USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 31
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utmost kindness and distinction by the rebel officers, especially General Bragg, who gave him a set of surgical instruments and such provisions as he thought advisable to take. At the close of the war he was appointed surgeon of St. Mary's Hospital, which position he held for many years. A fact connected with his practice worthy of special mention is that he never sued a man or made any charge for medical services to any woman who was obliged to rely upon her own labor for a livelihood. He has always carried into his daily life the tenets of his religion; and has since his boyhood been a consistent member of the Episcopal church. Dr. Bray is now in the seventy-eighth year of his age with unimpaired intellectual vigor and enjoying the full fruition of a well spent life. He has witnessed the transition of a little hamlet to a city of over 50,000 inhabitants, and by his personal influence and effort has contributed largely to the greatness and prosperity which the citizen of to-day is permitted to witness. He mar- ried in 1838, Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Charles and Ann (Tate ) Johnson. She was the cousin of Admiral James Alden who distinguished himself during the late war. Two children were the result of this union, Madison J., jr., and Elizabeth; the latter died in infancy. Madison J., jr., is one of the prominent business men of the city, and at present president of the Business Men's Association.
JOHN WILLIAM COMPTON, M. D., stand- ing for nearly a quarter of a century in the front ranks of those who have attained special prominence in the general practice of medicine in the city of Evansville, was born near Hardinsburg, Breckinridge county, Ky., July 22, 1825. His father, Jeremiah Dabney Compton, was born near Culpepper Court House, Va., in ISO1. He was a farmer by occupation, and a fine
type of the Virginia gentleman of that day, tilling his farm in the summer and teaching the village school in the winter months. Ile married Miss Nancy, daughter of John Ball, of Culpepper Court House. She was born in 1804, and received a liberal educa- tion, and careful reading had given her a well stored mind and a love for literature. She became an extensive writer on religious subjects, leaving a large book of manu- scripts, which, for want of press facilities in that day, were never published. The
Comptons, of English extraction, were among the old and reputable families of Virginia. The progenitor of the family was Matthew Compton, who came to Vir- ginia from England long before the time of the Revolution. William, a son, was Dr. Compton's grandfather, and removed to Kentucky at an early day, and was a pioneer and prominent citizen of Breckinridge county. The early life of Dr. Compton was not unlike that of most of the youths of that time, being passed upon his father's farm. Ile received his education at a com- mon school, and under the tutelage of a Prof. Fabrique, of his native village. While his advantages for obtaining an acquaint- ance with books were to some extent lim- ited, his studious habits, quick perception and retentive memory enabled him to advance rapidly, and at length to possess a greater store of information than was com- mon among the lads of this time and locality. At the age of sixteen he was so far advanced as to be employed as a teacher, and continued so occupied for four years. At the end of this time he decided to make the practice of medicine his life's work, and entering the office of Dr. Norvin Green, now president of the Western Union Tele- graph Co., in 1847 commenced the study of medicine under the instruction of that distinguished physician, and in 1849 took a
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course of lectures in the medical depart- ment of the University of Louisville, and later graduated in the medical college of Evansville. In the early part of the year 1850 he established himself in the practice of his profession in Knottsville, Ky. The city of Owensburg, Ky., however, offered superior inducements and he removed there in 1852, where he remained in active prac- tice until the breaking out of the war in 1861. Unswerving in his loyalty to the Union, he was commissioned assistant sur- geon of the Seventeenth Kentucky Infantry. In March, 1863, while in camp at Nash- ville, Tenn., he resigned his commission to accept the position of surgeon of the board of enrollment of the Second District of Ken- tucky, and in that capacity actively served until the close of the war in 1865. In Octo- ber of that year he came to Evansville, where he formed a partnership with that
distinguished practitioner, Dr. James P. until 1885. He is a charter member of DeBruler, and has since remained actively engaged in the practice of his profession. The doctor soon took a leading position among his medical brethren, and shortly after taking up his residence here was elected president of the Evansville Medical Society. In 1872 he was appointed county physician for Vanderburgh county. In 1875 he was appointed to the chair of materia medica and therapeutics in the Evansville Medical College, clinical surgeon for dis- eases of women, in the college dispensary, and staff surgeon to St. Mary's hospital. As a teacher of materia medica he adopted a change in the mode of instruction, by leav- ing to botanists and others the technical description of medicines, and by confining his lectures more particularly to the therapeutic indications and the good
that might be accomplished by the judicious administration of remedies and their application to diseases. He became a
popular and instructive lecturer. In 1881 he became a member of the Indiana state board of health, and at its first meeting was unanimously elected its president. He filled this position four years, when the demands of his practice became so imperative that he was obliged to tender his resignation. He is at present a member of the board of health of the city of Evansville. He is prominently identified with many of the leading medical societies of this country, such as the American Public Health Asso- ciation, American Medical Association, Mis- sissippi Valley Medical Association, Indiana State Medical Society, and is an honorary member of the Mitchell District Medical Society and the Southwestern Kentucky Medical Association. In 1882 he was ap- pointed a member of the United States board of examining surgeons for pensions, at Evansville, and served as its president Farragut Post, No. 27, G. A. R., and has been surgeon of the post continuously since its organization. While the duties of his official positions and his practice have been onerous, he has made many valuable contri- butions to medical, scientific and general literature, notably: " The Geological, Geo- graphical and Climatic Influences and Pre- vailing Diseases of the Second District of Kentucky," (reported to the war depart- ment and printed in the medical statistics of ths provost marshal general's bureau), " Injuries to the Brain," " Solution and Ab- sorption of Medicine," " Chemical compounds in the Nutrition of the Human Body," " Dis- eases of the neck and body of the Uterus," " Paralysis from pressure of displaced uterus on sacral plexus of Nerves," "State medicine and Hygiene," "Ante-partum Hæmorrhage," " Precautions requisite in the administration of Ergot," and others which were read before different society meetings and published in
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leading medical journals; he has also written articles in extenso for current magazines, and on many important medical and sanitary topics, but lack of space forbids their enum- eration. But few physicians in this part of the country are more extensively or favor- ably known than Dr. Compton, and jus- tice to him requires the statement that but few have been more successful in all the varied departments of life. Early thrown upon his own resources, with indefatigable zeal he overcame. every obstacle, and through his own personal efforts, unaided by the adventitious circumstances of wealth and influential relationships, has advanced to his present position. His record as a physician and a private citizen is honorable in all its de- tails, and his career is worthy of emulation. Politically he is a republican, active in local politics, but in no sense a politician. He is a member of the First Cumberland Presby- terian church and takes a lively interest in all benevolent enterprises. In 1853 he was married to Miss Sallie, daughter of David Morton, a well known citizen and merchant of Owensboro, Ky. Of this union four children are now living : Margaret O., (now Mrs. Ira D. McCoy), Morton J., Frederick S. and John W., jr.
ABRAHAM M. OWEN, M.D., the acknowl- edged leader in the active practice of his profession in the city of Evansville, and the most eminent and successful surgeon in southern Indiana, is the son of Abraham B. Owen, M. D., a Virginian by birth, and in his day one of the most prominent and suc- cessful physicians in Kentucky. The elder Owen practiced his profession for several years in the city of Louisville, but about 1843 removed to Madisonville, Hopkins county, Ky., where Dr. A. M. Owen was born, March 19, 1849. The mantle of the father fell upon the son, for while a mere boy he evidenced a decided love for medical
knowledge and an especial fondness for sur- gical science. He received his education in the academies of his native state and the university of Virginia, and began his prepar- atory course in medicine in the office of his father. It soon became evident to the father that his son needed advantages in the prose- cution of his medical studies, not obtainable in his native town, and in 1865 he entered the office of that eminent physician and sur- geon, Dr. Frank II. Hamilton, of New York. Completing his preparatory course he en- tered the Bellevue Hospital Medical college in 1866, from which he graduated with honor in the class of 1870. His graduating thesis, "Tetanus," was ably prepared and did credit both to himself and the college. Immediately after his graduation he came to Evansville and began the practice of his pro- fession under rather adverse circumstances, but in a comparatively short time he found him- self in the possession of a large and lucrative business. His success in surgery gave him an enviable reputation, and his territory grew until it now embraces southern Indiana, northern Kentucky, and southwestern Illi- nois. He was the founder of the Evansville Hospital Medical College of Evansville, and occupied the chair of surgery until his large and growing practice and his extensive busi- ness interests compelled him to tender his resignation. The heavy demands upon his time have prevented him from making any contributions to medical literature further than reports of some of his most important surgical cases. He is however, an associate editor of the St. Louis Medical Review and the New England Medical Monthly Re- porter. He established, and for three years was the editor and publisher of the Indiana Medical Reporter, now the Western Medical Reporter of Chicago. He is a prominent member of nearly all of the more important medical organizations of the country, notably
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among the number the International Medi- cal Congress, the American Surgical Asso- ciation, the American Medical Association, the Mississippi Valley Medical Association, the McDowell Medical Association, the In- diana State Medical Society and the Van- derburg County Medical Society. Not- withstanding the magnitude of his gen- eral and surgical practice, Dr. Owen has given due attention to matters of public im- port and has identified himself with all en- terprises having for their object the advance- ment of the interests of the city of Evansville. He is one of the incorporators and the present president of the Evansville & Chicago railroad company, president and director of the District Telegraph company, president of several business associations, and in fact is in some way identified with many commercial enterprises of a public character. He is an enthusiastic and an indefatigable practitioner, and a fine type of the class to which he belongs, -" self-made men." His life evidences the fact that tal- ent, combined with energy and a laudable ambition, may rise superior to adverse con- ditions and wrest success from unfavorable circumstances. In 1875 the doctor was married to Miss Laura, daughter of G. N. Jerauld of Princeton, Indiana. Three child- ren have been born to them, Amelia E. Leartus J., and George J.
ISAAC CASSELBERRY, M. D., was born on the farm of his father, Thomas Evans Cas- selberry, in Posey county, Ind., November, 26, IS21. The Casselberry family were among the prominent pioneer families of West Franklin, in Posey county, to which place Paul Casselberry, grandfather of the subject of this mention, removed with his family from Morristown, Pennsylvania, in 1806. Almost from the date of their settle- ment the family took a conspicuous part in the affairs of the county and the name of
Casselberry is indelibly stamped upon its history. The father of Dr. Casselberry was one of the commissioners who located the county seat of Vanderburg county at Evans- ville; he was a gentlemen of much force of character and in many ways identified him- self with the interests of Vanderburg county. His death occurred in 1826. His wife was Miss Rachael J., daughter of Charles Car- son. Isaac was a child five years old at the time of the death of his father. His early training devolved upon his mother and to her he was no doubt indebted for those valuable lessons that proved so ser- viceable in after years. She died in 1844. Dr. Casselberry received an academical edu- cation and in 1841 began the study of medi- cine in the office of that eminent physician, Dr. M. J. Bray, of Evansville. Two years later he placed himself under the the tutelage of R. D. Mussey, M. D., of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1845 he graduated with honor from the medical college of Ohio and soon after re- turned to Evansville, where he formed a co-partnership with his former preceptor, Dr. Bray. In a comparatively short time he obtained an enviable position in the practice, and soon became known as one of the leading physicians in this section of the state. At the commencement of the war he tendered his services to the government, and received the appointment of surgeon of the First Indiana Cavalry. He served in this capacity until the close of the war, when he returned to Evansville, and was appointed by President Johnson collector of customs for the port of Evans- ville, which position he filled with great credit until a change of administration necessitated his resignation. He then re- sumed the practice of his profession, and from that time until the date of his decease, July 9, 1873, was one of the most zealous, energetic and self-sacrificing physicians in
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strange mingling of manly sternness and womanly kindness. He was gentle, almost to a fault, yet possessed an iron nerve and invincible will. He had the bearing and man- ner of a genuine gentleman, which, united with a comeliness of person and a fine pres- ence, endeared him to all who were fortunate enough to become his associates. He died in Evansville, July 9, 1873, after a laborious and successful practice of twenty-eight years. In 1847, Dr. Casselberry was married to Miss Louisa Garvin, daughter of John and Provi- dence Garvin, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Two children were the result of this union, only one of whom, Mrs. Laura Dunkerson, is living.
the county. From the time the city of Evansville was placed under sanitary regu- lations, Dr. Casselberry filled the office of secretary of the board of health. He was one of the founders of the Evansville Medi- cal College, and one of its first trustees. In 1871 he was called to the chair of physical diagnosis. In everything connected with the welfare of the college he manifested that zeal and energy which characterized all his undertakings, and the success of the institution was largely due to his efforts. Dr. Casselberry was probably more exten- sively known outside the state as a strong, forcible writer, and a valuable contributor to medical literature. Many of his articles were extensively copied in medical publica- GEORGE BRINTON WALKER, M. D., was born December 6, 1807, at Salem, New Jersey, and died September 6, 1887, at Evansville, Ind. He was the son of Wil- liam and Catharine (Tyler) Walker. After receiving his general education in the com- mon schools of his native village, and in those of the city of Cincinnati, whither he had removed in his youth with his parents, he took up the study of medicine, and grad- uated in the spring of 1830, at the Ohio Medical College. After practicing medicine for five years in Cincinnati, he removed to Evansville, where for more than half a cen- tury, and to within a few weeks of his death, he daily performed the duties of his profession. He joined the Vanderburgh County Medi- cal Society, in 1879, and served one term as its president, in 1886. He was also a member of the Evansville Medical Society, Tri-State tions. Lack of space prevents a detailed mention, but the following are among the more important papers: "An Inquiry into the Physiology of the Organic Nervous System " -American Journal of Medical Science, 1852; "Causes of Fever " - Ibid, 1856; "Ancient Marriages of Consanguinity" - Ibid, 1859; a series of articles on "Causes of Epidemics," Nashville Medical and Surgi- cal fournal, 1857 to 1858. In 1857, Dr. Wright, of the Memphis Medical Recorder, made an able review of some of Dr. Cassel- berry's articles, in which he remarked that much credit was due him for the boldness and industry with which he strove to throw light on pathological subjects. He was one of the charter members of the Indiana State Medical Society, and his election as presi- dent of that body was a merited honor. He was a permanent member of the Ameri- | Medical Society, First District Medical So- can Medical Association, and it was one of ciety, of Ohio, and the Society of Medicine and Philosophy, of Ohio, during the presi- dency of Dr. Drake. He was dean and professor of obstetrics in the Medical Col- lege of Evansville, for several years from its establishment, and resigned this trust in 1881 only to be called upon to serve in a similar his greatest pleasures to meet its members in annual session. - Dr. Casselberry, though starting in life without any of the accidental aids of wealth, was able to conquer in every department of human endeavor which he chose to enter. Ilis character was al
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
capacity in the newly organized Hospital and beloved. Dr. Walker was married to Miss Elizabeth Clark, of Cincinnati, the 23d of June, 1835. He was never blessed with children of his own, but had in his family from their childhood the three children of his brother, Wm. H. Walker. The widow and these children survive. Medical College. He was a member of the city board of health and its president for several years. During the civil war he served for three years as surgeon in the va- rious hospitals of this city, and was ever steadfast in his devotion to the Union. His public services were by no means confined to his profession. Always progressive and public-spirited, he did much to develop the natural resources of this locality and build up the city of Evansville. He was a director of the Evansville & Crawfordsville railroad during the period of its construction, was a state director of the Evansville branch of the state bank of Indiana, a member of the board of directors of the Public Hall company and a director of the Evansville Street Railway company. In politics Dr. Walker was a democrat, and attained some prominence. His first vote was cast for General Jackson. In 1852 he was a dele- gate to the Baltimore convention, which nominated Franklin Pierce to the presi- dency. Being a thorough student, uncom- monly devoted to his books, and possessing a retentive memory and an exceptionally critical mind, he was well versed in every branch of the medical science. As a prac- titioner he was eminently successful, and throughout his long career in this city occu- pied a very prominent place among the members of the medical profession. He was accomplished not only in professional but also in general literature. As a lecturer and writer he was accorded a very high rank, and as a conversationalist was consid- ered delightful. Indeed, his intellectual peers were not numerous. His thorough manliness, the beauty of his character and the gentleness of his disposition endeared him to all who had the pleasure of his friendship. Always upright and honorable, kind and humane, he was much respected tainments. He was appointed by President
JAMES P. DEBRULER, M. D., for many years a well-known and successful physi- cian in Evansville, was born in Orange County, North Carolina, September 21, 1817. During his infancy his parents removed to Dubois county, Indiana, bring- ing with them their slaves, whom they lib- erated soon after their arrival. The elder DeBruler bought a large tract of wild land, and began its improvement, he and his fam- ily suffering all the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life in the forests of Southern Indiana. The doctor was reared under the stern influences of cabin life in the woods, but the lessons learned from his experiences there proved highly serviceable in after years. His early mental training was necessarily meagre, because of the inferior schools of the pioneer era, but by dint of persistent study he obtained a famil- iarity with many good books, and at the age of eighteen began the study of medicine. Subsequently he graduated from the medi- cal department of the University at Louis- ville. He began the practice of his profession at Rockport, in Spencer county, where he remained nearly twenty years, enjoying perhaps the largest practice confided to any physician to that locality. In 1855 he came to Evansville, where he remained extensively engaged in his profession until his decease. His abilities soon earned for him a high standing among physicians here, which he held throughout his residence in Evansville. In his practice he exhibited the highest degree of skill and professional at-
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Lincoln surgeon of Marine Hospital in this city, and continued on duty there until it was changed into a military hospital, early in the war. He was its first surgeon and acted in that capacity as long as there was any need of his services. He took an active interest in all matters pertaining to the pub- lic welfare and did much to advance the general prosperity of this city. He was never a politician, but soon after coming to Evansville, in 1856, was nominated as a candidate for the legislature, but failed to be elected. From that time forward he de- voted his entire attention to his professional duties. He was appointed, without solicita- tion on his part, postmaster of this city by President Johnson, but resigned without taking charge of the office. He had a deep love for the science to which he devoted so many years of his life, and pursued his labors with great enthusiasm. He was highly honorable in every relation of life and pos- sessed in a marked degree the character- istics of genuine manliness. His death, occurring August 12, 1874, was generally lamented. Dr. DeBruler was married, September 2, 1847, to Miss Sallie E. Gra- ham, daughter ot the late Judge J. W. Graham. Their son, Claude G. DeBruler, deceased, was for some time editor and pro- prietor of the Evansville Daily Journal, and was known as one of the most intellect- ual and enterprising citizens of the city, in his day.
mer and a gentleman of prominence in the section in which he lived. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary Adams, was a relative of John Quincy Adams. After attending several seats of learning in Brook- lyn and New Haven, he studied medicine in the office of an eminent physician and sur- geon, Dr. A. F. Harris, of Canterbury. He graduated from the medical department of Yale College in 1835. Shortly afterward he came to Evansville, where he established himself in the practice of his profession, in which he rapidly rose to prominence, soon commanding a large and lucrative practice. In 1839 he was most happily married to Miss Matilda, daughter of Samuel Fisher, of Lynchburg, Va., who died December 22d, 1887. Eight children were born to them, only two of whom are now living, Mrs. M. A. Dixon, and Miss Julia A. Mor- gan. Dr. Morgan was a member of the American Medical Association, the Evans- ville Medical Society, and the Drake Academy of Medicine. In all of these medi- cal societies he was an influential member and an acknowledged leader. He possessed a remarkable memory and a well balanced mind, qualifications which made him an ex- cellent physician. He was appointed sur- geon of one of the U. S. hospitals in 1862, and it was while discharging his duties here that he had erysipelas inoculated in one of his fingers, which at length produced paraly- sis and later caused his death. Forty-four years of his life were devoted to the practice of his profession, in which his knowledge, skill, and energy were shown to be of the high- est type. His reputation as a physician was only equaled by his record as a high-minded, valuable citizen. He always found time for matters of public import; took a lively in- terest in politics, and in 1868 was elected to the state senate where he served four years,
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