USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900 > Part 45
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Dr .. Walker was an eccentric man, but his patients considered him as a physician almost infallible, and it was often said by those out- side of his care, "I should hate to have Dr. Walker say I could not get well."
He was a man of fine musical tastes, and although he never gave any time to the study of music, performed very acceptably upon the violin, flute, and fife.
The doctor saw the ludicrous side of everything, and enjoyed a joke on himself as well as on another. He died May 6, 1897.
Dr. William Bradford Stevens, son of Moody M. and Eunice (Chandler) Stevens, was born in Bedford, January 27, 1820. He received his education in the district school near his home and at
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New Ipswich and Francestown academies. On leaving school he entered the office of Dr. Fitch of Amherst, and after a course of study there was with Dr. Crosby at Manchester. He then attended medical lectures at Hanover and Castleton, Vt., receiving his diploma from Dartmouth Medical college in 1853, and being elected a member of the New Hampshire Medical society in 1854.
In 1847 he entered the Asylum for the Insane at Concord as assistant physician, where he remained eight years. Frequently during that period the entire charge of the institution devolved upon him ; at one time the superintendent, Dr. Andrew McFarland, being absent six months in Europe.
In 1855 his health failing him he relinquished his position, and returned to his native town, hoping by the practice of his profession among our hills to regain his wonted strength and vigor. In this hope he was not entirely disappointed, but his disease returned, and at last prevailed, his death occurring February 18, 1861. He was a modest, unassuming man, of large literary and professional qual- ifications, with the highest character for social and moral worth.
Dr. George Edwin Woodbury, son of Peter Perkins Woodbury, M. D., and Eliza 'Gordon Woodbury, was born in Bedford, Feb- ruary 9, 1838. He was educated in the district school of Bedford, the high schools of Piscataquog and Merrimack, in New Ipswich Appleton academy and Francestown academy.
In May, 1856, he commenced the study of medicine with his father. In 1857 and 1858 he studied with Dr. Smith of Peter- borough. He graduated from the Dartmouth Medical school in November, 1859, then returned to Bedford, where he practised with his father until the latter's death in December, 1860. He remained in Bedford until September, 1862, when he entered the army as acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A., stationed at Douglass hospital, Washington, D. C.
In November, 1862, he was mustered into the army as assistant surgeon of the Second District of Columbia Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Twenty-second Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He was mustered out of the army at the close of the war, returning to Bedford.
In September, 1866, he opened in Methuen, Mass., an office for the practice of medicine. October 30, 1867, he married Harriette Emily Reed of Cambridge, Mass.
Dr. Woodbury has been a trustee of Nevins Memorial library in Methuen since its incorporation.
He is a Mason of the rank of Knight Templar, a member of the G. A. R., and of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
Dr. William Wesley Wilkins was born in the town of Depeyster, St. Lawrence county, New York state, June 17, 1829. His father, Daniel Wilkins of Londonderry, was a descendant of Rev. Daniel Wilkins, one of the first settlers of the town of Amherst, and the
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first settled minister over the Presbyterian church in that town. The mother of Daniel Wilkins, and the grandmother of the subject of this sketch, was Elizabeth McMurphy, daughter of Archibald McMurphy, a prominent citizen of Londonderry. The father of Dr. Wilkins in early life went to northern New York, where he married Betsey Russell, daughter of Elijah Russell, by whom he had several children. He was a carpenter by trade, and a man who had improved his mind and stored it with useful knowledge. His boys, under his careful instruction, early acquired a knowledge of the use of tools, and to this practical knowledge they owed more than to any other one thing, their success in life.
Dr. Wilkins' education, aside from that secured in the common schools, was obtained in the academy at Derry and at Fitchburg, Mass. He married August 5, 1852, Miss Persis L. Morse, daughter of Johnson Morse of Manchester. Then he studied medicine with Drs. E. H. Davis and S. W. Jones of Manchester, and attended medical lectures at the Vermont Medical college, Woodstock, Vt., where he graduated in June, 1856. In the fall of that year he went to Henniker, and practised medicine till the spring of 1861, when he returned to Manchester and took the office vacated by Dr. George H. Hubbard, surgeon of the Second New Hampshire regiment. He remained here only a few months.
In June, when that regiment was going to the front, he gave up a good practice to enlist in Company I, Captain Bailey, and left with the regiment for Washington. He was with the Second at Bull Run, and also remained with the regiment until September, when he received an appointment as acting assistant surgeon in the U. S. navy, and was ordered to the U. S. ship, Shepard Knapp, which was sent to the West Indies to cruise for blockade runners and privateers.
The following May the Shepard Knapp returned to New York, and after taking in necessary stores was sent to take part in the blockade off Charleston. The summer and fall were spent at this place and at St. Helena sound, returning to New York in the winter.
On arriving in New York and learning of the death of a daugh- ter and the dangerous sickness of his son, he resigned his commis- sion and came home. The next spring he bought a place in Bedford and commenced the practice of medicine, but having a commission offered him in the Tenth New Hampshire volunteers, he accepted the same and reported to the regiment in August, 1863. The regiment was then encamped at Julius Creek, Va., where it remained during the fall and winter months.
He remained with the Tenth until July, 1864, when, broken down in health, he was sent as a patient to Point of Rocks hospital, at which place he resigned his commission and returned to New Hampshire.
He practised for eight years after in Bedford, and then removed
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to Manchester, where after a time he gave up general practice, took a course of study, and made a specialty of treatment of eye troubles. His death occurred September 1, 1891, after a sickness of eight months, at the age of 63 years.
Dr. David Proctor Campbell was born at Hampton, N. H., March 1, 1842; died January 7, 1901, at Greenspring, O. The early life of the doctor was passed at the place of his birth, where he received a careful and thorough education, well fitting him for the study of medicine, which he completed at the age of twenty-five. In 1879 he located in Bedford, and engaged in the practice of his profession, immediately showing his ability in his chosen work by building up an extensive practice.
On the 22d of June, 1879, he married Miss Alice E. Watrous of Greenspring, O., to which place they removed, after spending nearly four years in Bedford, and where they have since resided. To them was born a daughter, Grace, who, with the widow, survives.
In a short time after going to Greenspring he had gained a prom- inence more than local, and his advice was sought for professionally far and near. Finding the labors of general practice too severe, he undertook sanatorium work, and was identified with the sanatorium at that place. He combined, in the later years of his life, with his medical work, several business ventures, finally devoting all his time to them, at home and in Colorado. His health yielded to the strain of the high altitude of Colorado, and he returned to Greenspring in 1900, resuming his practice of medicine, which he followed until his death. A man of indomitable energy and inflexible will, he threw his entire strength into whatever he undertook, and to this, as much as anything, may be attributed his failing health. His professional life was marked by many successes, and his reputation was well established through a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in his own and neighboring states, who mourn him as a helpful physician.
Dr. Frank H. Rowe was born in Hooksett, February 13, 1853, and removed to Manchester at the age of six years. Here he attended the public schools, graduating from the high school in the class of 1874.
He began the study of medicine with the late Dr. H. C. Canney, continuing his studies at Dartmouth and the University of Vermont, graduating from the latter in the class of 1881.
He married, March 4, 1885, Flora E. Lang of Candia, and their only child living was born March 13, 1893, Olive M. Rowe.
In the fall of the year 1881 he commenced the practice of medi- cine in Bedford, and continued in active practice until his death, which occurred March 20, 1896.
Dr. George Moses Davis was born in Norwich, Vt., January 30, 1864, son of Ira and Lucy A. L. (Crary) Davis. His grandfather, Moses Davis, served in the Revolutionary war for a period of about two years, and was one of the sentinels stationed over André a night or two before his execution.
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His father was a physician of Norwich, being born in Dracut, Mass., January 25, 1801, and practising in Norwich until his death.
Dr. Davis received his education in the public schools of his native town and of Manchester. Later he studied medicine with Dr. George C. Hoitt, entered Dartmouth Medical school, and was gradu- ated in the class of 1888. While in college he spent a year in Tewksbury, Mass., hospital. After graduation he again went there for a few months.
In November, 1889, he located in Bedford. February 24, 1891, he married Mabel L. Davis of Norwich, Vt. A daughter, Hilda L. Davis, was born to them in Bedford, June 10, 1892.
In July, 1893, he removed to the adjoining town of Merrimack, succeeding to the practice of Dr. W. W. Pillsbury. While in Mer- rimack, a son, Harold I. Davis, was born, December 24, 1893. He remained there until January, 1896, when he removed to Manches- ter, where he became associated with Dr. Henry W. Boutwell, in the office formerly occupied by Drs. Crosby and Wilkins. He is a mem- ber of the State Medical society and of the staff of Sacred Heart hospital.
Dr. Daniel Grant, a graduate of McGill university, Montreal, came to Bedford in April, 1896, remaining here until December, 1897, when he removed to Bourne, Ore.
Dr. Joseph Taylor was born in Harrisville, N. H., August 11, 1860. At the age of five years he removed to Cambridgeport, Vt., where he received a common school education. In the fall of 1890 he entered the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania, which he attended one year, entering the University of Maryland Medical college in the fall of 1892, which he left January 1, 1893, and went to Dartmouth Medical college, where he graduated in November, 1893.
He commenced the practice of medicine in Acworth, N. H., where he remained five years, coming to Bedford in December, 1897, where he practised three years, removing to West Manchester in Decem- ber, 1900.
PHYSICIANS WHO SPENT THE EARLY YEARS OF THEIR LIVES IN BEDFORD, BUT WHO PRACTISED THEIR PROFESSION ELSEWHERE.
Dr. David McQuesten, son of Deacon David McQuesten, was born in Litchfield, September 13, 1793. He was a descendant in the fourth generation of William McQuesten, who came from the north of Ireland, in 1730, to Medford, Mass., from which place he removed to Litchfield, where with his family he lived until his decease.
Dr. McQuesten in his boyhood worked upon his father's farm in Bedford, and after a preparatory course of study, entered Dartmouth college, where he pursued his studies for about two years, when he was obliged to suspend by reason of a partial failure of sight. After leaving college he entered upon the study of medicine at Dr. Robert
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Bartley's office in Londonderry, attending courses of lectures at Harvard until he received his degree, when he commenced the prac- tice of medicine in Washington in the year 1821.
Dr. McQuesten was an energetic, outspoken, fearless man. He had a widely extended practice in Washington and adjoining towns for nearly thirty years, and is still remembered by grateful friends for his kind and successful ministrations in the sick room, as well as for his active cooperation in all matters pertaining to the highest good of his fellow-townsmen.
Dr. McQuesten was prominently identified with the founding of Tubbs Union academy in Washington, but died the year following its successful opening. He was a man of fine physique, being six feet in height and of large frame; was active, and led a laborious life. Washington and the surrounding towns are very rough, and such an extended practice as was his required much physical endur- ance.
He was sought as counsel in difficult cases by his brethren of the profession as often probably as any other physician in Sullivan county.
In temperament he was jovial, the life and inspiration of social gatherings, beloved by children, implicitly trusted by his patrons, and tolerant of all human failings except lying. No person angled for a second rebuke from him for indulging in that vice.
He died May 20, 1850, and was buried the 22d, the day of the centennial celebration of the town of Bedford.
Dr. Calvin McQuesten, also the son of Deacon David McQuesten, was born in Bedford. His early life was probably not different from that of his older brother, David. He was not robust in youth, and never intended to depend upon manual labor for a living. He was diligent in reading at home, being one of those who studied by the light of pine knots, lying prone before an open fireplace, an advan tage in the acquirement of an education which has, together with the use of the birch, gone into oblivion. After preparation at an academy he entered the medical school at Bowdoin college, where he took his degree in 1830.
He first located in the practice of his profession at Sanbornton Bridge, where he remained one year, thence removing to Brockport, N. Y., where he practised ten years, when he gave up medicine and engaged in manufacturing at Hamilton, Ont., where he died in 1885, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
Dr. Jesse Powell Sweat (Swett), son of Ebenezer and Susan (Gustin) Swett, was born in Bedford, February 11, 1811. In his boyhood he was "bound out " by his father to Dea. John French at "Joppa," and when about eighteen years of age, fearful of the con- sequences of some mischievous fun which he with some other boys had indulged in, with all his worldly goods tied up in a red handker- chief, he left his home and trudged barefoot to Portland, Me., the home of an uncle, Dr. Moses Sweat. While there he accepted Dr.
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Sweat's offer of a medical education, in company with his own son at Parsonsfield, Me., with whom he studied. He also attended West- brook academy, and received the degree of M. D. from Bowdoin college in 1834.
After completing his studies, the senior Dr. Sweat took young Jesse up to the remote and sparsely settled town of Brownfield, Me., and left him to his fate. There was an old and respected physician located in the village, and the young doctor had not the first recog- nition, and would literally have starved had he not been ready to do anything that offered. One day he was at work some distance from the village in a meadow digging a ditch, when a messenger reached him with the story that a man was bleeding to death in the village from a cut in his foot, and the old village doctor being unable to relieve the hemorrhage, he urged Jesse to hasten and do what he could to save the man's life. He instantly dropped his shovel and ran with all speed across the field, and before the messenger reached the house, going by the road, the young physician had stanched the tide.
From that time his skill and ability were recognized. For fifty years he practised his profession in the town, achieving a reputation for remarkable ability and insight as physicion and surgeon, and having a consulting practice for a radius of thirty miles in the White Mountain region. He served through the War of the Rebellion as surgeon of the Twenty-third, and afterwards of the Fourteenth Maine volunteers. He married in December, 1837, Eliza Wheelock Spring, eldest daughter of Alpheus and Sally (Goodenow) Spring of the town of Hiram, Me. He had three children who arrived at ma- turity : Valeria Goodenow, who married Hon. Paris Gibson; John Aiken, who married Mary Frances Towle of Fryeburg, and is a prac- tising physician in Great Falls, Mont .; and Jessie May, who mar- ried Dr. Alfred G. Ladd of Portland, Me.
Dr. Sweat was a man of great mental gifts and strong personality. His memory is cherished among the people of the large section of country where his life labors were spent, as the type of the country doctor,-sympathetic, kindly and efficient; too considerate of others to ever accumulate much wealth, but charitable and large-minded, his active life being distinguished by countless benevolent, humane acts. He was always prominent in public affairs, a lifelong Demo- crat in politics, a Mason for many years, and a Universalist in relig- ious faith.
About three years before his death, being obliged to retire from practice, he went to Minneapolis, Minn., where he died at the home of his eldest daughter, August 20, 1885.
Dr. Alfred J. French, was born in Bedford, educated in the public schools, attended Hancock Literary and Scientific institution two years, read medicine one year with the late Drs. Buck and Gale of Manchester, subsequently went to Woodstock, Vt., and spent two years with the professors of the Vermont Medical college, now
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located at Burlington, Vt., where he graduated in 1848. He then . opened an office in Manchester where he practised one year, remov- ing to Methuen, Mass., in 1850, from which place, after seven years of practice, he removed to Lawrence, Mass., where he resided until his death.
Dr. Levi Jackson Woodbury, son of Peter P. Woodbury, M. D., and Martha Riddle Woodbury, was born in Bedford, January 12, 1829. He was educated in Francestown academy and Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. He studied medicine with his father, attended medical lectures in Boston, Mass., and received the degree of M. D. from Bowdoin College, Maine, in 1853.
In 1854 he located in Princeton, Ill., where he practised his pro- fession three years, then returned to his home in New Hampshire, living there until the time of his death, which occurred June 20, 1890.
Dr. David Brainard French, son of Dea. John French, was born January 27, 1830. He graduated from Dartmouth college, July, 1850, studied medicine and received the degree M. D. from Dart- mouth in 1854; located in Bath, N. H., where he was a very suc- cessful physician. He married Sarah Isabella Hutchinson of Nor- wich, Vt., February 27, 1855; forced to leave on account of failing health, he went west and located in Eau Claire, Wis., where he died March 26, 1861.
Dr. John Gilman McAllister was born in Bedford, December 9, 1841. After completing his education in the public schools at Man- chester, Nashua, and New Hampton institute, he studied medicine in the office of Dr. Josiah G. Graves at Nashua, and attended his first course of lectures at Dartmouth Medical school; he afterwards attended lectures in New York city at the medical department of Columbia college, where he graduated in 1865. He passed the ex- amination for assistant surgeon United States navy, and was appointed acting assistant surgeon May 1, 1865, being ordered to the old re- ceiving ship Ohio, at Charlestown (Mass.) navy yard, and trans- ferred from there to the headquarters of the Mississippi squadron at Mound City, Ill., where he was surgeon to the marine barracks and hospital. He was on duty there till all of the gunboats were mus- tered out of service and sold at auction, and received an honorable discharge February 12, 1866. He then went to New York city, where he followed the hospitals until May, when he removed to Lawrence, Mass., where he has since been in active practice of med- icine and surgery. In October, 1869, he married Almeda N. Tir- rell of Nashua. They have a family of four children, Frederick D., who graduated from Amherst college and Harvard Medical school, and who is now associated with his father in practice; Frank B., who also graduated at Amherst college and Yale Divinity school, and who has been pastor over the church at Bedford, Mass., for four years; Grace T., who is at home, and Helen W., who is a student at Mt. Holyoke college. Dr. McAllister, with his family, are members of the Lawrence Street Congregational church.
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The doctor was early associated with the G. A. R. He is a mem- ber of Needham post, No. 39, G. A. R., Department of Massachusetts, and has been surgeon of the post continuously nearly since its organ- ization. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical society, and a counselor of the society from North Essex district. He is also a member of the Lawrence Medical club since its organization, and was for many years on the active staff of the Lawrence General hos- pital, and is at present one of the consulting staff; a member of the board of examiners for Lawrence training school for nurses, and has been on the board of United States pension examiners for Law- rence district for several years, and is at present president of the board.
Dr. McAllister has had a long experience in his profession, and from one of the youngest has come to be one of the oldest physi- cians in active practice in the vicinity of Lawrence.
Frank William Patten, M. D., was born in Bedford, May 9, 1852. He was the son of Samuel and Keziah (Parker) Patten. After attend- ing the Bedford schools he fitted for college at the Manchester high school, and his home was in that city from 1874. He entered Dart- mouth college in 1873, but soon after the death of his father, he en- tered the office of Dr. W. W. Wilkins of Manchester, to begin the study of medicine. He was graduated from the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, New York city, in March, 1877.
He began the practice of medicine in Hopkinton, Mass., in Octo- ber, 1877, where he soon had a large practice that extended over miles of Middlesex county, and where he remained until the financial resources of the town and the need of an easier life induced him to move to Boston, August 1, 1899.
But the families who had depended on him so many years were unwilling to give him up, so in connection with a large private prac- tice and dispensary work in Boston, he was obliged to make many trips to Hopkinton every month, making his life doubly hard. Early on the morning of November 16, 1900, he was called to a patient only a few doors from his own home, and hurrying up four flights of stairs to the bedside, without warning the end came, and with the well-known kindly smile on his face he went to meet the Great Physician.
Dr. Patten was a close student, passionately fond of his chosen profession, and deeply interested in all who came to him, in what- ever station in life they might be. He kept in touch with other physicians by attending the meetings of all medical associations near him, and for many years held different offices in Thurber Medical association of Milford, Mass. His papers read before that society were published in numerous medical magazines and largely quoted and copied.
Dr. Patten was married September 20, 1876, to Harriette Eliza- beth, daughter of William Bailey of Manchester, who survives him, with two sons, William Everett and Clarence Wesley, also a daugh-
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ter, Bertha Alice, one son having died in infancy. Dr. Patten en- joyed the social life of fraternal orders, being a member and past master of John Warren lodge, F. & A. M., of Hopkinton, and also a member of the Royal Arch chapter, the O. E. S., the A. O. U. W., and K. of H., in all of which he had held many offices. He also kept up his love of music, acting as organist in different orders. He was deeply interested in the youth of Hopkinton, and had served a number of years on the school committee, and was also town physi- cian and chairman of board of health many years. He was a mem- ber of the Congregational church in Hopkinton, acting for a time as treasurer, and was a sincere and conscientious Christian. The funeral services and burial were at Manchester.
The following is a quotation from the Dartmouth class of '77 re- port : "Dr. Patten, though his connection with us at Hanover was only for a year, was strongly attached to the class, and was present at our reunions in 1887 and 1897. No one of our non-graduate members could be more deeply mourned."
Dr. George W. Sargent, son of George W. and Maria (Barr) Sar- gent, graduated in 1879 at the medical college of Syracuse, N. Y., after three years of study there, one winter at the Dartmouth Medi- cal college, and two winters at the medical college of Vermont uni- versity at Burlington.
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