USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Littleton > History of Littleton, New Hampshire, Vol. II > Part 12
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CHARLES M. TUTTLE, A.M., M.D.
HENRY P. WATSON, M.D.
EZRA C. WORCESTER, A.M., M.D.
THADDEUS T. CUSHMAN, M.D. MAJ. FRANK T. MOFFETT, M.D.
RESIDENT PHYSICIANS.
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of his uncle and the skilful tutelage of Dr. William Nelson, who was at the time of his death lecturer on anatomy at Bellevue Med- ical College. He was graduated from Vermont Medical College at Woodstock in 1840, and the same year began the practice of his profession in this town. For some reason his reception by the brethren of the fraternity was wanting in cordiality, and for several years he had to make his way in the face of considerable adverse criticism. This served to stimulate his activity and am- bition and enlarge the circle of his friends and patrons. In 1858 he removed to New Bedford, Mass., where he had a successful practice for five years, when he returned to this town and at once entered upon a career that was unsurpassed in the number of his patients and usefulness by any of his contemporaries in this section of the State. His services were in constant demand by his brethren of the profession in consultation, and by the bar as a witness in cases where a medical expert was required. He was a bold and brilliant practitioner, surprisingly quick in all his mental pro- cesses, full of resources and exceptionally accurate in diagnosis. Having reached a conclusion as to the character of a disease, he had no doubt as to the treatment required and proceeded to its execution with equal despatch and confidence. His tendency to adopt original methods of treatment rendered him a frequent sub- ject of professional criticism. Tried, however, by the ultimate test of a physician's work, the successful treatment of disease and alleviation of suffering, the doctor was most certainly justified by the results of these excursions into unknown fields.
Dr. Tuttle did not confine his sphere of usefulness entirely to his profession. He was interested in a practical way in edu- cation, religion, and politics, and was active in promoting the cause of each along lines that he regarded as best calculated to promote the welfare of the community. He was a member of the Board of Education for three years; was one of the leaders in establishing the Unitarian Church; was a member of the Board of Health, and a Representative to the Legislature for a single term, declining the usual compliment, in those days of annual elections, of a re-election on account of his inability, by reason of the demands upon his professional services, to attend to the duties of a legislator ; he was also for several years a member of the State Board of Agriculture. In the early days of his practice he was surgeon of the Thirty-second Regiment of State militia.
When he returned to this town from New Bedford, his interest in agriculture led him to purchase several farms at the north end and engage in farming on an extensive scale. The location, how-
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ever, was too remote from the mass of his patients, and soon after the death of Colonel Gibb he purchased of his administrator the Paddleford place at the west end of Main Street, and there re- sided until his death. Dr. Tuttle disliked conventionalities, espe- cially such as conflicted with the known facts of experience and observation. This feeling led perhaps to certain mild eccen- tricities, one of which was the wearing in winter of several hats as a protection in severe weather. He was careless with his large professional earnings, and freely gave his services and money for the alleviation of the sufferings of the poor. This charitable pro- pensity finally became a habit which in the course of time made inroads into his income and eventually into his accumulations.
Another physician whose sojourn here was quite brief was Carleton Clark Abbey, A.B., M.D. He was born at Middlebury, Vt., in May, 1818, and died at San Francisco in February, 1853. His father and grandfather had the same name, Solomon Abbey. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1845, and attended medi- cal lectures at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, receiving his degree of M.D. in 1848. His practice was begun in this town in 1849, but he remained but one year. He was a member of the order of Odd-Fellows, but was not a church mem- ber. He married, first, Nancy J. Gile in 1848, and, second, Fatima Hastings in 1850. Of their three children, the son died in child- hood; one daughter, Mrs. W. S. Hastings, resides, married, in Waterford, Vt., and another, Mrs. W. W. Weller, lives in this town.
Mr. Abbey taught school for a considerable time in South Caro- lina and Alabama while studying medicine. After leaving Littleton he opened a drug store in Philadelphia, continuing the business a . year and then returning to Littleton. This was his residence for two years more. In 1853 he joined a party for California, but died soon after his arrival.
He was possessed of a strong desire for travel. He was well acquainted with general literature; his talent for writing was marked, and, had his life been spared, he would himself have made his mark in the literature of the time, either professional or general.
Dr. Albert W. Clarke practised his profession in Littleton for a period of about ten months in 1856, and left this field intending to locate in one of the Western States, one of his brothers having preceded him in that direction. He made an extensive tour in those States, including California and some of the Territories. The few months' experience he had in the society then forming at
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all points where he spent any time convinced the doctor that he was better fitted to practise his profession in a more matured community. Perhaps he did not fully anticipate the future of the people then massing at so many points, since become famous for the enterprise and push materialized in the rise of many a city where but a few years ago was nothing but barren wastes. The result, however, was that for a few years Dr. Clarke made his home at Woburn, Mass., until called by his country to take position as an assistant surgeon in the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment. In the service he won the deep regard of those under his charge. He was a bold and at the same time a most conscientious prac- titioner, giving more of his strength and time to his patients than could in reason be asked of him. To this untiring devotion and these severe demands made upon his strength, particularly by the prevalence of pneumonia at the time of his death, we attribute the great loss sustained by the profession in his death. I am confident that every brother in the profession so fortunate as to know Dr. Clarke will join me in saying that his life was one of spotless purity towards both his clientage and his professional brethren.1 His second residence in Littleton was from 1864 till his death, March 27, 1867. He was born in Lisbon July 25, 1828. When he was quite young, his parents removed to Lyndon, Vt., where he acquired his education in the common schools and academy. He studied with Drs. Sanborn and Newell of that place, beginning in 1848, and taking his degree at Dartmouth in 1851. Dr. Clarke married Philinda G. Willey in March, 1852. She, with his three children, two sons and a daughter, survive. Of the sons, one, George A., is a promising artist in Boston, and the other follows his father's profession.
Martin Luther Scott, M.D., a son of Rev. Nathan Scott (M. E. Church), was born in Glover, Vt., January 1, 1835. He attended the common district schools where his parents resided, until, having mastered the branches tauglit there, he was sent to Lyn- don, Vt., Academy, finally finishing his education in Newbury Seminary, Newbury, Vt.
Choosing medicine as his profession, he commenced his studies with Dr. C. B. Darling, an honored and celebrated homoeopathic physician residing in Lyndon, Vt., in the spring of 1852, where he remained about a year ; when, at the urgent request of his brother, Chester W. Scott, then practising in Irasburg, Vt., but now for some years in Lawrence, Mass., he continued his studies under his direction, and graduated in the University of Vermont Medical
1 This estimate of the character of Dr. Clarke is from notes written by Dr. Tuttle.
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College at Burlington in 1856. He commenced practice the same year at Littleton, but after a few months removed to Georgeville, P. Q. He afterwards practised in Bradford, Vt., Denver, Col., Randolph, Vt., and Northampton, Mass., where he died.
He was a member of the Board of Censors of the Vermont State Homeopathic Society. He was also a member of the Masonic Fraternity, in which order he advanced so far as Knight Templar. In 1857 he married Sarah N. Worthington, by whom he had three daughters. While at Littleton he was regarded as a man of ability, with prospects of success in his chosen field of labor.
Ralph Bugbee, Jr., came of a family noted in medical annals. His father, Ralph, Sr., was for more than half a century a proin- inent physician at Waterford, Vt., and three brothers have been distinguished in the profession. Ralph, Jr., was born at Water- ford December 20, 1821, and early began the study of medicine with his father; he took his degree at the Medical College at Castleton October 4, 1845, and began practice at once in his na- tive town, where he remained nine years. He was at Franconia three years, and in 1857 came to Littleton, where he enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice. Dr. Bugbee acquired a wide reputation for his successful treatment of a class of chronic diseases which brought him patients from distant States. He was also noted as a surgeon and for his personal attention to tlie care and comfort of his patients, which, in the days before the employ- ment of persons especially trained for that purpose, was esteemed a peculiar professional virtue, and one that added much to Dr. Bugbee's popularity with those who were placed under his care. He was a member of the White Mountain, Caledonia, and Vermont State Medical Societies.
James Lang Harriman, M.D., was born in Peacham, Vt., May 11, 1833. He was educated at the academies at Meriden and Exeter, and in 1853 entered the office of Dr. Albert Winch at Whitefield, where he pursued the usual course of study. He then attended three full courses of lectures at the Medical College at Woodstock, Vt., Albany, N. Y., and Brunswick, Me., and was graduated from the last named in 1857. The same year he began the practice of his profession at Littleton. He remained here but four and a half years, acquiring the reputation of being a careful and skilful practitioner.
In July, 1862, he entered the service as assistant surgeon of the Thirteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and was
RALPH BUGBEE, M.D.
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discharged for disability in January, 1863. He then settled in Hudson, Mass. Dr. Harriman is a member of the White Mountain, Middlesex Southern, and Massachusetts Medical Societies ; has represented his town in the General Court of Massachusetts ; for many years has been a member of the Board of Health and school committee of Hudson ; and, while residing at Littleton, was chair- man of the school committee. He married in 1859 Mary E. Cushman, daughter of Horace Cushman, Esq., of Dalton. They have one child, a daughter. Dr. Harriman is still in the full tide of a successful practice.
The most prominent representative of the Homoeopathic school in northern New Hampshire is Thaddeus Ezra Sanger, M.D. He located here after two years' practice in Hardwick, Vt., in 1858, succeeding Dr. Scott, who had then lately left this field. He was born March 12, 1833, at Troy, Vt., a son of Ezra Sanger. His academic education was at St. Johnsbury Academy, and his medical education, begun in 1850, was pursued under Prof. A. F. Bissel at Toledo, Ohio, and with Dr. Stone at St. Johns- bury, and Dr. Darling of Lyndon. He took degrees in medicine at Cleveland in 1854 and at Philadelphia in 1856. His marriage with Ianthe C. Kneeland occurred October 22, 1857. In his forty-five years of practice here Dr. Sanger has identified him- self with many important interests of a social, business, and professional nature. His politics are Republican, and his church preferences Episcopalian. He has been instrumental in organ- izing the homeopathic practitioners in local and State associa- tions. In these he has been an active worker, and has been repeatedly president of each body. He is also a member of the American Institute of Homoeopathy. For a number of years he held the office of United States pension examiner at this place. This office had a single incumbent here, and was not, according to the general rule, committed to a board of three. In Templar Masonry he attained the rank of Grand Commander. Notwithstanding the digressions which the doctor makes in general business, Freemasonry, or politics, he keeps his profession next his lieart.
Dr. Scott, the pioneer of homeopathy in the town, did not succeed in making a permanent lodgment for the school; that task was reserved for Dr. Sanger, and he was well equipped for the work. His professional accomplishments were many ; he took to the sick-room and to the family circle a genial presence and kindly humor that changed the atmosphere of doubt or fear to one of hope and wholesome expectancy that were quickening
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agencies in effecting a cure. These social characteristics dis- armed the prejudice existing against his school of medicine and opened many doors to his professional success. In two years his income was $2,500 a year, and it soon reached $5,000 and did not fall below that amount until he felt the necessity of relin- quishing a part of his practice to younger men. Though the patriarch of the profession, he has the spirit, if not the ambition, of his younger years, and finds it difficult to deny to those who have been his patients for nearly half a century calls for his pro- fessional services.
The doctor has been too busy in attending the afflicted to give much of his time to the public service, and his non-professional offices have been confined to the Board of Health and Board of Education. He has aided in establishing several business enter- prises and enlarging others, and is at present a director in the Saranac Glove Company.
Adams Brock Wilson, M.D., was a native of Newbury, Vt., a son of Adams Wilson, born March 8, 1842. He prepared for college at the old Newbury Seminary, and was at Wesleyan Uni- versity at Middletown, Conn., one year. He commenced the study of medicine in 1863 ; his preceptors were Dr. H. L. Watson and Dr. Dixi Crosby. After taking three courses of lectures at Dartmouth Medical School and the medical department of the Vermont University, he graduated at the former institution in 1866. He entered zealously upon the practice of his profession at Littleton immediately after his graduation, but in less than three years was broken down by overwork, and died at Bradford, Vt., August 30, 1869. He was of the regular school of practice, His church affiliations were with the Congregationalists. He was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi College Fraternity, and of the Freemasons in Pulaski Lodge at Newbury. In politics he was a Democrat. In 1866, November 18, he married Louella M. Little of this place, but there were no children. His widow re- mains unmarried, and has gained an enviable reputation as an educator. She was for several years superintendent of public schools at Des Moines, Iowa, and is at present in charge of a large school for young ladies in Chicago.
The ancestors of Henry Lyman Watson, M.D., were among the early settlers of Salisbury, and were of the Society of Friends ; in that town he was born February 10, 1811. He received an academic education at Phillips Academy at Exeter, and soon after attaining his majority began the study of medicine; he attended three full courses of lectures at the Dartmouth and Vermont
PourTously yours &Sanger
Faglig Ne Hal Con M.
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Medical Schools, and received his degree of M.D. at the last- named school in 1838. He opened an office at Stewartstown, remained but three months, and then removed to Guildhall, Vt., where he was in full practice for twenty years. On account of the superior educational advantages afforded at Newbury, he took up his residence there in 1858, and in 1865 came to Littleton. His practice here filled the measure of his desires; the frosty hand of time had been laid lightly upon him, and advancing age brought its full share of honors and the rewards incident to a life spent in an earnest and successful endeavor to assuage the sufferings of humanity.
Dr. Watson was frequently called to fill administrative and legislative positions. While residing in Guildhall he was county commissioner, postmaster, twice elected to the State Senate, 1852 and 1853, and in 1856 and 1857 was elected Representative, and was the candidate of his party for the speakership of the House of Representatives. In 1868 he was appointed postmaster at Littleton by President Johnson, a position he resigned within the year. In early life he was an active member of the military, was a commissioned officer of high rank in it, and for a long time was regimental surgeon. He married, first, Roxanna Hughes. She dying, he married, second, Mary Jane Hardy. He had three children, the eldest being Dr. Henry P. Watson, of Manchester. He died February 19, 1891.
Thaddeus Thompson Cushman, M.D., was in practice here but eighteen months, coming in 1868 from Lunenburg, where he had been in practice for twenty-four years and gained the reputation of being a skilful and honorable physician. He was fast gaining a practice here when he removed to Randolph, Mass., where his only child, Mrs. Breitling, resided. He was born in Sumner, Me., in 1821, took his degree in course at Bowdoin Medical College in 1844, and established himself at Lunenburg the same year. He was a member of the White Mountain, Vermont, and Massachusetts Medical Societies, and president of the first named, and a councillor of the Massachusetts Society. In 1848 he married Lucretia W. Gates, who died in August, 1850. After going to Randolph, he was a trustee of the Stetson High School twelve years and a member of the Board of Education. He was highly esteemed both in medical and social circles. He died at Randolph, Mass., February 6, 1896.
Dr. Leonard Marshall Eudy practised in this town but one year. He was a student of the Harvard Medical School, and had received his preliminary education at the common schools in VOL. II .- 8
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Bethlehem, where he was born January 8, 1843. He was a son of Capt. William Eudy, who resided many years in Bethlehem, but subsequently located at North Littleton. Dr. Eudy served as a private in the War of the Rebellion during the full term of his regiment, the Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteers. He entered upon the study of medicine in 1865 with Dr. Tuttle, continuing with Dr. Watson and entering upon the practice in 1870. After his brief location in Littleton he removed to Upper Bartlett, and continued in practice there as long as he lived. He was of the regular school ; never married, was an attendant upon the Free Baptist Church, and a Democrat in politics. In 1877 he was engaged in the care of the small-pox cases at the camp established near his circuit of practice, and died in the midst of the epidemic on the 28th of November at Bartlett. He is entitled to a large measure of credit for the courage and persistency with which, in the face of serious obstacles, he pursued his ambition to acquire a position in the medical profession.
Frank Tifft Moffett, M.D., was a native of Littleton. He was born August 6, 1842. His father, Col. Alden Moffett, was for many years prominent in town affairs. His well-known military title was gained in the old militia. The son was educated in the common schools of Littleton and the high schools of Barnet, Vt. At the age of twenty he entered the Union army as a private in the Fourteenth New Hampshire Volunteers, Captain Hodgdon's company. His service extended from August 15 of that year to July, 1865. He was with Banks on the Red River; was all through the valley campaign with Sheridan ; went to Savannah, Ga., and met Sherman's command as it emerged from the march to the sea ; was present with his regiment when it met the cavalry command that had captured Jefferson Davis and acted as its escort to Augusta, Ga.
In 1867 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. C. M. Tuttle ; attended three courses of medical lectures, and gradu- ated at the Harvard Medical College in 1870. He located in the practice of medicine at Littleton in 1871, and prosecuted his profession with marked success at that place and the vicinity, and was fast making his way to the top of the professional ladder when his incessant labors impaired his nervous system and he gave way under the strain and died July 12, 1896.
Dr. Moffett was singularly devoted to his profession, and seldom voluntarily took more than a passing interest in matters foreign to it. This habit of "minding his business " made him popular with all classes, and gave him strength as a candidate in a close
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campaign of which his party associates availed themselves, and he was nominated for Representative, together with Henry F. Green. One of their Democratic opponents was declared elected, and on a contest in the Legislature both seats were awarded to the Republicans. The doctor served several terms as a member of the Board of Health. His military and hospital experi- ence in the war naturally suggested his appointment as assistant surgeon of the Third Regiment, National Guard, which post he held from 1884 to 1889, and surgeon, with rank of major, from 1889 to 1894. He was a member of the White Mountain and State Medical Societies, and was a delegate from the last-named society to the American Medical Society in 1883, and then be- came a member of the national organization.
No man in our midst was nearer the heart of the people than Dr. Moffett in the period of his professional activity. Night and day, in winter's storm and in summer's heat, he patiently served them as the good physician, knowing no distinctions among men and no guide but duty. His kindness of heart, his industry, and his professional skill, brought his personality home to thou- sands to whom the strong man was a help and inspiration. He was modest, unassuming, clear-headed, clean-minded, self-reliant, skilful, and conspicuously successful. He was discreet and self- contained. A social or professional confidence could never be tossed by him into the thoughtless gossip of the town. If he had disappointments and sorrows, he bore the burden alone, and no one saw the secrets of his heart. Among his professional brethren he was the soul of honor and an exemplar of the ethics of his calling. While his professional ability commanded the utmost confidence of the people, their profound respect for his sturdy manhood was the crowning fact. No one remembers of Dr. Moffett the expression of an unworthy purpose, the endorsement of an unseemly thought, or the semblance of a dishonest act. The memory of his self-sacrificing life is now the heritage of his family, his friends, his brethren, and his contemporaries. The stanch physique, the skilful intellect, and the great heart were not spared in the ceaseless labors of a quarter of a cen- tury, in which no call of duty was unheeded, and no oppor- tunity to help the poor, the sick, and the afflicted neglected. He had toiled to the high plane of professional accomplishment, and before the slow descent had begun he laid down his burden. He will be remembered as he was when he stood on the summit of a noble life in the ripeness of his wisdom and the perfection of his powers.
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Dr. George R. Bugbee is the only son of the late Dr. Ralph Bugbee, Jr., and Mary (Barker) Bugbee, born at Waterford, Vt., February 7, 1849. He received a common school education at Franconia and Littleton, and an academic at Newbury, Vt., and New Hampshire Conference (Tilton) Seminaries. His father was his private medical preceptor, and he attended lectures in the Medical Department of Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and at the Dartmouth Medical School. He obtained his degree at the latter institution in June, 1872. His first year's practice thereafter was at Littleton. He removed to Whitefield, where he remained a few years, and from there to Wausau, Wis., where he has since continued in practice. He is Republican in politics, and of the regular school of practice. In 1871, December 31, he married Emma E. Lindsey. They have two children, a son and daughter.
William Sage Crosby, LL.B., M.D., resided here for a brief period. He was born in Roxbury, Mass., in 1849, educated at the Roxbury High School, and graduated in medicine at the Harvard Medical Department in 1874. His first location in practice was at Boston. A country practice was afterward deemed advan- tageous in his case, and Littleton was selected. He had been in town only a few days or weeks when he was stricken with a fatal sickness, and died at his hotel, April 5, 1875. He was of the regular school of practice, but had no opportunity to dis- play his ability as a practitioner among us. He was a man of agreeable manners and dignified bearing.
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