History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 3

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

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DR. SAMUEL STEARNS, son of Charles Stearns, was born in Leyden, Franklin Co., Mass., June 29, 1792. He studied medicine with Dr. Samuel Norris, of Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., for two years, and afterward with Dr. George Wins- low, of Coleraine, Franklin Co., Mass. Sept. 22, 1816, he married Luseba, daughter of Capt. Edward Adams, of Cole- raine. lle practiced medicine in Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y., and New Haven, Vt., previous to the year 1821, at which date he returned to Coleraine, where he remained until 1835, when he removed to Greenfield, Franklin Co., Mass., where he continued the practice of his profession until about the year 1860, when he became incapacitated, by reason of spinal disease, from active business. This difficulty was super- indueed by a fall from a load of hay. His death occurred on the 16th of June, 1867, at the age of seventy-five years.

CHRISTOPHIER DEANE, M.D., was a native of Stonington, Conn., where he was born on the 12th of August, 1783. At an early age he removed with his father to Coleraine, Frank- lin Co., Mass., where the family settled on a farm. His edu- cation was obtained at the common district school and at the Deerfield Academy. Succeeding his school-days he taught a distriet school during the winter months for several years, and studied medieine with Dr. Samuel Ross, the first settled physician of the town of Coleraine. He commenced practice about the year 1807, and continued uninterruptedly until his death, July 25, 1854, a period of almost half a century. ITis practice grew to extensive proportions, though the remunera- tion was somewhat disproportioned to the amount of labor performed. He possessed an excellent library for those days, and kept himself fully abreast of the progress of the age, and, probably, somewhat in advance of his contemporaries in country praetiee. Ile was a man of unassuming manners, quiet and gentlemanly in his bearing toward all.

He married Sarah, daughter of Dr. Samuel Ross, by whom he had thirteen children,-six sons and seven daughters. His sons were all business or professional men, only two of whom are now living,-Dr. A. C. Deane, of Greenfield, Mass., and one in California.

DR. JAMES DEANE .- This eminent physician was descended from James Deane, one of the earliest settlers of Stonington, Conn. Christopher and Prudence Deane, his father and mother, removed from Stonington carly in their married life to Coleraine, Franklin Co., Mass., where the subject of this notice was born, on the 24th of February, 1801, being the eighth child of the family." The home of his childhood, which was a very humble one, was situated near the summit of one of the picturesque hills of Western Massachusetts, within full view of the Grand Monadnock and the lesser up- lift of gray Wachusett, while the whole vast horizon was bounded by a magnificent line of undulating hills and moun- tains, with the intervening space filled up with quiet vales and beautiful pastoral scenery. He was from his early years a close student of Nature, watching the growth of the forest- trees, pondering the multitudinous forms in which she arrayed herself, and adapting himself but indifferently to the busy duties of farm-life. His education was such as the district schools of the time afforded, supplemented by one term at the then somewhat noted Deerfield Academy. He also, as his tastes developed, was allowed the privilege of taking lessons in the Latin language, under the instruction of Isaac B. Barber, Esq., an attorney of his native town. ; This last re- quired a daily journey of three miles on foot through the woods. The entire family were studiously inclined, as is illus- trated by the fact that each of the sons became in turn teacher in the district school, while three of them studied medicine.

When James was nineteen years of age his father finally gave up the idea of making a farmer of him, and consented that he might seek a more congenial occupation. He accord- ingly made his way to that goal of a Yankee's boy's ambition, the wonderful eity of Boston, searcely comprehending what he wanted or why he went. He was disappointed in finding employment, and after a few days' absence returned to his father's house. About all the remark he made of the trip was, that "he had met with some lonesome places."

But he could not content himself upon the farm, and upon arriving at his majority he bade adien to his home, and, coming to Greenfield, offered his services to Elijah Alvord, Esq., then clerk of the courts and register of Probate. Ilere he remained during the four succeeding years, which were among the happiest of his life.

While in the employ of Mr. Alvord, he began the study of medicine as a pupil of Dr. Brigham, an eminent practitioner of Greenfield, spending a few hours of each day in this pur- suit. In 1829-30 he attended his first course of medieal lec- tures, given hy Professors' Delafield, Stevens, Smith, Beck, and others, of New York. He received the degree of M.D. in March, 1831, and immediately afterward commenced prac- tiee in Greenfield, where he soon established an excellent rep- ntation as a physician and surgeon, and eventually built up a large practice. A number of respectable medical gentlemen, at various periods, located in the place, but retired from com- petition with him after brief experience. His success was steady and sure, and he soon took the first rank as a surgeon in this vicinity.

llis services in the department of surgery, and in rare and difficult cases of disease, were in demand over a region cover- ing a radius of thirty miles around Greenfield. He felt the need of additional knowledge, and in 1849 spent several weeks in New York, studying the latest and most approved works, and bringing himself fully up with the advance thoughts of the time. This was subsequently of immense advantage to him.

His experience as a contributor to the press began in 1837, with a communication to the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, and continued until January, 1855, during which

* He was half-brother of Dr. Christopher Deane, previously mentioned.

+ Later in life he studied the French language.

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period his correspondence with that publication was extensive and highly appreciated.

As a member of the Franklin District Medical Society, and the Massachusetts Medical Society (of the latter of which he was vice-president for two years), he prepared and contributed several interesting and valuable papers and addresses, among which may be properly mentioned a communication in May, 1855, to the last-named society, upon " The Hygienic Con- dition of the Survivors of Ovariotomy," a paper evincing re- markable research and ability.

But Dr. Deane's extensive reputation did not wholly rest upon his thorough knowledge of, and his masterly skill in the practice of, medicine and surgery.

Great as were his attainments in his legitimate profession, he added new laurels by his investigations in the fields of geology and ichnology, for the study of which the regions of the Connecticut Valley and of Western Massachusetts, gen- erally, offer most excellent opportunities.

As early as the beginning of 1835, Dr. D., in common with others, had noticed the remarkable impressions found in the shaly strata of the red sand-rock formation of the Connecticut Valley, slabs of which had been quarried and used as flagging in the sidewalks of Greenfield. People often noticed them, and jokingly spoke of them as "bird tracks" or "turkey tracks," without giving them any further thought.

But Dr. Deane was not satisfied with a cursory glance. To his investigating mind here was a leaf from Nature's book opening for the student, which promised new and wonderful discoveries. He at once began a careful investigation by vis- iting the quarries whence they were procured, and on the 7th of March, 1835, wrote to the elder Prof. IHitchcock, stating his belief that the impressions were made by the feet of birds. To this proposition Prof. H. replied on the 15th of the month, declaring that " they could not be the result of organization." But the doctor reiterated his belief, and continued his re- searches. He prepared casts and sent them, with a written communication, not only to Prof. Ilitehcock, but likewise to Prof. Silliman, editor of the American Journal of Science. This was in April, 1835, and the communications met with a very cordial reception from Prof. Silliman, and caused Prof. Hitchcock to make a visit to the locality where the specimens were obtained. At the request of the latter gentleman Dr. Deane's communication was not published in the journal, he promising to make an investigation and furnish a "more full and satisfactory paper."

Dr. Deane continued his studies, and during subsequent years published many interesting papers, some of them ac- companied by most elaborate drawings. In 1845 he published a paper giving a description of what he denominated "a ba- trachian reptile," and in 1847 and 1848 gave to the world ac- counts of different species of quadrupeds.

As early as 1842 he forwarded specimens, accompanied by a letter, to Dr. Mantell, of London, England, who laid them before the Geological Society of London. Mr. Murchison subsequently acknowledged Dr. Deane as the " first observer" of the tracks, and the thanks of the society were unanimously tendered him.

In 1849 he sent a very elaborate memoir, accompanied with many plates, to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which was published by the society. Similar papers were published in 1850 and 1856 by the Academy of Natural Sci- ences at Philadelphia, in one of which he first describes the minute tracks of insects.

During all these years he was busy preparing descriptions and drawings of new fossil specimens, with a view to future publication. A large amount of this work was presented to the Smithsonian Institution a short time before his death.

Justice has not been fully meted out to Dr. Deane by the scientific world in relation to his connections and investiga- tions in this matter; but there is little doubt, among those

who are best qualified to understand the whole subject, that he is justly entitled to the honor of being the first to investi- gate the fossil foot-prints of the valley, and to give scientific descriptions and conclusions for the benefit of the world.

Dr. Deane married, in 1836, Miss Mary Clapp Russell, of Greenfield, by whom he had three children,-daughters,- who all survived him. His death occurred in the very zenith of his powers, on the 8th of June, 1858, when he was fifty- seven years of age. Ilis funeral obsequies were attended by a great gathering of friends and acquaintances from all the surrounding region.

Dr. Deane is described as a man of lofty stature "and a well-knit and compact frame," producing a most commanding and powerful presence. He is remembered as a " most tender husband and loving parent," who ever found in the circle of home his greatest enjoyment. His political and religious opinions were based upon the broadest views of humanity, and he was wont to remark that " he believed no profession con- pared with a life of goodness." In all the relations of life he bore an unblemished reputation, and was often spoken of by his professional brethren as " the beloved physician." His death was an irreparable loss to his family, to the profession, and to the community.

DR. ADAMS C. DEANE, the son of Dr. Christopher Deane, was born in Coleraine, Franklin Co., Mass., Sept. 23, 1823. He studied medicine with his father, and received his collegiate education at the University of New York, where he graduated in 1849. He began the practice of his profession in his native town, in connection with his father, and continued until 1858, when he removed to Greenfield, where he has since resided, and has built up an extensive practice and an honorable repu- tation as a professional man and prominent citizen.

He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Association, and has been a member of the Franklin District Medical So- ciety since its first organization, in 1851. Early in the war of the Rebellion he was appointed by Gov. Andrew examining surgeon for volunteers, which position he held through the war. Ile was also medical examiner for pensions, from the organization of the bureau until 1877, having been the first appointed in this region. In 1856 he was elected to the civil position of representative to the General Court from his dis- triet. Dr. Deane married, on the Ist of June, 1855, Maria Lonise, daughter of Joseph Griswold, of Coleraine.

DR. JONATHAN W. D. OSGOOD was born at Gardner, Mass., in 1802. His father was Rev. Jonathan Osgood, a native of Andover, Mass., and a graduate of Yale College. He was also a practitioner of medicine for thirty years, and a member of the Massachusetts Medical Association. He died in 1822.

Dr. Osgood entered the academical department of Dart- mouth College in 1823, from which he graduated in 1826, un- der the tutelage of Dr. Muzzy. He also attended and gradu- ated at the Pennsylvania University in 1826-27. He subse- quently attended medical lectures at the last-named institution, and visited the hospitals of Philadelphia for eight months. His regular practice began in 1827, at Templeton, Mass., where he remained for a period of thirty years. In 1858 he removed to Greenfield, where he has since continued in the practice of medicine. He became a member of the Massa- chusetts Medical Association in 1828, and was its vice-presi- dent in 1876. He was for a long time connected with the medical society of Worcester County, and is a member of the Franklin District Society.

When the war of the Rebellion broke out he was too old to enter the service, but visited New Orleans during the contest, where he had a son sick in the service. Dr. Osgood has been in continuous practice for fifty-two years, and since 1847 has been disabled from attending to his business only two days. At the age of seventy-seven years he is remarkably well pre- served, both physically and mentally, and although his hair is white with the frosts of almost fourscore years he is com-

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paratively hale and hearty, and attends regularly to the duties of his calling.

Dr. Osgood has been twice married. ITis first wife was Eliza, daughter of Lewis Barnard, a prominent farmer of Worcester Co., Mass., whom he married June 2, 1834, and who died April 13, 1835, leaving one son-Walter B., horn April 6. 1835; died March 10, 1872. For his second wife he married, June 26, 1838, M. Florella, daughter of Dr. James Stone, of Phillipstown, Worcester Co. She died Aug. 8, 1868, leaving three children,-two daughters and one son,- all now living.

DR. AUGUSTUS C. WALKER was born in Barnstead, N. II., June 9, 1833. He is the son of Joseph A. Walker, a farmer of that town, whose ancestors were among the earliest settlers about Portsmouth, N. Il. Ile studied medicine with Dr. L. J. Ilill, of Dover, and Dr. A. B. Crosby, of Hanover, N. H., and graduated at the medical department of Harvard University in 1866. During the war he was assistant surgeon of the 133d New York Infantry Volunteers, and surgeon of the 18th New York Cavalry. He commenced the practice of medicine in New York City in April, 1866, but only remained until August of the same year, when he removed to Greenfield, Mass., where he has since been in practice. He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1866, and at present holds the position of president of the Franklin Dis- triet Medical Society. He has been surgeon of a Massachu- setts militia regiment, and also surgeon for examining dis- abled soldiers applying for State aid. From 1869 to 1879 he was physician for the county jail and house of correction. Dr. A. C. Deane succeeded him in 1879. Dr. Walker mar- ried, Sept. 8, 1862, Maria Churchill Grant, daughter of Sidney S. Grant, of Lyme, N. IL. They have three children, all sons.

The Williams family, of Deerfield, has produced a number of eminent physicians. Notices of several of them may be found in the history of the town of Deerfield, furnished to this volume by Hon. George Sheldon. The following notice of Dr. William Stoddard Williams is compiled from a biog- raphy by his son, Dr. Stephen W. Williams, published in his " American Medical Biography" in 1845.

DR. WILLIAM STODDARD WILLIAMS, the son of Dr. Thos. Williams, the first physician who settled in Deerfield, was born in that historic town Oct. 11, 1762. His father died while he was very young, but this untoward event did not prevent him from devoting his time to study. About 1780 he entered Yale College, where he continued a year or two, but never gradnated.

About 1782-83 he commeneed the study of medicine with Dr. Sargeant, of Stockbridge, Mass., a very eminent physician, and for many years a worthy member of the Massachusetts Medieal Society. Here he continued two years, at that period the usual time of professional study. About 1785 he began to practice his profession at Richmond, in Berkshire County, where he remained something less than a year. Soon after, he settled permanently in Deerfield, where, in spite of numer- ous embarrassments and discouragements, he finally established an extensive and honorable business, which continued to the day of his death. In the year 1800 he was elected a Fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society, which connection was maintained until 1819, when he resigned the position on ac- count of the difficulties in the way of attending the society meetings, which were held in the eastern part of the State. In 1794 he was appointed hy the Governor surgeon of the 2d Regiment, 2d Brigade, and 4th Division of Massachusetts Militia, which position he held with honor for sixteen years. Hle received from Williams College, in 1823, the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine. In the year 1800 he was com- missioned a justice of the peace for his native town ; and such was his standing among the people and with the civil author- ties that he ever afterward held the office.

Ile was one of the trustees of the Deerfield Academy from

its incorporation, in 1797, and from 1803 was secretary and treasurer of the instiution. He was town clerk for nineteen years, and filled several other important town offices for many years. He was also for a long period clerk of the First Con- gregational Society in Deerfield.

lle was a great and attentive reader, and possessed one of the best medical libraries in the country, sending regularly to Europe for standard works not obtainable (at that time) in this country.

llis practice was extensive, and his services as a counselor were in greater demand than those of any physician in the county. He was often called to visit places in the States of Vermont and New Hampshire, and the various towns of Franklin, Berkshire, Hampden, and Worcester Counties, in Massachusetts.

He was very attentive to his patients, and his presence in the sick-room was perhaps of equal avail with his prescrip- tions. He was wont to spend hours, and sometimes days, at the bedside, watching with the utmost attention the varying phases of disease.

In the department of obstetrics his practice was very exten- sive and successful, as was also his knowledge and treatment of children's diseases.

Ile was theoretically well acquainted with surgery, and had considerable practice, but in his later years did not perform many capital operations. In dressing and treating wounds and amputations he held a foremost place in the profession.

Dr. Williams educated a large number of students in the profession, all of whom, so far as known, became good physi- cians, and many rose to eminence.

So solid was his reputation among his professional brethren that his son mentions it as a well-known fact that he was em- ployed, first and last, in the family of nearly every physician in this region. Ile was very kind to the poor, and as evidence of this it is stated by his biographer that more than one-third of his book accounts were never collected, and could not have been. He was temperate and abstemious in his living, and rarely tasted liquors of any kind.

Ile died, after a severe though brief illness, Jan. 8, 1828. Ilis funeral was attended, on the IIth, by a vast concourse of friends and citizens, including no less than eighteen of his medieal brethren from Deerfield and the adjoining towns. llis biographer eloses an excellent notice of him in these words :

" As a religions and moral man. as a tender husband and an affectionate parent, as an honorable man and an eminent physician, his family, his townsmen, and the community bewail his loss as one of no ordinary magnitude."

DR. EBENEZER BARNARD was born at Deerfield, Mass., in 1745. Ilis father was Joseph Barnard, whose ancestors settled on the shores of Massachusetts Bay about the year 1630. A branch of the family came to Deerfield soon after the first set- tlement of the place, in 1672. Joseph Barnard, grandfather of Dr. Ebenezer, was killed by the savages in Deerfield South Meadows in 1695.

Dr. Barnard belonged to a comparatively wealthy family, and received an excellent education, graduating at Harvard University in 1765, when twenty years of age. He subse- quently studied medicine two years with Dr. Lemuel Barnard, a relative, of Sheffield, Mass. About 1767-68 he established himself in practice at Deerfield, and remained until his death, which occurred in 1790, when he was only forty-five years of age. Ile stood high in his profession, and was one of the most noted surgeons of his time in Western Massachusetts. He possessed a very fine library, and his business was extensive.

DR. HENRY WELLS .- Among the eminent physicians who have been citizens of Franklin County may, with great pro- priety, be mentioned the name of Dr. Henry Wells, who was born in the city of New York in 1742. At the remarkably early age of ten years he entered Princeton College, New Jer- sey, from which he graduated at the age of fourteen. Subse-

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quently he studied medicine for four years with Dr. Hull, of Connecticut, and afterward studied for three years in New York City. It is also stated by some of his biographers that he studied divinity for a short time.

His father was an adherent of the royal cause during the Revolution, and as a consequence had his property confiscated.

Dr. Wells, about the time of the war, removed to Brattle- boro', Vt., where he practiced for several years. The duties of a physician in such a rough country were very severe, and he accordingly removed to Montague, in Franklin Co , Mass., where he supposed his labors would be somewhat casier. Here his practice assumed important proportions, and he often visited Albany, N. Y., Hanover, N. H., and many parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. Ile possessed in a marked degree the confidence of his professional brethren, and was much extolled by Dr. Nathan Smith, Dr. Twitchell, and other eminent medical men. He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1785, and continued his fellowship until his death, in 1814. During a considerable portion of the time he occupied the position of counselor .. In 1806 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth College.

Dr. Wells belonged to the old school of gentlemen, and was wont to be called, by those who knew him intimately, one of " Nature's noblemen." Ilis dress usually consisted of velvet or buckskin breeches, long jacket, or waistcoat, with flapped pockets, and a broad-brimmed, low-crowned hat, giving him much the appearance of a Quaker. He was a heavy, broad- chested man, inelined to corpuleney, and is said to have greatly resembled Dr. Franklin, and also the Rev. Dr. Smith, of Princeton, N. J. He was urbane, cheerful, and gentlemanly in the presence of his patients, many of whom almost wor- shiped him.

A most remarkable and deplorable accident many years after his death deprived the world of the results of his experience. All his manuseripts and account-books were in the possession of his son, Dr. Richard Wells, of Canandaigua, N. Y. A crazy man entered his office one morning, when presumably no one was in, where he stripped himself and burned his own cloth- ing, and proceeded to commit to the flames the wearing apparel of Dr. Wells' hired man, the office furniture, books, manu- seript, etc., including Dr. Henry Wells' day-books and ledgers from 1824 to 1832, destroying completely nearly all the doc- tor's writings.

Dr. Wells' death occurred on the 24th of August, 1814, at the age of seventy-two years.

DR. SAMUEL CHURCH was born in Amherst, Mass., in 1756. He was a graduate of Harvard University in 1778, and studied medicine with Dr. Coleman, of Amherst, who was a man of some celebrity. Ile commenced the practice of his profession in Sunderland, where he continued until his death, which oc- curred in 1826, when he was seventy years of age. From 1816 to 1823 he was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Asso- ciation. Ile was for many years a justice of the peace in Sun- derland, and during his later years transacted more legal than medical business. Dr. Williams, in his medical biography, says of him :

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 3

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896