USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
Hosted by
CHAPTER XVIII.
EARLY PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SOCIETIES.
The life of a medical practitioner in these days of antiseptic hospitals, proprietary remedies and visits facilitated by twelve-cylinder touring cars and perfect roads, does not mean quite the arduous existence that it meant one hundred, or eighty, or even fifty years ago, when the disciples of Aescula- pius labored patiently and untiringly for the good of their fellow-man. The greatest of English historians, Macaulay, has said, "The history of a country is best told in a record of the lives of its people," and possibly no truer account of the settling of new lands may be chronicled than in the recording of the lives of these sturdy pioneers, the county doctors. They should be accorded the deference of the historian.
When Genesee county was still partly covered with forests, and the vil- lages were tiny hamlets, came the first doctor, Cyrus Baldwin, who removed from Onondaga county, New York, and came to Grand Blanc in the spring of 1833. He was a deacon in the Presbyterian church in that locality. In 1837 he went to Atlas, was the pioneer physician in that township and prac- ticed there for a number of years. The second physician to settle in the vicinity of Grand Blanc was Dr. John W. King, who came in 1834. After the removal of Doctor Baldwin, Doctor King remained as the only physician of the settlement until the spring of 1848, when Dr. H. C. Fairbank became his partner in the profession. This partnership continued until the winter of 1849-50 when Doctor King withdrew entirely from practice and soon afterward removed to the village of Flint, where he engaged in the foundry business. After some two years, however, he returned to Grand Blanc, or Whigville, to pass his remaining years in comparative retirement upon his farm. In 1873 he suffered an attack of paralysis, from which he never fully recovered, and died in November, 1876.
Another of the early physicians to migrate to the new country was Dr. Samuel W. Pattison, who came in 1836 to make his home in Fenton. Dr. Thomas Steere was the next to locate in the same village, coming from Nor- wich, Chenango county, New York, in 1838. He died in 1860, being much beloved, and, in accordance with his last wishes, was buried just at sunset
Hosted by Google
570
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
in a black walnut coffin in the little cemetery just outside the town. He enjoyed an enviable reputation as a worthy citizen and an excellent prac- titioner. Dr. John C. Gallup was in Fenton during Doctor Steere's last years and was associated with him for some time. But the work was ardu- ous, the remuneration difficult to secure and the early physicians who pio- neered in virgin territory did not enjoy the most desirable comforts of life; so, tiring of the difficulties to be surmounted, Doctor Gallup finally gave up his practice in Fenton and subsequently removed to Clinton, New York, where he became the principal of a well-known seminary for young ladies.
Dr. Isaac Wixom, of Fenton, who practiced his profession for half a century in Michigan, was born near Hector, Tompkins county, New York, in 1803. He studied for a time in the office of a country physician near his home and subsequently attended lectures and graduated at Fairfield, Herki- mer county, New York. Being at that time under age, he could not be granted a diploma, although his standing entitled him to one. In 1824 he attained his majority and received his diploma from the Medical Society of Penn Yan, Yates county, New York. He immediately began practice in Steuben county, continuing for four years. In the spring of 1829 he emi- grated to Michigan, his father having preceded him, and settled near the latter's home, in the township of Farmington, Oakland county. During his stay there he engaged in practice and also "kept tavern." Fifteen years of constant labor in his profession, however, together with his other duties, wearied him and in 1844 he removed to the township of Argentine, Genesee county, where, thinking to avoid the hardships which lay in the path of the country doctor, he engaged in the mercantile and milling business. But he had been very successful and had become too great a necessity as a physician and also as a surgeon for his wishes to be realized. So, through charity for his neighbor, he again took up the life of hard rides and long hours, in a com- munity which had no other doctor to minister to the needs of the inhabitants. Doctor Wixom purchased land in Argentine and moved his family there the year following. For fifteen years he enjoyed a large practice in and around Argentine and also built up a greater portion of the village, which was for some years a point of greater commercial interest than Fenton. In 1838 he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature, then convened in Detroit, and was for two years a member of the house committee on education. While in that capacity he took an active part in measures relating to the found- ing of the University of Michigan. In 1841 he was elected to the state Senate. During his term, in company with Hon. James Kingsgley, he drew up one of the first railroad charters granted in Michigan. In 1861, Doctor
Hosted by Google
P
571
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Wixom aided in raising "Stockton's Independent Regiment," afterwards known as the Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, and accompanied it to the field as its surgeon. For two years he remained with it, participating in twenty- two engagements. Owing to his failing health, he found it necessary to resign and in 1863 he returned to Argentine. He afterwards removed to Fenton in 1869.
Dr. George W. Fish, one of the early physicians of Genesee county, located in the township of Genesee in 1836. A little later he removed to . Flint, where he practiced until 1846. His health failing about this time, he went to Central America and stayed for some time, identifying himself with the Panama Railroad Company. A few years later he went to China, where he remained for seven years in the interests of the board of missions as head of the medical department. While in China, he was appointed United States . consul to fill a vacancy at Hong-Kong. At the beginning of the war Doctor Fish returned to America and entered the army as brigade surgeon, and when he had fulfilled his duty to his country returned to Flint and resumed his active professional life. He was later appointed United States consul at Tunis, Africa. His death occurred in 1871.
In 1846 Dr. Joseph W. Graham came from Owosso to Fenton and remained there in practice until about 1851, when he removed to Flint. About two years later he left Flint and located in New Albany, Indiana, from which place he afterwards removed to Chicago, where he died. In 1850 Dr. Will- iam B. Cole came to Fenton. After a few years he retired from practice and held several township offices. He finally went to Pontiac, Oakland county, where, in 1871, he purchased a half interest in the Pontiac Jacksonian from the widow of its former proprietor, D. H. Solis. He soon became the sole proprietor of the paper, but in May, 1872, he sold an interest to Mr. Sheridan and in the fall of the same year the firm moved the office and material to Ludington, Michigan, where the publication became known as the Ludington Appeal.
To Davisonville in 1844 came Dr. Elbridge G. Gale, a native of Massa- chusetts and a graduate of the medical college of Castleton, Vermont. He practiced there with success until 1851, after which he became interested in politics. He was elected to the Legislature for several terms and was a dele- gate to the constitutional convention in 1850. Soon after this he entirely withdrew from the practice of medicine and devoted his efforts to farming and sheep raising. His successor in practice was Doctor R. N. Murray, of Atlas.
Hosted by Google
572
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
At Goodrich, in 1846, Dr. Joseph Eastman entered the practice of medi- cine. He afterwards removed to a farm in Davison township and still later removed to the city of Flint, where he died in 1878. About 1842 Flushing welcomed a resident physician in Doctor Miller, who practiced there for many years, afterwards going to Springfield, Oakland county, and still later to Winona, Michigan.
In 1847 Dr. H. C. Fairbank, who was born in Wayne county, New York, and was a graduate of the Willoughby University and of the Western Reserve College, of Cleveland, Ohio, commenced practice in the village of Flint with Dr. R. D. Lamond. In 1848 Doctor Fairbank went to Grand Blanc and entered practice there, being associated with the veteran Doctor King. This professional partnership continued for a year and a half, when Doctor King retired to his farm. Doctor Fairbank remaining in Grand Blanc until November, 1864, when he removed to Flint.
All of these men were practitioners of the "old school" of allopathy. Later came exponents of homeopathy, the pioneer in this branch of the pro- fession being Dr. I. N. Eldridge, of Flint. Doctor Eldridge was a graduate of the Homeopathic Medical College of New York and also of Cleveland, Ohio, and was one of the oldest homeopathic practitioners in the state. In 1847 he was one of the eight physicians present at the formation of the first Michigan Institute of Homeopathy. He came to Michigan from Livingston county, New York, in 1847, locating first in Ann Arbor, coming to Flint in a professional way in 1850 and settling here permanently a little later. He had a business partner in Dr. E. F. Olds, who, however, only remained in Flint for a short time, going later to South Lyon, Oakland county, and later to Howell. Dr. William S. Cornelius came to Flint a short time after Doc- tor Eldridge, but removed after a few years of practice. About this time came Dr. Lewis Taylor, who located in Flushing. Dr. Charles M. Putnam established himself in Flint about 1864. Dr. C. S. Eldridge practiced in Flint in 1865. Dr. J. G. Malcolm next came in 1866, remained a number of years and then removed to Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. A. J. Adams com- menced to practice in Flint in 1873. The list of homeopathic physicians in Genesee county, as given in the "Annual (homeopathic) Directory" for 1878 is as follows: I. N. Eldridge. C. M. Putnam, A. J. Adams, C. A. Hughes, and M. E. Hughes, Flint; Lewis Taylor, Flushing; R. E. Knapp, Fenton; A. Austin, Argentine ; J. Parks, Gaines.
Dr. Robert D. Lamond, a graduate of the medical college of Castleton. Vermont, came to Flint in 1838 from Pontiac, where he had commenced practice soon after 1830. In 1835 he was a member of the Oakland county
Hosted by Google
573
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Medical Society and was afterward elected its secretary. He resided in Flint the remainder of his life and took an active part in social, professional and educational life. He represented Genesee county in the Legislature of 1844 and died in 1871. Doctor Richardson was another of the early physicians, coming to Flint in 1837, but he remained only a few years, removing about 1840 to the West.
Among the most interesting men engaged in the medical profession in Flint was Dr. S. M. Axford, who came to the city in 1858 from Detroit. So great was his success that many humorous tales were related of him, to the effect that it was once said of him that there was not a home in the town that he had not visited and that his fellow practitioners were all a bit resent- ful because of his advent into their midst. He built what was known as the Axford House in Flint, which was primarily intended for a private hospital, being an edifice which in those days was considered quite elegant and very expensive; but, for some reason, Doctor Axford altered his plans and the fine house was occupied by him as a place of residence. His death occurred in 1873 and he was greatly mourned by all of the physicians in the city who had grown to admire his personality and professional attainments. He had been in his youth a resident of Oakland county, where his father had owned extensive lands, and he received his medical education at the University of Michigan.
In 1857 a partnership existed between Dr. R. D. Lamond and Dr. James C. Willson. Doctor Willson was born of Scotch-Irish parentage in the town- ship of Fitzroy, Ontario, in 1833, and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1857. He established his practice in Flint soon after his gradu- ation. In spite of the fact that the young doctor had a delicate constitution, riding long distances on horseback, through mud and mire, over corduroy roads, day and night, summer and winter, he developed a robust constitution which carried him through long years of usefulness and helpfulness to man- kind. Doctor Willson had only commenced his active professional life when. in 1861, the country of his adoption faced a crisis and he placed his life and his skill at the service of the government. Appointed surgeon of the Tenth Michigan Infantry, he left his practice and went to the front. In 1862 he was transferred to the Eighth Michigan, called the "Flint regiment" because it was recruited largely from Flint and vicinity and had at its head Col. William M. Fenton of this city. Doctor Willson joined the Eighth at Beau- fort, South Carolina, and was on the field in every battle fought by that hard- hit and hard-hitting regiment. Broken down in health by the hardships of campaigning, he was forced to surrender his commission, receiving an honor-
Hosted by Google
574
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
able discharge. His military service was recognized when, in 1864, after he had resumed his practice in Flint, he was appointed by the governor of the state to the post of Michigan military representative at Washington.
In 1865 Doctor Willson was married to Miss Rhoda M. Crapo, daugh- ter of Henry H. Crapo, then governor of Michigan. Doctor Willson was for many years conspicuous in the life of the community. He was a mem- ber for some time of the board of trustees of the Michigan school for the deaf, and was one of the organizers of the Genesee County Savings Bank, succeeding the late William A. Atwood as president. Doctor Willson was one of the patriarchal figures of Flint and his death, in 1912, removed one of the best known residents of Genesee county. After his death his home and extensive grounds, formerly the old Governor Crapo homestead, was acquired by the city of Flint for a public park.
In 1860 Dr. M. M. Smith took up the practice of Medicine in Flint, remaining for about eight years, coming to Michigan from Buffalo, New York. He died in 1868 at his residence on First street, directly across the street from The Green, as the half of the block now bounded by South Sagi- naw street, East First street and Beach street was then called.
In 1866 was formed the Genesee County Medical Association. On Saturday, May 26, a number of physicians of the county held a preliminary meeting at the Irving House, in Flint, to take measures for its formation. R. D. Lamond was chosen chairman and J. B. F. Curtis, secretary of the meeting. A. B. Chapin, M. F. Baldwin and C. W. Tyler were chosen as a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws, and S. M. Axford, C. V. Tyler, S. Lathrop, L. N. Beagle, A. B. Chapin, M. F. Baldwin and J. B. F. Curtis were chosen delegates to the State Medical Convention to be held at Detroit on June 5. The meeting then adjourned to July 14. At the adjourned meeting the committee reported a constitution, which was adopted and signed by the physicians present, namely: R. D. Lamond, H. C. Fair- bank, A. B. Chapin, S. M. Axford, James B. F. Curtis, Flint; S. Lathrop, Pine Run; M. F. Baldwin, Genesee; Lewis S. Pilcher, Clayton. The name adopted for the organization was "The Genesee County Medical Association," which had for its declared object "to promote medical and gen- eral science, and in every way to advance the interests of the medical pro- fession." The following were chosen its first officers: President, R. D. Lamond; vice-president. H. C. Fairbank ; secretary, J. B. F. Curtis; treasurer, A. B. Chapin.
A number of physicians were admitted as members of the association
Hosted by Google
.
575
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
at different times subsequent to its organization. But several did not sign the constitution and by-laws and several others withdrew afterwards. Dis- satisfaction crept into the association and it was finally dissolved about 1873. Its last recorded meeting was held on May 17, of that year.
On August 18, 1871, the Flint Academy of Medicine was organized at a meeting of the physicians and surgeons of the county held at the Scientific Institute rooms in Flint. Dr. Daniel Clarke, of Flint, as chairman, appointed a committee, composed of Drs. A. B. Chapin and Henry P. Seymour, of Flint, and Dr. Adelbert F. Coupe, of Flushing, to draft a constitution and by-laws. By the first article of the constitution as reported, the name and style of the association was to be "The Society of Physicians and Surgeons of Genesee County." On motion of Dr. J. C. Willson, of Flint, this article was amended by the substitution of the name above given. The several articles and the entire constitution and by-laws were then adopted. The article having reference to eligibility for membership was as follows: "Any physician in good standing, and who is a graduate of a regular school of medicine recognized by the American Medical Association, may become a member of this academy."
The members of the academy at its organization were, Daniel Clarke, H. C. Fairbank, James C. Willson, George W. Fish, Thomas R. Buckham. William Bullock, A. B. Chapin, Orson Millard, Henry P. Seymour, P. G. Wartman, Adelbert F. Coupe, Newcomb S. Smith, Hiram H. Bardwell and C. W. Pengra. The following were its officers: President, Daniel Clarke : vice-president, Adelbert F. Coupe ; secretary, Orson Millard; treasurer, James C. Willson : board of censors, Newcomb S. Smith, George W. Fish and James C. Willson.
Dr. Daniel Clarke, one of the organizers of the academy, was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and a graduate of both the literary and medical departments of Harvard University. Doctor Clarke's splendid mentality. both in his chosen profession and in the more aesthetic branches of learning, placed him in an enviable position in the community and he enjoyed a most successful practice, which lasted until his death. He was consulted by the younger members of the profession upon important subjects and was not only a skilled scientist, but a specialized botanist. The beautiful elms which grace East Kearsley street and many other of the handsome residence dis- tricts of Flint were the famous "Boston Elms" and were brought when strip- lings from their native haunts and planted by Doctor Clarke himself along the principal streets. Doctor Clarke was the founder of the Flint Scientific
Hosted by Google
1
576
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Institute, which was later merged into the High School Museum, at one time the object of much interest and discussion, and was also a member of the board of education for a long period of years. Doctor Miles, a brother-in- law of Doctor Clarke, came to Flint in 1870, but remained only a short time. going to Lansing where, in later years, he was an instructor in Michigan College.
Among the best known physicians of the early seventies in Flint was Doctor Bullock, who enjoyed an extensive practice. He was a man of research and skill and invented what was known as "sweet quinine," which at one time had a very large sale and was manufactured on an extensive scale by a large drug firm in Detroit.
Dr. Thomas R. Buckham, a native of Chingacousy, Peel county, Ontario, and a graduate of Victoria University, Toronto, came to Flint in 1868 from Petrolia, Ontario, where he had enjoyed a successful practice for a number of years. He was of highly cultivated intellect, fond of the classics and well versed in them, and was the author of a work on insanity, considered in its medico-legal relations and mentioned elsewhere in this volume. After his death in 1891, his practice was continued by his son, Dr. James N. Buckham, a man of genial disposition and scholarly tastes, who was for many years division surgeon of the Grand Trunk railroad, and who passed away in Rochester, Minnesota, April 18, 1908.
Among the older physicians who practiced in Flint during the late seven- ties and early eighties was Dr. A. A. Thompson. Born in Richmond, Ver- mont, in 1829, he attended a primitive school, and when he was eighteen years of age was sent to Oberlin College, where he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, later receiving his Master of Arts diploma. A few years later he graduated from the medical department of the University of Michigan. He was professor of anatomy and chemistry in Olivet College for several years, after which he went into practice at Vermontville, Mich- igan. In 1862 he entered the army and acted as assistant surgeon in the Twelfth Michigan Infantry, remaining until the close of the war. In 1869 Doctor Thompson was elected to the state Legislature from Eaton county, after which he was appointed United States consul at Goderich, Ontario, under President Grant. In 1878 he went to Long Island College Hospital, later locating in Flint, where he enjoyed a large practice for many years. His death occurred in 1892.
Among the older physicians who are residing in Flint, but not engaged in active practice, is Dr. Orson Millard, born near Rochester, Michigan, in
Hosted by Google
577
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1845, and a descendant of Millard Fillmore. Doctor Millard is a graduate of the University of Michigan and was engaged in active practice in Flint for forty years. He was one of the founders of the Knights of the Loyal Guard, a fraternal beneficiary society which had its inception in Flint, and was also the Democratic nominee for regent of the University of Michigan in 1905. Doctor Millard is a public-spirited citizen and has held many positions of honor and trust. At present he is a member of the board of trustees of Hurley Hospital.
Dr. Mabel B. King, of Flint, is probably the oldest practicing physician in Flint, being in vigorous health at the age of seventy-eight. She was born in Brimfield, Ohio, in 1838, and was a graduate of the Mt. Holyoke Young Ladies Seminary in Massachusetts. Later she graduated from the medical department of the University of Michigan, having been previously married to Dr. Robert L. King, himself a graduate of the University of Pennsyl- vania and later of the Pulta Medical College of Cincinnati. Both Dr. Robert King and his wife located in Fenton, where they practiced for twelve years, later coming to Flint, where Dr. Robert King died in 1890.
Dr. Noah Bates was also born in 1838 and is still living and actively engaged in professional duties. He was born in Norfolk county, Ontario, and was educated at Toronto University before entering the medical depart- ment of the University of Michigan. He practiced in Linden, Genesee county, for several years, later coming to Flint, where his remaining years are being spent. Doctor Bates has been secretary of Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and Accepted Masons, for more than a third of a century.
Dr. Orson W. Tock was born in Tompkins, New York, in 1845, coming with his parents to Michigan when a child. At the beginning of the war he enlisted in the Twenty-second Michigan Volunteer Infantry and while seeing service was captured as a prisoner at Chickamauga. The Twenty-second Regiment went into action with about five hundred men and all that were not killed in this engagement were captured. With his health shattered, Doctor Tock returned to Michigan and soon afterwards entered the University of Michigan, where he graduated from the medical department in 1870. He afterwards took a post-graduate course at Bellevue Hospital, New York, and at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He enjoyed for many years a very exten- sive practice in Flushing and throughout the county and was well known in medical circles throughout the state. His death occurred in 1914.
Dr. R. N. Murray was also among the veteran practitioners. He resided in Grand Blanc and Goodrich before coming to Flint, where, for a great
(37)
Hosted by Google
578
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
number of years, he enjoyed an extensive practice; in later life, he was at the head of a private hospital. He was a graduate of Rush Medical College .. His death occurred in 1915.
Dr. Henry R. Case was born in 1848 in Oakland county and was a graduate of the National Medical College of Washington, D. C. He entered upon the practice of his profession at Grand Blanc, where he remained for many years. His wife was a daughter of C. W. D. Gibson, one of the early settlers of Grand Blanc township. In later life Doctor Case practiced in Flint, where his death occurred in 1908.
Of the older physicians who have died during the past decade or so, have been Dr. L. N. Beagle, for many years a resident of Pine Run and Clio, Genesee county, and for many years a practicing physician in Flint; Dr. Hiram H. Bardwell, once elected to the state Legislature and for many years a successful practitioner in Mt. Morris, who came to Flint in the early eighties and remained here until his death in 1915, and Dr. Bela Cogshall, who died in 1914, after practicing his profession in Gaines, Genesee county, and after- ward for many years in Flint.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.