USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Haverhill > History of the town of Haverhill, New Hampshire > Part 37
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Dr. Phineas Spalding was born in Sharon, Vt., January 14, 1799, the son of Reuben and Jerusha (Carpenter) Spalding, and died in Haverhill where he had resided since 1839, and where he had been a practicing physi- cian for fifty years, October 29, 1897. Some years of his early life were spent in teaching in his native town and in Montpelier, Vt., where he began the study of medicine with his brother, James, later attending the Medical School at Dartmouth, from which institution he graduated in 1823. He spent the next fifteen years in Lyndon, Vt., where he built up a prosperous and successful professional practice. In 1838 he attended a course of lectures at the Harvard Medical College and settled the next year in Haverhill, where he spent the last fifty-eight years of his long and useful life. He was devoted to his profession, a member of various medi- cal associations and societies, a delegate on several occasions to the Amer- ican Medical Society, and a frequent contributor of articles to medical journals, also reports of cases. Among these was the successful treat- ment of an "inter-capsular fracture of the thigh bone" in 1827, previous to which time successful treatment of such a case had been held by the highest authorities to be hopeless. In 1841 he was lecturer on Surgery in the Woodstock, Vt., Medical College. He took a deep interest in public matters, and was a prominent leader in church affairs. He was deacon of the Congregational Church in Lyndon, Vt., and was elected to the same office in Haverhill but declined it. An early advocate of tem- perance he organized in 1828 the first temperance society in Vermont. He was one of the promoters of the construction of the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad, the first meeting relative to it in this section having been called by him and Harry Stevens of Barton, Vt. He took a deep interest in Haverhill Academy, was one of its trustees for many years, and also served as superintendent of the Haverhill schools. He was a man of decided positiveness, and was a strong partisan Republican in politics as well as a strong partisan Congregationalist. His party said in writing of him in his later years, while admitting that the sense of humor was somewhat lacking in his make up:1 "He takes a large view of things and is never trivial in the treatment of questions of duty and action. What he does he does intelligently and from a conviction of what he sees is right. He is social, hospitable, fond of company, loves argument, and is entirely free from demagogism. He is a staunch friend of all that is good, and steadfast in purpose-full of hope, courage, energy." He was twice married (see Genealogy). His residence for many years and at the time of his death, was the large brick three story house built as a hotel, early in the nineteenth century, enlarged and repaired in 1830 by Jonathan Sinclair and kept by him as the Grafton Hotel for several years before it passed into the possession of Doctor Spalding. The property
1 Bittinger's Haverhill, p. 301.
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is still owned by the Spalding heirs, but life possession of it was given by Doctor Spalding to Mrs. Nettie Crawford who was his faithful nurse and attendant during his last years and who has made it an attractive hotel once more, under the name of the Crawford House, a favorite resort in the summer months for many former residents of the town.
Dr. Henry B. Leonard was born in Sharon, Vt., July 8, 1817, the eldest son of Gaivs and Eunice (Spalding) Leonard. His early years were spent on the home farm, but he acquired by his own efforts and persist- ence an academic education, and began the study of medicine with his uncle Dr. James Spalding in Montpelier, Vt., and later graduated from the Woodstock, Vt., Medical School. He began the practice of his pro- fession at North Haverhill in 1842, succeeding Dr. John Angier as the physician in that village. He continued this with marked fidelity and success until his death February 7, 1869. His practice covered the entire town of Haverhill, extending into Bath and Benton. During the diphtheria epidemic of 1863, he had great success in the treatment of the dread disease, and night and day he was driving in his old fashioned two-wheeled sulky over the rough roads of the outlying districts of the towns mentioned. Dr. Leonard was the ideal country doctor, and his name is held in grateful remembrance by many living at the present. He was twice married (see Genealogy). His mother was a sister of Dr. Phineas Spalding, and it is said that he settled in North Haverhill against the advice if not indeed the protest of his uncle, and they never maintained intimate relations with each other. Indeed it was not a matter of common knowledge among their respective patients that they were relatives. They had little in common except that each took a deep interest in public affairs. Doctor Leonard was liberal in his religious beliefs, and seldom attended church. He was as ardent a Democrat as was his uncle a Republican and when in 1866, the Democrats recovered possession of the town after twelve years of Republican ascendancy, he was elected one of the two representatives to the General Court and was re-elected the following year.
Dr. Homer H. Tenney began the practice of his profession in Haver- hill in 1858, but on account of ill health removed after two or three years to Kansas, where he remained in practice, gaining an honorable place in his profession, until his death several years later.
Dr. John McNab did not come to Haverhill (Woodsville) to reside till about 1865 but as a physician in Wells River and Barnet, Vt., for some thirty-five years previously, he was frequently called in critical cases, especially in surgical operations in which he displayed great daring and skill, in towns on the New Hampshire side of the river. He was born in Glenarchay, Scotland, January 27, 1784, and came to America with
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his parents while he was still a child. They settled at first in Thornton, and afterwards in Barnet, Vt. He graduated at the Dartmouth School in 1824 and came to Wells River, Vt., where he practiced and at Barnet until about 1865 he removed to Woodsville, where he remained, never wholly giving up his practice, until his death in 1879 at the advanced age of 94. He was brusque in manner, liberal to the extreme in his theolog- ical views, and prominent as a Mason. He suffered the amputation of his left arm because of a cancerous affection contracted in performing an operation for that disease. A man of a remarkably vigorous physical and mental constitution he retained his faculties to an exceptional degree until his death. Indeed but ten days before this event he made a trip to Boston unattended. He was survived by four children: Capt. John McNab, a retired officer of the United States Army, Mrs. Joseph Y. Cheney of Woodsville, Mrs. Calvin Dewey of McIndoes, Vt., and Mrs. N. M. Loomis of Charlestown, Mass. In his political affiliations he was a pronounced Democrat.
Dr. Samuel Powers Carbee, was born in Bath June 14, 1836, youngest of the five sons of John H. and Anna Powers Carkee. He married September 30, 1885 N. Della, daughter of Lyman Buck of Haverhill. He obtained his education in the schools of his native town and at Newbury, Vt., Seminary. Beginning the study of medicine in 1860, after several years spent in teaching, with Dr. A. H. Crosby of Wells River, Vt., he continued the same with Doctors Dixi and A. B. Crosby of Hanover until 1862, when he enlisted as a private in the 12th New Hampshire Volunteers, subsequently commissioned as assistant surgeon, he held that position till the close of the war. He was with his regiment at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg and was the first surgeon to enter Richmond as its captain. Returning home he con- tinued his studies at the Dartmouth Medical School, graduating in 1866, and began the practice of his profession at Haverhill succeeding Doctor Tenney. A man of marked energy, enthusiastically devoted to his profession, he brought to its practice not only knowledge of the books, but a marked degree of common sense which contributed to his marked success till his death January 31, 1900. He was a member of the White Mountain and New Hampshire Medical Societies and was for fourteen years member of the board of examiners for pensions. A Republican in his political affiliations he was active and influential in the councils of his party; was surgeon general on the staff of Governor Busiel; elected one of the board of County Commissioners in 1884 and re-elected in 1886; and was a member of the Legislature 1905-07. His optimistic cheerful disposition won him a large circle of friends, both among his patients with whom he was a general favorite, and in the community at large.
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Dr. Moses D. Carbee a cousin of Samuel P. was born in Newbury, Vt., May 13, 1847, son of Thomas Henry and Olive L. (Robinson) Carkee. He pursued his Academic studies in the Lancaster Academy and graduated from the medical school of the University of Vermont in 1873. He came to Haverhill in 1874, and entered into partnership with his cousin, Samuel P., which continued till 1882, when he practiced by himself. At his sudden death from diphtheria Oct. 23, 1889, he was enjoying a successful and growing practice.
Dr. Haven Palmer, son of Lewis and Susan H. Palmer was born Jefferson in 1843, graduated at Bowdoin Medical College, practiced in Wentworth for a year or so, came to Haverhill in 1872 and was in partner- ship with Dr. S. P. Carkee for two years when he went to Meredith, where he remained till 1883, when he went to Plymouth. He was a man of high character and was successful in his profession.
Dr. Ira E. Brown, who came to Haverhill in 1880, was well equipped, for the practice of his profession. He was the son of Dr. Ira and Emily (Clark) Brown of Wells River, Vt. He graduated at Dartmouth in 1874 and from the Dartmouth Medical School in 1878, and continued his preparation in hospitals in New York City. He remained in Haverhill but two years, when he went to Minneapolis, Minn., where he won distinction in health and quarantine service for both city and state, and was professor of chemistry, toxicology and preventative medicine in the Minneapolis College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was also the founder of the Society for the Prevention of Vice in that city.
Dr. Clarence H. Clark, after graduation from the Dartmouth Medical School in 1878, came to Haverhill in 1879. He was a native of Newbury, Vt., and his preliminary medical studies were with Dr. Watkins of that town. For a year before coming to Haverhill he was a subordinate officer in a Montreal hospital and attended medical lectures in that city. Enthu- siastically devoted to his profession, he gave great promise of success but failing health caused him to relinquish practice after a few years, and after seeking relief from a change in climate, he returned to Haverhill to die of New England's scourge, consumption.
Dr. Henry P. Watson, born in Guildhall, Vt., in 1845, the son of Dr. Henry L. Watson, fitted for college at Newbury Seminary, and beginning the study of medicine with his father, continued it under Drs. A. B. and Dixi Crosby and graduated from the Dartmouth Medical in 1866. He began practice in Groveton, but came to North Haverhill about 1868, practicing there for fifteen years when he removed to the Corner where he remained in the enjoyment of a large and successful practice having earned in the meantime the reputation of being a skilful surgeon, until his removal to a larger field in Manchester, where he stood in the front rank of his profession.
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Dr. Nathaniel H. Perkins, of the homeopathic school of medicine, who came to Woodsville in 1868 and remained till 1876 when he removed to Winchendon, enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. Homoeopathy has never been popular in northern New Hampshire, but Dr. Perkins before his removal was rapidly overcoming such prejudice as existed and had the promise of winning success. He remained in Winchendon several years, removing from there to Milton, Mass., where he has taken a high place in his profession. He has been one of the State Board of Medical Exam- iners. While in Winchendon he represented the town in the New Hamp- shire Legislature.
Dr. Charles R. Gibson was born in Alstead on April 12, 1853, the son of Reuel and Emily Barnard Gibson. He fitted for College at Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, and graduated from Bowdoin College in the class of 1872. He read medicine with Dr. S. T. Smith and graduated from the Bowdoin Medical School in 1875. He was for nearly two years an interne in the Maine General Hospital at Portland and began his pro- fessional life in Woodsville, where he practiced till his death, October 2, 1914. He was twice married, first, to S. Jennie Park of Plymouth, who died March 21, 1911, and, second, to Mrs. Jennie Quimby, who survives him. When he settled in Woodsville the village was small, but he had faith that it was destined to grow and he patiently waited for more than six months before he had his first patient. Success came, however, and it was well earned by his faithfulness and devotion to his patients, and his skill as a physician, especially as a surgeon. He was an Episcopalian, warden of St. Luke's church, a Republican when Republicans were scarce in Woodsville, and represented Haverhill in the Legislature of 1897-99. He was president for many years previous to his death of the Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, a director of the Woodsville Opera Building Association, and besides his residence on Pleasant street was the owner of other real estate. Public spirited and helpful as a citizen, responding cheerfully to calls for which there was no hope of payment, never indulg- ing himself in vacations, he could always be depended upon for cheerful and willing service. During the last year of his life his health had failed him, and he associated with him Dr. F. E. Speare of Lisbon, who suc- ceeded to his practice.
Dr. Oliver D. Eastman was born in Sonora, Calif., but owing to the death of his father came east in childhood to live with his grandparents in Vermont. He received his Academic education at Newbury Seminary, began his professional studies with Dr. H. P. Watson, and attended lec- tures at Burlington, and Dartmouth Medical, graduating from the latter in 1882. He began practice in Piermont in 1882, but came to Woodsville in 1884, where he has since remained. He has a large practice not only in Woodsville, but in other sections of the town especially East Haverhill,
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also in Warren. He married Addie D. Davis in 1882 (see Genealogy), and of their four sons, D. K. is a veterinary surgeon, Oliver is practicing medicine in Burlington, Vt., and lectures in the Medical School there, and Burns is practicing medicine in Michigan. The youngest, Milo, is yet in school.
Dr. Charles Newcomb, who practiced his profession in North Haverhill from 1887 to about 1900, was born in Montpelier, Vt., in 1858, where he received his early education. He read medicine with Dr. C. M. Chandler of Montpelier, and attended lectures both at Dartmouth and Vermont University Medical, taking his degree from the latter institution. Pre- vious to coming to North Haverhill he practiced in West Fairlee and in Washington, Vt., and about 1900 he returned to his native city, where he has since enjoyed a good practice.
Dr. I. N. Eastman, who began practice in Woodsville in 1893 at the age of 26, was soon having an excellent business, but his health became broken and about 1900 he returned to his native town of Groton, Vt.
Dr. Henry C. Stearns, born in Lovell, Me., Sept. 21, 1866, received his academic training in Fryeburg, Me., and his professional training in the Dartmouth school, graduating in the class of 1896. After a brief practice in Bartlett and Warren, he came to Haverhill, where he had married in 1897 (see Genealogy), Mary Louise only daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Swasey Pow. Except for a short time spent in Concord he practiced successfully in Haverhill until he was instantly killed August 23, 1915, his automobile being struck by an automobile at Cobleigh's Crossing, near Woodsville. He took an active interest in town affairs, and was largely instrumental in securing a water supply for the village, and was treasurer of the Water Company at the time of his death. He was succeeded in his practice by Dr. F. C. Russell, who had been his classmate at Dartmouth, and who for a short time was associated with him when he first came to Haverhill, but who later practiced in Newbury and Bradford, Vt., until he returned to Haverhill after the death of Dr. Stearns.
Dr. Forrest J. Drury, son of Rev. A. H. Drury, was born in Easton January 17, 1885. His preparatory education was obtained at Colebrook Academy and Tilton Seminary. He graduated from the School of Medicine, Boston University, in 1911, and was house physician at the Cullis' Consumptives Home in Berlin for a year or more before gradua- tion. He began practice at Haverhill Corner in March, 1912, but left in December, 1912, for Seabrook, when he has since been in practice.
Dr. Elmer M. Miller came to Woodsville in 1898 after his graduation at Baltimore Medical College, having previously studied at Dartmouth Medical School. His preparation was at St. Johnsbury Academy, from which institution he graduated in 1894. He has a large and eminently
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successful practice as a member of the American Medical Association, and was (1916) president of the Grafton County Medical Society: Is an Odd Fellow, Mason, and in politics a Republican. He represented Haverhill in the Legislature 1909-11. He married in Boston June 22, 1898, Lillian Estelle, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth M. Ray.
Dr. William E. Lawrence came to North Haverhill in 1903, succeeding in practice Doctor Newcomb. He was born in Eden, Vt., August 1, 1871, son of Daniel E. and Martha (Johns) Lawrence. Graduated at Beman, New Haven, Vt., Academy 1891, studied in University of Vermont 1892-3, and took his medical degree at Baltimore Medical College in 1896. Practiced in Worcester, Vt., 1898-03. He had a large and growing practice, and took a keen interest in town and state affairs. He was a trustee of the Woodsville Guarantee Savings Bank and had been a member of the Haverhill Board of Education since 1903. Was a member of the New Hampshire Constitutional Convention of 1912, and of the Legislature of 1913-15. He was appointed in 1915 by Governor Spaulding a member of the State Board of Control having charge of the State Hospital, School for Feeble Minded, Sanatorium for Consumptives, and other kindred institutions, and as one of the two members having special charge of the sanatorium at Glencliff. Doctor Lawrence was a member of the American Medical Association, the New Hampshire Medical Society, in politics a Republican, a Mason, in religious belief a Unitarian. He died April 19, 1919.
Dr. Selwyn K. Dearborn began his practice in Woodsville in 1905. Hewas born in Bristol, September 10, 1879 the son of Kenson E. Dearborn, a well-known Grafton County attorney. He graduated from Dart- mouth College in the class of 1901, and from Dartmouth Medical School in 1905, since which time he has been in practice in Woodsville and is at present established in a good practice. Doctor Dearborn has been twice married.
Dr. Franklin E. Speare came to Woodsville Jan. 1, 1914, associating himself in practice with Doctor Gibson, and after the death of the latter succeeded to his practice, by his care, devotion and skill earning marked favor, and rapidly securing a good practice. He was born in Charlotte, Vt., July 18, 1873; was educated in the public schools of his native town, and of Burlington, in the University of California and University of Vermont. He graduated from the Vermont College of Medicine in 1903 and spent the next two years as house physician at the Mary Fletcher Hospital. He was in practice in Lisbon from September, 1905, until he came to Woodsville. He is a Mason, Odd Fellow, and member of Grafton County, New Hampshire State and American Medical associations.
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Dr. Jacob Blaisdell was for a short time in practice at the Corner in 1836.
Dr. Edmund H. Noyes came to North Haverhill in May, 1896, but remained in practice less than two years when he removed. He received his medical education in the Medical Department of the University of Ohio at Cincinnati graduating in 1885. Previous to his coming to North Haverhill he practiced in Cambridgeport and Gloucester, Mass. He remained in North Haverhill hardly long enough to establish himself fully in practice.
Vernon H. Edson, D. O., and Anna Edson, D. O., his wife, graduates of the American College of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Mo., which is under the presidency of Dr. Andrew T. Still, founder of the science, have been in a highly successful practice in Woodsville since December, 1914.
DENTISTRY
Dentistry as a profession did not come into vogue in Haverhill till in recent years. The early physicians had, of course, among their instru- ments the old fashioned "cant hooks" and forceps, the sight of which is enough to cure toothache in these modern days. After dentistry had become somewhat common as a profession the people of Haverhill for many years had recourse to dentists who had established themselves at Bradford, Newbury and Wells River, Vt., and in Lisbon and Littleton. Dr. Moses N. Howland of Lisbon maintained for a time a branch office at the Corner, and Dr. James B. Clark for a number of years combined the practice of dentistry with farming at Center Haverhill. A Doctor Dar- ling was for a time in practice in Woodsville until his office was destroyed by fire about 1901. Woodsville has at the present time no less than four dentists. Dr. Frederick G. Weeks, Dr. Edward S. Miller (a brother of Dr. E. M. Miller), Dr. F. E. Speed and Dr. Samuel Baker.
There are doctors and doctors, and Haverhill has had some of the latter class who have borne the self-given title without bothering medical schools to confer degrees or state examining boards to grant licenses. The earliest of these was Ross Coon who in the early part of the last century was the landlord of the Coon tavern at the Corner. He kept a fine bar and is said to have been a most generous patron of the same. One of his favorite remedies for bilious troubles was a compound for clearing out as he said the "bilery dux." He sometimes preached though without ordination as a minister. Weighing upwards of four hundred pounds, he was in the constant "enjoyment of poor health" and in his later years he was con- fined for most of his time to a large armchair, where he prescribed for both soul and body and regaled his visitors with mirth-producing stories. He averred that "a thousand lies are told every day and not half of them are true."
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"Dr." Myron S. Wetherbee combined the practice of medicine with farming at North Haverhill. He called himself an eclectic physician, practicing, so far as he knew, the best from all schools of the profession. He had never a large practice, but for a period of twenty-five years had the satisfaction of calling himself and being called doctor.
"Doctor" Shaw also of North Haverhill and a contemporary of Doctor Wetherbee had a like satisfaction even if the most who addressed him as "doctor," smiled significantly when they did it. He got little if anything more out his alleged profession than the above named satisfaction of being called doctor.
But the character of this entire class of practitioners was Israel B. Davis better known as "Dr. Goold," or "Gooley" Davis. He lived on the Limekiln road, was peddler, agent for insurance companies which were all right except when it came to the payment of fines. His physical appearance was striking; like Darius Green of flying machine fame, "his body was long and lank and lean" and in speaking his voice alternated between that of a high pitched tremulous falsetto, and a deep rotund basso profondo. Yet in the sixties of the last century, strange as it may appear this illiterate, without the faintest knowledge of medicine, a thoroughgoing charlatan, had quite an extensive practice. He had always quite a stock of liquors, samples procured on his application from wholesale liquor houses. There were few if any such houses this side the Mississippi to which he had not made application and frequently with success. It might be said of "Doctors" Wetherbee and Shaw that they were at least honest. This could hardly be said of "Dr." Goold Davis.
COTTAGE HOSPITAL
The Cottage Hospital at Woodsville was incorporated under the general laws of New Hampshire providing for voluntary corporations October 6, 1903, the following being named as corporators. William A. Loyne, Scott Sloane, Herbert W. Allen, Fred E. Thorpe, Newton Lang, Charles H. Greene, Eustache M. Lamarre. The purpose of the hospital was set forth in corporation agreement as follows: "The object of the Association is the establishing and maintaining of a general hospital for the treatment and care of the sick and injured, and for the establish- ment and maintenance of a training school for nurses in connection therewith, and of supplying trained nurses for the sick in their own homes. Said hospital and training school may charge and receive from patients such fees as may be established by said Hospitals Association of this state, varied by the necessity of each case, and the ability of the patients to pay, but for no other purpose whatever, being a charitable institution for the alleviation of suffering without profit to any person."
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