USA > Washington DC > Eminent and representative men of Virginia and the District of Columbia in the nineteenth century. With a concise historical sketch of Virginia > Part 15
USA > Virginia > Eminent and representative men of Virginia and the District of Columbia in the nineteenth century. With a concise historical sketch of Virginia > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
Teunis, who was the only child born to his parents, had his earliest training in a district school, which he entered a month before his fourth birthday, being then a {very good reader and speller. He pre- pared for college at the academy of and he now, in conjunction with Mr. Charlton, Saratoga county, New York, Joseph Bowes, of Baltimore, Md., holds control and direction of all the interests of that corporation in the region of the capital city.
TEUNIS SLINGERLAND HAMLIN,
one of the most brilliant, eloquent, and useful clergymen of the national capital. was born at Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, on the 31st of May, 1847. His father was Solomon Curtis Hamlin, a farmer, who was born in the Mr. Hamlin had been brought up it the same place, and whose father, Caleb Reformed (Dutch) church of Glenville, Jewett Hamlin, was born in, and came of which his uncle, the Rev. Elbert Sling- from, Sharon, Connecticut. This Con- erland, had at one time been for nine necticut family of Hamlins were related years the pastor. During his junior year to the Maine family, in which were in college, he united with the First Re- Hannibal Hamlin, late vice-president of formed (Dutch) church of Schenectady; the United States, and the Rev. Cyrus and at the beginning of 1869, entered the llamlin, D. D., LL. D., missionary to Theological seminary of that denomina- Turkey and founder and first president tion at New Brunswick, New Jersey. of Robert college at Constantinople. The following autumn he went to the Union seminary, New York city, whence he was graduated in the spring of 1871. The Hamlins are of Iluguenot blood; but their earlier ancestors went from France to England with William the He was one of five selected by vote of
and entered Union college, at Schenect- ady, at the beginning of the sophomore year in September, 1864. He was gradu- ated with honor in July, 1867. For a year he was principal of the high school at Ypsilanti, Michigan, teaching Latin, Greek and metaphysics. In the fall of 1868, he became principal of one of the the public schools of Detroit, - the Houghton,-but resigned after four months to prosecute theological studies.
145
PERSONAL SKETCHES - DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
the class, subject to the approval of the delay occasioned by the collapse of the faculty, to speak at the commencement magnificent tower, the main building was occupied for worship on the last Sun- day of February, 1889. It was immedi- ately filled by a congregation embracing, among many distinguished families President Harrison, Secretaries Blaine, Windom and Elkins, and Postmaster- General Wanamaker. In this pastorate Mr. Hamlin has been very successful, the membership of the church having more than quadrupled within five years, and its influence being very widely felt. held in Madison Square church. His theme was "Culture, in its true idea." He was licensed to preach by the Con- gregational association of New York and Brooklyn on the 5th of April, 1871; was almost immediately called to the pastorate of the Woodside Presbyterian church of Troy, New York; and was ordained and installed by the presbytery of Troy on the 28th of September, 1871, his theolog- ical teacher, Dr. Henry Boynton Smith, preaching the sermon. He remained in this pastorate precisely thirteen years- the church greatly prospering, and its pastor gaining a wide ecclesiastical in- fluence. Meantime he received numer- ous calls, not only to prominent Presbyterian churches, but to several leading pulpits in New England. In 1884, he accepted a call to the Mount Auburn Presbyterian church of Cincinnati, Ohio, and was installed as pastor on the 11th of Y.) November. Deep religious interest soon manifested itself, and over one hundred persons confessed Christ within a few months. The church grew rapidly in all directions, especially in the formation of a very vigorous Young People's Christian union. In March, 1886, a unanimous call was extended to Mr. Hamlin by the church of the Covenant of Washington, D. C. This was a new Presbyterian church, organized only the October pre- vious, and embracing a number of the most eminent men at the capital. Mr. Hamlin accepted the call, and began work May 9th, 1886, being installed on the 9th of November. The congregation Washington, and is renowned for his was at this time worshiping in the chapel, broad sympathies and public spirit. He but steps were at once taken to build the has been largely instrumental in organiz- contemplated church edifice. Work was ing the "Memorial association of the pushed rapidly; and notwithstanding the District of Columbia," whose purpose is
In June, 1886, Union college conferred upon Mr. Hamlin the degree of doctor of divinity. Two years later he delivered the baccalaureate at his alma mater. He has also been one of the university preachers at Cornell, at Princeton, and at Vassar. On the 11th of November, 1890, he delivered an eulogium upon the late Dr. Ransom Bethune Welch, before the faculty and students of the Auburn (N. theological seminary. He has, written for many newspapers and maga- zines and reviews, and his sermons have been numerously published. A small volume from his pen has just appeared (1892) entitled “Denominationalism versus Christian Union," and has met with general commendation. He has always been active in ecclesiastical mat- ters, and is chairman of the committee of his presbytery on the revision of the confession of faith. He is one of the trustees of the United Society of Christ- ian Endeavor. He has also been closely identified with all leading questions of public interest in Troy, Cincinnati and
146
PERSONAL SKETCHES - DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
the perservation of historic houses and a year, and in 1849, after passing his places at the national capital.
Mr. Hamlin was married February 4th, 1873, to Miss Frances E. Bacon, of Ypsilanti, Michigan. They have two sons, Elbert and Francis.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER HAMMOND, M. D.,
surgeon-general of the United States army (retired list), and distinguished as a physician, surgeon and specialist, was born at Annapolis, Maryland, August 28, 1828. His father was Dr. John W. Hammond, of Anne Arundel county, Maryland. whose ancestors had large grants of land in that county from the crown and from Lord Baltimore. They were of English origin, the first one coming to this country being Major-General John Hammond, of the British army. The family still resides in Kent and Norfolk, England, where it has large estates. The mother of the subject of this notice was Sarah Pinkney, whose ancestors came over from Normandy to England with William the Conqueror, and whose names are still to be found on the roll of Battle Abbey. Her father was Jonathan Pinkney, and her uncle the celebrated William Pinkney, eminent as a lawyer, a statesman and an ambassabor. The South Carolina Hammonds and Pinkneys are branches of the Maryland families. When William A. Hammond was about four years old his father re- moved to Pennsylvania. He received his army to accept the appointment. During academic education at Harrisburg, and, when a little over sixteen years of age, began the study of medicine. He at- and physiological chemistry, and had pub- tended lectures at the medical department lished numerous monographs on subjects of the university of the city of New York, pertaining to those branches of medical and graduated with the degree of doctor science. One of these, on " The Nutri- of medicine in 1848. Subsequently he at- tive Value and Physiological Effects of tended the clinical instruction of the Albumen, Starch, and Gum when Singly Pennsylvania hospital, at Philadelphia, for and Exclusively Used as Food," was a
examination before a medical board con- vened in New York, he entered the army as an assistant surgeon, with the rank of first lieutenant. He was married a few days afterward to Helen, daughter of the late Michael Nisbet, Esq., of Philadelphia, by whom he has had five children, two of whom are now living. Assistant Surgeon Hammond received his first orders a few days after his appointment, and at once proceeded across the plains with a body of troops to New Mexico, where he re- mained for nearly three years, serving during that period at nine different posts, and passing a large portion of his service in active campaigns against the Indians. Subsequently he went to Europe for the benefit of his health, mainly, though not without a view to study. After his return he was stationed at West Point, at Fort Meade, in Florida, and at Fort Riley, in Kansas. During this last period he was detailed for duty as medical director of the Sioux expedition, and as medical officer of the troops who located the road from Fort Riley to Bridger's pass, in the Rocky mountains. After these tours of duty he was ordered to Fort Mackinac, in Michigan. While at this last named station he was offered the professorship of anatomy and physiology in the uni- versity of Maryland, at Baltimore, and October 31, 1860, he resigned from the the whole of this period of army service he had given special attention to physiology
Kilians A Hammond
149
PERSONAL SKETCHES - DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
remarkable instance of what could be re-commissioned, though, of course, with done in the way of original research. No the loss of the rank he had acquired by more exhaustive essay on the subject had then or has since appeared, and the American Medical association marked its appreciation of its excellence by ac-
his previous service of eleven years, the law not permitting of any allowance on this score. He was first assigned to duty with Gen. Patterson, and was charged with cording its first prize to the author for the important work of organizing general his remarkable contribution to medical hospitals for the army under that officer's science. Many others of Dr. Hammond's command at Hagerstown, Frederick, scientific papers were translated into and Baltimore. As experienced medi- French and German, and republished in cal officers were required for Gen. Rose- England, and he thus, at that early crans's army, the headquarters of period of his career, obtained a cosmopol- which were at Wheeling, W. Va., Dr. itan reputation as an original worker in Hammond was ordered to report to medicine. During his service on the that officer for duty, and was by him made frontier, and while engaged in expedi- tions against the Indians, he had many opportunities for the practical study of
medical examiner of camps and hospitals. Here he displayed so much activity and knowledge of the subject, and the re-
natural history. Of these he fully availed forms he initiated were so striking, that himself, and made large collections of he attracted the attention of the United the fauna of the newly explored regions, States sanitary commission to his labors which were presented by him to the and qualifications; and when the reorgan- Smithsonian institution and to the Acad- ization of the medical department of the army was in contemplation, he was re- garded as the one officer of the corps whose abilities and general fitness were such as to warrant promotion to its head. In this connection the "History of the United States Sanitary Commission," by Prof. Charles J. Stillé, says: emy of Natural Sciences, in Philadelphia. But soon after his removal to Baltimore, and while engaged in his professional duties, the Civil war between south and the national government was initiated. The Sixth Massachusetts regiment of volunteers, while on its march to Wash- ington, was attacked in the streets by a mob, and several of the wounded sol- diers came under his charge at the Balti-
The post was one of singular difficulty and embarrassment, and yet of such pe- culiar honor and distinction, that its at- tainment naturally became the object of more infirmary, of which he was one of the ambition of some of the ablest men the surgeons. Dr. Hammond was of of the medical staff of the army. The sanitary commission, which had watched with so much care and anxiety the prog- ress of the measure which it had proposed to congress, and could at last congratulate the country on its adoption, felt that its task was only half done until a competent man was selected for the post of surgeon- general. The qualities essential to an officer occupying such a position had long been the subject of careful inquiry and study, upon which much light had been
strong Union proclivities. The predom- inant feeling in Baltimore was at that time with the south, so he determined to resign his professorship, abandoning the promising field for advancement open to him, to re-enter the service of his coun- try. To do this in the regular army, it was necessary to be re-examined. He passed head of the class, and was at once shed by the daily intercourse of the mem-
15
150
PERSONAL SKETCHES-DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
bers of the commission with some of the to the war as an assistant surgeon in the officials of the old bureau. As has been army. He had acquired, while in the stated, the removal of the incumbent had service, a very high reputation among his been urged upon the government in Sep- professional brethren in civil life as a tember, 1861, upon the ground that he man of science, and of great powers of original observation. A reputation of this kind in an officer of the medical corps, the period of whose service had been mostly passed in garrisons on the remote frontier, was so unusual that it at once suggested the possession on his part lacked the essential requisites for the suc- cessful administration of the bureau, even as then organized. Under the reorganiza- tion, it was necessary to seek for a man who would thoroughly develop in practice its salutary provisions.
Among the officers of the medical staff of great force and vitality of intellect, whose zeal, intelligence, and successful and a capacity for broad and comprehen- administration of his duties had com- sive views of policy, which the long con- manded most thoroughly the confidence tinued influence of narrow routine and and admiration of the inspectors of the formalism tends to crush out of less gifted minds. It appeared also that Dr. Ham- mond's reputation was not merely that of a man of science and professional skill, but that his career in the army had been marked by the faithful and successful commission, was Dr. William A. Ham- mond, at that time an assistant surgeon in the regular army. He had been em- ployed since the outbreak of the rebellion in organizing general hospitals at Cham- bersburg, Hagerstown, Baltimore and performance of his special duties as a Wheeling, and his appreciation of the medical officer within the limited sphere wants of such establishments, and the en- in which those duties permitted him to larged and liberal spirit with which he work. He had given to the subject of attempted to supply their deficiencies, hospital construction and administra- were so conspicuous that they could not tion - the great need of the time - more fail to attract the attention of the inspect- thought and study, probably, than any ors of the commission. These inspectors, member of the medical staff. His opin- who were medical men and fully compe- ions on this all important matter had been in a great part formed or modified by a thorough examination of the great military hospitals in different countries of Europe. He was perfectly familiar with foreign military systems, so far as the ad- tent to form a correct judgment on the subject, entertained a very high opinion of Dr. Hammond's administrative capac- ity. In the reports made by them to the commission, they spoke in unqualified terms of praise of the reforms introduced ministration of their medical service was by him into the hospitals at some of these concerned, and such an experience at a places, and of the rapidly improving con- time when it was easy to see the defects dition of the patients in them, as due to in the existing system here, but not so the measures adopted by him. In this easy to suggest the best practical remedy, way Dr. Hammond's name first became would prove, of course, of immense value known to the members of the com- in settling the details of the new organi- mission. He was not only a stran- zation. In addition to these essential re- ger to all of them save one, but with quisites for the position he had exhibited that exception his existence, even, a zeal and interest in the reputation of was previously unknown to any one the medical staff of the army, which was of them. As they were searching in vain esteemed a very important element in among the officers of the medical staff, forming an estimate of his pretensions as with whom they had made acquaintance a candidate. At the outbreak of the re- in Washington, for some one whom they bellion he held the office of professor of could recommend for the post of surgeon- physiology and anatomy in the university general, their attention had been thus of Maryland, and was besides engaged in directed to Dr. Hammond. Upon further lucrative practice as a physician in Balti- inquiry it appeared that Dr. Hammond more. Scarcely a year before, he had was comparatively a young man, who had resigned his position as assistant surgeon served more than eleven years previous to enter upon a wider field of duty, and
151
PERSONAL SKETCHES - DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
to prosecute his favorite studies under whole corps who has any just conception more congenial auspices. When the war of the duties of such a position, and suffi- broke out he did not hesitate at once to cient energy faithfully to perform them.' abandon bis professorship and to re-enter When, therefore, the bill for the reorgan- the army at the foot of the list of assist- ization of the medical department be- ant surgeons. He had been constantly came a law, the commission felt itself and actively employed ever since, and his justified on every account in urging upon great merit had been recognized, as we the president of the United States the have said, at a very early period, by the appointment of Dr. Hammond as the one inspectors of the commission. He was, fit to be made, if the provisions of the besides, thoroughly impressed with the law, directing that that officer should be deficiencies of the existing system, and selected on the ground of qualification only, were to be regarded.
he cordially agreed with the officers of the commission and other humane men, both as to the nature of the abuses and the necessity of making strenuous efforts
He found the medical department or- ganized for an army of fifteen thousand to remove them. In the autumn of 1861 men; he had to make it equal to the the commission had been thoroughly con- requirements of an army of a million. vinced, by the information it had The affairs of the bureau were far in gathered from every quarter, that he was the best man for the place. At that time it urged the removal of the existing head of the bureau, and the appointment of Dr. Hammond as his successor. The failure to secure his arrears, many of the books were several months behindhand, and no adequate provision had been made to meet the tre- mendous emergency which was close were loud and angry, and the people were, in every direction, organizing sup-
appointment at that time, however, gave upon the country. Complaints of the in- further opportunity for inquiry, and the efficiency of the medical department evidence became more and more clear that the first impressions as to his pecu- liar fitness were well founded. These impressions were strongly confirmed by plementary measures for the relief of sick an event which occurred about this time. and wounded soldiers, which, it appeared, In their efforts to procure the appoint- ment of a suitable surgeon-general, the commission did not neglect, as may be the medical authorities of the govern- ment could not mitigate. There were at supposed, to invoke the intervention of the time of his appointment but eight General McClellan, all powerful at that clerks to do the whole of the enormous
business of the office; in less than two months afterward there were over sixty, and this number was subsequently in- creased. Not only was it necessary to extend the machinery of the office, but entirely new sub-bureaus had to be cre- ject, he took up an army list, and, going ated. But here again the historian of the
time. No one knew better than he the defects of the system, and no one was more anxious for reform, and especially for the appointment of a competent officer as head of the bureau. In a conversa- tion with the president of the commission, in which the general expressed his great desire to accomplish so important an ob- over the names of all the members of the medical staff in rotation, discussed with remarkable intelligence the peculiar qual- speak:
sanitary commission may be allowed to
ifications of each. To each one subjected A new and vastly enlarged supply table, to such a scrutiny some objection existed, or list of articles which the government in his opinion, which would render his would undertake to provide for the in- appointment injudicious, until toward the mates of the hospital, was also issued by foot of the list he came to the name of order of the surgeon-general, embracing Dr. Hammond. He said at once: 'He many things essential to their comfort for is our man. He is the only one of the the supply of which the hospital fund had
152
PERSONAL SKETCHES - DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
been hitherto to only and most precarious specimens thus brought together in the resource. Hospital clothing was also fur- army medical museum, far exceeding in nished to the patients under the new number and variety those of any other regime, a provision which, when their con- collection in the world, have served not dition in respect to personal cleanliness only to advance the cause of science and upon their entrance to the hospital is con- humanity, but have rendered the museum sidered, seems an indispensable prerequi- a just object of national pride. But the site to their proper treatment. But the
great central want of the system, which, measures of reform introduced by the left unsupplied, all the other improve- surgeon-general did not cease with his ments suggested by the surgeon-general would have proved of little value, was the want of proper hospital buildings. Fortunately for the completion of the circle of his plans, the necessary co-oper- ation of those officers of the government outside of the medical department, who were charged with the erection of hos- pitals, was at last obtained, and a large number were constructed on a vast scale efforts to provide for the material comfort of the patients. The condition of the medical staff excited his most serious at- tention, and his struggles to maintain a high standard of professional excellence in it were never relaxed for a moment. To effect this important object he devised most generous and liberal plans, some of which were adopted, and others failed
from a want of co-operation by the War in different parts of the country, accord- department. They were all characterized ing to the pavilion system. The peculiar by that comprehensiveness of view which advantages of this system, and the won- proved his thorough appreciation of the derful results which followed its adoption duties of his great office. As a means of in the improvement of the sick and securing the most competent men for the wounded of the army, are a subject prop- medical service of the army, he reorgan- erly belonging to the medical history of ized the boards of examination, and in- the war. The best evidence we can give sisted upon a higher standard of attain- of the success of the experiment is to re- ment on the part of the candidate. He peat the statement of the simple fact that established also a new and complete the rate of mortality among the inmates system of hospital reports, which was of these hospitals was far lower than has designed to embody not merely a formal been recorded of the military hospitals of
and barren statement of the number of patients in the hospitals, and of those who were discharged or died. but also such facts concerning their condition as would constitute valuable material for a medical
any age or country.
The sanitary commission, without de- siring to share the credit of any of the vast improvements made by the surgeon- general, does claim not only to have fully and surgical history of the war. The in- sympathized with him in his enlarged terest and importance of such a history, and liberal views, but also to have aided not merely as a record of what had been him in carrying them out as far as an extra-official co-operation could do. It seems now surprising that any obstacles should have been placed in the way of re- forms obviously so much needed. But the truth is that, from various causes, it required the persistent vigor and energy of a most determined man to advance a single step in the right direction, and the done here, but as a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the general laws which govern the health and efficiency of armies, are too obvious to need comment. In order further to accomplish this object, he instituted, at Washington, an army medical museum, in which was collected and arranged a vast number of specimens from the different hospitals, surgeon-general always needed for his illustrating the nature of the peculiar encouragement all the support he could diseases to which soldiers are liable, and get, in the government or out of it. The the character of the wounds which are commission felt that the best practical inflicted by the new missiles of war. The method of maintaining the health and efficiency of the army was to secure the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.