USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 36
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In 1849 Dr. John Q. A. Robbins came to Miami county and estab- lished himself at Chili, where Dr. W. J. Chamberlain had located two years before and was the first physician in the village. Dr. Robbins was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 6, 1826, and was there- fore but twenty-three years of age when he came to Miami county. When sixteen years old he began the study of medicine under Dr. James Ruby, in his native county, and upon reaching his majority began prac- tice. Although not a graduate of a medical college, Dr. Robbins was a successful physician for that day. In 1856, after the death of his wife, he returned to Wayne county and then traveled through the West to recover his health. In 1881 he returned to Miami county and located ยท at Denver.
The first physician to locate in the town of Bunker Hill was a Dr. Hufford, who was also engaged in merchandising. Dr. James A. Meek, the second physician in the town, was born in Scott county, Indiana, August 18, 1828. When twenty years of age he began the study of. medicine with his uncle, Dr. T. D. Lemon, of Laporte. He then attended lectures at the Indiana Medical College, then located in Laporte and in 1850 began practice in Ripley county, Indiana. He soon gave up his practice to go to California, during the gold excitement, but late in the year 1854 he returned to Indiana and located at Peru. Four years later he removed to Bunker Hill, where he practiced for many years. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and was one of the charter members of the Miami County Medical Society.
Dr. A. D. Coe, one of the pioneer physicians of Mexico, was a native of Portage county, Ohio, where he was born on January 24, 1824. He began his professional studies under Dr. N. W. Hubbard, of Newark, Ohio, after which he attended the Starling Medical College at Colum- bus, Ohio, and the Albany Medical College, Albany, New York. In 1851 he came to Miami county and for a few years taught school, practicing medicine as opportunity offered. In November, 1856, he opened an office at Mexico and engaged in active practice. In the winter of 1857-58 he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Cincinnati, where he received the degree of M. D. in February, 1858. Dr. Coe was a Mason and an Odd Fellow and was recognized as one of the successful physi- cians and best surgeons of Miami county. Although he built up a large practice he died in moderate circumstances, owing to his benevolent disposition. His death occurred at Mexico in 1889.
In 1857 Dr. William H. Brenton came to Peru from southern Illi- nois and began the practice of medicine. He was born in Clark county, Indiana, May 2, 1828. At the age of sixteen years he began the study Vol. 1-22
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of medicine under Dr. Frank Taylor, of Westport, Kentucky. Later he took a course of lectures at Memphis, Tennessee, and in 1852 was graduated in the medical department of Asbury (now DePauw) Uni- versity at Greencastle, Indiana. He began practice, however, in 1849 at Taylorville, Indiana, and after graduating located at Metropolis, Illinois, from which place he came to Peru in 1857. In 1862 he enlisted as assistant surgeon of the Seventy-third Indiana Infantry and served until the following year, when he resigned, having discharged the duties of regimental surgeon during the greater part of his service. In 1866 Dr. Brenton was graduated with honors at the Bellevue Hospital Medi- cal College of New York, after which he was in partnership with Dr. J. O. Ward, of Peru, for over twenty years. He was one of the organ- izers of the Miami County Medical Society; was a member of the American Medical Association and the Indiana State Medical Society and was considered one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the Wabash valley.
Dr. M. D. Ellis was one of the pioneer physicians of Xenia (now Converse), where he located some time in the '50s. He found there Drs. Frazier and Pope, who had previously established themselves in practice. Dr. Ellis was active in recruiting a company in 1862, which was mustered in as Company C, Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry, with Dr. Ellis as first lieutenant. He rose to the rank of captain and after being mustered out located at Peru, where he practiced his profession until his death, after serving a term as auditor of Miami county.
Dr. Abner D. Kimball and his brother, Thomas C. Kimball, were - among the early practicing physicians of Converse. Both were success- ful doctors. After several years at Converse they removed. to Marion and Dr. A. D. Kimball was for several years surgeon of the National Soldiers' Home at Marion.
Dr. E. K. Friermood, who located at Amboy in 1877, was one of the well known physicians of the county for a number of years. He was born in Ohio in 1843 and came in his boyhood to Grant county, Indiana, with his parents. In 1867 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Kimball, above mentioned, and in February, 1869, graduated at the Rush Medical College in Chicago. He began practice at North Grove, but soon afterward went to Wabash, where he practiced until 1877. He then located at Amboy, but later removed to Peru and from there to Greentown, Howard county. He died in 1911.
Dr. John Constant is remembered by old citizens as one of the popu- lar physicians of the county. He located in Mexico some years before the beginning of the Civil war and after practicing for some time in that village he removed to Peru, where he formed a partnership with
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his brother-in-law, Dr. Isaac C. Walker. This association lasted until the death of Dr. Constant, after which Dr. Walker removed to Indian- apolis and became one of the prominent physicians of that city.
While the firm of Constant & Walker was in existence a young man began the study of medicine with them who afterward achieved a dis- tinguished position among the physicians of Miami county. That was Dr. Carter B. Higgins, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, December 15, 1843, and came to Peru with his parents when he was but three years of age. He completed the course of study in the Peru public schools, graduated at Earlham College and began the study of medicine when he was eighteen years old. In 1866 he graduated at the Rush Medical College in Chicago and soon afterward formed a partnership with Dr. Walker. In 1869 he went to Rochester, where he practiced for a short time, when he returned to Peru. He was at one time the secretary of the Miami County Medical Society and was treasurer of the Indiana State Medical Society. He was also a member of the American Medical Association and for several years prior to his death was the surgeon in charge of the Wabash Railway hospital at Peru.
Dr. Milton M. Boggs, who is now living with his son-in-law in Peru, retired from active practice, is one of the old-time physicians of the county. He was born in Henry county, Indiana, in 1830, but while still in his childhood his parents, removed to Laporte county. In 1839 the family removed to Kosciusko county, where the father died in 1842. Young Boggs then returned to Laporte county, where he worked as a farm hand until in April, 1847, when he enlisted for service in the Mexican war. He was honorably discharged in August, 1848, and returned to Leesburg, Kosciusko county, where he began the study of medicine. He began practice in that county in 1851; removed to Fulton county in 1854 and to Cass county in 1859; enlisted in Company E, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, in August, 1861; was made captain of the company ; resigned on account of disabilities received in line of duty ; located at North Manchester and practiced his profession there until the spring of 1870, when he removed to Macy. There he conducted a drug store in connection with his practice for several years, when he retired. He is the only veteran of the Mexican war in Miami county.
Dr. Upton A. Ager, who began practice at Perrysburg in 1868, was a native of Starke county, Ohio, where he was born in 1839. When he was eight years old his parents removed to Huntington county, Indiana, where he received his education in the public schools and select schools at Huntington and Roanoke. He began his medical studies in the office of Drs. Laymon & Shafer at Huntington and in 1867 was graduated at the Rush Medical College at Chicago. In April, 1868, he opened an
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office in Perrysburg, where he practiced for many years. He then removed to Peru and there engaged in the sale of carriages and other vehicles. He died about 1910.
Dr. Reuben W. Smith, who settled at Converse in 1858, was born in Henry county, Indiana, in November, 1831; attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati in 1855-56 and practiced at Farmland, Indiana, until his removal to Converse. In 1871 he was graduated at the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis and continued to practice at Converse until he came to be the oldest established physician in that town. He was a member of the Indiana and Grant County Medical Societies, a member of the Masonic fraternity and a Democrat.
Dr. Rollin Pence lived to be more than four score years of age. Some years before his death he removed from Santa Fe to Peru and spent his declining years in the enjoyment of the fruits of his labors and in the association of a large circle of friends.
Dr. F. H. Watkins, an Eclectic physician, was a successful practi- tioner in Peru for probably thirty years, beginning about 1870, and acquired quite a reputation for his success in treating typhoid fever.
From old newspaper files and other sources has been collected the following list of old-time doctors, in addition to those above noted : At Amboy, Drs. J. A. Baldwin, H. D. Hattery and John Wright; at Chili, Drs. Beckner and Ridenour; at Converse, Drs. George Egbert and O. A. Mendenhall; at Denver, Drs. Smith, Ladue and Downey ; at Gilead Drs. W. T. Cleland, John A. Marine, William McCoy and A. J. Caples ; at Mexico, Drs. Brown, Reasoner and E. N. Banks; at Macy, Drs. James McKee, Ford, Weltie, Wright and Ernsberger; at Miami, Drs. T. J. Raybell, David Ellis, H. B. Rood and A. Armstrong; at North Grove, Drs. Brandon and Holton; at Paw Paw, Dr. William Hill; at Perrys- burg, Drs. Ladue, Shadwick, Detrick and Conner; at Santa Fe, Drs. Hendricks, Ginther, Stewart, Foraker, Pence and Pugh; at Waupecong, Drs. Morehead, Hattery and Smith.
These men have all passed from the stage of action and most of them have left little information concerning their history or character. Dr. Raybell, who practiced at Miami during the early '50s, is remembered as a fine physician. He left there about the beginning of the Civil war and no one knows what became of him. Dr. McCoy removed from Gilead to Peru, where he was for some time in partnership with Dr. J. O. Ward. He married a lady whose home was in Madison, Indiana, after which he located in that city and practiced there until his death. Dr. J. A. Bald- win, of Amboy, was an Eclectic physician. His son is now a physician in Peru. Dr. David Ridenour, of Chili, had the reputation of being a good doctor, more resourceful than many of his fellow practitioners,
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and enjoyed a large practice. Many reminiscences are told of the early doctors-some complimentary and some otherwise. A few were known to have a fondness for strong drink; others were noted for their blunt and in some instances profane language; some were regarded as skilled physicians and others, perhaps just as deserving were less successful, but upon the whole the men who have practiced the healing art in Miami county since its first settlement by white men will compare favorably with the physicians in other counties of the state.
The Miami County Medical Society was organized and articles of association filed on January 3, 1875. Those who subscribed to the articles of association were E. M. Bloomfield, W. H. Brenton, M. D. Ellis, E. K. Friermood, John H. Helm, C. B. Higgins, O. C. Irwin, E. J. Kendall, W. A. McCoy, James M. McKee, S. S. Marsh, James A. Meek, J. O. Ward and W. T. Wilson. Dr. John H. Helm was elected president and Dr. J. O. Ward, secretary. The articles of association set forth the objects of the society as being "to advance medical knowledge, improve the health and protect the lives of the community, and elevate the professional character of its members." It was also provided that "any regular graduate from a reputable medical college of good moral character may become a member of this society by paying into the treasury the sum of three dollars."
The early records of the society have been lost, so that it is impos- sible to give a continuous history of its proceedings or a list of its presidents. According to the secretary's report at the close of the year 1913, the members of the society were E. H. Andrews, M. M. Boggs, R. W. Brookie, O. U. Carl, P. B. Carter, J. C. Frets, J. A. Freezee, E. H. Griswold, C. J. Helm, A. H. Kalbfleisch, E. F. Kratzer, H. E. Line, O. R. Lynch, F. M. Lynn, B. S. McClintic, M. A. McDowell, L. O. Malsbury, E. A. Mills, A. S. Newell, J. B. Peters, F. L. Resler, D. C. Ridenour, J. P. Spooner, M. H. Taylor, M. L. Wagner, O. C. Wainscott, L. S. Wallace, J. O. Ward, E. S. Waymire and J. E. Yarling. All these are active members with the exception of Dr. M. M. Boggs, who holds an honorary membership on account of his advanced age.
The officers for the year 1914 were Homer E. Line, president ; Brown S. McClintic, vice-president; Marvin A. McDowell, secretary and treas- urer ; C. J. Helm, J. P. Spooner and E. J. Griswold, censors. Drs. Otho R. Lynch and John E. Yarling were elected delegates to the state convention.
During the great flood in March, 1913, the members of the society gave their time to looking after the sick and otherwise rendering aid to the relief committee. By their intelligent and concerted action much suffering was averted. They worked in relays and some of the physicians were always on duty until the danger was past. .
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The Indiana medical registration law, approved by Governor Mount on March 8, 1897, authorized the establishment of a state board of medical registration and examination, to consist of five members appointed by the governor. It was provided that the four schools or systems of medicine having the largest numerical representation in the state should each have at least one member upon the board and that no school or system of medicine should have a majority of the members. This act, with the amendments passed by the legislatures of 1899, 1901, 1905 and 1909, makes it the duty of the state board to deter- mine, by examination or otherwise, the qualifications and fitness of every person practicing medicine in the State of Indiana and issue a certifi- cate to such person, which, when presented to the county clerk of the proper county shall entitle the holder to a license to practice medicine.
Under the provisions of the law the county clerk of each county in the state is required to submit annually "on the 1st day of January of each year, to the State Board of Medical Registration and Examina- tion, upon blanks furnished by said board, a duplicate list of all certifi- cates received and licenses issued by him during the preceding year," together with certain information of a statistical nature.
The board is required to report annually to the governor, using the information received from the county clerks and such other infor- mation as may be deemed proper and of general interest to the members of the profession and the general public. According to the last pub- lished report of the state board, the licensed physicians of Miami county were as follows :
Amboy-John A. Baldwin, Elbert E. Freeman, William H. Haifley, Francis L. Resler ; Bennett's Switch-Eugene F. Kratzer; Bunker Hill -John A. Freezee, William A. Oyler, Leroy S. Wallace; Chili-Homer E. Line; Converse-Roger W. Brookie, W. S. Gordon, Mark C. Jones, M. C. Kimball, Andrew S. Newell, Lucian W. Smith; Deedsville-John C. Frets ; Denver-Jay W. Newell, Harry M. Piper, Claudius E. Quinn ; Gilead-Josiah Brower, Augustus Case, J. W. Wareham; Macy-John B. Peters, E. D. Swift, Merrell H. Taylor; Mexico-Charles F. Rendel ; Miami-Edwin A. Mills; North Grove-John D. Malott; Peru-Ellis H. Andrews, William K. Armstrong, C. A. Baldwin, Andrew Blake, E. M. Bloomfield, Milton M. Boggs, Edward A. Carlson, Phineas B. Carter, A. A. Eikenberry, B. F. Eikenberry, E. B. Flavien, Clayton E. Good- rick, E. H. Griswold, Homer C. Haas, Charles J. Helm, J. B. Higgins, A. H. Kalbfleisch, Otho R. Lynch, Frank M. Lynn, J. O. Malsbury, L. O. Malsbury, Jabez H. Millikan, Brown S. McClintic, Marvin A. McDow- ell, Hercules Ogle, R. H. Quick, D. C. Ridenour, Jared Spooner, John P. Spooner, Claire Taylor, Martin L. Wagner, William H. Wagoner,
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O. C. Wainscott, J. O. Ward, Elbert S. Waymire, Warren H. Willyard, John E. Yarling; Santa Fe-P. G. Foust; Wagoner-Samuel G. Ram- sey ; Waupecong-Omar U. Carl.
Since the publication of the above report there have been some changes in address, and at least one of the physicians whose names appear in the list has joined the silent majority. Dr. E. M. Bloomfield died on August 8, 1913. He was born near Eaton, Ohio, December 29, 1841, was educated in the public schools of his native county and at the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, after which he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. A. L. Dunham, of Eaton. After thorough preparation under this preceptor, he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he graduated as a member of the class of 1869. The following year he located at Peru, Indiana, where he continued in active practice until his death. He was a charter member of the Miami County Medical Society and retained his membership as long as he lived. He was also a member of the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
In the preparation of this chapter the writer desires to acknowledge his obligations to Dr. J. O. Ward, who might be appropriately called the dean of the medical profession in Miami county. He has been prac- ticing in the city of Peru since the spring of 1869, was the first sec- retary of the county medical society after its incorporation, and has always occupied a high place both as a physician and a citizen.
CHAPTER XVII
CHURCH HISTORY
FIRST MISSIONARIES-THE CATHOLICS-METHODISTS-PRESBYTERIANS-
BAPTISTS-GERMAN . BAPTISTS OR DUNKARDS-CHRISTIANS OR DIS- CIPLES-NEW LIGHTS-UNITED BRETHREN-FRIENDS OR QUAKERS- EPISCOPAL CHURCH-LUTHERANS-CONGREGATIONALISTS-SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS-THE CHURCH OF GOD-UNIVERSALISTS-BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE VARIOUS CONGREGATIONS AND THEIR HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
Long before any permanent settlements were made in the Wabash valley by white men, Jesuit priests visited the Indians with a view to securing their conversion to the Christian faith. Most of the early French traders were Catholics and these early missionaries often said mass at the trading posts for the benefit of the few white people who might be living in the vicinity of the post. It was therefore natural that the Catholics should be the first to establish a church organization in Miami county. The first priests to hold services at Peru came from Bardstown, Kentucky. Father Badin was here as early as 1834 and made several visits to the infant city during the next three years.
When the town of Peru was laid out two lots on the northwest corner of Fifth and Miami streets were donated as a site for a Catholic church. The first building erected thereon was completed in the spring of 1835. It was a modest, unpretentious structure and was without a resident priest until in 1837, when Father M. J. Clark was assigned to the work of building up and ministering to the parish. He remained until 1842 and during his pastorate the parish was frequently visited by Father Maurice St. Palais, whose missionary work took him into the states of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. When Father Clark left Peru in 1842, Father St. Palais was the only priest until 1846, when Father Fisher took charge. He was succeeded by Fathers McDermot, Carius and Zucker, and in April, 1860, Father Bernard Kroeger became pastor. He was an active worker and under his charge the priest's residence was built, at a cost of $2,000; the Catholic cemetery was purchased and con-
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secrated, and in 1865 a brick church edifice was completed, at a cost of $21,000. The old frame church was then taken for a schoolhouse and used as such until it was destroyed by fire during the pastorate of Father Lamour, who succeeded Father Kroeger in October, 1871, and served until September, 1875. A new schoolhouse was erected, at a cost of $16,000. When Father Henry Meissner took charge in September, 1875, he found the parish in debt over $16,000 and the business depres- sion that followed the panic of 1873 made it somewhat difficult to raise money. Notwithstanding this the new priest went to work and on December 23, 1886, the parish was out of debt. A few years ago the church building was thoroughly overhauled, the walls covered with stucco and other improvements made that has given to the congregation a comfortable and commodious home. The present membership is about 2,000 and the priest in charge is Rev. John H. Guendling. The patron saint of the parish is St. Charles Borromeo.
Not long after the close of the Civil war Catholic priests from Marion and Kokomo visited the town of Bunker Hill and held services at the home of Thomas Gorman. A church was organized in 1870 and four years later a lot was purchased in the north part of town and the build- ing, which had been used as a shoe shop, was remodeled for a church. In 1882 a neat frame house of worship was erected at the north end of Elm street, at a cost of $1,300 and the parish of St. Michael had a per- manent home. After a number of years the congregation gave up the church organization, the members transferring their allegiance to St. Charles' church at Peru or other parishes as best suited their convenience.
THE METHODISTS
As early as 1831 William M. Reyburn, who was a local preacher of this denomination, settled in Miamisport, now a part of Peru. At the request of a few Methodists living in the neighborhood he conducted services at the homes of some of them during the succeeding year. According to a history of the Methodist Episcopal church of Peru, prepared by W. E. Mowbray and published in Stephens' History of Miami County, a class was formed about the year 1835. Among the members of this class were William M. Reyburn, George S. Fenimore, William R. Mowbray and their wives and Mr. and Mrs. John Lowe. The first house of worship was completed in the spring of 1836. It was built by George Fenimore and John Garrol and was located on West Third street, on a lot donated by the proprietors of the town of Peru. The country around Peru was organized into a circuit in 1836 and the congregation was supplied by "circuit riders" until 1849, when Peru
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was made a station. The lot at the northwest corner of Main and Wabash streets was then purchased and the building afterward occu- pied by the Odd Fellows was erected. Rev. Walter L. Huffman was the first pastor after the station was established.
Mr. Mowbray, in the article above referred to, says that in 1854 "there was a division of the society, one part of the members remaining at the Main street church, and the other worshiping on Third street south of the site of the present new church building." According to the same authority the two congregations were united in 1859, but in 1860 another separation took place, with Rev. V. M. Beamer as pastor of the Main street church and Rev. W. R. Edmonson in charge of the Third street church. In a short time the building on Third street proved to be too small to meet the needs of the congregation and, according to Rev. Ernest E. Neal, who was pastor of the church a few years ago, the Second Presbyterian church, at the corner of Main and Miami was purchased. The denomination then had two churches in Peru-one on East Main and the other on West Main. The former was known as the "silk church" and the latter as the "calico church." In 1874 the two congregations were again united, Rev. John C. Mahin taking charge as pastor. The church since then has had a steady, healthful growth. The present house of worship, at the southeast cor- ner of Main and Cass streets was erected in 1890, at a cost of about $35,000, and later a parsonage was built at the corner of Main and Hood streets at a cost of $3,000. In 1906 the official board of the church authorized Giles W. Smith to compile a history of "Methodism in Peru." This history was afterward published. It contains pictures of the old church edifices and portraits of some of the pastors and prom- inent members.
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