 1864. Henry P. Stearns
April 18, 1861-July 31, 1861.
May 22, 1861-Sept. 25, 1865.
Samuel W. Skinner Robert E. Ensign Sept. 2, 1861-Jan. 3, 1862.
George A. Hurlburt 1 Dec. 11, 1861-Ang. 2, 1865.
Charles R. Hart Dec. 27, 1861-Aug. 25, 1865.
Nathan Mayer Mar. 10, 1862-June 24, 1865.
Levi Jewett
July 15, 1862-Jan. 4, 1865.
1 Died since the war.
VOL. I .- 10.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
Abner S. Warner July 28, 1862-Jan. 28, 1863.
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