USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 11
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
in Calhoun County carried its standard as high, for efficiency and skill, as any- where in the State. Its members were in the main as learned and experienced in the early history of the county, as anywhere, and many of them were superior in skill, diagnosis of disease, and discrimination of remedies.
The first physician to locate in the county for the practice of his profession was Dr. Andrew L. Hays, who came from the State of New Hampshire, and located in Marshall in 1831, where he resided until his death, which occurred in December,
1864. His widow and son reside in Clinton, Iowa. Dr. Luther W. Hart came to Marshall in 1832-33, from western New York, and died there in the year 1842. Dr. James P. Greeves came also to Marshall, and Dr. Joseph Sibley, in 1834 or 1835. On November 11, 1839, the Calhoun County Medical Society was organ- ized, at which time there were the following physicians resident in the county present, in addition to those above named : J. H. Montgomery, who came to Marshall in 1836, from central New York; D. B. Crane, at Albion; Daniel Hud- son, Edwin D. Bevitt, William Thompson, L. J. Aylesworth, of Marshall; Robert B. Porter, of Marengo; Henry Proctor, of Tekonsha; Vernon Parks, D. Nims, and E. Allen, of Homer ; Albert W. Lathrop, of Marshall; Frederick Wheelock, of Albion ; and T. C. Hurd, of Burlington. The officers of the society were Dr. Hart, president; Dr. Crane, vice-president ; Dr. J. H. Montgomery, secretary ; Dr. Thompson, treasurer ; Drs. Crane, Montgomery, Bevitt, Sibley, and Greeves, censors. The censors were sworn to perform their duties faithfully and impar- tially. Of the above-named physicians but two are now in practice in the county, -Dr. Montgomery, who still maintains his profession in Marshall, and Dr. Porter, at Marengo. Of the others, Drs. Sibley, Crane, Hudson, Aylesworth, Proctor, Parks, Lathrop, and Wheelock are deceased. Dr. Nims practices at Jackson ; Hurd is at Union City; Gill at Elkhart, Indiana, and Tuttle lives at Albion. Greeves is in California.
Dr. William M. Campbell located in Battle Creek about March 1, 1837, and resided there until his death, March 15, 1870. Dr. Edward Cox located at the same place September 5, 1839, and still continues his practice there. He is an eminent surgeon and physician. Dr. Matthew Gill, Jr., located in the fall of 1842, removing to Marshall in 1862 or 1863, and from thence to other parts.
Dr. James Taylor came in the winter of 1842-43, and died here in the spring of 1848. Dr. Asahel Beach located in 1844, and, after a few years' practice, retired from business, and still resides in the place. Dr. Hazard A. Potter located in the spring of 1844, and removed from Battle Creek in 1845, and died a few years ago at Geneva, New York. Dr. S. B. Thayer located in the village in 1846, where he remained two years, and removed to Detroit ; subsequently made two or more different locations at Battle Creek, where he died in 1874. Dr. Drake practiced a short time with Dr. Thayer, and removed to Indiana, and thence to Detroit, and was killed a few years ago by the cars at Ypsilanti. Dr. Artemas Doane located at Bedford about 1848 or 1849; came to Battle Creek about 1853-54, where he practiced till his death, which occurred in the fall of 1866. Dr. M. W. Tomlinson located about 1854, and still continues his practice. Dr. James A. Deane located in 1868 or thereabouts, and practiced until 1874-75, when he removed to Catskill, New York. Dr. Simon L. French came in the fall of 1847, and is still in practice. Dr. L. A. Foote commenced practice in 1873, and still continues his practice. All of the above were of the regular school of medicine,-the allopathic. Dr. Wattles and Dr. Robinson, homoeopathists, and Dr. Spencer and Dr. John Beath, are among the present medical staff of the city.
Dr. Samuel Tuttle was born at Molkton, Vermont, August 4, 1798, and re- moved to Albion in 1841, and attended a course of medical lectures at Ann Arbor in 1852. Dr. H. B. Teed located at Battle Creek previous to 1845. Dr. E. Church located at Marshall in 1843, or earlier. Dr. G. W. Force located in Marshall in 1841, and Dr. Waldo at Albion in 1842-43, and Dr. Maniates in Marshall about 1844. These last five physicians were of the regular school. Dr. T. S. Ripley, of the botanic school, located in Marshall in 1845. Dr. O. C. Comstock located at Marshall in 1836, but engaged in manufacturing and mer- cantile business rather than the practice of medicine as a profession. Dr. James A. Hahn located at Marshall in 1845. Dr. Ennis Church is in Mississippi, Dr. Force in Ohio, Dr. Waldo is dead, and Dr. Maniates, an Italian, also is dead. Dr. Hahn came from Seneca county, New York, and practiced about fifteen years, and then removed to Chicago, where he died. He was succeeded in Marshall by his son, Henry Hahn, who also removed to Chicago, where he has now a lucrative practice. Dr. Anderson came to Marshall in 1861, and remained three or four years, and removed to Berrien Springs. Dr. Gibson came about the same time, and remained a short time, and removed to Jackson. Dr. W. B. Church came in 1860 or thereabouts, and is still in practice. He is of the eclectic school, and has a very extensive practice. Dr. H. L. Joy came in 1845 or thereabouts, and is yet in practice. He is the present mayor of the city. Drs. Bagley, older and younger, homoeopathists, after a short practice removed to Seattle, Washington Territory, where they still reside. Dr. Sullings was the first homoeopathic physi- cian to locate in Marshall, and he came in 1852, and is now in Kalamazoo. Dr. Coon has been twenty years and more in practice in Marshall as a homoeopathist. Dr. H. A. Peterman has been a resident of Marshall for nearly forty years, and a practicing eclectic physician for the last twenty years. Dr. Gallup also is an eclectic, now in practice in Marshall, and Dr. Roberts is a homoeopathist at the present time in the city. Dr. Enke, a practitioner of the regular school, came in
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1870, but after a short stay removed to Detroit, where he now is. Dr. Collamer located in South Albion in 1833, and died a year or two afterwards.
The following physicians have " ministered to the ills flesh is heir to," having their local habitation in Albion, in addition to those before named : Calvin Mil- lington came from Vermont in 1836; H. M. Hovey from New York in' 1838; James Henderson in 1837; Benjamin Packard in 1845, all of whom are now deceased ; also W. H. Johnson in 1850, who removed to Kalamazoo; W. B. Southard in 1851, who also removed to the last-named city ; Milton Osborn, who came from New York in 1850, Henry Van Ostrand in 1857, and William W. Collins in 1859, were also from that State; E. H. Wilber, who located in 1861, was from India, and A. R. Brown from New York, settled in 1867 ; and the same year John P. Stoddard, a native of Michigan, located here ; M. O. Belknap located in 1871, and removed subsequently to Lake Superior ; Amos Crosby was from New York, and located in 1872, and A. M. Haight in 1874 was a native of Michigan ; E. L. Parmeter settled in 1877, in Albion, being also to the " manor born ;" Willoughby O'Donoghue was a resident of Albion at the time of the breaking out of the rebellion, and served with distinction as surgeon of the regi- ment of engineers and mechanics, from its muster in until its final discharge in the summer of 1865.
THE CLERICAL PROFESSION.
The most noted preachers in the county among the pioneers were Rev. John D. Pierce, Congregational, Rev. Mr. Pilcher, Methodist, Rev. John P. Cleveland, Presbyterian, and president of the Marshall College, and Rev. Mr. Grant, the projector of the Wesleyan seminary at Albion. . Others are noted, but they are named in connection with the church history of the townships. The teachers also are named in connection with the schools in the township and city histories.
CHAPTER XI.
THE PRESS : PATRIOT AND EXPOUNDER; STATESMAN; JOURNAL; TRIBUNE ; MIRROR ; RECORDER; INDEX ; ADVENT REVIEW AND PUBLICATIONS.
" THE pen is mightier than the sword." The history of the press of Calhoun County is not an uninteresting one, and could we reproduce on our pages one of the first newspapers of the county in contrast with those published forty years afterwards therein, there would be no need of spectacles to note the progress in this department of our work. A community of New England and New York Yankees could not long exist without their own newspaper, and, therefore, before the infant colony was well out of its swathings the printing-press was set up and the editorial tripod established. The first newspaper to fling its banner to the breeze rejoiced in the patriotic cognomen of the Calhoun County Patriot and Democratic Expounder, the first number of which was issued. October 2, 1836, with Henry C. Bunce as editor. It was published by a stock company, which was organized during the summer and early fall of 1836, Mr. Bunce, however, being the prime mover in the enterprise, and finally buying up the stock and becoming sole proprietor in 1840. It was a sheet of twenty-four by thirty-six inches, and in politics was then, as it is now, Democratic. In 1844 the name was changed to the Democratic Expounder and Calhoun County Patriot, Mr. Bunce con- tinuing to publish it until 1850, when Jabez Fox was associated with Chastain Mann in the proprietorship for a short time, he retiring the same year to give place to L. G. Noyes, who became the editor and part owner of the paper, in which connection he continued until his death, which occurred in June, 1864, at which time Mr. Mann became sole proprietor, and so remained until 1873, when the paper passed under the control of S. S. Lacey, who subsequently leased the office to Z. H. Denison, the present publisher, and who has been connected with the office for the past nine years. Mr. Lacey still retains control of its editorial columns. Hon. F. W. Shearman was for many years the editor of the Expounder, and its corps of contributors included Rev. John D. Pierce, Hon. Isaac E. Crary, S. H. Preston, Esq., Hon. Abner Pratt, Hon. D. Darwin Hughes, and others equally eminent in letters and politics. Under Mr. Lacey the Expounder bc- came more particularly the organ of the Liberal Republican party, supporting Mr. Greeley and the Liberal Democratic policy. The editorial department has suffered no diminution in point of ability and interest under his management, and the paper possesses a well-merited influence with the party whose policy it advo- cates. Connected with the Expounder is a first-class job-office, under the direct management and control of Mr. Denison, where all work from a fine visiting card to a mammoth poster can be turned out in good shape and with dispatch. Mr.
Shearman's " Sketches of Public Men," which appeared in 1838, in the columns of the Patriot, while he was a reporter in the National House of Representatives, were intensely interesting.
Mr. Shearman was born June 20, 1817, at Vernon, Oneida county, New York, and died at Marshall, December 7, 1874. In 1841 he assumed the editorial control of the Michigan Journal of Education, and in 1849 was appointed super- intendent of public instruction by Governor Ransom, and on the office becoming elective in 1851 was chosen by the people of the State for two consecutive terms, thus holding the position for six years continuously. His annual report of 1852 was a masterly production, and set forth clear and comprehensive views of the requirements of general education. This paper was extensively called for by other States, and quoted as authority on educational matters generally. As a writer he was " polished, forcible, independent, and aggressive."
About the same time the Patriot appeared, another candidate for the favor and patronage of the then dominant party came into the field, under the name of The Marshall Times, John Greeves being the founder of the same ; but the field having been fully occupied and held by the Patriot, after a brief existence of six months the fledgeling expired. The material was purchased by David L. Johns, a promi- nent lawyer, and others of the county, and under Mr. Johns a new paper, advo- cating the policy of the Whig party, was established under the name of The Marshall Republican, the first number appearing about October 1, 1837. Mr. Johns conducted his sheet through the campaign of 1838, when it ceased its issues. On the 12th day of September, 1839, Seth Lewis, having purchased the material of the Republican, issued the Western Statesman, as the organ of the Whig party of the county. This name continued to adorn its title-page until October 12, 1844, when it was changed to its present one,- The Marshall States- man. The founder of the Statesman, Mr. Lewis, continued to publish it with- out intermission until January 1, 1866, when he disposed of his interest in the same to Messrs. Bissell & Burgess, who continued its publication for three years, when Wm. R. Lewis, a son of the founder of the paper, succeeded Bissell, the publication being continued by the latter firm until April 1, 1872, when Mr. Seth Lewis again assumed control of the office, and managed it until January 23, 1873, at which time the present editor and proprietor, Morgan Bates, Esq., suc- ceeded to the management and control of the office and publication. Under Mr. Lewis' first management J. O. Balch, William Cook, and E. A. Tenney, Esq., conducted its editorial columns at different times, Mr. Balch being its editor during its earlier history, and Mr. Tenney in the latter part of the time,-between 1857 and 1865. During the fierce political campaigns of 1840 and 1844, Mr. Balch's editorial utterances were of the most vigorous Saxon. He was unsparing in his denunciation of the opposite party and its policy, and not always choice of his terms when speaking of candidates. In fact, the Expounder and the Statesman, to use a phrase more expressive than elegant, made things extremely lively for each other during their entire earlier career. Mr. Tenney, now of Lansing, con- tributed a series of humorous backwoods articles to the Statesman under the nom de plume of " Peleg Olepod," which, it is said, D. R. Locke acknowledges to have given him his first idea of his "Nasby" letters. Mr. Tenney was also a vigorous political writer. Under the management of Mr. Bates the Statesman has steadily increased its circulation, patronage, and influence, and has become one of the foremost Republican papers in the interior of the State. It is independent, outspoken, fearless, and radical in its advocacy of its political principles and of public policy. Aggressive it has ever been, and not an inch of ground has been lost by Mr. Bates in that particular. Its columns are ably conducted, its locals spicily written, and its mechanical appearance is crisp, fresh, and neat. It can boast, what few papers in the State can, that since its first issue, September 12, 1839, to the present time, it has never missed an issue on the advertised date of publication ; and since Mr. Bates' control it has, with but a single exception,- and that the occasion of the Hayes-Tilden election returns,-never been delayed an hour in reaching the hands of its city subscribers beyond its usual hour of publication. Promptness and regularity have been, and are, the " essence of the contract" with the Statesman, and its publisher is now reaping the just reward of that policy. It is the leading Republican paper of the county, and has a cir- culation of about one thousand copies per week. The Statesman, under Mr. Bates, has accomplished several reforms in the management of city affairs, and has been quick to detect and condemn errors, social and political, in city and State. While it is firmly Republican, the Statesman is boldly independent. Since Mr. Bates' accession he has added a new jobbing press and entirely changed the material of the office, and can turn out all classes of fine job and book work, of any size or quality, required of an interior printing-office.
The Journal of Education was published in Marshall in 1838-40. Francis W. Shearman edited the publication, which was distributed generally throughout the State, and was an able advocate of the common and higher school system of Michigan. John D. Pierce, Isaac E. Crary, John Norvell, H. R. Schoolcraft,
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and others were contributors thereto. The Michigan Temperance Advocate was published for a time in Marshall, in 1841, at the Statesman office, under the charge of Dr. Comstock.
The Family Journal, published in Marshall, in 1870-71, was an eight-page monthly, twenty-eight by forty inches, by M. V. Wagner, editor and proprietor, the first number appearing in May, 1870. It was a literary publication, and was sold to S. S. Woods, publisher of the Household Magazine, of Newburg, New York, with which the Journal was incorporated. The peculiar feature of its history was heavy issues for the first two or three numbers,-some fifty thousand copies.
The Marshall Transcript was issued a few weeks only, by J. O. Balch, in the early part of 1846.
The Michigan Tribune .- The present editor and part proprietor of the Tribune, Mr. W. W. Woolnough, has been so intimately connected with the history of the press of Battle Creek that we find some difficulty in identifying any particular publication separately. We find, however, that the first step towards the estab- lishment of a newspaper in Battle Creek was taken in 1845, at which time the citizens subscribed a sum sufficient to guarantee the successful commencement of a paper at least. Under these circumstances, Leonard Stillson was delegated to purchase a press, type, and the usual concomitants of a respectable newspaper office. For this purpose he proceeded to Rochester, New York, and while pro- curing his outfit he came across a young man, by name Walter W. Woolnough, who was a journeyman printer, whom he induced to return to Battle Creek to take charge of the mechanical department of the new paper. In July, 1845, all the necessary preparations had been completed, and the first issue of The Western Citizen and Battle Creek Champion greeted the expectant citizens. After run- ning about a year, the name and politics were changed, and in August, 1846, the first number of the Michigan Tribune appeared in its stead, with the names of W. W. Woolnough and E. Dougherty imprinted thereon as editors and proprietors. The Tribune came out as a Whig sheet, and ably defended the doctrines of that party. Owing to a lukewarmness in its support, it ceased to exist in February, 1848.
During the summer of that year, the Signal of Liberty, the organ of the lib- erty or abolition party of Michigan, which had been published at Ann Arbor, but had been obliged to suspend publication for want of sufficient support, was revived at Battle Creek, Messrs. Woolnough & Dougherty contracting to print it, using their then idle press and materials for that purpose. Soon afterwards the party managers purchased the material of these gentlemen, and retained Eras- tus Hussey as editor. Within a short period the Eagle block, in which the office was located, was destroyed by fire, with its contents, and Battle Creek was without a paper until October, 1851, when the Journal was established, of which more hereafter. In 1864, Messrs. Pease & Lewis established the Constitutional Union, and continued its publication two years, when it passed to the manage- ment of Mr. Abner Hitchcock. Within a few months it succumbed to the lack of patronage and ceased to exist. Upon its remains, in August, 1870, arose the Michigan Tribune, C. N. Pease and Lyman Reade proprietors. In January, 1871, Wm. H. Bodine purchased Mr. Reade's interest, and on the 19th of June following Mr. Woolnough succeeded Mr. Pease as a partner in the concern. The latter gentleman now edits the Tribune, and with his practical experience and abilities as a journalist the paper cannot fail to sustain the prominent position it has assumed and remain one of the cherished institutions of the city. When the change occurred in proprietorship the politics of the journal were also changed from Democratic to Republican. In 1872, Mr. Woolnough supported Horace Greeley for the presidency, and became convinced of the necessity of a change in the general political aspect of the country, and so adhered to the principles ad- vocated by the liberal or independent movement. In 1876, he and his paper rallied to the support of Samuel J. Tilden, and the Tribune now ranks among the advocates of Democracy. The Tribune now has a bona fide circulation of eight hundred, which is still increasing. It is an ably-edited thirty-six-column weekly newspaper, and one which deserves the patronage of the people residing within the range of its usefulness.
Mr. Woolnough has represented the city and county in the State legislature, and has held important offices in the city government for many years ; for nine years he has been a member of the school board, of which body he is now presi- dent ; all of which positions he has filled with eminent satisfaction to his constit- uents, and with personal credit. Messrs. Woolnough & Bodine also conduct a well-supplied job printing-office, and have the reputation of turning out excellent work of every description.
The Battle Creek Journal .- The weekly edition of the Journal was established in October, 1851, as a Whig newspaper, by Gantt & Burton, and in February of the following year it was purchased by W. W. Woolnough, by whom it was ably conducted for about eleven years. In 1863 it was purchased by Charles E.
Griffith, and continued by him until November, 1867. During the latter year the office passed into the possession of George Willard, its present proprietor. In August, 1868, Wm. C. D. Brewer was admitted as a partner, and continued as such until November, 1873, when he retired from the partnership, but still retains a connection with the office, as its business manager. Since the latter date Mr. Willard has been sole proprietor. On the 2d of July, 1872, after adding new type, presses, etc., the first issue of the Daily Journal, a neat and well-edited newspaper, appeared, and has since been continuously published as an afternoon daily. This year Mr. Willard was elected to Congress, and again re-elected in 1874. During his absence in Washington, the editorial management of the paper devolved upon Mr. George W. Harris, a writer of ability and a well-known jour- nalist. Since his return from Washington Mr. Willard has again taken full edi- torial charge of the paper.
The Journal is Republican in politics and devoted to the advancement of all local interests. Typographically, it is neat in its appearance, while its editorial and general news departments are characterized by experienced journalistic ability. The weekly edition now has a circulation of twelve hundred and fifty, and the daily three hundred. In connection with the office is quite an extensive job printing establishment, which, in its various appointments, is unsurpassed by any similar establishment in the county.
Mr. Willard is a gentleman well and favorably known, not only in Battle Creek, but also throughout the country. He has been a member of the State board of education, a regent of the State University, was a member of the legislature in 1867, and of the constitutional convention the same year. From 1872 to 1876 he represented his district in Congress, to the general satisfaction of his constit- uents, and with distinguished ability.
The Jeffersonian .- In 1857 a Democratic paper, called the Jeffersonian, was established by Wm. S. Pease, who soon after received the appointment of post- master, in Battle Creek, under Buchanan. The paper then passed into the hands of John C. Gentzler, by whom it was conducted until 1860, and then discon- tinued.
About the year 1862, Dr. Nathaniel Potter started the Albion Review and Battle Creek City News, at this place, which had a very brief existence.
In 1863, The Republican was started by V. T. Hull, which had a very brief existence.
The Albion Press was established in December, 1849, the first number appearing on the 28th of that month. James Hugh Perry was the publisher, but it had a few months' lease of life only.
The Albion Weekly Mirror was founded October 11, 1855, by L. W. Cole, who still continues its publication. It was at first neutral in politics, but could not long remain so under so vigorous a thinker as its editor and proprietor, and conse- quently, shortly after its first issue, it espoused the Democratic policy, and has sup- ported the same to the present boldly and fearlessly. It is a seven-column sheet, twenty-four by thirty-six inches, and has a circulation of about seven hundred copies weekly. Frank F. Cole manages the mechanical part of the publication, and an extensive job office connected therewith. The typography of the Mirror is good, and it is an ably-edited weekly family paper.
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