USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > History of the city of Belfast in the state of Maine v.I, 1770-1875 > Part 39
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Dr. RICHARD MOODY, a graduate of the Medical School of Maine in 1828, came here in 1830: his first office was over the store now occupied by Mrs. A. D. Chase. He was Mayor in 1860.
Dr. SETH W. EELS, a classmate of Dr. Moody, advertises his services in 1830. His stay was brief. He went to one of the Western States.
Dr. J. PARKER resided at the Head of the Tide for a short time from July, 1835.
Dr. ALBERT T. WHEELOCK came here in 1838. He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1834, and received a degree of Doctor of Medicine at Harvard College, in 1838. In 1855, the Legislature elected him a Commissioner to the Exhibition of all Nations, held in Paris during that year. He gave the result of his examination in an elaborate report upon improvements and facts in the sciences and industries, which was published by the State.
Dr. NAHUM PARKER MONROE, son of Dr. Philip Monroe, was born in Surry, N. H., Jan. 4, 1808. He studied medicine with his brother, Dr. Hollis Monroe, and established himself here in 1839, soon after graduating at the Albany Medical College. He imme- diately acquired an extensive practice, which continued until 1871, when he removed to Baltimore. His death took place in that city, April 23, 1873, at the age of sixty-five years.
Dr. Monroe ranked with the best of his associates of the profes- sion, as one who upheld the dignity and honor of the physician, and he was by them elevated to the position of President of the Maine Medical Association. He was also a member of the United States Medical Association. He was for a long time Trustee of the Maine Insane Asylum. In 1865 and 1867, he represented the city of Belfast in the Maine Legislature. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, Dr. Monroe was tendered and accepted the position of Surgeon of the Twentieth Maine Regiment, and entered upon the active duties of the campaign. He was present at the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and United States Ford, at all of which his acknowledged skill as a surgeon was of great value to those who were torn hy shot and shell in
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PHYSICIANS AND SANITARY HISTORY.
those terrible battles. After a year's service, by which his health was impaired, he resigned his commission, and returned to the practice of his profession in Belfast. He was a man of great physical powers, and of manners, so genial that he won the affec- tions as well as the confidence of his patients. But, though rigid in his requirements of others, he was careless of himself, and con- stant exposure in the severe weather of our climate broke down his health. Thousands who experienced his skill and care in sick- ness and suffering will recall in health as well as in sickness the memory of one whose best days were given to the relief of the unfortunate and distressed, and who left a record every way hon- orable as a citizen.1
Dr. Monroe married Ann Sarah, daughter of Hon. Alfred Johnson, in 1843. His only son, Alfred J., a graduate at Bowdoin College in 1871, survived him but a short time, dying in Pau, France, Jan. 3, 1875, aged twenty-five.
ELBRIDGE G. GOULD, who practised on what is called the "eclectic " system, resided here from May, 1840, until his death, which occurred suddenly, Nov. 28, 1861, at the age of about forty-five. He was the inventor of certain medical preparations that were highly esteemed.
Dr. JOHN PAYNE, born in Gorham, Oct. 16, 1801, and a grad- uate at the Medical School of Maine in 1841, practised first at Islesboro', and then at Northport, removing here in 1844. He was originally an allopathist, but afterwards adopted the homœo- pathic system. His practice was large, and he experienced a full amount of success in the treatment of diseases. He possessed an uncommonly social disposition, and a large share of energy and activity. His death occurred Oct. 8, 1857.
Dr. CHARLES N. GERMAINE, a graduate of the Medical School of Harvard College in 1850, practised here during a portion of that year. He removed to Boston, and thence, in 1853, to Rock- land, where he now resides.
Dr. JOHN G. BROOKS opened an office here in May, 1851. He was born in York, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1848, and took his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, three years after. He was appointed Medical Pension Examiner in 1863. He has been City Physician and Alderman, and was chosen mayor in 1874, by an almost unanimous vote. He was a member of the Maine Senate in 1873.
1 Republican Journal.
27
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
Dr. LYCURGUS V. PAYNE, son of Dr. John Payne, had an office here from 1851 to Aug. 8, 1853, when he died, aged twenty-nine. He was a graduate at the Maine Medical School in 1846.
Dr. E. R. JOHNSTON, a graduate of the Homoeopathic Medical College in Philadelphia, succeeded Dr. John Payne in 1857, and remained a few months.
Dr. JAMES T. SHAW, from Nova Scotia, practised here for a short time, about 1857.
Dr. DAVID P. FLANDERS, a graduate at the Harvard Medical School in 1857, became established here in 1858, and still remains in active practice. His system is homeopathic.
Dr. LEWIS W. PENDLETON was born in Camden, March 18, 1844. He graduated at the Albany Medical College in 1864, and in November of that year commenced practice here. From Sept. 2, 1862, until April 2, 1873, he was Hospital Steward of the Twen- tieth Maine Regiment.
Dr. HORATIO H. JOHNSON, Jr., is a graduate of Tufts College in the class of 1864, and received his medical degree at Harvard College in 1869. He commenced practice here in 1869.
Dr. ELMER SMALL opened an office Jan. 1, 1872, and still re- mains. He graduated at the Medical School of Maine in 1870.
Dr. JOHN M. FLETCHER was born in Lincolnville in 1846, prac- tised at first in Camden, and removed here in July, 1874. The degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred on him by the Medi- cal School of Maine in 1868.
Among physicians born here, but who settled elsewhere, may be mentioned Dr. Edward M. Field, of Bangor, who grad- uated at the Jefferson Medical College in 1849; Dr. Nathanael A. Eells, son of Captain H. B. Eells, who graduated at the Maine Medical School in 1849, practised at Lincolnville, and died Sept. 6, 1853, aged twenty-six ; Dr. James Clarke White, son of Hon. James P. White; and Dr. William H. Winslow, son of William Winslow. Dr. White graduated at Harvard College in 1853, and received his medical degree there in 1856. He resides in Boston, and is Professor of Dermatology in Harvard College. Dr. Wins- low graduated at Jefferson Medical College in 1871, and also at the University of Pennsylvania. He was appointed Assistant Demonstrator of Anatomy at the latter institution in 1874.
Dr. Charles C. Porter, son of the late Zaccheus Porter, although born in Peterborough, N. H., came here with his father's family when an infant. He is an alumnus of Bowdoin College, in the
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class of 1832, and of the Maine Medical School in 1836. The honorary degree of M.D. was conferred on him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1851. He resides in Calais.
Dr. N. Miller Payne, son of the late Dr. John Payne, spent his early life here. He died at Dover, N. H., where he had resided for several years, in 1871, aged forty-four. He was a physician of good talents and skill. He studied medicine in Bath, and attended the Bowdoin College medical lectures, and graduated at the Phil- adelphia Homeopathic College, at the head of his class in surgery. He practised medicine in Bath, and Gloucester, Mass., before the war. He was a surgeon in the army, and at one time attached to the head-quarters of the Fifth Army Corps. He resigned on account of ill-health.
In 1844, a successful surgical operation was performed on a lady while under mesmeric sleep, by Dr. A. T. Wheelock ; the sleep having been induced by Mr. P. P. Quimby. An account of the experiment appeared in the "Boston Medical and Surgical Journal " for May, 1845.
During the summer of 1848, a public impression in favor of female physicians was made by the lectures of Dr. Samuel Gregory, of Boston, which resulted in raising a sum of money for the in- struction of Mrs. Mary A. Drisco, who afterwards received a medical diploma.
The annual meeting of the Maine Medical Association was held here June 6 and 7, 1855, and June 18 and 19, 1861. At the latter session, an address was delivered by Dr. C. Alexander.
On the evening of Aug. 17, 1864, the medical profession gave a reception at the residence of Dr. Richard Moody to Dr. W. T. G. Morton, the alleged discoverer of ether.
The Waldo County Medical Association was organized here on the 26th of May, 1867, by the choice of Dr. John G. Brooks as president, and of Dr. Lewis W. Pendleton as secretary.
In 1869, James C. Lewis, of Belfast, received a patent for a remedy for asthma.
A subscription in aid of the Maine General Hospital was made here in June, 1873. The amount received was $633.
The first municipal sanitary regulation was in 1815, when the "selectmen were authorized to assign places for slaughter-houses." In 1832, from apprehensions of the Asiatic cholera, which disease had visited some of our large cities, a similar rule was enforced. The Board of Health also caused a general cleansing of streets,
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cellars, and cess-pools, through the village. Quarantine regula- tions were established, under which all vessels, arriving from any port where the disease was supposed to exist, were prohibited from coming to the wharves, or anchoring within six hundred yards of low-water mark. Vessels having on board emigrants from any European port were subjected to a quarantine of thirty days be- fore landing their passengers. A vessel commanded by Captain Josiah Simpson, Jr., arriving from New York about the 17th of July, was put in quarantine for twenty-four hours. It is believed that she was the first vessel ever quarantined at this port. The Board of Health resumed their duties during the summer of 1833, and on the 15th of July gave public notice that all dwelling-houses and premises would be visited by them, "in order to ascertain their situation as respects cleanliness." But the pestilence did not appear in this vicinity.
During the prevalence of the cholera in Bangor, during the summer of 1849, precautions were taken here; and but one case occurred, that of an Indian of the Penobscot tribe, who probably contracted the disease elsewhere.
The small-pox has repeatedly been a subject for municipal ac- tion. In 1810, the town voted "to choose a committee of three to superintend the inoculation of the cow-pox, and that Doctors Thaddeus Hubbard, C. C. Chandler, and Charles Hall be said committee."
Considerable alarm was occasioned early in the spring of 1819 by the appearance of the small-pox in our midst. The story ran that a resident on the eastern side of the river found a pair of pantaloons on the shore, and, supposing them to have been lost from some vessel, took them to his home, where they were washed. The party who washed them was soon after attacked with the small-pox. Various rumors were in circulation; among them, that the garment had belonged to a man who died of that disease on board a vessel in the harbor. Every precaution was adopted to prevent the spread of the disease, but, notwithstanding, quite a number were attacked by it. Several cases proved fatal. There was a rush, of course, for vaccination. Unfortunately for the rep- utation of some of our medical gentlemen, it proved that the virus used in numerous cases was the genuine small-pox, instead of the kine. No little indignation was aroused. A legal investigation was had, but nothing was developed tending to show any inten- tion on the part of any one to practise deception in the matter. It
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was probably one of those accidents which will now and then occur without subjecting any one to the imputation of criminal in- tent or reprehensible negligence. It is not remembered that any one who was inoculated with the spurious virus died, or suffered any serious detriment.1 The alarm extended to other towns ; and in consequence a special act of the Legislature was passed, post- poning the June term of the Supreme Court at Castine to the following September.2 The claim of the Selectmen "for extra services concerning the small-pox " was afterwards acted upon, and allowed by the town.
In May, 1837, a case of small-pox was discovered on board the packet schooner " Comet," from Boston. The immediate establish- ment of a pest-house on the Read Farm, followed by a removal of the patient, and a quarantine of the vessel, prevented further con- tagion.
A communication from the mayor to the city council, in May, 1853, concerning the disease, resulted in the passage of an ordi- nance requiring the City Physician to vaccinate all citizens and scholars not protected, and requiring all scholars to furnish their teachers with certificates of their vaccination. One case of the disease proved fatal. A building, belonging to Captain B. Brown, having been used as a hospital and afterwards burned by unknown parties, he commenced an action for its loss against the city au- thorities, but was defeated.
In May and June, 1861, the small-pox prevailed on the east side of the river, and created much excitement. There were twelve cases and one death.
Among the few epidemics that have prevailed here may be mentioned a fever irrupting in measles, in 1802, which proved fatal to twenty-one children, the whole number of deaths that year being forty-nine out of a population of, perhaps, seven hun- dred; and a dysentery, which visited us in 1825. Nearly one-half of the inhabitants were attacked by the disease within six weeks. Seventy-six persons died of that and other diseases, forty-five of whom were children under four years of age. Yet, with a popu- lation of over twenty-five hundred, the proportionate mortality was less than that of 1802.
1 Crosby's Annals. William Quimby says that Drs. Chandler and Eben Poor were arraigned before Bohan P. Field, Esq., charged with vaccinating with spurious virus, and discharged.
2 Resolve of the Legislature.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
Cleanliness may be regarded as akin to health as well as to god- liness, and an allusion to the only two public bathing-honses ever maintained here may be suitable in this chapter. The first one was in the distillery, about 1825. It did not have sufficient patron- age for long continuance. The second establishment was started by Daniel Merrill, in 1842, at the upper steamboat wharf. His advertisement announces "rooms supplied with hot and cold salt water; and, also, a swimming-bath." They were conducted by B. S. Foster in 1844, and by J. M. Torrey in 1847.
Early in November, 1872, the horse distemper prevailed here. The livery stables were closed, and for a fortnight hardly a team appeared in the streets. On the Albion stage route, the contractor resorted to the old mode of carrying the mail familiar to early settlers, bringing it in on his back.
Belfast has not escaped the quackery which thrives so well in the United States. The name is legion of the "eclectics," "me-' dinms," "seventh sons," and other empirics who have strutted their hour here. One of the most singular medical impostures was practised upon Joseph Miller, who died here in 1873, aged seventy-seven years. When young, he had a disease supposed to be consumption ; and his physician (?) asserted that his only chance for recovery was by swallowing the heart of a rattlesnake, just killed. A snake having been procured, the remedy was tried. It is related that he soon began to mend, and in a few months was well.
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MILITARY HISTORY FROM 1784 TO 1815.
CHAPTER XXIX.
MILITARY HISTORY FROM 1784 TO 1815.
Reorganization of the Militia. - Company formed in 1791. - Officers. - Draft occa- sioned by National Difficulties. - Vote of the Town. - Artillery. - Uniform. - Gun-house. - Cavalry. - Military Career of Captain Peirce. - Squatters resist the Law. - Surveyor fired upon. - Man wounded. - Militia called out. - Excite- ment. - Arrests. - Prisoners committed to Castine Jail. - Letter from General Knox. - Supposed Hostility of Settlers toward Belfast. - Greene Indian War. - Incidents. - Dolliff's Poem. - War of 1812. - Opposed in Belfast. - Drafting. - Commerce terminated. - Capture of Vessels. - Memorial for Protection from Pri- vateers. - High Prices of Provisions. - Territory between the Penobscot and St. Croix Rivers claimed by the Enemy. - British invest Castine. - Expedition against Hampden. - Destruction of the Frigate " Adams." - Belfast occupied by a British Force. - Flag of Truce. - Interview with the Selectmen. - General Gosselin lands. - Buildings taken for Quarters. - Good Conduct of the Troops. - Rigorous Discipline. - Man flogged. - Deserters. - Officers represent Belfast an Island. - Reason for coming here. - Despatch of the Commander. - The Troops quietly re- embark. - Military Strength of the Town in 1815. - Field-pieces secreted. - Militia from Neighboring Towns march in. - Members of Captain Swan's and Captain Kelsey's Companies in Actual Service. - Castine strongly fortified. - Business. - Smuggling. - Valuable Prize captured by Major Miller. - Copy of Pass granted by General Gosselin. - His Autograph. - Peace declared. - Rejoicings. - Illumina- tion.
A FTER the Revolution, a thorough reorganization of the mili- tary system of Massachusetts took place. With certain exceptions, every free white male citizen between the ages of eighteen and forty-five was enrolled as a soldier, and required to perform service at least four days in each year. Soldiers fur- nished their own arms and accoutrements, and were fined for the smallest deficiency. For neglecting to provide powder, balls, flints, and other military articles, towns hecame subject to heavy penalties. The arrangement of the militia was into territorial divisions. Belfast belonged to the eighth or most eastern divi- sion, and was assigned to the second brigade, first regiment. Of this regiment, John Brewer, of Brewer, received the appointment of colonel. In his staff was Dr. William Crooks, of this town, surgeon's mate. One company of sixty-four privates was mustered here in 1791; Samuel Houston being captain, Jonathan Wilson
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lieutenant, and Henry True ensign. A vote passed, Sept. 8 of that year, "to raise six pounds to purchase a town stock of ammunition."
In 1794, a draft was made from the militia by the general gov- ernment for a certain number of men to be in readiness for actual service when called for. This call was occasioned by Indian hos- tilities in the western country, and unsettled difficulties with Eng- land. The quota of Belfast was ten; and at a town meeting held Oct. 2, 1794, " to see what method the town will take to raise the soldiers demanded of the company belonging to this town," it was voted " to make up the Soldiers' Weages that are now engaged to go on the Sarvice Eight dollars per month for the time they are on actual sarvice, According to the term of General orders, Ex- clusive of their Clothing Money," and " that every Day that the Congress allows the Soldiers half a Dollar per Day, the Town agrees to make it up one Dollar per Day."
The men were never required, as the Indians were soon after defeated, and the foreign difficulties arranged by arbitration.
As the population increased, two companies of militia were formed, one on each side of the river. Jonathan Wilson com- manded the eastern company in 1802, and Samuel Peirce the western. The following year an artillery company was organized, two brass field-pieces having been furnished by the Common- wealth. A gun-house was built for them under the superintend- ence of Jonathan Wilson, on the McFarland lot, a short distance north of where the house of Captain Henry McGilvery now stands. The town voted $100 for its erection, in addition to the sum provided by government. Great interest always attached to the guns. Their appearance on parade attracted a crowd of spec- tators, and they passed through many experiences. The first uniforms of the company were blue long-tailed coats with buff facings, blue pantaloons, three-cornered cocked hats with black feathers, and swords with red tops. In 1812, the privates wore short coats of a blue color, with yellow buttons and buff trim- mings.1 With a few intermissions, the company continued until 1842, making a final appearance at the muster of that year. In 1850, the guns were ordered to the arsenal at Bangor, but were taken from the steamboat wharf and concealed. Subsequently one of them was removed to parts unknown ; the other for several years ornamented the office of the Adjutant-general, in Augusta.
1 William Quimby.
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MILITARY HISTORY FROM 1784 TO 1815.
Thomas Cunningham,1 who lived at the Head of the Tide, first commanded the artillery. The usual parade-ground was in front of the gun-house, until its removal in 1836.
A company of cavalry composed of members from this and the adjoining towns became annexed to the regiment in 1804. John Wilson was the first captain, Joseph Houston lieutenant, and Abel Baker cornet. This made four full companies here. The officers generally maintained the dignity which was due to their positions. But Captain Peirce of the west militia, says Governor Crosby, "had too much of the ' fuss and feathers' order to com- mand the respect or suit the fancy of the rough-hewn and boister- ous wags whose names were borne on his roll, or, to use the lan- guage of a looker-on, ' who trained under him, and round him, and over him.' . 'Training-day,' while he was in command, began the night before. It was the custom to 'salute' the captain, as it was styled, by a fusillade made up of the discharge of muskets loaded and half-loaded, squibs, and flashes in the pan, beginning about midnight, around the captain's domicile, and kept up until the parties concerned were ' invited in,' and then followed a scene that
' Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night.'
It annoyed exceedingly the staid and sleepy villagers, but the captain was delighted with the attention paid to him.
" Morning came in due time, and with it came the Captain gorgeously arrayed in military costume, and his soldiers armed and equipped in the most fantastic manner that human ingenuity in those days could devise : one, with a shoe on one foot, his trouser's leg cut off at the knee, an old boot on the other foot ; another, with a black earthen jug slung over his shoulder, canteen- fashion ; another, with a large stone jng on his back in lieu of a knapsack ; another, with gigantic epaulettes made of burdocks; and another, with a strip of birch bark round his hat, a cow's tail stuck in for a feather. These are but specimens only ; from which some idea may be formed of the general military air and costume of the company when drawn up for parade.
1 Captain Cunningham was the first to introduce here a military manœuvre called " whipping the snake." It was never omitted on training days, and was a never fail. ing source of amusement and wonderment to the non-combatants. It consisted in throwing his men into apparently inextricable confusion, and bringing them out of it with as much accuracy and precision as if they were a mere piece of mechanism. - Crosby's Annals.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
" Captain Peirce's military career culminated at the Fall Train- ing in 1805. He was drilling his company in Miller's field, march- ing at their head, wheeling occasionally to survey them, marching backwards as was the military usage in those days, when he found himself, unconscious of its proximity, brought up against a board fence in his rear, and the bayonets of the front rank who were pressing him hard sticking into the boards on each side of him. This was his last appearance on parade." 1
During the early part of the present century, the proprietors of land in this vicinity found that either through the generosity of former owners, or the inattention of agents, many valuable tracts were occupied by persons who had no legal right or title. Im- provements had been made by these " squatters," which they refused to abandon. Numerous ejectment suits were. the result. This led to violent denunciations and threats against officers and surveyors. Insurgents, combined to resist the authority of the law, appeared on various occasions in- arms, and sometimes dis- guised as Indians. No actual opposition, however, is known to have taken place until 1801, when Robert Houston, of Belfast, while making surveys for General Knox, near Brooks, was fired upon ; and William Kimball, one of his chainmen, was wounded. Houston succeeded in taking one of the party prisoner, who, with the wounded man, was brought to Belfast. The affair produced great excitement here. Lieutenant Jonathan Wilson immediately detached the militia, and, having made three additional arrests, conducted the prisoners across the river for safe keeping. During the night, his guards were alarmed by a noise from this side, and, fearing an attempt at rescue, conveyed them to Castine, where they were committed to jail. In the mean time, the excitement was not allayed. In Northport, " John Clark was taken by two men painted black, who kept him about an hour. They were armed, stood at about six feet distance with their muskets, asked how many people were under arms in Belfast, inquired where the prisoners were, and said they had it in contemplation to burn buildings in Belfast," &c. 2 General George Ulmer, of Lincoln- ville, commander of the militia in this quarter, now arrived; and forty men out of the companies of Belfast and Northport, under Captain Thomas Knowlton and Lieutenant Wilson, were de-
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