USA > Michigan > Eaton County > The county of Eaton, Michigan : topography, history, art folio and directory of freeholders > Part 10
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Dr. Sarah J. Allen took her medical degree from the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicage, in 1881. She has practiced in Chicago, Burlington, Ia., Battle Creek, Mich., and Charlotte. In 1885 she gave three months' special study to medical electricity, under Prof. Mills, of Binghamton, N. Y.
Dr. Lewis A. Snell has given twenty years to the 'practice of homoeopathy in this state; at Lyons, Mason and Char- lotte, where he is now located. He claims graduation from Detroit Homo- opathic College, session of 1874 and 1875; from the Homoeopathic Medical College of St. Louis, session of 1875 and 1876, and Chicago Homoeopathic Medical College, session of 1884 and and 1885.
Dr. Frank A. Weaver, aged 37, wid- ower, commenced business fifteen years years ago at Chester, where he re- mained eleven years, going thence to Charlotte. He acquired his medical equipment at the Detroit College of Medicine, in 1881, after studying in the office of Dr. George E. Ranney, Lans- ing, 1878. He is at present the Secre- tary of the Eaton County Board of United States Examining Surgeons.
Dr. Wallace E. Newark presents his credentials from the Toledo Medical College, Ohio, dated 1888. Seven years he has followed his chosen profession, and now, at ths age of 38, finds himself installed in practice in the beautiful City of Charlotte. His first year was given to Nashville, Barry County; then five years to Brookfield, in this county, CHESTER
Has had but three physicians since its foundations were laid. Dr. James
L. Johnson first served that town from 1870 to 1882, then came Dr. F. A. Weaver, who was finally succeeded in 1892 by Dr. L. Frank Rice, a gentleman now twenty-nine years old, married, a graduate of Michigan University in 1890. He claims five years active prac- tice, four of them in this county; first at Sunfield one year, and now three years in Chester.
DIMONDALE.
As early as the year 1848, Sylvester Derby located in the town of Windsor near the present site of Dimondale and treated the sick, made chairs and hunted wild game for a living. His knowledge of medicine was "picked up," yet he was considered a person well informed for the times. He was the first physician of the town, if tra- dition is not at fault. Then came Mar- tin E. Munger, a graduate of the State University in 1852. The present physi- cians are Drs. Tyler Hull and E. S. Walford, both of Dimondale.
Dr. Tyler Hull has tried for twenty- eight years to cure the people in and about Dimondale. He began in the in the year '67 after having attended one full course of lectures at the Ssate University. His graduation from the Detroit Medical College dates from 1871. He took a practitioner's course at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in '83. He studied law and was admitted to the bar nearly two years since. In 1882 he was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature.
Dr. Edgar S. Walford is thirty years of age, married, and has seen six years of practice. He located in Dimondale in 1890, one year after graduating from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago. He tried and abandoned the drug business, in connection with his practice.
EATON RAPIDS.
In the year 1836, so saith tradition, there came to this locality a Dr. Hart, but whenever he came or where and whither he went, this scribe has not been able to learn. Among those of later dates are found the names of Drs. C. N. Hayden, C. Metcalf, W. B. Hunt and A. C. Dutton, the last still resident" but retired.
The present Medical faculty consists of Drs. Wilkins, Walter, Knight, Gal- lery, Bradley, Stimpson, Hyde, D. A. Long, Fred Long, Mary A. W. Williams and Henrietta A. Carr. Of all these, Drs. Wilkins and Knight are the earli- est. A brief notice of each and all, whose history could be obtained, is given below
Dr. Amos Knight, aged ·fifty-five, is contemporary with Dr. Wilkins; both locating here in the year 1866. He is a graduate of Cleveland Medical College, Cleveland, O., 1869; took an ad eundem degree in "71 at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and again at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in '75. He is married and has one child, a daugher.
Dr. Samuel M. Wilkins came to Eaton Rapids in 1866 and, with the exception of two years spent in Dakota, has con- tinued in the healing art in that city now twenty-nine years. His degree was conferred by the Charity Hospital Medical College, Cleveland, O., in '66, and an ad eundem degree, in 1871, was bestowed by the Wooster University of the same city. He is nearing the six- ties and has suffered for several years from poor health. He has been twice elected to the State Legislature, one term in each house; has served as
I Sara J. Allen, M. D., Charlotte 2 G. B. Allen, M. D., Repre- sentative, Charlotte
3 Mary E. Green, M. D., Char- lotte
4 L. E. Higbee, M. D., Potterville 5 B. F. Willey, M. D., Sunfield 6 E. M. Snyder, M. D., Sunfield 7 O. S. Bailey, M. D., Hoytville
8 . Hiram Walter, M. D., Eaton Rapids.
9 D. T. Williams, M. D., Brook- field
10 F. A. Weaver, M. D., Charlotte
II W. E. Vanande, M. D., Sunfield
MEDICAL GROUP.
12 A. R. Stealy, M. D., Charlotte
13 M. S. Phillips, D. D. S., Char- lotte
14 F. J. Stocking, D. D. S., Char- lotte
15 Frank H. Honey, D. D. S., Charlotte
17
16 A. S. Wilson, M. D., Bellevue P. D. Patterson, M. D., Char- lotte
18 L. C. Jones, M. D., Kalamo
19 A. K. Warren, M. D., Olivet
20 C. Hooker Mead, M. D., Olivet
21 J. S. Newland, M. D., Olivet
22 Abram N. Hixson, M. D., Grand Ledge
23 A. C. Dutton, M. D., Eaton Rapids
24 Sam'1 M. Wilkins, M. D., Eaton Rapids
25 Frank Merritt, M.D., Charlotte 26 E. S. Walford, M. D., Dimon- dale
27 Wm. Parmenter, A. M., M. D., Vermontville
28 Tyler Hull, M. D., Dimondale
29 W. A. Davis, M. D., Grand Ledge.
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Mayor of his city; and has held the position of local surgeon of the M. C. and L. S. & M. S. railroads. He served as a Union soldier in the late war till its close, in Reg. 103, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He is married and has one child, a daughter.
Dr. Allen C. Dutton, a retired physi- cian now seventy-one years of age, came to Eaton Rapids, June 10th, 1856, after eight years of medical practice elsewhere. He took his degree from the Western Reserve Medical College, Cleveland, O., in 1818. He withdrew from medical practice in 1864, since which time he has been druggist, merchant and banker. He has been called to, and filled, many local posi- tions of usefulness and responsibility; among others, he has been member of the city school board for twenty years. He is a genial, high minded gentleman, with good prospect of many years of useful life.
Dr. David H. Long is an alumnus of Hannemann Medical College of Chicago, 1870, and has devoted his attention to medicine at Eaton Rapids for fifteen years, giving to Ellendale, North Dakota the other two years of his pro- fessional life. He is, at the age of fifty-six, married and in active practice. He has had no bankering for office.
Charles Augustus Stimson M. D., a young and promising physician, has a diploma from Ann Arbor '91, and a marriage certificate, date not given. He made a special study of eye and ear diseases while at the University, yet he also engages in general practice. Dr. Henrietta A. Carr, located in Eaton Rapids in 1892 coming direct from the University of Michigan, where she had just completed her medical studies. At twenty-five she is unmar- ried, and has been elected health officer of the city the past two years.
Dr. Mary A. Williams, aged forty-one, has done duty as a physician for four years in this county. Her present ad- dress is Eaton Rapids. Her diploma, from the State University, bears date 1891. She is the wife of Hon. W. W. Williams.
Dr. John M. Gallery, in the prime of life, has had eleven years' experience in medical practice, all in Eaton Rapids. His commission comes from Ann Arbor, '83. He has served on the Board of United States Pension Examiners, but has not attained political preferment, probably has not sought it.
Dr. Hiram Walter has attended sick calls for nearly fifteen years. In the year 1880 the Medical Faculty of the State University thought him qualified to prescribe for the sick, and so certi- fied on a parchment of that date. He has held the office of Mayor of the city, and, for four years '85 to '89, was one of the United States Pension Examin- ers. He is in the prime of man hood.
GRAND LEDĢE.
This city supports eight physicians, and is not considered very unhealthy either. No traditions of its early trials with its medical men can be obtained. Dr. Ambrose Brown and Dr. C. J. Covey are the earliest of those now resident in the city. Dr. Lamb was an old physician here in the fifties. Dr. S. S. Messenger came in 1866 and died in'90. He was an alumnus of the Michigan University Medical Department. Be- sides Dr. A. Brown, Dr. Davis and Dr. Hixson, who are sketched below, there are Drs. C. J. Covey, Geo. Green, W. E. Wilson, D. D. F. Brown, and Solon Whelpley, whose biographies this this scribe has not been able to obtain. .Dr. William A. Davis came to Grand
Ledge in 1870, after twelve years of hard service in Ingham county, Mich. At the age of twenty he commenced his studies at Ypsilanti preparatory to teaching, but abandoned that idea four years later; and, taking a three years' course of lectures, he graduated at the State University in 1838 with the title of M D. He is now sixty-four years of age, married, and is "on call" night or day, especially day.
Dr. Ambrose Brown took his degree from Charity Hospital College, Cleve- land, O. After thirty years of service at Grand Ledge, he is reminded that he is sixty-four years old. He served as Assistant Surgeon of the 193rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the late war. He has attended strictly to his profes- sion since locating here.
Dr. Abram N. Hixon in mature life, has attended sick calls for seventeen years; twelve at Hoytville, and five at Grand Ledge, his present home. The State University gave him the title M. D., 1883. He is one of nine sons, but not the "seventh. " He runs a farm of 160 acres in Roxand; and is, in conse- quence, well rated. His fine resi- dence in the city is located in a garden where he worked for his board, while pursuing his medical studies.
HOY TVILLE.
This place, so named from Dr. Henry A. Hoyt, who first settled there and gathered around him a little cluster of houses and people, to whom he minis- tered as physician and merchant, has had but two doctors in its history- Hoyt and Bailey.
Dr. O. S. Bailey, in 1882, came here direct from the State University, and has remained ever since. He never had the political fever. His parentage was Scotch and English; born in Ontario, educated at Lansing and Ann Arbor, where he took special literary courses in connection with his medical studies. He has failed to marry.
KALAMO.
This town has at present two physi- cians-Dr. L. C. Jones, of the regular school, and Dr. Frank L. Snell, homo- opathist.
"From the most ancient times" to the present this town can boast of twenty-two different physicians, most of whom have tried "their 'prentice han'" and then removed to fairer fields. Of these Dr. J. P. Cessna was the pioneer. He is still living, and continuing his practice in Ohio. Dr. John Hall was a contemporary of Cessna during the 60's, but has "passed over". He was located at Carlisle. Of the later practitioners, mention may be made of Samuel Perkey, now of Chica- go, Joseph B. Griswold, a prominent physician of Grand Rapids, and J. H. Johnson, of Lisbon, North Dakota.
Dr. Lejeune C. Jones graduated from the Detroit Medical College, in 1885, from which college he later received ad eundem degree. He is thirty-two years old, has practiced ten years, the last seven in this county, and lives in single blessedness, after a few years of un- congenial married life.
Dr. F. L. Snell, a homeopathic physi- cian, has practiced the healing art for the last quarter of a century. He is a graduate of the Homoeopathic Medical College of Chicago, in 1886; is about fifty years of age and married. He has resided in Kalamo about sixteen years, but not continuously. Several of his brothers are also homeopathie physi- cians in this county.
MULLIKEN. Orlando A. Tooker, a young man, and single, has tried the healing art for
one year in this ambitious village. He comes equiped with papers from the from the Detroit Medical College, dated 1894. He was a student and practi- tioner in the office of Dr. Tyler Hull, Dimondale, previous to his graduation. His only competitor is Dr. G. V. Ran- dall, who was the first doctor to locate here-about 1888.
Doctor Granger V. Randall has pre- scribed medicine according to the Hahnemann system for twelve years. The Chicago Homoeopathic College gave him his papers or sheepskin in'1883. He is the first who located at Mulliken. OLIVET.
The first physician was Dr. Chas. Jennison, who came in 1845 and died in 1846. Then followed Dr. Chase, who also died a year later, and was suc- ceeded by Dr. S. Kendall Orr, who con- tinued to practice until 1855, and died, leaving a widow, who, in 1863, mar- ried Dr. Asa K. Warren, one of the three physicians now doing business in Olivet. Dr. Gordon, who succeeded Dr. Orr, died of small-pox in 1858. Drs. A. A. Thompson, Martin E. Munger, Asa K. Warren, Wm. Parmenter, Albert Thompson, Philip L. Green, Crang, Book, Hazen, Stockwell, C. H. Mead, M. L. Meads, George Weaver, Hol.nes and J. S. Newland have located here since 1856, in the order hamed, and have all removed or died except War- ren, Mead and Newland.
Asa K. Warren is one of the oldest present practitioners of medicine in Eaton County. He graduated from Oberlin College in the year 1853, and in 1856 received his degree of M. D. from the University of Michigan. He settled in Olivet in the year 1859 and has been in almost continuous practice in that place ever since. His energy and force of character secured for him the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, who elected him twice to the State Leg- islature (one term in each house) and continued him for fourteen years as their township supervisor, and, later, as county treasurer. He has owned and operated a farm in connection with his practice since 1865. Drs. Mead and Newland are at present his only com- petitors.
Dr. Chas. H. Mead is forty-seven years of age, is married and has one daughter. He studied medicine with Dr. Perkey, of Charlotte, dissected a subject in. Carmel Hall; spent one sum- mer in preparation with a Dr. Hooker, of Cayuga County, New York; then fol- lowed a year's course of lectures in the University of Michigan, after which he practiced in Olivet for eighteen months; then completed his studies in Chicago in 1873, and then came back to Olivet for a permanent location. For the past fifteen years he has combined the busi- ness of druggist with physician. He is now President of the Board of Exam- ining Surgeons for pensions of the county.
Dr. J. S. Newland located in Olivet in 1893, after a practice of twenty years elsewhere; is a graduate of the College. of Physicians and Surgeons of San Francisco, Cal., in 1877; he also gradu- ated from the Eelectric Medical Insti- tute of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1892. He is a gentleman of about fifty, married and has not aspired to political honors. POTTERVILLE.
Dr. E. C. Palmer first located here in 1870 and was followed by Dr. E. R. Espie, in 1892. The present physicians are Drs. Espie and Higbee.
Dr. Lewis E. Higbee has followed the profession of medicine about twenty years, nearly all of that time in Potter- ville. He is a gentlemen in middle
age, a graduate of the State University, in 1875, a benedict; has served the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway for the past ten years as local surgeon. He has one competitor, in the person of Dr. E. R. Espie.
Dr. E. R. Epsie, born in Moscow, Michigan, in 1865; was brought up as assistant to his father in Masherville in general merchandise; graduated in 1892, at the State University; married, as he should do; has located in Potter- ville, and, in addition to medicine, is a partner in a boot and shoe store. He. ministers to the bodies and soles of his patrons.
ROXANNA.
This little village supports two doc- tors at present-Armstrong and Lock- row. One physician preceded them-Dr. Abram DeCon-and one took the place of Dr. Armstrong after seven years -Dr. John J. Weaver, since removed.
Dr. Thomas McKee Armstrong is forty-four years old, and began his practice in Roxana twenty-one years ago, continuing seven years at that place, He then returned to pursue his medical studies in the Detroit Medical College, and gradnated in 1882, locating at Grand Ledge for seven years, he then went West, returing about one year ago to the old "camp ground. He was for a time a student in the office of Prof. E. W. Jenks, the President of the Detroit Medical College.
Dr. Calvin Lockrow is a home- opathic doctor, claiming his medical equipment from the Hahnemann Medi- cal College, Philadelphia in 1877, and has been in practice now eighteen years. He is slightly past a half century; mar- ried.
SUNFIELD.
This town and village claims at pres- ent four physicians-Drs. C. N. Snyder. E. M. Snyder, B. F. Willey and W. E. Vanande. Early in the 60's Dr. B. F. Willey was found located on the East line of Sunfleld as the first physician of whom the town could boast. Many years later (1877) came Dr. C. N. Sny- der, located at Shaytown, and finally, on the founding of the village of Sun- field, about 1888, we find, in addition to the present physicians, about a half dozen others who remained but a short time. A brief sketch of the four resi- dent doctors is given below.
Dr. Chas. N. Snyder is an alumnus of the Eclectic Medical College of Cincin- nati, Ohio, in 1878. He began business at Shaytown in 1877 and removed to Sunfield Village in 1893, where he ad- ded the drug business to his practice, but has now abandoned that business. He is married, energetic and at forty- four gives promise of many years of hard work.
Dr. Edwin M. Snyder has prescribed for the sick of Sunfield for the past six years, commencing at the age of twenty-two, after getting his permit from the Michigan College of Medicine and Surgery of Detroit, in 1889. He also runs a drug store. He is mar- ried.
Dr. W. E. Vanande graduated thir- teen years ago from the Homeopathic Department of the State University, and has done business as physician in this county since 1883, first in Brook- field and now in Sunfield; he confines his present business to office practice and the sale of drugs and medicines. He has lived nearly half a century and is somewhat broken in health. He is a registered pharmacist under the laws of this state
: Dr. B. F. Willey was born in Ohio, in 1880, and in early life studied in Ober- lin, and later in a physician's office in
Onio. His college medical education was pursued at Ann Arbor and at the Pensylvania Medical University of Philadelphia, where he received his diploma. He was the first to locate in the town of Sunfield. He bas also, practiced in Portland, Grand Rapids and in Kansas, and is now returned to the field of his former labors. He has a wife and one son.
VERMONTVILLE.
This village has, during its entire history, been visited by fifteen doctors. The first who undertook the unequal task of battling with the malaria and wild beasts came in 1837, but gave up the struggle with his life in one year. His headstone bears the name of Dr Oliver Stiles. Dr. Dewey H. Robinson came in 1838 and was succeeded in a few years by Dr. Palmer. Then came a time when no physician lived here, and Bellevue, seventeen miles away, was the habitate of the nearest physi- cian. This "interregnum" was fol- lowed by the advent of Dr. R. C. Ked- zie, from 1852 to 1863. Dr Stevens and Dr. A. A. Thompson were co-tem- porary a part of the time with Kedzie, who was followed by Dr. Wm. Par- menter. There are now three resident physicians-Parmenter, Green and Snell. Their medical histories are briefly summarized below.
Dr. William Parmenter is third in length of practice in this county, being anticipated only by Chas. Merritt, of Charlotte, and Dr. Asa K. Warren, of Olivet. He is sixty-six years old, the "husband of one wife." He received his degree of M. D. from the State Un- iversity, in 1857, which was preceded by the literary degree of A. B., in 1854, from Oberlin College, Ohio, and followed, in 1853, by the honorary de- gree of A. M., from the same college. He spent the first four years after graduating . in Iowa, returning to Olivet, Michigan, in 1861 and to Ver- montville in 1863.
Dr. Philip L. Green is past middle life, has treated the sick for twenty- six years. He has been located at Ver- montville for a quarter of a century. He is a graduate of Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1869. He took a post graduate course in Chicago in 1881, and again in New York in 1887. He has declined all office and has kept an eye single to medical practice.
Dr. C. S. Snell, a homeopathie phy- sician, located here sixteen years ago; a graduate of St. Louis Homoeopathic College of Missouri, in 1876. He had nine years experience in medicine in Whitefield, New Hampshire before coming to this locality. He is now in middle life, married, with a family of three children. He has been village President several terms and a member of the Board of Education a number of years.
ADDENDUM-CHARLOTTE.
Dr. James L. Johnston, at the age of 68, has retired from practice, after active service for thirty years. His of- fice studies commenced in 1858. In 1863 he enlisted in the army and was detailed as assistant in the medical de- partment, Eighth Ohio regiment, in which he remained till the close of the war. He assisted in the only success- ful case of re-section of the hip joint during the war, in March, 1864. He was the first doctor located at Chester, 1870-1832, when he moved to Charlotte, . and retired from business in 1892, living now upon his farm, in that vicinity.
Dr. Warren Rand, homoeopathist, gives no auto-biography, yet he is in business in the city.
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CHURCHES OF EATON COUNTY.
The larger log houses of the early settlers, with extemporaneous seats of boards and chairs, were the first places of worship in the county. When log school houses were built services were held in them. When the farms were cleared and the settlers had secured homes for themselves model houses of worship were built that cost no small amount of labor and self-denial. The ministers, who, between the years of 1835 and 1850, threaded their way through the forests of this county on foot or on horseback, fording the streams in order to reach their appoint- ments many miles apart, have nearly all gone to their reward.
In 1833, at the house of Reuben Fitz- gerald, in Bellevue, Rev. John D. Pierce, a Congregational minister from Marshall, delivered the first sermon ever heard in Eaton County, Mr. Pierce was the first Superintendent of Public Instruction in the State, and we are in- debted to him more than to anyone else for shaping our excellent system of public schools, and also for outlining the works of the university. A full lengtho il painting of him adorns the walls of the reading room of Olivet College, In 1834 the Methodists organized in Bellevue the first church of the county. The second was organized by the Congrega- tionalists in Vermontville, February 28, 1838, and was followed October 7, in the same year, by the Griffith M. E. church on the South line of Hamlin Township. In 1840 the Methodists of Eaton Rapids organized the fourth church in the county. A brief review of the several denominations of Eaton County is given below, but owing to a lack of data of some of them we are unable to give an extended notice.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In 1831 a man named Joseph Dunton made his appearance in the county lec- turing upon mes nerism and preaching. Lome religious interests was awakened in the West part of the town of Carmel which resulted in the organization of a church with seven members, and it was calle I "The Congregational Church of Christ in Carmel." It met for worship in the Ells school house, situated a few rods North of the present Congrega- tional church in Carmel. It had occa- sional preaching by Rev. E. H. Bartlett of Olivet Collega, and Rev. W. UN. Ben- edict of Vermontville. In 1852 it changed its place of worship to the Court House in Charlotte, and its name to the the "First Congregational Church of Charlotte. On New Year's, Day, 1854, Rev. Wolcott B. Williams became the first resident pastor of the church and continued for thirteen years. In 1856 the society erected, at the South end of Bostwick avenue, a frame house of worship at an expense of $1,275, for house and lot. It had two hundred and fifty sittings and was innocent, of vestibule, bell and steeple. By out- siders it was dubbed "The Bass Wood Church." It was, however, the first house of worship in Charlotte, and at the tine there were no others within ten miles. In 1873 the society erected its present house of worship which was uot fully completed until 1881.
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