History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 60

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 60
USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 60

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* New Jersey Biographical Encyclopedia, p. 75.

+ Dr. Jobn Blano.

# On one of the walls In the Interior of St. Andrew's church Is a tablet to his memory, the inscription on which ends with these words: " In pace dormet."

¿ Admitted May 3, 1847.

| Sve sketch in connection with " Bent b and Bar."

" He was commissioned " surgeon, hospital Flying Camp, Continental army, April 11, 1775."-Stryker's Register New Jersey in the Revolution.

** Ifis wife survived him, living with her daughter until her decease, Feb. 14, 1×17. His daughter, Ann ( who married John Fine, Esq., of War- ron County, sinco deceased), subsequently lived with her soo in New York City. Hin son, James, died in Ists,-Blame's Medical History of Hun- Gordon County.

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Belinda, daughter of Philip Johnston, of Washington, N. J.

HENRY A. KIRKPATRICK, son of the late Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, D.D., of Amwell, was born in 1816. Having read medicine in the office of Dr. Cicero Hunt, of Ringos, he entered Jefferson Medical College, where he was graduated M.D. in 1841, and the same year established himself at Stanton, Hun- terdon Co., where he continued until his decease. He acquired a large practice and the reputation of a skillful physician. He married (1) Mary Servis, of Ringos, and (2) a daughter of Jacques Quick, of Readington. He died Sept. 29, 1851. He was buried in the cemetery of the United First Presbyterian Church of Amwell, and the marble over his grave bears this inscription :

"In Memory of DOCTR. H. A. KIRKPATRICK, who died Sept. 29th, 1851, In the 35th year of his age.

Oft between Death and his patient he stood, And relieved by the healing art,

Yet though science and knowledge his mind had enlarged, He fell by the conqueror's dart. But Death though the body he brings to the tomh In spite of the genins of man, The Boul that's in Jesus is free from all harm, Let his power do all that it can."

His wife, Mary, died April 7, 1845, aged thirty years, and her grave and that of her husband are side by side.

SYLVESTER VAN SYCKEL, of Clinton, was born in Union township, Hunterdon Co., Feb. 21, 1826. He is a son of the late Aaron Van Syckel, and a brother of Judge Bennet Van Syckel, late of Flem- ington, now of Trenton. The family is of Dutch extraction. Graduating from Princeton in 1846, he became the pupil of the celebrated Dr. Valentine Mott, and attended lectures at the University of New York; became an M.D. in 1849, and was successively assistant physician, house physician, and house sur- geon of Bellevue Hospital. He was appointed by Governor Clark one of the quarantine hospital phy- sicians in 1850, during the ship-fever epidemic. He removed to Clinton (1850), commeneed there the practice of his profession, and soon had an extensive ride. For many years he has held a leading place among the physicians of that section. March 24, 1853, he joined his fortunes with those of Mary E., daughter of John Carhart, of Clinton. Of his six children, three are now (1880) living,-John C., Wil- liam C., and V. Lamar.

NATHANIEL B. BOILEAU, son-in-law of Dr. Jolin Blanc, graduated an M.D. in 1858, and has since practiced in this county, for the past thirteen years at Perryville. See further sketch in the history of Union township.

JOHN R. TODD was graduated from the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons, March 10, 1864.

April 15, 1864, he was commissioned an acting as- sistant surgeon in the United States volunteers, and attached to the Second New Jersey Cavalry Regiment. Nov. 1, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and in January, 1866, having been licensed, he commenced practice at Lebanonville, Hunterdon Co. He was a member of the District Medical Society, and in ex- cellent standing as a physician and citizen. He married a daughter of W. Johnson, Esq. He died (Lebanonville) in 1876. In October, 1880, his widow married Dr. John Grandin, of this county.

WILLIAM WETHERELL, of Lambertville, son of a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born in Wrights- town, Bucks Co., Pa., Jan. 1, 1819. His literary edu- cation was received at the Newtown Academy, and his medical instruction from Dr. C. W. Smith, of Wrightstown, supplemented by two courses of lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated with the class of 1846. He soon after removed to Lambertville, N. J., and commenced practice. During the years that have supervened he has won the confidence and esteem of the community in which he resides. "Jealous for the honor of his profession, and concerned for the safety of the public. he has always given earnest attention to the subject of regulating the practice of medicine, and was mainly instrumental in getting through the Legislature the present law regulating practice in the State."

ROBERT MILLS MOLENAHAN, who practiced as a physician at New Hampton, Hunterdon Co., from the time of receiving his doctor's degree (1836) until within a short time of his death, which occurred April 28, 1864, was born Oct. 19, 1817, at Pennington, N. J .; studied medicine with Dr. Joseph Welling, and was graduated from the New York Medical Col- lege. His genial manners, combined with high pro- fessional abilities, won him a reputation seldom enjoyed by a country physician. So heavy became his labors, and with constantly failing health, that he called in the professional aid of Dr. Howard Servis, who became his successor. His first wife was Chris- tiana, daughter of the late Aaron Van Syckel, of Union township ; she died March 8, 1856. His second wife, a Miss Jolinston, survives him. His remains repose in the Baptist churchyard in Union township.

JOHN ALFRED GRAY was born on the homestead- farm of his father, Joseph Gray, in the vicinity of Princeton, July 6, 1812. His mother's maiden name was Annie Furman; his parents were both natives of New Jersey. Before entering college he was the pupil of Rev. Dr. Baird, of Princeton. He was grad- uated at Nassau Hall in 1832, and studied his profes- sion with Samuel Howell, M.D., of Princeton ; at- tended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1836. He then removed to Toledo, Ohio, and for a time was assistant editor of the Toledo Blade; from thence he removed to Rocky Hill, Somerset Co., where he practiced from 1844 to 1854, when he removed to Flemington, where

233

TIIE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF HUNTERDON COUNTY.

he continued until his death. July 3, 1837, he mar- ried Miss Abby Douglas, of Trenton, N. J., who died at Rocky Hill, Feb. 22, 1846. On May 24, 1848, he married Miss Jane Allen Hart, daughter of the late Neal Hart, Esq., of Rocky Hill, who survived him. Dr. Gray was an efficient practitioner, but failing health in his later years impaired his usefulness in the profession. Ile was conservative in practice, and yet not behind the times. He was a member in good standing of the District Medical Society of Hunter- don County, attending to his duties with alacrity, and was its president in 1865. In 1864 he became a member of the American Medical Association. He died at his residence in Flemington, Sept. 29, 1872 .*

HENRY RACE, son of Jacob Race and Sophia Hoff his wife, was born Feb. 23, 1814, in Kingwood, now Franklin, township. He studied medicine with Drs. HI. H. Abernethy and Henry Southard, and graduated in the Medical Department of the University of Penn- sylvania, March 31, 1843. He commenced the prac- tice of his profession immediately after, at Pittstown, Hlunterdon Co., which situation he has occupied ever since, except from February, 1849, to April, 1851, spent in California. He was married May 6, 1857, to Ada Louisa Woodruff, of Milford, N. J.t

GEORGE NEWTON BEST, son of Cornelius Best and Elsie Alpaugh his wife, was born at Round Valley, Clinton township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Oct. 16, 1846. He prepared for college at Pennington Insti- tute, Pennington, N. J., and entered Lafayette Col- lege, class of 1873 ; passed through freshman, sopho- more, and half of junior year. On leaving college he took charge of Riegelsville high school ; also taught at Wilmington, Del. He studied medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. A. S. Jordan, of Riegelsville, N. J .; attended three courses of medical lectures and graduated at the l'niversity of Pennsylvania, 1875. He commenced the practice of his profession, the same year, at Rosemont, Hunterdon Co., where he still remains. Ile was married in 1877 to Hannah, daughter of Richard Wilson, of Raven Rock, N. J.

THOMAS EDGAR HUNT, son of William A. A. IInnt, M.D., and his wife Eliza S. Auten, and grandson of Rev. Holloway W. Hunt, who for more than forty years was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, was born at Clarksville, Hunterdon Co., N. J., about 1827. After receiving his preliminary education he studied medicine with his father, and attended the medical lectures of the U'niversity of New York, graduating in 1847. On the 3d of May of the same year he received from the medical society of New Jersey his diploma to practice in this State, und at the same time became a member of the Dis- triet Medical Society of the county of Hunterdon. Of this society he was vice-president in 1852, and president in 1853. About this time he received the

honorary degree of A.M. from the College of New Jersey, at Princeton. In 1845 was delegate to the American Medical Association, and was for some time permanent member of the same. He married Miss Cynthia Martin, daughter of Judge Martin, of Orange Co., N. Y .; they have had a large family of children, six of whom are living,-two daughters and four sons.

WILLIAM C. ALPAUGH, a native of Tewksbury township, this county, born Sept. 14, 1841, was of German extraction, his ancestors being among the earliest settlers of the State. He lived upon his fath- er's farm until his sixteenth year, and for two years thereafter was engaged in school-teaching. He spent the two years following at the Hackettstown Presby- terian Seminary, and then read medicine with Dr. Barclay, of Lebanon, N. J. In 1865 he entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and in 1867 was admitted to practice in the Charity Hospital, con- nected therewith. The next year he was graduated second in a class of more than one hundred students. Ile at once began a regular practice, but in the spring of 1869 was induced to settle at High Bridge, Hun- terdon Co. He was associated on the start with Dr. Fields, of Clinton, but after 1872 practiced alone. He has a deservedly high reputation as a physician and surgeon, an extensive practice, and a wide ride.

ALEXANDER BARCLAY, whose father was also a physician,# was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, Jan. 9, 1832. He read medicine under his father, attended lectures, was graduated M.D., and licensed by the board of State censors. He then (1860) began prac- tice at New Germantown. During the war of the Rebellion he served as assistant surgeon of the Thirtieth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, resign- ing therefrom March 5, 1863, and returning to New Germantown. He resumed his practice, which he continued until his death, caused by his horse taking fright and running away, he being thrown from his carriage ; his skull was fractured and effusion resulted, causing his death at the end of three days,-June 18, 1865. Ilis professional standing was excellent. He was a member of the County Medical Society. He was quite a musician, and, in fact, had a diversity of talents. His wife was a Miss Waldron, of New Ger- mantown ; left two children,-a son and a daughter.

Joux P. B. SLOAN, born near Bloomsbury, N. J., May 26, 1799, after being licensed as a physician, es- tablished himself in Bloomsbury, Hunterdon Co. He subsequently removed to Washington, N. J., and died at Easton, Pa., Feb. 10, 1849. He was one of the founders, in 1821, of the Hunterdon County Medical Society, in whose archives is still preserved a well- written dissertation by him on " Intermittent Fever," read before that body at its semi-annual meeting in October, 1822, which shows that he was disposed to analytical investigation of disease,-a taste by no means common among country practitioners of his

[ Dr. Alexander Barclay, of Newburg, N. Y.

" Dr. John Bane, in Trans, State Society, 1872, pp. 112, 113.

t See also sketch of the Race fumfly in the history of Franklin town- alip, in this work.

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

time. He was the son of Rev. William B. Sloan, for many years pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, Warren Co., N. J.

JOHN S. LINABERRY, born in Morris Co., N. J., son of John Linaberry, received his primary educa- tion in the schools of Hunterdon County, was a stu- dent at Ann Arbor University, Michigan, and gradu- ated in medicine at the University of the City of New York in 1861, soon after which he settled at Moun- tainville, in Tewksbury township, this county, where he has since successfully practiced his profession. In 1862 he was married to Ellen Robinson, of this county.

HENRY B. NIGHTINGALE was the son of the Rev. - Nightingale, a Baptist minister of Doylestown, Pa. He was well educated, was a graduate at Phila- delphia, a member of the District Medical Society of this county, a scientific and judicious practitioner, and was a member of the Baptist Church. He prac- ticed his profession at Rosemont (commencing about the year 1859) and at Flemington, ending his days of usefulness at the former place, Sept. 10, 1873, aged abont fifty years. He left a widow and a large family to mourn his loss.

JAMES REILEY, born at Durham, Bucks Co., Pa., in the year 1829, was graduated from Union College in 1849; studied medicine with Dr. Condict, of Blairs- town; attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, and soon after com- menced practice at Lambertville, in this county. In 1862 he was appointed surgeon of the Twenty-fifth Regiment of New Jersey Volunteers, and soon be- came brigade surgeon ; was mustered out of service in June, 1863. He helped to raise the Thirty-third Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, and was appointed its surgeon. He served with distinction until the close of the war, in 1865. He died March 23, 1872, at Succasunna, N. J., where he had enjoyed an ex- tensive practice for years.

JOHN WATSON YOUNG, son of Nelson V. Young, Esq., was born at Mount Airy, in West Amwell town- ship, this county, Jan. 1, 1840. He studied with Dr. William Wetherell, of Lambertville, who was his at- tending physician during his last illness. He matric- ulated at Jefferson Medical College, and was gradu- ated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1862. The same year he located at Montagne, Sussex Co., N. J., there practiced his profession, and there died, Feb. 14, 1864. Ile was buried at Mount Airy. His son bears his name,-John Watson Young.

ASBURY PARISH, M.D., was born May 17, 1846, at Franklin, Delaware Co., N. Y. He was graduated at the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia in March, 1874; served as substitute resident physician at the Pennsylvania Hospital for some time; was then appointed to the resident staff of physicians of the St. Mary's Hospital, and served one year. In the summer of 1876 he commenced practice in Fleming- ton, where he is still located. He married Theresa HI. Down in February, 1877.

The practicing physicians in the county at the present time are the following: Matthias Abel, T. M. A'Hearn, William C. Alpaugh, John Blane, N. B. Boileau, George N. Best, G. W. Bartow, Isaac S. Cramer, William S. Creveling, Emanuel K. Deemy, John H. Ewing, John F. Grandin, William Hackett, T. Edgar Hunt, Edgar Hunt, Jeremiah O. Huff, John V. C. Johnson, Thomas Johnson, Moses D. Knight, William Knight, Cornelius W. Larison, George H. Larison, John S. Linaberry, William R. Little, J. D. McCauley, Asbury Parish, A. S. Pitinger, Henry Race, A. M. K. Reading, George P. Rex, Lewis C. Rice, George T. Ribble, Asher T. Riley, John V. Robbins, John F. Schenck, William H. Schenck, Howard Servis, O. H. Sproul, Albert Shannon, A. C. Smith, Theodore H. Studdiford, George R. Sullivan, Sylvester Van Syckel, Horace G. Wetherell, William Wetherell, Peter C. Young.

HOMEOPATHY IN HUNTERDON.

The first person in this county to practice medicine upon the principle of similia similibus curantur ("like cures like") was CLARENCE W. MULFORD, a retired Baptist clergyman of Flemington. He was not, we believe, a college graduate, although well read in the science of medicine. He became popular as a phy- sician, and had an immense practice. This, taken in connection with his enfeebled state of health, caused him, in 1860, to associate with himself Dr. Joseph Tay- lor, but he continued in active practice nearly to the time of his death, which occurred in July, 1864. He was pastor of the Baptist Church in Flemington from 1844 to 1849. His son, Dr. Joseph Mulford, was a graduate of Hahnemann College, Philadelphia. He removed to New Brunswick, N. J., was a surgeon in the army during the Rebellion, and is now serving in the same capacity in the United States army.

WILLIAM R. HAND, a native of Somerset County, commenced the "regular" practice of medicine in Hunterdon County at Clarksville in partnership with Dr. W. A. A. Hunt in 1826. He married a daughter of J. Annin, of Somerset, and iu 1827 removed to Barbertown, this county. While at this place le be- came a convert to the principles of Hahnemann, for in 1856 his name was dropped from the roll of mem- bers of the District Medical Society of Hunterdou County " for practicing homoeopathy." He remained in practice at Barbertown until 1870, when he re- moved to Virginia, and died there in 1871, aged about seventy-five years.

J. IRONS, formerly of Philadelphia, settled in Lam- bertville about the year 1859. After a residence and practice there of two or three years he removed from the place, and is since deceased.

JOSEPH TAYLOR, also of Philadelphia, came to Flemington in 1860, as stated above, to assist Dr. Mulford. He was a grandson of the celebrated Rich- ard Gardner, M.D., of Philadelphia. Dr. Taylor served for two years as a surgeon in the Union army,

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THE PRESS OF HUNTERDON COUNTY.

1862-63, after which he practiced his profession in Flemington until 1866, and at Frankford, Pa., until his death, in 1871. He was a graduate of Hahne- mann College.

J. J. CURRIE, a native of Swedesboro', N. J., and a graduate of Ilahnemann College, came to Flem- ington in 1866, where he practiced until 1871, then removed to Hightstown, in this State. He subse- quently went to Columbus, Burlington Co., N. J., where he is now engaged in active practice.

T. B. J. BURD was born in 1846, in Hunterdon County ; graduated from the Hahnemann College in 1871, and at once commenced practice at Washington, Warren Co., N. J., but soon removed to Flemington, engaging at onee in a practice of homeopathy, which he still continues. He is a member of the Homeop- athic Society of New Jersey.

ISAAC COOPER, formerly a resident at Mullica Hill, Gloucester Co., N. J., established himself as a prac- ticing homeopathie physician at Frenchtown in the year 1871. Four years later he removed to Trenton, where he is still in practice.

JOHN MI. LOWE came to Milford, Alexandria town- ship, of this county, in 1873, where he is still en- gaged in his profession. He was graduated by the University of New York in 1858, and has been prac- ticing homeopathy for the past fifteen years.

RUFUS REED, from Yonkers, N. Y., settled at Lam- bertville in 1877, and is now (1880) practicing there. He was graduated from Hahnemann College.

DAVID KITTINGER was also a graduate of the Philadelphia College (Hahnemann), and settled in Flemington in 1861 or 1862. When Dr. Taylor went into the army, Dr. Kittinger took his practice, but upon the former's return the latter removed to Wil- mington, Del., where he now resides and practices.

By the above it will be seen that there are at the present time only three regular homeopathic physi- cians in Hunterdon County,-viz., Dr. Lowe, at Mil- ford; Dr. Reed, at Lambertville, and Dr. Burd, at Flemington.

There is no homeopathie medical society in this county.

CHAPTER VII.

THE PRESS OF HUNTERDON COUNTY.

First Nowspapor in the Stuto-The First Paper in the County-The Hun- fordon Gazetto, tho llonvor Paper In what is now Hunterdou-Tho Hunterdon Republican-Clinton Newspapers-The Lambertvilio Press -Tlio Press of Frenchtown-Other Papers.

THE State of New Jersey did not have a newspaper until the year 1777,* although a magazine of some note-" The American Magazine"-had been pub-

lished at Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., some years before. About six months after the New Jersey Ga- zette suspended, the Federal Post or the Trenton Weekly Mercury was established (May 5, 1787), which has since passed through many hands and changes of title, -as the Advertiser and as the Federalist,-and is now the State Gazette. The True American appeared in 1801, and disappeared in 1828, although the name was again revived in 1845. In 1821, Stacy G. Potts and Joseph Justice commenced the Emporium, a relig- ions and literary paper ; in 1827 it became a Jackson organ. It was discontinued in 1838, the year Mercer County was formed. The National Union was pub- lished in 1833, by E. B. Adams. These papers were the only newspapers published in Trenton, so long as that place remained in Hunterdon County.

THE HUNTERDON GAZETTE.

The first paper which was issued in what is now Hunterdon County was the Hunterdon Gazette. This paper was printed and published at Flemington, by Charles George, editor and proprietor ; it appeared as a non-partisan sheet on the 25th day of March, 1825, and was placed at the rate of two dollars yearly.

Mr. George continued to publish the Gazette until the 21 of May, 1832, when the paper was discontinued, although Mr. George continued to keep a job-office until July 18, 1838, when John S. Brown bought the material and revived the Gazette. He continued the publication until the 1st of March, 1843. Mr. Brown changed the paper to a Whig organ, and advocated the election of William H. Harrison to the Presidency. At the last-named date the paper was sold to John HI. Swallow, who was aided in conducting the paper by Henry C. Butlington, who had it under his control for some years, Mr. Swallow subsequently retiring.

In 1856 (possibly earlier) the paper was edited by Willard Nichols. After his retirement (date not known) Alexander Suydam became the proprietor. and sold it in 1863 to J. Rutsen Schenck, t who sold it to Charles Tomlinson in July, 1866. Mr. Tomlin- son changed the name of the paper to the Democrat, and published it until July 10, 1867. At that time he purchased the

HUNTERDON COUNTY DEMOCRAT,

and united the two interests, and continued to pub- lish under the latter title until his death. Thus it will be seen that the Hunterdon County Demoerat, as at present organized, is the successor of the first paper published in the county.

This, the second paper established, was commenced as a political necessity on the 5th of September, 1838. The Gazette, up to near that time, was non-partisan, and readily gave either party a hearing, This, how- ever, could not last, and, the Gazette soon after becom- ing the organ of the Whigs, their political opponents

+ Son of Dr. John F. Schouck, of Flemington, who served his appron- ticeship in tho Hunterdon Democrat office, under Mr. Seymour.

* It was stylod the New Jersey Gazette, and commenced Dec. 5, 1777. Imprint : " Burlington, printed by Isaac Collins." A follo sheet, about eight by twelve inches, price twenty -ix shillings per annum. It was re- moved to Trenton in 1778, nud discontinued in 1786.

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

were left without a journal devoted to their interests. The Democrats, feeling the need of a mouthpiece, took measures to start a paper : on the 5th of Septem- ber, 1838, the Hunterdon Demoerat appeared under the proprietorship of G. C. Seymour, and printed for the proprietor by Josephus Shann. It was a sheet twenty-one hy thirty inches in size, and the subscrip- tion was two dollars per annum. Mr. Shann left the Democrat April 1, 1839, when Mr. Seymour assumed the whole management.

In September, 1849, Hon. Edmund Perry* became the editor and proprietor, and held it until 1854. On Jan. 1, 1853, Adam Bellis became the publisher under some agreement with Mr. Perry. About Jan. 1, 1854, Mr. Bellis became owner in part, and continued to manage it as editor and publisher until July, 1866, at which time it passed into the hands of Dr. Nightin- gale, t who, as its editor and publisher, managed it till July, 1867, when Charles Tomlinson became the owner, and merged the two interests of the Demoerat (formerly Gazette) with the Hunterdon County Demo- crat, and continued to publish it until his death, Aug. 5, 1875. Under the management of Adam Bellis (now of the Warren Journal) the Democrat became a paying institution, and under the management of Charles Tomlinson its prosperity was increased.

After the death of Mr. Tomlinson the property and good will were purchased by Robert J. Killgore, who succeeded to the chair editorial on the Ist of October, 1875, and who continues to give his attention to the paper.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 60

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170