History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 126

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140

USA > New Jersey > Sussex County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 126
USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 126

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WASHINGTON.#

Hugh Hughes, 1816-22; removed to Bloomsbury, Hunterdon Co. John P. B. Sloan, 1822, for some time: went to New York. Jacob Sharpe, 1828-34; removed to Camden. William Johnson, several years. Samnel Glenn, 1856. Drs. Joseph Cook, Herrick, Jennings, Sowerby, and Mattison, now practicing here.

ANDERSONTOWN.

Robert Beavers, 18- to 1835; went West. Jolin Ball, shortly after 1835, and died there.

III .- PRESENT STATUS OF THE PROFESSION IN WARREN.

The present status of the medical profession in Warren County is fully up to the standard of any of its neighbors. Her physicians are men of education and character. On this subject the remarks of Dr. Johnson, in 1866, are equally pertinent to-day :

" Of my contemporaries, I can bear cheerful testimony . . . that the greater part of them are gradnates of medical schoole, or have received license under the régime of our State society ; oll, as far as I know, de- vote themselves singly to the duties of their enlling nnd have a dne eense of its dignity and importance, and we need only more efficient organiza- tion and more frequent communings upon our topics of common interest to maintain that worthy reputation which the inhabitants of the county accorded to our predecessors. To the credit of the people be it said, quackery does not flourish among them, as I do not know of an irregn- lar practitioner in onr midst. The matrone who officinted as practition- ers of midwifery thirty years ago have passed away without leaving suc- cessors of their own sex, and common fame deals kindly with their men- ories, speaking of their general good sense and abstinence from ignorant otficionsness."+

In this connection are given some personal rem- iniscences and biographical mention of many of the members of the medical fraternity of this county, particularly of those who have passed away.

IV .- BRIEF SKETCHES OF DECEASED PHYSICIANS.

SAMUEL KENNEDY .- B. B. Edsall speaks of this gentleman as being "the first practicing physician

* Dr. Blane'e Med. Hist, of Hunt. Co.

+ Perhaps the most skillful and widely known of any obstetrician in Warren County in her day was Mrs. Margaret Warne,~" Annt Peggy," as she was familiarly known. She was n sister of Gen. Garnett Vliet, a patriot of the Revolution. She not only practiced in her own neighbor- hood, but kept a horse rendy night and day and rodo into the surround- ing country, through Warren nnd Hunterdon Countles, undeterred by raio, hail, or drifting suow. She was coeqnal with Drs. Holmes and Ball, of Asbury, dnring the latter part of the last and early part of the present century. Dr. Alfred Gnle, of Aebury, line n vory distinct recollec- tion of the old lady, and asserte. that she was certainly a wonderful woman. She lived near Broadway, Warren Co., nud was one of the pro- genitors of nearly all the Warnes now living in Warren Connty.

505

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF WARREN COUNTY.

we have any record of" in what was then Sussex, but is now Warren, County. A sketch of Dr. Samuel Kennedy, Junior, is given in the recently published "Transactions of the New Jersey Medical Society, 1766 to 1800," page 24, the data of which, as well as Edsall's account, are corroborated by the appended sketch, which has been procured from a daughter of B. S. Kennedy, a son of Dr. Samuel by his second wife, who is said to be still living at White House, Hunterdon Co., N. J., over eighty years of age. Her letter is as follows :

" My grandfather, Dr. Samuel Kennedy, belonged to an old and well- kaown Scotch family. He was born, it is supposed, in Scotland, or on the Atlantic while his parents were on their way to America. Ils father, Rev. Samuel Kennedy, was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Basking Ridge, Somerset Co., for forty years." His oldest son, Dr. Sam- uel, was born about the year 1740; was married to Elizabeth Beavers, Oct. 8, 1768. By her he had nine children who reached mature life, Ilis wife died in 1790. He was ngain married, in 1791, to Annn, daughter of Poter Schaffer,t of Stillwater, by whom he had five children. Dr. Ken- nedy died In 1804, and is buried ut old Hardwick (now Yellow Finme) church, in Sussex County.

" Hle was educated for a physician by his father, who was n physician as well a minister. Ife settled at Johnsonsburg, and had a very exten- sive practice. From papers of his In possession of the family I judge that his education was superior to that of most gentlemen of his time. Ile was a firm believer in the political tenets of Jefferson, was of a mirth- ful disposition, and possessed of the remarkable (Scotch) gift of second- sight. Ile was a deeply religious man, a member of the Presbyterian Church."

There is no doubt but that Dr. Kennedy's pro- fessional reputation was very high. He is described, by the very few persons now living who knew him, as having been short and stout, but of fine personal ap- pearance. His residence was a stone house, still standing, upon the Van Horn farm, half a mile from Johnsonsburg, on the road to Allamuchy. He was also a judge of the Sussex County courts, and a meni- ber of the Assembly in 1780. Achilles, a son by the first marriage, studied medicine and located at Hack- ettstown for a year or two about 1800, but left on ac- count of his health, and died of consumption at his father's house. Another son, William, became a physician, and practiced in Middle Smithfield, Pa. The inscription upon his tombstone, in the cemetery of the Yellow Frame church, is as follows:

" In memory of Doctor Samuel Kennedy Esquire, who departed this life July Ist, 180-1, in the 69th year of his nge."

ROBERT CUMMINS was a contemporary of Dr. Ken- nedy. He was born and educated in Ireland, and, coming to this country, was a surgeon during the Rev- olution. Soon after the war he settled near the Mount

Bethel church, and lived on what is now known as the Schamp farm, which he owned. He is remembered by a few of the older inhabitants as a skillful physi- cian and surgeon. Like many of the doctors of his day, he was rough in his manners and conversation and was addicted to his cups. It is related of him that on one occasion, when collecting a bill of Maj. Helms, in Hackettstown, which the latter gentleman thought rather high, the doctor replied, "When any of your d-d niggers are sick you send for me, but when the members of your own family are sick you send for Kennedy ; so you can pay for it." He is re- puted to have introduced the smallpox into the vicin- ity " to help trade along." He was a great frequenter of the tavern. On one occasion he left his glass of toddy standing on the counter while he went to the kitchen to light his pipe; when he returned he found some one had disposed of his liquor, thinking possibly that he was too drunk to notice its loss. But the doc- tor was not so far gone as they supposed, and, asking the loungers up to drink, he managed to medieate the contents of the bottle, and then took a position where he could witness its effects on the different partakers, who had occasion to remember him for a long time after. He was married, but had no children. He died in 1806.

HENRY PALMER, the immediate successor of Dr. Samuel Kennedy at Johnsonsburg, was a native of Connecticut, and probably received his literary and medical education in his native State prior to settling - in New Jersey. After practicing a short time at Johnsonsburg he removed to Hope, about 1808. His medical life was short, but he was an able, cautious, and humane practitioner. His day-book, still in ex- istence, is dated " Log Goal," and commenceslin May, 1805.# He practiced at Hope about five years. In 1813 he went to New York to purchase medicine, con- tracted yellow fever, and died June 14th, aged thirty- four. He was a military man, and was interred with military honors at the Yellow Frame burying-ground, where a plain stone marks his resting-place. His wife was a daughter of Judge Armstrong. She suf- fered from total blindness previous to his death, but survived her husband twenty-five years. They had no living children.

JABEZ GWINNUP, for more than fifty years an emi- nent practitioner in this county, was born in 1773. lle was of Welsh descent. His father, John, fur- nished the Continental army with hats while en- camped at Valley Forge .? Jabez studied medicine

" He was its pastor from 1751 to 1787, the year of his death. Hle was burn in 1720, in Scotland, and, as he and his son both bore the same name and both practiced medicine, to avoid confusion they used the suf- fix " Senior" and " Junior."-ut least until the death of the reverend doctor, the eller Samuel.

t "I have heard it narrated that he was professionally present at the birth of o feito child, and then declared she should be his second wife, -& etntement which afterwards became a fact."-Dr. J. C. Johnson's antes.

# The items In this nud cotemporaneous day-books of early physicinne, show that, while the prices for visits wore low, ranging from one to six shillings, New Jersey currency, medicines were much higher than at present, and, taken together, the charges were not much less than those of the present day.

¿ After receiving payment for the hats he was assaulted when return. ing to his home, in l'hiladelphia, by some Torles, who followed him and shot him in the head while in the midst of his family. Several wonils were Inflicted, which caused his death six weeks after. Jabez was left an orphan at the early age of four years.

506

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

with the elder Dr. Campfield, of Morristown. In 1793 he presented himself as a candidate for licensure to the New Jersey Medical Society, and after a whole day's satisfactory examination by the censors came near being rejected by reason of youth. Being li- censed, he settled first at Drakesville, Morris Co., but soon removed to Hamburg, Sussex Co., and later located at Belvidere, at which place, and in its viciu- ity, he spent a life of professional toil until his de- cease, in 1843. He was the prime-mover in the for- mation of the medical society of the county, and of it he was a zealous and influential member, often serv- ing in an official capacity. Blunt and decided in his opinions, he was yet a model of dignity, self-posses- sion, and propriety at the bedside. Earnestly availing himself of all the advantages of his day, he was for a long time a leader in his profession. He was a ready and frequent writer upon medical topics, and often favored his brethren with written discourses at their annual gatherings. These are distinguished for their practical knowledge, presented in most positive terms. He was at one time a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Warren County, and held very positive political ideas .* His residence, built by him- self, is still standing, and the farm he owned is now largely occupied by the village of Delaware Station.

In early life Dr. Gwinnup was spare, but in later years became quite portly. He was fine-looking, with bright blue eyes, a ruddy countenance, and an un- usually fine presence. He wore black broadcloth, and a ruffled shirt. He was always a student, and pos- sessed the scope of medical knowledge of his day. He was buried in the cemetery, near Ramsaysburg, and the inscription on his stone reads :

" Doctor Jabez Gwinnup, born at Morristown, N. J., April 22, 1773. Died June 12, 1843, aged 70 years, 1 month, and 20 days."

ABEL JOHNSON was from Hunterdon County, and must have occupied part of the field cotemporaneous with the latter portion of Dr. Kennedy's service. Of his early life nothing is known. He was a member of the State Medical Society, in the published "Trans- actions" of whicht his name appears as a candidate for membership at the meeting held May 8, 1788; he was present at its session of 1795. He located at Marksboro', but at what time is now unknown. He is remembered as a tall, slim man who rode on horse- back with saddle-bags. He stood high professionally. IIe was a bachelor, and very fond of hunting. He was taken sick while on an excursion of this kind, and died in the family of the Stouts who then lived near the mill in Jacksonburg. He was buried, most probably, at the old cemetery near Stillwater, N. J. His age at death was about fifty. Whilst he was a

man of undoubted abilities, he seems purposely to have kept from the onerous duties of a too extensive practice by frequently resorting to the homes of his most retired and remote patrons.}

GIDEON LEEDS was a truly famous practitioner in Warren County. He was a native of Danbury, Conn., was educated at the Cheshire Episcopal Academy, with the purpose of taking orders as a clergyman in that denomination. He, however, commenced the study of medicine in Connecticut, and continued it at Rutgers and the New York Medical College; he then went to Buffalo, N. Y., but remained only a short time. He settled at Johnsonsburg, in this county, in 1812, and practiced there until the death of Dr. Pal- mer, at Hope, in June, 1813, when Dr. Leeds became his successor. From this time until a short period before his death Dr. Leeds was engaged in a most extensive and laborious practice in a hilly country, with rides extending often from sixteen to twenty miles. He traveled mainly on horseback, and was noted for his powers of physical endurance. Dr. J. C. Fitch, a partner of his later practice, speaks of his philosophic mind, his excellent judgment, tenacious memory, and his studions habits. Among the people he was the peer of his contemporaries. His severe labors during an active medical career of a quarter- century, and the social customs of the day, hindered his usefulness towards the close of his life. A short time before his death he removed to a farm near the village of Marksboro', where he died of gangrene of the arm. He married a daughter of Gen. Hill, of Marksboro', but left no children.

Dr. Leeds was one of the original members of the Warren County Medical Society. He was buried in the Episcopal Cemetery at Ramsaysburg. His tomb- stone, which has suffered from vandals and is broken, contains the still legible inscription :

"Dr. Gideon Leeds, formerly of New Caoaan, Connecticut,

Died February 11th, 1837, Aged 49 years and 5 months."¿

HUGH HUGHES, one of the founders of the District Medical Society for Warren County, was the son and successor of Dr. John S. Hughes, who was his precep- tor. He practiced at Washington, N. J., from 1816 to 1822, when he changed locations with Dr. John P. B. Sloan, then at Bloomsbury. Dr. Hughes practiced at the latter place until his death, April 22, 1856; he was born March 17, 1794. He never married, and was buried in the Greenwich churchyard. His obituary may be found in vol. ix. of the Medical and Surgical Reporter. | A handsome monument over his grave was erected to his memory. Dr. Hughes was succeeded in practice by Dr. Stewart.

JOHN S. HUGHES, father of the above-mentioned

* When President J. Q. Adams, with some of his Cabinet, journeyed through New Jersey and was entertained by the leading citizens, Dr. Gwionnp refused to receive bim at his house.

+ 1766 to 1800, p. 01.

Į Dr. J. C. Jobneon.

¿ MSS. notes of Dr. John C. Johnson.

1 " History of Hunterdon and Somerset Conuties," J. P. Snell, 1881, p. 229.

507

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF WARREN COUNTY.

Hugh Hughes, was the son of Hugh Hughes, a he practiced medicine for forty consecutive years, wealthy gentleman of Welsh descent who settled in doing an extensive business, from which he retired in 1834 and went to Newark; he thence went to New Brunswick, N. J., where he kept a drug-store for two years, when he returned to Warren County, locating at Andersontown. He resumed his professional labors, but after a year's practice died. Dr. Ball was one of the leading practitioners of his day, and was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and patrons. He married a daughter of Daniel Hunt, Esq., left several children, three of them sons, but none in the profes- sion. Hughesville, Warren Co., long before the Revolution, and who worked the forge at that place, making can- non-balls, it is said, for the American army. He was a lawyer by profession, and came from Philadelphia, where he married Martha Breckenridge, a relative of Rev. Robert J. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. His son, John S. Hughes, was born at Hughesville (the Forge), Jan. 4, 1770. Heattended Princeton College ; studied medicine with Dr. John Beatty, of Trenton ; attended lectures in Philadelphia; married Miss Martha Ber- gen, of Princeton, and located at the place of his nativity about 1792. He was a skilled physician, and especially notable as a surgeon. Of his large family of children, two sons ( Hugh and John Beatty ) were physicians. John S. Hughes died July 7, 1825; he was buried in the family burying-ground, near Hughesville, and by his side repose the remains of his wife, who died Feb. 21, 1838, aged sixty-five.

JOHN P. B. SLOAN was born near Bloomsbury, N. J., May 26, 1799; died Feb. 10, 1849; son of Rev. William B. Sloan, of Greenwich, Warren Co., N. J. He practiced at Bloomsbury until about 1822, when le came to Washington, this county, remaining only a short time. Ile was subsequently located in New York City, in Utica, N. Y., and about 1835 went to Easton, Pa., where he died and was buried. Ilis wife was Katurah, daughter of Henry Hankinson, of Washington, N. J .; she was born July 28, 1801, and died Oct. 12, 1853. He left four children,-two sons (William and John) and two daughters, one of whom became the wife of Dr. A. C. Smith, but since deceased. He was one of the founders of the District Medical Society of Hunterdon County, in 1821, and of the District Medical Society for Warren County, in 1826. lle is accredited with having possessed a decided talent for the analytical investigation of disease.

DAVID P. HUNT, son of Rev. Gardner Hunt, of Warren Co., N. J .; graduate of Princeton, class of 1818; read medicine with his cousin, Dr. W. A. A. Hunt, of Clarksville; licensed in 1824; moved to Marksboro', this county, where he practiced a short time, and there died, not leaving any family. He was a young man of more than ordinary talent, and commenced his professional life with flattering pros- pects of success. Ile died pitied and regretted by all who knew him." He was buried at Marksboro', and his tombstone has this inscription :

" JJoro' lio the remains of Doctor David ". Ilunt, who departed this life Nov. Ist, A.D. 1835, aged 37 years and 8 months."

JOHN BALL, another of the original members of the District Medical Society of Warren County, came to Asbury about 1794, from Morris Co., N. J. There

JAMES HOLMES settled in Asbury abont 1790; there erected a house and practiced his profession until about I810, when he removed to New Hampton, Hun- terdon ('o. Dr. Blane in his medical history says, "He lived and practiced in New Hampton the first part of this century. He was a popular, successful, and skillful practitioner. He subsequently moved into Timber Swamp, then Sussex, from whence, it is said, the family went to Western New York, or still far- ther west." He married Mary, daughter of Dr. John Hanna, of Hunterdon County. There is little doubt but that this Dr. Holmes is the same one mentioned by Dr. Wickest as having been surgeon of a battalion of minute-men of Sussex County in 1775, and later surgeon of a battalion in the Continental army ; he was one of the original members of the Society of the Cincinnati of New Jersey.#

JAMES C. KENNEDY was born Dec. 3, 1808, at Stewartsville, in this county, and was the son of James Kennedy. After attending school at Doylestown, Pa., he entered the office of his relative, Dr. Stewart Ken- nedy, of the "Straw Tavern," in this county. The University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, fur- nished him his medical degree in 1829 on gradu- ating. He located the same spring (1829) at Stewarts- ville, where he continued in a lucrative practice until his death, which occurred July 21, 1851, after a short illness. He was interred in the Stewartsville ceme- tery. Dr. Kennedy was a very large man, weighing over two hundred pounds. Hle attended very closely to his profession, but seldom went beyond the bounds of his practice, although his reputation was more than local. He left his family in very comfortable eircum- stances. He was one of the earlier members of the District Medical Society of this county, joining in 1830.

STEWART KENNEDY, one of the founders of the Warren County Medieal Society, the fourth son of the Hon. William Kennedy, of Greenwich township, Warren Co. (and brother of Phineas B.), was born Sept. 17, 1798. He studied medicine with Dr. Erwin, of Easton, Pa .; attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, from which institution he was gradn- ated in 1820. Hle commenced practice at Easton, but two years later removed to his native township, resid-

* Blanc's " Medical History Hunterdon Counly," p. 41.

t Ilist. Now Jersey Mod., p. 286. $ Jos. M. Toner, MLD.

508

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ing in what was then known as the "Straw Tavern." He there remained about seven years, then returned to Easton, where he successfully prosecuted his pro- fession until about 1838, when he was stricken down with inflammatory rheumatism, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. In the autumn of 1841 he removed to Chambersburg, Pa., and purchased the farm upon which Wilson College now stands. Dr. Kennedy was married in 1821 to Miss Anna, daughter of James Ferguson, of Bucks Co., Pa., by whom he had six children, one of whom died young ; the others were Sarah, wife of J. C. McLanahan; James F. (a reverend and D.D., one of the best classical scholars in the State, but said to be at present totally blind), of Chambersburg; Matilda, wife of E. A. Lesley, Esq .; Stewart (M.D.); and William, of Pottsville, Pa. In 1849, Dr. Kennedy, Sr., lost his wife, and about that time he received through a fall an injury of the hip- joint which prevented his leaving his chair without assistance. The last two years of his life were spent in great physical pain. He died March 1, 1852, in his fifty-fourth year. His remains repose in the cem- etery of the Falling Spring Church of Chambersburg, of which he was a ruling elder, as well as of the First Presbyterian of Easton during his residence in that place. A number of young men who have since made their mark in the world studied medicine under his tutelage, among whom were Drs. C. B. Ferguson, J. C. Kennedy, H. H. Abernethy, - Wilson, and William Shipman. Of fine personal appearance and impressive manners, Dr. Kennedy possessed a magnet- ism which was felt by and endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. His life throughout was that of an elevated Christian character. Nor will he be soon forgotten : "he left an impression upon many minds that will not easily be effaced, and a fragrance in many hearts which will not be lost." He was a magnificent representative of one of the oldest and most honorable families of Warren County .*

LITTLE CHRISTIE OSMUN, son of Daniel and Cath- arine, was a native of Warren County ; born at Broad- way, October, 1809; died in Washington, this county, in July, 1873, and was there buried. He was a pupil in medicine of Dr. Jacob Sharp, of Washington, and attended lectures in Philadelphia. His first location was (1836-37) near Richmond, Northampton Co., Pa., next at Pittstown, Hunterdon Co., N. J. (1837-43) ; he then removed to Washington, this county, near his old home. After seven years' practice there he re- moved (1850) to Virginia, where, in Prince William County, he prosecuted a large practice until the break- ing out of the Rebellion ; he then took charge of a military hospital for a short time. After the war he returned to his home in Virginia, where he continued in practice until within three years of his death, and was then compelled to relinquish it by a stroke of paralysis. A short time before his death he came

North, and lived among his relatives until his de- mise. His first wife was Miss Margaret Johnson, of Washington, N. J., by whom he had one child, which died young. His second wife was Rachel Lair, of the same place ; the result of this union were a son and a daughter, the former, Charles Osmun, M.D., residing at his father's former location in Virginia. Dr. L. C. Osmun was a tall, spare man, was in his later years very venerable in appearance, possessed a genial na- ture, and was generous to a fault. He was an uncle of Drs. L. C. and L. M , who in many respects resem- ble him.t

WILLIAM PATERSON CLARK was a son of the Rev. Joseph Clark, D.D., pastor of the First Presby- terian Church in New Brunswick, N. J., and brother of the late Col. Peter I. Clark, of Flemington, N. J. His mother's maiden name was Margaret Imlay. William was born at Allentown, N. J., Jan. 21, 1796; was graduated at Rutgers in 1818. He studied medi- cine with Dr. Moses Scott, of New Brunswick, N. J. After receiving his medical education he practiced at Hunt's Mills (now Clinton), N. J., and at Wilkesbarre, Pa., removing from the latter place in 1825 to Belvi- dere, where he followed his profession as long as he lived. He died Sept. 4, 1857, of dysentery, after a short illness, and was buried in the Belvidere ceme- tery. He never married. He was a successful prac- titioner, stood high with the profession, and was one of the founders, a regular attendant, and an officer of the District Medical Society of Hunterdon County. His medical standing was solid,; and in later years his services were required in consultation over nearly the whole of Warren County, and often in the adjoin- ing county of Northampton, Pa. He enjoyed the es- teem of his fellow-practitioners, and took a prominent part in the medical societies, read the first essay deliv- ered before the District Medical Society of Hunterdon County, of which he was one of the founders ; he was also one of the original members of the District Medi- cal Society of this (Warren) county, of which he was president for ten years, and until his death. In 1836-37 he was a vice-president of the State Medical Society. He was a public-spirited citizen, and for a long time a director in the Belvidere Bank. He was a religious man, as was to be expected from his early parental training, and was a regular attendant and liberal sup- porter of the church. In person he was of medium stature and rather portly, with a ruddy countenance and a martial bearing .¿

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 126

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1140

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140