Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 67

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360

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HENRY E. MORRILL, M. D., a native of Boston, Mass., born December 29th, 1813; a pupil of Philips' Academy, at Andover, and at Amherst College, Mass. After leaving college, he taught for several years in the south; studied medicine at Cincinnati and in Philadelphia, where he grad- uated in 1840, at the age of twenty-seven.

After practicing for several years in Ohio, he removed in 1847 to Brooklyn, to engage in the drug trade; became in- terested in Homœopathy; and, in 1858, resumed practice as a thorough-going Homœopathist. He soon became very popular, and drew around him a large clientage and many friends. In all the relations of life, he was a Christian- unostentatious-distrustful of his own powers-but respected by all, both as man and physician.

DR. JOHN BARKER, of whom it used to be said that he was, " next to Henry Ward Beecher, the most popular man in Brooklyn," was born in Wallingford, Conn., but passed most of his youth in Ohio, where he commenced the study

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

of his profession at the age of about twenty-two, under the guidance of Dr. Friend Cook, a relative by marriage. He attended one course of lectures at Cleveland, and one or more at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, being at the time a pupil of Dr. A. L. Sayre. Ill health sent him to Wisconsin before his graduation; and, in 1849, he went to California, from which, after two years he returned with renewed health, and graduated at the New York Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons. Having, while in Cali- fornia, embraced the tenets of Homœopathy, he at once took up its practice, in Brooklyn, in 1853, in partnership with Dr. A. Cooke Hull: but in 1854, severed this connection, and entered upon a career with a success which was uni- form and quite remarkable Indeed, for several years before his death, he enjoyed a larger and choicer practice than any physician in Brooklyn, of whatever school. He died April 18th, 1868. leaving behind him a memory still green in the hearts of his patients, friends and surviving professional brethren.

A notable and gratifying evidence of the public ap- preciation of homeopathy requires mention here, if the chronology of the school is to be maintained. It is to be found in the extensive distribution and sale of homeopathie remedies on the counters of the old-school druggists themselves. As early as 1858, the third year of the society, the secret preparations of DR. F. HUM- PHREYS were advertised and sold under the name of " Homeopathie Specifies." These were followed in 1875 by counter cases of legitimate homeopathic medi- cines, put out by BOERICKE & TAFEL, of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans, San Francisco and Chicago, the leading homeopathic pharmacists of America. So great is the demand for these goods at the present time, that there is hardly a respectable apothecary of the old school in the conutry who does not consider them part of his necessary stock in trade. This carrying the war into Afriea, naturally gave great minbrage to the old-school physicians, but their remons- trances were met by the reply that "they are in de- mand; and we would just as lief sell them as any other quack (sic) medicines !"

A Homeopathic County Medical Society or- ganized .- The centennial anniversary of Halmemann's birth occurred in April, 1855, and was commemorated by social gatherings of his admirers all over the country. Those of Brooklyn resulted in the institution of regu- lar meetings for professional discussions, reports, inter- changes, etc., etc. It was a natural outcome of the wants of twenty-nine active and painstaking phy- sicians. Its organization was the simplest possible. No maine but " meetings" was allowed; no officer but secretary, who was at the same time treasurer, and, if he chose, reporter. This formless association lived two years, and died in giving birth to the County Homeopathie Medical Society.

Thus, at the meeting of the association, September 3, 1857, Dr. Moffat stated that " several homeopathic physicians of unquestioned respectability had been an- hoyed by receiving a printed summons to appear before

the Kings County Medical Society (allopathic). They were required to show their diplomas, that the society might have evidence of their right to practice medi- cine; threats were expressed that in case of disregard- ing the warning herewith conveyed, etc., etc., etc. However some of us might choose to disregard these mandates, there were still others, and especially novi- tiates in our ranks, who might be greatly disturbed by them. * * * We, as Homeopathists, are author- ized to form our own county societies, that would be in all legal respects the peers of those now existing * *

* With a view to bringing the matter in due form before the meeting, Dr. E. T. Richardson, sec- onded by Dr. H. Minton, moved, That it is expedient to form a 'Kings County Homeopathic Medical So- ciety." This was initiated the second public demon- stration of the new-school; and so heartily was it seconded and carried into effect, that on the 12th of November of the same year (1857), the present " Ilo- MCOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF KINGS" was legally instituted, DR. ROBERT ROSMAN, the pioneer homeopathic physician of Brooklyn, being its first President. Its membership was at onee twenty- ninc, and embraecd every recognized homeopathic physician in the county.

Thus, in seventeen years, Homeopathy had passed from non-existenee to full legal status and recogni- tion. Its adherents felt proud of their achievements; and considered them snre indications of thic perma- nenee as well as of the acceptance of the school in Brooklyn.

A commendable ambition possessed the minds of the society. All desired the furtherance of the school, and counseled as to the best means of effecting it. Some urged the possession of power and place, and advocated the persistent claiming of appointments in the gift of the eity and state authorities as rights. Others, an l these were notably the seniors and the graver minds, said, " Onr real strength lies in our sick-rooms, Multi- tiply these ; make more cnres ; and very likely later, but far more surely, we will be ealled on to discharge larger and more responsible dutics." The wiser coun- sels prevailed, and as a whole the professors of Homeo- pathy pursued their business interests in a quiet and unobtrusive way, that was at once the source and evi- dence of their strength. The meetings of the society were invaluable to its members. It gave them esprit- du-corps and served as an exchange. Novitiates were welcomed, encouraged, supplied with information, and were made to feel the force of brotherhood. Thus seven more years of patient labor passed on, and by 1864 no less than eighty-five Homeopathie physicians had taken up their abodes, for longer or shorter time, in Kings county.

The Homeopathic Medical Society of Kinga County, thus organized, was afterwards incorporated under the general law to further professional inter-

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

course, and advance Homoeopathy. It first numbered 29 members ; now it has 80. The first officers were : R. Rosman, M.D., Pres .; S. C. Handford, M.D., Vice- Pres .; B. C. Macy, M.D., Rec. Sec .; E. T. Richardson, M.D., Cor. Sec .; J. P. Duffin, M.D., Treas; Drs. P. P. Wells, A. Cooke Hull, S. S. Guy, Censors. The suc- ceeding Presidents were as follows : P. P. Wells, A. C. Hull, A. Wright, E. T. Richardson, W. Wright, R. C. Moffat, J. Barker, A. C. Burke, H. Minton, J. B. Elliot, W. L. R. Perrine, R. C. Moffat, II. E. Morrill, W. S. Searle, W. M. L. Fiske, G. V. Newcome, H. M. Lewis, E. Hasbrouck, Charles S. Bonnell. The present Board is as follows : Drs. Charles S. Bonnell, Pres .; W. W. Blackman, Vice-Pres .; John L. Moffat, Rec. Sec .; A. B. Campbell, Cor. Sec .; Hugh H. Smith, R. C. Moffat, Necrologists. Meetings of the Society are held at 44 Court street, on the first Tuesday of the month.

The Gates Avenue Homeopathic Dispen- sary was established and incorporated in 1867, by certain benevolent laymen and physicians, residents of "the Hill," in behalf of the poor, who could not go as far as Court street for help. Rooms were hired, and a dispensary with the title as above established, where Gates avenue diverges from Ful- ton. With a medical staff of nine physicians and surgeons, and a board of seven trustees, as appears by the latest circular issued, the number of patients for the year ending September 30, 1879, was 3,249, and of visits made to homes, 241. Present Officers: R. D. Bene- dict, President (since the organization); Peter Not- man, Treasurer; Volney Aldridge, Secretary; J. L. Keep, M.D., Peter Milne, Jr., Eugene D. Berri, Wm. B. Boorum. Medical Staff' (from organization): Drs. Sam'l Talmage, F. E. Robinson, W. S. Terhune, W. H. Vyse, Geo. C. Jeffery, S. H. Keep, D. M. Brown, W'm. E. Wamsley, Ed. Everitt, E. J. Whitney, J. H. Osborn, G. W. Newcomb, H. M. Lewis, S. E. Stiles, Wm. C. Bryant, J. L. Monmonier, A. R. Jarrett. Consulting Staff of Physicians and Surgeons (from organization): Drs. J. I .. Keep, J. F. Talmage, M. Bryant, A. E. Sumner, J. B. Elliott, G. H. R. Bennett. Surgeon Dentists (from organization): E. H. Stelle, Edson W. Smith, C. H. Glover, M. E. Elmendorf, J. C. Monroe. Present Medical Director, J. L. Keep, M.D. House Physician, Samuel Talmage, M.D.

JOHN LESTER KEEP, M. D .- The Keep family has, for the past quarter of a century, been somewhat prominently iden- tified with Homœopathy in the city of Brooklyn. The father, Dr. Lester Keep, came here in 1860, from Fair Haven, Conn., and soon acquired a very excellent practice; and his two sons, Jolın L. and S. Hopkins, commenced their profes- sional career here.

John Lester Keep, the subject of our sketch, was born at Fair Haven, Conn., March 18tl, 1838; received his early edu- cation at the schools of that pleasant town, and later at Thetford Academy (Vermont); and finished with a three years' course at the Collegiate and Commercial Institute of New

Haven, Conn., a semi-military school, conducted by Gen. Wm. H. Russell.

Plans for a college course at Yale were defeated by ill- health; and during the winter of 1856 to '57, Mr. Keep taught school at Branford, in his native State. The summer and autumn of 1857 was spent by him in the Bahama Islands, in attendance upon his father, who was then in poor health; and it was during this time that he commenced reading medicine. During the following winter and spring, he was in Key West, Florida, pursuing his studies and practicing some, as opportunities offered. In the autumn of 1858, he commenced lectures at the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he graduated March 2d, 1860. Re- turning immediately to Brooklyn, he entered practice, in partnership with his father, at the corner of Gates and Vanderbilt avenues. In 1862, he served awhile as surgeon on one of the old " Black Ball Line " packets.

In 1865, he attended another course of lectures at the New York Homeopathic Medical College, and graduated Feb- ruary 28th, 1866. In 1860 he became a member of the Kings County Homoeopathic Medical Society, of which he was subsequently secretary for two years or more, resigning in 1870. He joined the American Institute of Homoeopathy in 1867; and was the chief promoter of the Gates Avenue Homeopathic Dispensary, established in 1867, taking med- ical charge of it for some years. Ile is also a member of the medical staff of the Brooklyn Homoeopathic Hospital.

Dr. Keep was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the 13th Regiment, N. G., S. N. Y., December 1st, 1868 (his commis- sion being, we believe, the first ever issued, in this State, to a Homœopathic physician); was promoted surgeon of the Fifth Brigade, December 14th, 1869, and resigned February 28th, 1872; was re-commissioned surgeon of same brigade, November 8th, 1875; promoted surgeon of Second Di- vision, N. G., S. N. Y., March 18tlı, 1880, and was honored for "long and faithful service," with the brevet of Colonel. March 14th, 1883. He is still in service, on the staff of Ma- jor-General James Jourdan, commanding Second Division, N. G., S. N. Y.

In 1877, Dr. Keep removed to his present elegant residence, at 460 Clinton avenue, and is in the full enjoyment of a large and successful practice. Alert, genial, and with hosts of friends and patients, his life-work stretches before him, sun- lit with the rays of hope and useful endeavor.

WILLIAM M. L. FISKE, M.D., is descended not only from one of the earliest and most honorable New England families, tracing its pedigree to Symond Fiske, Lord of the Manor of Stradhaugh, parish of Laxfield, county of Suffolk, England, who lived in the reigns of Kings Henry IV. and VI., (from A. D., 1399, to A. D., 1422), but from a line of able and in some cases celebrated physicians extending through several gener- ations. Phineas Fiske, an emigrant from old England to New England, who, with his sons James, John and Thomas, settled at Wenham, Mass., was the pilgrim father of the fani- ily of Fiske in America. Dr. Jolın Fiske, son of John Fiske, son of Phineas Fiske, was a celebrated physician of Wenham, Mass., and New Milford, Conn. The first four graduates of Yale College were his descendants. The renowned scholar and divine, Rev. Phineas Fiske, was his first son. Ebenezer, the all- cestor of Dr. William M. L. Fiske, was his second son, and John and Benjamin, were his third and fourth sons respec- tively. Ebenezer Fiske was his father's executor and become possessed of the homestead at Milford, and died at the resi- dence of his son Ebenezer, in New Milford, in 1747. Dr. Fiske's great-grandfather, Ichabod Ebenezer Fiske, was born in New Milford the same year. His father removed to Wal -

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

lingford, Conn., soon after, and subsequently to Stoughton, where he died in 1790. Ichabod Ebenezer Fiske graduated from Yale College in 1770, was married in 1773, and became an eminent preacher and scholar, and was the author of a system of Grammar which in its time attracted much atten- tion. For some two years prior to his death in 1810, he was Rector of the Episcopal Church of St. Mary's parish, Georgia.

The father of Dr. William M. L. Fiske was Almond D. Fiske, who was employed, and well versed, in the trade in stoves at the age of nineteen, and became a manufacturer and inventor of note; making many improvements in stoves and projecting the now ubiquitous and universally used base- burner, which, however, was not perfected until after his death. He was the first to introduce the steam engine for use in foundries, setting one up in his own foundry, at New- town, L. I., about 1845, which was, for a time, an object of considerable curiosity to mmerons visitors. Mr. Fiske also invented the now celebrated Fiske Metallie Burial Case, of which he was the manufacturer until his death, in 1851. On his mother's side, Dr. Fiske is descended from an old and highly respectable family, of Albany, N. Y. Harvey Ray- mond, his grandfather, removed from Albany to New York about 1830, and became an intimate of Daniel Webster's, and other distinguished men of the day. His daughter, Phebe Ann Raymond, married Almond D. Fiske. Their son, William MI. L. Fiske, was born in New York, May 10, 1841. His parents subsequently removed to Newtown, Long Island, where his father owned a farm, which included most of the present village of Wintield. There Dr. Fiske received the rudiments of his education at a private school. After his father's death, the family removed to Chazy, Clinton county, N. Y., and Inter, he attended the Bakersfield (Vt.) Academy, and the Champlain Academy, in Clinton county, N. Y., where he prepared for college and began the study of medicine. Cir- cuinstances, over which he had no control, seemed to necessi- tate at least a temporary abandonment of his plan of obtain- ing a collegiate education and parsning his medical studies; and he went to New York, and, during an interval, was em- ployed in commercial pursuits. After a time, an opportunity presented itself for his resumption of the study of medicine; and, in 1859, he became a student at the New York Medical College. At the opening of the new Bellevue Hospital Medi- cal College, Dr. Fiske was one of the first to enter as a stil- dent there, following Prof. R. Ogden Doremus, formerly Pro- fessor of Chemistry in the New York Medical College, who transferred his influence and services from the New York Medical College to the new Bellevne Hospital Medical Col- lege. Not long afterward, Dr. Fiske, after passing a competi- tive examination, was appointed one of the medical physi- cians of Blackwell's Island Hospital, there being a vacancy on the Bellevue staff, and served as such for eight months. In 1862, in the interim between the second and third courses of lectures, he made application for appointment upon the medical staff of the 4 th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers; but, there being no vacancy, he enlisted in Company A of that regiment, as a private soldier. After a month's service in the ranks, he was appointed, by General Morris, to act as steward at the convalescent hospital, at Fort MeHenry; and, a few week's later, became acting assistant post surgeon in charge of the post hospital, and served in sneh capacity until the expiration of his regiment's three months' term of enlist- ment, when, with his comrades, he was mustered out of service. Returning to New York, he again entered the new Bellevne Hospital Medical College, and graduated in its second graduating class-that of 1863. Immediately after his gradnation, he entered his name as a student with Dr. Albert Wright, of Brooklyn, and began the study of Home-

opathy, and, in 1864, graduated from the New York Homoe- opathic College. He was a few months in private practice; then, after passing an examination before the Board of Ex- aminers, stationed in New York, he was appointed acting assistant surgeon in the United States Army, and served as such until the close of the war.

After the war, Dr. Fiske practiced his profession two years at Aurora, Illinois, whence he removed to Rochester, N. Y. After a five years' residence there, at the earnest solicitation of his old preceptor, Dr. Albert Wright, he abandoned an in- creasing practice, and returned to Brooklyn to become Dr. Wright's partner; a relation which continned till the death of Dr. Wright, in 1874, the added opportunities for a surgical practice in no small degree influencing him to make tin change. Since the death of Dr. Wright, he has continued practice in Brooklyn, E. D., his resulence and office being at No. 12 Bedford aveme.

Dr. Fiske associated himself with the chair of surgery in the Brooklyn Homeopathic Dispensary, which was formerly maintained on Atlantic avenne. Upon the institution of the Brooklyn Homeopathic Hospital he became, and still con- tinnes, one of the surgeons on its staff; and, upon the death of Dr. Sumner, in 1882, was unanimously elected his suc- cessor, as President of the Staff and Medical Director of the hospital. He was one of the founders and organizers of the Brooklyn, E. D., Homeopathic Dispensary, and is a trustee of that institution. Ile was one of the organizers aful lecturers of the Training School for Nurses of the Brooklyn Maternity and of the Homoeopathic Hospital, and continued his services until compelled, reluctantly, to relinquish them on account of his large and constantly-increasing practice. Ile is a member and an ex-President of the Brooklyn Home- opathic Society, a member and an ex-Vice-President of the New York State Homeopathic Society, and a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy.

The career of Dr. Fiske has been a remarkably successful one, but its success has not been easily won. It is the legiti- mate reward of that patient, hopeful industry and self-denial which are the foundation stones of all advancement in any walk of life, in any business or profession; and he has brought to bear upon his fortunes the influences of an integrity and a steadfastness of purpose which, had his mind inclined to theology, the law or commercial pursuits, would have made him as eminent as a clergyman, an attorney or a merchant as he has become in his chosen profession. A lover of huis fellow men and a believer in human liberty and human pro- gress, he has been a life-long adherent to the principles of true Republicanism, but he has never been an active politi- cian. A Presbyterian, he has been for thirteen years an active member and trustee of the Ross street Presbyterian Church. He was married October 11th, 1865, to Miss Julia P. Sage, of Rochester, N. Y., who has borne him four sons.

Dr. Fiske was for a number of years, and until compelled to go to Florida on account of ill health, the meteorological reporter at Rochester, N. Y., for the Smithsonian Institute at Washington, D. C .; and, after his removal to Florida, he established the meteorologieal station at San Mateo, in that State.

The Brooklyn Homeopathic Dispensary was incorporated December 5, 1852, mainly through the benevolent enterprise and energy of Mr. Edward W. Dunham ; the trustees for the first year be. ing E. W. Dunham, J. G. Arnold, John N. Taylor John A. Davenport, S. P. Church, Ed. Corning, Theo dore Victor, A. G. Allen, A. S. Barnes ; from whom

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were chosen E. W. Dunham, President; John N. Tay- lor, Vice-President; Alfred S. Barnes, Treasurer; to these were added J. T. P. Smith, of the Pharmacy, as Secretary. Rooms were procured at No. 50 Court strect, and opened to the public January 2, 1853. Dr. B. C. Macy became resident physician, and ten of the Homeopathic physicians of Brooklyn (increased after the first six months to twenty ) volunteered their services; a very handsome representation of the practitioners of that school of medicine, of whom there were only twenty-five at that time in the Western District of the city. About the year 1857 larger quarters became ne- cessary ; and the institution was moved from No. 50 to 83 Court street, Dr. Frank Bond becoming resident physician. In 1859, aid was first received from the City and State; and, in 1865, the trustees were enabled, by the generosity of the citizens of Brooklyn, to purchase the threc-story and basement brick building, No. 186 Atlantic street, which was thoroughly and admirably fitted up for the purposes of a dispensary.

After a time, however, the career of the insti- tution, at first so flourishing and so gratifying to those interested, seemed to receive a check. Wherever the fault lay, the trustees, under the presi- dency of Charles A. Townsend, Esq., were dissatisfied ; and accepting the resignation of the then resident physician, entrusted the management to Doctor ALBERT E. SUMNER, who had but recently (1863) re- moved to Brooklyn, and (while interne of St. Peter's Hospital) given indications of fitness for the extraordi- nary career he subsequently filled. Under his admin- istration a new and more central location, at 178 Atlantic street, was occupied, and an entire reorgani- zation of the institution effected. The patients were assigned to separate departments, as the eye and ear, the throat and chest, etc., etc., and special physicians appointed over each. The departments, at first four, but afterwards seven, were furnished with all the in- struments and appliances required ; the apothecary's department fully supplied with medicines; and a pro- fessional library, belonging to the institution, presented every requisite for study and for reference, necded by the attending physicians. The success was all that the limits of the building would allow. In 1864 the num- ber of patients was 1,824; in 1869, it was 10,260. The state official, whose business it was to examine all in- stitutions receiving aid from the State, reported the Brooklyn Homeopathic Dispensary the second most perfect in the State in equipment, in management, and in service. February 9, 1871, the name was changed to the Brooklyn Homoeopathic Dispensary and Hospi- tal, thus allowing them to care for indoor as well as outside patients. (See History of Brooklyn Homo- pathic Hospital.)

A Homoeopathic Hospital .- With the success of the Dispensary the friends of Homeopathy felt that the time for a hospital had come. The trustees, under

CHARLES A. TOWNSEND, Esq., President, conferred with their friends and with the physicians of the Dis- pensary; and, later, with the physicians of the city gen- crally. From these they received assurances of sym- pathy and hearty service, and taking Dr. Sumner into their counsel, they laid their plans energetically and wisely. It was incorporated in 1871, under the present name, with powers to conduct a hospital. A Charity Ball, February, 1871, at the Academy of Music, gave the would-be hospital its first substantial "lift;" fol- lowed, as it was, by the equally attractive Charity Balls of succeeding years, by which its funds have been steadily augmented. In 1872 the premises previously occupied by the Protestant Orphan Asylum, in Cum- berland street, near Washington Park, were purchased at a cost of $37,500, and after such alterations as were essential, they were formally opened as the

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Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 67

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : Munsell Number of Pages: 1360

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360