Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 40

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York, Blake
Number of Pages: 1790

USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892 > Part 40

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When Silas', the eldest of these children, was fourteen years old, his father, who was a farmer, removed from Parsonsfield to Limerick. Silas was an industrious boy on the farm and a studious boy at school. At the early age of sixteen he was sufficiently advanced in his studies to undertake school teaching. So successful was this first venture, that he taught each winter for the next eight years, wisely adding to his mental equipment by a term in the Limerick Academy each spring and fall.

In 1860 the Burbank family moved from Limerick to Strong, Me. Our young student schoolmaster now decided to be a doctor, and com- menced the necessary reading at the age of twenty-one with Dr. John A. Richards, of Strong. After attending medical lectures at Bowdoin College for two years, he received his degree in June, 1864, and set- tled the same year in Mt. Vernon. He was a young man then, and the young doctor. Now, after twenty eight years' practice, he has become the old doctor, although not yet an old man. He has proved a good physician and a good citizen. His wide and successful practice testifies to the first, and his record to the last.

He has been an active and useful worker in all measures for prog- ress and reform-a pronounced temperance man-was lodge deputy in the Good Templar organization, has long stood in the working col- umn of the Baptist Sabbath school, and for the past twelve years has been its superintendent. He joined the Baptist church in 1870, is chairman of the ministerial committee, and for several years has served as one of its deacons.

Doctor Burbank is a good illustration of the law of heredity. We have seen that his ancestor, Silas, the soldier, made music for men to fight and to die by. The Burbank blood has constantly retained the gift. The doctor was always a singer, and at twenty he became a teacher of the good, old fashioned country singing school-peace to its ashes; it didn't outlive its usefulness. When he came to town he took charge of the choir and is still its chorister.

Always a republican in politics, he was a member of the school committee six years, school supervisor two years, town clerk one year, and member of the board of health for three years. He has taken

Sila Burbankem!

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great interest in Masonic matters, serving for the past twenty years as secretary of his Lodge. Doctor Burbank is a member of the Kennebec County Medical Association, and was its president in 1875. With all his labors by day and by night, he is a hearty, robust man, five feet eight inches tall, and has attained to General Hancock's renowned weight of 240 pounds. It takes a good horse to draw him on an emergency call rapidly over the rugged hills of Mt. Vernon and adjoining towns. His fidelity and skill have yielded him substantial rewards.

Dr. Burbank married Jennie B. Pratt, of Strong, February 28, 1864. Their only child George De., born May 18, 1865, is now in the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company in Syracuse, New York. The doctor's present wife was Hattie D. Morse, of Mt. Vernon, to whom he was married December 25, 1876.

John Bush was born July 3, 1792, at Boylston, Mass. After gradu- ating from Bowdoin, he taught at the Wiscasset Academy, and pur- sued the study of medicine. He then graduated from the medical department of Bowdoin, and established himself in Vassalboro. Dur- ing his practice there he married Anne Wayne. He spent several years in Massachusetts, after which he returned to Vassalboro, where he remained in active practice until his death, at the age of eighty- four.

Henry H. Campbell, born at Farmington, Me., in 1820, is a son of Moses and Abigail (Hancock) Campbell, and grandson of Alexander Campbell. He studied in Bloomfield Academy, graduated from Dart- mouth Medical School in 1848, and from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, the following year. He began practice at Fairfield in 1849, remaining there until January, 1858, when he went to Europe and spent a year in study at Edinburgh, London and Paris. In De- cember, 1858, he began practice in Waterville, where he has since resided. He married Julia A., daughter of Stephen Tobey. Their children are: Annie J. (wife of Rev. Charles D. Crane) and George R., a graduate of Colby, '91.

Nelson H. Carey, born in Massachusetts in 1807, practiced in Wayne, and died in 1877.

Charles B. Cates was born in Vassalboro in 1820 and died in Cali- fornia in 1888. He graduated from the Vassalboro Academy, studied medicine, graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1845, and practiced two years in Fall River, Mass., where he married Margaret B. Barker. He soon returned to his native town, where he practiced until his removal to California in 1886.

F. Chenery, born in 1863, in Livermore, is a son of Michael P. Chenery. He studied at Livermore and Kents Hill, spent two years in Boston College of Physicians and Surgeons, and one year in the

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

University of the City of New York, Medical Department, where he was graduated in 1886. Since December of the latter year he has practiced in Wayne.

Samuel Louis Clarke, son of Captain Samuel Clarke, of Winthrop, was a medical graduate of Jefferson College, Philadelphia. He practiced for a time in his native town, and afterward in Bangor, Me

Pell R. Clason, a brother of O. B. Clason [page 321], was born in Litchfield, July 13, 1855, and prepared for college in Gardiner, where he was for two years the successful principal of the high school. He was graduated from Bates College in 1877, and then, while teaching, began the study of medicine, and was graduated from Bowdoin Medi- cal School in 1882. He practiced in Gardiner until his untimely death, October 31, 1886, at which time he was president of the com- mon council, and member of the school committee. He left two sons: Silas O. and Ernest F.

James Cochran, born in Windham, N. H., in 1777, was educated as a physician, and, after a few years' practice in Limington, he re- moved, in 1806, to Monmouth, where he practiced successfully for many years. He died at Rockland, October 10, 1860.

James Cochrane, jun., born in Limington in 1801, was graduated from Bowdoin Medical School in 1824, and practiced in Brooks, Lis- bon and Monmouth, Me., until shortly before his death in 1875.

Charles A. Cochrane, born in 1833, in Monmouth, is a son of James Cochrane, jun., M. D. Charles A. was educated at Monmouth Acad- emy, and began the study of medicine in 1851 with his father, attend- ing in the meantime three courses of lectures at Bowdoin Medical School, from which he graduated in 1856. From the latter year until November, 1858, he was a partner with Dr. Henry Barrows in Vassal- boro. Since November, 1858, he has practiced in Winthrop. He was a member of the Massachusetts Homeopathic State Society, until a similar organization was perfected in Maine, since which time he has been a member of the latter, of which he has been secretary and president. He is also a member of the American Institute of Homeop- athy. He married, in November, 1859, Caroline Augusta, daughter of Colonel Rufus Marston, of Monmouth. Their only child is Emma L.

Daniel Cony, son of Deacon Samuel Cony, was educated as a phy- sician and practiced in Augusta many years.

Louis A. Cook, born at Dixmont, Me., in 1862, graduated in medi- cine from the University of New York, in 1889, and began practice at China village.

LEANDER J. CROOKER is the son of Dr. Sebra and Parmelia (Durl- ing) Crooker, of Brookfield, N. S., who was born in Edgcomb, Me., and moved to Nova Scotion when a young man, where he built up a large practice prior to his death in 1890. Leander J. was born in

Lg. 6when

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Liverpool, N. S., February 24. 1837. He early evinced a natural apti- tude for anatomical investigation, and at the age of twelve performed his first surgical operation-extracting a tooth for an aged Irishman. Six years later, with the daring of youth, he successfully removed a tumor from the axillary cavity of Mrs. O'Blenis, of Cornwallis, N. S., an operation which the surgeons of the town had refused to under- take. His parents at first opposed his studying medicine, fearing that his venturesome disposition would lead him into trouble in his practice; but innate genius would not be thwarted, and at the age of eighteen he began his studies under his father's guidance. He opened an irregular practice in Vassalboro and Belgrade when he was in his twenty-first year, and so successful was he in the many and varied difficult operations he performed, that for twelve years he deferred taking a regular degree of M. D. It seemed as if he were impelled by some unseen power to operate, and his natural mechanical inge- nuity was a potent factor in his surgical skill. He could go to a black- smith's and forge out for himself any of the simpler instruments he required; and his superior inventive ability is illustrated by the fact that in 1872 he produced an important surgical instrument, now known in the profession the world over as Crooker's Spiral Spring Ligater.

His first operation for strangulated hernia was made under diffi- culties. When but twenty-two years of age, after walking several miles through the deep snow, which was so drifted that he was com- pelled to leave his horse, he reached his patient late in the night. By the light of two tallow candles and the assistance of a neighbor, it was cut down upon and the bowel returned. Ether was not used in the operation for the very good reason that he had none with him. He is not a believer in Lister's full method; he regards perfect clean- liness in all surgical operations of the greatest importance, and be- lieves that no operation should be made without a free use of the most approved antiseptics.

At length, however, the advisability of taking a regular degree became patent to him, and from Belgrade he went to Boston, where he attended lectures at the Harvard Medical School. In 1870 he graduated from the medical department of Dartmouth College, and began practice in Augusta as a regular physician. He has since done general surgery, there being scarcely an operation of any nature that he has not performed, and now, in his fifty-fifth year, he has yet to lose a case from the effects of the operation, excepting in abdominal operations, in which he has lost but six out of fifty-seven cases, and these exceptions were in incurable cases, the operations being simply a forlorn hope. He has never rejected an abdominal operation on account of dangerous symptoms, and his success in this direction has been most satisfactory. His consultation cases are numerous, especially in surgery, and embrace a wide scope of territory, while

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his office and surgery business at Augusta are of still greater propor- tions. Doctor Crooker has contributed papers on professional subjects to various medical journals.

In 1858 Doctor Crooker married Clara B. Tarbell, of Vassalboro, who died in 1866. His second wife, whom he married in 1867, was Fannie A., daughter of James H. Guppy, of Boston. His son, by the latter marriage, born in 1869, is Leander J., jun., a physician and druggist at Augusta. He graduated from the Medical School at Dartmouth 1890. Doctor Crooker is an active member of the State and County Medical Associations, and is a decided friend and promotor of all judicious public enterprises and improvements.

Atwood Crosby was born in Albion in 1838. He was edu- cated at Benton Academy and at Coburn Classical Institute. He entered the army in Company G, 3d Maine, was captured at Bull Run, and was a prisoner of war eleven months. He was paroled in June, 1862, and at once began the study of medi- cine with Dr. N. R. Boutelle, of Waterville. He attended lec- tures at Harvard Medical school, and in August, 1864, received the degree of M. D. from Bowdoin Medical School. He entered the U. S. navy as surgeon immediately after graduation, and served until the close of the war. He began private practice at Buckfield in 1865, and the following year came to Waterville, where he practiced until his death, January 25, 1883. His second wife and two daughters survive him.

J. H. Cushing practiced in Sidney up to 1871, being the successor there of Dr. James M. Bates.

Abiel Daley came to Kennebec county in the first quarter of this century, and practiced contemporaneously with the senior Doctor Cochran at Monmouth.

Thomas M. Dillingham was a partner of Dr. James B. Bell at Augusta about 1877.

F. L. Dixon graduated from Dartmouth Medical School in 1880, and practiced in Wayne until 1884.

Daniel Driscoll was born in Winthrop, Me., in 1860, educated at the common schools, read medicine in the Portland School of Medi- cal Instruction, and graduated from the medical department of Bow- doin College in 1885. With the exception of four years in Win- throp, his practice has been in Sidney, where he is settled at Bacon's Corner. [See page 1058].

J. C. Dunham began practice in Winthrop about 1870, and four years later went to Lewiston.

M. K. Dwinell, born in 1860, at East Calais, Vt., was educated at the grammar school of that town, and graduated from the Boston University, Medical Department, in 1883. In July of that year he located at North Vassalboro, and in 1892 removed to Waterville.

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Crosby G. Eaton was born in Vienna, read medicine at Waterville, graduated from Bowdoin Medical College in 1883, and settled in Oak- land.

Elbridge G. Edgcomb was born in Livermore, Me., in 1814, gradu- ated from the medical department of Bowdoin College in 1845, and practiced in Readfield until he left the county, prior to 1866.

John Marshall Eveleth, born in 1828 at Windham, Me., is a son of John and Rebecca (Merrill) Eveleth, and grandson of Nathaniel Eve- leth. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1849, and from the Maine Medical School in 1854. The following year he began private practice at Poland, Me., where he remained for four years. In Febru- ary. 1861, he began practice at Mechanics Falls, Me., where he re- mained until January, 1880, when he came to Hallowell, where he now resides. He married Lucy Ellen Douglass, of Waterford, Me. She died in February, 1881, leaving three children: Abbie Lyle, John A. and Lucy M. His second marriage, in 1883, was with Clara A. Douglass, sister of his first wife.

Frank P. Fletcher, son of Colonel Robert Fletcher, of China, was born in that town, and practiced at Weeks Mills the last years of his life. He was a graduate of Brunswick Medical School, and had prac- ticed in Hope, Me.

Everett Flood was born in Clinton, graduated in medicine from Bowdoin College, practiced a year in his native town and went to Massachusetts.

John L. Fortier, son of Frederic and Esther (Wright) Fortier, was born in 1853 at St. Sylvester, P. Q. He was educated in the provinces, and New Hampshire and Vermont, his classical education being largely acquired under the private tuition of Rev. Father Charland. In 1879 he began the study of medicine with Dr. H. H. Campbell, of Water- ville, and in 1883 received the degree of M. D. from Brunswick Medi- cal School. He has practiced in Waterville since his graduation. In 1889 he opened a drug store on Main street, and in 1891 opened another on Water street, in the block which he built in 1890. His wife was Leonie Martel. Their only child is Leora C.

Abram Frees enjoyed a large general practice at Pishon's Ferry, Clinton, about 1817.

Archelaus P. Fuller, born in 1799, practiced in Albion for many years, dying there in 1880.

Sylvester Gardiner, the physician, is noticed at pages 193 and 601.

WOOSTER PARKER GIDDINGS, of Gardiner, comes from old England stock after six generations of New England growth. George Giddings, his ancestor, left St. Albans, Hertfordshire, Eng., with three servants, and landed in Boston, April 2, 1635-settling in Ipswich, Mass. Thomas Giddings, his grandfather, a skillful ship carpenter, removed

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with his family from Ipswich in 1813, and settled on a farm in China, Me., where he raised a family of four children.

Thomas, the oldest, born in Ipswich, became a stock dealer, and was noted for the thrifty management of his farm. He married Lucinda Starrett, of China, and to them were born three children: Elizabeth, Samuel and Wooster P .- the latter May 11, 1840. At the age of fifteen Wooster exchanged the district school and the sur- roundings of his boyhood for a course of study at New Hampton, N. H., preparatory for college. In addition to this he devoted con- siderable time to the development and practice of a natural taste for sketching, designing and engraving, and acquired great facility in the use of pencils and the engraver's tools. This acquisition has been

Residence of W. P. GIDDINGS, M. D., Gardiner, Me.

of immense benefit in his profession, enabling him to execute exact drawings of the natural or morbid appearance of any organ or struc- ture of the human body-than which no use of the artist's pencil re- quires more delicate manipulations, or makes more difficult demands. His anatomical and pathological portfolios are a revelation and a study to the professional, and a marvel to all.

After the proper course of study he graduated from the medical department of Harvard College in the class of 1870. His first practice was in Waltham, Mass., where his time was partially occupied in en- graving. In 1871 he settled in Ward 25, Boston, whence he came to Gardiner in 1880.

Since coming to Gardiner Doctor Giddings has easily advanced to the front rank of his profession in central Maine. He is fortunate

Of Sidings T. J

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in that unusual combination and balance of qualities that make their possessor equally adapted to the art of healing and to the practice of surgery. He has an active temperament, quick observation, fine per- ception and that reflection that ultimates in the good judgment of the practitioner, and he has also a promptness of decision and a certain understanding and mastery of mechanical operations that is the foun- dation of successful surgery.

These qualities, animated by that divine principle of growth that keeps a perpetual student and learner abreast with the freshest fact and thought, are full explanation of the wide demand for Doctor Gidding's professional services that has long existed. His thorough knowledge and peculiar gifts of explanation and illustration to the satisfaction of courts, and the understanding of juries, bring his ser- vices in more than frequent demand, as an expert.

He is highly esteemed by his professional brethren, who regard as of special value the many papers and addresses which he has prepared for meetings of the Maine and the Kennebec County Medical Societies. He is a member of both, and an ex-president of the latter, and is also vice-president of the Harvard Alumni Association.

Doctor Giddings married for his first wife, Mary Barton, of Wind- sor, Me. They had one child, Minnie L. His second wife was Sarah Peckham, of Boston, by whom he had one child, Harold. His present wife was Adelaide Clark, of Boston.

I. W. Gilbert, son of John C. and Olive (Brann) Gilbert, and grand- son of Andrew Gilbert, was born at Litchfield in 1852. He was edu- cated at Litchfield Academy, and graduated in 1874 from the Maine Medical School. After practicing five years in Phippsburg, Me., and a short time in Franklin Mass., he returned to Litchfield. He mar- ried, in 1874, Sarah E., daughter of Dexter W. and Margaret C. (Flanders) Smith, granddaughter of Zachariah and Lydia (Plimpton) Smith, and great-granddaughter of Thomas Smith, jun. They have two daughters: Lena M. and Emma D.

Matthew S. Goodrich, son of Rev. Joseph B. Goodrich, was born at Palmyra, Me., in 1860, He was educated in the public schools of his native town and in Maine Central Institute. He attended Brunswick Medical School one term, and in 1882 he graduated from the medical department of the University of New York. In April, 1882, he began practice at Fairfield, where he continued until October, 1889. He took a course at the Post Graduate Medical School, of New York, and, January 1, 1890, opened practice in Waterville, and at the same time started a hospital, known as "Waterville City Hospital." He is sur- geon to the Oldtown City Hospital, a member of the Kennebec County Medical Society and.the Maine Medical Association, and an honorary member of the Somerset County Medical Society.

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

David Hale practiced at Fayette Mills, went to Livermore Falls in 1843, and died there in 1868.

Eli S. Hannaford, son of Aaron Hannaford, is a native of Strong, Me., and a graduate of Brunswick Medical School. He came to Read- field from Phillips, and practiced until 1891, when he removed to South Framingham, Mass.

J. Q. A. Hawes graduated from the Maine Medical School in 1853, practiced in Hallowell, and kept a drug store there several years prior to his death in 1890.

Gertrude E. Heath, of Gardiner, a daughter of A. M. C. Heath, re- ceived the degree of M. D. in March, 1883, from Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, and has since practiced her profession in Gardi- ner. in company with Dr. Mrs. Potter.

Jonathan Hicks, the first doctor to settle in ancient Pittston, prac- ticed from 1772 to 1774. The inhabitants were so healthy, however, that he returned in disgust to Massachusetts, whence he came.

Hiram H. Hill, the late eminent physician and surgeon, of Au- gusta, was born in Turner, Me., in 1810. At the age of sixteen he went to live with Dr. Dexter Baldwin, of Mt. Vernon, and here the de- sire to become a physician seized him. He attended the village school, and in his leisure hours devoted himself to the study of natural philosophy, chemistry and the classics. He began the study of medicine in his twenty-second year with Doctor Gage, of Augusta, and afterward studied with Doctors Amos Nourse and John Hubbard, of Hallowell. He attended lectures at the University of Pennsyl- vania, graduated from Bowdoin in 1836, and opened an office in Au- gusta, where he practiced for over fifty years, becoming, undoubtedly, the most distinguished physician in the state. His death occurred December 2, 1889.

J. Fred Hill, son of James P. and Emaline P. (Simpson) Hill, was born in 1854. He graduated from Coburn Classical Institute in 1878, and in that and the following year took a partial course at Colby University, teaching school during the winter. In 1881 he began the study of medicine under Dr. F. C. Thayer, of Waterville. In the same year he took one course of lectures at Dartmouth, and in 1885 gradu- ated from Bowdoin Medical School. He was assistant to Doctor Thayer from May, 1885, until January, 1888, when they became part- ners. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations. He married Angie L., daughter of Moses C. Foster, and they have one son, Fred T., and a daughter, Margaret F., de- ceased.

W. Scott Hill, born in Greene, Me., in 1839, studied medicine with Dr. William Graves, of Sabattus, Me., was in Tufts College in 1863, and in 1864 entered the navy, serving as surgeon's steward until the close of the war. He continued the study of medicine at Bellevue

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Hospital Medical College, graduating in February, 1867, when he located in Augusta.

Ezekiel Holmes [see pages 192 and 245], born in Kingston, Mass., graduated from Brown University in 1821 and from the medical de- partment of Bowdoin in 1824. He came to Winthrop in 1832, but did not practice long, his physical endurance not being equal to the rugged requirements of a country physican.

Manuel S. Holmes, son of Isaiah, and grandson of Ebenezer Holmes, was born in West Waterville in 1852. He attended Coburn Classical Institute, and in 1879 graduated from the medical depart- ment of Boston University. After practicing three months in Water- ville, he removed to Oakland. He married Myra E., daughter of Eras- tus O. W. McKechnie.

George B. Howard, son of Cyrus, was born in Winslow in 1850. He graduated from Coburn Classical Institute in 1871 and from Colby University in 1875. He received his degree from the medical depart- ment of the University of the City of New York in 1879, and prac- ticed in Waterville until June, 1890, when his health failed.

Charles Hubbard came from Concord, Mass., to Winthrop in 1827, and after a stay of three years, removed to Lowell, Mass.

John Hubbard, ex-governor of Maine, the eldest son of Dr. John Hubbard, of Readfield, was born in that town in 1794. He applied himself so diligently to preparatory studies that he was able to enter Dartmouth in the third term of the sophomore year, and graduated in 1816. In 1820 he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, and two years later received his degree of M. D. He practiced in Virginia until 1829, when he returned to his native state, and the following year took up his life residence at Hallowell. In 1843 he was sent to the state senate and in 1849 was elected gov- ernor of Maine and reelected the following year. His death occurred February 6, 1869.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 40

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York, Blake Number of Pages: 1790

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York, Blake
Number of Pages: 1790