History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 25

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York : Blake
Number of Pages: 1292

USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 > Part 25

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Freeman H. received his early education in the private and public schools of his native village, and at the age of sixteen started " before the mast" on a merchant voyage to Australia and the East Indies. He afterward made another voyage to Liverpool and Calcutta, return-

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ing just after Mcclellan's defeats in the Peninsula and in season to answer Lincoln's call for nine months' troops. While exempt from military duty, as a seaman in actual service, and before liberal boun- ties were paid, he volunteered as a private in August, 1862, and on September 12th was enrolled in Company D of the Forty-fifth Massa- chusetts Infantry. He followed the fortunes of the regiment and participated in the battles of Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro', in the first of which he was slightly wounded but not disabled from duty. After that battle he was made a corporal of the company, and was honorably discharged in July, 1863, with the regiment. In September of that year, Mr. Lothrop applied for and obtained a position as mas- ter's mate in the navy and was ordered to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for instruction. He was finally ordered to the United States Steamer Agawam, Alexander C. Rhind, commander, for service in the James river, and participated in an engagement at Four Mile Creek in July, 1864, and was in James river at the time of Grant's movements against Petersburg and on the banks of the James. He was promoted to acting ensign in December, 1864. In April, 1865, the Agawam being then at Newberne, N. C., news was received of the surrender of Gen- eral Lee, and Mr. Lothrop, considering the fighting at an end, imme- diately tendered his resignation which was accepted in May, 1865. In June following, Mr. Lothrop was married to Hettie Freeman, daughter of Alvah Holway of Sandwich, a member of the Society of Friends. They have had four children : William. Freeman, born in September, 1SS6; Ruth Hinckley, born July, 1868 (married Nath'l B. H. Parker of Hyannis); Joseph Henry, born June, 1870, and Bertha Warren, born in February, 1884, the latter being their only child now living.

In 1SS6, Mr. Lothrop was offered a positian as railway postal clerk between Boston and Orleans, which position he held till September, 1872, when he resigned that office and was soon after called to act as assistant treasurer of the Barnstable Savings Bank, then one of the largest in southeastern Massachusetts. In 1SS1 he left his position in the bank to accept an appointment to the office of register of probate and insolvency for his native county, to which position he was soon elected and by re-elections has since continued to fill. While in the saviags bank he became much interested in reading law, and after studying under the instruction of H. P. Harriman, Esq., was admitted to the bar, April 11, 1884.

As an attorney he gives his attention only to such office prac- tice as does not interfere with his official duties, and the able and faithful discharge of his responsible trust as a record officer has been recognized and appreciated by the public which he serves. History has repeated itself, and to-day we find him carefully con-

H. OScudder

BENCH AND BAR. 217

tinuing the probate records which an ancestor with remarkable skill and care began as early as 1693.

William P. Reynolds, of Hyannis, was admitted to the bar April 5, 1887. He is a native of Oseola, Tioga county, Pa., where he was born in 1859. There and at Willsboro, Pa., he received his early edu- cation and at twenty years of age graduated from Cook Academy, Havanna, N. Y. He entered Amherst College in 1880 and after three years came to Barnstable and resumed the study of law with Judge Joseph M. Day. He taught the Hyannis high school from 1884 to 1888, prosecuting his professional studies during the interim, and until he was admitted to practice in the courts of the Commonwealth. Mr. Reynolds is now the superintendent of schools for Barnstable, and since early in 1889 has been associate editor of the Cape Cod Item.

HON. HENRY A. SCUDDER .- In the village of Osterville, where the waters of Vineyard sound wash the southern shore of Cape Cod, a son was born, on the 25th of November, 1819, to Josiah and Hannah (Lovell) Scudder. They gave to him the name of Henry Austin, and the Commonwealth knows him to-day in her political and judicial his- tory as Judge Scudder of Barnstable.

The family name became a part of New England's history in 1635, when John Scudder, who was born in England, came to Charlestown, Mass. In 1640 he removed to Barnstable, where he was admitted a freeman in 1654, and where he died in 1689, leaving a wife, Hannah, and several children. His sister Elizabeth, in 1644, married Samuel. son of Rev. John Lothrop, and removed from Boston to Barnstable the same year. John Scudder, son of John and Hannah, was born in Barnstable. In 1689 he married Elizabeth, daughter of James Hamb- lin, and afterward removed to Chatham, where he died in March, 1742, and she in the January following. Their son Ebenezer, born in 1696, at Barnstable, married Lydia Cobb in 1725, and died in 1737. Their son Ebenezer, born in Barnstable in 1733, married Rose Delapin 1759, and died June 8, 1818. Their seven children, including Judge Scud- der's father, were: Ebenezer, born August 13, 1761; Isaiah, born Janu- ary 8, 1768; Asa, born July 25, 1771; Elizabeth, born October 12, 1773; Josiah, born November 30, 1775; James D., born October 27, 1779; Thomas D., born January 25, 1782. Of this generation, the youngest was a merchant, Josiah was a farmer, and the other sons followed the sea and became captains.

The children of Josiah Scudder were: Puella L., born December 3, 1800, married George Hinckley, and died August 30, 1885; Josiah, a merchant, born February 12, 1802, married first Sophronia Hawes and second Augusta Hinckley, and died December 29, 1877; Freeman L., a merchant, born March 16, 1805, married Elizabeth Hinckley, and

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died December 3, 1832: Zeno, born August 18, 1807. with whose politi- cal and professional career the reader is already familiar; Persis, born August 14, 1810, married Joseph W. Crocker, and died April 24, 1844; Edwin, merchant, born September 23, 1815, married Harriet N. Phin- ney, and died May 25, 1872; Henry A. Scudder, the subject of this sketch, the youngest and the only survivor of the family.

At an early age Henry A. entered the common schools of his native village, and there gained the rudiments of an education. He then followed the example of most of the boys of his acquaintance and went to sea, commencing as he supposed his life work. Not being physic- ally strong, however, and finding that the habits and duties of this life were uncongenial to him, he returned to his home after a period of about one year. He afterwards began a course of study in the Hy- annis Academy, his apparent purpose being to qualify himself as a teacher. With this object in view, he continued his studies, teaching from time to time as occasion offered. During this period, through the influence and advice of his teachers, he became greatly interested in the languages and mathematics, and naturally conceived the desire for a college course. Having fitted himself for this he entered Yale College, where he graduated in 1842. He then studied law at Cam- bridge, was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1844, and commenced the practice of his profession in Boston, where his wide acquaintance with the people of and from Cape Cod became a pleasure and a source of profit to him.

By 1857 he had won an unquestionable position at the bar. On June 30th of that year he married Nannie B., daughter of Charles B. Tobey, of Nantucket, and became a resident of Dorchester, still con- tinuing his business relations with Boston. Four years later the people of Dorchester expressed their appreciation of their adopted citizen by giving him a seat in the Massachusetts legislature, where he faith- fully served the district and the Commonwealth three consecutive years. In 1864 he was a member of the national convention which renominated President Lincoln. In 1869 Governor Claflin promoted him to the bench of the superior court of Massachusetts. In 1872 severe ill health obliged Judge Scudder to resign this office. Since that time he has resided a portion of his life abroad, and has now made Washington his winter home, and his old abode, at Willow Dell, in the village of Marston's Mills, his favorite summer resort.

During more than a quarter of a century, by his activity and up- rightness as a lawyer, he impressed the bench and the bar with his keen sensitiveness on questions involving honor, justice and right. Like his brother, Zeno, he believed it ever the duty of the lawyer to add something to the good reputation of the bar. In 1882, when Governor Long tendered him the office of judge of the probate court

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BENCH AND BAR.

for Barnstable county, he declined the position for the same physical cause which compelled his resignation from the bench of the superior court ten years before; a cause so cruel and relentless that it has al- lowed no respite from that day to the present moment-a misfortune which, although blighting the fairest prospects, has not disturbed the genial spirit of the man; and which it is but justice to Judge Scudder to say he has borne with the greatest fortitude and patience.

Frederick C. Swift was born in Yarmouth, December 13, 1855. He graduated in the Yarmouth high school, read law for three years in the office of Judge Joseph M. Day, and was for two years in the law school of Boston University. He was admitted to the Barnstable county bar in October, ISSO, and opened an office in Yarmouth Port. In 1889 he formed a connection with the law firm of Blackmar & Shel- don, 246 Washington street, Boston, reserving one day in the week for Yarmouth clients. In 1880 and 1881, in the absence of his father, C. F. Swift, in the legislature, he was in the editorial charge of the Yarmouth Register. In 1883 he was elected a commissioner of insolv- ency for Barnstable county, and was twice re-elected. He is also a director of Barnstable County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, sec- retary of the agricultural society and a member of the board of trustees of the Yarmouth library.

Ebenezer Stowell Whittemore, a member of the Barnstable county bar, from Sandwich, was born at Rindge, N. H., September 4, 1828. While a child, his father, with his family, removed to Illinois. At Elgin and Kalamazoo, he prepared for admission to the University of Michigan. After leaving the university, he entered the Dane Law School, at Cambridge, where he took the degree of LL.B. in 1855, after which he entered the office of C. G. Thomas of Boston, with whom he studied two years. On October 7, 1857, he was admitted to the bar in Suffolk county, on motion of Rufus Choate, and July 19, 1858, he opened an office in Sandwich, where he now (1889) resides. For fifteen years, also, he had an office in Boston. He has held the important position of trial justice of the county of Barnstable for thirty years. He has also held the office of county commissioner for nine years. In 1863 he was nominated for representative by the republicans of the dis- trict, but declined. Governor Andrew appointed him in 1862 com- missioner to superintend drafting for the county of Barnstable. Mr. Whittemore has always identified himself with the educational and social features of his adopted home. He is an active and welcome addition to our Cape Cod Historical Society, of which he is the vice- president, and has contributed to its proceedings several valuable papers. He has written and delivered numerous lectures and essays for literary societies, and has often been called upon to preside over social, business and literary gatherings, where his urbanity and knowl-

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

edge of the proceedings governing public bodies have been of great advantage and importance.

THE LAW LIBRARY ASSOCIATION .- Under the statute providing that the attorneys of any county in the Commonwealth may organize as a law library association, such a step was taken by the Barnstable county lawyers early in 1889, and their by-laws were approved at Barnstable by Judge Sherman at the April term of the superior court. Prior to that time the library consisted only of the Massachu- setts reports and documents, but in July, 1889, Hon. Henry A. Scud- der presented to the association his valuable private law library, which is the nucleus of a collection to be gathered, which will be a credit to the bar and the county. The officers of the association are : Freeman H. Lothrop, librarian; James H. Hopkins, treasurer; and T. C. Day, clerk.

DISTRICT COURTS .- In March, 1890, an act of the legislature abol- ished the trial justice courts in the county of Barnstable and estab- lished two district courts. The first district court of Barnstable has jurisdiction in the towns of Barnstable, Yarmouth, Mashpee, Sand- wich, Bourne, and Falmouth, of all civil cases wherein the damages claimed do not exceed three hundred dollars, and of all criminal offences not punishable by imprisonment in the State's Prison. The second district court of Barnstable has jurisdiction over like actions and offences in the towns ot Dennis, Harwich, Orleans, Chatham, Brewster, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. The first district court holds a daily session once a week at Bourne, and at other times at Barnstable. The second district court sits daily once a week at Harwich, and at other times at Provincetown.

Each court has a presiding justice receiving an annual salary of $1,000, and two special justices. The justices hold office during good behavior. The first sessions of the new courts were held on the first Monday of May, 1890. Governor Brackett appointed Wm. P. Rey- nolds of Hyannis, and James H. Hopkins of Provincetown, justices of the two courts respectively.

CHAPTER XII.

MEDICAL PROFESSION.

BY GEORGE N. MUNSELL, M.D., OF HARWICH.

Introduction .- Barnstable District Medical Society .- Sketches of Physicians Past and Present .- Medical Examiners.

T HE history of the medical profession of Barnstable county now covers a period of nearly two centuries, and the space allotted us, will not permit of long biographical sketches, but rather of dates and locations, so far as we have been able to obtain them. The members of the medical profession have been composed largely of prominent men, not only noted for their skill as physicians, but oftentimes coming to the front and taking an active part in the pub- lic affairs of the town, county and state. Many of them have been men of sterling worth, whose discretion and wisdom, combined with an extensive knowledge of human nature, have rendered them im- portant factors in the great progressive questions of the day. Some of these we refer to in this chapter, while many others we are obliged to notice, only in brief, from the unfortunate fact that we have been unable to obtain the necessary information, and while we present to the reader a long list of honored names of those who have, during the past two hundred years, graced the medical profession, yet we feel that we have been obliged to leave unmentioned many a hero in the great arena of practical medicine, whose mission through life may have brought joy and comfort to many a suffering one, and though his name may not be written in the annals of the past, yet an honored record may be his, in the fact, that he blessed humanity.

The present membership of the Barnstable District Medical So- ciety numbers twenty. In alphabetical order with the place of resi- dence and year of admission the list stands 'thus: William S. Birge, Provincetown, 1SS3; Charles H. Call, Brockton, 1SS6; Thomas R. Clement, Osterville, 1874; Samuel T. Davis, Orleans, 1880; George W. Doane, Hyannis, 1846; Robert H. Faunce, Sandwich, 1884; Benjamin D. Gifford, Chatham, 1869; David R. Ginn, Dennis Port, 1878; Edward E. Hawes, Hyannis, 1887; Chauncey M. Hulbert, South Dennis, 1854;

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

George W. Kelley, Barnstable, 1884; Horatio S. Kelley, jr., Dennis Port, 1884; George N. Munsell, Harwich, 1860; Adin H. Newton, Provincetown, 1874; Franklin W. Pierce, Marston's Mills, 1SS0; Peter Pineo, Boston, 1850; Samuel Pitcher, Hyannis, 1881; John E. Pratt, Sandwich, 1SS0; Frank A. Rogers, Brewster, 1883; William N. Stone, Wellfleet, 1869.

Dr. Samuel Adams was a physician of Truro before the revolution- ary war. He was born in Killingly, Conn., in 1745, studied medicine under Dr. Nathaniel Freeman of Sandwich, and went to Truro, where in 1774, he was appointed one of the committee of correspondence. He was an ardent patriot, and when the conflict began he entered the service as a surgeon, serving through the war with distinction. Upon leaving service, he settled in Ipswich, where he engaged in the practice of his profession until 1798, when, marrying Abigail Dodge, he removed to Bath, Me., where he continued to practice until his death in 1819. Doctor Adams was a man of ability, and was highly respected in the communities where he successively resided. That he was twice married is certain. His first wife, Abigail, died July S, 1774, in her 24th year, at Truro, where a stone marks her resting place, and that of her infant child, who died July 31, 1774, aged four weeks. Dr. Adams had several children. His son, Rev. Charles S. Adams, was once pastor of the Congregational church in Harwich.

George Atwood practiced at Marston's Mills for two years prior to 1850, when he removed to Fair Haven.

Dr. Josiah Baker was a native of Tolland, Conn., and practiced medicine in South Dennis, where he died December 7, 1810, aged 31 years.

Dr. Isaac Bangs, born in that part of Harwich now Brewster, De- cember 11, 1752, a son of Benjamin and Desire Bangs, graduated at Harvard College in 1771 and studied medicine. He entered the revo- lutionary army as lieutenant in Captain Benjamin Godfrey's com- pany in 1776, and afterward was a lieutenant in Captain Jacob Allen's company in Colonel John Bailey's regiment, in service at New York. In 1779, he was doctor's mate on board the frigate Boston, Samuel Tucker, commander. He died September 12, 1780, in Vir- ginia. He left some account of his service in the first years of the revolutionary war in manuscript.

Dr. Jonathan Bangs was an early physician of Harwich, resid- ing in that part of the town now Brewster. He was son of Cap- tain Edward Bangs of Harwich, and was born in 1706. He was in practice in the town as early as. 1731. He died December 7, 1745, after three weeks' sickness, aged 39 years. He married widow Phebe Bangs, January, 4, 1732-3, and left one son, Allen.

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MEDICAL PROFESSION.

J. W. Battershall, M.D., was a graduate from the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons in New York city in 1874. He was for three years surgeon in the British emigration service between London and Australia. He located at Yarmouth Port in 1870 and practiced medi- cine there two years, when he removed from the Cape.

William S. Birge, M.D., born in 1857 at Cooperstown. N. Y., is a son of D. L. and Amey (Spafford) Birge. He took a two years' academ- ic course at the University of the City of New York, then studied medicine at the Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn: at the medic- al department of Syracuse University and at the medical department of the University of the City of New York, where he was graduated in 1881. He practiced in Truro two years then came to Provincetown. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and medical examiner for this district. For a time he was acting assistant surgeon in the United States marine service. He married Ella F., daughter of Zemira Kenrick.

Albert F. Blaisdell. M.D., was born in Haverhill, Mass., about 1847. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1869 in the class with Judge Har- riman. He studied medicine at Harvard, and is now located at Provi- dence, R. I. He was at one time teacher at Chatham and afterward taught school and practiced medicine in Provincetown before his re- moval from the Cape. He is author of several school text books and is now largely interested in educational work.

Dr. Benjamin Bourne, son of Timothy and Elizabeth Bourne, was born January 25, 1744, graduated from Harvard College in 1764, and married Hannah Bodfish. He had a large family, and left to them a large property. He was among the early practitioners of Sandwich.

Dr. Richard Bourne was a physician at Barnstable. He was born in that town November 1, 1739, and was a son of Colonel Sylvanus Bourne. He was well educated, but can claim no notice as a physi- cian of importance. He will be remembered as the first postmaster at Barnstable. He died April 25, 1826, aged 86 years. The late Amos Otis, in his genealogical notes, has given an interesting and amus- ing account of him.

Dr. Eleazer C. Bowen resided in Marston's Mills from 1857 to 1860, and was succeeded by Dr. John E. Bruce from 1860 to 1862.

Dr. Nathaniel Breed was a physician of Eastham, residing in that part now Orleans. He married Anna, daughter of Thomas Knowles.

C. H. Call, M.D., was born in Warner, N. H., October 15, 1858, graduated from Harvard Medical College in 1881, and commenced the practice of medicine in Lowell, where he remained from June to Au- gust, 1881. From Lowell he went to Vermillion, South Dakota, where he resided until February, 1885, when he removed to South Yarmouth.

.... .

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Dr. Elijah W. Carpenter was a successful physician of Chatham. He was born in Upton. Mass., January 31, 1814. He studied medicine at Boston under Dr. Perry, and came to Chatham about 1838, and settled. He married Mary H., daughter of Joshua Nickerson, Esq., and had four children. He removed from Chatham to Brooklyn, N. I'., and died there September 1, 1881. aged 67 years.

Dr. Chamberlain practiced medicine in West Barnstable about 1840, and was succeeded by Dr. Apollos Pratt for a few years.

Thomas R. Clement, M.D., was born March 19, 1823, in Landaff, Grafton county, N. H. He received his early education in the public schools of his native town and at Tyler's Academy. in Franklin, N. H. He studied medicine with Dr. Mark R. Woodbury, finish- ing with Dr. S. G. Dearborn, of Nashua, N. H. Graduating from the medical department of Burlington University (Vermont) in 1863, he began his medical practice in Mason, N. H. He was assistant surgeon in the Tenth New Hampshire regiment and held other government appointments until 1868. He practiced at Enfield, N. H., and in 1872 came to Centreville, two years later re- moving to the adjoining village of Osterville, where he has merited and secured a fair practice.

Dr. Daniel P. Clifford was a son of Samuel Clifford of Enfield, Mass., and for nearly fifty years practiced medicine in Barnstable county. His wife was Betsy Emery. The doctor has descendants living in several of the Cape towns. Benjamin F. Clifford of New York, and Samuel D. Clifford of Chatham Port. are his sons. Mrs. George W. Nickerson, the mother of Mrs. Judge Harriman is Doctor Clifford's daughter. The doctor died at Chatham, September 23, 1863, aged 77 years. He was a man of considerable literary ability, and held a con- spicuous place among the physicians of his time.

Dr. Aaron Cornish was born in Plymouth, Mass., in 1794, practiced medicine in Falmouth from 1820 to 1854, and died in New Bedford, April 7, 1864.

Dr. Samuel T. Davis, born August 4, 1856, at Edgartown, Mass., is a son of Samuel N. and Adaline N. Davis. At the age of fifteen he left the public schools and attended Mitchell's Family School for Boys two years. He commenced the study of medicine in 1875, with Dr. Winthrop Butler, of Vineyard Haven, Mass., taking two winter cours- es (1875-6 and 1876-7) in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city, graduating in February, 1878, from Bellevue Hospital Medical College. From December. 1877, to June. 1879, he was assist- ant house physician and house surgeon in Seamans' Relief Hospital. He was acting assistant to the Northwestern Dispensary for five months, and in July, 1879, came to Orleans, where he is still practic- ing. He is a member of the state medical society and was elected president of the Barnstable district society in May, 1889.

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E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.

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Dr. John Davis was a physician in Eastham, now Orleans, after the close of the revolutionary war. He was born in Barnstable, Oc- tober 7, 1745, and was a son of Daniel Davis. He united with the South church in Eastham, June 15, 1783. He removed to Barnstable, and was appointed judge of probate in 1800. By his wife, Mercy, among other children he had Job C., John, Robert, and Nathaniel. He died at Barnstable, May 27, 1825, aged 80 years.

GEORGE W. DOANE, M.D., the well known citizen and physician of Hyannis, is the eighth in lineal descent from Deacon John Doane, who came to Plymouth soon after its settlement in one of the two ships that followed the Mayflower. In 1633 he was chosen one of the assist- ants of the governor, and in 1636, with others, was joined with the governor and assistants as a committee to revise the laws and consti- tutions of the plantation. In 1642 he was again chosen assistant to Governor Winslow, and became a deacon of the Plymouth church be- fore his removal to Nauset or Eastham in 1644. He was forty-nine years old when he arrived at Eastham and lived sixty years after, a prominent and useful citizen of the plantation. The spot where his house stood near the water, is still pointed out.

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 25

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: New York : Blake Number of Pages: 1292

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York : Blake
Number of Pages: 1292