USA > Maine > Oxford County > Buckfield > A history of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, from the earliest explorations to the close of the year 1900 > Part 26
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and remained in practice till April 18, 1887, when he removed to Cohasset, Mass., where he now resides, having a large and lucra- tive practice. He is a member of the Masons and Odd Fellows, having joined the former when a student at Bowdoin.
Dr. Bridgham enjoys the prestige of a remarkable ancestral record in his profession, he being the fifth physician of the name in direct lineage from Dr. Joseph Bridgham, who graduated from Harvard College in 1719 and was a physician in Boston and the continuity of this professional line is to be continued in Dr. Bridgham's son, Paul, who has recently completed his med- ical studies and is now associated with his father in practice.
DR. ATWOOD CROSBY.
Dr. Atwood Crosby was born in Albion, Me., Nov. 1, 1838. He entered Waterville College in 1860, but on the breaking out of the war in 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Third Maine Infantry. was taken prisoner at Bull Run and remained eleven months in prisons at Richmond, Va., and Salisbury, N. C., com- ing home on parole in June, 1862. As his parole prevented his return to the service, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. N. R. Boutelle in Waterville, and graduated from Bowdoin Medical School in 1864. Having in the meantime been ex- changed, he at once returned to the service under a commission as assistant surgeon in the navy, but after a service of about a year a serious attack of chills obliged him to return home. His first settlement as a physician was in China, from which town he came to Buckfield in 1866, succeeding Dr. Charles B. Bridgham. He remained here nearly two years, receiving liberal patronage and then in 1868, accepted an offer of partnership with Dr. N. R. Boutelle at Waterville and at once removed to that place, where he enjoyed the esteem of the public and an unusually large practice during the remainder of his life. In 1882 he took a trip to Las Vegas, N. M., and died at that place, Jan. 25, 1883. Dr. Crosby was twice married, first in 1865 to Mary E. Hanson of Benton, by whom he had one child, now the wife of A. K. Butler of Skowhegan, second, while in Waterville, to Mrs. Wilson, now of Dexter, by whom he had four children, only one of whom, Mrs. John E. Wilson of Waterville is now living.
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DR. ORRAN RENSSELAER HALL.
Dr. Orran Rensselaer Hall was born in Naples. Me., April 23, 1838. He graduated at Bridgton Academy in 1859. giving the prize oration and valedictory. He entered Bowdoin College that year, but remained at Bridgton during the two succeeding terms as instructor in the academy, keeping up his college studies there. He was chosen class orator in 1861, but near the end of spring of that year he had an attack of iritis, which through mal- treatment, gradually destroyed the sight of one eye and greatly impaired the other. This ended his college course abruptly, changed the current of his whole after life, made law his chosen profession impossible, barred him from army life in the Civil War and wrecked all his future plans and ambitions. For fourteen years thereafter he was unable to read except for a few moments at rare intervals, but during this period he taught several terms of high school, conducting the recitations from memory, as he was unable to use text-books. He studied medicine by being read to and listening to lectures and graduated from Bowdoin Medical College in 1867. In November of that year he bought out Dr. Atwood Crosby at Buckfield and began practice, receiv- ing an appointment as pension examiner the following year. In December, 1868, he married Mary R., youngest daughter of Hon. Noah Prince of Buckfield. In spite of his partial blind- ness his practice was large and successful for about fifteen years in his various settlements. In the summer of 1872 he sold out in Buckfield to Dr. John C. Irish and moved to Weston, Mass., where he was in practice till the end of 1878, when a growing throat and lung trouble compelled him to leave the damp climate there and return to the interior of Maine, locating at South Paris. A carriage accident, followed with nearly fatal pneu- monia, incapacitated him for active practice, and he was ap- pointed to a position in the War Department at Washington, but after two months' stay he had to abandon it and was given a place in the pension office soon after, but was unable to do the work. Returning to South Paris he hastily closed out his prac- tice there and came back to Buckfield completely broken down. He went to Boston for treatment in the Spring of 1887 and on leaving the hospital in July he made a sea voyage to the Azores and Madeira, returning in December with health restored. In the summer of 1888 he became the representative of Reed
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& Carnrick, pharmaceutists of New York, travelling extensively in New England and the West, and finally settling down in Bos- ton as their resident representative there. But his many misfor- tunes of life were not ended. In May, 1894. some bits of glass penetrated the cornea of his remaining eye, gradually destroying the sight, an attack of lead poisoning came about the same time and after two years of suffering he was left blind, with health hopelessly impaired. He then bought the Deacon David Farrar farm on the outskirts of the village, which he named "Saint's Rest" and built a plant for the breeding of thoroughbre.1 poultry stock. During the succeeding years of darkness he found mental occupation in literary work and delivering public ad- dresses as strength permitted. but in his last years he suffered great depression from his bodily ailments which resulted in death, Nov. 24, 1903. Notwithstanding his early partial and subsequent total blindness, Dr. Hall had few superiors in schol- arly acquirements and literary versatility, having followed his early studies with a life-long familiarity with historic associa- tions and kept in close touch with the world's best literature. He was a book-lover in the truest sense of the term. Books were his daily companions during the years of his professional and business activity and his solace in the days of his retirement. When a young man, contributions from his pen frequently ap- peared in the periodicals of the day which, with those of later years. are characterized with thoughtfulness and graceful ex- pression. In the lecture field he delivered many admirable ad- dresses, especially on the various phases of the Civil War.
DR. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN CALDWELL.
Dr. Joseph Chamberlain Caldwell, now an active practitioner in Buckfield, was born in Topsham, Vt., Dec. 3, 1842. He passed his youth on a farm, attending the district school and teaching. Resolving to study medicine he entered the medical department of Bowdoin College from which he graduated in 1870, having in the meanwhile taken special courses in geology and chemistry. He was wholly dependent on his own efforts and paid the expenses of his medical course by teaching school in winter and working in the hay field or at other manual labor in summer. In the autumn following his graduation he came to
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Buckfield through the recommendation of Fred H. Wilson, now. a prominent pharmacist of Brunswick, who then had a brother, Albion D. Wilson, conducting a drug store here. On the day of Dr. Caldwell's arrival here he met Dr. William P. Bridgham, then having an invalid wife and an overburdening practice, who cordially welcomed the young student, took him to his home and greatly assisted him in securing an independent practice.
In December of that year Dr. Caldwell married Elizabeth P. Stanwood of Brunswick and settled in a home of his own. At first his professional calls were few, but they soon increased till he was fully occupied and during the past twenty years the ex- tent of his parctice has rarely been equalled in the history of country physicians. Beyond the limits of Buckfield and sur- rounding towns his professional calls take him along the whole line of the railroad and he is a frequent visitor with patients to the hospitals of Lewiston and Portland. He has always been re- sponsive to calls in all hours and seasons, often toiling through drifting, wintry storms by aid of snow shovels. During his earlier years in town he was frequently a member of the school board and in 1897 he was appointed a member of the board of United States Pension Examiners for Oxford County of which he is now president.
DR. JOHN CARROLL IRISH.
Dr. John Carroll Irish, who has risen to eminence in the med- ical profession of the country, was the son of Cyrus and Cath- erine (Davis) Irish of East Buckfield, where he was born Sept. 30, 1843. When a lad on his father's farm he became an aspir- ing student and improved every opportunity with his limited en- vironments for study and self improvement, attending the vil- lage high school and teaching as a means of advancement. He spent three years in Waterville College and received his degree of A. B. from Dartmouth in 1868. He then entered upon the study of medicine, receiving his degree of M. D. from Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1872. His later educational ac- quirements included post graduate work in the hospitals of Lon- don and Paris. Previous to his settlement in practice he was a successful teacher in schools and academies. In 1872 he mar- ried Miss Anna M. Frye, daughter of Hon. William R. Frye of
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Lewiston and settled in Buckfield where he remained1 in success- ful practice till 1874, when he took advantage of an opportunity for a more desirable practice and settled in Lowell, Mass., in which city he has since resided. He soon acquired a large prac- tice and rose rapidly in his profession. He made a special study of abdominal surgery and was one of the first physicians in America to advocate early operations for ovarian tumors. His work in this specialty and contributions to its literature received prominent recognition from the profession both at home and abroad. He has been consulting surgeon at the Massachusetts State Almshouse since 1890, at St. John's Hospital since 1886, medical examiner for the Fifth District, Middlesex County since the institution of that office in 1886. He is a member of the fol- lowing societies: Massachusetts Medical and Surgical Society. American Academy, American Medical Association. Gynecologi- cal Society of Boston of which he was long president; North District Medical Society, president in 1895, and honorary mem- ber of Vermont State Medical Society. Dr. Irish has high rank as a surgeon and is an authority on medical subjects.
DR. ALDEN CHASE WILTMAN.
Dr. Alden Chase Whitman was born in Buckfield, Nov. 15. 1846. He was the second son of Joshua E. and Phebe ( Foster ) Whitman. While very young he entered the academy at Hebron where he was fitted for college at the age of fourteen. The Civil War having broken out he enlisted in Captain Charles H. Prince's Company C, 23d Regiment. Maine Volunteers, but was taken sick at Portland before being mustered in and was obliged to return home. After several years' severe sickness he recov- ered and went West, where he taught in high schools and academies with much success. He began the study of medicine at Ann Arbor University, Michigan, and completed the course at Dartmouth, N. H., where he graduated in 1871. The same year he married Iza Gertrude, youngest daughter of James and Sarah (Hanson) Waldron and settled in his native town. A few years ago he removed to Hebron where he has since continued to prac- tice his profession. Dr. Whitman has always been interested in educational matters and has been a frequent contributor to the newspapers, chiefly of an historical character. Through his ef- forts much of the traditional history of the town has been saved from perishing.
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DR. JOHN FRANKLIN DECOSTER.
Dr. John Franklin DeCoster was a native of Hebron. He was born Sept. 9. 1857 and his early life was passed in his native town and Buckfield. He was studiously inclined and he directed all his energies to obtain an education. After many difficulties and with great perseverance he graduated at Hebron Academy, Colby University and the medical school of Bowdoin College. He passed several years in teaching, after which he settled in Buckfield as a physician. During his residence here he became a member of the Methodist Church and was superintendent of schools several years. He was married here in 1887 to Mrs. Ellen ( AAbbott ) Record, formerly of Rumford. In the spring of 1895 he moved to Rumford Falls where he soon acquired a high social standing and a large professional practice. But he was not long to enjoy the fruits of his success. His constitution had become seirously impaired by several rheumatic fevers and after three years of flattering success in Rumford, his health failed and he died of Bright's disease, June 3, 1898. His body was brought to Buckfield for burial on the Sunday following his death. He was a member of several fraternal orders, all of which were represented at his funeral by large delegations, which numbered about four hundred persons, the largest fra- ternal gathering ever seen in Buckfield. He was buried with Masonic honors by Evening Star Lodge of which he was a member.
DR. WALTER [. BLANCHARD.
Dr. Walter I. Blanchard, a native of Concord, N. H., came to Buckfield from New York, Aug. 18, 1895, succeeding Dr. John F. DeCoster, on the removal of the latter to Rumford Falls. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, Dart- mouth College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. In 1884 he married Miss Lena D., daughter of Gen. Charles E. Devens of New York. Most of his professional life has been passed in connection with hospitals in New York, Bos- ton and Nashua, N. H., and his success in the ligation of the femoral artery won commendatory notice from high medical au- thorities. While a resident of Nashua he became interested in the military affairs of the state and rose from the rank of private
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to the office of senior major in the New Hampshire National Guards, receiving the compliments of Gen. O. O. Howard, U. S. A., for commanding the best battalion in the state. Dr. Blanch- ard remained in Buckfield until December 15, 1898, enjoying a good practice. He then moved to Mt. Vernon, N. H., and sub- sequently to Boston, where he now resides. He is a member of several medical societies and a Fellow of the United States Gynecological Society.
DR. HARRY MARSHALL HEALD.
Dr. Harry Marshall Heald, son of Joshua C. Heald of North Buckfield, was born in Backfield, Dec. 14, 1870. He attended the schools of his native village, graduated from the academy at Hebron, became a student at Bowdoin College, after which he entered the medical department of that college. from which he graduated in the class of 1897. After receiving his degree he passed about eighteen months at Rumford Falls in association with Dr. John F. DeCoster, then returned to Buckfield, where he has since remained in practice. He was married Dec. 10, 1898 to Alice Gertrude ( Cary ) Heald of Salem, Mass.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
ANNALS CONTINUED.
1825.
At the annual meeting, it was "voted to allow Henry H. Hutchinson eight dollars which he lost by fire." While tax collector the year before, his house took fire and his buildings were consumed together with his tax books. He made out from memory a new list of those who hadn't paid their taxes, it is related, which not only satisfied the town, but also the people who might have avoided payment, but did not. He was always held in the highest esteem by all those who ever knew him. The $8 was doubtless the town's money which he had on hand and had not turned over to the treasurer .- The jury box was revised this year as follows : Caleb Cushman. Eliphalet Packard, Benjamin Spaulding, John Loring, Leonard Spaulding, Thomas Long, Joshua Whitman, Noah Prince, Jonas Spaulding, James Bonney. Jr., Aaron Parsons, Nathaniel Harlow, James Jewett, Daniel Chase. Samuel DeCoster, David Farrar, Isaac Turner, Josiah Bailey, Henry H. Hutchinson, Ephraim Ricker, America Thayer, Richard Waldron, Elijah Jordan, Jr., Noah Hall, Larnard Swallow, Jonathan Puck, James Perry, Silas Austin, Isaac Ellis, Obadiah Berry .- Jonathan Buck was licensed as an innholder and Spaulding Robinson, Zadoc Long and Lucius Loring were among those licensed as "retailers."
1826.
At a town meeting, it was decided that the town meetings in future "be warned" by having the notices posted in Zadoc Long's store .- At a meeting in April, a vote passed to prohibit cattle going at large in the higliways both summer and winter, but it stirred up such opposition that, in June, it was voted to let cattle run on the "highways and commons" till Nov. Ist of that year .- The town consented to receive "a strip of land off the southern part of Hartford with its inhabitants." In December, this action was reconsidered and it was then voted to remonstrate against "the petition of David Warren and others" to be set on to Buckfield .- The contest for representative to the legislature this year was very close. The ballot stood thus: Aaron Parsons, 53; Samuel F. Brown, 48; Ben- jamin Spaulding. 3; Larnard Swallow, I .- This year there died in the town of Hartford where he had resided for 22 years, Thomas Allen, one of the very first settlers in Buckfield at the age of 74. His will probated in January, 1827, bequeathed his homestead to his wife, Dolly Ricker, dur- ing her life. then to George, their son. The will states that his other sons (by first wife) had received what he considered their share in the estate. James Ricker was the executor. The whole estate was appraised at less than $600.
1827.
Henry H. Hutchinson was chosen collector of taxes .- The sum of $30 was voted for soldiers' rations .- Larnard Swallow was chosen to remon-
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strate in behalf of the town at the court of sessions against the laying out of two roads. These roads were near the East Branch. One was petitioned for by James Morrill and others, and the other, by James Jewett and others .- At the adjourned annual meeting in April, it was "voted that the assessors procure a proper book for the records of their doings and to employ some suitably qualified person to make such rec- ords." It was also voted "to instruct the selectmen to inquire into the subject of John Buck's affairs and take such measures in regard thereto as they may think advisable without implicating the town in a late suit." -The contest for representative this year was quite as exciting as that of the previous year, the successful candidate winning by only two major- ity. Benjamin Spaulding had 39 votes. Aaron Parsons had 22 votes. Daniel Chase had 13 votes. Samuel F. Brown had 2 votes.
1828.
At the annual meeting in March, a vote passed for the town "to stand trial with the town of Hebron," on an action brought by the latter against the former "for the support of Thankful Hodgdon, pauper." Also "to in- struct the assessors to go around the town to each man's house and take a new valuation of property."-The sum of $112 was raised to pay the fine imposed for the defective highway leading by Samuel DeCoster's to Hart- ford line .- The following were licensed to sell liquors this year "agree- ably to the laws of the State of Maine:" Enoch Crocker, Nathan At- wood, Smith Thompson and "Bray & Spaulding in Co."-It was "voted to instruct the overseers of the poor to provide such shelter for Webb's cow and corn fodder as they may think proper."-The election for repre- sentative to the legislature was, as had been the case for several years, hotly contested. Dr. William Bridgham was the leading candidate, and when he was interested, there was "music in the air." He won out by the following vote, though his principal contestant was one of the most popular men in town, as shown by his election to town office year after year : Dr. William Bridgham, 117; Enoch Hall, 67; Aaron Parsons, 10; Daniel Chase, 9; Henry H. Hutchinson, 13 .- The "Oxford District Elector," Dr. Cornelius Holland, Dem .- Rep., received 188 votes; Gen. Levi Hubbard, Nat .- Rep., received 69 votes .- By an act of the legislature, ap- proved Feb. 19, Benj. Woodbury, Caleb Cushman, Jr., Bela Farrar, Asa Thayer, Ziba Thayer and America Thayer and their estates were set off from Buckfield to Paris. The part set off included five lots of land in the first and second ranges, west division, and all the road leading from America Thayer's dwelling house northerly to the line of the town of Sumner. It was provided that they should take with them one-thirtieth part of the paupers of the town and that six ratable polls and $2700 be taken from the state valuation of Buckfield and added to Paris. The parties set off were to pay all taxes assessed upon them in Buckfield and their proportion (1-30) of the debt of the town. Provision was made, in case of disagreement in the settlement between Buckfield and Paris, that the matter be referred to three disinterested persons to be selected by the towns, whose decision should be final. Samuel F. Brown was chosen
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agent for the town to settle the matter with Paris .- Mrs. Mary Buck, widow of Nathaniel Buck, died on the 14th day of November, at the age of 73, "leaving 6 children, 69 grandchildren and II great-grandchildren." Hers was the third family to settle in the township. "She cheerfully met all hardships, nor did fatigue ever prevent her from waiting on the weary traveller."-March 4 of this year, John Buck, one of the early settlers in Buckfield, died in Hamlin's Grant, now a part of Woodstock, at the home of his son, Simeon, at the age of 74. He had been an officer in the Con- tinental Army, having entered the service from Haverhill. He at one time was a large land owner in Buckfield. Later in life, he became sub- ject to periods of insanity. At one time he startled the people at church by loud cries at the door, warning them to beware of the wrath to come. At another time, he cut down the Liberty Pole near Dr. Wm. Bridg- ham's, which had been standing for many years and was an object of great veneration. None was ever erected in its place.
1829.
Virgil D. Parris was chosen moderator, also chairman of the supt. school committee. It was the beginning of a brilliant and notable public career in the state and nation, a career which terminated only when his party was thrown out of power .- Nathan Atwood was elected town clerk and Dr. William Bridgham was chosen town agent .- A town meeting was called in May to elect "two persons to serve as delegates in a democratic- republican convention to be held at Augusta on the Ioth day of June next, to agree upon and to nominate some suitable person as a candidate for governor of this State, at the next election." Dr. William Bridgham and Daniel Chase were selected as delegates .- The road as laid out "from Buckfield Village by Luther Turner's to Hebron" was accepted .- The selectmen were authorized to purchase or lease a piece of land "to settle the town's poor buildings upon, now occupied by Mr. Samuel Webb."- The following men were chosen for their respective school districts "to examine the boundary lines in each district" and report : Aaron Parsons, Larnard Swallow, Caleb Cushman, Nathaniel Harlow. Daniel Chase, Sheppard Churchill, Henry H. Hutchinson, Isaac Young, John Brock, Joshua Whitman, Noah Prince, Tobias Ricker, Jr .- The overseers of the poor were instructed "to inquire what have been the causes of our ex- cessive pauper taxes for years past" and what measures could be taken to prevent the increase of panperism in the future .-- The line between Na- tional and democratic republicans was sharply drawn this year. Gen. An- drew Jackson had been inaugurated President of the United States on the 4th of March and his supporters, everywhere, were stalwart partisans. Samuel E. Smith, the democratic-republican candidate for governor, had 180 votes and Jonathan G. Hunton, national-republican, had 112 .- The representative contest was a three-cornered one. Henry H. Hutchinson had 116 votes, Virgil D. Parris had 51 and William Bridgham had 34 votes .- Jonathan Buck was licensed as inn-holder, as he had been every year from the first time he was so licensed. Africa Spaulding, Nathaniel Harlow. Luther and Enoch Crocker "in Co .. " Isaac Parsons, Nathan At-
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wood, William Bridgham and Lucius Loring were licensed as retailers and Daniel Young, as "Victualler, Innholder and Retailer."-The town lines were perambulated this year. The town decided to build a new bridge, a "little up stream from the old one, on the road near the Parris Pond farm so called."-It was voted that notices for future town meet- ings should be posted in Nathan Atwood's store, till the town should de -. cide otherwise .- In this or some time in the preceding year, it is uncer- tain which, died Abijah Buck, the foremost man of the early settlers, at the age of 87. Early in 1828, he had given a deposition when he was too feeble to write his name. The wife of his youth had died in 1816. To the property he had brought into the township, and that acquired from Jonathan Tyler, his father-in-law, he added large possessions from which he provided well for his children. His estate was settled before his death, a thing quite common in those days. He neglected to provide grave stones for himself and wife and though we know they were buried in the cemetery, north of the village on the Paris Hill road, the exact spot is uncertain. The town, Abijah Buck did so much to found, and which bears his name, is, however, a lasting monument to his memory and worth.
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