History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 29

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772

USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 29
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 29

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).

The Bartholomew family is of New England stock, and settled early in the history of that portion of the Union.

Isaac Bartholomew, his grandfather, was a non-commis- sioned officer in the Revolutionary army, serving with the Connecticut troops. His father, Charles D. Bartholomew, still lives upon the old homestead in St. Lawrence County. On his mother's side, the family name was Hawley, and his grandmother was connected with the Barnum family of Connecticut.

DR. RUSSELL THAYER was born in Lebanon, Madison Co., N. Y., in August, 1822. Ile studied with his elder brother Rufus, now living in Pennsylvania, and also in Hamilton, and prepared himself for practice at some of the medical schools of Central New York. He commenced practice at the village of Smithville, Chenango Co., N. Y., and continued for two years, when he removed to Wooster, Ohio, where he remained four years. He removed to Michigan and settled in Lansing in 1854, where he estab- lished himself in the drug business, giving up active prac- tice, except occasionally among his friends, and continued in Lansing until the time of his death, which occurred on the 3Ist of August, 1865.

In September, 1847, he married Nancy S. Williams, of Northfield, Ohio, who survives him and is still living in Lansing. His son, A. R. Thayer, was also in the drug business for a number of years in Lansing, where he now resides.

118

HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

LESLIE.

The first physician who settled in Ingham County was DR. VALOROUS MEEKER, who came to Leslie township early in 1837. He was then a young man, and a most ex- cellent physician for that day. He enjoyed a very large practice and had an extensive ride, and is well remembered by the pioneers now living. Not long previous to 1847, his health having failed as a consequence of his labors, he returned to the State of Vermont, and finally died in the East.

Dr. Mecker was succeeded by DRS. M. L. FISKE and JOHN P. SAWYER. The latter soon after settling here removed to Eaton Rapids, but afterwards returned and finally located in Jackson, where he died. Dr. Fiske was a son of Henry Fiske, a pioneer of Leslie, and studied and grew to manhood in the township. He is now a resident of San Francisco, Cal.

DR. J. D. WOODWORTH came to Michigan in 1831 from Genesee Co., N. Y., with his father, George W. Woodworth, who settled on a farm in Jackson County, where the latter's widow is now living. Dr. Woodworth commeneed the study of medieine in Jackson with Abraham Sager, now deceased, who was one of the officers of the Michigan University. He came to Leslie in 1849 to take the place of Dr. Sawyer, and began active practice, which he has since continued. In the winter of 1851-52 he was graduated from Rush Medical College at Chicago.

DR. HENRY A. RANEY, a young physician, came to Leslie soon after the arrival of Dr. Woodworth, but re- mained only a few months. DR. McRAY, a Thompsonian, was here when Dr. Woodworth came, but stayed only three or four years. While he was here DR. JESSE O. SEARL, now residing in the village, came and practiced with him, and has lived in the place most of the time since. Others have come, remained a short time, and departed for other fields. Dr. Woodworth is now the oldest physician in Les- lie, and, besides him and Dr. Searl, there are now practicing in the place DR. MARTIN R. DOWLING, in partnership with Dr. Woodworth, DR. C. C. WHEELER, DR. BROWN (homeopathist), and DR. ALLEN C. MANLY. DRS. FORD and CLARK have families here, but practice elsewhere. Most of the physicians who have been located at Leslie were able and worthy members of the profession.

MASON.

The first physician at Mason, and the second in the county, was DR. MINOS McROBERT, who came from Clin- ton Co., N. Y., in June, 1837, and engaged in practice at this place. Ile had previously practiced four or five years in the East. For his own convenience he built an office which was found useful for a variety of purposes,-doctor's office, county register's office, and, as the doctor says, almost a court-house. Dr. McRobert afterwards owned and con- ducted a drug-store, but in 1848 sold out to Dr. D. W. Halstead and ceased practice .*

DR. J. W. PHELPS was the second physician to locate at Mason, coming in 1841 from Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich. Ile has been dead about fourteen years.

DR. - SINGER practiced here for two years and moved to another field. Associated with DR. HALSTEAD at one time was DR. WILLIAM II. IIUGG, who remained but a short time. Dr. Halstead, formerly from the State of New York, practiced for some time in Lenawee Co., Mich., and came from there to Mason, where he is now en- gaged in the drug and grocery business, practicing but little.

DR. WILLIAM W. ROOT, from Cayuga Co., N. Y., was graduated from Michigan University in 1862, and from Bellevue College, New York City, in 1866. Between these dates he served three years in the army, having practiced a few weeks at home in 1862 before enlisting. May 19, 1866, he came to Mason, where he has since been engaged in active practice. Dr. Root's grandfather, JOIN BARNES, -father of O. M. and Zaceheus Barnes,-settled in Ing- ham County in 1837, and died in the township of Aurelius in 1862.

DR. A. B. CAMPBELL, now of Mason, studied in Bel- mont, Canada, with his brother, Dr. J. B. Campbell, still located at that place. In 1875 he was graduated from Michigan University, and in 1876 from the Cincinnati Medical School. In the latter year he came to Mason and began practice, which he still continues with marked suc- cess. His brother, DR. W. W. CAMPBELL, a graduate of Ann Arbor and Bellevue, praetieed at Mason four years, and left in 1877.

DR. L. A. SNELL (homoeopathist) is a native of Or- leans Co., Vt., and commeneed practice in 1864 at White- field, N. II. About 1872 he removed to Michigan and located at Lyon, Oakland Co., where he remained a year and a half, removing thence to Charlotte, Eaton Co., where he practieed five years. He has been in Mason since March, 1879. The doctor has two brothers at present practicing in Eaton County, one at Vermontville and one at Kalamo.

J. N. SHERMAN, M.D., is a native of Burlington, Rens- selaer Co., N. Y., a graduate of Williams College, Massa- chusetts, and was a pupil of the Bellevue Medical Hos- pital, New York, and other institutions. Ile first established himself at Burlington, Iowa, as an oculist, aurist, and general medical practitioner. Finally, owing to failing health, he gave up his extended practice and removed to Mason, where he has since followed his profession to some extent.

HENRY H. COOK, M.D., was born in Courtland Co., N. Y., and came to Michigan in 1867, loeating at Saline, Washtenaw Co., where his father, Dr. Eli Cook, t was then practicing. In 1869 the family removed to Mason. In the same year the younger gentleman entered the Medieal Department of the Michigan University, from which in 1872 he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. IIe began praetiee at once in Mason, where he still continues.

DR. CHARLES II. SACKRIDER, for many years a popular and successful physician of Mason, finally relinquished practice (except consultation) on account of failing health. In 1855, in connection with his medieal labors, he began the practice of dentistry, being the first in the place to raise

1 Dr. Eli Cook practiced for six years in Mason, and moved to Chicago in 1875.

· Sec biography in another place.

119

THIE PROFESSIONS.

it to the dignity of a profession. Dr. Sackrider is one of Mason's most wealthy and prominent citizens.

DR. CHARLES II. DARROW, a native of Schenectady, N. Y., moved to Michigan in 1853, in which year he was graduated from the Albany Medical College, and located at St. John's, Clinton Co. After practicing about one year at that place-then entirely new-he changed his place of residence to the village of Okemos, Ingham Co., in 1854, and eutered upon a practice which reached extensive pro- portions. He remained in Okemos until 1867, and during the time achieved a widespread reputation for his efficiency. His ride covered a large territory, and the labor incident to his practice finally caused his health to break down and necessitated his withdrawal from the field. In 1867, having been elected register of deeds for Ingham County, he re- moved to Mason, where he has since resided. He con- tinued in office four years. Dr. Darrow is now engaged in mercantile business at Mason.

AURELIUS.

The first resident physician in this township was perhaps DR. LEVI MANN, who hved northeast of Aurelius Centre. The first at the latter place was DR. GEORGE W. SWART- WOUT, from Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y., who came to Michigan in 1855 and located at Mason, removing to Au- relius Centre in 1860, where he has since continued in practice, except for the time from 1863 to 1870, when he practiced again at Mason. He was graduated from Michi- gan University in 1860, and is a practitioner of the regular school. His wife is a daughter of Joseph Hopkins, who settled in the township of Vevay in the fall of 1841.

ONONDAGA.

DR. HIRAM FRYE, from Andover, Mass., settled in Onondaga township in 1838, and a few years later com- menced the practice of medicine, which he continued until about 1877.

DANSVILLE.

The first physician to locate at this place was DR. DANIEL T. WESTON, who came in 1847-48, or perhaps earlier. In 1863 there were located in the village DRS. THOMAS J. WEBB,* EDGAR HAHN, - WIGGINS (now of St. John's), and D. T. WESTON. DR. ADELBERT WESTON came later.

DR. L. D. DEAN, from Monroe Co., N. Y., came West for his health in 1863, and was indneed to locate at Dans- ville, where he has since enjoyed a large practice. He studied at Bellevue Hospital, New York, and was graduated at Ann Arbor in the winter of 1856-57. The other phy- sicians now at the place are CHARLES RANDALL, C. C. SHERMAN (homoeopathist), and EPHRAIM SHERWOOD.

WILLIAMSTON.

JAMES A. LEASIA was born in the city of Detroit, of French parents, on the 16th of January, 1821. He was

educated at Oberlin, Ohio, and graduated at the Cleveland Medical College in 1847. He settled at Williamston, Ing- ham Co., Mich., in 1844, and attended one course of medi- cal lectures after his settlement. His practice dates from his first arrival in Williamston, and extends over a period of thirty-six years, with a fair prospect of continuing for many years to come, for the doctor, notwithstanding all the hard- ships encountered in a wilderness region for so many years, is still possessed of excellent physical health, and appears robust and vigorous. The early years of his practice were mostly passed on horseback, excepting occasionally when the roads were impassable for a horse, and then he per- formed his journeys on foot, sometimes traveling a distance of ten miles in a single trip. He had an extensive ride, in- cluding the counties of Ingham and Shiawassee and por- tions of Chinton. He also practiced surgery whenever occasion required. Previous to the commencement of his regular medical practice he was engaged in the study and practice of dentistry for about two years at Flint and Grand Rapids, and in the latter place read medicine with Dr. Charles Shepard.

During his attendance at the college in Cleveland he was a member of the Cleveland Medical Lyceum, an institution conducted by the students. He has been a member of the Michigan Central Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association since 1856.

The doctor has had a drug-store in connection with his practice in Williamston from the first, which, starting on a small scale, has gradually grown to the respectable propor- tions of the present day. It is now partly under the management of his son.

He has been twice married, the first time in 1846, and the second time in 1858. Has had four children, only two of whom are living.

Dr. Leasia has been a prominent citizen of Williamston for many years, and contributed no mean share towards building up and improving the place, having erected at various periods two residences and three business buildings. His present residence is the finest in the village, and one of the best in the county.

The years 1869 and 1870 he passed in California, at South Vallejo, where he settled with his family for the benefit of his health, and practiced his profession, and also carried on a drug-store in connection. He purchased a lot in that city, built upon it, and was a prominent citizen. During his stay he was examining surgeon for the Maine Mutual Life Insurance Company, and was also postmaster at Vallejo. He has filled the office of school inspector in Williamston for sixteen years. Dr. Leasia has been con- nected with a number of men as students and partners in his profession during his residence in Williamston, some account of whom will be found in the history of that village.

Among early physicians in the southeastern parts of the county was DR. TUNNICLIFF, who practiced in Stockbridge at a very early day. At last accounts he was living in the city of Jackson, Mich.

DR. JAMES ACKLEY also practiced at Stockbridge pre- vious to 1844. He removed soon after that date to some part of Jackson County.

* Dr. Webb, who had not practiced for some years, died at Dans- ville, Sept. 26, 1880.

120

IIISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

HOMEOPATHY *.

The first physician of this school that attained to promi- nenee in Michigan was DR. ELLIS, of Grand Rapids, who began practice as early as 1845. Ile subsequently removed to Detroit and practiced in company with Dr. Thayer, of that city, and after a few years removed to the city of New York.

DR. BLACKWOOD, of Washtenaw County, also became quite prominent at nearly as early a date as Dr. Ellis. He had been an old-school practitioner previous to 1845.

DR. C. A. JEFFRIES was about the third prominent physician of the same school, for some account of whom see sketch farther on.

DR. GRAY, of Washtenaw County, was also among the prominent members of the profession.

The first homeopathie society in the State was organized at Ann Arbor, about 1846. It was called the " Michigan Homoeopathic Institute," and among those prominent in its organization were Messrs. Thayer, Ellis, Black wood, Jeffries, and Gray.

About 1855 this school of medicine received a great impetns in Michigan. Dr. Thayer, who had then mostly retired from practice, was spending considerable time in Lansing, where the State Legislature was then in session, and he and Dr. Jeffries, then a resident of Washtenaw County, discussed the idea of introducing the study of homeopathy into the State University. By diligent and unwearied effort a bill was prepared and introduced into the Legislature, providing for a homoeopathic professorship in the university, which bill finally became a law. At the present time there is a department of homeopathy on an equal footing with the regular school, with three professors and its separate branches of medical studies.

MICHIGAN HOMEOPATHIC COLLEGE.

About 1870 an effort was made to establish a homœ- opathie college at Lansing, for the advancement of which it was expected the State Legislature could be induced to make a handsome appropriation in money, lands, or other- wise. In the fall of 1871 a college with the above title was temporarily established iu Lansing. Rooms were rented in the State offices, then standing on the ground now occupied by the new Capitol building, and also for a time in Mead's Block, where lectures were delivered. The Central Michigan Homeopathie Institution was principally instrumental in forwarding the enterprise. Among the prom- inent men not belonging to the profession who interested themselves in its behalf was Judge Alvin N. Hart, of Lan- sing. The attempt to interest the Legislature in a sub. stantial manner failed, and after a fitful existence of some two years the enterprise was given up.

The faculty of the college was one of quite formidable proportions, comprising the following names :

CHARLES J. HEMPEL, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Ma- teria Medica ; R. W. NELSON, M.D., M.R.C.S., England, Professor of Obstetrics; DE FOREST HUNT, M.D., Pro- fessor of Discases of Women and Children ; E. R. ELLIS, M.D., Professor of Special Surgery ; H. B. BAGLEY, M.D.,

Professor of the Principles and Practice of Surgery ; C. P. BURCH, M.D., Professor of Operative and Clinical Surgery ; ISAAC PARKS, M.D., Professor of Anatomy and Histology ; JOSEPH HOOPER, M.D., Professor of Physiology and Pa- thology ; EVERETT W. FISH, M.D., Professor of Chemistry, Toxicology, and Botany ; F. B. SMITHI, M.D., Professor of Materia Medica and the Science of Medicine; A. McNEIL, A.M., Assistant Professor of Materia Medica ; B. F. BAI- LEY, M.D., Professor of the Principles and Practice of Med- icine; B. J. BROWN, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology; E. D. BURR, M.D., Professor of Medical Jurisprudence ; J. P. FULLER and MRS. M. J. BAILEY, Demonstrators of Anatomy ; J. J. TYLER, Janitor : E. D. BURR, Dean ; A. F. WELLER, Registrar.

DR. C. A. JEFFRIES was born in Throopsville, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1811. He was educated at Auburn, N. Y., and Pittsfield, Mass. He studied medicine at Auburo, and commenced practice under the old school at Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1834. He remained there three or four years, when he removed to a farm in Washtenaw County, but, the business not proving satisfactory or congenial to his tastes, he continued it only about a year and a half, when he re- moved to Howell, in Livingston County, and resumed the practice of medicine. He remained there until 1844, when be removed to Dexter, in Washtenaw County, and con- tinued until the spring of 1847.

While visiting patients in Livingston County, in April of that year, he met three men who afterwards became prominent citizens of Lansing,-Messrs. Bush, Thomas, and Peck. These gentlemen were then busily interesting themselves in lands at the new capital, and pursuaded Dr. Jeffries to accompany them to the place, which he did. The spring was late, the streams had overflowed, and ice was everywhere. The roads were nearly impassable, and in one place they got the single wagon which they had along with them into a swampy place, and were obliged to take off the horse and pull it out backwards. They came by the old Territorial road. At the crossing of the Cedar River they were delayed for some time. Finally a part of the company went back, and the doctor, together with Bush and Thomas, took turns in riding the saddle-horse to Lan- sing, adopting the old method of "riding and tying." When they arrived at North Lansing the dwelling of Deacon Page, who usually kept travelers, was full, and they were obliged to proceed to the house of Justus Gilkey, nearly two miles farther down the river, to find accommodations. The doctor remained a few days, went over the ground where the new Capitol now stands, and examined the lands to the south of section 16. Ile remembers sceing wolf tracks near where the Capitol now stands.

The doctor soon returned to his home in Dexter. Messrs. Bush, Thomas, and Peck were anxious to get him to settle in the new town, and as an inducement offered him lots on the corner south of where the Everett House now stands. The offer being a good one, the doctor concluded to accept it and make Lansing his home, and accordingly, in May, 1847, he came back and commenced to build his house, which forms the main portion of the one still standing on the lot. Ile completed it and removed his family to Lansing in the fall of the same year. He continued in

· Compiled from information furnished by Drs. Jeffries and Nelson.

121

THE PROFESSIONS.

practice from that date until 1850, when he returned to Washtenaw County to take charge of the farm of his father, who had died in 1849. He remained on the old place until 1861, when he returned to Lansing, principally for the purpose of having his daughter attend the school for young ladies then recently opened by Miss Rogers. Here he remained in the practice of his profession until 1864, when he once more returned to the homestead, and remained upon it until 1867, when he sold it and removed to Ann Arbor, in which place he practiced until 1871, when he removed to East Saginaw, and continued until 1876, in which year he removed to Omaha, Neb. In June, 1877, he again returned to Lansing, and again in 1879 re- turned for a short season to Omaha. In July, 1880, he came back to Lansing, and is now located in practice with his daughter, Anna J. Jeffries, near the corner of Wash- ington Avenue and Shiawassee Street.

Dr. Jeffries adopted the practice of homoeopathy in 1846, and is now about the oldest living practitioner of that school in the State. About 1860 his eyesight began to fail, and the infirmity increased upon him until he became wholly blind several years ago. He still continues his practice, however, considering that he can as fully understand dis- ease and prescribe as well as before the misfortune overtook him. Dr. Jeffries was surgeon in the Michigan State troops during the " Toledo War," on the staff of Gen. Davis.

DR. RICHARD W. NELSON was born in London, Eng- land, Oct. 9, 1816. Ile was educated in London, and graduated at the Royal College of Surgeons in November, 1838. In June, 1852, Dr. Nelson removed to the United States, settling in Buffalo, N. Y., in the same year. In February, 1854 he received a diploma from the State Medical Society of New York at Albany. He remained in Buffalo until May, 1856, when he removed to St. Louis, Mo., from which city he removed in March, 1861, to Bloomington, Ill., where he practiced about one year, when he gave up practice and reported to Governor Yates for ex- amination as an assistant surgeon in the army. He received a certificate, and was ordered by the Governor to report at the Mound City General Hospital. In the beginning of the war he had assisted in recruiting the Twenty-sixth Illi- nois Infantry Regiment. He served at various stations until June, 1864, when he resigned in consequence of being completely worn down by arduous duty, and was honorably discharged.

His family had removed from Bloomington to Lansing, Mich., in 1863, on account of the health of his son, a lad of five years, who, during a visit with his mother to the army while at Island No. 10, had contracted severe illness. Subsequent to receiving his discharge the doctor joined his family in Lansing, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He was educated in the regular

school, and practiced under it until 1865, when, after care- ful investigation, he accepted the ideas of Halinemann, and has since practiced in the homeopathie school.

When the Michigan IIomocopathic College was estab- lished at Lansing in 1871 he was chosen professor of ob- stetries, and served until the enterprise was abandoned. He lectured before the students in the winter of 1871-72, and again in 1872-73. The summer course of lectures in 1872 was given in Detroit. In June, 1877, Dr. Nelson pur- chased the right to use the Electro-Therapeutic Bath, and has connected it with his practice since.

Dr. Nelson married, May 21, 1856, Miss Augusta R. Montgomery, of Darien, Genesee Co., N. Y. Miss Mont- gomery was a graduate of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, Jan. 27, 1853, and has practiced medicine more or less since her marriage, chang- ing, with her husband, to the practice of homoeopathy.

Among other physicians of the homoeopathic school who have also practiced in the city of Lansing may be named DR. HENRY HAWLEY, about 1858 to 1863, who was asso- ciated with Dr. Jeffries in 1861. He removed to Midland Co., Mich., about 1863.

DR. E. H. LATHROP practiced in Lansing for some two years, about 1868-69. He is now a resident of Hastings, Barry Co.

DR. A. H. BANCROFT practiced from about 1869 to 1880, with the exception of a year spent in Ohio in 1870 -71.

DR. L. E. PHELPS was in Lansing for several years. He was from Owosso or vicinity, and removed about 1878.

DR. I. DE VER practiced for a short period about 1877 -78.

DR. WILLIAM BAILEY, a brother of Dr. B. F. Bailey, was also here for a year or two about 1873-74.

DR. B. F. BAILEY practiced in Detroit from 1873 to 1877.

The following physicians and surgeons are at present residents of Lansing, and all in regular practice except Dr. Henry B. Baker :

Regular .- H. B. Shank, Rush J. Shank, O. B. Web- ster, Ira II. Bartholomew, J. B. Hull ; J. H. Wellings, City Physician ; George E. Ranney, Secretary State Medi- cal Association ; Henry B. Baker, Secretary State Board of Health ; J. W. Hagadorn, Alexander McMillan, Wil- liam II. Haze, C. N. Hayden, Thomas Dolan, Orville Marshall, L. Anna Ballard.

Homoopaths .- C. A. Jeffries, Anna J. Jeffries, Richard W. Nelson, Augusta R. Nelson, Benjamin F. Bailey, J. Deville Dennis, Mrs. K. C. Betts, C. P. Burch.

Eclectic -John Bender, D. R. Sherman.

Botanic .- William Miller.

CITY OF LANSING .*

THE city of Lansing is located on sections Nos. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, and 22, occupying the whole of 9, 10, 15, 16, 21, and 22, and the east half of 8, 17, and 20. The site is mostly well elevated above the rivers, consisting mainly of a comparatively level plateau. This is more par- ticularly true of the portion lying on the west bank of Grand River, in the great bend of that stream, which enters the city limits from the west, turns northeast on sec- tion 21, north on the south line of section 16, and flows thence nearly north to the centre of section 9, where it turns northwest and crosses the city-line near the northeast corner of section 8. The southern and southeastern por- tions, lying along the Grand, and especially along the Cedar River, are somewhat low, while the portion of the city to the east of Grand River and north of Cedar River is mostly high, dry, and rolling, interspersed with depressions and ridges of sand, gravel, and clay. The lands in the western part of the city are mostly composed of heavy clay and the natural drainage is less perfect than in the other portions. When the city adopts and carries out a compre- hensive and perfect system of drainage and a uniform grade for its streets, the site will become dry and healthful throughout its whole extent. The greatest difficulty in the drainage is enconntered in those portions lying immediately west of the Capitol, where the ground is generally level, but interspersed with low places and basins. These are all many feet above the level of Grand River, and a general system of sewerage will make them dry and valuable.

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.

History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 29

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co. Number of Pages: 772

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772