USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 30
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The Small Pox hospital was built in ISS4 and is in a good condition to receive patients.
The asylum for the poor, built and sus- tained by the county, was finished in 1838, at an expense of about $80,000.
physicians received its diplomas. The death journal of medicine and surgery, edited by
Medical Journals. - The Western Retro- spect of Medicine and Surgery, edited and published by H. M. Harvey, M. D .; N. A. Lewis, M. D., and II. M. Newell, M. D., was established in 1872; was quite popular, though with a limited circulation, and con- tinued publication but a short time. The Indiana Medical Reporter, a monthly Doctors A. M. Owen, J. W. Compton J. E. Harper, Arch. Dixon, and J. Gardner, was first issued in 1880. It was a popular journal and ably conducted for about two years before its publication ceased.
Physicians of Note not Elsewhere Men- tioncd .- From the earliest times the medical profession has been ably represented at Many, no longer connected
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
with the practice, deserve some notice in this connection. The brief mention made in each case may fail to do ample justice to the man whose memory it may perpetuate, but it will serve at least to give his name an honorable place in the annals of the county.
Elias T. Runcie, M. D., a native of Ireland, was the descendant of a talented family. Coming from his native country he made his way to the west and established himself in the practice of medicine and sur- gery at Millersburgh, Warrick county, Ind. He remained there for many years in the successful discharge of his professional duties, and came to Evansville in 1865. Here he soon attained a prominent place among physicians, which he held through- out his entire career. He graduated from the Evansville Medical College in 1854 and afterward graduated from other medical colleges in the east. He served as a volun- teer surgeon at various places during the civil war. He was a member of the Evans- ville Medical Society, and his opinions were always accorded the greatest respect. He was a kind neighbor, a good citizen, and, beloved by all who knew him. His death occurred in 1877, after a practice of twenty- four years.
D. T. Muhlhausen, M. D., came to Evans- ville in 1839 and died in 1862. He was a graduate of the medical school of Heidel- berg, Germany. He had many social qual- ities , was a kind neighbor and a warm friend. He had a large German practice, and left a fair estate.
John R. Wilcox, M. D., a native of Ohio, came here from the south about IS39 and died about 1858. He kept a drug store a short time before he engaged in the prac- tice of medicine, was a professor in the med- ical college of Evansville, where he displayed considerable talent and a broad knowledge of his profession. He was kind to the poor
and served them with a willing heart, and always pleasant and agreeable, he had a large but not a lucrative practice. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and had many Christian virtues. He left a small estate for his family.
William A. McDowel, M. D., came here about 1848 and died about 1853. He was a native of Kentucky and related to Dr. Eph- raim McDowel, who first performed the operation of ovariotomy. He had acquired a good classical and medical education in the east and practiced medicine successfully in Louisville, Ky., before he settled here. He wrote a medical work on consumption, which gave him notoriety. He was professor in the medical college.of Evansville and made a good reputation as a lecturer. He was aggressive in his profession and original in his conceptions. He was tall and dignified in his person, had many social qualities and was intelligent.
Adolphus F. Wulkop, M. D., settled in Evansville in 1854 and died thirty years later. He was a graduate of the medical university of Berlin, Prussia, president of the board of health in Evansville, and a member of the Evansville medical society. He had a large German practice, was a kind neigh- bor, a warm friend, and was respected by all who knew him.
John Walker, M. D., was a graduate of the Ohio medical college. He pursued his professional studies with his distinguished brother, Dr. G. B. Walker, as his preceptor. He began the practice of medicine and sur- gery about the year 1839. He served as assistant surgeon in Col. Joseph Lane's regi- ment of Indiana infantry, in the war with Mexico. At the end of the war he resumed his practice in Evansville, became a member of the Evansville medical society, and pro- fessor of anatomy in the Evansville medical college. When the civil war broke out he
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EARLY PHYSICIANS.
was appointed surgeon of the Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteers and while with the army contracted a disease from which he did not recover. His death occurred soon after he returned home. He had a paying practice and left a fair estate.
Dr. J. T. Conn came to Evansville in IS59. He was a well-informed physician, had a moderate practice, was a kind neighbor and a good citizen. He left a small estate for his wife and children. He and his family were always very much respected.
Hugh Ronalds, M. D., was reared and educated in the state of Illinois. He came to Evansville about 1850 and died in 1863. He was a graduate of the Louisville med- ical college, Kentucky, and a partner with Dr. M. J. Bray for three years. He was a member of the Evansville medical society, served as secretary and afterwards as presi- dent. He was appointed professor of anat- omy in the Evansville medical college and filled the place with distinction. He had a quick, active mind, improved by books and study; had a large practice and left a fair estate. His many excellent qualities as a man, a citizen, and a physician made him many friends who deeply mourned his loss when his death occurred.
Washington A. Thompson, M. D., was a decendant of a talented and wealthy English family. His father was a physician of no- toriety, and at one time a professor in a medical college in St. Louis, Mo. He was a member of the Evansville medical society and was elected secretary. He had a bright mind improved by early training and had a fair practice. He added to his inherited estate and left his family in comfortable cir- cumstances. He settled in Evansville in 1862 and died in 1870.
Dr. O. Kress came to the city about the year 1856, and died in 1884. He was assist- ant surgeon in one of the hospitals in the
late war, a successful practitioner, and a reputable citizen.
Dr. H. G. Jones came to Evansville about the year 1862, and died in ISS3; he was a skillful physician and succeeded in the practice.
Dr. Thomas Runcie began the practice of medicine in Inglefield, Vanderburgh county, in 1849, and died in 1867. He was a gradu- ate of a medical college in Ireland; and achieved a pleasing degree of success in his professional work.
Dr. John F. Hilliard came to Evansville about 1867 and died in IS78. He was a volunteer surgeon during a part of the late war. He had a good practice, was a fine physician, and stood high in professional circles. He was a delegate to the medical convention at San Francisco, Cal.
Dr. J. Maginnis began the practice of medicine in Evansville about 1855, and died in 1873. He was a surgeon in the army during the late war and a member of the Evansville Medical Society; was a good physician, and successful in practice.
Dr. Jesse Burns came here in 1849 and died about 1873. He was a fair physician and had a moderate practice.
Dr. J. B. Johnston came to Evansville in 1862, and died in 1870. He was appointed surgeon of the Marine Hospital in 1862, and was a good physician.
Dr. Winings, who came from Mt. Vernon, practiced medicine in Evansville for a short time. Ile was very eccentric, one of his most prominent peculiarities being that he usually expressed a medical opinion in bib- lical language. On one occasion a lady called on him and during the conversation he learned that she had been under treat- ment by a homeopathist. . He asked whether she thought she had been benefited. Re- ceiving an affirmative answer, he said: " Well, whosoever employeth a homeopathic
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
doctor and is holpen thereby hath confess- ed hysterics already unto condemnation."
The following named physicians practiced medicine in Vanderburgh county for awhile, but moved away and have since died: Dr. Charles S. Weever, Dr. P. E. Garrett, Dr. S. Thompson, Dr. L. L. Laycock, Dr. Neg- ley, Dr. Stockwell, Dr. Cregg, Dr. Everett, Dr. Newell, Dr. Finch, Dr. Welborn, Dr. Davidson, and Dr. Kruse.
Roster of Physicians .- The following is a complete list of the physicians who have been licensed to practice in Vanderburgh county under the acts of 1885, relating to the practice of medicine, surgery and obstetrics: Richard A. Armistead, Henry S. Ashford, L. R. Allen, F. W. Achilles, Paul Artell, Thomas E. Allen, Nicholas R. Alvey, James Allison, Alfred T. Bennett, Louis D. Brose, A. H. Bryan, William D. Babcock, Baxter W. Begley, Joseph F. Blount, John T. Binkley, O. A. Barten- werffer, Madison J. Bray, sr., A. B. Barker, Jerome S. Belter, S. L. Bryan, C. P. Bacon, S. D. Brooks, G. B. Beresford, T. J. Baldwin, Matilda Caldwell, John W. Compton, W. C. Couden, R. M. Corlew, Fred S. Compton, E. L. Carter, John L. Clark, William Cross, George P. Crosby, D. A. Crawford, Wilbur F. Clippinger, Joseph B. Crisler, John L. Dow, B. J. Day, William R. Davidson, F. L. Davis, H. T. Dixon, William W. Dailey, G. H. Eiskamp, Will- iam A. Fritsch, Walter Failing, Louis Fritsch, William Falsettor, Frederick F. Fuller, Carl Flucks, William E. Fitzgibbons, Simon Gumberts, J. S. Gardner, George Gilbert, Willis S. Green, William Gramm, C. H. Gumaer, John F. Glover, A. M. Hayden, L. S. Herr, A. S. Hay- hurst, A. S. Haynes, Alonzo S. Hazon,
Richard Hartloff, George Hodson, Henry H. Hooker, William A. Hewins, Thomas J, Hargan, P. N. Hoover, William A. Hunt. E. H .. Hart, Samuel C. Henderson, H. W. Hendrick, Louis Henn, August F. Illing. Joseph Jacobsohn, Charles Knapp, Jacob H, Kerth, F. H. Kelley, J. B. Kirkpatrick, Victor Knapp, William J. Laval, John Laval, Edward Linthicum. James H. Letcher, Thomas Maser, John C. Minton, Matthias Muhl- hausen, Carl G. R. Montaux, William A. Maghee, David A. Moore, Hans von Metz- radt, Victor H. Marchaud, Charles H. Mason, C. A. McMahan, Joseph C. Mc- Clurkin, P. Y. McCoy, J. C. Mcclurkin, Henry F. McCool, Alexander McMillen, Benjamin F. McCoy, John E. Owen, A. M. Owen, Arthur O'Leary, P. Ottmann, Carl Ludwig Oehlmann, W. D. Neel, E. Noble, Elvis G. Neel, Seaton Norman, William S. Pollard, Johannes Pirnat, J. J. Pennington, T. E. Powell, George C. Purdue, Willis Pritchett, S. Rouark, William G. Ralston, Thomas H. Rucker, W. B. Rose, John Rutter, William J. Reavis, Ethan Spencer, P. L. Schuyler, Wilhelmina Suiter, Philip H. Simmons, Theodore Schulz, T. W. Stone, Henry M. Sherman, Freeman W. Sawyer, A. H. H. Sieffert, Augustus Soper, Lee Strouse, Katherine S. Snyder, T. H. Tay- lor, William J. Tapp, Monroe Tilman, C. C. Tyrrell, George A. Thomas. George Taude- loff, B. C. Thorp, William Vitzdamm, George W. Varner, Geo. B. Walker, Floyd Williams, Isaiah Wilton, Edwin Walker, Anthony P. Witting, William Weber, Lud- son Worsham, Herman Wilde, W. M. Wal- den, C. V. Wedding, John B. Weever, Ralph B. Watkins, Hamlin J. Walters, Thomas F. Williams, G. M. Young, and George W. Yates.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Of Dr. WILLIAM HORNBY, JR., little can be added, from the brief records of his day, to the mention of him in the preceding chap- ter. The family history, however, gives him credit for possessing a medical educa- tion. He studied medicine in Toville, in the county of Somerset, and studying further at St. George's hospital, in London. received the degree of M. D. Such is the record of the family, which is yet prominent and in- fluential in the county. This pioneer doctor was born at Cerne-Abbas, in Dorsetshire, England, and was the son of an elder Wil- liam Hornby, who was a rugged sea captain of the north of England. William, jr., married one Sarah K. Rideout, and they had three children: William, Charles and Henry. About the beginning of the present century Dr. Hornby abandoned the practice of the healing art and took up agriculture in his native shire. Nineteen years later he yielded to the temptations that the new world held forth to every enterprising man and started with his family for America. They landed at Philadelphia in April or May, 1819, traveled by wagon to Pittsburg, and there being no better passage, they secured a flat- boat and made their way down the Ohio to Evansville. They selected their home in the woods of what is now Scott township, where Dr. Hornby resided until 1832, the year of his death. There he passed his days, answering the calls of the afflicted, raising his family honorably and comfort- ably, and clearing a farm for their future inheritance, thereby building to himself an imperishable monument in the county.
WILLIAM TRAFTON, M. D., an eminent pioneer physician, settled at Evansville in the first months of its existence, and died here after achieving a reputation growing out of his medical discoveries honorable to himself and highly valuable to the profession. He was born near the village of Lewiston,
Maine, in 1792. His father was a New England farmer unable to give his son a collegiate education. He was disciplined in the school of self-reliance, and beginning the battle of life with a sound mind and a sound body as his richest inheritance, achieved success, for which he was indebted to no one but himself. lle was not a profound scholar but, self-taught, was well informed and possessed a strong mind. He passed his youth in his native place and received his primary education in the free schools of the state. Later he pursued his studies, to fit himself for the practice of his profession, at Hebron academy, Maine, and received the title of M. D. from Dartmouth medical col- lege, New Hampshire. In 1819 he came to Evansville, and began the practice of medi- cine, being the first physician in the town; and though settlements were then few and widely separated, he was soon kept busy with the duties of his profession, for sickness prevailed to an alarming extent and even checked immigration. The first widespread disease with which he had to contend, ex- cepting the ever present effects of malarial poisoning, was milk-sickness. He studied the disease carefully and with the use of the scalpel discovered its pathology. His discov- eries led to new forms of treatment which were simple and effective. They robbed the disease of its terrors and won for Dr. Trafton the lasting gratitude of his neighbors. He prospected in other fields of medical science with fine results. Not satisfied with the approved treatment of diseases caused by the specific poison of malaria, he began a series of experiments which led to the use of quinine as a febrifuge, which has become the panacea for all miasmatic and periodic diseases. He also made many minor dis- coveries in the practice of medicine. The hardships of his practice were very great, and his inconveniences can hardly be con-
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
ceived by the practitioner of to-day. For seventeen years his nearest drug store was at Louisville, Ky., and d uring his entire practice the greater portion of this section was a wilderness, through which he trav- elled, often at the cost of much bodily suffering, and at times in the presence of great peril. On several occasions he crossed the angry waters of the Ohio river on floating cakes of ice in order to minister to the wants of the sick and afflicted. His attainments and professional labors caused him to be ranked among physicians who had done work that would survive for ages. He had great force and positiveness of char- acter as a man, and his professional convic- tions were absolute. He was president of the first medical society organized in this county, and his opinions upon questions of medicine were respected by all. He was one of the foremost in establishing the Evansville Medical College, and was one of its trustees at the time of his death. He was progressive, and took an active part aside from his professional work in the advancement of the city in early times. He attained an enviable prominence as a citizen. In 1827 he was a candidate for the state leg- islature, running against Charles McJohnston and Thomas Fitzgerald. Dr. Trafton beat them both in his own county, but falling be- hind in Posey and Warrick, was defeated. In 1828 he ran again for the same office and succeeded, his competitor being John Davis. He was not an orator. but brought sound business ability to aid him in the discharge of his official duties. His religious belief underwent a great change during his life. In his youth he made a public profession of religion and joined the Calvinist Baptist church. Later he renounced the doctrines of foreordination and predestination and the orthodox ideas of the future life. But to the last he believed in the eternal justness
of God, and the soul's immortality. How- ever, he was not a Christian. He was phil- anthropic, dealt fairly with his fellow men, was unselfish in his friendships and an ex- cellent neighbor. At times he appeared rough and unpolished which, no doubt, was a result of pioneer manners and associations. He was to some extent intemperate in the use of intoxicants, though he seldom in- dulged beyond the bounds of propriety and sobriety, or compromised his dignity or manly bearing. He was not without faults, but on the whole was a good man and a use- ful citizen. Many years after his death such distinguished citizens of Evansville as Dr. M. J. Bray, Hon. John S. Hopkins, Samuel Orr, Jacob B. Fickas, John Greek, Rev. J. V. Dodge, Dr. George B. Walker, and others, united in praising the excellent traits of his character and his great usefulness as a pioneer citizen and physician.
He was twice married. His first wife was but thirteen years of age when she became a bride, and the marriage was terminated by a legal separation. The fruit of this union was one child -a daughter. A few years afterward, the death of his divorced wife having occurred in the meantime, he was again united in marriage to Miss America Butler, an estimable Christian lady, who was connected with one of the best and most respectable families in Kentucky. She was an Episcopalian and her Christian virtues commanded the respect of all who knew her. She was the mother of one child-a son who became a respected lawyer in Henderson, Ky. This second marriage oc- curred in 1832, and the doctor crossed the river on the ice to secure his bride. Dr. Trafton died in 1847, "like a philosopher," meeting death fearlessly, believing it to be but the release of the soul into a new life. His remains were buried in Oak Hill cemetery.
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DR. M. J. BRAY.
MADISON J. BRAY, M. D., the eldest being that. the patronage of several large plantations would be more lucrative and pleasant than a general practice in the north. Arriving at Louisville, he found his funds exhausted, and to obtain money to continue his journey he made an application for a school. Before his proposition was accepted, he accidentally overheard some gentlemen talking of Evansville, then a little hamlet of about four hundred inhabitants, of the great advantages it possessed, and of the proba- bility that it would soon become a large and prosperous city. He at once changed his plans, engaged passage on a boat, and on the 25th day of November, 1835, arrived in Evansville, penniless and without a single friend or acquaintance in the place. Dr. William Trafton was at that time the only doctor in all this region of coun- try, and, learning that a young physician had arrived in the village, sent for him, and being favorably impressed, proposed a partnership, which was gladly accepted, and which continued for two years. Dr. Bray soon learned that the field was an inviting one for a surgeon, there being no physician in the southern portions of Illinois, Indiana or western Kentucky who desired surgical practice, or who professed any knowledge of surgical science. Evansville was a central point to this territory. Re- cognizing this, the doctor decided to aban- don his cherished plan of settling in Louisiana, and began what has since proved physician and surgeon, and the Nestor of the medical profession of Vanderburgh county, was born in Turner village, Androscoggin county, Maine, January 1, 18II. He is of English descent, and one of a family of ten children-five girls and five boys. His father, Capt. William Bray, was a successful village merchant, and a prosperous man of business. During the war of 1812 he com- manded a company of cavalry and was sum- moned to the defense of Portland, then the capital of the state. He died at the early age of forty-two years, having gained in that brief time an enviable reputation and a comfortable competency. The mother of Dr. Bray, nee Miss Ruth Cushman, was descended from Puritan ancestry, and a lady of much force of character and ability; she survived her husband four years. After her death the doctor was in a measure thrown upon his own resources. Up to the age of sixteen he worked in a carding mill during the summer, and attended the village school during the winter. In this way he acquired the rudiments of a good education, and when sixteen years old commenced teaching, which vocation he followed at intervals for eight years. The ambitious desire of his youth was to become a physician, and he early developed an aptitude for surgical science. Ile began his preparatory course under very favorable circumstances, having free access to a good anatomical museum, owned by his preceptors, Drs. Tewksbery and Millett; | to be the most successful and lucrative prac- and, as he says, "saw a very respectable tice ever confided to any physician in Evans- ville. At that time the practice of medicine and surgery was attended with difficulties that the physicians of the present day can scarcely comprehend. The physician fur- nished his own medicines, and the nearest drug store was at Louisville, 200 miles away. The doctor entered very earnestly practice of surgery." He attended three courses of medical lectures, one at Dart- mouth, N. H., and two at Bowdoin, Me., from which latter institution he graduated with honor in the year 1835. In November of the same year he left his home to estab- lish himself in the practice, his objective point being the state of Louisiana, his idea and enthusiastically upon the performance
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
of his professional duties, in which he ex- ceeded the limits of prudent labor, but pos- sessing a magnificent physique and a robust constitution, he was able to endure a great amount of arduous toil. His practice for many years was devoted largely to surgery, in which he soon acquired an extended and enviable reputation. Patients came to him from long distances, and many difficult and dangerous cases were successfully treated. In 1846 he spent several months in New York city, where he availed himself of the instruction of those eminent surgeons, Drs. Parker and Mott. He paid especial atten- tion to orthopedic and ocular surgery, and afterwards performed many difficult opera- tions of this character. A detailed mention of the many difficult cases which he has suc- cessfully treated is unnecessary, for nothing can be added to the excellent reputation as a physician and surgeon which he has firmly established. He has been in practice for over a half century, and during this time none have been more successful, or have en- joyed to a greater degree the confidence and esteem of the people. In all things in any way connected with the medical profession his name stands pre-eminent. He became a prominent member of the State Medical Society soon after its organization, and in IS56 was elected its president. He was a member of the Tri-State Medical So- ciety, and wrote for it a history of surgery in Vanderburgh and ad- jacent counties. He is about the only survivor of the charter members of the Vanderburg Medical Society, of which he was president several terms, and to which he reported many of his surgical cases. For many years he was one of the prominent members of the Evansville Board of Health, and has done much to place the city in a healthy hygienic condition. The doctor has interested himself in everything pertaining
to the city's interest and advancement. He was one of the incorporators of the old Canal bank, now the First National, and for many years has been a member of its board of directors. In 1847, with others, he procured the charter for the Evansville Medical College, and filled the chair of surgery from the founding of the school until the commencement of the war of the rebellion. After the war he was again called to the same position and occupied it until ill health forced his resignation. The doctor always evinced a penchant for mili- tary surgery, and in 1835 was appointed surgeon of the Maine militia, a position he never filled, however, by reason of his emi- gration to the west. In IS47 he was ap- pointed by President Van Buren surgeon of the marine hospital at Evansville, which po- sition he filled creditably until the breaking out of the civil war. As soon as the news was received, in 1861, that Fort Sumter had been fired upon, Dr. Bray immediately rented a room and formed a little class of students in military tactics, which he him- self instructed. He bought for them a bass drum at his own expense, which was the first money expended in Vanderburg county for military purposes, and was the initial event in the war history of the county. These young men afterwards entered the service and were the leaders of the great number afterwards sent by Vanderburg county for the suppression of the rebellion. In 1862, although exempted by age from military service, he resigned a large and lu- crative practice in order to aid in the organ- ization of the Sixtieth Regiment of Indiana Infantry. He was commissioned surgeon of the regiment, and followed its fortunes for two years, when he was obliged to re- sign by reason of ill health, caused by ex- posure. At the battle of Mumfordsville he was taken prisoner; he was treated with the
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