History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 35

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

part of 1873, sold out to Benjamin S. Parker, now United States Con- sul at Sherbrooke, Canada, a gentleman of well-known literary ability. Under Hiatt & Parker the paper advocated the farmers' or "Gran- gers," independent movement in politics. During the two years in which Mr. Hiatt had a part in the management of the Times, its circulation was largely extended. In January, 1875, he disposed of his interest to Arthur E. Wickersham. At the same date the name of the paper was changed again, becoming the New Castle Mercury. The Mercury was conducted by Parker & Wickersham until April 10, 1882, when the present proprietors, E. Pleas & Co., succeeded to the ownership. On the 23d of March, 1883, its form was changed from a blanket sheet to a six- column quarto. The Mercury is a well-conducted paper, Republican in politics. Its circulation is large and constantly gaining. Mr. Elwood Pleas, the editor, is an experienced journalist, having been connected with newspaper management most of the time since 1862. For fourteen or fifteen years he has constantly had editorial charge of a newspaper, with the exception of about two years. In 1883 a daily edition of the Mercury was published, from July 2 to Sept. 22.

THE HENRY COUNTY REPUBLICAN.

E. & M. E. Pleas began the publication of a paper called the Henry County Republican, at New Castle, in August, 1870. In July, 1872, the Republican was consolidated with the Courier, as already stated. The paper was Republican in politics, and devoted to home and miscellaneous intelligence.

NEW CASTLE NEWS.

In April, 1877, T. J. Higgs and Josiah Crawford, both experi_ enced newspaper men, began the publication of the New Castle News (Democratic). They had a good outfit, moved here from Connersville, and made a very fair paper. It survived only about nine months, however, because of insufficient support. Higgs & Benedict became the proprietors a few months after the paper started.

THE INDIANA STATESMAN.

Another short-lived Democratic paper was started by Williams & Brown, Jan. 31, 1878. It was called the Indiana Statesman and was published at New Castle. The chief editor was Colonel

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

J. D. Williams, an experienced journalist. The Statesman contin- ued about five months, then left the field.

NEW CASTLE DEMOCRAT.

The first number of the New Castle Democrat was issued in January, 1878, by John M. Goar, the present editor and proprie- tor. A few days later there appeared in New Castle a rival Dem- ocratic sheet, edited by Colonel J. D. Williams, an experienced journalist. It was called the Indiana Statesman, and after an existence of five months it abandoned the field to the Democrat.

During the campaign of 1878 the Democrat earnestly advocated the election of Myers for Congressman and its editorials attracted general attention for their terseness and vigor. The Democrat started without outside aid and with a very small capital. It was without a press for a time at the start, and hired its printing done. It was soon made a paying property and the office supplied with good material, which from time to time has been increased, until now the Democrat has a much better printing establishment than most weekly newspapers. Its circulation has grown steadily, and for the past three years has never fallen below 1,000 copies, even at the first of the year, and has reached 1,700 copies in the course of the year. The Democrat is a financial success. Unlike former Democratic papers in New Castle, it has never been obliged to call upon its friends for donations to keep it running. That it has suc- ceeded where so many Democratic journals have failed is highly creditable to its editor and proprietor. Mr. Goar is an able and forcible writer, and makes his paper sprightly and entertaining. Its political utterances are quoted extensively, and its influence is by no means confined to the county.

The Democrat started as a seven-column folio, 24 x 36 inches in size. In its third year, it had adopted a new plan in country journalism, changing its page to eight columns and its size to 26 x 40 inches, as often as the press of other matter made it necessary. In the fourth year the present size, 26 x 40 inches, eight columns to the page, was permanently adopted. In the holiday editions of 1882 a twelve-page paper was issued for two weeks, and a sixteen-page paper in Christmas week. The latter contained forty-eight col- umns of advertisements. All these issues were wholly printed in the home office.

HENRY COUNTY ARGUS.

A paper with the above name, devoted to the dissemination of the principles of the Greenback-Labor party, appeared in 1881,

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

published by H. W. Burtch. It was printed at Richmond in the office of the Wayne News. In 1883 Wm. R. Sanborn became owner of the Argus. He was overtaken by financial disaster in March, 1884, and the Argus suspended. Its local office was at New Castle.

THE KNIGHTSTOWN BANNER,

one of the most successful of Henry County journals, was started by John A. Deem, in May, 1867. At first it was issued as a six- column folio, one-half its present size. Under Mr. Deem's able management the Banner gained rapidly in circulation and influ- ence. In 1877 he sold the establishment to T. B. Deem, one of the present proprietors, who managed the paper until March, 1883. R. F. Brewington then bought a half interest, and the Banner has since been conducted by Deem & Brewington. At the date given the proprietor of the Banner purchased the Knightstown Shield and consolidated it with their paper. The Banner is now in its eighteenth year, and its prosperity is increasing. It is ably edited, and contains a large amount of good reading. Its subscription price is only $1.25 per year. The Banner has been strongly Republican from the start.

OTHER KNIGHTSTOWN JOURNALS.

The City Chronicle was started in 1870, by J. C. Riddell; and though it appeared only irregularly and "semi-occasionally," it continued its existence under his care until 1876. Riddell then sold out to Frank I. Grubbs, who changed the name of the paper to the Knightstown Herald. The first number of the Herald appeared in November, 1876. About six months later the Herald died. The Knightstown Journal was the next aspirant for fame. It appeared in December, 1876, Fleming Ratcliff, editor. It was a nine-column folio, ably edited and well printed, but it lived to be only six months old. Thenceforth, for about two years, the Banner was the only paper published in Knightstown. But in 1879 there came another " to flourish and then to fade.". The Knightstown Shield appeared. It was conducted at the start by Frank I. Grubbs and Charles Moore. At the end of a year Moore retired, and L. P. Newby became the partner of Grubbs. In the fall of 1880 Newby retired. Deem and Grubbs then consolidated their papers, and published the Banner-Shield. Four months afterward the publication of both papers was resumed. The

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

Shield continued to be published by Grubbs until March, 1883, when it was purchased by the Knightstown Banner as above stated.

SPICELAND REPORTER.

The Spiceland Reporter was started in July, 1873, by James W. Harvey, proprietor, and Fleming Ratcliff, editor. About eighteen months later Harvey was compelled to give up the publication of the paper, not finding it profitable. The citizens, however, deter- mined to keep the paper running, and the Reporter Company was formed, with about $2,700 capital, and Mr. Ratcliff continued as editor. Lewis Woods, Elisha B. Ratcliff, Dr. J. B. Cochrane, Joseph E. Bogue and S. E. Unthank constituted the stock com- pany. In July, 1876, Mr. Ratcliff retired from the editorship. His successors in that position were Nathan Newby, now professor in the State Normal School at Terre Haute; Clarkson Davis, C. P. Butler, and others. In July, 1880, the paper was sold at receiver's sale, and bought by Clarkson Davis and W. S. Chamness. It expired in November, 1880. For about eighteen months prior to that time J. M. Kissel had been the editor and publisher. The Reporter was an eight-column folio, well edited, and of a neat typographical appearance. At one time it reached a circulation of 900 copies; but as its advertising patronage was small, likewise the amount of job work, it could not be made to pay.

THE LEWISVILLE DEMOCRAT.

The first number of the Lewisville Democrat was issued Nov. 29, 1877. W. F. Taylor and Lee L. Porch were the publishers. Dr. N. G. Smith acted as editor for about three months, and was succeeded by T. W. Hall, for a few weeks; after this Taylor and Porch were both editors and proprietors. In January, 1880, the paper passed into the hands of Dr. N. G. Smith, who conducted it a few weeks. W. A. Dale then became editor and proprietor. He published the Democrat about six months, then abandoned the enterprise. The Democrat was a neat paper typographically, and was well edited. It was a seven-column folio, 24 x 36 inches in size, all printed at the publishing office. It had a fair patronage, but did not pay its publishers. There were seven papers pub- lished in the county the most of the time during its career, and there were not subscribers enough to "go 'round."

CHAPTER VIII.

COUNTY SOCIETIES.

THE THIRTEENTH DISTRICT MEDICAL SOCIETY .- ITS EARLY OFFI CERS AND LICENTIATES .- PROMINENCE OF HENRY COUNTY PHYSI- CIANS IN THE SOCIETY. - THE NEW CASTLE MEDICAL SOCIETY .- THE HENRY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY .- LIST OF MEMBERS AND OFFICERS. - PHYSIO-MEDICAL SYSTEM .- HENRY COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY. - AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. - HENRY COUNTY AGRI- CULTURAL SOCIETY AT NEW CASTLE. - UNION AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, KNIGHTSTOWN .- HENRY, MADISON AND DELAWARE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, MIDDLETOWN.

HENRY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

This is an able body, organized for a worthy object. Under its present name, the organization is new; but going back to its origin, we find that as far back as 1832 a society, known as the Medical Society of the Thirteenth Medical District of Indiana, was in existence, with headquarters at New Castle. The officers of the society in 1832 were John Elliott, President; Joel Reed, John H. Cook, John Elliott, Censors; Dickinson Burt, Secretary. Dr. Joel Reed afterward served as President of this body for many years, while the other officers were generally Henry County physicians. Unfortunately no records of this society are to be found at this day. Its object was the advancement of medical science and the self-improvement of its members by conference and discussion. The society examined candidates and granted licenses, established prices for professional services, and, in general, super- vised the medical interests of the district, which comprised several counties. The physicians of Henry County who had received licenses from this association were as follows, in the year 1839, as we learn from an item in the Indiana Sun:

J. M. Whitesell, V. Kersey and Benjamin Duncan, of Knights town; J. Ryan and G. H. Ballengall, of Middletown; William M. Kerr, in the northern part of the county; John P. Taylor, New Lisbon; Joel Reed, J. V. Wayman and John Darr, of New Castle.

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. .

In 1845 the Thirteenth District Medical Society licensed the following physicians: Thomas N. Jones, of Lewisville; A. H. Hiatt, of Greensboro, and John C. Beck, of Cadiz. In 1846: Elisha Van Buskirk and Shelly Jones, of Lewisville; Andrew J. Batson, of New Castle; and Luther W. Hess, of Middletown. In 1847: William H. Gaston and John Rea. Dr. James V. Wayman was an early physician in the county, and an active member of the Thirteenth Medical District Society, in which he held office. He was a good physician and a prominent citizen. After some years of practice in the county, he removed to Cambridge City.

The officers of the Thirteenth District Medical Society in 1847 were: Dr. Joel Reed, President; G. W. Riddell, T. N. Jones and T. B. Woodward, Censors; A. J. Clawson, Secretary. Meetings were held annually on the first Monday in May. The society con- tinued to flourish nearly, if not quite, up to the time when the New Castle Medical Society was formed.

On the first Monday in May, 1856, at a meeting of the physi- cians of the county, it was resolved to form an association to be styled the New Castle Medical Society; and Drs. J. C. Beck, John Rea and Isaac Mendenhall were appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws. The object of the society as set forth in the constitution was: "To promote the acquisition of medical knowledge by encouraging observation and comparing the experi- ence of its members in the several departments of the science."

The officers elected in 1856 were: John C. Beck, President; W. H. Castor, Vice-President; John Rea, Secretary and Treas- urer; Thomas S. Bayse, W. H. Castor and John Rea, Censors. The above and Isaac Mendenhall, W. F. Boor and S. Ferris were all of the charter members.

Three stated meetings were held at New Castle each year during the existence of the society. Dr. Rea served as Secretary from 1856 until the present society was formed, and has been Secretary of the present body from its organization. Presidents of the New Castle society were as follows: John C. Beck, 1856-'57; Isaac Mendenhall, 1858-'59; S. Ferris 1860-'63: W. F. Boor, 1864; W. M. Resoner, 1865; H. Benedict, 1866; W. F. Boor, 1867; I. Men- denhall, 1868; H. M. Minesinger, 1869; S. Ferris, 1870; G. W. Burke, 1871; C. N. Blunt, 1872; D. N. Kimball, 1873; L. W. Hess, 1874; J. C. Stanley, 1875. The following physicians were admitted to membership in the society: W. E. Millikan 1858; John Darr, Wm. M. Resoner, 1859; J. S. D. Comstock, B. D.

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

Leavell, 1861; H. M. Minesinger, 1862; W. H. Wheeler, H. Bene- dict, G. W. Zimmerman, 1864; D. N. Kimball, G. W. Burke, 1866; C. A. Estabrook, 1870 ; Edwin Cain, 1871; W. A. Boor, 1872; Amos B. Ballard, L. W. Hess, T. J. Bowles, Wilson Hobbs, D. W. Butler, J. C. Stanley, T. W. Gronendyke, 1873.

In consequence of a change in the constitution of the State Med- ical Society, in 1879 the organization hitherto known as the New Castle Medical Society was re-organized on the 14th of August under the name of the Henry County Medical Society.

ARTICLE 1 of the constitution declares: "The name and title of this society shall be the Henry County Medical Society, and it shall be auxiliary to and under control of the Indiana State Medi- cal Society."

ART. 2 defines its objects in language already given above. Other articles in the constitution which may be of general interest are the following :

"ART. 9. A candidate to be eligible to membership must be a graduate of a regular medical school, or a practicing physician eligible to graduate in such school by attending one course of lect- ures, in which case, if recommended by the censors and voted for by two thirds of the members present, he may become a member by enrolling his name and paying an initiation fee of $2.00.

"ART. 10. The meetings of the society shall be held in New Castle on the second Thursdays in April, June, August, October, December and February of each year, with adjournments from time to time and place to place as the interests of the society may require, no meeting to be held outside of the county.

"ART. 13. The society shall be divided into three classes and each alternately shall be required to furnish an essay or a report of a disease medically treated, once every third meeting of the society, and failing to do so shall be fined fifty cents. * *

The charter nembers of the Henry County Society were Doctors Ferris, Mendenhall, Burke, W. F. and W. A. Boor, John and G. N. Rea, and Gronendyke, of New Castle; L. W. Hess, Cadiz; Wm. M. Resoner, Sulphur Springs; G. D. Bailey, James and Cochran, Spiceland; G. W. Zimmerman, Cadiz; E. T. Mendenhall, Millville; C. G. Bartlett, Dunreith; Wilson Hobbs, Knightstown; C. N. Blunt and H. Benedict. The following have joined since 1879: Rachel S. Bailey, 1880; J. T. Anderson, 1881; F. C. Hess, S. Pickering and Henry M. Crouse, 1882; F. G. Jackson, 1883.

The following have served as Presidents of the society: I. Men-

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denhall, 1879; H. Benedict, 1880; S. Ferris, 1881; W. M. Resoner, 1882; Walter A. Boor, 1883.

PHYSIO-MEDICAL SYSTEM.

REPORTED BY DR. J. H. JAMES, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE PHYSIO- MEDICAL PHYSICIANS OF HENRY COUNTY.]

The history of the Physio-Medical System of Medicine is cer- tainly a part of the history of Henry County, on account this system was practiced among the earliest settlers. There never was any county organization of this system of medicine until the sum- mer of 1863, when the Physio-Medical physicians of this county, with some physicians of the same system from adjoining counties, met at New Castle, this county, and organized what has been known ever since as the First District Physio-Medical Association of Indiana.

This organization was to meet quarterly at some one of the cen- tral points of the district, and those places were more often in this county than any other in the district. The object of these meet- ings was for the purpose of discussing such things as were not fully understood by all our physicians. These meetings were mostly well attended, and each one would return home feeling he had learned something new and useful to him in his practice.

To make it so each one may more fully understand our prin- ciples, we will give the doctrines and practice of Physio- Medicalism, as written by Prof. S. E. Carey, and published in the January number of the Physio-Medical Journal, 1875:

"The term Physio-Medicalism is derived from two Greek words, which signify natural medication, or medication in harmony with, or in obedience to, the laws of nature. It differs from all other systems in this: That it is founded upon the laws of physiology- laws of health; whilst all other systems are founded upon path- ology-the laws of disease. It teaches that irritation, inflamma - tion and fever are vital manifestations, and therefore sanitive in their tendency; that they evidence the action of the vital force- life-power-in its efforts to remove obstructions which cause dis- ease; that when there are no obstructions to the full and free flow of vital force through all parts of the system, there will be no vital manifestations of an extra effort of the vital force to remove offend- ing causes, no irritation, inflammation or fever. Other systems teach that irritation, inflammation and fever are essentially and properly considered disease, and should be treated accordingly.

вчера Ужеско та

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

"The practice of Physio-Medicalism being based upon the belief of the sanitive tendency of fever, all the means used must harmo- nize with the efforts of the vital force to remove the cause of dis- ease, in order that the effects may cease sooner or later.

" Hence, Physio-Medicalism forbids the use of anything and everything which will mar or impair the vital force. Therefore poisons, of whatever kind or quality, whether mineral, vege- table or animal, are strictly and positively forbidden in every and all forms of disease. All other medical systems being based upon the belief that irritation, inflammation and fever are disease, use such agencies as will break the fever-destroy the vital manifesta- tions-and hence they war with the vital force-power of life by every means of depletion they can command-by bleeding with lancets, cups, leeches, etc .; by excessive purgation, starvation, ex- cessive refrigeration, narcotization, etc., by the latter of which, in the use of opium, chloral, aconite, etc., they destroy the nervous sensibility and power to act, and thereby often produce death, or lasting injury to the system; and this they call scientific practice. But we are often asked if Physio-Medicalists don't use poisons in extreme cases. We answer, no; that no poison can act in harmony with the vital force in any case, but must always war against it; and therefore no poison can be a Physio-Medical remedy in any case, whether taken internally or applied externally. Again we are asked if poisons do not cure some cases of disease. We answer no, and yes. No, because poisons cannot co-operate with the vital force in its efforts to remove the cause of disease, but on the contrary they tend to impair its power to restore health. Yes, because, they may provoke the vital force to an extraordinary effort to remove them- the poisons-and thereby the cause of the disease may also be removed, and the poison often gets the credit of the cure, when it properly belongs to the extra efforts of the vital force. Then the question comes up: If you admit that cures are often effected by the indirect use of poisons, why not give them ? We answer, there are two reasons why they should not be given in any case: First, because they are always dangerous and sometimes fatal in their effects; second, because we have sanitive agents-innocent remedies-which will cure all forms of disease more readily than it can be done with poisons.

" But we are asked: Cannot a skillful physician give poisons in such a manner as to always avoid the evil effects which are so often seen ? We answer, no. The natural tendency of all poisons

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is to do injury, and no man can tell with certainty when they will or will not destroy or injure the patient.

" As evidence of this we see the most skillful physicians salivate and sometimes kill their patients when they do not intend it. So they often kill or permanently injure their patients with opium, chloral, strychnine, digitallis, chloroform, ether, etc., when they do not intend it, and cannot avoid it. This doctrine that the ten- dency and effect of a poison can be changed or avoided by the skill of the administrator is one of the greatest humbugs of the day. It has led to the use of the ' fatal dose' in many, very many cases. How many thousands have been killed outright or permanently injured by taking opium, mercury, strychnine, chloral, chloro- form, etc., whilst under the fatal delusion that these poisons were safe when administered by ' skillful hands' ?

" Physio-Medicalism avoids all these calamities by totally rejecting the whole catalogue of poisons as remedies, and in this we think Physio-Medicalism is infinitely better than any or all other systems of medical practice."

About the same time of the organization of the First District Physio-Medical Association of Indiana there was organized at New Castle, this county, the State Physio-Medical Association. This organization meets annually, and at first it met at some cen- tral point in or near this county. Some of the meetings were held at New Castle, Greensboro and Mechanicsburg, but of late years they have met in the city of Indianapolis. Not being able to get any written or printed reports of these early meetings, we are unable to give the dates of the meetings and the officers of the different organizations, until the year 1866.

The State Physio-Medical Association convened at New Castle, this county, June 20 of that year. Dr. J. F. Polk, of this county, was Secretary. The following is a list of those who attended the meeting from this county: Drs. Jos. Weeks, Geo. Hasty, D. H. Stafford, J. Needham and R. H. Homer. There may have been others, but nothing is said about them being in attendance.

As we said before, we have been unable to find reports of meet- ings, so we will notice some of the most prominent members who were instrumental in carrying on these meetings: Dr. Jos. Weeks, Mechanicsburg, is considered by all as the father of Physio- Medicalism in this county, and perhaps in the State. He has practiced for a third of a century. He has practiced longer than any other Physio-Medical physician in the county. A great

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many physicians have received their first medical instruction from him; a great many that have read under him have become promi- nent physicians of the State. Among these we will mention First, Dr. George Hasty, now of Indianapolis. He read medicine, graduated, and then practiced in the same town with Dr. Weeks for several years, until he became one among the best physicians of the State. In 1872 he moved to Indianapolis, to engage in the practice of medicine, also to assist in the organization of the Physio-Medical College of Indiana, he filling some one of the chairs of the college. At present he fills the chair of the Principles and Practice of Medicine. After getting the college started he, with some others, started the Physio-Medical Journal. After running it a year or so he became sole proprietor and editor.

Second, we may mention Dr. C. T. Bedford, now also of Indian- apolis. He formally lived at Middletown, this county. He received a part of his medical instruction from Dr. Weeks. He has practiced most of the time at Indianapolis, and at this time is Secretary of the Physio-Medical College of Indiana.

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History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 35

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 996

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996