USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement by the "pale face," in 1818, down to 1882 > Part 24
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PROF.W.P.
lady, also a teacher. He was taken sick of typhoid fever about February 1, 1879, and, after a lingering and painful illness, died March 25th of the same year. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church ; also an hon- ored member of the Masonic Fraternity, Knights of Pythias and the Brotherhood of United Workingmen. He was buried with Masonic honors at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, near his old home, where loving hands have erected a monument to his memory. He was but in the morning of
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his manhood, but upon the threshold of many promising possibilities, when death closed his eyes to all earthly things and blinded those of his friends with tears. Had he lived-but it is useless to speculate upon what might have been since now it can never be. In the hearts of those who knew him best is written this epitaph :
He was a Christian who never disguised his profession : a man whose acts honored his race.
JAMES C. HAWK,
a Buckeye by birth, a Hoosier by residence and adoption, a son of Henry and Susan Hawk, of Highland county, Ohio, dates his earthly journeyings to September 28, 1824, from Brown county, Ohio. At the age of eight he came to Indiana with his parents and settled in Sugar-Creek town- ship, where he has since resided. His facilities for educa- tion being very poor, he was compelled to rely upon his own resources for the little education he did receive. Mr. Hawk was married September 23, 1847, to Mary J., daugh- ter of David McNamee. After his marriage Mr. H. settled on his farm, where he tilled the soil in summer and taught the youth of his neighborhood in the winter for about four years, since which time he has devoted his energies wholly to rural pursuits, never having held but one public office, that of township trustee, in conjuction with Lewis Burk and Joseph HI. Conner, in 1856. Mr. H. is an honorable citizen and an affable gentleman. See his portrait on another page.
CHAPTER XXII.
MEDICAL PROFESSION IN HANCOCK COUNTY.
The physician is an indispensable prerequisite to civil- ized communities, while among the uncivilized tribes of men the medicine man is one of the most prominent of charac- ters. When the writer first became identified with the citizenship of this county there were but few physicians therein. I will mention names in the proper place and and time.
So far as the writer knows there is but one of the men now living who practiced medicine in Hancock county forty years ago, and he has retired from the profession. As a rule doctors are short lived. The practice of medi- cine then was a work of some magnitude. We were compelled to ride on horseback through the woods, along paths blazed out on the side of trees, sometimes twelve miles. I have often lost my way, and had to ride for miles before I came to a house to ask where I was. I was called one stormy night to visit a family in what was called the Big Deadening, in Vernon township. The messenger had a huge torch and rode before. Our path was for miles through " slashes," as then called. The forest was wild and gloomy. Before we reached the place the torch gave out, and we had to hunt a hickory tree, from which we got bark to renew our light. We heard the wolves howl occasionally. When we reached the house we found the door fastened, and the woman whom I was called to see was in bed with two newly-born babe twins. She was badly frightened. She said the wolves had run the dogs against the door. The door was nothing but shaved clap- boards, hung on wooden hinges. She thought the wolves smelt the corpse, for one of the babes was dead, and she
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had heard it said that wolves would fight desperately for a dead body. There were no neighbors for some distance, and no one there to go for any one.
Sometime after that I was belated on my return home from the Fall Creek settlement. It had been raining all day, and was very muddy. My horse gave out, and I had to stop at John Robb's, where I got my supper, and he saddled one of his horses for me to ride till I returned. It was dark when I started, and nothing but a path to travel until I struck what was called the Greenfield and Allison- ville road. Mr. Robb assured me that old Sam, as he called the horse, would keep the path. I had gone but a few miles before old Sam was out of the path, and stopped to eat grass. I got down and tried to feel for the path. Failing to find it, I mounted, and determined to make the horse go some place. He soon went under a grapevine, and lifted me out of the saddle and set me wrong end up in the spice brush. I was, however, able for another trial. I then commenced to halloo. that I might find some house. I soon heard wolves, not very far from me I thought. I had often heard it said that wolves could smell assafetida any distance, and that they would fight for it. I had to carry that article with me, for it was out of the question to dispense with a remedy so popular at that time. Everything used as medicine was furnished by the doctors. I was considerably frightened, but I soon heard some one answer me and saw a torch coming. It was common for persons to get lost in the woods at that time. When I reached the man's house I found I had lost my pill sacks, and this necessitated me to wait till morning, as most of my essential outfit was in them. Though of but small value would the pill-bags be at this time, the loss of that utility would have been sufficiently ample at that time to have compelled me to suspend operations for some days.
The Two Big Doctors .- I do not remember how long it has been since the occurrence here alluded to transpired. I think it was about thirty-five years ago. At a camp meeting near Cumberland, in the
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eastern part of Marion county, a child was taken with a fit, and its mother made so much noise that divine services were suspended for a time. Dr. Berry, who afterwards became President of Asbury University, was preaching. As soon as he found out what was the matter. he told the congregation to take their seats and not crowd the child, but give it plenty of fresh air, wet its head with cold water, and send for a doctor; that there was no dan- ger. I was at that time but little acquainted, and but few on the ground suspected me of any pretensions to being a doctor. Some one, however, hunted me up, and pluck- ing me to one side, asked me if I could bleed, and whether or not I had any lancets with me. I happened to have a nice spring lancet in my pocket. I told him I thought I could bleed, and he asked me to follow him. When I ar- rived at the tent it was crowded desperately, and near the door, on a temporary bed, was the patient. On one side of it stood a large man, with a huge walking stick, about four feet long and as thick as a small handspike. Before him was a pair of old-fashioned saddle-bags, which con- tained something near a half bushel of roots and herbs. together with other implements essential to the practice. On the other side of the little sufferer stood another man, something over six feet high, with a blue jeans suit on. Neither of the gentlemen were arrayed in very fastidious costumes. Over the shoulder of this gentleman hung a pair of pill wallets of something more in accordance with the custom of the nineteenth century, and would not hold over one peck of goods. He had the arm of the little girl bandaged, and was prodding away with an old rusty and dull thumb lancet, attempting to bleed the child, but had about given up the idea when I was sent for. The man who hunted me up, stepped forward and fixing his eyes on me, said : "There is Dr. Hervey ; maybe he can bleed." At this all eyes were turned toward me, and I could dis- tinctly hear the whispers through the crowd, "he is nothing but a boy ;" "he don't look much like a doctor," and other similar remarks, most of which were true, for I was but a
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young man, and looked younger than I was. The theory of the doctors was that the patient had too much blood in the head, and that bleeding was the only remedy. The big doctors had not much faith in me, but asked me if I could bleed the child. They did not ask for my opinion of the case, or what treatment I would recommend, or inti- mate that they had any more use for me. I, however, bled the child, and asked the doctors if it would not be well to keep cold cloths to the head, which they had ordered re- moved for fear of producing a chill. The child got better, and I got better acquainted with the big doctors, and found them to be big-hearted as well as large in body. One of them was Dr. Carpenter, of Cumberland, a good Christian gentleman, but whose facilities for education were poor. He was a very useful man, and when his patients died, he often preached their funerals. He was a Baptist minister, and Dr. William Moore, of the same village, and a part- ner, was a Universalian preacher. Bleeding was common then in most diseases, and many persons were bled regu- larly at stated times. I knew several men who kept lancets. A man that could bleed was considered necessary in every settlement. The houses of these men were thronged every Sunday by persons, some of whom would come miles to be bled. The other big doctor was called McLain, I think. and he lived in or near New Palestine.
On page seventy-four of the proceedings of the Indiana Medical Society for 1874, in a report on the medical his- tory of the State, by Thad. M. Stevens, M. D., I find the following items, connected with the transactions of medical men in the western part of Hancock county, which I will quote :
"In 1846, the congestive fever, as it was called, made its appearance. Many died ; indeed, most of them in the hands of some physicians. Dr. Moore, of Cumberland. contended that blood letting, and after that calomel to ptyalism was the proper treatment. A meeting of physi- cians was called to consult upon a plan of treatment, at which it was agreed to use larger doses of quinine. Into
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
this practice all finally fell, and the disease became much less formidable. The only drawback to the use of this drug was the price, and the scarcity of money. It run up at one time to six dollars an ounce. Dr. Hervey bought up a dozen fat cattle, drove them to Indianapblis, and sold them at $7.50 per head, and invested the money in quinine."
In 1847 a singular epidemic of small-pox appeared in Buck-Creek township. Erysipelas, in the form of black tung, had been prevailing in the same locality. A healthy, stout man by the name of Snyder took the confluent vari- ola. The whole surface swelled enormously. Dr. William Smith, who was a new brother in the profession at Cum- berland, was called to see the case, who, being somewhat puzzled at the disease, called Dr. Bobbs, of Cumberland, and Dr. J. W. Hervey, of Hancock county, in consulta- tion. Drs. Bobbs and Smith contended that the disease was of an active inflammatory character, and the only safety depended upon copious blood-letting. Dr. Hervey differed with them, opposed the bleeding, and left them to treat the case. They bled the man profusely, and he died. The neighbors flocked in to see him, and the result was small-pox was scattered all over the country. Dr. J. W. Hervey contended that the disease was some form of erup- tive fever, modified by erysipelas diathesis. That was before the disease had developed its true character. After that he contended that it was small-pox, modified by the influence named. A consultation was called at the house of Isaac Snyder, father of the first patient, over some new cases. Dr. John S. Bobbs, Dr. Bullard, of Indianapolis, and Dr. Brown, of Bethel, were called in. Drs. Bobbs and Bullard agreed with Dr. Hervey. I think Dr. Brown did the same. The fact of the disease making its appearance without any one knowing how, agitated the public mind to the highest pitch. As Dr. Hervey had been prominent in the treatment of the disease, and very successful, he having treated eighty-four cases, with but the loss of three grown persons and two children, it was in some way whispered through the neighborhood that he started the disease to
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get into business and gain notoriety. This theory was aimed to be made plausible by the fact that the Doctor had been in Cincinnati the winter before, and had told some one that he saw cases of small-pox in the hospital. It was also urged that he could not have been so well acquainted with the disease and have treated it so successfully if he had not made some special study and preparation. The rumor spread and gained force as it went out upon the breeze of popular rumor, until the whole country was arrayed on one or the other side of the question. Some one, who was ingenious in formulating theories, said the Doctor had brought a scab with him from Cincinnati, and started the disease with it. He had used tincture of iodine and nitrate of silver to prevent pitting in the face. One Miss Burris lost an eye, and was otherwise disfigured by the disease, pustules having formed in the eyes. Popular prejudice pointed this case out as a proper one to punish the Doctor with. He was sued for mal-practice. The bad feeling was so intense against him that his counsel, Oliver HI. Smith, advised him to take a change of venue to Shelby county. The damages were set at $5,000. The deposi- tions of eminent physicians were secured by the Doctor. Some of the best physicians in the State were subpoenaed. His defense was so fortified that before the time for the trial arrived the case was withdrawn. Dr. Her- vey's character was vindicated, and he rose above the clouds that threatened him with ruin ; but it cost him much of his hard-earned means and cheated him out of three or four of the best years of his life.
This case is a valuable illustration of what injury and wrong may be done a physician by those who are not suffi- ciently informed on such subjects. It also shows what a few enemies may do before the tribunal of uninformed popular public sentiment and popular prejudice.
A Singular Call .- At a 4th of July celebration held in the woods, where Mt. Comfort now stands, I was engaged to make an oration. There was to be a big time-a bar- becue. The day brought an immense crowd. Just before
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
the time came for my part of the programme, I noticed some one coming with great speed, and a general stir among the people. I was informed that an accident had happened at the crossing of Buck Creek, and that I was wanted. The proceedings were delayed until my return. When I reached the scene of the accident, a most amusing incident was before me, and instead of resorting to surgery and bandages, I was overcome with fun. A family with several small children had undertaken to visit the celebra- tion in an ox-wagon, not very substantially rigged. In attempting to cross the bridge over Buck Creek, the oxen became frightened at a party of young men and women coming up behind at a pretty fair speed. The red ribbons were flying, and the big-skirted white dresses of the girls on horseback were flapping in the wind, together with the clatter of the horses' feet, was too much for the cattle to stand. They took fright, left the pole bridge. and landed the wagon, with its contents, upside down in the mud and mire. The oxen had just reached the shore, and the fam- ily had all been safely dug out of the mud, and were seated in a line on the edge of the bridge, covered so completely with mud that you could only see the eyes and the mouth. The man with coon-skin cap was making arrangements to wash them off in the creek, into which he had waded and was, when I arrived, waiting for the first one to be handed to him to take through the operation. Every child was bawling at the top of its ability to make a noise. As none were hurt, no one who witnessed the incident could restrain a hearty laugh. They were assisted, however. and washed off, and reached the ground towards the close of the even- ing, and in time to get a full meal of meat and corn-pone, which were about all the eatables spread on the occasion.
Dr. Duncan .- The first time I ever visited the office of Dr. Duncan he was so full of talk and big laugh that he spit all over me, not intentionally, for no better hearted man lived than he ; but he had such a peculiar way of pouring out his fun that he could not keep his mouth and lips from taking a very prominent part in the perform-
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ance. Dr. Barnett, who is now yielding somewhat to the pressure of age, was then a student in his office, and a very industrious one at that. His long success in business is due, no doubt, to his earnest and intense studentship. Dr. Duncan was a good practitioner and had an extensive business. Had he received the advantages of modern usages he would have been a still more prominent member of the profession.
Dr. Moorc .- I do not remember the given name of the doctor here referred to. I was called to see him in his last sickness at his home in Green township. He was quite a large man, of very limited attainments, but was a useful man in the community. He died of softening of the brain and paralysis. A singular feature in his disease was that he could not reach any object with his hand. If he would undertake to place his hand upon an object he would invariably reach to another locality. He was much worried over his condition. He lamented his affliction very much. He appealed to me so piteously to devise some means for his relief that I shed tears in his presence. I think some of his family are living in the county, who might be able to give more of his history.
Dr. N. P. Howard-Is now among the oldest practi- tioners in the county. I do not remember how long it has been since he came to Greenfield, but he has always ranked among the best medical men of the country, and is perhaps the best operating surgeon in the county, and he has but few superiors in the State. Besides being a surgeon of ability, he is a whole-souled gentleman, who never violated any law of professional etiquette or honor.
Dr. Lot Edwards-Is the first physician I ever knew in the county, and he had practiced in it several years before I came. He was one of the most wiry men I ever knew. His appearance would indicate that he could stand but little effort, yet he has done enough hard work in the prac- tice of medicine to kill two or three ordinary men. He was identified with the first society of the county, and had as many warm friends as any man therein.
24
DR. N. P. HOWARD.
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Dr. E. I. fudkins-Read medicine in Greenfield, and was raised in the county. He has grown old amidst the .scenes of his early life, and has given the best of his energies to the practice of his profession. He is a suc- essful, high-minded votary of the healing art, well posted. and has a large share of friends and patrons.
Dr. A. G. Sclman-Practiced medicine in Greenfield many years ago, and took a prominent part in politics. He had at one time as large a practice as any man in the county. He is the father of the rising young doctor of that name now in Greenfield.
Dr. Cook-Practiced in Charlottesville thirty-five years ago, and was a very fine and successful practitioner. Dr. Stuart, of Fortville, was one of his students. Dr. Stuart and Dr. Troy must be nearly the same age, and must have commenced practice about the same time. I am told that Dr. Troy has always had quite a large business, and that Dr. Stuart, at Fortville, has an extensive practice.
Dr. Yancey-Who is now a member of the State Senate. came to this county, as near as I can recollect, about six- teen years ago. He is a man of considerable ability, and stands high in his profession and in society as an honora- ble man.
Dr. Hiram Duncan-Came to Hancock county over thirty years ago. He commenced practice near Willett's Mill, but moved to a settlement north of Fortville. on Fall creek, in the edge of Hamilton county, before Fortville was laid out. When it was made a town he moved there. and practiced there alone for ten or twelve years. He is a well-posted, though unassuming, man, and is one of the most careful practitioners I ever knew. He is now in Indianapolis.
Dr. T. P. Hervey, of Mc Cordsville-Is a brother of the writer. He is the only student I ever had. I am not ashamed of him, and I trust he is not ashamed of his pre- ceptor. Had he not been my brother he would not have been my student. I felt that I could, for my brother's sake, go to the trouble necessary to train his mind to appreciate
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the responsibilities incumbent upon a physician and the necessity of a thorough qualification to perform his duties. He is one of the most conscientious men at the bedside of the sick I ever met. No man has more or warmer friends than has he.
Dr. Paul Espy-Is another of the old physicians of the county. I think he commenced business at or near Phila- delphia, but soon went to his present locality, where he has been ever since. He could speak German fluently, and no better location could he found in the State for a man of his ability and social habits than New Palestine. The Doctor has made good use of his facilities, energies and surround-
DR
S. M. MART
ings, and is to-day one of the wealthiest men in the county. HIis tireless energy and his unceasing devotion to business. together with his good judgment and good management. has placed him beyond want and in possession of innumer- able friends. But few doctors succeed as well, pecuniarily. as Dr. Paul Espy.
The Young Physicians .- A very promising inventory of young doctors are springing up to take the place of the old ones. Dr. Martin and Dr. Howard, Jr., of Greenfield, and perhaps others of whom I have no knowledge, and Dr.
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John Covey and Dr. Frank Hervey, of McCordsville, and others in other villages unknown to me, will soon be called to take the places of worthy predecessors. Dr. Martin is one of the best posted young men in the State, and is a most successful surgeon.
One thing can be said to the praise of the physicians of Hancock county. They were mostly self-made men, and men of unusually good sense. But few men have been imported into Hancock county as physicians since the old stock took their place. But few counties in the State can boast of better doctors than Hancock county. I do not know one to whom I could not give the hand of fellowship. I do not know one who is my personal enemy, or one who has ever knowingly done me an unkind act.
In writing this brief review of the profession in the county, if I have forgotten any one or said anything about any one that may be exceptionable, I ask pardon.
The entire diathesis of the diseases of the country has changed since forty years ago. The plan of treatment has changed with the change in the type and character of dis- ease. The forests have fallen ; the sunshine has been let in upon the earth, for centuries covered with a thick un- dergrowth and magnificent forest trees ; the ground, then covered in many places with water, has been ditched ; the land, so long idle, has been cultivated ; obstructions from streams have been removed ; old rotting logs and decaying matter have been cleared away. It is therefore not strange that malaria should be less, and that the whole character of morbific causatives should undergo a change.
Forty years ago blood-letting, blistering, calomel and jalep, together with a prolific profusion of emetics, nau- sients and antiphlogistics, were the sheet anchor. Now the aim of the physician is to save and vitalize the blood. energise and build up the wasting strength, and save all the power of the system, to battle disease and perform life's essential functions. J. W. HERVEY.
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HANCOCK MEDICAL SOCIETY
was organized in Greenfield, January 6, 1874, and regu- larly incorporated under the rules and regulations of the State Medical Society, and is therefore entitled to repre- sentation in said organization, and in the American Medical Association, to each of which it sends its delegates. The following reputable physicians were the organizers, and constituted the charter members of said society, viz. : N. P. Howard, Sen .; E. I. Judkins, M. M. Adams, S. M. Martin, Hiram Duncan, J. G. Stuart, S. A. Troy, S. T. Yancey, J. K. Sanders, H. J. Bogart, G. T. Wrennick,. J. B. Sparks, M. M. Hess, and G. C. Ewbank. Dr. N. P. Howard, Sen., was its first President, and Dr. E. I. Judkins its first Secretary. In addition to the charter members, twenty-two physicians have been admitted to membership since its organization. Drs. J. J. Carter and J. O. Espy deceased while members of the society. Some have moved from the county, and others ceased to be mem- bers. Drs. Troy, Yancey, J. M. Ely Sparks, and Espy have each served as president. It now (February 18, 1882) numbers sixteen members. The present officers are, Dr. E. I. Judkins, President ; Dr. W. B. Ryan, Secretary. The society is in a prosperous condition, and most of its members appear devoted to its interest, and the success of their profession. The Hancock Medical Society and the medical profession in our county, we can safely say, will compare favorably with the same in her sister counties.
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