Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 41

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

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CYRUS KENDRICK, of Litchfield, is the son of Cyrus, and the grand- son of Thomas Kendrick, both of North Brookfield, Mass., where the latter died at the age of ninety. His son, Cyrus, born in 1789, left his native town and came to Warren, Me., in 1808, where he fitted himself for teaching and taught school several years. About 1815 he came to Gardiner and located on Water street, in the grocery busi- ness. In this pursuit he continued till 1838, a part of the time being in partnership with Robert Gould. Mr. Kendrick was one of the earliest and most active members of the order of Masonry in Gardi- ner, being a charter member, and the first master of old Herman Lodge, constituted in 1820. He was also efficient in town affairs, serving as a selectman and moderator in 1837, as treasurer in 1848 and 1849, and was a justice of the peace for many years.

After retiring from trade he gave his attention to the settlement

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of claims and estates, and other matters connected with his office as civil magistrate, till he retired from business altogether.

Cyrus Kendrick married Sarah Maxcy, of Union, Me., by whom he had seven children: Joseph, Mary, William, Melina, Cyrus, Thomas, now a teacher in Sacramento, Cal., and Lucy-all dead but William, Thomas and Cyrus. Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick lived in Gardiner, where they were prominent members of the Baptist church, till near the close of their lives, when they removed to Litchfield, where both died in 1866.

Cyrus, their fifth child, was born in Gardiner September 6, 1825, where he grew up, attending its schools, including the old Institute, till he resolved to be a physician, and entered the medical depart- ment of Bowdoin College, in which he studied two years. From there he went to Philadelphia and completed his professional education in Jefferson Medical College, graduating in March, 1850, in a class of 211, one of his classmates being the distinguished Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, of Philadelphia. Returning home to Gardiner he practiced there two years when he went to Litchfield, where his medical practice has covered the long period of forty years. Doctor Kendrick is one of only six survivors of the original members who organized the Maine Medical Association in 1853. He also belongs to the American Medical Asso- ciation, whose annual meeting in Washington, in 1884, he participated in. Like his father, he has been a zealous Free Mason, serving as master of Morning Star Lodge, of Litchfield, for the ten years suc- ceeding 1866. In 1880 Doctor Kendrick married Susie P., daughter of Calvin Howe, of Rumford, Me., and one of a family of thirteen chil- dren. She was a teacher in the Litchfield Academy, of long experi- ence and recognized talent. Their children are: Daisy May, Kate H., and Cyrus Maxcy Kendrick.

Cyrus Knapp, of Leeds, a medical graduate of Bowdoin College, located in Winthrop in 1827, and practiced until he went to Augusta, where he subsequently became superintendent of the insane asylum.

William B. Lapham, born in 1828, graduated from the New York Medical School in 1856, practiced in New Hampshire and Oxford county, Me., removed to Augusta in 1871, practiced there one year, and then abandoned his profession for a special literary career [see page 260]. He was for eighteen years a member of the Augusta ex- amining board for invalid pensioners.

D. P. Le Clair, born in St. Germain in 1864, was reared in Lewis- ton. He studied with Dr. L. J. Martel, of Lewiston, graduated from the Maine College there in 1885, and in 1889 began practice at Augusta. Since 1890 he has been a member of the city council, the first in that board of all the 1,600 French people residing in the city.

C. C. Libby was born March 25, 1847, at Auburn, Me., where he received his early schooling. He was later a student at Dartmouth

Gerne Sindrick M. D.

PRINT, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.

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and Bowdoin Colleges. In 1880 he came to East Pittston. His marri- age was with Mattie L. Blodgett, of Pittston.

Ariel Mann was born in Wrentham, Mass., May 14, 1777. He came to Hallowell in 1802, and was known as a very eminent surgeon, standing at the head of his profession in this section of the country. In 1810 he married Phebe B., daughter of William Morse. In later life, his health failing, he abandoned his practice and accepted the appointment of judge of probate, holding the office several years. He- died March 16, 1828.

DANIEL EDWARD MARSTON, M. D., of Monmouth, was born in what is now West Gardiner, May 13, 1836. He is in the ninth generation from William Marston, sen., an English Quaker who was born in Yorkshire, England, about 1592, and came with his family to Salem, Mass., in 1634; his two brothers, Robert and John, probably coming at the same time.

In 1637 he removed to Newbury, and the next year to Winne- cumet, with his three sons and fifty-two others, where they made the first organized settlement on a grant of land from the general court of Massachusetts, and were incorporated into the town of Hamp- ton, which became subsequently a part of New Hampshire, and Wil- liam Marston, sen., became the patriarch of this branch of the family .. He was a devout adherent of his religious faith, for which he suffered congregational persecution. In 1657 he petitioned the court at Hamp- ton that the fine of £15 might be remitted that had been imposed on him " for keeping a paper and two books, which inculcated Quaker doctrines." He died in Hampton in 1672, leaving four children by his first wife, and one by the last.

Thomas Marston", his eldest child, was born in England in 1617, and married Mary Estow, of Hampton. He was a capable citizen, highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen, who entrusted him with public business. He died in 1690, the father of nine children. Isaac Marston3, his eldest son, was born in 1648, and married, first, Eliza- beth Brown, and second, Mrs. Jane (Brackett) Haines. He lived on Hampton North hill, was made freeman in 1678, and selectman of his town in 1681.

Caleb Marston', the eldest of his eight children, born 1672, married Anna Moulton, and settled on the old Hampton homestead, where he died in 1747, the father of nine children. Isaac Marston', his fourth child, was born in 1704, and settled in Newmarket, N. H., where he died in 1784. John Marston6, the younger of his two children, was born in Newmarket in 1748, married Mary Hilton, and died in 1793. Nathaniel Marston', the fourth of their ten children, was born May 16, 1776, in Newmarket. When a young man he came to Winthrop, Me., where he married Eleanor Watson in 1797. In 1806 they re- moved to West Gardiner, where he was a farmer, a blacksmith and a

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

prominent man in the town. During the war of 1812 he went with a company of state militia, of which he was captain, and joined the United States forces, serving fifteen days. For this each man re- ceived from the government 160 acres of land. He died in 1848, the father of six children.

Daniel Marston®, the eldest, was born January 8, 1798, in Win- throp. While a young man he tried the sea for a time, then returned home, and in 1820 married Nancy W. Freeman, of Sacarappa, now Westbrook city. They first settled in Hallowell, where he engaged in the retail grocery business. His next move was to West Gardiner, where he settled as a farmer. He was postmaster there for many years, was active in public affairs and a zealous captain of the state militia. At the time of his death, in 1850, he was first selectman of the new town of West Gardiner, which had recently been a part of the city of Gardiner. Previous to the incorporation of the new town of West Gardiner, he was a councilman of the city of Gardiner. His nine children, of whom seven are living, are noticed on page 681.

Doctor Marston', the subject of this article, was the sixth of his parents' nine children. He received the training of a farmer's son in a district school. At the age of sixteen he attended the Litchfield Academy, then taught school winters, and fitted for college. He read medicine with Dr. Cyrus Kendrick, of Litchfield, and the late Dr. Stephen Whitmore, of Gardiner, and was graduated from the Medical School of Maine, Bowdoin College, in the class of 1859. For the next year and a half he enjoyed the great advantages of an appointment on the medical staff of the hospitals on Blackwell's Island, New York, and received the ad eundem degree March, 1860, of the New York Medical College on Thirteenth street.

Returning to Maine, Doctor Marston settled in Monmouth in the fall of 1860, where for more than thirty years he has enjoyed and de- served a substantial practice. He married, April 28, 1861, Ellen E. Meserve, of Richmond, Me. Their first children-Edward Pitt and Ellen Elizabeth, twins-were born July 3, 1862. Edward P1º chose the medical profession, was educated at Monmouth Academy and Bates College, and graduated from the medical department of Dart- mouth College in 1884. He is now in practice with his father in Mon- mouth, is a member of the Kennebec Medical Association, and was president of the society in 1890. Nellie Elizabeth took the full course and graduated at the State Normal School at Gorham. Mary Alice, the third child, was born in 1867, educated at Kents Hill and Welles- ley College, and married George M. Norris, now a lawyer in St. Paul, Minn. Daniel William10, their youngest child, born June 3, 1875, prepared for college at the Coburn Classical Institute, Waterville, but has been interrupted in his studies by poor health.

In 1862 Doctor Marston volunteered his services as surgeon and

DE muston.

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

joined the medical staff of the army of the Potomac. Rapidly failing health compelled him to leave, after three months' service. One of these months was on transport steamers, which received the wounded during the seven days' battles before Richmond; afterward, he served at Fortress Monroe and in hospitals in Baltimore. He and his son, Dr. Edward P., are both Masons in the rank of Knights Templar. The former has served nine years on the Monmouth school committee, and five years on the local board of health, is a member of the Ken- nebec Medical Society, was vice-president of the Maine Medical Asso- ciation in 1883, and is a member of the American Medical Association.

George W. Martin was born in 1834 in Pittsfield, educated at Cor- renna Academy and Westbrook Seminary, studied medicine at Pitts- field, and graduated in 1858 from the medical department of the Uni- versity of New York. He was assistant surgeon of the 6th Maine, surgeon of the 4th Maine, and of the 2d Maine Veteran Cavalry, and then became government medical inspector. In 1867 he located in Augusta, where he is still in practice. In 1873 he was made medical director of the military forces of Maine, and served till 1879. Robert J. Martin, his son, was born in Boston in 1864, read with him, and graduated from the medical department of the University of New York in 1887, being second in a class of 150. He went to Germany in 1890 to study the Koch method of lung treatment, and was the first to practice it in Maine.

Thomas L. Meguier, who received his medical degree at Bowdoin College, came to Winthrop in 1836, and practiced there until 1848.

William Meigs, born in Easton, N. Y., graduated from the Maine Medical School at Bowdoin College in 1844, and practiced at Se- ward's Mills, Vassalboro, for seven or eight years prior to his re- moval to West Virginia, where he died in 1891. He was a man of great originality, and the author of several valuable inventions. His wife, who survives him, was Dulcie M., a sister of Judge Whitehouse.

Paul Merrill graduated from Dartmouth about 1855. He was at once appointed assistant surgeon at the State Insane Asylum, where he remained three years, and then went into general practice at Augusta.

Ebenezer C. Milliken, a graduate of the medical department of Bowdoin College, was a practitioner in Winthrop from 1835 to 1837, when he removed to Boston.

Daniel Moody began practice in Clinton about 1862, and was located there for many years.

G. J. Nelson, a son of Rev. A. J. Nelson, was born in Guilford, Me., in 1846, and prepared for college at China and Lincoln Academies, and at Waterville Classical Institute, entering Colby University in 1871. He was principal of China Academy two years, and of Freedom Academy one term. He then began the study of medicine with Doc-

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

tors Crosby and Wilson, and in 1877 graduated from Bowdoin Medi- cal College, settling at Weeks Mills, where he practiced until Feb- ruary, 1892, when he removed to China village.

James W. North, son of the historian, practiced at Weeks Mills about twelve years ago.

James North, cousin of the historian, was born July 25, 1813. He graduated from the Bowdoin Medical School in 1841, practiced at Al- bion about 1850, and then went abroad and practiced dental surgery one year at Berlin, and seventeen years at Vienna. In October, 1869, he returned to his native land, and took up his residence in Phila- delphia.

Charles E. Norton was born in Gardiner, graduated in medicine from Bowdoin in 1876, practiced awhile in Augusta, and then removed to Lewiston.

Amos Nourse was partner of Dr. Ariel Mann in Hallowell for several years. He afterward became professor of obstetrics at Bow- doin College.

James Deering Nutting, a graduate of the Maine Medical College, is a native of Otisfield, Me. In the common and high school of the town, and in the Bridgeton Academy he prepared for the study of medicine; in 1867, after a period of practice in the Maine Insane Hospital, he located in Hallowell, where he has since remained in active practice.

George Carleton Parker, born in Clinton, Me., in 1851, is a son of Charles J. and Eliza (Roundy) Parker. He attended school at Kents Hill Seminary and Castine Normal School, and devoted twelve years to teaching. In 1877 he began the study of medicine under a private tutor, and, in 1878, entered Brunswick Medical School. Two years later he graduated from Dartmouth. In November, 1880, he began practice in Clinton and East Fairfield, and in November, 1890, re- moved to Winthrop. He took a special course at the New York Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital in 1890. He married Rose B., daughter of Edmund Parkman. Their only son is Ralph B.

DAVID ELKINS PARSONS is the son of David, who was the eldest child and only son of Samuel Parsons, who was born in Epping, N. H., in 1779, and came to Cornville, Me., about 1800, where he died in 1835. David Parsons, born in Cornville, December 16, 1802, was a farmer and married Beulah Lancaster, of Norridgewock, Me. He died in Rockford, Iowa, December 28, 1881. His four children were: Sarah E., Stephen D., Samuel S. and David E., who was born in Corn- ville December 3, 1836. He grew up amid the healthful influences of a country life, and received the advantages that well-to-do farmers were able to bestow. When eighteen years old he went to Bloomfield Academy and fitted for Waterville College, which he entered in 1857, .and remained one year. The next year he was engaged in teaching

David E. Parsons

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in Maryland, and in 1859 went to Schenectady, N. Y., and entered the junior class in Union College, then under the presidency of the cele- brated Doctor Nott.

On the breaking out of the civil war in 1861, he left college and enlisted in Company A, 19th Maine, July 29, 1862, as a private. Turn- ing all his energies to filling the ranks, he succeeded in enlisting such a number of men that he was commissioned second lieutenant by Governor Washburn, August 25th, and went with his regiment to the defense of Washington, where it was assigned to Gorman's Brigade, Howard's Division. In this command, the 19th Maine was first under fire at Charleston, W. Va., and next at Fredericksburg, where several men were wounded. Under the command of Colonel Heath, this regiment was conspicuously engaged at Gettysburg, where, facing a terrific fire, 68 men were killed or mortally wounded, 127 were wounded, and 4 were missing; a total of 199 out of 404 present.

It is a matter of history, that the greatest percentage of loss in any brigade, in any one action during the war, occurred at Gettys- burg in Harrow's Brigade, composed of the 19th Maine, 15th Massachu- setts, 1st Minnesota, and the 82d New York. These four regiments went into the action with 1,246 officers and men, of whom they lost 61 per cent. killed and wounded.

In the battle of the Wilderness, Captain Parsons was shot through the arm, when he was granted a sixty-day furlough and came home. While returning to his command, he was at the battle in front of Fort Stevens when Early made his attack on Washington; during the battle President Lincoln was conspicuous in the fort.

By promotion, he was made first lieutenant of Company A, Novem- ber 21, 1862, and captain of Company B, June 23, 1863. Captain Parsons fought with his regiment in all the principal battles of the army of the Potomac, from the first Fredericksburg to Appomattox, except when absent wounded. He was again promoted, November, 11, 1864, to be major of his regiment, serving faithfully to the close of the war, and was mustered out May 30, 1865. The 19th Regiment went to the front under the last call by the president for three years' men, who went without bounty.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph W. Spaulding, who went out as first lieu- tenant, and Major Parsons, were the only two men who went out with the 19th Regiment as commissioned officers, and returned as such. Of such a record any one has a right to be proud, and every one has cause to be grateful. Devoted service in that great war is a fame that will intensify as time rolls on.

Returning home, Major Parsons read medicine with Dr. John Rob- bins, of Norridgewock, having chosen and commenced preparing for this profession while in college. He attended lectures first at Har- vard University, and completed his course at the medical department

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

of Bowdoin College, where he graduated in the class of 1866. His first practice was in Stetson, Me., till 1870; then in Norridgewock, and since 1874 at Oakland. Doctor Parsons is a member of the Kennebec County and of the Maine State Medical Associations, and has made an honorable record as a country practitioner.

He married Clara A. Rogers, of Stetson, Me., February 20, 1864, David W. Parsons, their only child, is now a student in the Yale Law School at New Haven. Mrs. Parsons died in 1869, and in 1872 Doctor Parsons married Belle F. Bixby, of Norridgewock. They have one child, Mary B. Parsons.

C. F. Perkins was born in 1846. His grandfather was William Perkins, who came from Wiscasset to Windsor, where his four sons were born. C. F., son of William, jun., graduated from Bellevue Medical College in 1885, and practiced in China until 1889, when he removed to Augusta.

A. P. A. Pichette, son of E. G. Pichette, was born in 1863, at Lew- isville, P. Q. He was educated at the Seminary of Nicolet, P. Q., at Lavel, Victoria, and at Bishop Universities, Montreal. He received his medical degree from the Provincial Medical Board in 1888, and was in practice for one year with his brother, at the same time keep- ing a drug store at Nicolet, P. Q. In July, 1889, he came to Water- ville.

Samuel Plaisted was born in Gardiner in 1802, graduated from Brown Medical School at Providence, R. I., and practiced in Water- ville until his death in 1860. He married Mary J., daughter of Moses Appleton, and their three children are: Aaron Appleton, J. H. and Florence. Aaron A. was born March 25, 1831, graduated from Colby University in 1851, and has been cashier of the Ticonic National Bank since 1858. He married, in 1856, Emily C. Heath.

Joseph Noyes Pidgin was born in Salisbury, Mass., in 1808, studied medicine with the late Dr. Jacob Tewksbury, of Oxford, Me., graduated from the Maine Medical School in 1831, and settled at Litchfield. He was elected to the legislature by the whig party in 1836, but did not live to take his seat.

Jesse Pike, father of Daniel T. Pike, Pike, practiced in Litchfield about 1820.

Albert F. Plimpton [page 703], son of Elias and Nancy (Billings) Plimpton, was born in Litchfield in 1832, attended school at Litchfield Academy, read medicine in Gardiner and Boston, and graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1859. He practiced in Pittston, and from 1862 in Gardiner, where, from 1867, he kept a drug store until his death, August 10, 1892.

Huldah M. Potter, born in Parsonsfield, Me., was the daughter of John and Huldah (Dalton) McArthur, who came from Boston to Au- gusta before 1850. Huldah M. attended the public schools of Au-

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gusta, and the boarding school at Gorham, Me. In 1868 she married Charles F. Potter, of Augusta, who died the same year. A few years later she decided to become a physician, and, after due preparation, attended medical lectures at the Boston University, graduating in 1877. In 1879 she came to Gardiner, where her professional abilities are attested by a large practice. Her partner is Miss Dr. G. E. Heath.

Nathan G. H. Pulsifer, born in 1824, a son of Dr. Moses R. Pulsi- fer, was educated in district schools and Gorham Academy, and gradu- ated from Dartmouth Medical School in 1848. He studied with his father and Dr. N. C. Harris, and began practice in 1849, in which year he went to California, via Cape Horn, as surgeon of the ship. Upon his return he spent one year in study at New York and Philadelphia, and since January, 1852, has practiced in Waterville. He married Ann P., daughter of William Moor. They have four children: Nora P. (Mrs. F. L. Thayer), Cornelia (Mrs. Herbert L. Kelley), William Moor, M. D., and Ralph H., M. D. Doctor Pulsifer has been devoting his attention to real estate operations and banking for the past twenty years.

Ralph H. Pulsifer, born in 1865, was prepared for college at Co- burn Classical Institute and graduated from Colby University in 1886. His medical education was acquired at the Boston Medical School and Hahnemann College, of Philadelphia. In November, 1890, he began practice in Waterville.

Epaphras K. Prescott, of Monmouth, was a physician in that vicinity for many years prior to his death, about 1874.

Oliver Prescott, born in 1791, practiced at Cross Hill, Vassalboro, prior to his death in 1853.

Frank M. Putnam was born in San Francisco in 1856, reared in Boston and educated at Burton, Mass., graduated from Dartmouth in 1877, and studied medicine at Portland and Brunswick, Me. He took a medical course at Harvard, spent two years in Europe, and in 1880 began practice in Gardiner. He resides in Farmingdale, where he married the daughter of Joseph C. Atkins, and is superintendent of the town schools.

Asa Quimby was the first doctor who settled in Albion, being in practice there about 1800.

Samuel Quimby, a tall, spare built, tireless man, noted as a genius in collecting the last cent from the toiling settlers, was the earliest physician in Mt. Vernon. He enjoyed riding home on a bag of ashes, which his poorest patrons could always spare. He saved his money, and for thirty years either built or owned more than half the grist mills in that town.

George L. Randall, of Vassalboro, was born in 1815, was educated

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

in Vassalboro and at Kents Hill, and after teaching twelve terms, turned his attention to the study of medicine under Dr. Hiram H. Hill, of Augusta. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1844, and began general practice at Stetson, Me. Two years later he removed to Vassalboro, the home of his wife, who is a sister of the late Ira D. Sturgis. His father, Isaac Randall, came to Vassalboro from Cape Cod, about 1800, as a school teacher. During his first term his knowl- edge of medicine became valuable to the community, and he enjoyed a successful career as a physician until his death in 1820. George M. Randall, son of Dr. George L. Randall, was born in Vassalboro, in 1863, graduated at Bowdoin College in 1889 and in 1891 began practice at Augusta.

Charles Russell was born in Bethel, Me., in 1820, graduated from the University of Maryland in 1848, and came to Fayette in 1865, where he died about 1888.

F. A. Roberts was born in Jackson Me., in 1839. At the age of seventeen he began the study of medicine with Dr. Manter, of Win- throp, Me. He received the degree of M. D. from Dartmouth in 1860. In September, 1862, he began practice in China, removed to North Vassalboro three years later, and in October, 1883, came to Waterville, where he died May 26, 1892. His grandfather, Jacob Roberts, M. D., a Quaker, practiced at North Vassalboro the last fifteen years of his life.

Whiting Robinson came to Benton about 1812, and practiced there until his death, about 1853.

A. T. Schuman. son of J. L. Schuman, was born in Damariscotta, Me. He came to Gardiner when four years of age, and there received his academic education. He graduated from New York Homeopathic College, and after four years in New York city returned to Gardiner, where he has since practiced.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 41

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