USA > Delaware > History of the state of Delaware, Volume III > Part 24
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
Noah Webster, in his "History of Epidemics," refers to the terrible severity of the winter of 1641, and the great sickness that prevailed among the Swedes during the following summer.
In 1647 they were visited by an epidemic that prevailed throughout all the colonies, and it is clear from his deserip- tion that there were few, if any, sufficiently skilled in medi- cine to cope successfully with it. He notes that bleeding was harmful, and stimulation useful. Eight years later another fearful epidemic occurred. Nothing is certainly known of the nature of these contagious diseases.
The first epidemic in Delaware about which we have posi- tive information was that of the yellow fever in 1793. This fearful scourge raged so violently in Philadelphia that very many fled to Wilmington, their vessels so crowding the Christiana river as scarcely to leave room for the passage of craft. Every available house or room was occupied by the fugitives, and their goods were stored in stables and outhouses. At length the fever broke out in Wilmington, though chiefly among the fugitives. Despite the risk, the people of Wilming- ton extended a warm hospitality to their enforced guests.
Matthew Carey, the Philadelphia publisher, in his account of the scourge, makes a glowing acknowledgment of the humane and generous treatment they received from the citi- zens of Wilmington. "They acted in the most friendly man- ner toward our distressed citizens. They erected a hospital for the reception of our infected citizens, which they supplied with necessaries. Yet of eight or ten Philadelphians who died of the fever, only one was sent to the hospital, the others being nursed and attended in the houses where they were sick."
Humane and tender as were the worthy people of Wil- mington in general, two persons distinguished themselves in so extraordinary a way as to deserve particular notice. These were Dr. Nicholas Way and Major George Bush, Collector of the Port, whose houses were always open to the fugitives, and whom they received without the least fear and treated with a
2 .
1080
MEDICINE AND ITS PRACTITIONERS.
degree of genuine hospitality that reflects on them the highest honor. Such deeds of nobility are of priceless worth to man- kind, and deserve to be kept in everlasting and honored memory.
The yellow fever reappeared in Philadelphia in 1798, and again reached Wilmington, causing a panic, especially in the lower part of the town where it broke out, thereafter extending to the higher portions of the town, and to the village of Brandywine. Among the prominent citizens who died were James Lea, Sr., Major John Patton, Joseph Miller, Eleazer Macomb and his wife.
A third visitation occurred in 1802, following a third out- break in Philadelphia. Despite a rigid quarantine and every precaution, the yellow fever appeared August 2, at first of a mild type, but a month later assumed a malignant type, and the alarm among the population became general, many people fleeing to the country. Thirty-four deaths occurred in Sep- tember, and on October 1, there were only six hundred and five people east of King street, and of these twenty-five were sick. The plague raged with increased violence in October, and thirty-one deaths took place by November 2, when the contagion ceased.
Mr. John Ferris, Jr., who had been unceasing in his heroic attentions to the sick in the epidemic of 1798, as well as in the present one, fell a martyr to his humanity ! Col. Thomas Kean, a Revolutionary officer, also died. The death rate was very high, eighty-six out of one-hundred and ninety-seven cases dying. It is significant in the light of modern medicine that has discovered in the sting of the stegomia-fasciata mos- quito the cause of this dreadful fever, that three-fourths of the cases arose in those sections of the city lying nearest to the marshes.
In 1853 there were a few cases of yellow fever on the north bank of the Brandywine. Shortly before the Revolutionary War a disease called the " Welsh fever" broke out among the passengers on the ship " Liberty " from Wales, and extended
1081
MEDICINE AND ITS PRACTITIONERS.
to the City of Wilmington where so many people took it that hospitals were improvised in tents and farm houses.
Prior to 1832 Wilmington had been free from cholera, but it then appeared in a mild form, causing seventeen deaths out of forty-seven cases. In 1849 it appeared in the city, and be- tween June 29th and August 3rd, there were sixty-five deaths out of one hundred and sixteen cases, most of these being at the almshouse, where seventy-eight of the one hundred inmates were affected and forty-seven died.
Wilmington was first visited by the small-pox in the eigh- teenth century, and at various times thereafter till 1871, when it continued 166 days, during which time 361 cases were re- ported to the president of the Board of Health, and fifty other cases, 411 in all. There were a few cases in 1876, 81 cases in 1881, and in 1883, 251 cases with 81 deaths.
Delaware has had no serious epidemic within her borders for many years, thanks to the skillful system of prophylactic sanitation established by an efficient State Board of Health, aided by the intelligent co-operation of the physicians. In- deed the State Board with its perfect machinery of preventive medicine, local boards in towns and villages, systematic com- pulsory vaccination of schools, homes, jails and almshouses, quarantine of contagious diseases, registration of births, mar- riages and deaths-in a word, with its scientific prevention and eradication of disease, is abreast of the times, and their labors have resulted in producing an increased healthfulness throughout the State, that places Delaware among the fore- most states blest with a low death rate. And it needs only a hearty co-operation upon the part of the citizens everywhere to secure the formation of local health boards in every town and village, as required by law, to banish forever the epi- demics that wrought such damage and terror in former years, as well as those sporadic outbreaks of small-pox and other slight local epidemics which still occasionally occur.
This State Board through its executive officer inspects all the jails, almshouses, schools and other public buildings
1082
MEDICINE AND ITS PRACTITIONERS.
throughout the State once a year, and ample authority is given these boards, State and local, to protect any community or individual from any unhealthful nuisance of any sort. In addition to the foregoing means of preserving the public health, a pathologico-biological laboratory, fully equipped with the latest medical and scientific appliances, was estab- lished at Newark in 1899, through the co-operation of the trustees of Delaware College, and it has done invaluable work as an adjunct, in the diagnosis and control of diseases, especially those of an infectious nature, which but for their early recog- nition by these chemical and biological methods might be- come dangerously prevalent.
Inasmuch as microscopy and bacteriology in their bearings upon clinical medicine and hygiene, have accomplished their wonders within the last fifteen years or so, the State may well congratulate itself upon the work of its young laboratory, which has already won the distinguished honor of receiving the second prize, a silver medal, at the late French Exposition in 1900, the only other prize given, the gold medal, being gained by France herself.
Quarterly bulletins, of great interest and value both to phy- sicians and the laity, are published by the laboratory. Their original pathological and bacteriological examinations and ex- periments, covering a wide field of preventive medicine and hygiene, besides being of great use to the State, have become a recognized authority in other States, and are cited in their health reports. This wonderful result is largely due to the high skill and scientific attainments of Dr. Frederick I). Chester, Director of the State Board of Health Laboratory, and to his learned coadjutor, Dr. Albert Robin, bacteriologist.
It is to be regretted that Dr. Robin's valuable services will be lost to the laboratory, since he has resumed his practice in Wilmington as a specialist in microscopic and bacteriological diagnosis of diseases. Delaware physicians have already recognized the superior character of the laboratory's work, and that its aid in making timely diagnoses of many danger- ous diseases is absolutely indispensable.
٠٠٠.
1083
MEDICINE AND ITS PRACTITIONERS.
If yet further proof were needed that our State is keeping in the van of the world's progress in medicine, it is furnished by the circumstance that this State Laboratory has recently added to its useful functions the early detection of the dread disease hydrophobia by an examination of the head of the suspected dog, and the cure of the victim through the well- known Pasteur method. It is creditable to the State that this cure, hitherto so costly as to be almost denied the poor, is ac- complished for a fraction of the cost at New York or Baltimore hospitals, thus making it possible for the poorest unfortunate to escape the awful peril of rabies.
The present staff of the State Board of Health are Dr. E. W. Cooper of Camden, president, and Dr. Alexander Lowber of Wilmington, secretary and executive officer, and five as- sociate members as follows : Dr. A. E. Frantz of Wilmington, Dr. John W. DeWitt of St. Georges, Dr. John W. Clifton of Smyrna, Dr. L. H. Cahall of Bridgeville, and Dr. A. J. Fleet- wood of Laurel.
Dr. Peter W. Tomlinson, late president of the Board and now President of the State Board of Medical Examiners, has been prominently identified with all measures to secure the public health. He was born in 1849, and after graduating from Jefferson College in 1878, and practicing a few years, removed in 1882 to Wilmington, where he has ever since been engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery. He was secretary of the State Medical Society from 1895 to 1897, when he was elected president. Dr. Tomlinson was among those who secured the passage of the law establishing a State Medical Examining Board. He is also treasurer of the New Castle County Medical Society and secretary and treasurer of the Medical Council of Delaware. He is the medical referee and examiner for a large number of leading insurance com- panies.
Dr. Alexander Lowber, the present efficient executive officer of the State Board of Health, was born in Kent County in 1845. After spending one year at the University of Pennsyl-
1
٠٠:١٠٥
٦٠٠
1084
MEDICINE AND ITS PRACTITIONERS.
vania, he finished a four years' course at Jefferson Medical College, and after practicing at Newark came to Wilmington in 1899, where he has since been actively engaged in practice.
It has been necessary to limit the scope of this sketch chiefly to the deeds and careers of Delaware's deceased physicians, except in a few cases of those holding official station, leaving to some later historian the task of duly chronicling the as yet unfinished careers of the many successful and distinguished living practitioners of both schools throughout the State. Delaware's physicians have constantly sought to elevate the standards of character, knowledge and efficiency necessary to enter their responsible profession, and until recently her certi- ficates of medical examination were recognized as valid in other States.
But the dual systems of examinations in the two leading schools of medicine have caused the interstate committee to be withdrawn, and inasmuch as the homeopathic physicians ex- press a willingness to have a uniform set of questions upon all subjects, save, of course, their own pathology, this defect should be remedied and Delaware's standing in the science of medicine outside her borders restored to the high estimation which her talented sons have achieved.
٠٠, .. 5
5
NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS.
The history of Delaware newspapers begins in Colonial times. It descends in a direct line from the printing house of that famous printer, editor and patriotic American statesman, Benjamin Franklin. The secession of " the three counties on Delaware " from Pennsylvania occurred in 1704; the Dela- ware State government dates from the adoption of the First Constitution in 1776. Between these dates, fifty-eight years after the first, and fourteen years before the latter, in 1762, the first number of the first Delaware newspaper was printed , in Wilmington.
The first printing press set up in the State was at Wilming- ton in 1761. The projector of the enterprise was an Irish- man, James Adams, who had learned the printing trade in Londonderry, and came to this country shortly after attain- ing his majority. He landed at Philadelphia. Previous to his advent in Delaware he had worked for seven years in the printing house of Franklin & Hall, Philadelphia. One year after setting up his press in Wilmington in 1762, he started his first newspaper, " The Wilmington Courant." It was short-lived, being discontinued after six months fruitless effort. The next newspaper venture in Delaware was made by James Adams and his son Samuel, twenty-seven years later, about 1790, when they issued the first edition of "The Delaware Eastern Shore Advertiser." It seems to have been continued during the life-time of James Adams and afterwards appeared with his sons Samuel and John as proprietors. The printing business appears to have been successful, and was continued by James Adams until his death in 1793, when he was suc- ceeded by his sons Samuel and John Adams. Many books printed by James Adams have been preserved. Most of them were of a religious character. The mechanical quality of his
(1085)
E 1
1086
NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS.
work was good, comparing favorably with the work of other publishers of that day. In 1784 he published a history of Kentucky by John Filson. This author had been a resident of, and a school teacher at Wilmington. He went to Ken- tucky with Daniel Boone, and wrote the first history of that State, bringing his manuscript across the mountains on horse- back to be published by his old friend and neighbor, James Adams. An earlier publication by James Adams was " The Citizen's and Countryman's Experienced Farrier," by "J. Markham, G. Jefferis, and Discreet Indians." This work was published in 1764, three years after the beginning of his Wil- mington enterprise ; it covers 360 pages, and was for years the leading authority among the " horse doctors " of the country. The authors were residents of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Adams printed an almanac annually. He was a book-binder and book-seller. He printed many of the pamphlet laws of the State and the proceedings of the State Assembly. As already stated, his death occurred in 1793. He was buried in the graveyard adjoining the First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. He was spoken of as an exemplary Christian, who won and held the respect of the community in which he lived.
Samuel and John Adams continued the printing business, established by their father, for a year or two in Wilmington, and then moved the plant to New Castle, " nearly opposite the Court House." Somewhere about 1800 the plant was moved to Baltimore, where, it is probable, the new owners had established a printing business previous to their father's death. There is evidence that they were so engaged in that city in 1789.
Next in order in the chronological development of the print- ing business in Wilmington appears the firm name of Jacob A. Killen & Co., composed, as far as known, of Jacob A. Killen alone. He was the son of William Killen, the first Chief Justice of Delaware under the constitution of 1776, and the first Chancellor under the constitution of 1792. Jacob A. Killen was born near Dover, and presumably learned the
١٠٠
1087
NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS.
printers' art with James Adams at Wilmington. He estab- lished himself in the latter city as early as 1784, and began in that year the publication of the proceedings of the State Assembly. He was located " on Market street nearly opposite the postoffice," and later "on Market street west side, above Second street."
James Wilson started a newspaper called "Mirror of the Times," in Wilmington in 1799. This paper was a novelty at that time. It was printed on pure white paper, made at the mill of Thomas Gilpin on the Brandywine. Gilpin was one of the early American paper-makers. He was the in- ventor of a continuous-web paper machine, a necessary ante- cedent of the modern newspaper press, and had recently dis- covered the art of bleaching paper-pulp to a pure white. In the use of this "pure white paper," Wilson anticipated the use of fine paper in the high-class publications of to-day. The name of Wilson's paper was changed to "The American Watchman " in 1809, and shortly afterward was merged with " The Patriot." Then came Peter Brynberg and Samuel Andrews. Brynberg, a scion of the Swedish Colonial stock, was publishing "The Christian Repository " at Fourth and Shipley streets in 1803; later he was one of the projectors of the Delaware State Journal, one of the first newspapers to at- tain a permanent place and influence in State affairs. The "Federal Ark " also appeared in 1803 with Jacob A. Killen as publisher. "The Museum of Delaware," Joseph Jones, pub- lisher, appeared in 1804, and continued for six years. The firm of Bonsal & Niles started in the printing business in Wilmington about 1800, but removed to Baltimore a few years afterward.
" The Dawn," a small semi-monthly magazine, " containing original and selected essays, anecdotes, etc., devoted largely to the instruction and amusement of the rising generation," was published by Lewis Wilson, a son of James Wilson, in 1S22. It was printed at the Watchman office, and only twelve numbers appeared. "The Monitor and Wilmington Reposi-
1088
NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS.
tory," edited by William C. Smyth, appeared in 1801, but con- tinued only a short while. "The Delaware Free Press" was published one year, in 1830, by Henry Wilson, son of James Wilson. Peter Brynberg was succeeded by his kinsman, Robert Porter, and later Peter Brynberg retired and was suc- ceeded by John B. Porter, son of Robert Porter. In this same line of succession came the printing firms of Porter & Naff and Porter & Eckel. All the early printing firms of Delaware were job and book printers and publishers, with a natural inclination toward book-selling as a distinct avocation.
The newspaper as a phantasy, a dream, was persistent. Few printers escaped it. James Adams, the pioneer printer and editor of Delaware, Jacob A. Killen, the founder of the " Delaware Gazette," James Wilson, one of the very early Dela- ware newspaper men, and John B. Porter, were booksellers. Craig, Porter and Wilson were represented by book-stores on Market street, Wilmington, up to a comparatively recent date. Edwin A. Wilson, son of James Wilson, was a partner with the late Joshua T. Heald. Of the early printers and book- sellers named here, James Adams, James Wilson, Jacob A. Killen, Frederick Craig, Peter Brynberg, Henry H. J. Naff and Henry Eckel, were editors. The book and newspaper business in Delaware are akin, having a common origin and development.
The first Delaware newspaper to attain and hold a perma- nent position and influence was "The Delaware Gazette." The first number of the Gazette was issued by Jacob A. Killen in 1785. The paper continued in weekly, semi-weekly and daily issues until 1882. It has been claimed that Jacob Craig was the founder of the " Delaware Gazette." This is un- doubtedly a mistake ; the " Gazette " was founded by Jacob A. Killen in the year 1785. The writer has seen a copy of the " Gazette " dated April 12, 1786, being No. 44, which bears the imprint of Jacob A. Killen. How long Killen continued to publish it is not known.
In 1789 it was published by Frederick Craig & Co., and
1089
NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS.
the announcement is made that it then appeared on Wednes- day and Saturday of each week. In 1796 and 1797 the " Gazette " was printed by William C. Smyth, in " the rear of the Fire Engine House, Shipley street, opposite Capi. O'Flynn's tavern." From Smyth the ownership passed to John Vaughan and D. Coleman, who continued as publishers until September 9, 1799, when they announced that they had disposed of the paper to James Wilson. This is Wilson's first entry into Wilmington journalism. He seems to have combined the " Gazette " with a new publication for a while, as on November 20, 1799, James Wilson issued the first number of a new paper called " Mirror of the Times and General Advertiser."
Later the " Delaware Gazette" passed into the control of Joseph Jones who published it from 1809 to 1814, when he sold the plant to Moses Bradford, and the latter was editor and proprietor until 1820. Samuel Harker was the next owner, and while under his control, in December, 1828, "The Patriot," a campaign paper published in the interest of the Jackson presidential candidacy, and "The American Watch- man," the latter the successor of James Wilson's " Mirror of the Times," were absorbed by the " Gazette." The combined publication was continued under the title of "Delaware Gazette and American Watchman." Major Harker sold the paper to his brother, J. Newton Harker, who, in 1854 sold it to D. A. J. Upham. Two years later, in 1836, Mr. Upham relinquished the ownership of the paper to John C. Klonegar, retaining the editorship, and two years later Klonegar was succeeded by J. Newton Harker.
Upham, retiring permanently from connection with the paper, removed to Wisconsin, was elected Mayor of Milwaukee, and later Governor of the State. In 1842 Henry Bosce, formerly editor of the "Cecil Gazette," Elkton, Maryland, bought a half interest in the " Delaware Gazette," from J. Newton Harker, and it was published thereafter under the firm name of Harker & Bosee. January 1, 1843, Harker re- tired and was succeeded by Caleb P. Johnson, and the firm
1090
NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS.
name changed to Bosee & Johnson. Just one year later, Jan- uary, 1844, Bosee retired and was succeeded by J. Newton Harker, the firm name becoming Harker & Johnson.
Another year passed, and in 1845 Harker again retires, and Bosee resumes his connection with the " Gazette," the firm name becoming Johnson & Bosee. In 1846, Bosee again sells to Harker. The firm name is then Harker & Johnson. By this change, William Huffington, afterward Mayor of Wilmington, became editor of the paper. In 1847 J. Newton Harker retired permanently from the ownership of the paper, and was succeeded by William Penn Chandler. The firm then was Johnson & Chandler ; the first named was publisher and the later editor. This firm continued for six years. At its dissolution, in 1858, Caleb P. Johnson became sole owner of the plant, to continue that relation for nearly thirty years, and a continued connection as publisher, owner and editor, of forty years, ending with the sale of the plant in 1882. The " Delaware Gazette," when Caleb P. Johnson retired, had been in continuous existence for ninety-seven years ; a weekly publication from 1785 to about 1820, when it became a semi- weekly, and a daily paper in 1872.
Caleb Parker Johnson, who by his long and successful career as publisher and editor became the dean of the news- paper fraternity of Delaware, was born at Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland, February 14, 1820. His family was of English origin. His grandfather, John Johnson, came to this country prior to the Revolutionary war, and settled near Darby, Pennsylvania. He served as a cavalry soldier in the patriot army. After the war he removed to Elk landing, at the head of Elk river in Maryland, and conducted the grain shipping business for Tobias Rudolph. John Johnson, son of this Revolutionary soldier, was the father of Caleb P. Johnson. He too served in the American army as a soldier, during the War of 1812. Caleb P. Johnson's school privileges were very limited, not only because of the character of the common schools of that day, but because of the early age at which he began his lifework.
-
1091
NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS.
He was an apprentice at the printer's trade at twelve years of age ; first with Richard P. Bailey, in the office of the Cecil Republican ; then with Lambert Wilmer and George W. Veasey, publishers of the " Central Courant," and later with Henry Bosee, in the office of the " Cecil Gazette." The first five years of his life after attaining his majority were spent in the printing offices of Philadelphia, New York and Washing- ton. During the year 1842 he was employed in Philadelphia, and while there, in November, 1842, Henry Bosee, with whom he had been an apprentice, induced him to purchase a half- interest in the " Delaware Gazette."
From the beginning of his connection with the paper it was what Caleb P. Johnson made it-the most forceful and influ- ential Democratic newspaper in the State. Its publication office became the headquarters of that party, and the editor the custodian of all its secrets and records. With the public, under his management, the "Wilmington Gazette," was known as "the Democratic Bible." This influential Demo- cratic editor had apparently no personal political ambition. Although frequently urged to become a candidate for Con- gress, and for Governor of the State, he always declined. In 1868 President Johnson appointed him United States Marshal for the district of Delaware, an office which he resigned after about one year's service. Financially he was successful, amassed a fortune, and lived to a ripe old age to enjoy it, highly respected and esteemed by the community in which he lived. He died at his home in Wilmington, on March 8, 1904, having just completed his eighty-fourth year.
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.