USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892 > Part 63
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Mayhew R. Hitch was born in New Bedford February 6, 1867. His early education was received at New Bedford High School and Boston University Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1889 and is associated with William M. Butler. He has always practiced in New Bedford.
George H. Palmer was born in New Bedford April 22, 1823. His early education was received in the old Friends' Academy and at Pierce Academy and Middleborough, Mass. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1845. He studied law with Clifford & Brigham and at the Law School in Philadelphia. Was admitted to the bar in 1848 and began practice in Boston, and in 1851 went to New York and became a partner with Smith & Vanderpoel. Was afterwards employed as attorney for mercantile agencies in New York until 1864. He came to New Bedford in 1866 and resumed the practice of the law. He returned to Boston in 1870 and remained there until 1872. He again returned to New Bedford in 1873, where he has since practiced.
Homer Winthrop Hervey, born at New Bedford February 10, 1866, and received his early education at private schools and Friends' Academy. He entered Harvard in 1884, graduating with the degree of A.B. in 1888. He then entered the Harvard Law School from which he graduated in 1891, taking the degree of LL.B. He studied law in the office of Hon. H. M. Knowlton and was admitted to the bar September 22, 1891.
Edwin A. Douglass was born in New Bedford August 9, 1856. His early education was received in the schools of his native place and he
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
studied law with Crapo, Clifford & Clifford. He was admitted to the bar September 22, 1881, and had always practiced in New Bedford.
Patrick F. Carroll, born in New Bedford October 14, 1860. He graduated from New Bedford schools and entered the law office of Thomas F. Desmond in 1881 and was admitted to the bar at the March term in Taunton, 1884. He began practice in New Bedford where lie is associated with James Smith.
Albert Edwin Clarke was born in Barbadoes and was educated there. He came to New Bedford soon after the civil war and studied with C. T. Bonney, becoming a partner after his admission to the bar. About the year 1880 he began practice alone. He has been a member of the State Legislature two terms.
A. B. Collins is a native of Fairhaven, received his education there and studied law with Stetson & Greene. He was admitted in 1877, and has always practiced alone. He is now located in Fairhaven.
William B. Smith was born in New Bedford January 30, 1846. He received his early education at the grammar schools of New Bedford and began the study of law in the office of H. M. Knowlton in 1880 and was admitted to the bar in January, 1882. He has held the office of ward officer, commissioner of insolvency and was twice a member of the common council under Mayor Morgan Rotch.
James Smith was born in Glasgow, Scotland, September 21, 1855, where his early education was received. He came to New Bedford when eleven years of age, and attended grammar and high schools, from which he graduated in 1876 and studied at Brown University. He entered the office of E. L. Barney and subsequently that of William C. Parker, being admitted to the bar in June, 1883. He has since practiced in New Bedford.
Hon. Wm. W. Crapo, Thos. M. Stetson, Alanson Borden, Walter Clifford, and many deceased members of the judiciary and bar, have extended biographies in later pages of this work.
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MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Formation of Massachusetts Medical Society- Its Membership-District Societies -- Incorporation of Southern District Medical Society -- Change of Name to Bristol South District Medical Society-Physicians of New Bedford Members of State Society Prior to 1839 - First Physicians in the Town -- Benjamin Burg -- Daniel Hathaway -- Elisha Tobey -- Samuel Perry-Samuel Perry, jr. -- Ebenezer Perry -- Samuel West- William C. Whitridge -- Alexander Reed - Elijah Colby -- Julius S. Mayhew -- Paul Spooner - Aaron Cornish -- Lyman Bartlett -- Andrew Mackie -- Henry Johnson -- John H. Jennings -- Charles L. Swasey -- William A. Gordon -- John H. Mackie.
T HE Massachusetts Medical Society was formed in 1781, with power to elect officers, examine and license candidates for practice, hold real estate, and " continue as a body politic and corporate by the same name forever." In June, 1782, after several preparatory meetings, by- laws were enacted, a common seal adopted, the society organized, and Dr. Edward A. Holyoke, of Salem, chosen the first president. In 1790 the first publication of the society was issued ; the second appeared in 1804 and the third in 1806. The society is intended to include all reg- ular physicians practicing medicine within the Commonwealth, and ad- mission takes place according to prescribed laws of the State and society.
An extract from chapter 82, Massachusetts laws, 1859, reads as fol- lows : " No person shall hereafter become a member of the Massachu- setts Medical Society except upon examination by the censors of said society ; and any person of good moral character, found to possess the qualifications prescribed by the rules and regulations of said society, shall be admitted a member of said society."
The Massachusetts Medical Society includes seventeen district socie- ties, all of which are under the control of the parent society. The dis- trict societies appoint their own officers and establish regulations for their particular government, not repugnant to the by-laws of the gen- eral society ; and are empowered to hold and dispose of books, instru- ments and other personal property, exclusive of any authority of the
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
general society. One of these district societies is the Bristol South District Medical Society, which consists of fellows of the Massa- chusetts Medical Society living in Chilmark, Dartmouth, Edgartown, Fairhaven, Fall River, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Nantucket, New Bedford, Rochester, Tisbury, Wareham, and Westport The char- ter for this district was granted by the Massachusetts Medical Society at a meeting of the councilors held at Boston April 3, 1839. An ex- tract from the records reads as follows :
"To Alexander Read, Andrew Mackie, Paul Spooner, Samuel Sawyer, Julius A. Mayhew, William C. Whitridge, fellows of said society, greeting: Your application made in due form, requesting that a district or subordinate medical society, residing in the following towns in the county of Bristol, viz: New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Freetown, Fairhaven, Dartmouth and Westport; in the county of Plymouth, Middle- borough, Rochester and Wareham; in Dukes County, Chilmark, Tisbury, and Edgar- town ; and Nantucket, was duly considered at a meeting of the councilors held at Bos- ton on the third day of April, A. D. 1839, and it was voted that your request be granted.
" Be it therefore known, that pursuant to an act of the Legislature of this Common- wealth entitled 'An act to incorporate certain persons by the name of the Massachusetts Medical Society,' authorizing the councilors of said society thereunto, a district or sub- ordinate society by the name of the Southern District Medical Society is hereby estab- lished, to consist of those fellows of the Massachusetts Medical Society now residents within the limits aforesaid for the purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business as they shall deem expedient.
" In testimony thereof, the president, pursuant to the aforesaid vote of the council- ors, has hereunto subscribed his name and affixed the seal of the corporation this 18th day of April, A. D. 1839. GEORGE C. SHATTUCK,
" Attest, S. D. TOWNSEND, Recording Secretary. President."
The name under which this society was incorporated has since been changed to the Bristol South District Medical Society, and its members made to include those fellows of the parent society residing within the following cities and towns, viz: New Bedford, Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Middleborough, Rochester, Mattapoisett, Ware- ham, Nantucket, Edgartown, Tisbury and Chilmark.
The following is a list of the physicians of New Bedford who were fellows of the Massachusetts Medical Society previous to the incorpora- tion of the subordinate society :
Samuel Perry, 1803 ; Alexander Read, 1816; Paul Spooner, 1821 ; William C. Whitridge, 1822; Andrew Mackie, 1824; Julius S. May-
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PERSONAL NOTES.
hew, 1830, Jeremiah Stone, 1831 ; Lyman Bartlett, 1833; William A. Gordon, 1835 ; Thomas P. Wells, 1838; William R. Wells, 1838.
Unfortunately the records of the Bristol South District Medical So- ciety are incomplete, part of them having been lost, and it is impossible to give a list of the various officers.
Personal Notes .- Dr. Benjamin Burg was the first physician in the old town of Dartmouth, of whom there is any record. He died Sep- tember 18, 1748, in the fortieth year of his age, and was buried in the old graveyard at Acushnet. Dr. Daniel Hathaway was also one of the very early physicians and undoubtedly practiced in Dartmouth shortly after the death of Dr. Burg. Dr. Hathaway died in 1772. Dr. Elisha Tobey, another well known physician in early days, died May 10, 1781, in his fifty eighth year. His residence was the old gambrel- roofed house in the north part of Acushnet village.
Dr. Samuel Perry, a physician of considerable repute, died April 15, 1805, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. His residence was on the east side of the Acushnet road, near the village of Acushnet. Dr. Sam- uel Perry, a son of the above, died at the house of Judge Edward Pope, in New Bedford, October 26, 1820, aged fifty-seven years. Dr. Ebenezer Perry, another son of the elder Dr. Perry, and a physician of extensive practice, died of apoplexy in New Bedford, March 18, 1822, in his sixty-sixth year. He was born November 9, 1756. Of this phy- sician the New Bedford Mercury of March 22, 1822, says : " In the death of Dr. Perry, the society are deprived of a highly valuable mem- ber. During a long course of professional usefulness he has uniformly preserved a character for irreproachable integrity and true worth. His loss will be sorely felt by a wide circle of friends and by the community generally."
in speaking of the early literature of New Bedford, Willian Logan Fisher says: "The medical literature previous to the present century was mostly confined to Ebenezer Perry, the only physician in the place. About the year 1795 his charge for a visit was sixpence, and thus he kept all other physicians at a distance. An English lady who was un- der his treatment at this time was so much surprised at the smallness of his charge that she requested she might be furnished with the particu- lars of the bill that she might take it to England. After this he raised
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
his price to one shilling per visit. He was a good, plain, practical phy- sician, and an honest man."
Dr. Samuel West was also a prominent physician. He was born June 12, 1774, and died June 15, 1838.
Dr. William Cushing Whitridge, an eminent physician, whose famil- iar figure is fresh in the memory of many who are yet living, was born in Tiverton, R. I., November 25, 1784, and died in New Bedford, Mass., December 28, 1857, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. His father was a distinguished physician in his day, as was also his two brothers, Dr. Joshua R. Whitridge, of Charleston, S. C., and Dr. John Whitridge, of Baltimore. Dr. Whitridge entered Brown University in 1800, but subsequently went to Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., where he graduated with distinction in 1804. He entered at once as a pupil in his father's office and attended one full course of lectures at Har- vard University. He did not, however, at that time, take a medical degree, and in 1847 received from Harvard the honorary title of Doctor of Medicine. He began active practice at Tiverton, R. I., and contin- ued to labor there with success until 1822, when he removed to New Bedford. Here he toiled in a widening circle of professional occupa- tion until death bore him from the scene of his labors. His personal appearance was highly prepossessing, and his manners were simple and unaffected. He possessed a quick and ready perception, a rare faculty of analysis, and a remarkable facility in the attainment of useful and important facts bearing on his profession. The public confidence in his skill as a physician was very great, and it is said that at the time of his death he had the largest consultation practice in New Bedford. Dr. Whitridge was frequently delegated by the Massachusetts Medical Society to attend the sessions of the American Medical Association, and was present at those of Boston and New York.
Dr. Alexander Read was a physician of high standing and one of the leading members of his profession in this part of the State. He was born at Milford, July 10, 1786, and died in New Bedford November 20, 1849. He was graduated with honors at Dartmouth College in 1808. He studied medicine under the direction of Dr. Greene, of Worcester, and of Nathan Smith, M. D., and began practice in New Bedford in 1811. He soon acquired the reputation of a skillful and attentive phy-
L. D. Sticieney u. S.
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sician, and received the patronage of a numerous circle of intelligent and wealthy citizens. A course of lectures prepared and delivered by him on chemistry and botany with great acceptance was a happy intro- duction to the youthful portion of the more intelligent population, and many of the attendants remained ever after his ardent friends. He pos- sessed by nature a sanguine temperament, and by cultivation and in- tercourse with good society a refined taste which made him a conspic- uous and welcome figure in the circle in which he moved. His ruling passion was to promote the well being of those with whom he asso- ciated. Hence as a physician he was ardent in the pursuit of knowl- edge, careful in his observation of the changing phases of disease, kind in his deportment, courteous in all the relations of life, and skillful to perceive and minister to the necessities of his numerous patients. He received the degree of M. D. at New Haven in 1816. Dr. Read was a skillful surgeon as well as a physician, and his advice was much sought and highly valued by his professional brethren. He published but little. His remarks on the mode of preparation and uses of datura stramonium are a model of simplicity and directness in medical com- munications. Dr. Read was an ardent and devoted Christian, having the most reverent regard for the Bible. He was known as a good hus- band, kind father, beloved physician, and in every relation eminently a good man. His fatal disease was hæmaturia, followed by chronic dis- organization and protracted suffering.
Dr. Elijah Colby was born at Hopkinton, near Concord, N. H., June 16, 1798, and died in New Bedford, August 30, 1856. He went to school and prepared for college in his native town, teaching school in various places, and afterward graduating at Dartmouth College at the age of twenty-three. He studied medicine with an old and well-known physician at East Concord, and began practicing there at an early age. He came to New Bedford in 1830 and continued to practice here almost up to the hour of his death, he having prescribed for a patient at 3 in the afternoon, when the shadow of death was already upon him. Dr. Colby was a man whom everybody loved. A gentleman in deportment, an excellent and skillful physician, a man of superior judgment, he never spoke a cross or impatient word, and gained the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Dr. Julius Stewart Mayhew was a son of Dr. Matthew Mayhew, of Chilmark, Mass., and was born there February 17, 1787. He died in New Bedford September 20, 1859. When a boy he attended school at Chilmark, and afterwards came to New Bedford when approaching. manhood and prosecuted his studies, later on teaching day school and singing-school. He graduated from the Harvard Medical School in the class of 1826, and shortly after began the practice of medicine in Fair- haven. He removed to New Bedford with his family April 20, 1829, and was actively engaged in the practice of his profession until within about two years of his death. He was admitted a fellow of the Massa- chusetts Medical Society in 1830. One peculiarity of this branch of the Mayhew family was that there had been a physician in every gen- eration down to and including Dr. Julius. He is said to have been the first or one of the first, who voted the Abolition ticket in New Bed- ford. Dr. Mayhew enjoyed the confidence of a large number of pat- rons, and in his manners was a fine specimen of the gentleman of the old school. He lived an unpretending Christian life, and especially was a foe to oppression of every kind, always ready to give a testimony against slavery and advocating the equal rights of the colored race.
Dr. Paul Spooner died of heart disease and paralysis July 18, 1862, aged seventy-six years. He was the sixth child of Seth and Patience (Pierce) Spooner, and was born in Fairhaven June 12, 1786. He at- tended school at Long Plain and afterward studied medicine, first in 1803 with Dr. Samuel Perry, jr., and later with Dr. Samuel Willard, near Boston. He opened an office in New Bedford in 1807, and lived at the corner of Acushnet avenue and School street for several years during the early part of his professional career. Dr. Spooner had been in practice in New Bedford upwards of fifty years at the time of his death, and had been very successful as an accoucheur, having been as extensively employed in that branch as any physician in New England. He retired from active professional duties in 1860.
Dr. Aaron Cornish was born at South Plymouth, Mass., and died in New Bedford April 7, 1864. He was a son of Josiah Cornish, also of South Plymouth, and first attended school in his native place, afterward completing his education in Boston, studying medicine and graduating from the Harvard Medical School in the class of 1820. His first per-
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PERSONAL NOTES.
manent location was in Falmouth, where he lived and continued to practice until he came to New Bedford. In his younger days, and when he was yet studying medicine with Dr. Alexander Read, he taught a private school. He was a very reticent man, but was a profound and exhaustive scientific reader, being wonderfully well informed on a mul- titude of subjects. He had a marvelous knowledge 'of the Bible, but was not given to parading his knowledge broadcast. While a perfect Bible scholar he also believed in practical Christianity. Dr. Cornish was not a great talker and therefore not a man to accumulate many acquaintances outside of his business, but those who knew him best appreciated his real worth and were his steadfast friends.
Dr. Lyman Bartlett was one of New Bedford's best known physicians. He was born at Conway, Mass., in 1808, where he received his early education. He afterward studied medicine and was partly educated in Paris. He came to New Bedford in 1834 or 1835, and was successfully engaged in practice here until within a short time of his death. He held to life with great tenacity, and only relinquished active duties at the last moment and was confined to his house but a short time. He was a man of large culture, of fine social qualities and devoted to his profession. He enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, and numbered among his patrons some of the best families of New Bedford. His death occurred at his residence on County street on the morning of June 6, 1865.
Dr. Andrew Mackie was born at Wareham, Mass., January 24, 1794, and was the son of Dr. Andrew Mackie, also of Wareham, who was a successful physician. His grandfather, Dr. John Mackie, was a prom- inent physician of Southampton, L. I. The younger Dr. Andrew was fitted for college under the care of Rev. Noble Everett, of Wareham, graduated at Brown University in 1815, studied medicine with his father and elder brother, Dr. John Mackie, of Providence, R. I., and at the College of Physicians in New York, and began regular practice in Plym- outh, Mass., in 1817. Dr. Mackie's professional career was divided be- tween Plymouth and New Bedford, the later years of his life being passed in this city, amid many warm friends and in the enjoyment of a large practice. He was twice elected vice-president of the Massachu- setts Medical Society, and by its choice delivered the annual address of
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
1850. He kept up his reading of current medical literature to the last, but had seen so many glittering specialties come and go that, though not rejecting, he doubtless was jealous of new novelties. He united with the Congregational Church in early life, and was ever afterward a faithful and devoted member. He was chosen deacon of the North Congregational Church of New Bedford in 1834, and retained his offi- cial relation until his death. A strong man, he was strong in his con- victions. For fifty years he was a striking representative of an honest, conscientious Christian man, respected by the entire community and loved devotedly by his family. Dr. Mackie married, December 4, 1821, at Plymouth, Mass., Hetty A., daughter of Capt. Lemuel Bradford, who was killed in the War of 1812, and a lineal descendant of Governor Bradford. Dr. Mackie died in New Bedford May 2, 1871.
Dr. Henry Johnson was born in Wayne, Me., in 1833 and died in New Bedford April 19, 1880. He graduated from the Medical School of Harvard College in the class of '65 and was an assistant surgeon in the navy during the War of the Rebellion. He settled in New Bedford after the war and married a daughter of the late Dr. William A. Gor- don. He was city physician for several years, medical examiner of the Third Bristol District, and was also physician to the jail and House of Correction. Dr. Johnson was an able and skillful physican, and was highly esteemed by his medical associates and all who were acquainted with him. He was of rather a retiring disposition, but his straightfor- ward, manly character won him friends wherever he was known.
Dr. John H. Jennings was born at Winchester, Va., in 1822, and after devoting some time to the study of medicine commenced practice at McArthur, Ohio, where he soon became a recognized leader in his pro- fession, though he had not obtained his majority. Wishing to obtain the best instruction the country afforded, he entered the Harvard Medi- cal School in Boston and graduating in 1847, settled in New Bedford, where he remained a successful practitioner, except for a short time when he was in the army in 1861, until within about two years of his death, when failing health compelled him to retire. He died July 31, 1880, in his forty-seventh year. Dr. Jennings was of much natural tact and good judgment as a physician and ready and confident as a surgeon. In his medical practice he produced special good results in
C.D. Prescott MA,
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PERSONAL NOTES.
the treatment of diphtheria. He was upright in his business trans- actions, of correct habits, and it was in his nature to desire the good opinion of the world, and to work to the extent of his ability to provide comfortably for his family. His many good qualities entitle him to the general respect in which he was held. Dr. Jennings was also possessed of a good degree of mechanical genius.
Dr. Charles Lamson Swasey was born in Limerick, Me., December 14, 1815, and died in New Bedford December 24, 1888. His early education was secured at the Limerick Academy, and later on he grad- uated from the Medical School of Bowdoin College, in the class of '38. He came to this city between 1850 and 1860 to take the place of Dr. Folsom. From that time on he practiced in New Bedford until within a year or two of his death, except for a short period in the early days of the war, when he was in the army as a surgeon. Dr. Swasey was at one time member of the board of health and quarantine physician. He was well versed in natural history, of which he was all his life an enthusiastic student, and was a strong believer in the theory of evolu- tion and of the antiquity of the human race. He was for many years a zealous member of the school committee and of the New Bedford Ly - ceum in its palmy days.
Dr. William A. Gordon was born at Newburyport, Mass., March 17, 1808, and was a son of William and Helen Gordon, the latter a native of Scotland. When he was two months old his parents moved to Hingham. Here he grew up and attended school and was prepared at Derby Academy for Harvard, from which college he graduated in the class of '26, following with a course at the Harvard Medical School, from which he graduated at the early age of twenty-one. He was at this time afflicted with poor health and went with his father to the home of his grandfather in St. Andrews, practicing medicine for four months in Robbinstown, Me., and settling permanently at Taunton in 1830. In the latter place he married in October, 1833, Maria, daughter of Hon. John M. Williams, by whom he had eight children, and who died July 11, 1875, at the age of sixty- one. Dr. Gordon continued to reside and pursue his professional duties in Taunton until December, 1839, at which time he re- moved to New Bedford, practicing here till 1877. He then moved
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