USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 1 > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
( )
407
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
It has been said that Dr. Renslow also invented a regulator for controlling vulcanizers, but this has never been verified.
Dr. David Le Gro was born in Ogdensburgh, N. Y., March 17, 1801. For many years he was employed at the United States armory as an inspector and early in his career there extracted teeth for his fellow laborers. He opened an office for evening work at his home on Byers street. Up to this time his principal attempt at dentistry had been in the line of extraction. After a few years of such work he left the armory and began inserting teeth. He died in Springfield, August 24, 1878.
Dr. J. J. Anderson was born in Oswego, N. Y., March 19, 1832. He served a studentship with his relative, Dr. Le Gro, and after a few years had passed he joined the Connecticut Valley Dental society October 31, 1865, and a few years after- ward graduated from the Philadelphia Dental college. Dr. Anderson developed into a thorough, educated and ethical repre- sentative of dentistry, and soon had a lucrative practice. For his time and years he was one of the best representatives of the profession. He served in many subordinate positions in the Con- necticut Valley society and was its president in 1874-5. He died in this city March 8, 1877. Dr. Anderson always acknowledged obligations to the Connecticut Valley society membership in starting him on the accepted and correct professional life. After his death, his son, Dr. Charles L. Anderson, a graduate of the Philadelphia Dental college, conducted the practice. He had a successful career for a few years previous to his removal to Washington, D. C., where he has since practiced.
Dr. J. N. Dodge, a veteran of the civil war, studied dentistry with his uncle, Dr. Nettleton of Worcester, and located in Spring- field about 1867 or '68. He was an amateur artist and sculptor and had much artistic instinct. For many years he enjoyed a large practice. He was the inventor of an ether inhaler which was used locally for some time. Experimenting with anæsthetics brought him into a better understanding of nitrous oxide gas and he formed a company for the manufacture and sale of "Com- pound Oxygen." It was not successful and the doctor lost money in the enterprise. He was a member of the Connecticut
( )
408
THE DENTAL PROFESSION
Valley society though never prominent in its work. He died in this city about four years ago.
Dr. S. B. Bartholomew was born September 15, 1828, in Hamilton, New York. He attended the common schools and Col- gate academy where his step-father, Professor Morse, was for many years principal. About 1847 he came to Worcester and studied dentistry with Dr. Newton. About 1848 he opened an office in Woonsocket, R. I., and practiced there with success for some years. He served two terms in the Rhode Island assembly. During the time Governor Sprague was chief executive of Rhode Island, he served on his staff with the rank of colonel. From 1861 to 1865 he was officially connected with the recruiting de- partment of Rhode Island. At the close of the war he returned to Worcester, bought an interest in the Gazette and for the next few years acted in the capacity of advertising solicitor, business manager and editor. About 1869 he sold out his newspaper interests, and after a period of travel, came to Springfield and opened an office in the block where now the D. H. Brigham Co. is located. He retired from active practice in 1895. On June 16, 1870, he joined the Connecticut Valley Dental association, serv- ing in many offices. While serving on its executive committee he did such good work that it is even spoken of at the present day. In the early eighties he was for three years a lecturer at the Baltimore Dental college and presented many lectures and clinics of a varied nature. He is remembered as a speaker of ability and few in his day equalled him as a forceful, logical, extemporaneous orator. He is said to have obtained his first knowledge of elocution and oratory from Prof. Raymond of Vas- sar college. While in this city he enjoyed a lucrative practice. He died November 11, 1898, in Boston, and was buried in Thompson, Conn. For many years of his life the doctor was interested in copper mines, and at the time of his death derived a considerable income from this source.
Dr. James E. O'Brien graduated from Springfield high school with the class of 1879. He served a studentship of four or five years with Dr. J. N. Dodge and afterward graduated from the Philadelphia Dental college. About 1880 he opened an office
( 409 1
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
in Fallon's block, 380 Main street, where he remained for about thirteen years, until ill health compelled him to give up hard professional work. He was a member of the Connecticut Valley society, though never active in its affairs.
Dr. John F. O'Neill was a graduate of our high school and the Philadelphia Dental college. His first office was at 357 Main street and his last in the Fuller block. He was a member of the Connecticut Valley, Massachusetts and Valley District societies. He died in this city in 1897.
Ambrose J. Devereaux served a studentship with Dr. P. II. Derby during 1873-4 and afterwards went to New Haven where he died about eight years ago.
George M. Slate was a student with Dr. Lester Noble for more than a year and graduated from the Philadelphia Dental college. He had an office at 438 Main street in 1874-5. He soon afterward left for Australia and became the foremost practition- er in Melbourne.
Dr. Ralph Morgan, who practiced in Chicopee many years, came from that town to Springfield and had an office for a short time in the Massasoit House block.
Dr. Charles D. Carter spent a studentship of about two years with Dr. C. S. Hurlbut, sr., and then graduated from the Philadelphia Dental college. In 1874 he opened an office at 162 Chestnut street, and soon had a large clientage. About 1880 he was compelled to seek a more favorable climate in California where he died soon after arriving there.
Newton Morgan, a descendant of Miles Morgan, one of the early settlers of Springfield, was born in West Springfield, Octo- ber 25, 1840. His early life was the common one of the farmer's boy of that period. His education was acquired in the common and select schools and at the age of seventeen years, terminated in a few terms at what was then known as the "new" academy at Westfield, Mass. Thinking for some time of choosing "mechan- ics" as an avocation, the winter of 1858 was spent with Milton Bradley, who then had a draughting school in this city. The plans, however, did not mature satisfactorily and later he decided to enter the ranks of dentistry. The matriculation for the study
( 410 )
-
THE DENTAL PROFESSION
of this calling was on January 1, 1861, in the office of a well known dentist in Connecticut and later for a time in the office of Dr. C. S. Hurlbut, sr., of this city. After a few years of prac- tice he entered the Philadelphia Dental college and graduated with the class of 1869. Since that time he has had a continuous practice in Springfield. On June 5, 1866, he became a member of the Connecticut Valley Dental society and from that time to the consolidation into the Northeastern he has been an interested worker in the offices of chairman of the executive committee, treasurer and president. He is now an honorary member of the Vermont state society and an active member of the Massachusetts, Valley District and Northeastern Dental societies. In the days of the New England Dental Journal, Dr. Morgan did much to further the good work of the periodical. To the younger men he has been a source of inspiration and help in many ways and has always stood for the higher professional life.
Jarius Searle Hurlbut was born in West Springfield, Janu- ary 5, 1842. At the age of ten years his parents moved to this city and he was graduated at the high school, under Ariel Parish, in 1860. He then went into the dental office of his brother, Dr. C. S. Hurlbut, sr., with whom he was associated as student and partner until he entered the Philadelphia Dental college, from which he was duly graduated in the class of '65. He went west to begin practice; but, after spending a year in St. Paul, Minn., he returned to Springfield. On June 5, 1866, he joined the Connecticut Valley Dental society and served it in the capac- ity of an executive officer and president. He is a member of the Valley District and the Massachusetts Dental societies, serving the last as president, orator, and a member of the executive com- mittee. He also is a member of the Northeastern Dental associa- tion, the American academy of dental science, the National Den- tal association and the Odontological society of New York city. On the passage of the state dental law in 1887 he was appointed by Governor Ames a member of the board of registration and from 1891 to 1895 he served as its president. He has also been president of the American Association of Dental examiners. In 1893 he was a member of the International Dental congress.
( 411 )
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Chester Twichell Stockwell was born in Royalston, Mass., Sept. 5, 1841. He attended the common and high schools of Royalston and Winchendon, and later graduated from Eastman's Business college of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He engaged in com- mercial pursuits in 1863-6 in Worcester and North Carolina. In 1867-8 he studied medicine with Dr. Saunders of Fitchburg and afterward matriculated at one of the Philadelphia colleges. How- ever, he soon left and went to Des Moines, Iowa, where for two years he served on the staff of the Iowa State Register and other newspapers while in the west. Studied dentistry with J. Todd, M. D., and was associated in practice with Dr. James Watts. In 1872-5 he was in practice for himself and soon built up an ex- tensive clientele. While at Des Moines he was for two years secretary of the Iowa Central Dental society. His health fail- ing, he was compelled to give up practice and seek a more favor- able climate in Denver, Colorado. After a short sojourn there he came to Springfield in 1875 and for the first year thereafter he was associated with Dr. Lester Noble, and for the following three years with Dr. J. Searle Hurlbut. He then went into practice for himself, first in Bill's block, then in Dickinson's block and still later in the Republican block, his present location. He early joined the Connecticut Valley society and served on the executive committee, as secretary for four years and as president in 1879-80. He is an ex-member of the American Academy of Dental science and of the American Dental association. He is an active member of the Massachusetts, Valley District and Northeastern Dental societies, an honorary member of the Odontological society of New York city, a corresponding member of the Brooklyn Ethical association and an active member of the Springfield Literary club.
A history of dentistry in Hampden county would indeed be incomplete without some reference to events and circumstances which have had a part in its progress and prosperity. The or- ganization of the Connecticut Valley Dental society deserves more than passing notice. A few of the dentists of Western New England, feeling the need of associative effort for the promotion of the interests of dental science, assembled at the Massasoit
( 412 )
THE DENTAL PROFESSION
house on the evening of November 10, 1863, and formed the society. A constitution and by-laws was adopted and the follow- ing persons residing in Hampden county signed the roll: Drs. F. Searle, N. E. Ames, P. H. Derby and C. S. Hurlbut of Spring- field ; H. M. Miller of Westfield, Henry Wheeler of Holyoke, and A. B. Cowan of Palmer. Dr. Searle was elected president, Dr. Miller, treasurer and Dr. Hurlbut member of the executive com- mittee. Annual meetings (often more frequently) were held until 1894, when in company with the New England Dental so- ciety the organization was merged into the Northeastern Dental association. The formation of the society in 1863 was the begin- ning of the professional association and advancement in this region. Non-membership in the society was considered a lack in some of the essentials of professional qualification. Its honor- able records attest to its inestimable worth. The formation of a study club in the early eighties under the guidance of Prof. Mayr and the founding of the New England Journal of Dent- istry in Springfield in 1882 with Dr. C. T. Stockwell as editor, were two more events worthy of mention. Prof. Mayr was a master of chemistry and bacteriology and soon made a name for himself in the world of dental science. He is still living and one of Chicago's most noted chemists. Another event which aided in the advancement of the profession was the formation of the Connecticut Valley Dental depot in this city in 1839. In that year J. C. Parsons (late paper manufacturer of Holyoke) sold out his drug store (located opposite court square) to C. L. Covill. E. Biglow bought Mr. Covill out in 1845, and in 1860 William M. Williams came there to work. He served two years as clerk and five years as a member of the firm. In 1867 Mr. Williams sold out his interest in the drug store and buying the dental and surgical department moved it up- stairs, where it has since been located. The worth and convenience of a good dental depot can only be appre- ciated by one in active practice. We have always been specially favored and assisted in our efforts by Mr. Williams and his assistant, the late Jesse Hosmer. For years this was the only supply house in New England outside of Boston. From
413 ( )
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
1845 to 1855 we had a second supply house in the drug store of B. K. Bliss, which stood on the corner of Bliss and Main streets.
In May, 1864, the Massachusetts Dental society was formed at Boston, Mass., and incorporated in April, 1865. Dr. N. C. Keep, formerly of Longmeadow, was its second president serving in 1864-65-66. Dr. J. Searle Hurlbut of Springfield was the eighth president in 1874; Dr. Flavius Searle of Springfield the sixteenth in 1882 ; Dr. George A. Maxfield of Holyoke the twenty- eighth in 1895. To further help the good work of the state so- ciety it was decided to divide the state into five districts and the Valley District was formed at Springfield, Jan. 21, 1895. The state society has an annual meeting the first week in June, while the district meets the third Monday of September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May. A chairman is selected at each meeting of the district to
preside for that meeting. Dr. Andrew J. Flanagan of Spring- field has been secretary from the formation. Dr. C. S. Hurlbut, jr., of Springfield has been treasurer for the last three years. Drs. D. Hurlbut Allis, H. C. Medcraft of Springfield and Eliot T. Dickinson of Northampton, the present executive committee. The following are members of both the Massachusetts and Valley District societies. Drs. Stockwell, J. Searle Hurlbut, Morgan, Allis, Bugbee, Baldwin, Swazey, Medcraft, Wiley, Leitch, Boyn- ton, MacDonald, Smith, Andrews, C. S. Hurlbut, jr., J. W. Shaw, D. C. Shaw and Flanagan of Springfield and Noble of Long- meadow; Shaw, Saunders and Miller of Westfield; Porter of Chicopee ; Miles of Chicopee Falls; Roche of Palmer; Soule of Monson ; Maxfield, Mitivier, O'Donnell, Hastings, O'Rielly, Bart- lett and Scolley of Holyoke. It may be stated that the members of these societies have a "code of ethics," and stand for intelli- gent, conservative and higher professional life. Men who stand for such are always eligible for membership, while those outside these requirements are never enrolled. When a practitioner of dentistry is not a member of his state and district society the pub- lic can look on him with suspicion as regards professional stand- ing. What is known as the "code of ethics" always has been the only true guide for the profession in its dealings and asso- ciations with the public.
( 414 )
---
1 1
THE DENTAL PROFESSION
In the early eighties the Massachusetts, Connecticut Valley and New England Dental societies deemed it advisable to have laws regulating the practice of dentistry and started plans in various ways to bring this about. In 1887 the law was passed and went into force. It was amended in 1900. The Massa- chusetts board of registration in dentistry consists of five mem- bers appointed by the governor, and we are happy to state that it has always been free from bias and politics and ranks the equal of any. The state examinations have done much to elevate the standard of dentistry and words of appreciation-from the advanced minds in the profession-have been freely showered on the various examiners. The law has marked a distinct epoch in the history of dentistry in Massachusetts.
The good work being accomplished by dentistry along cer- tain lines has been recognized by our hospitals, and we find Dr. J. Searle Hurlbut the dental surgeon on the staff of the Spring- field hospital and Drs. P. J. MacDonald and Andrew J. Flana- gan, dental surgeons on the staff of the Mercy hospital in Spring- field.
The compilation of this chapter devoted to dentistry has been a matter of many hours of research and the following out of many points and hints. It has seemed to me that one older in dentistry should have undertaken the task. This not being practical, the writer took the matter up through respect and love for his profession-and by the wish of many of our local society members. It has indeed seemed strange to me that dentistry was not recognized as of sufficient importance in 1886 to have a history written at the 250th anniversary of Springfield.
There may be errors-but they are those of an honest en- deavor-and as such should be excused. It indeed would be unjust if due credit were not given to Dr. C. T. Stockwell for the use of many notes and facts he had prepared for the Columbian Dental congress; to Drs. Newton Morgan, C. S. Hulburt, sr., Jesse Porter, Lester Noble, H. O. Hastings, H. M. Miller, all of our local society, and Levi C. Taylor, James and Charles McManus of the Connecticut Dental society, for manuscripts, ideas and
( )
415
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
letters. To the Springfield Republican, Homestead, and City library for the use of local historical facts gained from papers, manuscripts and books ; to William M. Williams of our local dental depot, and to the records of the Connecticut Valley, Massachusetts, Northeastern and Valley District Dental societies.
CHAPTER XXI
THE PRESS OF HAMPDEN COUNTY-ITS HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
WRITTEN AND ARRANGED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF L. N. CLARK, EDITOR. OF THE WESTFIELD TIMES AND NEWS LETTER
Hampden county is old in years, and in its history has wit- nessed the birth, more or less brief existence, and final issue of many an ambitious paper. The newspaper graveyard of the county is filled with young hopefuls, started to cut a figure in town, county and the nation, but from a variety of causes, notably the lack of money, they wavered, struggled and sank in despair. Then there are the hundreds of more or less pretentious publications that have been issued by societies, schools, and benevolent organizations, which may properly be noticed in the discussion of the press of the county. And it may be gathered from the history of the newspaper life of this, as well as of other sections, that the ability to make a money-making affair of a paper is by no means the gift of every man, and is beyond ques- tion often as severe a test as could be imposed by any line of trade or profession. It is a survival of the fittest, and of these there is room for but a few.
Fully a dozen of the towns of Hampden county have no newspaper of local production. Some of the publishers in the larger towns issue editions bearing head- ings adapted to some of the aforesaid small places, but they are merely special editions. Many attempts have been made to sup- ply "long-felt wants" in some of the smaller places, but usually
( 416 )
.
THE PRESS
with very brief periods of actual existence. Thus, in towns like Blandford, Granville, Southwick or Longmeadow, where each of the important city papers have paid correspondents, such papers give the inhabitants all that could be desired or expected in the way of local and general news; and the venturesome spirit, who fancies he sees fame and fortune in publishing a paper in a farm- ing community, may try the experiment only to be rudely awakened from a dream. Not that there is not news created in the smaller places, but the conditions are such that the village must be content to read its items under its village name in the newspaper of the more populous town.
The first newspapers of the county were produced slowly in all the processes, from the wetting down of the few humble quires of paper for the edition, through the type setting, to the laborious press work, and even in the delivery to subscribers, some of whom called for their papers at the office of publication, others at the post-office, and still others were served by carrier boys. The stage coach was the mode of communication between the towns of the county, for many years, and it was considered proper to accept as a "news" paper one that had been off the press several days. With the advent of the railroads that have traversed the county in all directions, distribution became a matter of better system, and our city dailies now reach their readers, local, and in suburban towns in a very short time after leaving the press. The bulletin feature is made the most of, and one gets a fore- taste of the news at the door of all enterprising news stands throughout this territory. With the advent, too, of the Western railroad, news gathering began to be somewhat systematized, and the items obtained from the trainmen, and brought in from up and down the line, were important factors. Previous to this, the scissors and paste-pot were mightier than the pen, and long- winded articles, mostly reprint on general matters, temperance, religion, etc., were the rule, with a marked absence of the pithy items and brief paragraphs that are the life of modern journals.
An important duty devolving upon historical societies and individuals is the careful preservation of the files that have been handed down to us by the earlier newspaper publishers, for
27-1
( 417 )
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
therein as nowhere else may be found the real and detailed his- tory of their period of publication, the facts at first hands ; and with the destruction of such files dies invaluable historical ma- terial-impossible to replace-the work of pens long since laid aside.
And none the less carefully should be guarded the time- honored and faithful mechanical equipments or such remnants as may be available. Theirs has been a noble mission, well car- ried out-to enlighten the world, to stimulate thought, to spread education-in short, to civilize and Christianize. These tools, among the most worthy of any in the arts and crafts of men, are worthy of unstinted room in whatever storehouse of treasures historical the country may contain. Of the graphic features of the press of Hampden county, it may be said that they are of comparatively recent introduction. The "process" engravings have opened a new field in newspaper illustration, which is not ignored by the progressive publishers of the county, and the pub- lic itself actually demands "pictures." The early files show nothing in the way of cuts, save occasionally a state seal or spread eagle worked in as part of the heading. Even the advertise- ments, apart from an occasional small cut of a runaway boy, or the stereotyped frame house set into every notice of real estate for sale, were in plain type and unadorned. Gradually, how- ever, the publishers and their clients learned that pictures speak a universal language, and that a good illustration will in itself tell, at a glance, a story beyond the power of columns of type to tell, and forthwith gave cuts their proper place. On occa- sion, a news item or story may now be fully pictured, put into the forms, printed, and find its way into the reader's hands in an hour from the event.
-
-- --
THE PRESS OF SPRINGFIELD
The first paper published in the county was the Massachu- setts Gazette, or the General Advertiser in Springfield, in May, 1782. Babcock & Haswell were the proprietors, theirs being also the first printing office established in the city. As was the cus- tom with newspapers of the early days, the heading was followed
( 418 )
-
THE PRESS
by a motto, reading, in their case, as follows: " 'Tis not in mor- tals to command success, but we'll do more-we'll deserve it."
In 1784, two years after the starting of the paper, the firm dissolved and both partners sought other fields, the office passing into the hands of Brooks & Russell. On the first of January, 1785, the name of the Massachusetts Gazette was exchanged for the Hampshire Herald and Weekly Advertiser. A few months later Mr. Brooks withdrew from the firm, and in August, 1786, the Herald was controlled by a new company, Stebbins & Russell. The paper was permanently discontinued on the first of January, 1787.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.