USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume I > Part 57
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Dr. Theodore Canisius, a man who re- ceived his early education and medical train- ing in Germany, came to Edwardsville in the
early '50s and immediately won for himself a place in this community both in a personal and professional way. He was a tall, hand- some man, auburn hair and beard, of most courtly manner and a polished gentleman. He not only impressed himself upon this com- munity by his successful practice, but took great interest in politics which was an all absorbing topic in that day. He was the editor of a German newspaper, "Die Freie Presse," published in Alton in 1854 and wrote some very lively editorials on the slavery question. Dr. Canisius was appointed to the consulate of Vienna, by President Lin- coln which post he held until 1865. Return- ing to Alton he officiated as commissioner of the penitentiary for several years. He was then appointed consul to Bristol, England, and later to Geeste, near Berlin, Germany. President Arthur retained him in the con- sular service and sent him to Apia, the capi- tal of the Samoan Islands in the South Sea, where he still lived as late as 1882.
Too SYMPATHETIC FOR A DOCTOR
Dr. Octavius Lumaghi was born in Milan, Italy in 1821. There he spent his youth and received his education and graduated at its university. Later he concluded to enter the medical profession and graduated at the University of Paria, in 1847, at the age of twenty-six years. Three years later, he de- cided to visit the United States and see the country, and coming to St. Louis, became much interested in that city and was greatly impressed with its future possibilities, so much so, that he determined to remain and locate there, where he invested largely in real estate. He also commenced to practice medicine, but did not continue in practice very long, as he found it impossible to endure the constant appeal and strain upon his sym- pathetic organization. He, about this time, met and married Miss Ann Mac Laughmin, a most interesting lady.
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It was also about this time that Dr. Luma- ghi's attention was called to the building of a new line of railroad to the east from St. Louis, and seeing what this would likely ac- complish for the country, where lay the great coal fields, he decided to locate in Collins- ville and be ready to meet the new conditions that would surely follow this undertaking. He immediately commenced to develop the coal business, and the present Lumaghi Coal and Mining Company of St. Louis, with its mines in Illinois is the result of that fore- sight. In 1876 he conceived the idea and began to develop the plan, of bringing the smelting ores of lead and zinc to the coal mines instead of taking the coal to lead and zinc mines, and to-day the big Meister Zinc Smelter, located in Collinsville, is the result. Dr. J. L. R. Wadsworth writes of him: "It was during these years that I had the pleasure of meeting him almost daily, and this asso- ciation I look back upon with great pleasure. I could then understand why he could not engage in the practice of medicine. His sym- pathies were so great that his nervous system could not carry the burden of the cares and suffering of so many he was sure to be called to help. He was greatly reverenced by his countrymen and associates (as well as all others), and when they had sickness, they wanted his encouragement and sympathy. Many a time in those days, while engaged in practice, my patients would very courteously say to me Doctor, if Dr. Lumaghi would come out with you sometime, it would be a great comfort to me. I never knew the Doctor to decline a single one of these requests and when I saw how he met one and all of these people, and how comforted and sustained they felt after these calls, I could understand. Often he brought them a bottle of wine, but his words of encouragement was the great comfort they so longed for. I learned the true meaning of human sympathy as never before." He was a most interesting conversationalist, and his
guests always carried away some new thought or its application; in his home he was most hospitable and interesting, and invariably that little glass of wine, his own product of which he was quite proud, was presented and en- joyed, but not a drop did he take. Eight chil- dren came to greet him and his wife in the quiet home on a little hill just outside of the village, where he and his good wife had gath- ered so many interesting flowers and trees.
It is exceedingly interesting to all of the old citizens of Collinsville to recall the old days when the Doctor could be seen daily, rain or shine, driving the old horse to the double seated surrey which he always used. The old horse seldom exceeded anything above a slow walk and was constantly chided and encour- aged by the Doctor to a faster motion, but no one believed the old horse ever heard a single word addressed to him, and it has always been an unanswered problem if the Doctor knew any more about that conversation than the horse did. More than likely his mind was on some new problem of business or some far- reaching question than that of the gait of the old faithful animal. Both seemed perfectly satisfied. He had a face with plenty of good red blood in it, bright and smiling, and was on the alert to greet every one and it was truly a delight to meet him. In 1876, he moved back to St. Louis leaving his work to his sons, Joseph and Louis.
Four daughters are living and all are inter- ested in the work their father had commenced. In 1884, his wife was brought back to Collins- ville and buried in the little cemetery that overlooked the old home, and in 1894, Dr. Lumaghi followed at the age of seventy-three years. His death was regretted by all who knew him.
Dr. Hezekiah Williams was born in Castine, Maine, March 10, 1827. He was educated at Bowdoin College and at Ann Arbor. His medical education was secured at Cleveland Medical College, and he also studied under Dr.
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Cobb of Detroit, Mich. He came to Illinois in 1850, locating first in Montgomery county, and the next year removing to Edwardsville.
In 1854 he came to Alton, and in 1857 he married Miss Nonie Dimmock, the daughter of E. L. Dimmock, Esq. In 1862 he entered the army as surgeon of the 2nd Illinois Artil- lery with the rank of Major, in which capacity and that of Medical Inspector, he served two years, then returned to Alton where during the remainder of the war he acted as surgeon of the Military Hospital in that city. Dr. Wil- liams had associated with him in practice, the late Dr. A. S. Haskell, whose son, Dr. W. A. Haskell, later on, was taken into a partnership, which was only dissolved by the death of Dr. Williams, which occurred in Alton, May 22, 1872, aged forty-five.
Dr. George H. Dewey, son of Dr. Luke Dewey, was born in West Stockbridge, Mass- achusetts, March 20, 1827. He came west in 1849, and began the study of medicine, grad- uating from McDowell Medical College in about 1852. He then came to Madison county and practiced his profession in Troy and Col- linsville, until the out-break of the Civil war. He enlisted in the United States service, November 7, 1862, at Collinsville, Illinois, in the 109th Illinois Infantry, as assistant sur- geon, and was later transferred to the IIth Reg. Illinois Infantry. He resigned his com- mission at Vicksburg, May 6, 1864, and then returned to Madison County, locating at Marine. He continued his work in Marine and Troy until failing health compelled him to give up active work. On January 10, 1888, he was admitted to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Quincy, Ill., where he died on Sep- tember 18, 1902. During his residence at the Home, he acted as the librarian of the Home and took great interest in this department.
Dr. Friederich Gross, was born May 28, 1824, in Goelheim, Bavaria, and received his education in the schools of his native country, and entered the University of Munich to take
up the study of medicine. About this time occurred the uprising in some parts of Ger- many which had for its object the overthrow of monarchy and the establishment of a re- publican form of government. He immedi- ately joined the revolutionists and remained with them until the insurrection was put down. Fearing for his life he escaped to Switzerland, where he remained for a year. Returning to his native country in 1849, he resumed his studies at the University of Wurtzberg, receiving his diploma four years later. Leaving Germany for the United States he arrived at Edwardsville in the early summer of 1853 and engaged in the practice of medi- cine, in which he met with more than average success. In 1859 he laid the foundation of the Odd Fellows' Hall, lately torn down to give place to the Wildey Theatre, but sold out to Louis Klingel, father of Adolph Klingel, who completed the building. During his stay in Edwardsville, he married Mrs. Eliza Hess, a widow, to which union three children were born, one of whom became the wife of the late John H. Yager, a prominent attorney of Alton, Illinois. In 1859 Dr. Gross removed to a farm in Benton county, Missouri, where he continued to reside until his death in June, 1875.
Two "OLD FAMILY DOCTORS"
Dr. Augustus Burr Crouch, a typical ex- ample of the "old family doctor," was born in Burlington, Vermont, April 29, 1824. After completing his common school education, he entered Castleton Medical College from which he graduated June 19, 1850. He located in St. Louis where he practiced until he came to Marine, in this county, in 1856, to enter a partnership with Dr. Geo. T. Allen. Three years later Dr. Allen moved to Alton, leaving the entire business to his young successor, which at once gave him an extensive practice. Over impossible roads and fording swollen streams on horseback, Dr. Crouch looked after
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the interests of his patients, finding no barrier that would keep him from doing his whole duty.
On June 17, 1858, Dr. Crouch married Miss Caroline Bunce Hoff, of New York, whose parents were of the Dutch stock who settled in the famous Mohawk valley. Dr. Crouch always maintained a garden of rare fruits and flowers and many a dish of early berries and many spring blossoms found their way to the bedside of the patient that needed them most. All of the rare fruits, flowers and trees that could be found, he had on his place and they were a source of great joy and pride to him after his long hours of work. His skill in his profession and his gentle, generous pres- ence in the sick-room are still a subject of comment among the older people of his com- munity. His devotion to duty cost him his life, for on one of his long trips he took a heavy cold that caused. his death within a week.
Some time after the doctor's death his widow married Dr. W. A. Stille, Ph. D., one of the leading educators of this county, and who, later on, served the Central High School in St. Louis for 15 years. Two daughters of Dr. Crouch still survive, Mrs. R. W. Bois- selier, of St. Louis, and Mrs. L. Stille, a teacher in Granite City, Illinois.
Dr. Crouch died in Marine, May 9, 1863, in the prime of his usefulness, and long before the shadows fell to the east, aged thirty-nine years.
Dr. Robert Halter, one of the men who thor- oughly exemplified the old family doctor, was born in Zurich, Switzerland, August 7, 1831. After obtaining his preliminary education in his native city, he entered the University of Zurich, from which he graduated in 1852. For three years he practiced with his father, also a physician, when he left his native country to make his home in America, coming directly to Highland, Illinois, in 1855. Dr. Frederick Ryhiner, being ready to retire just
at that time, turned most of his practice over to Dr. Halter, so he entered upon a large prac- tice from the beginning and it was a very common occurrence for him to be called to St. Jacob, Marine, Pierron, Trenton and Breese. He was a popular physician enjoying the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens to a marked degree. This was based upon the fact that he devoted his life to his profession, answering all calls from suffering humanity and doing a large amount of charity work. He was a great student of medical literature, keeping constantly posted upon medical prog- ress.
In 1856 he sent to Europe for his bride, Miss R. Bosshard, and married her April 17th of that year. She died in 1864, leaving no children. On December 28, 1864, he mar- ried Miss Louise Suppiger, daughter of Ber- nard Suppiger, Sr. and his wife Frances. Three children were born to them, of whom two survive, Mrs. Wm. J. Appel of Tamaroa, Illinois, and Frederick Halter, now living in St. Louis. In April, 1866, Dr. Halter took a trip back to Switzerland, returning to High- land in the fall. He was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge at Highland, and was an enthusiastic Sharpshooter and Turner. For one year he was in partnership with Dr. Abraham Felder. He died of pneumonia, at the zenith of his usefulness, on October 4, 1877, aged 46 years, and his early demise was deplored by a host of friends and neighbors, and much regretted by the community which he had served so faithfully.
Dr. Emil Guelich was born November 29, 1833, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and came to this country locating in St. Louis, where he studied and graduated in pharmacy. A few years later he entered the St. Louis Medical College, from which he graduated about 1856, and located in Alton and entered upon an unusually successful practice. His services were freely given to rich and poor alike and the esteem in which he was held
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was such as was accorded to but very few men of his time. His field of action was not only his own county but extended over a wide territory in adjacent counties.
When the Civil war began Dr. Guelich enlisted as a private in the 9th Illinois, and went to Cairo, where he was appointed Hos- pital Steward, and later on Surgeon of his regiment. At the battle of Shiloh the com- manding officer, Colonel Kueffner, was shot through the lungs, and it was the personal services of Dr. Guelich, right on the battle- field, that saved his Colonel's life. After serv- ing in the army from 1861 to 1865, he re- turned to his practice in Alton, which con- tinued as long as he lived. Dr. Guelich was a stanch Republican and it was one of his great- est pleasures to throw himself and his influ- ence into a political campaign, always choos- ing the place where the fight was the hottest. He was a man of fine physique and sound constitution, and was called on to undergo severe and prolonged exposures during his whole career. He was always the polished, urbane gentleman, meeting every one with extreme cordiality. While still at the height of his usefulness he died, in Alton, October 16, 1893, aged sixty years.
Dr. William Olive, son of Abel and Eliza- beth Olive, was born on a farm in Madison county, August 26, 1836. After receiving his preliminary education in the public schools, he began the study of medicine and gradu- ated at the Physio-Medical College of Cincin- nati, Ohio, in 1856. He began the practice of his profession in Olive Township, in this county, and remained until 1862 when he located at Pocahontas, Bond county, Illinois, where he remained until 1873, when he re- turned to the farm in Olive township. Here he remained in active practice until his re- moval to Edwardsville in 1882, where he con- tinued his work until 1891, when he located in Houston, Texas, where he still resides prac-
ticing his profession. Dr. Olive raised and educated three sons, in Madison county, in the practice of medicine, all of whom located in Texas and followed their profession, but Dr. N. A. Olive alone survives, now practicing in Waco, Texas. Dr. Olive is one of the many self-made men of Madison county who not only made his mark in Madison county and in this state, but in other states as well.
IN PRACTICE FORTY-ONE YEARS
Dr. Peter Schermerhorn Weidman, a man who for forty-one years administered to the wants of the people in the eastern section of our county, was born in Schoharie Court House, New York, May 2, 1826. He gained his preliminary and classical education in the common schools and the academy of his native village and at the age of twenty-four began the study of medicine under preceptors and at Ann Arbor. He took his last year at Albany Medical College, New York, from which he graduated in 1855. After practicing in New York for two years, he came west and located at Marine, Illinois, in March 1857, and immediately began an active business that was to last for many years. His was essentially a country practice, extending for many miles in all directions, and either on horse-back or in his high-wheeled sulky, he became a famil- iar figure in all the surrounding territory, dur- ing the earlier years of his activity. When he first came to Marine, he found five physicians already located there, and lived long enough to see twenty-five doctors come and go in that community during his professional career. He did a general practice and was a fair example of the type of the "old family doctor," so gen- eral in that day and so unusual now.
Dr. Weidman retired from active work in 1898, and after living in Marine two years more, moved to Edwardsville, and took up his residence in the Leland Hotel, where he has remained ever since. With the exception
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of failing eye-sight, he is hale and hearty and, although in his eighty-sixth year, enjoys good health.
Dr. Otto Sutter, a native of Switzerland, bought out the personal property and good will of Dr. Theophilus Bruckner of Highland, Illinois, who in 1857, left for Switzerland, and continued his practice there for two years when he located at Marine. Here he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the community and soon came into an extensive practice. In the fall of 1868 he left Marine and returned to Switzerland.
DR. JOSEPH POGUE
Dr. Joseph Pogue was born March 20, 1835, in the city of Philadelphia, was educated in the common and high school studies by a pri- vate tutor, entered Pennsylvania Medical Col- lege, from which he graduated March 7, 1857. In the same month he located in Alton, where he began the practice of medicine in connec- tion with Dr. Han. James. In 1858 he re- moved to Edwardsville, where he has been engaged in active practice ever since. In 1862, he was appointed Surgeon-in-Chief of Bur- gess' Sharpshooters, with the rank of Major, and continued with this command throughout the war serving as a member and finally as chief of the operating board, being mustered out of service on August 15, 1865, and re- sumed his practice in Edwardsville. He has always been interested in medical matters and was one of the organizers of the old Madison County Medical Society, being its secretary in 1857. When the society was reorganized in 1903, he was one of the chief promoters, and did much to place it on a firm and permanent basis.
Dr. Pogue has always been the family doc- tor of the old type and for many years en- joyed a very large and extensive practice throughout Madison county. But it is as a surgeon of marked ability upon which rests his reputation in this community, he having
been a leader in this specialty for more than half a century. He is still hale and hearty in spite of over fifty-four years of continuous hard country practice, and his many friends wish him many more years of good health and activity.
Dr. William H. Martin, one of the men who stood on the firing line for many years in the northwestern corner of this county, was born in Goff's Town, Hillsboro county, New Hampshire, on December 6, 1832. He at- tended the common schools of his county and took a classical course in Pembroke Academy. He then entered Dartmouth College and took his doctor's degree in 1850. On March 22, 1851 he married Miss Mary F. Taylor of Can- ada. In the spring of 1857, Dr. Martin came west and permanently settled in Godfrey where he followed his profession during his life time. He was an able and conscientious physician whose services were in great de- mand throughout that region. Dr. Martin was highly appreciated in his community and his professional counsel was eagerly sought and held in great esteem. As a public spirited citi- zen and upright christian man, he had the respect of the moral and intelligent society in which he was identified. After a professional career extending over thirty-two years, he died in Godfrey on March I, 1882.
Dr. Sylvester Stuart Rice was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, July 4, 1834. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools and afterwards studied at Salem and Mt. Union College, Alliance, Ohio. To provide means for his medical education, he taught school in Burkesville, Kentucky, from the fall of 1852 to the spring of 1854. The next year he taught at North Vernon, Indiana, and at the same time read medicine with Dr. J. W. Parish, of that city. He attended medical lectures in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1855-56 and began the regular practice of medicine in August 1858, at Collinsville, Illinois, where he remained until 1872 when he removed to Alta-
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mont, Illinois. In 1882, to perfect himself in his profession, he spent one year in post-graduate work in the Missouri Medi- cal College. Dr. Rice took part in all the civic and political movements of the times, and was also an enthusiastic Mason and Odd Fellow. He took great interest in medical organization and was a member of several medical societies. He continued in active practice until his death, which occurred in Altamont, February 9, 1895.
HIGH-GRADE SWISS PHYSICIAN
Dr. Gallus Rutz, one of the most active, energetic members of the profession in the eastern section of our county, was born in Werdenburg, Switzerland, on June 21, 1830. With the tide of Swiss emigration he came to Highland, Illinois, when fifteen years of age. His preliminary education was obtained in the public schools of his city and in McKen- dree College at Lebanon, Illinois. He then entered Humbolt University of St. Louis, and after a four years' course obtained his medi- cal degree in 1859. The same year he began his practice in Highland, which continued for thirty years. When the Civil war broke out he recruited a company, which joined the 15th Regiment of Missouri Volunteers, and was appointed surgeon of the regiment. He after- wards returned to Highland and resumed his practice, but was also associate editor of the "Highland Union," of which later on he be- came editor and owner, and conducted the same until 1874. He was also appointed Post- master of Highland in 1869 and continued in that office for twelve years. Dr. Rutz inter- ested himself in all the civic affairs of the community and was during later years a mem- ber of the Board of Education and of the Common Council of his city. In spite of his many official duties he devoted his chief ener- gies to his extensive practice and was known far and wide as a successful physician and surgeon, commanding at all times the respect
and esteem of his confreres and fellow citi- zens. On account of ill health, due to the ex- posures incident to his practice, he left High- land on September 21, 1889, for Port Town- send, Washington, where he died October 25, 1898.
Dr. Theodore Ruegger was another of the high-grade professional men sent to us by the little Swiss republic. He was born and edu- cated in Switzerland and participated in the war for the independence of his native coun- try from 1845 to 1848. He was also a soldier in the Crimean war and shared in all the hard- ships of that brief and bitter campaign. Shortly after, he came to America and began the practice of medicine in Edwardsville in about 1858. He was a bachelor and during his residence here lived in the Franklin house in Lowertown. He was a man of command- ing appearance, with black hair and eyes and very autocratic in his manners, but was a very successful physician with a large practice and enjoyed the confidence of the whole commu- nity. His early death was much regretted by a large circle of friends.
Dr. Alexander Fekete was born in Buda Pesth, Hungary, December 2, 1827, and re- ceived his early education under Jesuit in- struction. In 1845 he entered the University of Vienna as a medical student, but at the end of three years he became involved in the Revo- lution of 1848, and served during eighteen months. In the battle of Hermanstadt he was wounded and captured and was a prisoner for three months, when he made his escape and fled to Turkey. In the spring of 1850 he left Constantinople for London, and in the fall came to America. In 1852 he came to St. Louis and served as drug-clerk and also com- pleted his medical studies, graduating from the St. Louis Medical College in 1854. He at once located in Aviston, Illinois, and there married Miss Kate Fisher. In 1859 he moved to Marine in this county and at once became prominent in his profession. As a medical
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