USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume II > Part 42
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Kent K. Wheelock, M. D., the youngest son of the above, was born in Perry township, June 9, 1857. At the age of fourteen he entered the dental office of Loag & Brown, of Fort Wayne, where he remained two years. In the fall of 1874, he entered the preparatory department of the university of Michigan, and completed the course, then entering the medical department of the institution, and pursued his studies there two years. In 1879 he matriculated at the Bellevue hospital med- ical college, of New York, and graduated in 1880. He began the prac- tice of medicine at Huntertown that spring, but in November came to Fort Wayne, and here has successfully practiced to the present. In 1883-4, he was a student and assistant surgeon in the New York eye and ear infirmary. He is a member of the county and state 'medical societies, and the academy of medicine of Fort Wayne, and is professor of ophthalmology and otology in the Fort Wayne college of medicine. January 19, 1881, he was married to Matilda Henderson, and they have three children, George H., Gerra C. and Margaret. Dr. Wheelock is a Mason and past chancellor of the K. of P. Politically he is an active democrat, and held the office of coroner of Allen county from April, 1882, to November, 1884.
George W. Bowen, M. D., who has been engaged in the practice of medicine at Fort Wayne since March, 1852, is a native of Delaware county, N. Y., the son of Calvin and Charlotte (Watson) Bowen. In 1836 he came west with his' parents, who settled first in Monroe county, Mich., and in 1843 in Will county, Ill. Four years later he went to Chi- cago and was a clerk in the postoffice two years. He then began the study of medicine and graduated from the Hahnemann medical college of that city, also attending the Cleveland medical college. After some practice in Chicago he came to this city, which has since been his home. With a single exception, he is the oldest practicing physician in the city.
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During the earlier years of his career he was an earnest student, by the light of the candle perfecting his knowledge of his science, and extend- ing his acquaintance with general literature. His literary attainments are notable, and many of his published poetical efforts have attracted attention. His life has been one of strict temperance, honesty and integ- rity, and his character is honored wherever he is known. He occupies an enviable rank, professionally, and is now president of the Indiana institute of homeopathy, and member of the American institute and western academy of homeopathy. Dr. Bowen was married May 3, 1860, to America J. Welsheimer, a native of Ohio, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Taylor) Welsheimer. The doctor comes of a family of great longevity. His parents were married February 14, 1803, and lived together seventy-two years. His father at death was nearly ninety five years old, his mother ninety. They had twelve children who reached maturity. The paternal great-grandfather attained the age of one hundred and five years.
Cornelius S. Smith, M. D., was born in York county, Penn., May 31, 1820. His father, Abraham Smith, was born in the same county in 1796, and died in Adams county, Penn., in 1874, and his wife, mother of Cornelius, a native of the same county, died in 1830. In 1847 he began the study of medicine, and graduated from the Philadelphia medical col- lege in 1850. The same year he settled near Springfield, Ohio, then removed to South Bend, and in May, 1854, to Fort Wayne, where he has since resided successfully practicing his profession. For the past seven years he has devoted particular attention to rectal diseases, and has gained a wide reputation for skill in that branch of medicine, patients seeking him from all parts of the country. Dr. Smith is a member of the Masonic order and of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married in 1856 to Charity R. Ramsey, who was born June 14, 1825, in Wabash county, Ill., to Dorsey and Hannah Ramsey. They have two children: Spencer R. and Carrie A.
George Theodore Bruebach, M. D., a learned and skillful physician of Fort Wayne, was born at Grossalmerode, Germany, March 3, 1830. In the gymnasium of the city of Cassel he received a thorough collegiate education, between 1840 and 1849, and after passing the examination of " maturity," that required for admission to special study in theology, medicine or jurisprudence, he entered the university of Marburg, and began the study of medicine and natural science, passing the examina- tion in the latter in 1851. He then entered the university of Wurzburg, Bavaria, where he had to direct him in the study of his profession such famous lights as Virchow, Scauzoni, Kolliker, Marcus and Texter. In 1853 he returned to Marburg for further study and final examination, and graduated December 23, 1854, as Doctor Medicina, Chirurgia, et Artis Obstetricia. For several years following he was an assistant physician at the " Landkrankenhaus zu Cassel," but in 1858 he came to America. Locating at Fort Wayne soon after his arrival, he began here the practice of medicine, in which he has occupied a place in the
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front rank, and has enjoyed nearly thirty years of lucrative work in his profession. He is a member of the American medical association, has served as president of the Allen county society one year, and is exam- ining surgeon of the Hartford and Germania life insurance companies. He has been a devoted student, a faithful physician, and is deservedly popular.
Since May, 1860, Isaac M. Rosenthal, M. D., has been numbered among the leading physicians of Fort Wayne. He was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, October 31, 1831. At seventeen years of age he came to America, and after residing at Philadelphia about three years he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended the medical college. In 1853 he began practice in Bedford, Ohio, and in 1855 he removed to Indianapolis and thence to Fort Wayne. Dr. Rosenthal was married in Cincinnati, November 30, 1857, to Ada Rauh, and they have seven children: Charles H., Rebecca, Edwin A., Mina, Maurice, Hattie and Milton. The doctor has been a member of the Allen county medical society since 1860, of the state medical society since 1859 and of the American medical association since 1867. He served as president of Fort Wayne board of health about eight years, and he has occupied the position of surgeon and physician to St. Joseph's hospital during nearly the whole time since it was established.
James Sansom Gregg, M. D., is the son of William and Susannah Gregg, both natives of Washington county, Penn. There he was born December 16, 1830, and named for James Sansom, then a prominent Methodist preacher of that state. Seven years later his parents re- moved to Delaware county, Ohio, where he spent his youth on a farm, receiving a good education, however, including two years' instruction in the Ohio Wesleyan university. In 1852 he settled in Whitley county, Ind., and soon afterward began the study of medicine. After taking a course of lectures in the Cleveland medical college he began the prac- tice in Columbia city. Removing to Missouri, he was engaged in his profession there until the war broke out. During the war period he was first surgeon of the Southwest battalion of Missouri, and then of the Eighty-eighth Indiana regiment three years until the close of the war. He then returned to Columbia City, and during the winter of 1865-6 attended Jefferson medical college of Philadelphia, there graduating. He then located in Fort Wayne, and became one of the prominent phys- icians of the city, being particularly successful in surgery. He is a member of the Allen county and state medical societies and the Amer- ican association. Of the state society he served as vice president in 1885 and president in 1886, and was for ten years professor of medicine in the college of medicine of Fort Wayne. He is a member of the Masonic order, of the thirty-second degree, a Knight Templar, a com- rade of the G. A. R., and in politics an earnest republican. For seven years he was surgeon of the Wabash railway at Fort Wayne. Since 1880 Dr. Gregg has been an invalid, suffering with locomotor ataxia, a disease resulting from his severe army service. He was married at
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Columbia City, May 29, 1866, to Lizzie Morrison, daughter of Andrew M. and Sarah A. (Edwards) Morrison. The former was born at Mercers- burg, Penn., October 22, 1808, the latter at St. Thomas, Penn., January 18, 1819. At the latter town Mrs. Gregg was born October 11, 1837. She . is a member of the First Presbyterian church. Dr. Gregg and wife have had three children: Fannie Eudora, born November 29, 1867, died April 11, 1870; Stella Mayse, born December 14, 1873; and Fred Morrison, born September 26, 1878.
John Seaton, a skillful oculist of Fort Wayne, is a native of Ohio, born in Carroll county, April 15, 1836. His father, Robert Seaton, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, October II, 1799, son of Jeremiah and Mary (Patterson) Seaton, who passed their lives in Ireland, the latter reaching the age of one hundred and four years. Robert Seaton came to America in 1819, and was married at Philadelphia, November 15, 1827, to Rachel Liggett, a native of Cecil county, Md., born April 3, 1803, to Alexander and Nancy (Neal) Liggett, natives of Scotland, who emigrated to Ireland and thence to America in 1799. John Seaton re- ceived an academic education, and on August 20, 1862, enlisted in Com- pany I, Fortieth Ohio regiment, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mis- sion Ridge, Ringgold, Resaca, and at Kenesaw Mountain, was wounded June 27, 1864, by a ball in the left leg, on account of which he was in a hospital two months at Nashville. Then after a furlough he regained his regiment and participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. December 20, IS64, he was transferred to the Fifty-first Ohio, and about the same time was, owing to an attack of conjuntivitis he was sent to the eye and ear hospital at Chicago, where he remained until or- dered to Cairo for muster out. For four years thereafter he was almost entirely blind, and a part of the time quite so. In May, 1866, he came Fort Wayne, and three years later began the study of medicine. He has taken two courses of lectures in the Fort Wayne college of medi- cine. He has made a specialty of the treatment of diseases of the eye and ear, and has performed some remarkable cures. Dr. Seaton was married October 20, 1870, to Mary E. Dudgeon, who died September 14, 1877, leaving two children, Sophia C. and Mary R., the latter of whom has since died. October 15, 1878, he was married to Maggie H. Harter, daughter of Michael and Mary Harter. He and family are members of the Second Presbyterian church, and the doctor is a member of the F. & A. M., K. of P., and G. A. R. In politics he is a democrat. During the administration of President Cleveland he served eighteen months as deputy collector internal revenue.
W. Wynn Barnett, M. D., a young physician of notable ability, is a native of Ohio, born in Louisburg, Preble county, July IS, 1857. His father, Rev. William C. Barnett, was a native of Franklin county, Penn., and his mother, Frances M. Sullivan, was born in Dayton, Ohio. When he was three years old his parents removed to Wapakoneta, Ohio, and in 1868 they settled at Butler, Ind., going thence to Florence, Ky., two
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years later. There the mother died November 25, 1880. The father now resides at Dickson, Tenn. In 1875, Dr. Barnett entered Witten- berg college, Ohio, and there attended until he had completed the junior year. He began the study of medicine in 1881, at Cincinnati, and in 1882 returned to Butler, Ind., where he continued his reading with his uncle, Dr. J. S. Barnett. During the collegiate' years of 1883-4 and 1885-6 he attended Fort Wayne medical college, and was graduated, and then began the practice of medicine in this city. Since graduation he has occupied the position of demonstrator of anatomy in the college, and in 1887 his brilliant attainments were recognized by appointment to the chair of professor of anatomy, both of which positions he ably fills. He is a member of the Allen county medical society and the Indiana state medical society. His religious affiliations are with the Lutheran church.
Hiram Van Sweringen, A. M., M. D., one of the distinguished mem- bers of the medical profession in Indiana, is a descendant of the doughty Garrett van Sweringen, of whom it is related in history as well as by tradition, that upon the surrender of the Dutch colony in America to the English, he broke his sword across his knee and throwing the frag- ments right and left, renounced all allegiance to the Dutch government. He was a notable man, the younger son of a noble family, born at Roen- sterdwan, Holland, in 1636, served the West India company, and was supercargo of the " Prince Maurice," which sailed to the Dutch colony on the Delaware. He married in April, 1669, Barbara de Barrette, of Valenciennes, France, and had two children, Bacharias and Elizabeth. The family was naturalized by act of the general assembly at St. Mary's, and records of this and many other interesting facts concerning the family are to be found in colonial histories and documents. The family, in its migrations, spread principally southward, though it is now repre- sented in every state, the late W. C. Ralston, president of the bank of California, being a descendant. While the family is well represented in each of the principal professions, that of medicine seems to have been the choice in the great majority of instances. Dr. R. W. Sweringen, of Austin, Tex., has long been the health officer of that state, and is at the present time president of the Texas state medical society. Dr. H. V. Sweringen was born on the 5th of October, 1844, at Navarre, Stark county, Ohio, the ninth of eleven children, of whom two boys and four girls reached maturity. The eldest son, Dr. Budd Van Sweringen, was thoroughly educated in the classics and modern languages, was gradu- ated as a physician and surgeon, and appointed surgeon to Gen. McCook's brigade, but died after a short service at the age of twenty-eight. He was also at one time principal of the high school at Fort Wayne, Ind. The resources of the parents having become exhausted, the son Hiram was obliged, at the age of sixteen, to seek his own maintenance. Com- ing to Fort Wayne in May, 1861, he enlisted in the Forty-fourth Indiana regiment, but his parents and friends obtained his release on account of his youth, and he was given a position as clerk in the drug store of
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Hugh B. Reed, colonel of the regiment named, and this gave him an opportunity to prepare himself in a very important branch of the pro- fession of medicine. While thus engaged, and notwithstanding he had received but a common school education, " Harry," as he was familiarly known, became very popular as a public reader and speaker. In 1864 he was invited to, and did, deliver the 4th of July oration at Huntington, Ind., where twenty-three years subsequently he delivered an address at the annual meeting of the Huntington county medical society. Upon decoration days, at celebrations, as well as at private gatherings, he has been a welcome participant in the proceedings. In 1865, during a protracted meeting at the Berry Street Methodist Episcopal church in Fort Wayne, when an unusual interest in religion was awakened in the young people of the city, he united with the church, and was earnestly entreated for years after to enter the ministry, but declined. In Novem- ber of the same year, he was married ty Miss Elna M. Hanna, a poor orphan girl, who has been a faithful helper through his early struggles. Becoming a member of the American pharmaceutical association, he read a paper at its Chicago meeting in 1868, which was well received and admitted to publication in its transactions. About this time he removed to the west end of the city, and at the southwest corner of Jefferson and Broadway a building was erected, which he and a partner who furnished the capital, a few hundred dollars, occupied with a drug store. He also began the preparation of a work on pharmacy, which, after several years spent upon it under the most trying difficulties, was published by Lindsay & Blakiston, Philadelphia, upon the very favorable opinion and recommendation of Professor John M. Maisch, of that city. The book, " A Pharmaceutical Lexicon," was very well received, and had it not been for the panic of 1873, the edition would have been exhausted much sooner than it was. Dr. H. Van Sweringen had mean- while been practicing medicine though surrounded by embarrassing envir- onments. Failing to accumulate a sufficient amount to justify him in leav- ing his family to attend a medical college, he ventured to hang out his sign as a physician and surgeon and happily succeeded in obtaining a good, living practice from the start. A few years later he was able, with the voluntary aid of generous friends, to enter Jefferson medical college, Philadelphia, where he was agreeably surprised to find his way smoothed by the high esteem in which his work on pharmacy was held by the faculty of that renowned college. After one term of lec- tures, and passing, with great credit and honor to himself and alma mater, the examinations, he received the degree of M. D. in March, 1876. In 1878 he was elected professor of materia medica and therapeutics in the medical college of Fort Wayne, which chair he held until the college ceased to exist, the reason for which, and a very good one too, was the fact that the city was not large enough to furnish the necessary amount of clinical material, which is the life and blood of a first-class medical college. In 1883 Dr. H. V. Sweringen was honored by the Monmouth college, Illinois, with the degree of A. M., or master of arts, and in
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1884 he was invited to accept the chair of materia medica and ther- apeutics in the college of physicians and surgeons, at Chicago, an honor he regarded very highly, but which circumstances not under his control, forced him to decline. In June, 1885, he was appointed the republican member of the board of examining surgeons for the pension department. Dr. Van Sweringen's career is a notable example of the success that can be attained by patience and perseverance even in the face of the most discouraging circumstances. These qualities have won for his rare talent and exceptional professional ability, a field of exercise for the good of his fellow men, and he has attained great prominence both. profes- sionally and socially. While not devoting himself to any specialty in his profession, he has won particular distinction and renown in the field of obstetrics, or midwifery, and in that of diseases of women and children. The doctor and his estimable wife have been blessed with nine children, two girls and seven boys, two of whom died in infancy. His oldest son Budd, also a physician and a graduate of the university of Pennsylvania, is practicing his profession in Kansas City, Mo.
Thomas S. Virgil, M. D., born May 23, 1836, died January I, ISS9, was a prominent and successful physician at Fort Wayne, during twenty years of his life, and was held in high esteem for his many good quali- ties, manifest in all the relations of life. He was a native of Cochanut, Penn., son of Rev. Almon Virgil, a minister of the Baptist church, who now in his ninetieth year, survives his son. When Dr. Virgil was quite young, his parents removed to New York, and lived at Penfield, Schen- ectady and Albany, successively. He completed a commercial course at Schenectady, and after teaching school somewhat, graduated from the Albany medical college, at the age of twenty-one. After remaining at Albany two years as a physician in charge of the hospital, he began practice at Rome, and three years later went to Cape Vincent, N. Y. Being afflicted with poor health, he spent about three years traveling, and made several trips to Europe as ship surgeon. In 1869 he made his home at Fort Wayne, and soon had gained a large practice. June 3, IS7I, he was married to Anna E. Stratton, who was born near Finley, Ohia, November II, 1841, daughter of Thomas and Celia (Jones) Stratton. Her parents, natives respectively of New Jersey and Vir- ginia, were married about 1835. The father died May 27, 1864, and the mother, who was but fifteen at her marriage, is living with child- ren in Kansas. Mrs. Virgil is a member of the Baptist church, to which her husband also belonged. For two years prior to his death he was unable to practice his profession, having been attacked with para- lysis February 9, 1887, a malady from which he did not recover.
Dr. Samuel C. Metcalf, an able and successful physician of Fort Wayne, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, February 14, 1844, and is the son of Vachel and Amanda (Otto) Metcalf, who were respectively natives of Ashland county, Ohio, and Bedford county, Penn. His father was born November 20, 1816, the son of Edward Metcalf, who was a native of Virginia. Edward Metcalf was the son of Daniel Metcalf, a
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native of England, who came to America and served as a colonial officer in the revolutionary war. At the close of that war he settled in Vir- ginia. In about the year 1804 he removed, with his family, to Wash- ington county, Penn., where he spent the rest of his life. His son, Edward, after his marriage, removed with his wife and two children, Thomas and John, from Washington county to Ashland county, Ohio, which county continued to be his home during the rest of his life. He died, however, in about the year 1854, at the age of seventy-four years, in Allen county, Ind., while visiting at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Rachel Crawford, of Perry township. His first presidential vote was cast for Thomas Jefferson. The mother of Dr. Metcalf was born September 27, 1821, and was the daughter of Mathias and Elizabeth Otto, who were of German descent, and removed to Bedford county, Penn., from Maryland. The parents of Dr. Metcalf were married in Ashland county, Ohio, about 1842. In 1849 they came to Allen county, and settled in Perry township, where the father had purchased a tract of unimproved land two years previously. A good farm Mr. Metcalf developed out of the wilderness, and upon this, which is known as the old Metcalf homestead, the father and mother resided for a period of nearly thirty-five years. The latter died on the old home place May 19, 1884. The former survived her until January 8, 1886, when he died at the residence of his son, Martin V. Metcalf, of Perry township. Dr. Metcalf was reared to early manhood on the home farm. At seventeen he became a teacher in the district schools and taught school during the winters of 1862-3 and 1863-4. His early edu- cation had been obtained in the district school and in Perry Centre seminary. He began the study of medicine in the spring of 1866, with Dr. E. G. Wheelock, sr., of Leo, Allen county, and in September, 1868, he entered the Charity hospital medical college, or the medical depart- ment of the university of Wooster, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he was graduated in February, 1870. He then made his home at Fort Wayne, where he soon became the possessor of a lucrative practice and is now a well known physician. He received the Ad Eundem degree from the medical department of the Western Reserve university of Cleveland, March 15, 1882. Altogether Dr. Metcalf has served about seven years as a member of the Fort Wayne board of health, and since 1884 he has served as secretary of the board or as the health officer of the city. The Doctor was married November 18, 1875, to Miss Amelia T., daughter of John H. and Elizabeth (Lark) Hill, the former a native of
Plymouth, England, and the latter of Canada. Her father was the son of William R. and Elizabeth (Tolly) Hill. Her mother was the daugh- ter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Webster) Lark, the former of whom was a ship builder of Chattam, Canada West. The father of Mrs. Metcalf settled at Fort Wayne in 1836, and followed the pursuit of an Indian trader. Mrs. Metcalf was born in Fort Wayne, October 15, 1854. Dr. Metcalf and wife have had three children: Edward, born November 1, 1877, died November 14, 1877; Holman Sinclair, born
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December 18, ISSo, died July 16, 1881, and Tulip Lillian, born January 31, 1886. They also have an adopted daughter, Miss Maggie Metcalf, who was born December 12, 1871, In politics Dr. Metcalf is a demo- crat, and takes an active part in political affairs for the promotion of the welfare of his party.
Brookfield Gard, M. D., was born in Preble county, Ohio, January 14, 1833, son of Joseph N. and Sada (Bishop) Gard, both natives of the same county. Joseph Gard was born August II, ISII, son of Levi Gard, of Pennsylvania, who was a soldier with Gen. Wayne's expedition through Ohio as far as Fort Recovery. Sada Gard was born February 19, 1810, daughter of Rev. Nathan Bishop, a pioneer Baptist preacher in Preble county, a native of Guilford Court House, N. C. In his youth Dr. Gard attended Miami university, at Oxford, Ohio, two years, teaching between the terms of his attendance. In 1858 he began the study of medicine, and entered the Eclectic medical college at Cincin- nati in 1860, graduating in 1865. His first practice was at Eldorado, Ohio, in 1861. He abandoned this in 1864, and mustered Com- pany B, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio regiment. He assisted in equipping the regiment, and was commissioned hospital steward. Three brothers also enlisted: James F., now a prosperous physi- cian at Cherryvale Kas., served five years as hospital steward of Battery M, First Indiana heavy artillery; Samuel G., bugler of the Ninth Indiana cavalry, died at Pulaski, Tenn .; and Martin A., of the Seventy-fifth Ohio, died at Franklin, W. Va. After a service of four months, Dr. Gard resumed his medicul studies, and in February, 1865, made his home at Huntington, Ind. April 1, 1870, he removed to Fort Wayne, where he has since successfully practiced his profession. He has been married twice, his present wife being Henrietta A. Fran- cisco, to whom he was united October 17, 1887. Two daughters are living: Anna E. and Lizzie E., of his first wife. Dr. Gard is a member of the I. O. O. F .; he is a republican and cast his first vote for Gen. Fremont.
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