The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 47

Author: Prowell, George Reeser, 1849-1928
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Richards
Number of Pages: 1220

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P. W. ANDREWS, son of Dr. J. R. An- drews, the first resident homœopathist in Camden County, was born in Camden. He attended the Friends' Central School, in Philadelphia, and afterwards pursued the study of the classics under the instruction of Professor Hutchinson, of Camden. He read medicine in the office of his father until the time of the latter's death, and then became a student with Dr. H. F. Hunt. He attended medical lectures for two years at Long Island College Hospital, and then entered the Ho- mœopathic Medical College of Philadelphia, and was graduated from that institution. He has since practiced in Camden.

MELBOURNE F. MIDDLETON was born in the city of Camden on the 21st day of January, 1842. His father, Timothy Middleton, his grandfather, Amos A. Mid- dleton, and his great-grandfather, Timothy Middleton, were all born here. In these early days, reaching back to Revolutionary times, Camden was but a very small village. Timothy Middleton, the father of the doc- tor, was born January 21, 1817, and died April 15, 1867. He was an active, intelli- gent and successful farmer, but exchanged that occupation in his later years for city life, and, becoming interested in local affairs, was elected and served one term as mayor of the city of Camden. He was married, on the 19th of November, 1840, to Hester A. R. Jenkins, an estimable lady, and the follow-

1. 2 Middleton

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ing children were born to them : Melbourne F., Malinda E., Amos A., Elizabeth S. and Timothy J. Dr. Melbourne F. Middleton, the eldest and the subject of this biography, obtained his preparatory education in the public schools of Camden and Philadelphia. After leaving school he returned to his father's farm, near Camden, where he spent about four years in the healthy occupation of. a farmer. During this time and after leav- ing the farm (his father returning to Cam- den) he pursued special branches of study to fit himself more fully for active business life. We next find him engaged for a short time as a grocer's clerk; then as a salesman in a cloth-house in Philadelphia ; then as an assistant book-keeper in the office of Dr. D. Jayne & Son, of Philadelphia, where he was soon advanced to the position of general cor- respondent. The duties were arduous, in- volving a list of correspondents to the num- ber of ten thousand. After being in the office about two years, and his health failing, the firm kindly gave him their power of at- torney, and sent him out traveling in their interests, which position he held nearly two years, after which he returned, with renewed health and an invaluable experience, which had broadened his view of men and things, to enter upon the fulfillment of hopes that had been cherished from early childhood, and towards which every previous move- ment of his life had been a stepping-stone- the study of medicine. During the time he was in the office of Dr. D. Jayne & Son he matriculated, and each winter attended lec- tures on single branches of medicine, and, while traveling, continued study so far as his duties and health would permit. In the fall of 1866 he entered the Hahnemann Medical College, of Philadelphia, for the full course of lectures, and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine on March 4, 1868, and immediately commenced the practice of med- icine in the city of Camden, where he still continues an earnest and successful physi-

cian. He is a member of the West Jersey Homoeopathic Medical Society," "The New Jersey State Homoeopathic Medical Society," "The American Institute of Homeopathy," and the " Camden Microscopical Society." He is one of the originators of the " Camden Ho- mœopathic Hospital and Dispensary Associa- tion," and, in 1880, through his influence, the practice of homoeopathy was introduced into the "Camden County Asylum for the Insane." He was for eight years a member of the " Board of Education of the City of Camden," is also a member of "Camden Lodge, No. 15, F. A. M," and is connected by membership with the Third Street Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of which his parents were among the early members.

Dr. Middleton was married, on the 16th day of March, 1871, to Miss Emily M. King, youngest daughter of Captain Henry King, one of the oldest and a highly re- spected citizen of Camden. They have four children,-Bessie K., Melbourne F., Arthur L. and Timothy G.

THOMAS R. BLACKWOOD was born in Moorestown, N. J., July 21, 1834. He en- tered the office of Dr. Clay, of that town, as a medical student, in 1867, and soon after entered Hahnemann Medical College, from which he obtained his medical degree in 1880. Immediately after graduating he established himself in practice in Camden, and has since continued it.

C. J. COOPER was born in Langhorne, Bucks County, Pa., October 14, 1843. He began the study of medicine with Dr. H. F. Hunt, entered Hahnemann Medical College in 1866, was graduated in 1868, began prac- tice in Salem, N. J., and in the fall of 1869 moved to Camden, where he has since prac- ticed with success.

THEODORE S. WILLIAMS, a native of Brewer, Me., was born November 27, 1815 ; studied medicine with Dr. Caleb Swan, of Easton, Mass. ; attended medical lectures at Dartmouth College in 1840, under Dr. O.

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

W. Holmes, and Professor Benjamin Silli- man, the next year, at Bowdoin College, in Maine. After a few years of travel he took his medical degree, and in July, 1844, located in Germantown, Pa., and in 1850 entered Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, and from that time was a follower of the Hahnemann school of medicine, and prac- ticed in Germantown from 1844 to 1870, and then retired from regular practice and re- moved to Haddonfield, where he still lives. His son, Franklin E., was born at German- town May 2, 1857. He entered the University of Pennsylvania in June, 1873. After two years' course in the Scientific Department he entered the Medical Department and received his degree in March, 1878. In the same year he took a post-graduate course at Hahnemann Medical College of Philadel- phia, and was gradnated in March, 1879. He began and has since practiced in Had- donfield.

J. D. LECKNER was born in Philadelphia May 9, 1853; studied medicine with Dr. Henry N. Martin, entered Hahnemann Med- ical College in 1871, and completed the course, receiving his degree in March, 1873; began practice in Philadelphia, and, in 1876, came to Camden. He is president of the Board of Health of the city of Camden, and one of the staff of the Homoeopathic Hospital of Camden.

ANNA E. GRIFFITH was born in 1830 in Elizabeth, N. J .; studied medicine with Dr. S. A. Barnett, of New York City, and, in 1871, entered the Women's Medical College of New York City, a homoeopathic institution ; was graduated in March, 1874; practiced in New York City one year, and then removed to Camden to continue in her profession.

WILLIS H. HUNT, a native of Providence, Rhode Island, and brother of H. F. Hunt, of Camden, was born April 19, 1855. He be- gan the study of medicine with Dr. Elmer Eddy, of Providence, and, in 1874, entered Harvard Medical School, and was graduated

in June, 1877, with a view of following the practice of the allopathic school of medicine. In the fall of 1877 he came to Philadelphia, entered Hahnemann Medical College and studied one year, and, by reason of ill health, withdrew. In 1879 he began practice in Camden, and still continues.

EDGAR B. SHARP was born at Long-a- Coming (now Berlin), Camden County, N. J., October 21, 1855 ; was a student with Pro- fessor A. R. Thomas, of Philadelphia ; at- tended the lectures of Hahnemann Medical College, of Philadelphia, graduated March 9, 1876 ; now practicing at Westmont, Camden County, N. J.

E. M. HOWARD, is a native of Barry, Mass., where he was born September 11, 1848. He began the study of medicine at home, in 1868, with Dr. A. E. Kemp, and in 1870 entered Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., and took a special preparative course in comparative anatomy, under Professor Burt G. Wilder; was graduated in 1873, and in 1874 entered Hahnemann Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, from which he obtained his medical degree in 1877, and then located in Camden. He was appointed lecturer on botany in the Hahnemann Medical College in 1878, on pharmacy in 1881 and on toxi- cology in 1886, and still continues in these departments.

ELI TULLIS was born in Cumberland County, N. J., April 10, 1838. He entered Hahnemann Medical College in the fall of 1875, and was graduated in March, 1879, and began practice in Camden.

WILLIAM G. DU BOIS was born in Clayton township, Gloucester County, N. J., August 17, 1858, and received his preliminary edu- cation under private tutors at home. He began the study of medicine under Dr. Wal- lace McGeorge, of Woodbury, and entered the Hahnemann Medical College, Philadel- phia, from which he was graduated in 1880. He has since been engaged in the practice of his profession in Gloucester.

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A HISTORY OF MEDICINE AND MEDICAL MEN.

SILAS H. QUINT was born in Philadelphia December 3, 1849 ; began the study of med- icine in 1870 with Dr. Samuel Carles, and entered Hahnemann Medical College, grad- uating March 10, 1873. In 1874 he opened an office in Camden. He is secretary of the board of directors of the Homoeopathic Hos- pital and Dispensary of Camden.

R. H. PEACOCK was born in Camden Feb- ruary 5, 1858 ; studied medicine with Dr. M. F. Middleton, and, in 1878, entered Hahne- mann Medical College, from which he was graduated in March, 1881. He began prac- tice in Camden, and in April, 1883, removed to Berlin, where he is now in practice.

GEORGE D. WOODWARD, a native of Cam- den, was born May 28, 1860. He began the study of medicine with Dr. H. F. Hunt in 1881, and the same year entered Hahnemann Medical College, and was graduated in March, 1884. He began practice in Belair, Harford County, Md., and removed to Camden April 1,1886.

T. WALTER GARDINER is a native of Phil- adelphia, where he was born October 25, 1854. He attended the school at Woodbury and the South Jersey Institute, at Bridgeton, N. J. He began his medical studies in Philadelphia and entered the Hahnemann Medical College in 1871, from which institution he was gradu- ated in 1875. Dr. Gardiner first settled in Ulster County, N. Y., remaining there for five years, when he removed to Pottstown. In December, 1883, he came to Gloucester City, where he is now engaged in practice.

GEORGE S. F. PFEIFFER, a native of Worms, Germany, was born September 9, 1806. He studied medicine under Baron Von Liebig and Von Ritger, in Strasburg and Giessen, after which he entered the Hol- land navy as assistant surgeon. He was captured off the coast of Algiers and retained a prisoner, and he was in charge of the grounds and gardens of the Sultan of Tur- key, and there introduced many new plants. He was liberated by the French about 1830,

and returned to Germany. His long absence prevented his return to the practice of his profession without a thorough study and ex- amination, according to German, and lie came to America in 1833, where he formed the acquaintance with Dr. C. F. Herring and others of the Hahnemann school of practice. In 1834 he began homeopathic practice, first in Baltimore, later in Adams County, Pa., Germantown and Philadelphia. In 1854 he moved to Camden, where he remained until 1862, during a part of which time he was a professor in the Penn Medical College. He then entered the regular army and remained in its service until 1868, and returned to Camden, resumed practice and continued un- til his death, November 29, 1883.

FREDERICK P. PFEIFFER, son of Dr. George S. F. Pfeiffer, was born in Philadel- phia June 25, 1841. He studied medicine with his father, and in 1861 entered the Penn Medical University, from which he was grad- uated in March, 1863. While engaged in his studies he entered the United States army as a medical cadet, and was stationed in a hospital in West Philadelphia. After his graduation he was appointed assistant medical director under Frederick G. Snell- ing. In 1864 he was transferred to the hospital, and later to Louisiana, and on May 31, 1865, left the service and came to Cam- den and began the practice in which he is now engaged. On the 12th of April, 1870, he became a member of the New Jersey State Homoeopathic Medical Society.

GEORGE R. FORTINER, a native of Cam- den, was born November 14, 1842; studied medicine with Dr. A. C. Haines, of Colum- bus, N. J., and in the fall of 1876 entered Penn Medical University, at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in March, 1879. Mrs. Ida Fortiner, his wife, was born De- cember 28, 1848, at Columbus, and studied medicine with her father, entered college with her husband and graduated at the same time. They settled, after graduating, at Camden,

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where they yet reside and practice. He is a member of the Eclectic State Society of New Jersey. They practice largely in accordance with the principle of homoeopathy.

WEST JERSEY HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY .- Pursuant to a call issued by Wal- lace McGeorge, M.D., of Hightstown; Hen- ry F. Hunt, M.D., of Camden; N. Kirk- patrick, M.D., of Burlington ; R. M. Wilk- inson, M.D., of Trenton ; and W. Ward, M.D., of Mount Holly, the homoeopathic phy- sicians of South and West Jersey met in Camden, on May 19, 1869, and organized the Western District Homoeopathic Medical So- ciety of New Jersey. The following officers were elected, and bureaus appointed : Presi- dent, D. R. Gardiner, M.D., Woodbury ; Vice-President, R. M. Wilkinson, M.D., Trenton; Secretary, Wallace McGeorge, M.D., Hightstown ; and Treasurer, J. G. Streets, M.D., Bridgeton ; Censors, Drs. Hunt, Ma- lin and Cooper ; Bureau of Obstetrics, Drs. Wilkinson, Malin and Bancroft ; Surgery, Drs. Middleton, Cooper and Austin ; Prac- tice, Drs. Hunt, Brown and Streets ; Materia Medica, Drs. Kilpatrick, Allen and Phillips. The society meets quarterly in Camden, and during the second year changed its name to West Jersey Homoeopathic Medical Society, under which name it still works. The West Jersey Society has been a useful adjunct to the State Society, and has held its meetings regularly in Camden since its organization. Drs. D. R. Gardiner, R. M. Wilkinson, H. F. Hunt, D. E. Gardiner, E. R. Tuller, N. Kirkpatrick, M. B. Tuller and Isaac Cooper have been president at different times, and not a meeting has elapsed in all this time in which one or more papers have not been pre- sented and read before the society.

Dr. McGeorge served as secretary in 1869. He was followed in 1870 by Dr. Isaac Cooper, of Trenton. Dr. McGeorge was re-elected in 1871 and served until 1876, when M. B. Fuller, of Vineland, was elect- ed. Dr. McGeorge was. re-elected in 1877

and served continuonsly until 1880, when Dr. H. S. Quint, of Camden, was chosen. In 1881 R. H. Peacock was made secretary, serving until May, 1884, when he was fol- lowed by E. M. Howard, of Camden, who has held the position till the present time.

The secretary's report for 1886 gave the membership of the society as forty-two. Three new members have since been added, making the present membership forty-five. Average attendance at each meeting, fourteen and three-quarters (1885-86). The tangible re- sult of the work of the society is the yearly production of from ten to fifteen scientific papers, most of which are eagerly sought for publication in the medical journals. The society has always taken the keenest interest in all questions of public hygiene and sani- tation, and has taken pains to have import- ant papers upon such subjects printed in suitable form, generally in local papers, and paid for their wide distribution among the classes most needing education on such sub- jects, in the city and county.

The physicians of Camden were the most active in organizing the New Jersey State Homeopathic Society and in securing a lib- eral charter, granting to homœopathic physi- cians all rights and privileges of other schools of medicine. This has proven to be of im- mense value to physicians of all parts of the State, securing them proper recognition be- fore the laws of the State. Dr. H. F. Hunt, of Camden, was elected president in 1876. The physicians of Camden have always been ready to contribute valuable papers on medi- cal subjects at the meetings of the society, and they are justly esteemed and appreciated for their energy in advancing the interests of homeopathy. Dr. E. M. Howard, of Cam- den, was elected president of the society in 1885.

Following are the officers of the society for 1886-87 :

President, Isaac Cooper, M.D., of Trenton. Vice-President, Eli Tullis, M.D., of Camden.

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Treasurer, Anna E. Griffith, M.D., of Cam- den. Secretary, E. M. Howard, M.D., of Camden. Board of Censors : J. G. Streets, M.D., of Bridgeton ; P. W. Andrews, M.D., of Camden ; F. E. Williams, M.D., of Haddonfield. Executive Committee: W. Mc- George, M.D., of Woodbury ; J. G. Streets, M.D., of Bridgeton ; E. M. Howard, M.D., of Camden.

CAMDEN HOMOEOPATHIC HOSPITAL AND DISPENSARY .- The great need of a hospital in the city led the homoeopathic physicians and the adherents of that school of practice to unite in organizing for that purpose. Several preliminary meetings were held, and on January 30, 1885, at a meeting held in Association Hall, an organization was per- fected by the adoption of a constitution and the election of officers, as follows: Presi- dent, E. A. Armstrong ; First Vice-Presi- deut, James M. Stradling ; Second Vice- President, B. F. Sutton ; Secretary, S. H. Quint ; Treasurer, Charles Watson.

Application was made for a charter, which was granted and approved by the Governor February 5, 1885. The building on the northeast corner of Fourth and Arch was rented and fitted for hospital purposes, with two wards (male and female), with two beds each, and the hospital and dispensary was opened for use on the 2d of March, 1885. The dispensary is open twice a day (except Sundays), and is attended by the homoeopathic physicians of Camden. The report of the hospital and dispensary from March 2, 1885, to December 31st, of the same year, shows that in the dispensary one thousand three hundred and twenty-one new cases were treated, sixteen hundred and seventy-seven persons renewed prescriptions, and in the hospital one hundred and four surgical and ten medical patients have been received and cared for, and forty surgical operations have been performed. The institution is depend- ent entirely upon voluntary subscription for support. It is under the care of thirty

directors, and a board of thirty lady man- agers, of whom Mrs. Northrup is president.

This institution, being the only place at pre- sent open, in Camden for the care of the sick and injured, has been crowded from its start. Its management has been obliged to refuse so many applications for aid, that for the past year they have been seriously considering the question of the erection of a large and suit- able building.

The following is the medical staff of the hospital for the year 1886 : Surgeons, E. M. Howard, M.D., M. F. Middleton, M.D., S. H. Quint, M.D., J. D. Leckner, M.D., G. D. Woodward, M.D., each serving one month at a time in rotation ; Consulting Sur- geon, W. H. Van Lennep, M.D .; Physicians, J. K. Bryant, Anna E. Griffith, P. W. An- drews, Eli Tullis, J. R. Blackwood, serving also in rotation one month each ; Matron, Mrs. W. H. Wheaton.

The dispensary work is done by different physicians voluntarily agreeing to fill cer- tain hours for a month at a time.

DENTISTRY.

Probably no other profession has made such rapid progress during the last half-century as dentistry. Prior to that period the study and care of the teeth were limited to those who made the study of anatomy and physi- ology a specialty, and to the members of the medical profession, very much as blood-let- ting and tooth-drawing were once included among the duties of the barber. Many per- sons are still living who can distinctly re- member when the scalpel and forceps were as necessary instruments in a barber-shop as a pair of shears or a razor.

The first dental college in the world was established at Baltimore in the year 1839. Since that time dentistry has been studied as a science and practiced as an art, and has de- veloped until it now ranks among the most useful of the professious. It includes within its ranks representative men of education,

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

culture and high social standing. The de- velopment of the science has been rapid, and a profession that is the offspring of the nineteenth century has not proven tenacious of old ideas, nor unfitted itself for growth and improvement by a blind devotion to the errors of the past.

The most rapid improvement has been made in operative dentistry, of which there has been almost an entire revolution. The highest point at first attainable was to fill such teeth as were slightly decayed, whereas; by the aid of the various improved dental instruments, together with the medicinal treatment of the teeth, the profession is not only enabled to preserve teeth slightly de- cayed, but to restore and protect them for many years. The early practice advocated smooth-pointed instruments for filling, and non-cohesive gold, whereas serrated instru- ments and cohesive gold are now recognized as most expedient.

Artificial teeth were in use as early as Washington's time, and he himself is alleged to have worn them; but at that early day they were either carved out of solid pieces of ivory, which involved great labor and ex- pense, or were human teeth attached to gold plates. Aaron Burr is said to have worn teeth of the kind last mentioned. The later improvements made in this direction, and their introduction into general use, have added largely to both the attractions and difficulties of the profession, and drawn to it many possessed of superior mechanical skill. Formerly the plates in which the teeth are set were made only of gold and silver or carved out of ivory, which necessarily made them both heavy and costly, whereas now, plates are made not only of gold and silver, but also of platinum, rubber and celluloid. Rubber plates were not introduced until about 1854, and celluloid much more recently. The filling of artificial teeth is also a leading branch of the art, requiring both skill, judg- ment and delicacy, when properly done.

The dentists of the city and county of Camden are representative men of their pro- fession, and those who have a reputation, even beyond the limits of the county, are the fol- lowing :

John B. Wood.] Wm. W. Morgan.

Henry F. Chew. A. E. Street.

Howard A. Miner. Alexander H. Titus.

William Blanc. Charles P. Tuttle.

Alphonso Irwin.

Stephen G. Wallace.

James Jennett.

Barzillai R. West.

CHAPTER XV.

EDUCATION.

BY F. R. BRACE, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.

EARLY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS .- The history of education in Camden County com- mences with its first permanent settlement, made by a company of Irish Friends in the year 1682. Among these settlers was Thomas Sharp, a young man who was a surveyor and conveyancer. The tract was surveyed and several acres were set apart for a meeting- house and school-house, which was soon af- terwards built, thus securing the permanency and good character of the community. Thomas Sharp was chosen the first teacher in this new settlement. He was a man of good education, well versed in arithmetic, surveying, astronomy and literature. He calculated the phases of the moon and the tides for the little community and made an almanac. Besides this, he was something of a poet and, in 1719, wrote a description of the settlement and its progress in verse. The original copy in his handwriting is in the possession of Judge Clement, of Haddon- field, to whom the writer is greatly indebted for mach valuable information herein given. Thomas Sharp, the first teacher in what is now Camden County, was a man of culture and influence, and as such, helped to form a character for diligence, love of knowledge and lofty attainments on the part of his pu-

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pils. He was the first clerk of Old Newton township and was a member of the Legisla- ture in 1685, and was appointed judge of the courts in 1700. He was clerk of the Yearly Meeting of Friends at the time of the dispute between George Keith and tlie Friends in New Jersey, about 1691, and in 1686 he laid out the city of Gloucester. He died in 1729.

The school-house was built near the Old Newton Meeting-house, opposite the present Champion School-house, in District No. 10. It was constructed of logs, was quite small and low and had a clay floor. Most likely it had only one window, containing four lights, bull's-eye glass. Here was the begin- ning of the educational work in Camden County. Although the house and appli- ances were rough and very humble, the work done was good. The truth was taught then that it is not beautiful and costly buildings, supplied with the very best appliances, that produce the best results, but the living, earn- est man that presides there.

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The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 47

Author: Prowell, George Reeser, 1849-1928 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Richards Number of Pages: 1220

Author: Prowell, George Reeser, 1849-1928
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Richards
Number of Pages: 1220