USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 71
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Lincoln Flagg Brigham was born October 4, 1819. When partially fitted for college he entered the counting room of a Boston merchant where he remained two or three years, and then finished his collegiate course, graduating from Dartmouth in 1842. He studied law in the Dane Law School to January, 1844, and afterwards with Clifford & Colby in New Bedford; he was admitted to the bar in 1845 and in the same year became a partner with John H. Clifford. When the latter was elected governor he appointed Mr. Brigham district attorney, which office he held until his appointment as associate justice upon the establishment of the Superior Court. In January, 1869, he was ap- pointed to the chief judgeship of the Superior Court. He removed
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from New Bedford to Boston in 1860, and retired from public life in 1890.
Robert C. Pitman was a native of New Bedford and there received his education. He was admitted to the bar in 1847 and for some years was a partner with Thomas D. Eliot. In 1858 he was appointed judge of the Police Court and held the office until 1864. In 1869 he was ap- pointed a judge of the Superior Court and held office until his death in March, 1891. Upon his retirement as judge of the Police Court he was elected to the State Senate, where he showed himself possessed of the qualifications of the successful statesman.
Edwin L. Barney was a native of Bristol county, and was born in Swansea, April 1, 1877. He received his early education in High School and Brown University, and studied his profession in Yale Law School and afterwards in the office of Timothy G. Coffin in New Bed- ford. He was admitted to the bar in October, 1850, and continued in active practice in that city until his recent death. In 1851 he was ap- pointed master in chancery, an office which he held more than forty years. He was elected to the State Senate in 1865 and 1866. He served as judge advocate on General Butler's staff from 1869 to 1875, and was chosen city solicitor several times. Mr. Barney was a man of strong character and largely endowed with natural qualifications for the legal profession. He commanded a large practice many years and achieved a good measure of success. His death took place in 1898.
Though not in any sense a great lawyer, it is not out of place to mention here the career of William H. Johnson, of New Bedford. He was a negro and born in Richmond, Va., July 16, 1811. He was born a slave and became very useful to his master as a jockey, in which he was very successful, winning large stakes in riding his master's horses. In the last race he rode the winning was about $50,000, for which he received $250. He made his escape on a sloop with his mother and reached Jamaica, L. I., where he worked at farming. Later he worked in the Astor House, New York, first as dishwasher and afterwards as waiter. His master came North after him, but he escaped on a sailing craft to New Bedford. After a period in various kinds of menial em- ployment, he worked as janitor in a number of law offices. This led him to read and study, and he was ultimately admitted to the bar, some thirty years before his death. He was shrewd in an argument, and devoted much attention to the temperance cause. He was a mem- ber of the City Council in 1880, when he contested for his seat, and was
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re-elected. He was the second colored attorney in the county and was much respected.
While the bar of Fall River has in the past included many lawyers and judges of high character and sterling ability, the location of the early courts in Taunton and New Bedford drew by far the larger num- ber to those cities, until comparatively recent years. Of those who practiced in Fall River in the far past existing records are meager.
John Jason Archer was born in Fall River, July 26, 1845, and was a son of Dr. Jason H. Archer, a successful physician of that city in the first half of the present century. The son graduated from Brown Uni- versity in the class of 1866, soon after which he was appointed instruc- tor in English literature in the Annapolis Naval Academy, but failing sight from an attack of measles compelled him to abandon that occupa- tion. Returning home he began the study of law, and after admission to the bar, began practice in Fall River; for a number of years he was a member of the firm of Archer & Jackson. He received the appoint- ment of associate justice of the District Court and was prominent in educational affairs. He died October 31, 1882, in the midst of a useful life.
James Ford, whose name the reader has frequently found in the preceding history of Fall River, was born in Milton, Mass., August 3, 1774. He graduated from Brown University, studied law in 1817, re- moved to Taunton and continued study with Judge Morton. Admitted to the bar in 1818, he became a partner with Judge Morton and in 1819 settled in Fall River. He was a member of the Legislature in 1825. He was a public spirited citizen and took a deep interest in public affairs in the village and city. He served seven years on the school commit- tees; and, with perhaps three exceptions, administered the oath of office to the members of the city government up to the time of his death, and was several times elected an alderman. He was one of the charter members of the Mount Hope Lodge of F. and A. M., and always man- ifested a lively interest in this ancient and honored order. He was postmaster four years, and one of the founders of the Franklin Savings Bank, was special police justice for twenty years, for twelve years was one of the inspectors of the State Almshouse, and for twenty-five years he edited the weekly Monitor. He was an excellent lawyer and good citizen. He died July 27, 1873, lacking only one week of seventy-nine years of age.
Eliab Williams was for nearly half a century a leading practitioner
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of the Bristol county bar and a prominent citizen of Fall River. He was born in Raynham in 1803, and at the age of fourteen entered Brown University and graduated in the class of 1821. He was forced by his limited resources to abandon his plan of immediately studying law, and took up teaching as private tutor in a wealthy Virginia family. There he learned that the long period of exclusive law study before admission to practice that was obligatory at the north was not necessary in that State; he could secure admission by a successful examination before the Court of Appeals. This would enable him to study law and at the same time pursue his vocation of teacher. Purchasing the necessary books, Mr. Williams began a regular course of study, and at the age of twenty-one he went to Richmond, where he passed a successful ex- amination and was admitted to practice in the courts of that State. Returning home and not yet being qualified to practice in Massachu- setts, he began study in the office of Marcus Morton, teaching a part of the time to meet the necessary expense. He was admitted to the bar of Bristol county in 1825 and settled first in Dighton. In 1827 he removed to Swansea. Six years later, in 1833, largely through the influence of Hezekiah Battelle, Mr. Williams settled in Fall River and became his partner, a connection that continued twenty years. During all that period the firm of Battelle & Williams was one of the best known in the southern part of the State and its clientage was large. Outside of the profession which he honored, Mr. Williams was identi- fied with the Fall River Savings Bank as trustee, vice-president and counsel from the time of its organization. He was a man of high character and pure life. His death took place April 14, 1880.
Hezekiah Battelle, long the law partner of Eliab Williams in Fall River, was a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1816, and studied law in the office of Hercules Cushman, then the leading attor- ney of the town of Freetown. Upon his admission to the bar he be- came partner with Mr. Cushman, but for only a few years, when he removed to Swansea and there practiced until 1827, when he settled permanently in Fall River and for many years was one of the foremost men of the bar. He was especially noted for his careful preparation of cases and his general knowledge of the law. Mr. Battelle was rep- resentative in the Legislature of 1838 and 1848 and was actively inter- ested in the settlement of the boundary between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He was actively interested in the organization of the Unitarian Church of Fall River, and in all matters relating to the moral
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and religious welfare of the community he unselfishly participated. He died January 22, 1872, at the age of eighty-two years.
Frederick A. Boomer was born in Tiverton, R. I., April 8, 1821, and died in Fall River, July 22, 1871. He was in early life engaged in teaching and the acquirement of his excellent education. After grad- uating at the State Normal School in Bridgewater and teaching sev- eral years, he was advised by friends to study law, which he did in the offices of David Perkins and of Judge Lapham. Upon his admission to the bar he practiced for a time in Tiverton, and from that town was twice elected to the Legislature. Settling in Fall River, his former experience as a teacher led him to take an active interest in the develop- ment of the school system, and he served several years on the School Committee. He was three times elected city solicitor, the last time in 1870, when failing health forced him to resign before the expiration of his term. In the fall of 1870 he was elected to the General Court. He was a director of the Pocasset National Bank from its organization until his death. Mr. Boomer is remembered as an example of the true Christian gentleman, and although only fifty years old at the time of his death, he had firmly established himself in the esteem of the com- munity.
Cyrus Alden was born in Bridgewater, Mass., May 20, 1785, and was fifth in descent from John Alden, the Pilgrim. He graduated from Brown University in 1807, and finished his law studies in the office of Judge Baylies, in Taunton. He began practice in Wrentham, but soon afterward removed to Boston where he remained until 1827, when he settled with his family in Fall River. During the next twenty years he had a fair share of the legal business of the village, and was noted for his tenacious memory and skillful handling of the interests of his clients. He died in March, 1855.
Louis Lapham, whose name appears frequently in the history of Fall River, was born in Burrillville, R. I., in 1810. His parents were poor, but he acquired a good English education and learned the printer's trade. He had a natural taste for politics and in early life became an active Democrat. He came to Fall River about 1840, where his readi- ness in public debate, and his activity in public affairs gave him con- siderable prominence. In his desire to better his prospects he studied law and was admitted to practice. In 1852 he was appointed judge of the Police Court and held the office until 1873, when the court was abolished. He was one of the original Free Soilers and prominent in
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that party in Fall River. He wrote much for the early newspapers and much to the satisfaction of his political friends. He died in March, 1881.
Charles Holmes, father of Hon. Charles Holmes, was for many years one of the leading lawyers of Fall River He was thoroughly educated in his profession, and was in every way a public spirited and honored citizen.
John Daggett was a prominent lawyer and citizen of Attleborough, and something of his career has been given in the preceding history of that town. He was born in Attleborough, son of Thomas Daggett, of Martha's Vineyard. He graduated from Brown University in the class of 1826, and soon afterwards began the study of law in the office of Joseph L. Tillinghast, in Providence. He spent the second year of study with J. J. Fiske, of Wrentham, and finished with a course of law lectures by Theron Metcalf, of Dedham. At that place he was ad- mitted to the bar in 1830, and at once began practice in his native place. He held several political offices of importance; was representa- tive four years, beginning with 1836; was elected to the State Senate in 1850, and was a member of the House in 1860. He was a successful attorney when he was in active practice, but gave much of his time to historical research and wrote upon historical subjects.
Washington Hathaway was an early lawyer in Freetown, son of Joseph Hathaway, and born September 4, 1777. He was a graduate of Brown University, and began law practice about 1802; he died Feb- ruary 10, 1818. Other early attorneys of Freetown were Hercules Cushman, settled there in 1813; George B. N. Holmes, a native of Rochester, Mass., settled in the town about 1810. Rufus Bacon, El- nathan Hathaway, Ezra Wilkinson, who removed to Seekonk and thence to Dedham; William H. Eddy, and Joseph Hathaway.
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CHAPTER XXXV.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN BRISTOL COUNTY.
In the early years of the history of Bristol county medical science was in its infancy in comparison with its condition at the present day. While disease in all of its varied forms was as prevalent as now, in- deed, much more so in many localities, the sorely-tried physician, how- ever studious and conscientious, labored under disadvantages and re . strictions that would seem appalling in these later times. Not only were the possibilities of gaining a broad knowledge of anatomy, physi- ology, and medicine exceedingly limited, but the list of potent remedies was brief and the many great discoveries of medical science and the general knowledge of sanitation and hygiene of later years were un- known. Roots and herbs constituted the foundation of the remedial agencies of the early doctor, and the Indian "medicine man " was frequently called upon for relief in sickness. Methods of medical prac- tice have naturally passed through marvellous changes under the illu- mination of broader scientific knowledge.
The "good doctor " of long ago found his professional duties far more onerous, from a wholly physical point of view, than are those of his brother of the nineteenth century. During a period extending over many early years there was frequently only one physician dwelling in a very wide area of country, over which he must ride on horseback, if he had a horse, or travel on foot, regardless of the difficulties of wilder- ness paths, or primitive roads, or inclement weather. But he was not the only sufferer from these conditions; the wearied watcher at the bedside of the failing loved one often listened in vain until it was too late for the doctor's footstep and the cheering sound of his voice. Life or death frequently depended almost wholly upon the distance and the character of the road between the sick one and the physician. For- tunately for humanity, all this is changed. Medical science, important discoveries bearing upon the proper treatment of disease, more power- ful and certain remedies, broader knowledge of sanitary necessities, all strode forward with the general march of civilization.
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Plymouth had a physician almost from the beginning. His name was Samuel Fuller, and he was also deacon in the Plymouth Church and in every way a good man. His professional skill was such that he was called to Salem in 1829-30. Of this visit a historian1 has written as follows:
The last emigrants are greatly afflicted with disease. Not having sufficient med- ical aid, they write to Plymouth for a supply. Accordingly, Samuel Fuller, one of Mr. Robinson's deacons while in Leyden, comes up among them like a good Samari- tan. Through him an intercouse more cordial than previously takes place between Plymouth and Naumkeag.
In 1633 Plymouth was visited with an "infectious fever," and more than twenty persons died, one of whom was the good Deacon Fuller.2
In the well known Leonard papers is found evidence that Thomas Leonard, the pioneer, was in some way instrumental in attempts to heal the sick. We quote as follows:
Physick sent by Doctor Oaks disposed as follows; To Edward Hoar, one dose. To Joseph Williams, six doses. To Isaac Cross, on Benjamin Dean's account, one dose. To Samuel Phillips, three doses. To Abel Burt, two doses. To Abigail Hall and her child, each one dose, etc.
This list of "doses " is continued almost indefinitely, with the amounts paid by each, ranging from sixpence to two shillings. Dr. Ezra Deane was the first physician in Taunton. He was son of Walter Deane and born October 14, 1680. He was a man of strong character and broad professional knowledge for his time. His daughter Theodora was the mother of Dr. Job Godfrey,3 who was a successful practitioner for half a century. Dr. Godfrey's second son was also a physician.
Other physicians known to have been in Taunton prior to 1800 were Drs. Micah Pratt, who died December 31, 1758; another Micah Pratt, who died October 5, 1765, probably father and son; Samuel Caswell, died August 13, 1755; Ephraim Otis, who practiced in Scituate and Taunton, and died 1816; Joseph Wetherell, died about 1748; Philip Padelford, died August 27, 1815. Other early physicians of Taunton
1 J. B. Felt. 2 Nathaniel Morton's " New England Memorial."
3 The inscription on Dr. Godfrey's monument reads: " A man of great worth, whose physical, intellectual and moral powers were remarkably adapted to his sphere of action. Fifty years of unexampled labor and success were testimonials of his excellence in the healing art, while his zeal to promote the general good was a proof of his benevolence. His heart was alive in all of the relations of life. Honor, punctuality and justice marked his steps. The voice of pain and disease from the obscurest penury reached his ear and commanded his skill. He was justly en- titled to the distinguished appellation of the disinterested physician-a father of the poor. He died August 26, 1813, aged seventy years."
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were Dr. Amos Allen, died in 1836; Dr. Foster Swift, who practiced in the early part of the present century; Dr. George Leonard, son of Sam- uel Leonard, was long a successful practitioner and died in February, 1865; Dr. Ebenezer Dawes, practiced half a century from 1813; Dr. Alfred Baylies, and others.
While these physicians were ministering to the needs of the people in Taunton and its vicinity, others came slowly into other parts of Bris- tol county. Dr. Samuel Burg was the first to settle in the old town of Dartmouth of whom there is any record. He died September 18, 1748, aged forty years. Dr. Daniel Hathaway was an early physician in that town and died in 1772. Dr. Elisha Tobey practiced in Dartmouth and died May 10, 1781, in his fifty-eighth year; he lived in Acushnet vil- lage. Dr. Samuel Perry, a man of considerable professional repute, died April 15, 1805, in his seventy-fourth year; he also lived near Acushnet village. His son of the same name was a well known phy- sician, and another son, Dr. Ebenezer Perry, both practiced in New Bedford. Dr. Samuel West, of New Bedford, was born June 12, 1774, and died June 15, 1838. Dr. William Cushin Whittridge, a native of Tiverton, a college graduate, became an eminent physician of New Bedford, where he settled in 1822, after practicing for a period in Tiverton. Dr. Alexander Read was a leader in the profession of Bris- tol county; he was born in New Milford July 10, 1786, and died in New Bedford November 20, 1849; he was a graduate from Dartmouth College. Dr. Elijah Colby was a native of Concord, N. H., born June 16, 1798, and died in New Bedford August 30, 1856, in which place he settled in 1830. Dr. Julius Stewart Mayhew, born February 17, 1787, died in New Bedford September 20, 1859; he was a graduate of Har- vard. Dr. Paul Spooner was born in Fairhaven June 12, 1786, and died July 18, 1862; he opened an office in New Bedford in 1807 and was in practice upwards of fifty years. Other physicians of New Bed- ford in early years were Dr. Aaron Cornish, died April 7, 1864; Dr. Lyman Bartlett, born in Conway, Mass., in 1808, settled in New Bed- ford about 1834, and gained a large practice; died June 6, 1865. Dr. Andrew Mackie, a native of Wareham, born January 24, 1794, grad- uated at Brown University; practiced in Plymouth and New Bedford; died May 2, 1871. Dr. Henry Johnson, died in New Bedford in 1880; and Drs. John H. Jennings, Charles Lamson Swasey, William A. Gordon, John H. Mackie, William Howland Taylor, and others.
One of the early prominent citizens of Fall River was Dr. Phineas
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W. Leland, a native of Grafton, Mass., where he was born in 1798 Though a well educated physician, having studied with Dr. George C. Shattuck, of Boston, and received his degree of M. D. at Bowdoin Col- lege in 1826, he substantially abandoned practice about 1834, at which time he settled in Fall River. In the year just named he was ap- pointed collector of customs for this district and held the position for about twenty years. Dr. Leland was a man of affairs, a public spirited citizen, and took an active part in education. In the fall of 1842 he was elected to the State Senate, which was the only purely political office he ever held. His literary tastes were highly cultivated and he was prominent in the Fall River Athenaeum and in the founding of the Public Library. He edited the Fall River Patriot, founded in 1836. He died January 22, 1870.
No physician in Bristol county is more worthy of memtion here than Dr. Foster Hooper, who stood in the front rank of the profession in Fall River nearly fifty years, and was also prominently identified with the growth of the village and city in all its various departments. Dr. Hooper was born in Walpole, N. H., April 2, 1805, and graduated from the Burlington (Vt.) College early in his life. He settled in Fall River in 1826, and soon acquired an extensive practice, in which he was more than ordinarily successful. - While he never failed to give his best energies and unfailing attention to the call of his profession, he found opportunity to greatly aid in promoting the general welfare of the community through active participation in public affairs. He was a member of the School Committee in 1830, representative in 1831, county treasurer in 1837-39, and State senator in 1840-42. Dr. Hooper was also chairman of the Board of Firewards in 1845-47 and chief en- gineer in 1848-50. At the time of his death, October 18, 1870, he was collector of internal revenue for this district.
Dr. Jason H. Archer was born in Wrentham, where he spent his youth and prepared for college. He entered Brown University in 1812, and graduated in 1816. He at once began the study of medicine with the celebrated Dr. William Ingalls, of Boston, and after completing his studies, settled soon in Fall River, where he became a successful prac- titioner and a leading citizen. He took an active part in public and political affairs, and was elected the first president of the Massasoit Bank. He returned to his native place in 1852 and died there in Jan- uary, 1864.
MEDICAL SOCIETIES .- A century and a half passed away after the
J. FOSTER HOOPER, M.D.
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beginning of settlement in the territory of which this work treats before there was a distinctive organization of medical men for mutual profes- sional benefit. During all that long period the medical profession was almost wholly untrammeled by laws or regulations, and although, as has been seen, there were many men of high intellectual powers and liberal education among the early physicians, there were at the same time numerous ignorant and frequently unscrupulous persons who picked up a fragmentary knowledge of herbs and the commonest rem- edies, ignorant of diseases and their symptoms, who boldly gave them- selves the title of "Dr." and went about in their misguided ministra- tions, to the great injury of their victims. With increase of population and in the number of reputable physicians, it was seen that the only method of correcting the existing professional evils was through organi- zation. The feeling led to the formation of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1781. Its purposes were to "elect officers, examine and license candidates, hold real estate, and continue a body politic and cor- porate by the same name forever." It was intended that the society should include every regular physician practicing in the Common- wealth, who should be admitted under certain regulations which would insure in the membership a general high plane of professional ability and dignity.
The Massachusetts Medical Society includes under its jurisdiction seventeen district societies, which appoint their own officers and estab- lish regulations for their own government as far as they do not conflict with the by-laws and regulations of the parent society. In these pages we are directly interested in only two of these district societies, both of which are in Bristol county.
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