USA > New Jersey > Salem County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 1 > Part 87
USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 1 > Part 87
USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 1 > Part 87
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Ili- practice, which was large and embracing a large cirenit, was necessarily laborious, and especially so from the fret that much of it had to be performed on horseback and over unbroken roads. Of large frame, however, and blessed with vigorous health, he endured an amount of labor and expo sure that would
Have broken down most men. He was a man of fe . words; calm and imperturbable, he passed app as- ently unmoved through the many distressing se ..... he was called upon to witness during his long pre a. .. sional life. Yet he was not devoid of sympathy f : sugaring. Perhaps no physician of the county evet more thoroughly enliste ! the love and esteem of hi- patients, a tribute richly merited by his unselfish efforts in their behalf.
For many years he was a consistent professor of the faith of his fathers. He joined the l're-byterian Church in 1824, and was chosen ruling eller in 1825. He died Jan. 26, 1847, at the ripe age of eighty year-, in the triumph of a well-grounded faith.
BENJAMIN ARCHER was born on his father's farm, uear Swedesboro. Gloucester Co., N. J., Sept. 25, 1775, and educated in the country schools near by.
He was descended from one of the Swedish fami- lies that settled on the eastern shore of the Delaware. In early life he served an apprenticeship to a ship- carpenter, but disliking it. he studied medicine with Dr. James Irwin, of Sharpsown, Salem Co. He was examined by Dr. Ebenezer Elmer, of Bridgeton, and licensed to practice medicine by the judges of the court in accordance with the laws of New Jersey.
In ISO5 he made a voyage from Philadelphia to Batavia, as physician to a merchantman.
Upon his return he settled, May 25, 1806, at Thomp- son's Bridge (wow Allowaystown), Salem Co.
He removed to Salem, Oct. 3, 1807, where lie con- tinned the practice of his profession until his death. which took place Dec. 15, 1845. He had a large prac- tice, and enjoyed in a large degree the confidence of his patients.
ROBERT HUNTER VANMETER .- The subject of this sketch was born on his father's farm in Pittagrove, Salem Co., Nov. 20, 1775, and obtainel his prepara- tory education at the excellent schools then in vogue kept by the clergy.
Ile studied medicine in the office of his brother, Dr. James Vanmeter, and spent his winters in attend- ance upon the lectures in Philadelphia. Certificate- Were given him by Drs. Rach and Woodhouse, of the University of Pennsylvania, and he received his di- ploma in March, 1500. He began to practice his pro- fession a: Pitt-grove. After a few years his brother and preceptor induced him to remove to Salem, which he did in March, 1:10.
In the war of 1512 he was drafted and ordered to Canada : but by some influence he was transferred to the care of the sick of the regiment at Salem. The "old jail at the corner," an expre -- ion well known to a forurer generation, was used as a hospital, and he way in Jefatigable in his attention to those con-igned to his charge.
As a physician he was untiring. He tode through
GENERAL HISTORY.
355
summer and winter, by night and day, often bearing ford as well as medicine to the sick.
He held various civil offices, and represented his county in the State Legislature.
HIe was an earnest Christian and an elder in the Presbyterian Church. The interests of the church were ever dear to him, and there was no sacrifice he was not willing to make for her prosperity.
lle died March 14, 1839, after a short but severe , at Hancock's Bridge, Sulem Co., where he remained illness.
THOMAS YARROW, a well-known physician of Salem , where he continued to practice medicine until his
County, was born in Hexham, Northumberland- -hire, England, in 1778. He was descended on the father's side from the Yarrows, baronets of the North of England. His mother was one of the Ridleys of Northumberland, tracing back to her ancestor of Tudor times, the martyred Bishop Ridley.
Ile was carefully educated. When a young man of twenty-one years he came to America for travel, but was so pleased with our people and institutions that he decided to remain and become an American citizen.
1899, where he continued until his death.
He was elected to the State Legislature while a : with Dr. Benjamin Archer for some two years, at the
young man, and through life took a lively interest in the politics of the day. He was an associate judge of the county at the time of his death.
But he preferred his profession to politics, and pur- sued it with zeal and snecess. He was for many years a member of the board of censors for the western district of the State Medical Society, and president of that society during the year 1832.
Dr. Yarrow was a man of vigorous sense with great force of character. He was liberal in spirit, and free from professional jealousy.
He died in 1841, in the sixty-third year of his age, lamented by a large circle of friends. He left four daughters and one son, the late Dr. Thomas J. Yar- row, of Allowaystown.
HEDGE THOMPSON was born in Salem, N. J., Jan. he studied medicine under Dr. Caspar Wistar, of Philadelphia, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in the class of 1802.
He entered upon the practice of his profession in his native place, but was compelled to abandon it after a few years from feeble health.
He was a man of influence and ability, and popular, especially in the political arena. He was one of the associate judges of the county, and represented the First District of New Jersey in the Congress of the United States.
He died July 20, 1828, in the forty-eighth year of his age. He left two daughters and three sons. Of the latter were the late R. P. Thompson, a distin- guished lawyer, and at one time attorney-general of
New Jersey, and Dr. J. HI. Thompson, a skillful and accomplished physician, still engaged in the practice of his profession in his native city.
CHARLES HANNAH was born Nov. 23, 1782, at Deerfield, Cumberland Co., N. J. He studied medi- cine with Dr. Brewster, of Bridgeton, and after at- tendance on the lectures of the University of Penn- sylvania, commenced the practice of his profession several years. He afterwards removed to Salem, death. He died at Salem, April 20, 1857, aged sev- enty-five years.
IFe was frequently a delegate to the State Medical Society, of which he was elected president in 1847.
CHARLES SWING was born March 4, 1790, at Fair- ton, Cumberland Co. He was the son of a Methodist clergyman, and received but a limited education at the village school. He began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Ewing, of Greenwich, Cumberland Co., in 1812. He was a diligent student, making amends for the deficiency of his early education by elose application.
He graduated in the medical department of the University of Philadelphia, and commenced the He graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in practice of medicine at Sharpstown, Salem Co., in : 1815, and practiced about one year with his preceptor,
and then removed to Salem and associated himself expiration of which he settled in Lower Penn's Neck township, Salem Co.
Some time in 1821 he removed to Sharpstown, in the same county, where he continued to practice his pro- fession until his death, which occurred in January, 1860.
Dr. Swing was exceedingly popular as a physician. He enjoyed a high reputation for professional skill, and was frequently called in consultation by his fel- low-practitioners, with whom he was a favorite. He did a large practice and occupied a prominent posi- tion among the medical men of the county.
EDWARD Q. KEASBEY, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1793, at Salem, N. J. He commencedl the study of medicine in 1812, at the age of nineteen. with Dr. James Vanmeter, of Salem, and in 1813 en- graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1816.
In 1817 and 1818 he made two voyages to the city of Canton, as surgeon to a merchantman.
In the following year he began the practice of his profession in his native town, where he remained during life.
Having enjoyed rare advantages under so distin- guished a preceptor, he at once took a high rank among his professional brethren. He soon became the leading surgeon. He was con-ulted in critical cases, and frequently called upon to perform capital operations. He rapidly acquired a large and mera- tive practice, which he retained until failing health compelled him gradually to relinquish, and finally to
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28, 1780. Having finished his academical education, tered the office of Dr. Physick, of Philadelphia, and
35G
HISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.
abandon. He died in 1847, at the age of fifty-four, fesion in the village of Washington, Warten ( broken in health by the fatigue and exposure inci- dental to perhaps the largest practice ever done in the county. N. J. After some years he removed to Philadelph and from thence to Salem, where he continued biser fesional labors until he retired from the profi -1. some thirty years previous to his death, which o curred at the latter place, Jan. 20, 1882, in the eigh tieth year of his age.
He was married in ISIS to a lady of Philadelphia, who survived him several years. He left two daugh- ters and two sons, the eldest of the latter, Anthony L. Keasbey, now a distinguished member of the Newark bar, and United States district attorney for the State of New Jersey.
Dr. Keasbey was an ardent politician, though not an office-secker. He was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1940, and chosen Presi- dential elector in 1844. But it was in the pursuit of his profession that he most delighted. To a fine personal appearance he united a pleasing address which en- deared him to his patients. His manner in the sick- room was peculiarly genial. His presence cheered the despondent and inspired confalence and hope in the timid. " Palma qui meruit forut."
THEOPHILUS ELMER BEESLEY was born Dee. 5, 1796, in the village of Port Elizabeth, Cumberland Co., N. J. Hle removed to Salem with his mother in , his ninth year, where he completed his preparatory education.
He began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. James Vanmeter, of that place, in 1815, and completed it under Dr. James Rush, of Philadelphia. Hegrad- uated at the University of Pennsylvania in the class of 1819, after which he served one year as interne of the Philadelphia Almshouse, and then began the practice of his profession in Salem, where he soon acquired a large practice.
Hle married in 1820 a niece of Dr. Caspar Wistar, of Philadelphia, whom he survived some three years. His health becoming impaired by the labor and ex- posure of a large country practice, he removed in 1830 to the city of Philadelphia, where he gradually acquired an extensive and lucrative practice, in the active duties of which he continued until a short time in the seventy-first year of his age.
: Dr. Beesley was for many years an exemplary and prominent member of the Society of Friends. Pro- foundly impressed with a sense of his responsibility to God. he lived a blameless life. In imitation of his Great Master, he did many good works. Few men did as much by their lives to dispel the unfounded charge of infidelity so flippantly made against a noble profession.
JACOB STERNE THOMSON SHARP, a de-cendant of the Sharps of Sharptown, Salen Co., N. J., was born at Newton, Sussex Co., May 16, 1802; received a classical education at the University of Pennsylvania, and entering Princeton College, graduated in 1822.
He read medicine in the office of the late Dr. James, Professor of Obstetrics in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated in the class of 1825. He commenced the practice of his pro-
Ile was a man of large attainments and noble in . pulses, and one in whom the motto of his family, " I. cet post junera Virtus," receives an apt and point .. illustration. He was the father of Dr. E. S. Sharp. . widely-known and popular physician of Salem.
JACOB HUNT was born at Pedricktown, Salem ('a, in 1802. He studied medicine with his father, Dr. William F. Hunt, of that village, and graduated a. the University of Pennsylvania in 1824, Hle settley in Wood-town, in his native county, where he con- tinued the practice of his profession during the ba). ance of his life, a period of forty years. He w ... popular as a physician, and enjoyed a good reputa. tion in his neighborhood for skill in his profession .. He died in 1863.
JOHN B. Terr, the subject of this sketch, wa- born at Salem, N. J., in 1807. He received his prelimi- nary education in the academy of his native place.
He pursued his medical studies with his brother doctor, Theophilus E. Beesley, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1828. He served ten years as an interne in the Philadelphia Almshouse.
He commenced the practice of medicine at Wood- bury, N. J., where he remained but a short time. He returned to Salem upon the removal of his pre ceptor to Philadelphia. After a few years he removed to Philadelphia, having previously visited Europe.
He soon returned to Salem, where he remained several years, at the end of which he returned to Philadelphia, where he married a lady from Riel :- mond, Va., and relinquishing his profession, he retired to Burlington, N. J.
previous to his death, which occurred Oct. 17, 1867, : his family to Richmond, where he remained until hi-
At the outbreak of the rebellion he removed with death. Ile was a man of literary tastes, and pre- ferred the literature of his profession, in which he was well versed, to the drudgery of a country practice. He was genial in disposition, and keenly enjoyed the refinements of social life.
THOMAS JEFFERSON YARROW, the son of Dr. Thomas Yarrow, was born at Sharptown, Salen Co .. Feb. 10, 1810
He studied medicine with his father, and graduated in the University of Pennsylvania in the class of 1830. He settled the same year at Alloway-town, in: his native county, where he remained during life.
Ile was married in 1833. He died July 17, 1882 aged seventy-two years, having practiced his profes- sion for the period of fifty-two years.
HIe was a member of the Salem County Medical Society, and at one time it- president. He was also an associate judge of the Court of Common Ples ..
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Dosbook
357
GENERAL HISTORY.
In the discharge of his professional duties he was arnest and conscientious, and steadily pursued knowledge through the current journal of his day. While bold and self-reliant, he was careful and cau- tions.
Through storm and sunshine, by day and night, he continued his ministrations to the suffering, without distinction between the humblest and highest.
He was singularly indifferent to fame, while he cherished an exalted belief in the nobility of his profession. The offer of a professorship, it i- said, failed to induce him to quit his beloved village and the oven tenor of his life for a more ambitious career.
WILLIAMS. VANNEMAN was born in Upper Penn's Neek, Salem Co., June 1, 1811. He began the study of medicine under Dr. Charles Swing at the age of eighteen, in Sharptown, continued with him two years, and finished under Dr. Theodore Physic. of Maryland. He graduated at the Jefferson Medical College in the class of 1832.
He settled first at Penn's Grove, Salem Co. From thenee he removed to Swedesboro in 1935. In 1887 he located in Sculltown, where he remained but nine months, when he relinquished the practice of medi- eine for a time, and settled in Philadelphia as a dry- goods merchant.
In 1847 he returned to Penn's Grove and resumed the practice of his profession, in which he continued until his death, which occurred Jan. 21, 1861.
He was a man of unblemished character, of ex- emplary piety, of large social and per-onal influence in the community, and deservedly esteemed for his skill and attainments in his profession.
THOMAS P. DICKESON was born Feb. 20, 1813, at Wood-town, Salem Co. He received his preparatory education at home and in Wilmington, Del.
He studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Yarrow, of Sharptown, Salem Co. Having completed the usual curriculum. he graduated at the University of Penn- sylvania in 1836, and located the same year at Han- coek's Bridge, in his native county, where he pursued his profession until his death, April 6, 1882. a period of forty-six years.
He was married Nov. 30, 1841, to a lady of fortune in the same village, who survives him.
Dr. Dickeson, though very lame from childhood, was a person of great energy and activity. He did a large practice, and largely enjoyed the confidence of his patients. He was also extensively engaged in general business pursuits, and left a handsome estate.
Samuel D. Alexander, D.D., of New York, Professor Thomas Dodd. D.D., Dr. Thomas E. Schenck, corre- sponding secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Pub- lication, and other distinguished men now holding 'civil or military positions of prominence. Having taken high rank in the various departments of study. . he graduated with honor in 1835, and immediately entering the medieal department of the University of Pennsylvania, received his degree in 1843, on his twenty-first birthday. Dr. Clawson at once began the practice of his profession, which was followed uninterruptedly for ten years, when his abilities were diverted to the more exciting arena of political life. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1858, and later to a seat in the Congress of the United States, to which he was re-elected during the succeeding term. and served on the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. This period embraced the thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth sessions of that body, and the memorable agitation of the slavery question, when Charles Sum- ner was violently assaulted by a political antagonist. On the completion of his second term, Dr. Clawson resumed his professional earcer, and continued in active practice during the remainder of his lifetime. He was married on the 30th of December, 1850, to Miss Martha W., daughter of Judge William J. Shinn, of Wood-town, to whom was born one son, William S., named. for his unele, Judge Clawson. Dr. Clawson manifested a strong love for his pro- fession, for which, by a thorough scholastic training; he had been perfectly equipped. He was regarde l as a careful, judicious, and well-qualified physician, whose refined sympathy and gentleness made his presence no less welcome as a friend than as a coun- selor. In all the relations of life. both public and private, his many virtue- won universal regard. His death occurred in October, 1879, in his fifty-eighth year. He was in his church relations a Presbyterian, and for many years a trustee of the church of that denomination in Woodstown.
HON, JOSEPH COOK, M.D .- The paternal grand- father of Dr. Cook was of English parentage, and was reared at Crosswicks, Burlington Co., N. J. Ile be- came a citizen of much influence, holding many po- sitions of prominence during his life, which was vio- lently ended by assassination at his own home in 1824. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Reeves, who was of English descent. Their son, Mar- maduke Cook, was a farmer and the father of Joseph, the subject of this biography, whose birth occurred in
ISAIAH D. CLAWSON, M.D .- The father of Dr. . Harrison township. Gloucester Co., N. J., in 1825. Clawson. Dr. Israel Reed Clawson, was descended The public school afforded him the basis of an educa- tion, after which he chose medicine as a profession, and graduating from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, at once began his active career as a practitioner. In 1839 he remove I to Salem County, where he has since resided, and continued his professional career until his retirement, in the spring of 1860. He was in 1853 married to Miss from Huguenot stock, while his mother was of Eng- lish parentage. Their son, Isaiah D., was born March 30, 1822, at Woodstown, N. J., and in early youth became a pupil of Delaware College, at New- ark, Del. In 1535 he entered the sophomore class of Princeton College, then under the presidency of Dr. Carnohan, where he was a fellow-student with Rev.
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HISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.
Sarah M., daughter of Harman and Susan Richman. Their children are William, married to Susan Suber. whose children are Joseph. Barris, and Susan ; and Mary, married to Truman Clayton, who has one daughter, Sarah. During the winter of 1872-78, Dr. Cook was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and is still presiding in that capacity. Though hot actively participant in the late war, he. after the battle of Gettysburg, volunteered his services as sur- geon, and for many weeks did much to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded. The doctor was success- ful in his profession, and during his period of practice enjoyed an extended field of labor.
THOMAS G. REED was a native of Woodstown, Salem Co., born in 1837. He obtained his medical education in the office of Dr. Jacob Hunt, of his na- tive place, and graduated at the University of Penn- sylvania in the class of 1858.
He commenced the practice of his profession in his native village, and remained there during the remain- der of his life, a period of nine years.
Possessed of popular manners and prepossessing personal appearance, he soon acquired a large prac- tice, and was rapidly rising in reputation when cut off by an untimely death in his twenty-ninth year.
The following is a list of the physicians now resi- dent in Salem County :
-
Old Eckou !.
AlleL, Leffersou, Wordstown. Bilderback, Frank, Salem.
McPherson, Andrew G., Quinton. Presson, Jobn E , Sylein.
Paulding, Moses I., Pintsgrove.
Cook, Joseph, Pittsgruve. FRing. Warten L., Allowaystown. Patterson, James A , Salam. Reed, Lewis W., Woodstown. Sharp, Edward S., Salen :. Sutumeri !!. J. M., Peut's Grove. Sherron, Clifford M .. Salem. Thompson, Joseph H., Salem. Ware, James D., Pedricktown. Waddington, B. Archer, Salem. Wiley, David, Salem.
Toster, Naomi B. Wou lstown. Gibbon, Quinton, Salfor. Gilman, Uriah, Woodstown. Grof, Jahr, It, Ford's Greve. Carrien, Daniel, Fanasville. Glover, Lawrence L., Hancock. Hitebuer, -, Elmer. Jolinsun, Mayhew, Penn's Grove. Johnson, Henry P., Pedricktown.
Woodruff, Al.heas B., Elmer.
Homcevpathie.
Beckett, Albert G., Salem. Jackson, Henry, Salem. Newton, Charles, Sharptown.
Patterson, Theophilna, Stiem. Souders, Philip G., Woodstown.
Eclectic.
Cheeseman, John G., Elmer. Moore, David. Woodstown.
Stitts, William F., Salem. Wallace, L. B., Allowaystown.
Female Physician. Mary Emma Robinson, Salem.
CHAPTER LXI.
SALEM COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
county manife-ted the same alacrity that was shov. cl-ewhere ; and here. as in other parts of the Sta' a larger number of volunteers offered their servis. than could be accepted.
Ou the 17th of April. 1501, after a few hours' no- tice, a large and enthusiastic meeting convened at the court-house : patriotic resolutions were adopted, and money to the amount of one thousand dollars wa- subscribed, Mr. Jonathan Ingham heading the sub- scription with two hundred and fifty dollars.
First Volunteers .--- A military company -- the Johnson Guards-was at once formed, with Robert C. Johnson, captain ; Clement II. Sinnickson, fir-r lieutenant, and George F. Ingham, second lieuten- ant. This company started for Trenton on the morning of April 25th. Soon after their arrival Capt. Johnson was promoted, and C. II. Sinnick-on became captain, George F. Ingham first lieutenant, and Henry F. Chew second lieutenant.
COL. ROBERT CARNEY JOHNSON .- The common ancestor of the Johnson family in this county, tu which the subject of this sketch belonged, was Rich- ard Johnson (1649), who came from Guilford Parish. county of Surrey, England, arriving in the ship " Jo- seph and Benjamin," under the command of Capt. Matthew Payne, on March 13, 16745. Two persons of much note, character, property, and influence ac- companied him, viz. : John Pledger and Hypolite Lefevre. Richard Johnson was a man of influence and position in the new settlement, served as one of the burgesses of the town of Salem after it was incor- porated as a borough in 1693, was one of the judges of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, and justices of the Quarter Sessions, and an influential member of the Salem Monthly Meeting of Friends. He took an active part in building the first brick meeting. house in the ancient graveyard of that society in 1600 and 1700. In 1707 he was chosen, with three others, io represent the Salem tenth in the State Legislature of New Jersey, which then held its sessions at South Amboy and Burlington alternately. He was a large land-owner in the county. On June 25, 1682, he married Mary Grover, by whom he had five children, viz .: Elizabeth (who married John Pierson), And (who became the wife of Alexander Grant), Mary, Richard, and Robert. He died Jan. 19, 1719, and his wife April 21, 1714.
Robert Johnson (1st) married Margaret, widow of Joseph Sayres, and had three children, viz., Mary, who became the wife of John Pledger, Jr .; Ann. whose three husbands were respectively named Hall, Scoggin, and Beesley; and Robert, grandfather o! i the subject of this sketch. The latter was born Jan. ḷ 26, 1727, and died Dec. 28, 1796. He married for his first wife Margaret Morgan, of Marcus Hook, Dec. 18, 1752. She died at an early age, leaving one daughter, Margaret, who became the wife of Andrew Sinnick on. His second wife was Jane, eldest daugh-
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