USA > Indiana > Vigo County > Terre Haute > The history of early Terre Haute from 1816 to 1840 > Part 9
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clients " to keep out of the law." In a long political career he was so considerate that he commanded the respect and praise of those who sharply disagreed with him. Mr. Scott on account of ill health removed to California, where he died.
Hon. Richard W. Thompson was born in Virginia, June the 9th, 1809. He traces his ancestry back to revolu- tionary patriots. In his reminiscences, he refers with just pride to the hospitable home of his boyhood where "Old men of Revolutionary fame, friends of Washington, who were specially friendly to Washington's idea of a 'strong central government,' assembled and discussed great ques- tions of State." He was thus early imbued with the Wash- ingtonian principles and so far was a whig in politics. In 1831, Mr. Thompson came to Indiana and stopped at Bed- ford, where he taught school; clerked in the store of a prominent merchant of the place; began the study of law in private, also under the tutorship of Judge Dewey, who after- wards was one of the able judges of the Supreme Court of Indiana. Called upon on Fourth of July occasions, Mr. Thompson's natural gifts as an orator were soon discovered, as well as the natural trend of his thoughts towards political subjects. He was sent to the State legislature in 1834, and reelected in 1835, and in 1836 was sent to the Senate. He declined to run as candidate for a second term. He formed a partnership for the practice of law with Hon. George C. Dunn. In 1840 he accepted the position of elector in the Harrison campaign. In this memorable campaign Col. Thompson made a national reputation as a political orator. In 184I he was elected to Congress, but declined a second nomination. In 1842 Mr. Thompson came to Terre Haute to make a permanent home. And here we must stop, for to attempt even in outline, to trace the progressive steps of this ever successful man at the bar, on the stump, in the halls of Congress, in the cabinet of the United States, would re- quire a volume instead of the allotted page or two of this chapter.
A remarkable life was that of our late fellow townsman,
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Col. Thompson. Coming here in 1842 he looked into the faces of our earliest pioneers, and took by the hand our latest citizens. Not only so, but looking back to his earliest child- hood with easy grasp he was able to span the life of the Na- tion, having come in contact with those who had conversed with Washington. Terre Haute has reason to congratulate herself in having possessed so eminent a citizen, and so grand a man as the late Hon. Richard W. Thompson.
For an estimate of Mr. Thompson's life it is sufficient that I refer to published account in Encyclopedias, Magazines, and Biographical sketches ; but I cannot refrain from briefly speaking of a single achievement which will form an im- portant stone in the arch which shall ever commemorate his memory. I refer to His Personal Recollections, of Sixteen Presidents, from Washington to Lincoln. The book is unique in that it portrays the underlying political principles that agitated the country during the several administrations of the period described. Instead of an abstract discussion or tame description, Mr. Thompson pictures in a familiar manner, but with a classic pen, the exact portraiture of lead- ing Statesmen as they pass into the Congressional arena, and act their several parts. It is a revelation almost to follow the author in his thorough exposition of political principles held and defended by these great antagonists ; and to see how the weal or woe of the country seemed to hang in the balance. In his familiar and reminiscent treatment of the principles themselves and the conflicts to which they led, lies the charm of the book.
The national reputation of Mr. Thompson reflects favor- ably upon Terre Haute, since it was the home of this ven- erable man for almost sixty years.
Richard Wiggington Thompson died Feb. 9, 1900 in the ninety-first year of his age. His funeral was imposing as it was befitting that it should be. Representatives from differ- ent cities of our own as well as other States were present to do honor to the distinguished dead. His body was laid at rest in Highland Lawn Cemetery.
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However gratifying it might be to speak individually of a long list of eminent lawyers, members of the Terre Haute bar, headed by such men as Hon. Daniel W. Vorhees and Hon. Thomas H. Nelson, who by reason of the overlapping of men's lives seem cotemporaneous with the early comers pre- vious to 1840, yet we have already overstepped our chrono- logical limit, and as there must be a stopping place, it is well to stop here.
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CHAPTER XX
EARLY PHYSICIANS
BEFORE the physician with his magic saddle bags, was the pioneer grandmother, who by gifts of mind and heart, and large experience, was the good angel of the neighborhood. A call to a sick bed no matter what the weather, or time of night, was a call to go on a ministry of mercy. Taught by her mother before her, she knew herb teas that would warm a chill or cool a fever. Almost every neighborhood had such a gifted noble-hearted woman, whose life was beyond praise.
The pioneer doctor, however, pressed hard upon the footsteps of the earliest settlers. He was a most wel- come guest, in the lone cabin where sickness had entered the door before him. Neither winter's cold, summer's heat, nor darkness of the night, stood as an hindrance to the per- formance of his professional duties. His faithfulness can only be measured by the confiding trust imposed by his patients.
For the most part our early physicians traveled their rounds on horseback, with their saddle bags thrown over their saddles. The contents of these bags was a never ending curiosity to the small boy, who was permitted to stand at the table, where the doctor was serving out his little powders. There were innumerable vials, small and great ; well folded packages, securely tied, containing white, red and variegated powders ; also little cases filled with sharp lances ; and big cases with a variety of instruments, some of which were for wrenching out human teeth; for the doctor was expected to meet every emergency, and to cure every human ill. It is true there were chronic and deep-seated difficulties, but for
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the most part sickness was confined to malarial troubles. The newly up-turned sod, on account of the rotting process, which so soon followed ; and the rank growth of succulent weeds in the bottoms, subject to the overflow of creeks and rivers, engendered a malaria, which poisoned the atmosphere, and produced sickness that at times tested the highest skill of the physician.
There was one sickness that medical knowledge could not fathom. A dreaded disease commonly known as " milk sick- ness." It prevailed in the fall of the year; but neither the observation of the farmer, nor the book knowledge of the physician could determine its origin. Some thought the cow contracted it from the water, others from some peculiar wild grass or weed, but no one could certainly determine. Of this, however, they were sure, to drink the milk, or eat the flesh of a diseased animal was to contract the disease. The infected districts confined themselves to certain streams of water, or dry prairies; but no farmer would admit that his farm bordered on such a district. Sometimes persons would suffer for years without knowing the real nature of their illness : at other times they would die in the course of a few months. The disease was not confined to this section of the country, but was common especially in the extreme South. But what science could not do in discovering or in eradicating, time has done, so nothing has been heard for the past half century of this once dreaded " milk sickness."
Among our earliest doctors were those who came with the army to Fort Harrison. The first among these was Dr. Richard Taylor, who was the military surgeon under the command of Captain Zachary Taylor. After leaving the command, he is said to have settled in Parke county, where he died in 1830. Doctor Mccullough and Middleton were military physicians under the command of Major Chunn. Dr. William Clark was also at one time in the fort. He with others answered all official calls from early settlers re- siding near the fort.
Dr. Charles B. Modesitt concerning whom reference has
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been made, enjoyed the reputation of being the first pioneer physician in Terre Haute. While he was a man of affairs, he was duly qualified as a physician and surgeon. " He had an extensive practice, and deservedly ranked with the most eminent of the profession in Western Indiana." He was born in the State of Virginia in 1784, graduated from Prince William College in 1808. He moved to Ohio near Cincinnati in 1814, and to Terre Haute in 1816, where after an active life he died in 1848.
Mr. W. W. Woolen, in his Biographical Sketches, tells of a very slight claim early Terre Haute had upon John W. Davis, M. D. It seems that Dr. Davis came into Indiana in 1823 and settled at Carlisle, Sullivan Co. Thinking to better his prospects, he moved to Terre Haute in the spring of 1826. Discouraged on account of sickness in his family, he returned to Carlisle. In 1828, he was induced to run for the legislature, but was defeated by our townsman, William C. Linton. In 1829 he was elected Associate judge and from that date his political prospects were assured, as he was often elected to the State legislature, also to Congress. He was sent as a foreign minister to China, and by appointment was made a Territorial governor. "And all these places " it is said, " he filled with credit to himself and to his adopted State." In the above we detract nothing from the first claim of Carlisle, the home of this much honored man for so many years, where he died in 1859 and in whose cemetery his re- mains rest.
Dr. Lawrence S. Shuler was without doubt the most noted surgeon among our pioneer physicians. This position has been freely acceded to him by his medical brethren. He was born in the State of New York in 1790, and was grad- uated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city in 1815 or 16. In 1825 he came to Terre Haute, having practised some time in Vincennes. Soon after he entered into partnership with Dr. E. V. Ball, who had been his student at Vincennes, and who by his request had also removed to
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Terre Haute. This copartnership continued till the decease of Dr. Shuler in 1828, at Vincennes while on a visit there for rest and recuperation, at the age of thirty-seven years. One among his many extraordinary operations, at that early day, was the restoration of sight to a little girl of eleven years, from congenital blindness. The child staid at his house for several months, and when her vision was restored, Mrs. Shuler, wife of the doctor, states that " the child was almost bewildered with joy at the wonders before her. Col- ors were with difficulty learned, and her friends were only known for a long time, by the sound of their voices. When the father came for her, he was a stranger, to her eyes, but a father when he spoke." Other quite as successful opera- tions, accounts of which he kept in his notebook, might be repeated, but this is sufficient to show the enviable reputation, gained by one who was just entering upon a course of wide usefulness. His good name and fame are kindly cherished by his many descendants, who reside in other parts of the State as well as in this city ; also by numerous friends of the family.
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CHAPTER XXI
EARLY PHYSICIANS-CONTINUED
DR. EDWARD V. BALL, as intimated above, was a student under Dr. Lawrence S. Shuler, and came to Terre Haute by his solicitation, in 1826, where they entered into the practice of medicine together. Dr. Ball was a native of Hanover, New Jersey, and was born in 1800. He continued his pro- fession in Terre Haute for some forty-seven years, up to a short time before his death, which was in March, 1873. Dr. Ball was a Christian gentleman of large common sense and of inexhaustible forbearance, as well as a successful and con- scientious physician. That he was selected by Dr. Shuler as a partner, while as yet but a student, speaks much in his praise. Besides through a life-long practice, he held among his patrons some of the best families of the city. Many of whom could say with a good deal of satisfaction: "Dr. Ball was the physician in my father's family, and is now my own family physician."
For many long years no figure was more familiar on our streets, or on the long open roads stretching over the prairie, than that of Dr. Ball, sitting in his sulky behind a young and often unbroken colt. The " sulky " was a two- wheeled affair, with a chair-shaped seat with springs, fast- ened to shafts which in turn were fastened to the axle tree. Add to this skeleton of a cart, a narrow floor for the feet, finished with a dash board, and you have the Doctor's gig. His horse and gig standing at the bars of a country cabin, or at the gate of a village house, was a sign of sickness and suffering within. Like many other physicians, Dr. Ball was a great admirer of the horse, the younger and more spirited the better.
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Dr. E. V. Ball was married in 1828 to Miss Sarah E. Richardson, daughter of Mr. Joseph Richardson, of Fort Harrison memory. It was this Mrs. Ball, who when a child, resided in the fort with the rest of the family, when her mother, her father being absent in Washington on business, took passage with her children in an open boat for Vincennes, manned by two Frenchmen. Mrs. Ball survived her hus- band for several years, honored not only for her true woman- hood but as one of the pioneers of our town. She was in full sympathy with her husband in his life work. The names of Dr. and Mrs. Ball are sacredly cherished by a large family connection, who are residents of our city, and by a large circle of surviving friends.
Dr. Septer Patrick was originally from the State of New York. "He practised medicine on the Wabash, and in this place until his head was whitened, enjoying the confidence and respect of his medical brethren and the entire com- munity." He was brusk in his manner even to seeming roughness, yet back of this he was kind hearted, and as sym- pathetic as a child. And though often misunderstood his pa- tients were fully aware that he had their best interests at heart. He was a close observer, and by his knowledge and skill was eminently successful. During the gold excitement, he removed to California with his family, where he died in 1858, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years.
Dr. Richard Blake settled in Terre Haute in 1832. He was a native of the State of Maryland and was graduated from the Medical College at Baltimore. He is highly spoken of as an accomplished physician and gentleman. He sus- tained an honorable position in all the relations of life. " Although he abandoned the practice of his profession at an early period," yet he always referred to the profession, and science of medicine with pride. Dr. Blake suffered from chronic trouble which " gradually wore away his life." For the sake of rest, he visited his old home in Maryland, where FORTY - eight he died in 1856 at the age of eighty-eight years.
Dr. J. W. Hitchcock was at one time a partner with Dr.
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Septer Patrick. "Their office was on First street in the same row with Dr. Modesitt, also of Wasson's tavern, Mc- Cabe's hat shop and Osborn's printing office."
To illustrate something of the hardships of the physician, Dr. Hitchcock related in a published letter, his own experi- ence. Told in few words it was as follows: It was in 1831 while in partnership with Dr. Septer Patrick, a man from Christie's prairie below Lockport, called and said " his wife had gaped her jaw out of joint." It fell to Dr. Hitch- cock to answer the call. It was in the midst of winter, and the roads down in the country were almost impassable. He found and relieved the sufferer, and as he returned in at- tempting to cross Lost Creek at the usual ford, to use his own language, " the ice proved too weak and broke through at every step; I urged my horse forward. His fore- feet would be upheld till he raised our whole weight upon it, when it would break; about the middle of the stream my horse became discouraged, he stood shaking as if alarmed. I dismounted and broke the ice to the shore, yet he would not move. I tried to lead him, and talked to him in soothing terms, but to no purpose. I was freezing and became des- perate ; going behind him I plied the lash as never before. He plunged forward in perfect terror to the shore and then stopped to wait for me." The doctor, we are glad to add, ar- rived home safely. His only reward was the satisfaction of rendering relief to a poor sufferer.
In a long list of business men enumerated by Judge Goo- kins in his History of Vigo county, residing in Terre Haute about the year 1830, he gives among the physicians the name of Dr. Thomas Parsons, who was a native of Maryland. His ancestors on the paternal and maternal side were respec- tively Irish and English. He emigrated to Kentucky while yet quite a boy, and resided there till he was about eighteen years of age. Dr. Parsons came to Indiana in 1819, dividing his time between Terre Haute and Vincennes, but finally settled in Terre Haute in 1822-23. Here he studied medi- cine and practised his profession successfully for thirty years.
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In the latter part of the forties, he was married to Miss Eliza- beth Ryman, who was a native of Kentucky. In the spring of 1850, during the gold excitement, he went to California, but returned to Terre Haute after two or three years. Soon after this he removed with his family to his large farm in Douglas county, Illinois, where he made his home till his death in 1885, at the age of eighty-seven years.
Dr. Maxwell W. Wood was a copartner with Dr. S. Pat- rick. Afterwards he became a surgeon in the United States navy. Dr. Ezra Reed, a special friend, in 1875, wrote con- cerning him: "Surgeon Maxwell W. Wood now senior of the United States Navy has ranked at every period of his life. as one of the most distinguished medical officers of the navy, and to whom this branch of the service is largely in- debted for radical and important professional improvements. He long presided at the head of one of the naval bureaus in Washington City." Dr. Wood was the eldest son of Mrs. Charlotte Wood, widow of the late John Wood, a native of London, England. The father was a captain in the war of 1812. The mother was born in New Jersey, and came with her children to Terre Haute in 1835. She died at the ad- vanced age of eighty-eight years and three months, mourned by her devoted children and grandchildren and a large circle of friends.
Dr. John Wood was also a son of Mrs. Charlotte Wood. He followed his profession for a number of years in Terre Haute, and numbered among his patients " a large propor- tion of the leading citizens of the place."
Dr. Ebenezer Daniels was a graduate of Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia. He is said to have been ambitious to excel in his profession, and was correspondingly indus- trious. He excelled as a surgeon, and was partial to that branch of the profession. How early Dr. Daniels came to Terre Haute I have no data to determine. He died of pneu- monia in 1847, when about fifty-six years old. Dr. Reed, in writing up our pioneer physicians. paid this tribute to Dr. Daniels: "I have rarely seen any one who could more
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readily bring to light latent difficulties at the bedside, or more skillfully suggest proper remedies.
Dr. Ezra Reed was born near Marietta, Ohio, August, 18II. He was brought up on a farm. He worked during the summer and went to school in the winter. He attended the Ohio University for three years, where his brother was a professor. His natural ability and strength of mind re- vealed themselves upon a slight acquaintance. Dr. Reed loved books, and gathered together an extensive library. His books took a wider range than his profession showing that he possessed a broad literary taste.
As a physician Dr. Reed stood high in his profession. He was a friend of the poor and always stood ready to serve them professionally.
I have searched in vain to find the date of his first coming to Terre Haute, but his career was a long and successful one. It falls to the lot of few physicians to enjoy the confidence of a community as thoroughly as did Dr. Reed. He died in 1877, at the age of sixty-six. The flags of the city were dis- played at half mast in his honor. Members of his profes- sion, the leading citizens of the town, in fact the whole com- munity united at the funeral, in honoring the man who had done so much for the poor, as well as the rich.
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CHAPTER XXII
NEWSPAPERS AND EDITORS
As early as 1823 seven years after its founding, Terre Haute had a newspaper. The first number was issued July 21, 1823. It was a " four column paper about twelve by fourteen inches in size." The first edition is said to have consisted of two hundred copies ; a small but safe beginning, considering that the article of paper was scarce, and readers comparatively few, to say nothing as to subscribers. The supply of paper came from Louisville. Bad roads and low water were serious hindrances; on these accounts the news- paper did not appear regularly, and then sometimes in a half sheet. At such times, ordinary wrapping paper from the stores was used. The subscription was fixed at two dollars per annum. This little sheet was a forerunner of civiliza- tion, planted on the extreme frontier. It was here to record the events in the wilderness, as well as to keep our little vil- lage in touch with the doings of the eastern world, and hence appropriately named the Western Register.
The first number contained a variety of notices such as an account of the recent Fourth of July celebration at which Thomas H. Blake delivered the oration ; that a regular line of keel boats would ply between Terre Haute and Shawnee- town, freight taken on the most accommodating terms; that Dr. Modesitt's ferry was ready to accommodate all who would favor him with their patronage; Postmaster Coleman adver- tises a list of uncalled for letters ; the editor himself requests that " letters on business be post paid ;" a most important sug- gestion as the postage was twenty-five cents for a single letter. In the column of foreign news, there is a notice of a declaration of war between France and Spain. The second
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number contained seventeen advertisements. One would question whether a paper on so small a scale could be on a paying basis. Each issue, at the first, was a seven days' wonder, as on Saturdays, the day of publication, the people are said to have gathered from the country, as well as the town to greet its appearance.
The editor and proprietor of this little pioneer sheet was John W. Osborn. His home was originally in Canada. His father, Capt. Samuel Osborn, was a naval officer in the British army. In 1812, at the breaking out of the war, Mr. Osborn already a professional printer, came into the State of New York, where he remained till 1816. In 1817 he came to Indiana, and published the Western Sun, at Vincennes. Here the practical question to be met was the right of kid- napping, or in other words the fearful wrong of insisting upon property rights in former slaves, notwithstanding the grand provision in the new Constitution. Rich and influ- ential citizens of Vincennes were ready to send their negroes into Kentucky, where by sale they might realize something for them. Then there were those who descended into the miserable business of kidnapping these free negroes of In- diana and running them off to the south, for the sake of selling them. Editor Osborn met this question squarely in his newspaper, advocating the carrying such cases into the courts, and up to the Supreme court. For which he was hated by the pro-slavery men, of whom there were not a few. He was openly threatened with violence, as was also Judge Amory Kinney, who was one of his supporters, and who re- sided in Vincennes at the time.
In 1823, Mr. Osborn loaded his press into a wagon, and set out for Terre Haute. The dangers of the journey from high water were not insurmountable, but when an ignorant driver lost his way, the case was different. And so in at- tempting to cross a stream in a wrong place, the wagon was overturned, and its precious burden landed in the water. This was thought to have been prearranged by the enemies of a free press, but no positive evidence was at hand. Mr.
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Osborn found negroes in Terre Haute, but no false claims of our citizens of property rights in them. He found, how- ever, if possible, a greater evil which was the prevailing curse of intemperance. Here his paper was made to take a kind but firm stand. He condemned the drink but not the drinker. It is said that when two farmers came for their papers on Saturday night, being too drunk to return home, he kept them all night, gave them a good breakfast and sent them home sober. They were ever afterwards his staunch friends. In 1828-9 by reason of ill health, Mr. Osborn was compelled to give up the care of the paper.
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