History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 127

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 127
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 127

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his cone, Dr. R. L., Edward M. (of Columbus), and George, and members of their families, Mrs. Mary Shewey and son, of Fairfield, Dr. James Clark and daughter, Miss Julia Soule, and J. C. Van Harlingen and wife. The number present making twenty, with the doctor and his wife. A good tinie was had in social conversation and relation of incidents of the past before and while enjoying an excellently prepared and most sumptu- ous repast, which was continued afterward, while Dr. John smoked a ' pipe of peace' that a nephew of the Rev. Hill purchased from the great In- : dian chief Osceola fourteen years ago. At a late hour in the afternoon the Rev. Hill gathered us all together and, after a few of his characteristic, well-timed remarks in regard to the doctor and his descendants, read the 23d Psalo, followed by a prayer of thanks for the preservation aud eujoyment of the blessings of life, and asking for their continuance, when all present joined in 'Old Hundred' till their voices echoed through the house, that of the doctor being prominent for clearness and sweetness among them, and the voicee of some present were by Do means bad. Then the benediction was pronounced, when we all took our departure, feeling that perhaps the same persons would never meet agaio oo a similar occasion."

Dr. Van Harlingen was born at Milltown, in this county, and formerly resided on the southwest corner of George and Church Streets, in this city. He grad- uated from Queen's (now Rutgers) College in 1809, with William Croes, Cornelius L. Hardenbergh, Wil- liam Van Deursen, all of this city, and Rynear Veghte, of Somerset County. Dr. Van Harlingen is the oldest living graduate of Rutgers College.

CORNELIUS JOHNSON, of Spotswood, practiced medicine and died there, May 11, 1828. He had a son, Cornelius Johnson, Jr., M.D., born Ang. 22, 1783, died Feb. 1, 1857. The senior Dr. Johnson was the father-in-law of Dr. Henry Du Bois Lefferts, of Spots- wood.

HENRY DU BOIS LEFFERTS was born in Bucks County, Pa., on March 11, 1808, and died on Aug. 11, 1849, at Spotswood, N. J. He was the son of Leffert Lefferts, whose father also bore the same name, and all residents of Bucks County, Pa. He received his primary education at Middletown, Monmouth Co., studied medicine with Dr. Hubbard, of Linton Falls, Monmouth Co., and graduated at the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons of New York.

RALPH P. LOTT was of English descent, and was born in Princeton, N. J., in 1770. He studied med- icine with Dr. Hezekiah Stiles, at Cranbury, and graduated at the Medical College of Philadelphia, and practiced in Cranbury about forty years, having a large country practice. He often rode thirty and forty miles to visit patients. He was of a decided and somewhat original character, well versed in his profession, and highly esteemed. His characteristics have been given as follows: "He was skillful as a surgeon, exceedingly eccentric, terribly profane, and passionately fond of music; he would often dance, sing, and play the violin at the same time."

Dr. Lott married Annie Scudder, and had a son, a physician, mentioned below. He died of pneumonia, Sept. 17, 1845, and is buried in the Presbyterian churchyard at Cranbury.

John W. Lott, son of Dr. Ralph P. Lott, succeeded his father in the practice of medicine a short time at Cranbury, and then went West and founded Jersey- ville, in Illinois. He subsequently left that place,

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

and since then nothing has been known of him, though it has been rumored that he was killed in a duel in Texas.

William P. Lott was the son of Dr. John W. Lott, and grandson of Dr. Ralph P. Lott. He was born at Cranbury in 1825, studied with Dr. Selah Gulick, and graduated at the University of New York. He was never married. Owing to feeble health his practice was quite limited, but turning his attention to specu- lation in grain, he was quite successful. As a man, he was kind and genial ; as a friend, true and stead- fast. He possessed an unusual amount of informa- tion. His death occurred May 3, 1872, of consump- tion, being the last of the Lott family in this section.

SELAH GULICK, an old practitioner at Cranbury, was of German descent, born in Kingston, N. Y., about 1807. He died on the 24th of April, 1879, aged seventy-two. He studied with Dr. Howell, of Law- rence, and graduated in medicine at one of the col- leges in Philadelphia. Dr. Gulick first located at Allentown, Monmouth Co., and after a short time spent there, removed to Cranbury, where he prac- ticed fifty years. He had an unusually large ob- stetric practice, and was noted for his success in fevers. He was faithful to all his patients, never refusing a call to any one; worked very hard, was a poor collector, and consequently died poor. As a man, he was friendly, but talked little. His motto was, "Speech is silver, but silence is gold." He has left a memory dear to the people among whom he lived and practiced for half a century. He married Cornelia Jobs, and had a family of ten children, three daughters and seven sons.

HENRY B. POOLE was born in London, England, in 1790. He died at Washington, South River, Mid- dlesex Co., N. J., Nov. 29, 1861. In the year 1802 he immigrated with his parents to America, landing in the city of New York. At the age of seventeen he entered Rutgers College, having had the carly advan- tages of common-school instruction under his father, John Cyrus Poole, who was one of the most celebrated teachers of his time. He graduated after due course of study, attracting the particular notice of his pre- ceptors for his proficiency in the languages and mathe- matics, and after graduation held for some time the position of private teacher to the Van Renssalaers of Albany. He then returned to New Brunswick and took the rectorship of the Lancasterian school, which he conducted for a number of years with great ability and success. Retiring from this school he commenced the study of law in the office of Abraham Blaufelt, Esq., but soon abandoned that for the study of di- vinity under Bishop Croes. Not being satisfied with the latter, or considering himself not adapted to it, at the age of twenty-six he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Augustus R. Taylor, with whom he continued until he received his diploma from the Medical Faculty of Queen's (now Rutgers) College, in New York, in 1828.

He first commenced practice at Middletown Point, where he remained one year and then removed to Flemington, N. J., and after practicing there two years removed to Washington, South River, in the year 1832, where he practiced his profession during the remainder of his life. As a physician he was one of the most careful, ever experimenting, always ex- ercising his good judgment, which, together with his usually quick perception, enabled him to secure the full confidence of all who knew him. He was a man of fine literary attainments, having added to his col- lege studies a knowledge of the French and Spanish languages, both of which he spoke fluently. For some years before his death he was quite closely con- fined to his room by a stroke of paralysis.

As a business man he was successful and useful to the county where he resided, being the ready local scribe and the authority on all things requiring math- ematical calculation. He left a wife, one daughter, and four sons. " His affection for his family was of the most devoted kind, his whole soul appearing to be taken up in considering their welfare."

CHARLES MCKNIGHT SMITH, of Perth Amboy, died on the 3d of February, 1874. At the time of his death he was one of the oldest physicians in prac- tice in the State. He was born at Haverstraw, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1803. His father, Samuel Smith, was a law- yer, who pursued the profession in Rockland County, N. Y. On the side of his mother he was named after his grandfather, Dr. Charles McKnight, one of the prominent surgeons connected with the American army during the Revolution. He studied medicine at Haverstraw with Dr. John Cornelison, and received his degree at the New York Medical College in April, 1827.

After practicing a short time in Maryland he re- moved to Perth Amboy, where he continued to reside, and was recognized as the most prominent physician until the day of his death.

He was no less prominent as a citizen in civil and political affairs, taking an active part in the municipal government, and filling many stations of usefulness and trust. He was collector of the port of Perth Amboy almost continually from 1841 till his death, his first commission being given under President Harrison, renewed under President Taylor, 1848, under Gen. Grant in 1869, and again under Grant in 1873. For many years he was the health officer of the city where he resided, and vestryman of St. Peter's Church.

E. FITZ RANDOLPH SMITH was born near New Brunswick in the year 1786. He pursued his literary studies under the care of Prof. Lindsey, of New- ark, and entered the College of New Jersey in the year 1804; graduating thence he commenced the study of medicine under the supervision of Dr. Moses Scott, and finally graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in the year 1808. He filled the office of treasurer of the State Medical Society, was elected

521

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

vice-president in 1830 and 1831, and president in the year 1832. As a physician he was eminently qualified for his profession, and enjoyed in a high degree the confidence of the community in which he lived. As a man and citizen he received many marks of esteem and public favor ; he was for many years president of one of the most successful banking institutions, and it was largely through his instrumentality that it ac- quired and maintained its stable reputation. He was elected the mayor of the city of New Brunswick in the year 1842, which office he adorned. He fully re- tired from practice in the year 1854, devoting himself to the care of his property and especially to agricul- ture, of which he was very fond. Here the same re- sults followed that had attended him in other walks of life. He was renowned for his good judgment and success. His final illness commenced in May, 1865, when he was found almost insensible from an attack of hemiplegia; he lingered with gleams of consciousness for three weeks, when the powers of nature sank exhausted. He was a just man. “The memory of the just is blessed." 1

JACOB T. B. SKILLMAN was born on the 10th of March, 1794, at Three-Mile Run, N. J., where his father, an intelligent and industrious farmer, lived in comfortable circumstances. After having pursued the usual course of instruction at a primary school, he was sent to the academy at Basking Ridge, then under the care of Rev. Dr. Finley. In 1816 he en- tered Union College, and in due course of time grad- uated with honor. One of his classmates was the late William H. Seward. After some time spent as tutor in Hampden-Sidney College, Virginia, in which he gained a high reputation, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Augustus R. Taylor, of New Brunswick, and was licensed . to practice in Novem- ber, 1825. He at first settled in Woodbridge in part- nership with Dr. Freeman, when a practice of three years enabled him to acquire much experience and skill, particularly in the cure of fevers. He after- wards settled and practiced for about two years in Rahway, and upon the solicitation of friends left that place and a good practice and removed to New Brunswick. Here during a period of thirty years he had the confidence and patronage of a large class, and was held in high esteem. It is said of Dr. Skill- man that he did not refuse to call even where no compensation could be expected, but was remarkably liberal and generous towards the poor ; he was also exact in the observance of professional etiquette, and at the same time firm and tenacious of his own rights. But that which most of all distinguished Dr. Skill- man was his upright, moral, and religious character.

He was a member of the New Jersey Medical So- ciety and its president in 1849. As a member of the District Medical Society of Middlesex County he was ever active and efficient, doing all in his power to

promote true learning and science. He was president, and held other offices in the society.

Soon after his return from Virginia he married Miss R. C. Ayres, of Six-Mile Run, N. J. Of the chil- dren of this union only a son and a daughter sur- vive.

In early life Dr. Skillman made a profession of religion, and was connected, both as a member and officer, with the First Reformed Church of New Brunswick. He died of paralysis June 26, 1864, in the seventy-first year of his age.

WILLIAM VAN DEURSEN was born in the city of New Brunswick, May 16, 1791. He graduated' from Queen's College in the year 1809, and from the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons in the year 1814, during the period when lectures were delivered in Barclay Street. Dr. Van Deursen was elected a member of the board of trustees of Rutgers College in the year 1823. He was first settled in Imlaystown, and afterwards at New Brunswick, at which place he secured an extensive practice. He was especially distinguished for his skill in surgery. In all the de- partments of his profession he was remarkably well read ; he had many students who entered the pro- fession from his office, among others Dr. W. A. Newell, late Governor of this State. In person Dr. Van Deursen was about the medium height, erect in his carriage and punctiliously neat in his dress ; his manner was courteous, but guarded by a dignified re- serve which forbade familiarity. For more than fifty years he was esteenied the leading physician of the town, and finally, full of years and of honors, he died on the 16th day of February, 1873, leaving the leg- acy of a good conscience, and bearing his testimony to the reality of the Christian faith, at the ripe age of eighty-two .?

SAMUEL ABERNETHY was born in Tinicum town- ship, Bucks County, Pa., Feb. 22, 1806. He was de- prived of both parents by death before he was thirteen years of age, and was sent to pursue his studies with Rev. Mr. Boyd, of Newtown, Bucks Co., and was in due time sent to Union College, in 1827. He gradu- ated at the Medical University of Pennsylvania in 1830, and was directly after appointed surgeon in the Hospital of Philadelphia, and honorary member of the medical society of that city. In March, 1831, he removed to Rahway, where, at the age of twenty-five, he commenced practice, and which was the scene of his labors until his death, which occurred Feb. 13, 1874.

He had an extensive practice, and was widely known as an eminent physician and surgeon. " His genius was too great to allow his reputation to be merely local. Neighboring cities and States acknowledged him a peer and brought to him their tribute. Not- withstanding his great merits he was peculiarly unos- tentatious, and was never known to speak of what he

3 İbid., 1873, pp. 120-21.

1 H. R. Baldwin in Transactions, 1866.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

had done, but seemed always to be looking forward to what he could do in the future."

Forty-three years he practiced his profession and lived among the people of Rahway, letting shine around him the light of his rare genius, his kindly spirit, and his practical usefulness. He thus endeared himself to the people in a manner rarely known.

The District Medical Society of the County of Union, of which he was the first president, attended the fun- eral services in a body, and drafted the following resolutions :

" WHEREAS, The District Medicel Society of the County of Union has heard with heartfelt regret of the death of its oldest and one of ite moet esteemed members, Dr. Samuel Abernethy, of Rahway; and while we would be submissive to the will of an all-wiee Providence, we would place on record our tribute of respect to the memory of our deceased brother; therefore,

" Resolved, That in the ability and devotion he so long manifested in his profesion, in his kindness and courtesy of manner, shown hoth to his professional brethren and to hie patients, and in the characteristics of a good citizen, he has endeared himself to all who knew him.

" Resolved, That his memory will be cherished with respect and grate- ful remembrance.

" Resolved, That a copy of these reenintions be sent to the family of the deceased, and that they be published in the Rahway Advocate and Times, National Democrat, Elizabeth Journal, and the Central New Jersey Times of Plainfield.

" T. N. MCLEAN, " Recording Secretary."

CHAPTER LXX.

MEDICAL PROFESSION .- (Continued.)

District Medical Society for the County of Mid- dlesex .- " The following physicians and surgeons having convened at New Brunswick on the first 'Tnes- day of May, 1816, for the purpose of forming them- selves into a society by the style and name of 'The Medical Society of the State of New Jersey,' agree- ably to an act of incorporation passed at Trenton, Feb. 16, 1816, and being so convened did proceed to appoint a chairman and secretary pro tem., when Dr. John Van Cleve was unanimously elected chair- man and William McKissack secretary.

" Present, Drs. John Van Cleve, Lewis Dunham, Augustus R. Taylor, Jacob Dunham, Enoch Wilson, Nathaniel Manning, Ralph P. Lott, Ephraim Smith, James Elmendorf, Charles Pierson, Ferdinand Schenck, Jos. Quimby, William D. McKissack, Matthias Freeman, John Reynolds, Samuel Forman, William McKissack.

" It was moved and seconded that the present meet- ing proceed to appoint fifteen managers agreeably to the second section of the Act of Incorporation, when the following gentlemen were duly appointed :

" Drs. Augustus R. Taylor, Lewis Dunham, John Van Cleve, Jacob Dunham, Nicholas Belleville, Wil- liam McKissack, Nathaniel Manning, Enoch Wilson, Charles Smith, Peter 1. Stryker, Matthias Freeman,

Ralph P. Lott, Moses Scott, Charles Pierson, Ephraim Smith.

"A motion was made and seconded to proceed to the appointing of county or district societies in the counties of Middlesex, Somerset, Monmouth, Essex, and Morris, agreeably to the third section of the said Act of Incorporation, when Doctors Lewis Dunham, Joseph Dunham, Enoch Wilson, Matthias Freeman, Charles Smith, Nathaniel Manning, Ralph P. Lott, and John Van Cleve were duly appointed for the county of Middlesex, to hold their first meeting on the second Tuesday of June next, at 10 o'clock A. M., at the city of New Brunswick.1

"Agreeably to the foregoing appointment the com- mittee met, every member attending, at Runyan's tavern, in the city of New Brunswick, on the day appointed. Dr. Lewis Dunham was chosen chair- man, and John Van Cleve secretary of the meeting.

"The committee then proceeded to the formation of a society by electing by ballot Dr. Charles Smith president, Matthias Freeman vice-president, Jacob Dunham treasurer, and John Van Cleve secretary, whereupon Dr. Smith took the chair and the society proceeded to business." 2

The first business transacted was the appointment of a committee, consisting of Lewis Dunham and Matthias Freeman, "to examine into the qualifica- tions of such gentlemen as should make application for admission into the society." While the committee were attending to their duty a general discussion was had by the members present upon the subject of the by-laws of the society, after which a committee was appointed to draft a system of by-laws and report to the next meeting.

The committee appointed to examine into the qualifications of applicants for membership reported that Josiah B. Andrews, John Van Dyke, and Wil- liam Van Deursen had given satisfactory testimonials of their having been regularly admitted to the prac- tice of medicine and surgery ; whereupon the society resolved that they be admitted without further exam- ination.

Drs. Charles Smith, Enoch Wilson, and John Van Cleve, the committee on by-laws, reported the follow- ing at the next meeting, Dec. 11, 1816, which after suitable discussion and amendment were adopted :

BY-LAWS.

" 1. This Society shall be known and distinguished by the name of The District Medical Society for the County of Middlesex, in the State of New Jersey.

"11. The officers of thie society shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, to be chosen at each anniversary meeting of the society by ballot, to serve for one year ; and should Do election take place at the usual period they shall continue in office until others be chosen in their stead.

" I][. It shall be the duty of the president to open the society with an address at the first stated meeting after his appolutment, to preside at all meetinge of the society, to preserve order, to regulate the debates,

1 Minutes of the New Jersey Medical Society.

9 Minutes of the District Society.

Clifford J. Nonugh No.L.

523

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

to state and put questions, and declare the sense of the meeting after a vote shall have been taken, and to adjourn the society

"IV. In the absence of the president the vice-president shall perform all the duties of the president, and when both president nnd vice-preci- dent are nhsent the society shall elect a president pro tempore.

"V. It . hall be the duty of the secretary to take minutes of all the proceedings of the society, and to record them accurately in a bonk to be provided for that purpose. He shall keep a list of all the members, which he shall call over as soon as the society shall have convened.

" VI. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to receive all moneye due to the society, and make an entry thereof in a book to be kept for thet purpose ; he shall pay all drafte made on him by the president, and ex- hibit a complete statement of his accounts at every annual meeting of the society, or oftener if required ; and at the expiration of his office shall deliver over to his successor all moneys and other property belong- ing to the society that may be in his hands.

" VII. The society shall at every annual meeting appoint five members, whose duty it shall be to examine all candidates who may apply for license to practice physic and surgery touching their knowledge in the said faculties, and if approved shall recommend them to the president of the medical society of New Jersey as fit persons to receive a license accordingly ; not less than - of the committee shall be present every exminination.1

" VIII. The stated meetinge of this society shall be held on the Wed- needay of conrt week in June and December, and five members sball constitute a quorum to do business.2

" 1X. No person shall be balluted for as a member of this society un- Jegs he hull have been admitted to the practice according to law, and shall, moreover, produce testimooials of his moral character and profes- sional acquirementa from at least two members of the society.3

" X. Every member shall on his election und subscribing the by-laws pay to the treasurer for the use of the society the sum of one dollar, and annually thereafter the sum of fifty cente.

" XI, No money shall be drawn from the treasury unlese by order of the society, and certified by the president or presiding officer.

" XII. That it shall be the duty of every member to record accurately and circumstantially every extraordinary case in physic or surgery wbich may occur in his practice and its treatment, und Iny the sadie before the society at their next meeting.

" XIII. Two or more meothers shall be appointed whose duties it shall be to keep accurate meteorological observations, together with a history of the prevailing diseases of the different seasons and their treatment, and lay the same before the society at its stated meetings.4

"XIV. The exercises of the society shall ha conducted in the follow- ing order :

"Ist. Calling the roll.

"2d. The president's address.

"3d Reading minutes of last meeting.

" 4th. Reports of committees.

"5th. Essays and communications.

"6th. Election of officers.5

" XV. It shall be the duty of the members of this society to discoun- tenance irregular practitionere of physic, and not to consult or hold any professional intercourse with them.

" XVI. No member shall be expelled from this society nolese by the concurring vote of two-thirds of the members present.

"XVII. That the table of fees nud rates of charging for sundry articles aod services in medicine and surgery as agreed upon and established June 12, 1810, by the Medical Society of New Jersey for the government of its members, be adopted by this society.6

"XVIII. That these laws shall not be altered or amended unless the Alteration or amendment shall have been submitted to the society at a previous stated meeting, and approved by two-thirds of the members present."

We find in the record the following names sub- scribed to the laws :

I This article was onhsequeutly expunged.

2 Tioie of meeting changed in 1831 to first Tuesday iu May und No- vember.

7 Amended June 24, 1857

4 Amended June 24, 1853. No record of the meeting kept.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 127

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224