History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 35

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 35

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EVAN B. HAMMOND, M. D.

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

NORMAN JOHN MACLEOD MOORE, M. D.

Norman J. M. Moore, M. D., was born in Aberdeen, Scot- land, in 1817, died in Nashua, Dec. 31, 1882. He was a descendant of an ancient family that for generations has been renowned in the military profession. The family was originally from Dorsetshire, Eng., and during the struggle at arms between Charles I. and Cromwell were attached to the fortunes of the latter, from whom, when his cause prevailed, they received grants of land at Saleston, near Canton. Ireland. His maternal an- cestors were of Scotch origin, his great grand- mother being the only daughter of Norman John Macleod, a cele- brated chief of the historical Macleod clan of Dunvegan castle, Isle of Skye; probably the oldest castle in Scotland, and famous in song and story.

Doctor Moore at- tended the schools on his native heath and at an early age was graduated at Ox- ford with the de- gree of A. M. He then, with his brother William, who afterwards rose to the rank of colonel in Her Majesty's service, entered a military school at Sand- hurst. After a few months' service he came to the conclusion that he had "missed his calling," and he thereupon left the institution and commenced the study of medicine and surgery at the University of Dublin, Ireland, where he received the degree of M. D. and a diploma. Following his graduation at Dublin he went to Edinburgh, Scotland, and entered the university at that place, again graduating with a diploma of M. D. Not content with the knowledge he had obtained in his profession he became a student at the Royal college of surgery in London, where he had seven years of study and was graduated in January, 1842. Doctor Moore felt that he was fully equipped for a broader field. He con- sidered several propositions from hospitals and profess-

NORMAN JOHN MACLEOD MOORE, M. D.

ional contemporaries who desired him as a partner, but none met his expectations. Finally he concluded to seek his fortune in America, and a year later we find him in practice in the Marine hospital at Chelsea, Mass. He remained at the hospital four years, when his friend, Doctor Smith, the head surgeon, died. Doctor Moore then became disturbed in mind because of preferment that others obtained, but which was denied him because of the fact that then he was not a citizen of the country, and, influenced by an acquaintance, he resigned his posi- tion and located in Derry as a family physician and sur- geon. He re- mained in Derry five years, during which time he be- came widely known. The de- inand for his ser- vice was so great and the location so circumscribed that he was actual- ly compelled to seek a railroad center. He de- cided to settle in Nashua and came here in 1852. Doc- tor Moore prac- ticed in Nashua from the year last mentioned to the day of his death, at one time in partnership with George Gray, M. D. It is not too much to say of him, and we now quote from the writing of a former biographer, that in his generation "he stood at the head of the medi- cal profession in New Hampshire. For more than a quarter of a cen- tury he was called in the most diffi- cult and delicate cases of surgery and he was eminently successful in restoring to health innumerable patients whose cases were considered incurable. He had a remarkable power of diagnosis, and his admitted skill made him a valuable expert witness before the courts, and although his modesty made him shrink from notoriety, he was often called in important state cases both at home and in remote commonwealths." Doctor Moore became a citizen of the United States and showed his patriotism by accept- ing an emergency call from the government, in 1862, and serving four months as surgeon in a hospital at Newburn,

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N. C. That Doctor Moore was all that is said of him is in evidence in a series of resolutions passed by the physi- cians at the time of his death, in which they said : "That in the death of Doctor Moore we are deeply sensible of our loss of a wise counselor in times of perplexity and doubt, when the lives of those intrusted to our care depended upon an accurate knowledge of the nature of the case and the most judicious and skillful application of the means."

But it was not alone as a learned physician and surgeon that Doctor Moore is remembered by the people of Nashua. He was a man of perfect physique, winning in his manners, attractive in his social qualities and a most excel- lent friend and companion. The Scotch blood pre- dominated in him. It made him gen- erous to a fault, kind to the poor, thoughtful for those who associ- ated with him, and enabled him to bear the burdens that were his with- out a murmur, and to award good for evil. In a word he was a rare man mentally and pro- fessionally. He possessed a sunny temperament and had a courtly bear- ing that was so unpretentious that even a timid child was at ease in his presence and soon became his acquaintance and friend.

Nov. 25, 1868; Matilda, born at the Marine hospital in Chelsea, Mass., 1814, educated at the seminary at New London, academy at Mont Vernon and a private school in Boston, married John J. Whitelsy and has a daughter.

GEORGE GRAY, M. D.

George Gray, M. D., was born in Hancock, April 29, 1829; died in Nashua, Dec. 14, 1876. Dr. Gray was a son of John and Hersina ( Knight ) Gray. His paternal ances- tors came from England in the seventeenth cen- tury and their descendants were among the pio- neers of the Sou- hegan valley. His grandfather was a prominent resident of Ben- nington, and a man of sturdy habits and wide influence in the public affairs of his generation. On the maternal side he was a grandson of Dea- con Aaron Knight of Hancock and re- lated to the Adams family, whose gen- ealogy is clearly traced through fifteen genera- tions. His father and mother were well known in Nashua as land- lord and landlady of the Washington house, a popular hostlery that stood on the site of Noyes block.

GEORGE GRAY, M. D.

Doctor Moore was an Episco- palian and a mem- ber of the Church of the Good Shepherd. He was also a member of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Medical societies. He was twice married ; first in Dublin and second at Man- chester, in 1860, when he wedded Caroline Sears. His children were by his first wife, William, born in Dublin, Ireland, 1842, educated at the University of Vermont at Burlington and at the University of Pennsylvania, gradu- ating at the latter with the degree of M. D., a soldier in the Seventh regiment, New Hampshire volunteers, who was promoted to sergeant-major, served two and a half years and died from malaria contracted in the service,

Doctor Gray ob- tained his first schooling in the public schools of Nashua, at Cros- by's Literary in- stitute and Han- cock academy. Following his graduation at the last named institution he entered the office of his uncle, Adams Knight, M. D., at Springfield, Vt., where he applied himself assiduously to the study of medicine and surgery. After a thorough preparatory course of reading he entered the medical college at Woodstock, Vt., where he was graduated with the degree of M. D. His profi- ciency in his profession was such that the faculty named him as a professor and demonstrator of anatomy, a posi- tion which he filled with marked ability till the death of his father in 1851, when it became necessary for him to

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return to Nashua and settle his hotel business and other affairs. This administratorship occupied his attention till 1853, when he formed a partnership with Dr. Norman J. Moore and began practice. He continued with Doctor Moore until the opening of the Civil War, when the partnership was dissolved and he opened an office for himself and continued in practice till his death.

Doctor Gray was a man of striking physique and attractive personality. He was democratic, a man of the people, a citizen who had a cordial greeting and a kind word for every- body. Besides this he was one of the most skillful physicians and surgeons in the city and exceed- ingly conscien- tious in his atten- tion to patients. His success, both in regular prac- tice and as spe- cialist, was recog- nized by his medi- cal associates and caused his diagno- sis and advice to be sought in criti- cal cases; his services, were, also, in demand among experts in important cases before the su- preme court. Dr. Gray's death re- sulted from dip- theria, a disease contracted while attending a pa- tient at a time when suffering from a severe cold. That he was sin- cerely mourned by kindred and friends, is attested by a series of reso- lutions passed at a special meeting of the physicians and surgeons of Nashua. His rec- ord as a faithful physician and generous friend survives him.

EDWIN COLBURN, M. D.

Doctor Gray was an episcopalian, a member of Rising Sun lodge, A. F. and A. M., and of Granite lodge, I. O. O. F. He was also a member of the Vermont and New Hampshire Medical societies and of several other bodies connected with his profession. He was twice married. His first wife was Margaret Stearns of Woodstock, Vt., who died in 1865; second, (April, 1872), Julia Tilden, daughter of Rev. Lucius L. and Julia A. (Ackley ) Tilden of Nashua, who is still living. There were no children by either marriage.

EDWIN A. COLBURN, M. D.

Edwin A. Colburn, M. D., was born at Nashua, Dec. 13, 1829; died at Nashua, March 5, 1892. He was a son of Dr. Elijah and Sarah (Belknap) Colburn. (For ancestors see sketch of Elijah Colburn, M. D., in this work). Doctor Colburn was educated in the public schools of Nashua and graduated at the Nashua Literary institution of which Prof. David Crosby was principal. He then attended school at Derry academy, and, after a thorough study of medicine in the office of his father, took a two years' course at the Medical col- lege atWoodstock, Vt. After con- cluding his studies at the last place he entered the New York Medi- cal college at New York City, where he was graduated with the degree of M. D., in 1854.

Following his graduation he commenced prac- tice with his father and so continued until 1861. His father retired about that time by reason of age, but he continued to practice until shortly before his death. Doctor Colburn inclined to a quiet and well ordered domestic life, freedom from the cares of office and the anxieties and perplexities of political strife. In a word he was exceedingly mod- est, and, although he held the office of city physician in 1861, he would never consent to be a candidate. He was passionately fond of the perfect horse, and during his time owned and drove some of the best blooded animals in southern New Hampshire. Fol- lowing the sale of the family estate, the site of Odd Fel- lows' building, he built one of the handsomest residences on Concord street. He purposed to settle down to a quiet home life and had been in his new home but a few weeks, when, unfortunately, he was found under the feet of an unbroken colt with his skull fractured. He · lived but a few hours after the discovery. Doctor Col- burn was an attendant of the Unitarian church, and an

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honest, upright man and a citizen respected by all.

Doctor Colburn was united in marriage June 26, 1861, with Anna S. Dodge of Antrim. Mrs. Colburn is a daughter of Alvah Dodge, born in Antrim, 18tt, and Lydia ( Elliot ) Dodge, born at Mason, 1817. There were no children by their marriage.

JAMES BONAPARTE GREELEY, M. D.

James B. Greeley, M. D., was born in Nashua, July 18, 1830. He is a son of Col. Joseph and Hannah (Thorn- ton) Greeley. The Greeleys were among the early Scotch-Irish set- tlers of Notting- ham West, now Hudson. They were men of stur- dy habits and thrift. Capt. Samuel Greeley, the great grand- father of the sub- ject of this sketch, and Joseph Gree- ley, grandfather of the same, were at the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. In the last named battle Joseph was wounded. He was lame ever after and required the aid of a cane when walking. On the maternal side he is a grandson of James Thornton and his wife Mary, daughter of Rob- ert Parker of Litchfield, and great grandson of Judge Matthew Thornton, M. D., signer of the Dec- laration of In- dependence, all of whom resided at Thornton's Ferry. Doctor Greeley attended the public schools and was graduated from Crosby's Literary insti- tution. He studied two years at Pinkerton academy in Derry and the same length of time at Phillips' academy at Andover, Mass. Following a preparatory study of medicine he entered the medical school at Harvard. From Harvard he went to the medical department at Dartmouth college, and from Dartmouth to the University of Ver- mont at Burlington, then at Woodstock, where he was graduated with the degree of M. D., in 1856. He spent a year in study and practice in the Marine hospital at

Chelsea, Mass., and another year in the hospitals of London, Paris and Edinburgh before commencing practice in Nashua. His success was of a most gratifying char- acter, and the future looked bright, when, in 1861, the flag was fired on at Fort Sumter and the blood of the Greeleys and Thorntons that flowed in his veins was so aroused with patriotic zeal that he could not content himself in the quiet walks of life. He entered the service of his country as assistant surgeon of the New Hampshire battalion, First New England cavalry, and went to the front. In the spring of 1862 he was promoted to surgeon of the Ist Rhode Island cavalry, (the name of the regiment being changed to that), and fol- lowed its fortunes in bivouac and in battle till the second engage- ment at Bull Run, when, while he was bravely per- forming his duty by attending to wounded soldiers on the field, he received three gunshot wounds; one in the right hip, making a flesh wound only ; one in the left arm, shattering the bone; one en- tering the right temple which lodged at the base of the skull and remained there seventeen years, until discovered and removed in 1879 by George P. Greeley, M. D., whose honorable record is given in this book.

JAMES B. GREELEY, M. D.

Upon receiving an honoroble dis- charge from the army Doctor Greeley returned to Nashua and resumed practice. The hardships of the campaign in which he served, together with wounds and suffering, had wrecked his iron constitution and so, as the years passed he with- drew little by little from active practice and finally retired and spent some time in travel, visiting the Azore islands and other places of interest and health-restoring climate. Since then he has been an invalid by reason of the loyal service he rendered his country, and has resided the greater part of his time at his country home at Thornton's Ferry. In his time Doctor Greeley was one of the best

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equipped physicians in southern New Hampshire, and en- joyed, at one time, a large and lucrative practice in Nashua and vicinity where he was well known and respected. He was one of the best informed men in scientific subjects bearing on his profession ; a skilled surgeon of practice in hospital and field, whose ability and judgment made a valuable expert witness before the courts and desirable in consultation in difficult cases. He was city physician in 1860. In early life and till prevented by ill health, Doctor Greeley attended the Unitarian church. He is a member of Rising Sun lodge, A. F. and A. M., and of Edward A. Ray- mond consistory, 32d degree. Doctor Greeley was unit- ed in marriage at Hanover, June 24, 1858, with Arabella McGaw Wood, daughter of Rev. Henry Wood, D. D., a graduate of Dartmouth col- lege in the class of 1822, and of Princeton, N. J., Theeological school, pastor of the Congrega- tional church at Hanover, six years, editor of the Congrega- tional Journal, (Concord), United States consul at Beirut, Syria, and chaplain in the United States navy, died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 9, 1870. On the maternal side she is a daughter of Harriet Mc- Gaw and grand- daughter of John McGaw of Bedford and great grand- daughter of Jacob McGaw, whose wife, Hannah, was a daughter of Judge Matthew Thornton of Thornton's Ferry. Three sons were born of their marriage: Harry Wood, born at Nashua, Sept. 12, 1859, had nearly com- pleted his medical education, when, being of decided literary taste, he became temporarily employed as a journalist; he died at Norfolk, Va., Dec. 27, 1884 ; James Thornton, born in Nashua, July 18, 1862, physician and surgeon at Nashua, married Oct. 9. 1895 Florence H., second daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Cyrus Richardson of Nashua; Guy Hastings, born at Medford, Mass., Jan. I, 1868, physician and surgeon at Hillsborough Bridge.

EUGENE F. MCQUESTEN, M. D.

Eugene F. McQuesten, M. D., was born in Litchfield, Oct. II, 1843. He is a son of Isaac McQuesten, who was born Oct. 18, 1811, and Margaret A. (Chase) McQuesten, who was born July 19, 1819, both of whom are living at the old homestead. Doctor McQuesten, on his father's side, is a descendant of William McQuesten, who emigrated from the north of Ireland, (Coleraine) in 1735, and settled in Litchfield. The McQuestens are direct descendants of

the McUisthons of Argyleshire, Scot- land, many of whom removed to Ireland near the close of the 16th century. A gen- ealogy of the fam- ily shows that among the de- scendants of the McQuestens there have been many men who have stood high in the professions and in the councils of the nation. Dr. Mc- Questen attended the public schools in his native place and in Nashua, and in 1860 became a student at Blan- chard academy in Pembroke. In 1863 he entered the sophomore class in the scien- tific department at Dartmouth col- lege, but withdrew shortly after and entered, in 1864, Jefferson Medical college at Phila- delphia, where he took a three years course in two years and was graduated with the degree of M. D., in March. 1866. He practiced in Lynn, Mass., in 1866 and 1867, and in the last year men- tioned came to Nashua and was associated with Dr. J. G. Graves, Sen., in practice two years, when he opened an office in the Graves building on the site of Whiting block.

EUGENE F. McQUESTEN, M. D.

The public had confidence in Doctor McQuesten from the day he began practice, and, by perseverance, study, adaptability to his profession and a constant purpose to merit the approval of the people, he has retained that same confidence and enlarged upon it to the degree that there is not a more widely known physician and surgeon in New Hampshire, or one that receives so many urgent

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calls, both at home and from near and remote places, for consultation in critical cases. Notwithstanding all this, Doctor McQuesten has not been entirely satisfied with himself. He has kept in mind what too many men in his profession overlook : "while we live we learn," and so he has several times made arrangements for the care of his patients by other reputable physicians while he spent weeks and months in taking post graduate courses in special diseases and surgery under the eye of the best instructors in this country, his last study being a six months' course, in 1892, in the college from which he was graduated in 1866. Under these circumctances and con- ditions it will be seen that he has fairly earned his honors and is entitled to the words of commendation here written.

But Doctor McQuesten is not alone a physician. He is a progressive citizen who takes a very earnest interest in the things that are best calculated to benefit the public. Everything that interests good citizens interests him, and if his judgment commends it he lends his influence. He has never, however, taken a very active part in politics, and yet his friends have occasionally put him forward, often against his wishes, for public office, his last candidacy being for mayor on the democratic ticket in 1894.

Doctor McQuesten is a member of the New Hampshire Medical society and its president at the present time. He is a member of the American Medical association, of the American Association of Railway surgeons, and the Nashua Medical society, of which he was president in 1890 and 1891. Besides this he is a member of the execu- tive board of the Emergency hospital, an institution that he labored earnestly, with other local physicians, to establish. He is one of the surgeons of the Concord & Montreal railroad, and secretary of the examining board for pensions in Nashua. He has been a director in the Indian Head National bank, the Nashua Trust company, trustee in the New Hampshire Banking company, in the Nashua cemetery and the Unitarian church. Besides all this he is a man who has brethren, for he is a member of the Rising Sun lodge, A. F. and A. M., Meridian Sun Royal Arch chapter, Israel Hunt council of Masters, St. George commandery, K. T., and Granite lodge, I. O. O. F.

Doctor McQuesten has been three times married. His first wife was Lizzie M. Spalding, daughter of Hon. Solo- mon Spalding, who died Nov. 26, 1877; second, Mary A. Howard, daughter of Joseph A. Howard of Washington, who died April 3, 1885; third, Anna E. Spalding, with whom he was united in marriage, May 26, 1887, daughter of William R. and Mary Abie (Ham) Spalding of Lawrence, Mass. His children are Philip, born at Nashua, Dec. 27, 1888; Josephine, born at Nashua, Feb. 7, 1890, and Eugene F., born at Nashua, April 21, 1892.

In 1880, Dr. McQuesten purchased what was then known as the "Hall estate," on Main street, and erected the handsome brick block in which he now has his office. In 1886 he purchased the "Harris place" on Concord street, and the following year built the fine brick house where he now resides. His home, in its surroundings and outlook, and its happy home circle, is one of the most attractive in southern New Hampshire.

JEREMIAH CAVERNO GARLAND, M. D.

Jeremiah C. Garland, M. D., was born in Strafford, Sept. 23, 1814. He was the second child and oldest son of Nathaniel and Lydia (Caverno) Garland. He was edu-

cated in the public schools and academy of his native town, and was graduated at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in New York City in 1844. He practiced his pro-

JEREMIAH CAVERNO GARLAND, M. D

fession at Rochester from 1844 to 1850; Nashua from 1850 to 1857 ; Plymouth, 1857 to 1865, returning to Nashua in the last year mentioned and practicing till about 1890, when he retired. He was a careful and successful family physician who had the confidence of his large number of patients.

Doctor Garland has been an active and public spirited citizen of the places where he has resided. He was a member of the first common council of Nashua in 1853, and of the board of aldermen in 1854; city physician in 1857, and from 1864 to 1870. Doctor Garland was an ex- aminer for insurance companies for a good many years ; a member of the United States board of pension examiners eight years, and, patriot that he has always been, he re- sponded to the emergency call of the government in 1863, and went to the field as assistant hospital surgeon, where he remained on duty till the close of the war in 1865. Doctor Garland is a member of the Hillsboro Medical association, and has served it as president. In his re- ligious convictions he is a Baptist.

Doctor Garland was united in marriage Dec. 5, 1849, with Harriet C. Woodman, daughter of Jeremiah H. and Sarah (Chase) Woodman. Of the five children born to them two only are living : Celia Turner, born at Nashua, Sept. 8, 1850, who was finely educated and a teacher in the Nashua High school, died May 11, 1889; Willard Parker, born at Nashua, May 6, 1853, city editor of a daily news- paper in New Jersey, died May 25, 1880 ; George Lincol, n born at Nashua, May 29, 1855; Theodore Woodman, born at Plymouth, Jan. 9, 1859, married Estelle S. Smith of New York, in April, 1888; Claudius Webster, born at Plymouth, Aug. 25, 1863, died Feb. 15, 1867.

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

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GEORGE PRESTON GREELEY, M. D.

George P. Greeley, M. D., was born at Nashua, April 9, 1833, died at St. Augustine, Fla., Dec. 26, 1892, buried in the Nashua cemetery. He was a son of Ezekiel and Sarah (Pollard) Greeley. He was a descendant of the Scotch-Irish Greeleys who settled Nottingham West, now Hudson. His great grandfather, Capt. Samuel Greeley, and his grandfather, Joseph Greeley, were in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, the latter receiving a wound that caused lameness and ne- cessitated the use of a cane the rest of his life. Ezekiel Greeley, his father, was a Free Mason, merchant and prominent citizen of Nashua, and in company with his brother built the Greeley block on Railroad square. On the maternal side he was a descendant of the Pollards who settled in the southern part of Nashua, Cum- mings Pollard, a stirring man who built several houses below the Harbor and who was prominent in his day in the affairs of the settlement, being his grandfather. The house (1895) at the corner of Amherst and Ab- bot streets built by the Greeley brothers, was pur- chased by Ezekiel about the time of his marriage, and it was his home during his life- time. It was here that the subject of this sketch was born. Doctor Greeley obtained his primary education in the public schools of Nashua and was graduated at the Norwich university at Norwich, Vt. When a youth of about nineteen he went to the East Indies and Australia in a merchant ship as super- cargo for a Boston firm with whom one of his elder brothers was a partner. He was absent from home almost a year, and during that time he determined on the profession in which he would enter. After his return he at once applied himself to the study of medicine, and he attended lectures at Woodstock, Vt., and Dartmouth

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History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 35

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company Number of Pages: 652

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652