USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > A history of Van Buren County, Michigan a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I > Part 40
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Probably no recent discovery has aroused more interest or curi- osity in the people of the world than the discovery by Roentgen of Germany in 1895 of the X-ray which is a kind of light produced by electricity and is capable of penetrating wood, flesh, and other organic substances. Practical use of the rays is made in looking within the body so as to determine by sight the condition of the bones and the location of substances imbedded in the flesh. As an adjunct for diagnostic purposes in both medicine and surgery it has proved a wonderful aid. In fractures and dislocations, in lo- cating foreign bodies, in the treatment of some types of skin dis- eases and cancer, and in the examination of many of the internal organs its value is beyond dispute.
THE COUNTRY PHYSICIAN AND TRAINED NURSE
The country physician is compelled to handle nearly the entire field of work without assistance. Not even a trained nurse. He usually finds his most difficult cases many miles from help, and nine times out of ten too poor to obtain a nurse or extra physician. Consequently the country physician has to "strip off and sail in." He handles the compound fracture as readily as would a whole hospital staff. He comes out as successfully with his transverse or face presentation as the best of the maternity hospital. And many other such cases he handles alone which the city doctor would not undertake without a trained nurse and an extra physician. One of the most valuable accessories in recent years to the success- ful handling of disease is the trained nurse. Not a few people could bear witness to the fact that they owe their lives to the untiring efforts of the faithful nurse. Only the physician can appreciate at full value her assistance, who during the critical hours, or days or weeks faithfully cares for her patient, watches every symptom, rightly interprets its meaning, whether for good or for
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evil, and promptly and intelligently applies the prescribed reme- dial measure.
Many are the physicians and many are the trustful nurses who have laid down their lives in their efforts to relieve suffering hu- manity from the ravages of virulent contagions, with no rattle of musketry, no din of battle, no cheers of comrades, no thrilling strains of military music to stimulate and urge them forward to meet the enemy, but calmly and deliberately they place their lives as a bulwark between death and. disease, many times with no prospects of recompense or remuneration other than the conscien- tious satisfaction of duty to mankind. No annals tell of battles fought and won; no songs tell of their brave deeds; no flowers deck their graves; no anniversaries emulate and commemorate their virtues; no monuments are erected in honor of fallen heroes. And again, the physician who worked and studied hard and long to perfect some wonderful discovery that has been the means of relieving so much pain and suffering and the saving of so many lives, unlike other scientific inventors, does not ask for a patent ; does not demand a royalty on every life saved, but gives it to the world gratuitously for the benefit of mankind.
The triumphs which have been already achieved by preventive medicine have rightly won the plaudits of the world; but we must not forget that the pharmacologist whose scientific ,investigation of drugs has been no small factor in contributing toward success The most unsavory concoctions of the modern pharmacy are as the "nectar of the gods," when compared with the medicines of olden times. A few years ago the pharmacist or physician made all of the elixirs, tinctures, plasters, pills, etc. from crude drugs and with no degree of certainty as to their strength. The elegant pharmacy of today furnishes palatable mixtures, coated tablets, capsulated bitter or nauseous medicines, serums, vaccines, etc. with unquestionable accuracy.
EARLY PHYSICIANS OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
The early physicians of Van Buren county were pioneers and they were the guardians of a widely dispersed population. Aside from their professional duties they contributed their full share to the material development of a newly opened country. Some were men , of culture who had gained their medical education in college but the greater number were of limited educational attain- ments; their professional knowledge had been acquired in the office of established practitioners of more or less ability. Of either class, almost without exception, they were practical men of great force of character who gave cheerful and efficacious assist-
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ance to the suffering, daily journeying on horseback scores of miles, over a country almost destitute of roads and encountering swollen, unbridged streams and destitute of water-proof garments or other now common protections against weather. Out of neces- sity the pioneer physician developed rare quickness of perception and self-reliance. The specialist was then unknown and the phy- sician was called upon to treat every phase of bodily ailment serv- ing as physician, surgeon, oculist, dentist and often times as nurse. His books were few and there were no practitioners more able than himself with whom he might consult; his medicines were , simple and carried upon his person, and every preparation of pill or solution was the work of his own hands.
To the men of those days we owe much for our present knowl- edge , and lightened burdens, of which they knew nothing in the days of their activity. They blazed the way for us through pathless forests and unmarked fields of medical research and we certainly should feel very grateful for their noble life-work.
It is at all times pathetic to contemplate the dependence that is placed on the skill and ability of the regular practitioner to accomplish cures in cases that are oftimes beyond human aid, and if it is so at this time when the physician is aided in his work by all the modern appliances that scientific investigation has devel- oped, how much more so it was in pioneer times when he had not only to cope with disease but with an unhealthful environment that tended to tear down his work as rapidly as accomplished. Chills and fevers in the early days were great promoters of dis- ease, weakening the system and rendering it a vulnerable prey to the epidemics that were prevalent each year, and the miasma of the swamps was a condition that ever existed, so that the pa- tients were only relieved to again become victims of a malady produced from this source. Quinine and liver pills were kept in every household, and indeed they formed an important part of the equipment of the pioneer physician, who supplemented their use by medicines to allay the fever following the chills. Often- times, however, he was not sent for until disease had made such ravages that the utmost he could do was to relieve the suffering of the lingering patient who was beyond the aid of human skill. Doctors were few in those days, and it was not unusual for a father to take a sick child in his arms and tenderly carry it for many miles to consult a physician in regard to its ailment, which likely as not was of some virulent type of germ disease. Local prejudices existed then, as now, and who shall say that they were not well founded, for faith in the ability of the attending physi- cian is a valuable aid to the work of the remedies employed.
In those days, it was not unusual, in the dark hours of night,
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to hear the galloping horse of the hurried messenger go speeding past, and in the gray of the morning to see, returning home, the familiar form of the weary physician who had traveled far in the cold or wet, smoothed the pillow of the pain-racked brow or ush- ered into the world a new being, in whose life he ever after took the interest that can only be engendered by a life-long association in a community fraught with human interest.
To the mother of the household the family physician was re- garded as a dependence as indispensable , as is the check book of the modern financier of today, and in her he found a faithful ally who in the administration of his remedies expended ,a generous share of loving solicitude that inspired the complete confidence of the patient. Indeed so keenly alive did she become to the neces- sity of coping with disease under adverse circumstances that in her wanderings in the fields or woods she was ever on the lookout for roots and herbs to be used for medicinal purposes. Mullein leaves were gathered and dried to be smoked for catarrh; hoarhound was brewed and the tea used for making candy for colds; sassafras was made into a tea in the spring time and the children were in- duced to drink it under the representation by the diplomatic mother that it was a rare treat, and if the youngster presumed to differ from this opinion he was made to drink it anyhow; catnip was made into a tea for infants and nervous people, and wild cherry bark into a tonic, and sundry other roots and herbs had their various uses, known to the careful mother. In every neigh- borhood it seemed there was some woman who was especially gifted in the line of nursing and who was sent for by neighbors for miles around in case of sickness. Many times in the pioneer days a messenger would come, often times in the night, setting the dogs to barking and startling the household by loud rappings on the door, saying, "Mother is sick, Mrs. Blank," or "baby is sick," and "mother wants you to come over right away," and there never was any hesitation in complying with such requests or thought of pay for the rendering of such services, and the same excited mes- senger who called for the neighborhood nurse went speeding on to bring the doctor.
PAW PAW PHYSICIANS
Van Buren county's first physician according to the best knowl- edge obtainable was one Dr. Barrett who located in Paw Paw in the summer of 1835. He came from New York. After practicing in Paw Paw for three or four years he moved to Kalamazoo, where. he spent the remaining portion of his life.
In the fall of 1835 Dr. Levi H. Warner settled in or near Paw Paw. Dr. Warner with several others came from New York. After following his profession in this county for about twelve years he returned to New York.
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Dr. Torrey came to Paw Paw in 1837 practiced several years. On account of failing health he returned East and soon after died.
Dr. Josiah Andrews from Cayuga county, New York, located at Paw Paw in 1838, one of nature's noblemen, representative in state legislature in 1846, later associated with Dr. H. C. Clapp and with Dr. L. C. Woodman. Was surgeon of the Third Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. Died at Paw Paw in 1886, age seventy-five years.
Dr. John W. Emery came from New Hampshire to Paw Paw in 1848, died in 1884, age eighty-six.
Dr. George Bartholomew practiced in Paw Paw three years. Was surgeon of Panama R. R. Co., died in Keeler in 1887, age sixty-six.
Dr. Wm. B. Hathaway of Jefferson Co., New York located at South Haven 1853, came to Paw Paw 1861, practiced quite a num- ber of years.
Dr. Henry C. Clapp, Cayuga Co., New York came to Paw Paw in 1842. Studied with Dr. Andrews. Practiced in Paw Paw several years then removed to Chicago.
Dr. Lucius C. Woodman, was assistant surgeon Third Michigan Cavalry and surgeon Eleventh Cavalry in Civil War, an excel- lent surgeon and a very fine man. Was partner of Dr. Andrews after the close of war. Died 1883, age fifty-five.
Dr. Leroy R. Dibble practiced in Paw Paw several years; in the early '70s removed to Albion, Mich.
Dr. Edwin B. Dunning practiced in Paw Paw for quite a num- ber of years and until his death was member of the pension ex- amining board. Died 1894, age sixty-four.
Dr. Charles M. O'Dell came to Paw Paw in the early '50s. Died in Paw Paw 1895, age eighty-one.
Dr. Eugene Bitely settled in Paw Paw in 1853 and practiced there until his death. Died 1873, age forty-nine.
Dr. Michael E. Whalen, died in Paw Paw 1895, age thirty-five.
Dr. Charles S. Maynard practiced in Paw Paw for many years. died 1910, age eighty.
Dr. Geo. Hilton came to Paw Paw in 1883 and in 1887 moved to Chicago.
Dr. L. E. Curtiss, born in Paw Paw, began practice in his home town. He removed to Berrien county a few years ago.
Dr. A. W. Hendryx, homeopathist, practiced in Paw Paw, for a few years. Dr. F. T. Roach, a young man, a graduate of the Uni- versity of Michigan, began practice here a few years ago, but re- moved to Detroit. Dr. Roscoe W. Broughton, another Paw Paw born and bred also a graduate of the same institution, began prac- tice in his home town, but soon removed to the far west where he is now practicing.
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Dr. Henry Charles began practice here, but recently removed to Kalamazoo.
The resident physicians : Dr. Wilbur F. Hoyt, Dr. J. C. Maxwell, Dr. Geo. B. Jackson and Dr. Barnabas , O'Dell, Dr. M. F. Smith, Osteopath, Miss L. R. Lofquist, Chiropractic.
The registered dental surgeons of Paw Paw are: Dr. W. C. Y. Ferguson, Dr. O. E. Lanphear and Dr. Vern Van Fossen.
BANGOR
Dr. Joel Camp came from New York State to Bangor when it was a wilderness, being obliged to go on foot and horseback. He was truly a pioneer. Practiced about fifty-five years. Died 1901 at the age of eighty-five.
Dr. Jas. E. Ferguson was born in New York State 1824, grad- uate of Jefferson Medical College and came to Bangor in 1866 where he practiced continuously until his death in 1903. He served two terms in the State Legislature.
Dr. John L. Cross graduated from Cincinnati Medical College in 1872. He came to Bangor 1877 where he practiced until his death in 1883.
Dr. M. C. Cronin came to Bangor in 1882. He graduated from Medical department of Butler University, Indiana, in 1881, and built up a very large and renumerative practice in this vicinity. He moved to Mt. Clemens, Mich., about 1898 where he still lives and has an extensive practice.
Dr. John R. Giffen, a native of Canada came to Bangor in 1894. having graduated from Williamette University the same year. He is still practicing his chosen profession in Bangor and stands high in the community.
Dr. N. A. Williams a native of Michigan came to Bangor 1897. graduated from University of Michigan 1883. He is still lo- rated in Bangor and is one of the leading physicians of the county.
Dr. E. G. Low came to Bangor from Breedsville about 1904 and is still in active practice.
Dr. James Murphy, a native of Ireland, came to Bangor in 1900. Dr. Murphy graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1866. He died in Bangor. 1906 at the age of sixty-three.
Dr. Norman D. Murphy, son of Dr. James Murphy, was born in Canada, graduated from University of Michigan 1904, began practice in Bangor the same year, and through his integrity and skill is enjoying a very renumerative practice and is held in high esteem.
GOBLEVILLE
Dr. Babbit located in Pine Grove township about 1864-65.
Dr. E. A. Bulson located in Gobleville about 1869, practiced
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here for a number of years, went from here to Jackson where he is at this time making a specialty of the diseases of the eye, ear. nose and throat.
Dr. J. F. Failing followed Dr. Bulson in 1878, going from here to Grand Rapids, later to California where he died of con- sumption.
Dr. J. C. Anderson located here in the 'eighties and stayed only a few years.
Dr. J. J. Carpenter located here about 1892 where he practiced until his death about two years ago.
Dr. E. V. N. Hall has been here about twenty years. He is still practicing.
Dr. J. H. Bennett practiced here about a year, ten or twelve years ago, and is now located in Boyne City, Mich.
Dr. Michael Mason was located at Pine Grove for a number of years during the '70s, went from there to Muskegon where he died a few years ago.
Dr. C. L. Bennett came here after graduating from Ann Arbor seven or eight years ago. He has built up a large practice and is doing well.
Dr. Edna Goble located here about 1901. On account of ill health she has not been able to practice for the past two years. She is a daughter of H. E. Goble for whom the village was named.
Dr. Hugh Smith has been here about sixteen months and is doing a large business.
Dr. J. W. Wisely has been here about a year. For a number of years previous he was located four miles north on the Allegan road.
Dr. C. M. Wilkinson has been located in Kendall for a number of years where he has a large practice and is a strong man in his profession.
Dr. G. J. Shand. dentist, located here about 1905, went from here in 1910 to Kalamazoo where he is now located.
Dr. de Goenaga followed Dr. Shand and is doing a good busi- ness.
HARTFORD
Dr. Milton F. Palmer was a native of Bridgewater, Oneida county, New York. When eleven years of age he came to Michigan and settled in Jackson county where he grew to manhood. After completing his professional education he came to Hartford in 1852 where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occur- ring in 1904. He was a man of strong intellect and a lover of nature. A vein of poetry ran through his life and he wrote
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many beautiful and acceptable verses, all of which are unpub- lished. Of the difficulties and privations of the pioneer physician, Doctor Palmer had his full share. Called to visit a patient at South Haven, he would drive as far as the wagon road could be traversed, then saddle his horse for a few miles further ride, finishing the journey by Indian trail on foot.
Dr. W. A. Engle was born in Allegany county, New York, in 1827. His grandfather served in the Revolutionary war and his great-grandfather participated in the noted Germantown battle. Dr. Engle came to Michigan in 1855 and was graduated from the medical department of the University in 1856, locating at Hart- ford the same year, continuing the practice of medicine until 1900. He was very talented as a poet and had several books of poems published which received many commendations. He had the honor of being appointed post-master of Hartford by Presi- dent Lincoln.
Dr. Ezra A. Palmer was a native of Orleans county, New York, coming to Paw Paw with his parents when three years of age. After completing the study of medicine at the University of Michigan in 1876, he located in Hartford where he continued the practice of medicine thirty-three years. In private life Dr. Pal- mer was a man of pronounced opinions and strong convictions. In professional life and in business affairs he was eminently suc- cessful, and hewed strictly to the line of personal integrity. Dr. Palmer with Dr. Rose of Decatur, and Dr. Cronin then of Bangor, now of Mt. Clemens, Mich, constituted the original U. S. Pen- sion Examining Board of this county. Dr. Palmer died Sept. 17, 1909.
Dr. Andrew Robinson located in Hartford in 1905, remaining only five or six months when he moved to Allegan where he con- ducts a hospital and gives considerable attention to surgery.
Those practicing in Hartford at the present time are: Dr. H. C. Maynard. who located in Hartford in 1872; Dr. R. I. Law- rence in 1882; Dr. W. R. Sober in 1900; Dr. John McLean 1902: Dr. J. D. Stewart 1905. The present dentists are: Dr. B. W. Dineous and Dr. F. M. Hinckley.
COVERT
Dr. Logie was the first physician to locate in Covert, coming here about 1874. Dr. Logie was in Covert about two years and sold out to G. D. Carnes of South Haven.
Dr. Carnes moved to South Haven in 1883 and. Dr. O. M. Vaughn came to Covert the same year, where he has since resided.
Dr. Osmer Letson moved to Covert from McDonald, Michigan.
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After a few years he discontinued practice and died a few months ago.
Dr. Edwin Low now in Bangor was in Covert a few months.
Dr. M. McCausland, now in Imlay City, Michigan, was in Covert a few years.
Dr. E. F. Partello came to Covert in 1907 and left in 1910.
Dr. Marvin now of Coloma practiced in Covert while residing on his farm two miles from here.
LAWRENCE
We think no better history of the physicians of Lawrence can be given than is summed up in a letter written in response to our inquiry by Mrs. A. Rice, who is eighty-seven years of age. We print the letter verbatim. "For some twelve or fourteen years after the first settlement in the town there was no resident doc- tor. The pioneers when ill used such home remedies as were at hand and in critical cases sent to Paw Paw for a doctor. The pastor of the Congregational church, Rev. John L. Marvin, had studied medicine before he became a preacher and in extreme cases he ministered to the bodies of the people as well as the souls.
"On one occasion Mrs. Barnes, my mother, fell and broke her arm. Mr. Marvin dressed the injured arm, but fearing that it might not be right he the next day drove to Paw Paw and brought Dr. Andrews to inspect the injured arm who pronounced it all right. The first resident physician in Lawrence was Dr. Prindle. who came in 1849, or there about from the state of New York. After about a year he returned to New York and brought home a bride. A year or two later he removed to Dowagiac where he remained until his death a good many years later. At his death there was universal mourning as he had endeared himself to the people especially the poor by his kindness. He was a doctor of the old school his chief remedies were calomel and quinine, blisters and bleeding.
"The next doctor to settle in Lawrence was Dr. Nelson Rowe whose son Rufus Rowe still lives in Lawrence. Doctor Rowe came . to Lawrence about 1859 or 1860 and remained until his death some years later, Dr. Rowe was a man much respected and trusted by his patients. His system was Allopathy. About the time Doctor Rowe came to Lawrence Doctor Camp came from Bangor to Lawrence; he only remained a year or two and returned to Bangor where he spent the remainder of his life. His death oc- curred several years ago. Not far from the time Doctor Rowe
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came to Lawrence, Doctor Jackson came to live in Lawrence but only stayed about a year and then removed to Paw Paw.
"Doctor Sylvanus Rowe came to Lawrence sometime in 1854 from the state of Iowa and remained until his death, several years ago. Doctor Rowe was a man greatly beloved and respected for his unvarying kindness, while his patients had great confi- dence in his skill. His system was Eclectic. Doctor W. E. Rowe, his son, was born in Lawrence, studied with his father and grad- uated at the University of Michigan, began practice with his father in Lawrence, is at present or was when last I heard living and practicing in Grand Rapids.
"In 1867, or thereabout, Doctor Edward Cleveland came to Lawrence. He was the son of Rev. Edward Cleveland, pastor of the Congregational Church. I think they came from state of New York. Doctor Cleveland practiced a part of the time in partnership with Doctor Rowe. Doctor Cleveland remained five or six years then removed with his father's family to Coffeyville, Kansas.
"Doctor O. B. Wiggins came to Lawrence before Doctor Cleve- land but I cannot give date. Doctor Wiggins came from state of New York, he was for a time in practice with Doctor Sylvanus Rowe but not long. Doctor Wiggins died in Lawrence a few years ago. Doctor A. S. Haskin came to Lawrence when a young man 1857, and quietly made his way and acquired many warm friends. He still lives in town though now out of practice by reason of age and ill health. He was one of the leading physi- cians of the county and had an extensive practice. Doctor A. W. Hendricks came to Lawrence from White Pigeon, Mich., and re- mained two or three years then removed to Paw Paw where re- mained a few years and then removed to other parts. Doctor Zell L. Baldwin came to Lawrence from Manchester, Mich., in 1888, and entered into partnership with Doctor Rowe. After residing in Lawrence several years he removed to Niles, Michi- gan. Doctor Baldwin is at present head of a tuberculosis sani- tarium at Kalamazoo.
"Doctor A. G. Six and Doctor W. P. Bope had been chums in Columbus, Ohio and came to Lawrence at or about the same time, 1897. Three or four years later, Doctor Bope removed to Decatur and went into practice there. Doctor Six still practices in Law- rence. Doctor Donaldson came to Lawrence, in 1902 and remained two years, from same place in Kent county. Doctor F. A. Butter- came to Lawrence in 1900 from Illinois. Doctor F. B. Crowell came to Lawrence in 1897 where he is now doing a general prac- tice. "
Vol. 1-25
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LAWTON
In the early 'fifties a Dr. Gregg came to Lawton, where he practiced two or three years.
In 1855 Dr. Shankland came and practiced a number of years.
Dr. Hazen came also in 1855 and stayed three years.
Dr. Barnum came and practiced in Lawton a short time then went to Grand Rapids.
Dr. Griffin came to Lawton from Edwardsburg, 1862; after practicing here about ten years he returned to Edwardsburg.
Dr. Taylor came to Lawton and stayed but a few months.
Dr. Lee came to Lawton shortly after the war, he was a fleshy man and in summer time rested during the day and worked at night.
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