USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > The centennial history of Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, including the oration, the historical address and the poem presented at the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town, June 23d, 1902 > Part 40
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ville, where he was pastor of the First Unitarian Society until 1878. He died in Waterville, Oct. 4, 1889. His wife survived him until 1896. He left also five children, Jane Ripley, the old- est, who died in England in 1898, Henry Newton, Orlando Wil- bur, Chauncey Cooley, Edward Stevens. Four other children died in childhood. During his life he published occasional ser- mons and was a contributor to the Christian Review. In 1856 was published a volume under the title "Sin and Redemption,"1 containing twelve of his sermons and also an address on Moral Freedom delivered in 1855 before the literary societies of Water- ville College. He was much interested in the schools of Water- ville, and as a member of the school committee was actively con- cerned in their improvement.
Rev. Joseph Oberlin Skinner, son of David and Abigail Skin- ner, was born in Piermont, N. H., Feb. 18, 1816; received a com- mon school education : taught school 1832-'33 ; was employed in a Lowell, Mass., cotton mill, 1834-'35; studied theology under Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, D. D., at Malden, Mass, 1836-'37; was ordained at Salem, N. H., Aug. 31, 1837 ; was pastor of Univer- salist churches as follows : in Holliston, Mass., 1837-'40; Fram- ingham, Mass., 1840-'44; Dudley, Mass., 1844-'46; Concord, Mass., 1846-'48; Ludlow, Vt., 1848-'50; Chester, Vt., 1850-'53; Rockland, Me., 1853-'59; Nashua, N. H., 1859-'62; St. Albans, Vt., 1863-'65; Malone, N. Y., 1865-'67; East Montpelier, Vt., 1867-'69; Waterville, Me., 1869-'73. He continued to reside at Waterville, supplying at Vassalboro, Fairfield and Sidney, and after an illness of II months died in Waterville, Jan. 12, 1879. He was twice married, first in May, 1846, to Miss Maria T. Barn- ard of Hartford, Conn., who died, Aug. 1852; second in June, 1854, to Miss Condace L. Fullam of Ludlow, Vt. He was a Free Mason ; wrote a "History of the Masonic Lodge, Water- ville," edited "The Universalist Year Book," 1867-'78 ; was asso- ciate editor of "Christian Reporter" and contributed to "Univer- salist Quarterly." He left in MSS much material for the history of Waterville.
Rev. Samuel Francis Smith, D. D., was born in Boston, Oct. 21, 1808, and died in the same city, Nov. 16, 1895. The exact
1. New York, Sheldon; Lamport & Blakeman, Boston; Gould & Lincoln, Chica - go; S. C. Griggs & Co.
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length of his life, therefore, was eighty-seven years and twenty- five days. Fitting for college in the Boston Latin School, where he won "the Franklin Medal for primacy in scholarship," he went directly to Harvard and was graduated at the age of twenty-one, and thence to Andover Theological Seminary from which he was graduated at the age of twenty-four. After a year of edi- torial work in Boston he became pastor of the Baptist church in Waterville and the Professor of Modern Languages in the col- lege. Soon after his settlement in Waterville he was married to Miss Mary White Smith who made bright and glad his remain- ing years and still lives in the Newton Center home. After eight years at Waterville, Dr. Smith moved to Newton Center, Mass., to become pastor of the Baptist church in that place and to edit "The Christian Review," a Baptist quarterly. He served as editor seven years, as pastor twelve years and a half and for the next fifteen years was "Editorial Secretary of the Missionary Union," but continued to preach, usually as stated supply of some neighboring church. He loved to preach and till his death was often in the pulpit. Fittingly his death in Boston came suddenly while on his way to supply a pulpit. During his thirty-six years of public life and indeed to the end, he was a diligent student. Ever receiving, he also, as author, was ever giving. Fugitive pieces in the daily and weekly press ; quarterly review articles ; translations from German, French and Swedish writers; books historical, biographical and poetical,-these are worthy products of an ever busy, fruitful and able pen. As a writer of our National hymn and of hymns of Christian worship, he is best known. His missionary hymn, "The Morning Light is Break- ing," is one of many widely known and much loved and sung. His hymns, in part, have been translated into foreign languages and when in his old age he visited the missionary stations of India and Burmah he heard them sung by the native Christians in their own languages. His last published volume was "Poems of Home and Country," and Prof. Alvah Hovey, D. D., in an unpublished memorial address, says of this volume that all who read it "must have been surprised and gratified by the revelations which it makes of his affectionate devotion to wife and children," an affection and devotion fully reciprocated. One of his child- ren, President Daniel A. W. Smith, D. D., of Burmah is one of
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the most distinguished of the missionaries of the Baptist denomi- nation.
Rev. William H. Spencer, D. D., son of David H. and Mary A. Spencer, was born in Knox, N. Y., Sep. 2, 1838 ; began his college course in Madison University, Hamilton, N. Y., but left to serve in the Union army ; completed his college course at Brown Uni- versity which gave him then the degree of A. B. and afterwards (1890) the honorary degree of D. D. ; was graduated from New- ton Theological Seminary, Newton, Mass., in 1869, and ordained as pastor of the Baptist church, Foxboro, Mass., the same year ; remained there as pastor until April, 1879, when he became pas- tor of the First Baptist church, Waterville, Me .; served this church with rare wisdom, ability and success until Feb., 1899, when he resigned his pastorate to accept that of the Bethany Bap- tist Church, Skowhegan, which he still retains. Leaving his studies in Hamilton, N. Y., for the service of his country, he enlisted in 61st N. Y. Vols. and became successively 2nd lieut., Ist lieut., captain and major ; lost a leg on the battlefield ; suf- fered as a prisoner of war ; and has continued to the present his patriotic services by orations, addresses and papers pre- pared for army reunions, Decoration Days and other special occasions. On the 12th of October, 1869, he married Miss Mary E. Stevens, daughter of the late Rev. Edw. A. Stevens, D. D .. long an eminent Baptist missionary in Burmah, and sister of Rev. Edw. O. Stevens, D. D., well known in Waterville and now returned to Burmah to con- tinue his missionary services. He has two children, Charles Worthen, now Professor of History in Colgate University, and Henry Russell. His residence is Skowhegan, Me.
Rev. Edwin Carey Whittemore, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Hatch) Whittemore, was born in Dexter, Me., Apr. 29, 1858. He prepared for college in the Dexter High School and Coburn Classical Institute ; graduated from C. C. I. in 1875; from Colby University in 1879 and from Newton Theological Institution in 1882. Ordained as pastor of the Baptist church in New Boston, N. H., in 1882, he was pastor of that church two years and has since been the pastor of Baptist churches in Auburn, Me., ( 1884- '89) and in Damariscotta (1889-'99). Since 1899 he has been pastor of the First Baptist church of Waterville. He is author
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of "History of Damariscotta Association," "History of First Bap- tist Church of Nobleboro," "Seventy-five years of the Maine Bap- tist Missionary Convention," etc., is chairman of the editorial board of the Centennial History of Waterville, and furnishes for the Centennial Historical volume the chapter on the general his- tory of Waterville, this being the historical address delivered at the centennial celebration. His constant advance in pulpit ability and pastoral efficiency and his valuable services to the denomina- tional interests of the State as a member of the permanent commit- tee of the Maine Baptist Convention, and in other ways have given him rank among the foremost Baptist ministers of Maine. On the 25th of July, 1879, he married Miss Ida Macomber, by whom he has one child, Bertha Carey, who is a member of the class of 1904, Colby College. Mr. Whittemore is a member of the American Historical Association and of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.
Memorial of Nathaniel Milton Wood with sermons, edited by Nathaniel Butler, Lewiston, Me., Geo. A. Callahan, printer, 1877. In this octavo volume of 142 pages are contained the "Memorial Address" by the editor ( father of ex-president Butler) and seven sermons of Dr. Wood, selected by the editor. The address is an accurate statement of the principal facts of Dr. Wood's life, and a sympathetic and just estimate of his ability, character and work. To this volume the reader of this notice is referred for a satis- factory knowledge of this able man and minister. He was born in Camden, Me., in 1822. When nearly twenty years of age his father, Ephriam Wood, who was engaged in extensive mer- cantile and commercial pursuits, allowed him to choose whether to take his share in the patrimony for use in a like business or for classical study. He chose the latter and entered Waterville Col- lege in 1840, and was graduated with honor in 1844. In his junior year he experienced a radical change of religious life and in 1843 was baptised into the Camden Baptist church. After a year in Mississippi, he returned to Covington, Ky., where for a year and a half he studied theology under Dr. R. E. Pattison, pre- viously president of Waterville College, and then president of the Western Baptist Theological Instituce. In 1848 he became pastor of the Bloomfield (now Skowhegan) Baptist church. His subse- quent pastorates, all of them like his first, characterized by sig-
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nal power and fruitfulness, were in Waterville, Lewiston and Thomaston, in Maine, and in Upper Alton, Ill. In the latter place he filled the chair of Systematic Theology in Shurtleff College For six years he was a member of the board of trustees of the college. He resigned his professorship and returned east in 1874. He resided in Boston and supplied churches occasion- ally until April, 1876. His health had now failed and in July following he returned to Camden to end his earthly life where he began it. He married Miss Caroline L. Bray, by whom he had three daughters, Marie E., Carrie Ella and Annie P.
DOCTOR MOSES APPLETON.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
BY FREDERICK CHARLES THAYER, M. D.
For many years the profession of medicine divided with law and divinity the title of learned. It has always been, is now, and must ever continue to be both useful and honorable. It demands in the exercise of its duties altogether as much of brain and heart as any of life's great callings. In this and in every other civi- lized country medicine is so closely connected with the social and sanitary condition of the people upon the one hand, and with the status of education and general science on the other, that its pro- gress in the past, its position at the present, and the possibilities of its future render it a most interesting subject for study and contemplation.
From the time when someone discovered that a broken limb laid straight and retained in that position was more comfortable and gave better results than one left without such care, the medi- cal man has been an important factor in the community. Up from the very dawn of history through myth, fable and tradition, through ill defined experiences, tinged with ignorance and super- stition, medicine has advanced from its small beginnings to become a recognized science, and the doctor has in every age constantly and unselfishly devoted himself in so far as he was able to the well-being of the people under his care.
A history of the medical profession of Waterville during its first century of corporate life would necessarily be to a great extent a review of medical progress for the Nineteenth Century. However much of interest and instruction might obtain from such a review it would obviously be out of place and require too much
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space to recount the wonderful achievements which as a science and an art it has recorded since the year 1802.
It requires no proof for it is a truism, that scientific medicine owes more to the discoveries made during this period than in all the years of which history gives an account.
Anesthetics and antisepsis have revolutionized the methods of surgical practice making possible procedures otherwise unattain- able, thus adding unnumbered years to human life, and reducing human suffering to a minimum point not even dreamed of by the most optimistic medical man of a century ago.
The realm of definite, practical, medical knowledge has been vastly broadened by the recent progress in pathology, clinical microscopy, and bacteriology which have made possible an under- standing of the causation and history of diseased conditions, and, correspondingly, modifications have taken place in the previously existing views of their prevention and treatment, much to the advantage of the profession and the betterment of the human race.
The progressive march of medical science is the result of the intelligent, constant, persistent, unselfish labor of the medical man. No labor is too arduous, no investigation too difficult, no duty too dangerous, to deter the practitioner of the healing art from prosecuting his noble work. The pleasures of life, personal comfort, health, yes, life itself, is as freely and heroically sacri- ficed in the search for means of prevention and cure of disease as has ever been done by the martyrs to religious faith or political principle.
It is a curious and lamentable fact however, that while the world seems ever ready to do kingly honors, to sing peans of praise, and erect magnificent mausoleums to the memory of the wholesale slayers of human life, those who have done so much to preserve life and to bring health and comfort to the human race receive but scant praise for all they have accomplished. Giving no thought to personal honor or emolument, the profes- sions continues to prosecute its humane work, knowing that a duty well and nobly done is its own recompense.
From the time of Dr. John McKechnie to the present, there have always been in Waterville members of the profession who have stood preeminent for learning and professional skill,
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their council and advice having been sought by physicians from all the surrounding country. Not only have they been earnest seekers after the fundamental truths of their profession, honest, painstaking, and expert in the performance of their professional duty, they have also been ever ready to lend their aid in every good work. Indeed the medical men of Waterville are well typified in the history of its first three physicians, Dr. John Mc- Kechnie, Obadiah Williams and Moses Appleton. Besides being educated and skilled in their profession, they have ever been active and useful as citizens, possessed of practical judge- ment, having a large share of good common sense, full of enter- prise and public spirit, they have always been found at the fore in all matters pertaining to the social, moral and business welfare of the community.
The writer takes this opportunity to return his thanks to Mr. Frank W. Alden for the very valuable assistance he has rendered in accumulating and arranging the data for the following bio- graphical sketches.
Dr. John McKechnie, an educated Scotch physician, came to this country in 1755, settled in Winslow in 1771, and in 1775 moved to this side of the river. During the stay of Arnold's army at Fort Halifax, Dr. McKechnie acted as their surgeon. Besides attending to his medical duties he was an active civil engineer and business man. Many of his original surveys are still extant. He was the father of thirteen children. He was buried on the south side of Western Avenue on the high land just west of Hayden brook where his son, Obadiah, and many other early settlers were buried. This is believed to be the first burial ground in Waterville.
Dr. Obadiah Williams was born in Antrim, N. H., March 21st, 1752. He participated in the battle of Bunker Hill and after- wards served as surgeon in General Stark's regiment throughout the revolution. Some time after the war he moved to Sidney where he practiced his profession for a while, moving to Water- ville in 1792. Here he married Hannah Clifford who bore him seven children, five boys and two girls. Dr. Williams was a pub- lic spirited man as well as a good physician and was held in high esteem by the community. He gave the land for the first meet- ing house, now the Common in front of the new City Hall. He
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built the first frame house in Waterville and it is still occupied. He died in 1799. Both Dr. McKechnie and Dr. Williams died as citizens of Winslow, Lincoln County, Massachusetts, Water- ville not then having been incorporated.
Dr. Moses Appleton was born in Ipswich, N. H., in 1783, came to Waterville, then known as Ticonic village, of the town of Winslow, Lincoln County, Massachusetts, in 1796. After hav- ing completed his medical studies under Governor Brooks of Medford, Mass., where he received the degree of M. D. from the Massachusetts Medical Society, he began the practice of medicine here. He opened the first drug store in Waterville and was for many years the most prominent physician of this section. He was the first resident physician of the incorporated town of Waterville. He died in 1849.
(Drs. McKechnie, Williams and Appleton are treated more fully in the chapter of early settlers, where a more complete sketch of their lives will be found.)
In 1807. Dr. Wright and Dr. Bigelow, practiced medicine here for a short time only. It is to be regretted that no further information can be discovered concerning them.
Dr. Daniel Cook was born in Kingston, Mass., July 29th, 1785, graduated from Brown University in 1809. He studied medi- cine in Boston, practicing there for a short time. He was an assistant surgeon in the army during the war of 1812, coming to Waterville about that time, and associating himself with Dr. Appleton. He quickly became identified with the place, was made a director of the old Waterville Bank in 1814, in 1816, was elected representative to the Massachusetts legislature. In 1820, he built the first brick dwelling house in Waterville, which is now standing just south of the Unitarian church, and which he sold in 1834 or 5, to Dr. Stephen Thayer. In 1833 he was cashier of Ticonic Bank. He moved to Maumee, Ohio, in 1834, and died there in 1863. He married Clarissa Watson of Portsmouth, N. H., January 12th, 1813. To them were born six children, one of whom is now living, Daniel Francis Cook, of Maumee, Ohio, who is remarkably well and vigorous at eighty-eight years of age. Dr. Cook's eldest daughter married Hon. W. B. S. Moor of Waterville, formerly U. S. Senator.
*
DOCTOR STEPHEN THAYER.
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Dr. Hall Chase was the son of Thomas Chase of Fryeburg, Me., where he was born April 7, 1792. He received his early education in the common schools of Fryeburg, and afterward graduated from Dartmouth college where he received the degree of M. D. He came to Waterville in 1812, where he practiced his profession for 39 years. He died July 21, 1851. He was a surgeon in the State militia and a member of Waterville Lodge, F. & A. M. He was married to Hannah McMillen Spring of Saco, February 25, 1819, and had five children, Helen Maria ; Marshall Spring; Geo. Randolph; John Spring, and Julia S. John is still living in New York city.
Dr. Clark Lillybridge was a student in Waterville College, theological department, in 1821. He afterwards went to Bow- doin and graduated from the medical department in 1824. He settled in Waterville and became prominent in town affairs. He was a member of Waterville Lodge, F. & A. M. He married a daughter of Abijah Smith. After a few years he moved to Staf- ford, Conn.
Dr. Samuel Plaisted was born in Gardiner, Me., November 21, 1801. Son of Ichabod and Charity (Church) Plaisted. He was graduated from Brown University in 1825, received the degree of M. D. from the Maine Medical School in 1828. He directly came to Waterville where he practiced his profession until the time of his death, April 14, 1862, being recognized as one of the foremost physicians in this vicinity. June 22, 1830, he married Mary Jane Appleton, daughter of Dr. Appleton. They had three children, Aaron Appleton, James Hamilton, and Florence. Aaron Appleton and Florence are still residing here. Dr. Plaisted was active in business circles, was one of the direc- tors of the old Waterville Bank, and in the early fifties was inter- ested together with several other Waterville men in the manu- facturing of paper.
Dr. Stephen Thayer was of French Hugenot extraction and descended from both Pilgrim and Puritan stock. His earliest American ancestor of the name came from Braintree, England, and settled in Braintree, Mass., in 1631. His great-great grand- father married Huldah Haywood, who was a grand-daughter of Thomas, through whom the line is carried back to Experience Mitchell who came to Plymouth in the Ann in 1623, and mar-
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ried Jane Cook of the Mayflower. Stephen was born in Uxbridge, Mass., on February 7, 1783. He attended the Ips- wich Academy and studied medicine with Dr. Muzzy of Ipswich, receiving the degree of M. D. from the Massachusetts Medical Society. He married Sophia Carleton of Vassalboro, May 13, 1808, to them were born thirteen children. Albert C., Charles H., Sophia A., Mary Y., Stephen S., Harriet N., George, Eme- line F., Elmira, Elvira, George H., Martha C., and Lorenzo Eugene. Harriet, Emeline and George H., are still living. His second wife was Mary Carleton whom he married February 10, 1832. He practiced in Vassalborough, China and Fairfield, mov- ing to Waterville in 1835. During the war of 1812, he served as surgeon for a short time in Lieut .- Col. Herbert Moor's regi- ment. He was a delegate to the Constitutional convention held in Portland, October II, 1819. He had a large practice, both medical and surgical in the counties of Kennebec and Somerset. He died May 24, 1852. He always lived in the old brick house just south of the Unitarian church. His descendants in Water- ville are Dr. F. C. Thayer, Frances A. Atwood, Mrs. Florence O. Couillard, grandchildren. Nathan Pulsifer, L. Eugene, and Frank L. Thayer, great grandchildren. He was a charter mem- ber of Waterville Lodge, F. & A. M., and its first treasurer.
Dr. Joseph F. Potter during the early forties, practiced medi- cine here for several years. While here J. F. Noyes and V. P. Coolidge were at different times medical students under his direc- tion. About 1845, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he built up a large and lucrative practice, becoming quite prominent as a medical teacher as well as practitioner.
Dr. V. P. Coolidge came from Livermore, Me., studied medi- cine with Dr. Potter. He afterwards opened an office here and soon became a very popular physician. He is most prominent for having committed the only murder ever done in Waterville, when he killed his friend, Edward Mathews, on September 30, 1847. He afterwards died in the State prison.
Dr. Nathaniel R. Boutelle was the son of Timothy and Helen (Rogers) Boutelle, and was born June 13, 1821. Timothy Bou- telle was one of the most eminent lawyers of the State during the early part of the century. Nathaniel received his education in the schools of Waterville and Waterville College. He gradu-
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ated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, in 1847. In 1848, he took post graduate courses in the Pennsylvania Hos- pital and the Obstetrical Institute of Philadelphia. He immedi- ately settled in Waterville where he remained until his death. He married Mary Keeley, daughter of Prof. G. W. Keely of Waterville College. They had two sons, Timothy and George K., the latter an attorney and now practicing in this city. In 1857, Dr. Boutelle did more post graduate work in Europe. In 1864, in response to a call for surgical assistance, he was assigned to hospital duty at Fredericksburg, where he performed very efficient service. Dr. Boutelle was ranked as one of the most skilled and learned physicians of the State. He was a member of the Maine Medical Association and one of its founders. He was a member of Waterville Lodge, F. & A. M. In 1875, he was made a director of the Ticonic Bank, and from 1884 until the time of his death was its president. He died in December, 1890.
Dr. Robert Thompson Davis was born in County Down, Ire- land, on August 28, 1823, being the son of John and Sarah (Thompson) Davis. He was educated at the Friends School, Providence, R. I., and Amesbury Academy. He graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1847. After receiving his degree he came to Waterville where he practiced medicine for three years, he then moved to Fall River, Mass., where he at once sprung into prominence. He was a member of the Massachu- setts Constitutional Convention in 1853. In the Massachusetts Senate, 1859-61. Mayor of Fall River in 1873, member of Congress in 1883-89. Metropolitan sewerage commissioner in 1889-92. Member of the Massachusetts State Board of Health, also member of the Massachusetts State Board of Charities. He was twice married, in 1848 to Sarah C. Wilbur, and in 1862 to Susan Ann Hight. He has one child, Robert Charles. Dr. Davis is still a resident of Fall River, Mass.
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