USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > Part 34
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Dr. Newbery Wheeldon practiced medicine in this county prior to 1860, following what was then known as the Thomsonian system, and called "steam doctors" by some in derision. These doctors used lobelia to control fevers, colds and almost any disease "flesh is heir to." Their system was mostly by stimulation, profuse sweating and discarded all mineral prepara- tions as used by the allopaths in that day. The abuse of calomel by some of the ultra-allopaths, who believed that salivation (ptyalism) was the only sal- vation in certain conditions, made patrons for this class of doctors, and they made all the capital possible out of it. Doctor Wheeldon was perhaps the last doctor to practice that system in the county, as the eclectics have superseded them here.
Dr. M. H. Williams-Letts, eclectic, was a member of the board of examining surgeons for pensions with J. H. Alexander and W. H. Wooden,
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organized on May 19, 1897, and served on the board until June 19, 1901, when he resigned and removed to Indianapolis. He was a careful, conscien- tious examiner always ready for the duties of his office and pleasant and obliging in his relations with others.
Dr. John L. Wooden was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, May 17. 1826, and came with his parents to Decatur county, Indiana. in October, 1830. In 1848 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Louis McAllester, at Milford, Decatur county. In 1853 he began the practice of medicine in Andersonville, Franklin county, and continued there up to 1859. when he entered the Medical College of Ohio, and on March 1, 1860, re- ceived his degree of Doctor of Medicine. His first military service was with the Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. On the formation of the Sixty-eighth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, he was commissioned sur- geon of that regiment, on August 29, 1862, having rendered efficient service in this organization. With his regiment, he was taken prisoner of war at Mumfordville, Kentucky, in September, 1862. He was exchanged in Novem- ber, 1862, but was again taken prisoner while in charge of the division hos- pital during the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. He was sent to Libby prison and remained a prisoner until exchanged three months later. He acted as brigade surgeon in General Willich's command and was an active member of the medical staff up to the end of the Civil War. Doctor Wooden was the first pension examining surgeon for Decatur county, and remained in charge up to the appointment of the first board of examining surgeons for pensions, under the Cleveland administration. His services in that capac- ity were eminently satisfactory to the soldiers, and duly appreciated by the pension department. Doctor Wooden was a regular attendant at the County Medical Society and State Medical Association and was a willing and work- ing member in both. His reports of cases were always interesting, instruc- tive and inspiring. His diagnosis of cases seemed to be by intuition, so prompt and so generally correct were they. As a consultant he was help- ful and tactful, and gave confidence and hope to the patient. As a surgeon he was cautious and skillful. He paid special attention to the details, anti- septically, in preparation for operative surgery, and hence his general suc- cess. Doctor Wooden was of Methodist parentage and had been a mem- ber since early in life. For many years prior to his death he was a leading Mason and was master of Concordia Lodge of Greensburg at the time of his death, his service as master embracing the following periods: 1873-81. 1883-4, 1886. As a soldier, he seldom failed to meet with his comrades of Pap Thomas Post No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he had
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been commander. He was also senior vice-commander of the Department of Indiana of the Grand Army of the Republic. Doctor Wooden's death occurred on Sunday, November 28, 1886, to the regret and surprise of his many friends. His indomitable energy and active life was more than his enfeebled condition could bear. He left his wife, Mrs. Sarah Guest Wooden, and four children-Dr. W. H. Wooden, now deceased; Elmer E. Wooden, Mrs. Edgar Hamilton and Mrs. Ida Moss-to mourn his sudden deathlı.
Dr. William Herschel Wooden was born in the village of Milford, Decatur county, Indiana, August 12, 1857, and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 23, 1903. In 1867, he came to Greensburg with his father's family, where he pursued his studies in the public schools up to his graduation in the high school in 1873. He then entered, for a classical course, the State University at Bloomington. In 1876 he began the study of medicine with his father, Dr. John L. Wooden, and graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in 1879, eminently well qualified for the practice of medicine and surgery. On his return to Greensburg he entered his father's office as a partner in his extensive and lucrative practice. Prior to 1882 he was elected secretary of the Decatur County Medical Society, and was an efficient officer for several years. In keeping the records and abstracts of important cases reported by the members, he was accurate, bringing out the important point in each case, not infrequently taking part in the discussion to cover in his report real deficiencies in the discussion. He seldom failed to be at the meetings of the State Medical Society, in which he took great interest. Doc- tor Wooden continued in a successful practice in this city up to 1888, when he had a call from parties who knew his qualifications and appointed him civil engineer on the Maple Leaf railroad through Missouri and Kansas to Minneapolis, and later with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. After his return, in 1892, he was appointed secretary of the county board of health, continuing up to December, 1894, his professional business pre- cluding his continuance in that office any longer. In May, 1897, Doctor Wooden was appointed secretary of the board of examining surgeons for pensions in Greensburg, serving in that capacity up to November, 1899. when, because of the pressure of professional business, he resigned, to the regret of his associates on the board, Doctors Williams and Alexander, who always found him accurate, truthful and careful in his examinations and scrupulously neat and correct in his papers. Dr. Herschel Wooden was a Mason, and served as master of his lodge in 1892 to 1893 and 1894. He also belonged to the Knights of Pythias, the Sons of Veterans and the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks. He continued in the practice of medi-
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cine and surgery up to his fatal sickness in 1903. His mother, brother and two sisters survive and reside in Greensburg. His remains rest in South Park cemetery, Greensburg, alongside his father.
Dr. James Brown Bracken was a graduate of a Philadelphia college of medicine and practiced medicine for many years with his father, Dr. William Bracken, of Rush and Decatur counties, though the latter part of his life was devoted to the care of his father after he had retired from active life, owing to ill health. Dr. James B. Bracken was a man well read in his profession and other fields of literature and had qualities that made him firm friends and admirers. His opinions were positive and expressed openly either to advance a cause or oppose one in which he was interested or advocated. He died in Greensburg, October 31. 1913.
Dr. Jesse Wakefield Rucker, grandson of Dr. William Bracken and nephew of Dr. James B. Bracken, obtained his degree from the Medical Col- lege of Ohio (Cincinnati) in 1885 and practiced medicine in Cincinnati and in Shelbyville, Indiana, until 1902, when he moved to Greensburg, his native city. While he has not been actively engaged in the practice in Decatur county, he holds a physician's certificate or license and has been often con- sulted by brother physicians, being considered a fine diagnostician. At pres- ent he is editor of the New Era, a straight Democratic newspaper.
MISCELLANEOUS PHYSICIANS.
In addition to the physicians above mentioned, the names of several others have been located, but little is known of any of them. Austin Marlow, known as a "chronic doctor," practiced at Newburg. Adams and Greens- burg. Doctor Pettigrew practiced at Newburg and Forest Hill. Doctor Riker was also at Newburg for some years. Dr. John L. Brown was prac- ticing at St. Omer in 1876. Dr. George F. Chittenden was at Milford in 1858, and later become surgeon of the Sixteenth Regiment of Indiana Volun- teer Infantry. Dr. J. K. Smalley, of Forest Hill, had a large practice in the seventies in that community. Dr. John Wheeldon, an eclectic, was prac- ticing in Greensburg in 1866. Two other eclectic physicians of Greensburg of half a century ago were Doctors Falcomberry and Reiley. One of the most prominent of the early Catholic physicians was Dr. Michael Daily, of Irish parentage, who lived on a farm south of Greensburg. Another Catho- lic physician of the county, who died some years ago, was Dr. Francis M. Daily, of Millhousen, who was well educated and built up a large practice
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in Millhousen and the surrounding country. One of the best known of the younger physicians of Greensburg, who was accidentally killed a few years ago, was Dr. James Bracken, a son of Dr. William Bracken. He graduated from Ohio Medical College and upon his death, on October 31, 1913, his body was cremated at his wish. There have undoubtedly been many other physi- cians in the county, but they have not come under the observation of the writer. No effort has been made to touch upon the careers of the living mem- bers of the profession. Their work speaks for them.
TILE FIRST DECATUR COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The first medical society of Decatur county was formed on January 25, 1847, with Drs. A. Carter, of Greensburg : John Ritchie, perhaps of Mil- ford: William Armington, of Greensburg: John L. Armington, of Greens- burg: George W. New, of Greensburg: Sam C. Bartholomew, of Greens- burg; Lewis McAllister, of Milfod, and William Ardery as charter mem- bers. A short biography of each of these men may be found among the list of doctors given elsewhere in this chapter. Two years later Joseph C. Ard- ery, of Milford: John L. Armington. John W. Moody and George W. New, both of Greensburg, were sent to Indianapolis, where they helped to organize. on June 6, 1849, the State Medical Society.
TRAINED NURSES.
The Legislature of 1905 passed an act providing for the registration of trained nurses in the counties where they followed their profession. Since that time the official records of Decatur county show that seven nurses have been registered in the county, as follow: Mary Wood Weaver, 1906; Myr- tle O. Smiley, 1906; Mary Donnell Stewart Erdmann, 1906; Mrs. Hannah H. Evans Donnell. 1906: Josephine Wright, 1906; Roxie Parker, 1909.
OPTICIANS.
The registration of opticians in the various counties of the state has been a legal requirement since 1907. During the past eight years six opti- cians have registered in the county: Eustace Foley, 1907: John Edward Russell, 1907: Philip H. Spohn, 1907; Cassins C. McCoy, 1907; James M. Burk, 1908; Walter E. Woolley, 1908.
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PENSION BOARD OF DECATUR COUNTY.
The pension examiner consisted of one man at first, with an assistant, but the assistant received no remuneration for his services. Dr. John L. Wooden was appointed as first examiner by Gen. John C. Black, and Doctor, Hershel Wooden served as his assistant. On February 1I, 1886, the board of examiners was created. Drs. John H. Alexander, John Y. Hitt and Will- iam F. Reiley served on this first board. Doctor Hitt was chosen as secretary. Certain days were set apart in which to make the examinations. The exam- iners received two dollars for each examination up to five, and after five only one dollar was received.
On May 8, 1899, a new board was appointed as follows: Drs. Thomas' Johnson. John Schofield and Samuel McGuire. Doctor McGuire soon re- signed and Doctor Alexander was appointed to fill the vacancy. In Novem- ber, 1893, after the Democrats had regained power, a new board was ap- pointed and consisted of the following members: Drs. James M. Wood, R. MI. Thomas, who was appointed secretary, and Benjamin F. White. This board served until the election of William McKinley, when the following board took its place, on May 19, 1897: Dr. John Alexander, who was elected secretary, William H. Wooden and M. H. Williams, who was elected treasurer. Doctor Wooden resigned on November 23, 1899. This vacancy was filled by Dr. R. M. Thomas, who was elected president. In June, 1901, Doctor Williams resigned, and on July 3. of the same year, Dr. D. W. Weaver was appointed to fill this vacancy until April 19. 1905, after which the following board was elected and served one year: Drs. T. B. Gullifer, William R. Thomas and William Hause. They were succeeded by Drs. Beal, of Clarksburg: Eden T. Reiley, of Greensburg, and William Hause, of West- port.
T
CHAPTER XIV.
NEWSPAPERS OF DECATUR COUNTY.
Newspaper men have frequently tried to sum up, in a pithy paragraph, the function of the newspaper and thousands of articles have been written on its influence on modern life. Perhaps no more apt summary of the place of the newspaper in our civilization of today has ever been written than that of Joseph H. Finn, a newspaper man of Chicago, and delivered by him as part of an address before the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World in the spring of 1915. His apostrophe follows :
"I AM THE NEWSPAPER.'
"Born of the deep, daily need of a nation-I am the Voice of Now- the incarnate spirit of the Times-Monarch of Things that Are.
"My 'cold type' burns with the fireblood of human action. I am fed by arteries of wire that girdle the earth. I drink from the cup of every liv- ing joy and sorrow. I know not day nor night nor season. I know not death, yet I am born again with every morn-with every moon-with every twilight. I leap into fresh being with every new world's event.
"Those who created me cease to be .. The brains and heart's blood that nourish me go the way of human dissolution. Yet I live on-and on.
."I am majestic in my strength-sublime in my power-terrible in my potentialities-yet as democratic as the ragged boy who sells me for a penny.
"I am the consort of kings-the partner of capital-the brother of toil. The inspiration of the hopeless-the right arm of the needy-the champion of the oppressed-the conscience of the criminal. I am the epitome of the world's Comedy and Tragedy.
"My responsibility is infinite. I speak, and the world stops to listen. I say the word, and battle flames the horizon. I counsel peace, and the war lords obey. I am greater than any individual-more powerful than any group. I am the dynamic force of Public Opinion. Rightly directed, I anı the creator of confidence : a builder of happiness in living. I am the teacher of patriotism.
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"I am the hands of the clock of time-the clarion voice of civilization. I am the newspaper."
It is often a difficult matter for the conscientious newspaper editor to discriminate between his duty to the public and his duty to the individual- to determine what should be printed and what should be withheld. In de- termining this, he is often misjudged and charged with an attempt to shield one misdemeanant while he exposes another. Sometimes he is accused of withholding certain information from the public through mercenary mo- tives. It is not the province of the modern newspaper to be the mouthpiece of the scandal-monger, nor has it any right to suppress information which the public is entitled to possess. The tendency of a newspaper should be for uplift, for the common good. It should hold prominently before its readers that which is best for the community and best worthy of emulation. News that, if printed, would do more harm than good, the modern editor consigns to the waste-basket.
The early editor had a great many difficulties to surmount in getting his white paper. Roads were bad, collections worse and paper could be procured only for cash. On August 15, 1846. the editor of the Standard announced : "There will be no paper next week. We are out of money, out of paper and we can't and won't buy on credit." The paper did not appear for two weeks. The next issue was almost exclusively devoted to a discussion of a forth- coming debate between Rev. W. Terrill of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Jacob Wright, of the Christian church upon a religious topic. After a considerable amount of sparring between the reverend gentlemen. regarding details of the debate, the affair was called off.
On account of the scarcity of money in ante-bellum days, the editor usually received pay for his paper in trade, produce and anything which sub- scribers, not needing, were willing to give him. Sometimes the editor was forced to run up the "S. O. S." sign and summon assistance. Witness the following clipping, from an 1847 Greensburg paper :
"Very Late and Important .- We are just out of wood and would be very much pleased to receive a few loads immediately. Wood that is dry and would burn well in a stove would suit us best."
A striking feature of the early newspapers of Indiana was their reckless use of adjectives in writing of those who differed with them along political lines. A few specific instances from Greensburg papers will illustrate the point. In 1858 the Decatur Democrat and the Rushville Jacksonian were "on the outs" on the slavery question. The former was opposed to slavery and branded the Buchanan administration as "a humbug and a swindle." The
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Jacksonian stood for the "simon-pure" Democracy of that day. The Standard, referring to the bitter words that had been tossed back and forth, said, "They respectively make each other out as extremely great liars and very dirty dogs, and it gives us much pleasure in uttering the conviction that they both tell the truth." This kind of language would appear out of place in the modern newspaper. The editor of the Standard was a master of invective and his language in the sixties was often vitriolic to the extreme.
During war times, Decatur county editors sometimes waxed hot in eritieising those who were lukewarm for the Union and once in a while laid down the law to such citizens. In 1853, when the Knights of the Golden Circle were getting very bold near Westport and were considering taking arms to resist the draft, the Greensburg Standard gave them the following gentle hint: "The draft will be enforced in this county though the streets run red with human gore and the torch destroy every town and village in the county. This is fully decided and can be relied upon."
GREENSBURG NEWSPAPERS.
In the Greensburg Standard of January 4. 1895. the late Orville Thomp- son had a history of the papers of Greensburg which covered the period from 1830, the date of the first paper, down to 1895. The historian feels that no more comprehensive article on the papers of the city can be written with the available material than that of Mr. Thompson and therefore gives his article here, verbatim :
"In the spring of 1830 Elijah Mitchell-an uncle of the writer and one of the pioneers of 1823-began the publication of a paper here styled the Greensburg Chronicle, and after an experience of about a year sold the outfit to Thomas Dowling, who changed the name to The Political Clarion. He conducted it until the close of the Clay-Jackson campaign of 1832, when he sold it to James Harvey Brown, whose editorial career was a brief one- the paper dying a very few months later of inanition.
"Dowling was a native of Ireland, of Celtic blood; a vigorous writer, who learned almost all that was then knowable, and never forgot anything, nor anyone whom he ever had known. A pleasant instance of this occurred with the writer, who was a lad of nine years when he (Dowling) left here. 1 did not see him until twenty years later and then, meeting him at Indian- apolis, he at once recognized me and called me by name. This preliminary sketch seems to be necessary in order to correct a mistaken notion enter- tained by many people that the Repository was the first paper issued in Greensburg.
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"For three years following the demise of the Clarion the county was without the fructifying power of the press. In the fall of 1835. my father ( John Thomson ), issued a prospectus for a paper to be called The Greensburg Repository, and, having doubts whether a partizan paper could be maintained here, despite his ardent Whig sentiments, he proposed that the paper should be a 'family newspaper. independent. but not neutral.' But in this instance, as is often the case in human affairs,
"The best laid schemes of men and mice Gang aft aglee."
"Scarce had the ink become dry on his prospectus, when there came one who signed his name William Vallette Coleman, bringing with him the ma- terial of a late defunct Democratic paper from Brookville, and proposed a partnership in the new enterprise. This was declined and he ( Coleman) at once began the publication of a Democratic paper, The Greensburg Courier. This necessitated a change of base on the part of the Repository (not an altogether unpleasant one to the proprietor) and when its first issue appeared in the first week of December. 1835, it bore at its head the motto, 'The Union, the Constitution, and Enforcement of Laws,' and underneath, in bold faced type, there read.
For President,
GENERAL WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. of Ohio. Subject to the Decision of a Whig National Convention.
"Through all its changes, both in names and proprietors, this paper has remained true to its birthday inspiration, both in its printed columns and by representatives on the battlefield, six of its editors having enlisted under Old Glory.
"And someone rises to ask what became of the Greensburg Courier. It survived the wintry blasts of 1835-36. but when the spring time came and the roads settled, its proprietor loaded it on a wagon and hauled it to Shelby- ville. From this time until the early part of 1841 the Repository was the only paper in the county, Mr. Thompson continuing as owner and editor.
"During the fore part of 1841. Peter J. Bartholomew began the publica- tion of a paper with the lumbering title of The Chronicle of the Times. The stress of newspaper life must have worried him, since he died a few months after he had his paper started. Philander Hamilton and James Monroe
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Talbot bought the outfit in November of the same year and changed the name to the Decatur Sentinel. A year later the same sheet appears as the Decatur Phocuir, under the guidance of Israel T. Gibson. But the two papers, the Whig Repository and the Democrat Phoenix, could not both prosper with the limited patronage which they received and in November, 1843, the two were consolidated under the name of the Repository. Jacob W. Mills, the foreman of the Phoenix, had purchased that paper and he and the writer (Orville Thompson), or one or the other, continued the management of the paper until 1851.
"In the latter year, the Repository went into the hands of Davies Batter- ton and William H. Hazelrigg, William H. Rhiver being taken into the firm later. In July, 1853, it was again purchased by the writer ( Orville Thomp- son) and conducted by him until the latter part of 1856, when it went into the hands of the former firm again. With the issue of December 26, 1856, the paper appeared as the Decatur Republican. In 1858 the paper was bought by J. J. Hazelrigg and George R. Rhiver. Rhiver dying in 1862. Hazelrigg continued the paper until 1863 and then sold it to Dr. S. H. Riley, J. B. Mallett and Redin B. Conover. This firm kept it until 1865 and then disposed of it to Will Pound. The changes since then have been as follow : Pound to J. J. Hazelrigg, 1868; Hazelrigg to Joseph A. McKee, 1872; McKee to George H. McKee, 1873; McKee to J. J. Hazelrigg, 1878, who with his sons conducted it until 1894, when the present owner, Luther D. Braden, became the owner and editor.
"Since 1848, under the several managements above given, the paper has borne several different names : Decatur Clarion, 1848-51; Decatur Press, 1851-58; Decatur Republican, 1858-65: Greensburg Chronicle, 1865-68; Greensburg Standard, 1868-1915. But with all these changes, it has sailed under the same 'old flag.'
"As the Decatur Republican, in 1858, it was the first among Indiana newspapers to pronounce 'For President in 1860, Abraham Lincoln.' Whether in regard to national, state or local affairs. it has not hesitated to sustain the right, nor once failed to strike the wrong.
"The Repository was launched upon the broad sea of journalism with a subscription list of about three hundred, and its growth up to 1843 was a slow one, being little above four hundred at that time. The consolidation with the Phoenix in the fall of 1843 gave an increase of only about one hundred, the patrons of one being largely patrons of the other.
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