Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 7

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co.
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 7

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The County Medical Society was represented by delegates every year until 1883, when a division of sentiment concerning the counselling with irregular physicians nearly broke it up. The new State Medical Association, formed in 1884, drew away many members, and the old or- ganization gradually died out. The officers of the society at the date of the last report to the State society (1882) were: Dr. I. V. Mullen, presi- dent ; Dr. Henry Pamphilon, vice- president ; Dr. J. R. Cotes, secretary and treasurer. The following is a list of the members on the roll at that time : Dr. S. Barret, Le Roy; Dr. S. C. Bateman, Alabama ; Dr. J. F. Cleveland, Le Roy; Dr. John R. Cotes, Batavia; Dr. F. W. Crane, Corfu ; Dr. G. W. Croff, Bethany ; Dr. O. R. Groff, Bethany; Dr. J. C. David- son, Batavia; Dr. A. G. Ellenwood, Attica, Wyoming County; Dr. B. A. Fuller, Le Roy; Dr. G. B. Gilbert, Byron; Dr. G. U. Gleason, South Byron; Dr. A. P. Jackson, Oakfield; Dr. J. M. Lewis, Elba; Dr. H. A. Morse, Batavia; Dr. I. V. Mullen, Alexender ; Dr. John N. Mullen, Alexander; Dr. Henry Pamphilon, Stafford; Dr. William Pardee, Oak- field ; Dr. C. F. Rand, Batavia; Dr. A. D. Smith, East Pembroke; Dr. E. C. Smith, East Pembroke; Dr. William B. Sprague, Pavilion ; Dr. M. W. Townsend, Bergen; Dr. L. L. Tozier, Batavia ; Dr. J. W. Warner, Elba; Dr. R. Williams, Le Roy ; and Dr. A. F. G. Zurhorst, Ala- bama. The delegate to the State Medical Society was Dr. A. P. Jack- son, of Oakfield.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

The physicians from Genesee County who became prominent members of the New York State Society were, from Alexander: Dr. John R. Smith, elected in 1854. Batavia : Dr. Charles E. Ford, elected in 1852; Dr. John Cotes, elected in 1855; Dr. Levant B. Cotes, elected in 1860; Dr. John Root, elected in 1864; and Dr. J. R. Cotes, elected in 1873. Ber- gen: Dr. M. W. Townsend, elected in 1869. Pavilion : Dr. Warren Fay, elected in 1858, and Dr. William B. Sprague, elected in 1874. After a feeble existence of two or three years Dr. B. A. Fuller, of Le Roy, then president of the society, called a special meeting July 27, 1887. Dr. E. C. Smith was chosen secretary. A resolution was offered which re- scinded so much of the old code of ethics as forbade the member's con- sulting with irregular practitioners. This was voted on and declared lost, and the meeting adjourned. Dr. Sprague then invited the physicians present to meet for the purpose of organizing a new society, as a volun- tary association, with no connection with any other society. This was agreed upon, and Drs. Sprague, Tozier, and Townsend were chosen as a committee to prepare a constitution and by-laws. This committee re- ported at a meeting held at Batavia, August 9, 1887, Dr. Fuller being chairman, and Dr. Wells, secretary. The report was adopted, and the new organization formed with the following officers: President, Dr. W. B. Sprague ; vice-president, Dr. L. L. Tozier ; secretary, Dr. W. L. Bol- ton ; treasurer, Dr. E. C. Smith. The meetings of the society are held in January and June, and several valuable papers have been read. At this time (1889) the same officers retain their positions.

The following physicians filed their certificates in the county clerk's office at the dates opposite their names, but we can learn nothing more about them; it is possible they may have resided in places not now within the limits of Genesee County : Dr. Jonah Brown, from Columbia County, 1813 ; Dr. Robert H. Henderson, from Washington, 1813 ; Dr. Myron Orton, from Vermont, 1814; and Dr. John W. Bronson, from Vermont, 1814.

ALABAMA.

DR. FLINT L. KEYES joined the County Medical Society in 1829, Guy B. Shepard in 1831, and Alexander H. Cox in 1839. Dr. Samuel C. Bate- man came to the town in 1846, and joined the society in 1859. He was killed by the cars at Sanborn, June 15, 1887. Dr. Pettibone came a few years after Dr. Bateman, practiced awhile, and left. Dr. Townsend also practiced in Alabama about 1855, and went to Michigan. Another physician was Dr. Emery, who died in Batavia. Drs. Cox and Tyler

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lived at South Alabama, and a Dr. Nelson Horning was in practice here a short time. Dr. Horning joined the Medical Society in 1866. He died from an overdose of aconite. Dr. William M. Wallis was a resident about 1870, and Dr. C. R. Pearce about 1872.

ALEXANDER.

DR. CHARLES CHAFFEE came to Alexander (then a part of Batavia) in 1810. It is believed that he was the first physician in that town. A Dr. John Hall died there in 1812. We find no record of any other until Dr. Ammi R. R. Butler, who came from Stafford in 1823. He was for a time associated with Dr. Stephen Martin, about whom little is known. Dr. Butler, however, was in active practice nearly to the date of his death, which occurred at the residence of his daughter, in Buffalo, in 1858. He was an excellent physician, and an exemplary man.

In 1835 Dr. Amos Walker, in 1837 Dr. Erasmus D. Baker, and in 1839 Dr. Lemuel McAlpine practiced in Alexander. In 1860 Dr. H. B. Miller became a member of the County Medical Society, and participated actively it its transactions, being its president in 1867. He removed to Johnsonsburg, Wyoming County, about 1868, and soon after died there.

Dr. Isaac V. Mullen, formerly of Stafford, graduated from the Vermont Medical College in 1850. He served for four years in the war of the Rebellion, and in 1866 located in Alexander. Here he practiced 23 years, and removed to West Bethany, where he now resides. His son, Dr. John R. Mullen, is now at Alexander, and another son, Dr. I. T., was gradu- ated in 1884 at Buffalo, went to Stafford soon afterward, where he re- mained about six years, and removed to Oakfield, where he now prac- tices.

BATAVIA.

OUR record gives the names of 46 physicians who formerly practiced here, but have died, or removed to other places. It is not at all likely we have them all, for some may have staid but a brief time, and left leaving no sign. It is believed, however, that those most conspicuous by reason of their skill and abilities have been remembered.

In 1801, the year previous to the formation of the town of Batavia, Dr. David McCracken came to " The Bend," as the little settlement on the Tonawanda Creek, now the village of Batavia, was then called. We have no account of his antecedents, but he was evidently a man of good standing in his profession. He moved to Rochester in 1818. Dr. Asa McCracken is recorded in 1805. Whether this related to David is

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

not known. Among the slain in the attack on Lewiston was Dr. Joseph Alvord, who was an early physician (about 1802) from Batavia. In 18HI Dr. John Z. Ross was here. He died in 1826. In 1809 Dr. Ephraim Brown came in. He was quite prominent in medical matters, and practiced here until his death in 1826 or 1829. In 1815 Dr. Orris Crosby, who died in 1862, and in 1816 Drs. Charles S. Rumsey and Winter Hewitt, who died in 1824, are registered. Next came Dr. John Cotes, who was born in 1794, in Eastern New York. He studied medicine in Otsego County, and came to Batavia in 1817. He soon formed a partnership with Dr. Ephraim Brown, above mentioned, whose sister he married two years later (1819). After the death of Dr. Brown Dr. Cotes took as a partner Dr. Levant B. Cotes, his brother ; they were together two years, and he then formed a connection with William Seaver in the drug and medicine business. About this time he took Dr. Truman H. Woodruff as a partner in the practice of medicine. In 1830 he visited Europe, and spent more than a year studying in the schools and hospitals of London and Paris. On his return, in 1831, he resumed his practice here in company with Dr. Woodruff, continuing the partnership until the latter's death. Then Dr. Holton Ganson became his part- ner, remaining with him until 1855, when Albert Cotes, his youngest son, engaged in business with him, for a short time only, and removed to the West. For 42 years he devoted himself ardently to his profession, and died in 1859, at the age of 65 years.

The year following the advent of Dr. Cotes Dr. James Avery Billings made his appearance in Batavia. He was the eldest son of Perez Bill- ings, of Saratoga County, N. Y., was born in 1795, received a good pre- liminary education, and was graduated from the University of New York in 1818. He came to this county the same year, and purchased the land upon which he resided until his death. This was the first lot deeded by the Holland Land Co. He was a man of sound judgment, and of more than ordinary ability. Coming as he did to a new country, he was well prepared to sympathize with the early settlers in their varied condi- tions, their trials and privations, and he became their friend and neigh- bor. He was at one time a partner with Dr. Winter Hewitt, whose com- ing in 1816 we have mentioned. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, a loyal supporter of the Democratic party, and one of its chosen leaders. He was twice married. His death occurred August 2, 1858, and at the next annual meeting of the Genesee County Medical Society Dr. R. Williams, of Le Roy, then president, delivered an able and well prepared eulogy upon him.

GENESEE COUNTY.

Dr. Gilbert B. Champlin was here in 1821, Drs. Samuel Z. Ross and Amos Towne (died in 1832) in 1823, and in 1826 we are informed that Dr. H. Thomas delivered a Fourth of July oration. We know nothing more than this about him, but have no doubt his speech was a good one. Dr. E. A. Bigelow was here the same year, and it may be heard Dr. Thomas's oration. The year following (1827) Drs. Richard Dibble and C. Bradford were in company. Dr. Bradford had been here previously, for in The People's Press, of August 20, 1825, we find an account of the operation of bronchotomy performed by him shortly before.

Dr. Charles E. Ford came in 1826 and remained until his death in 1848. He was also postmaster about 1844. In 1827 came Dr. L. B. Cotes. We copy from the Transactions of the New York State Medical Society for 1882 the following obituary notice :

" Levant Ballard Cotes was born in the village of Springfield, Otsego County, N. Y., July 15, 1801, of early English ancestry. His early education was under private tutors and at academies, principally Fairchild Academy, N. Y. He entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, also located at Fairchild, Herkimer County, N. Y., where he graduated Jan- uary 21, 1826, his diploma bearing the distinguished names of Westel Willoughby, T. Romeyn Beck, and Jamas McNaughton. He settled in Batavia, after graduation, where, for upwards of 50 years he enjoyed a lucrative and successful practice, largely sur- gical and obstetrical. He was for more than half a century a member of Genesee County Medical Society, during which time he had occupied its several offices ; was a permanent member of the Medical Society of the State of New York, elected in 1860; and of the American Medical Association, elected in 1856. He has contributed papers on medical subjects to the local and State societies, and also reports of cases, among the latter be- ing one on Urethrocele, complicated with diseases of the bladder and kidneys. This case was published in the Transactions for 1874. He was curator of the medical department of the University of Buffalo for 25 years ; was formerly postmaster of Batavia ; and for the last 10 years of his life was U. S. examining surgeon for pen- sions. In 1827 he married Miss Eliza A. Ketcham, who died in 1872. Dr. Cotes con- tinued in the active practice of his profession until about four years prior to his death, when failing health warned him to relinquish the most laborious part of his duties ; he however, still gave the benefit of his large experience and wise judgment, in the way of consultations, up to very near his end, which came quietly and peacefully, at his resi- dence in Batavia, N. Y., September 11, 1880, its immediate cause being apoplexy. He* leaves two sons, the eldest, Dr. John R. Cotes, a physician of 30 years' experience, still continuing the practice of medicine at the family residence. [ Dr. J. R. Cotes has since died.] Dr. Cotes was a man respected by a large circle of acquaintances, and endeared to the community where he lived so long, as only a man can be who has min- istered tenderly and skillfully to the sufferings of his fellow-men for nearly two genera- tions."

In 1828 appeared Drs Jonathan Hurlburt and William H. Webster, G. B. Worthington, Esq., an old resident of Batavia, speaks highly of Dr. Webster. He practiced here 14 years and died in 1841. Dr. T. H.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

Woodruff, whom we have previously mentioned as a partner of Dr. John Cotes, came in 1829, as also did Drs. Eleazer Bingham and Elihu Lee, who seem to have been partners at one time. Then in 1830 Drs. J. V. C. Teller and R. Belden ; in 1831 Dr. Zebulon Metcalf; in 1833 Dr. E. H. Rokewood; in 1834 Drs. S. P. Choate, C. V. N. Lent, E. Farnham, and A. F. Dodge, of none of whom can we find much information. Thus it is with the human family : they grow up, become active and useful, and pass away, many of them to fill unremembered graves. Many "mute, inglorious Miltons " of the medical profession have existed, and, it may be, will always exist, only to be soon forgotten.

Dr. Holton Ganson came to Batavia in 1835. He was born in Le Roy in 1810, was a member of the Ganson family of pioneers of that town, and received his early education there. We do not know where he obtained his medical education, but he went to Europe after several years of practice to complete it. He was, as we have seen; for some 20 years a partner with Dr. John Cotes ; and the medical firm of " Cotes & Ganson" was known and honored throughout Western New York. Dr. Ganson made a specialty of surgery, and performed with much skill many of the most difficult operations of that department of practice. His practice was large and lucrative, but while still in the prime of active life he received an apoplectic stroke, from which he never fully recovered. He is known as having been the first to use chloroform as an anasthetic in this region. By the terms of his will his whole estate was to be given to charitable objects in Batavia, viz. : $1,000 to each of the Christian churches, and the remainder to a hospital to be afterwards established. Unfortunately the Doctor wrote his own will, and not being accustomed to that kind of business failed to comply with some legal requirements necessary to its validity. The will was set aside, and the property distributed according to law. There was in the will also a provision for the erection of a monument, at a cost of $550, to General Davis, of Le Roy, who was killed in the War of 1812. His death occurred December 1, 1875, from a second apoplectic seizure.

From 1836 to 1854 there were in Batavia the following : in 1836 Dr. Z. S. Jackson; in 1838 Dr. Thomas E. Everett; in 1841 Dr. Caleb H .. Austin ; in 1842 Dr. W. B. Slosson; in 1847 Dr. L. D. Stone; in 1848 Dr. C. D. Griswold and Drs. Foote and Baker ; and in 1854 Dr. Albert L. Cotes, who was in business with his father (Dr. J. Cotes) a short time, and then removed to the West.

Dr. John Richard Cotes was born in Batavia in 1829. He obtained his

GENESEE COUNTY.

early education in the schools of that village, studied medicine with his father, Dr. Levant B. Cotes, and received his diploma from the Buffalo Medical College in 1850. He practiced in Batavia a little while, and went to Michigan, where he remained four years ; then returning he con- tinued in practice seven years until the breaking out of the war. He was surgeon of the 15 Ist Regiment N. Y. Volunteers, served during the war, then came back to Batavia, where he enjoyed a good practice until his death in 1884. He was for many years secretary of the Genesee County Medical Society, was a prominent member of the New York State Medi- cal Society, was for four years physician to the Blind Institution, and was coroner of the county for one term. Dr. Cotes was a man of ripe scholarship in medicine, and a thorough and safe practitioner. Disdain- ing the petty artifices by which lesser men gain notoriety, he kept con- stantly in mind the honor and dignity of his profession, and observed in all respects its most trivial as well as its weightier obligations. In his in- tercourse with other physicians he was strictly honorable, and adhered at all times implicitly to the code of ethics, which should govern all regular physicians. He held no truce nor made any terms whatever with quack- ery either in or out of the profession. His death was occasioned by " Bright's disease " of the kidneys.

Dr. John Root came to Batavia in 1856 or 1857. He was born in Sweden, Monroe County, in 1824, was educated in the schools of his native town, and was graduated at Union College in 1844. He studied medicine with Dr. Van Ingen, of Schenectady, and received his diploma from the Buffalo Medical College in 1850. , He practiced awhile in Lock- port before settling in Batavia. He married Miss Margaret C. Billings, daughter of Dr. James A. Billings, and had five children, three of whom are now living. Dr. Root was for many years an active member of the Genesee County Medical Society, and contributed several papers at its meetings. He was scholarly and courteous, and a strict observer of pro- fessional etiquette. His death was from consumption, and occurred November 29, 1876. The committee which was appointed to draft reso- lutions concerning his death, in their report to the Medical Society, paid a most flattering though well deserved tribute to his worth as a physi- cian, and as a man.

During the year 1859 Dr. J. Nolton died, aged 61 years. In 1867 Dr. B. H. Benham came to Batavia from Honeoye Falls. He remained a few years, and returned to his former home. He was esteemed by his medical associates, and by the community.

THE MEDICAI, PROFESSION.

. Dr. Norris G. Clark came to Batavia in 1859. He was born at West Bloomfield, Ontario County, in March, 1818, was educated there, and received his diploma from the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced awhile at Clarkson, Monroe County, also at Bloomfield, and came to Batavia to assist his brother, Dr. Oliver P. Clark, whose health had failed. The latter dying soon afterward left Dr. Clark deeply engaged in busi- ness. He had a large and profitable practice, which steadily increased until his last sickness. His death occurred July 22, 1876, and was suit- ably noticed at the next annual meeting of the county society, of which Dr. Clark was a member.

Dr. John L. Curtis was born in Genesee County, and graduated at Philadelphia in 1855 or 1856. He practiced for a time at Elba, and then removed to Batavia. He advertised extensively in the newspapers and otherwise, sold proprietary medicines, and did some other things in vio- lation of the code of ethics of the American Medical Association, so that when, in June, 1870, he applied for admission to the county society his application was rejected. He applied to the Supreme Court for relief, and by a writ of mandamus issued by the court the society received him under protest in January, 1872. Charges were soon preferred against him, and he was expelled April 9, 1874, for "gross violation of the Code of Medical Ethics." He did a large business both in the sale of his medi- cines and by his practice, having at one time offices at Rochester and Buffalo, as well as at Batavia. He died June 5, 1880, of hemorrhage of the lungs.

BERGEN.

OUR researches concerning the early medical history of this town have yielded but scanty results. When the town was formed, in 1812, we learn that Dr. Levi Ward was in practice there, and his name appears upon the roll of the Genesee County Medical Society as early as 1805. The Transactions of the New York State Medical Society show that he was a delegate in 1810. He was evidently a good deal of a man, and was recognized as an equal by those prominent in the profession all over the State. The Ward family seems to have been quite prominent among the pioneers as people of character and enterprise. Dr. Ward moved to Rochester about 1817, where he died.

Dr. Apollos P. Auger did business in Bergen in 1818, and the records of the county society show no other physician from that town until 1826, when Dr. Eugene O. Donoghue joined that organization. He practiced here until his death in 1868. At the first meeting of the county society

GENESEE COUNTY.

after his death was announced a committee consisting of Drs. L. B. Cotes, Townsend, and O. R. Croff reported resolutions concerning him, in which tribute was paid to his faithful membership of the society and of the profession, and " the courtesy, kindness, and affection manifested in all his professional intercourse, as well as in his private, social, and do- mestic life." These resolutions were unanimously adopted by the society, and published in the local papers.

In 1836 Dr. Thomas M. Hendry appears to have been in Bergen, but how long a time he remained we are not informed.

Dr. Levi Fay is registered in 1840. He was president of the Genesee County Medical Society in 1853, and excepting those physicians now in practice, with whom this chapter has nothing to do, no other name appears until 1868, when Dr. M. J. Munger joined the society. He atteneded the meetings for a few years, and then appeared no more. His residence was at North Bergen.

In 1868 there were in Bergen Drs. R. Andrews, M. B. Gage, and R. Gay, none of whom joined the county society, and we do not know their present whereabouts. Dr. Andrews advertised as a cancer doctor. Drs. Gilbert Churchill, R. Gay, and Orrin Lee are also mentioned as having practiced at some time.

BETHANY.

IN 1813 Dr. Benjamin Packard, of Bethany, was elected a member of the Genesee County Medical Society. As the town was organized the previous year he may justly be called the pioneer physician. In 1816 Dr. Daniel Spalding and in 1817 Dr. Daniel Rumsey appeared, and in 1818 Dr. Jonathan K. Barlow's name is recorded. It is a somewhat sin- gular circumstance that in the reports of the Genesee County Medical Society to the New York State Medical Society from 1825 to 1841, in each of which the names of the officers are given, Dr. Barlow's name is not given twice alike. It is always Dr. Barlow of Bethany; but it is sometimes James Barlow; next Jotham K. Barlow, again Jonathan A. Barlow, etc., etc. It seems that the secretary either of the county society, or that of the State, thought with the late Josh Billings, " that it was n't much of a man who could n't spell a word but one way." Dr. Barlow stood well in the profession, was a man of scientific attainments, and somewhere in " the forties " procured the necessary apparatus and went about lecturing upon electricity. He explained the magnetic telegraph, thunder storms, etc., and gave his audiences an opportunity to be shocked. We have no record of him later than 1850 or 1851. It is believed that

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

he resided and practiced in Bethany more than 30 years. In 1819 Dr. Beriah Douglas was in Bethany. We suppose him to have been the same Dr. Douglas who practiced in Le Roy for a time. Dr. William W. Markham came in 1829, Dr. Theodore C. Hurd in 1835, and another Dr. Hurd (William P.) in 1837. At East Bethany there was for a time Dr. Loomis, and at Linden Dr. John G. Meachern, who afterwards re- moved to Warsaw, and Dr. John Howard. Old residents speak also of a Dr. Alden, at one time partner of Dr. J. K. Barlow, at Bethany Center.

BYRON.

PRIOR to the formation, in 1820, of this town there were residing within its present limits in 1812 Dr. Silas Taylor, and in 1813 Dr. Samuel Tag- gart. Of them we know nothing but their names. In 1821 Dr. Oliver Hulett is recorded, and in 1828 Dr. Landon D. Woodruff.

The town of Byron must have been a very healthy place of residence, for no other physician is mentioned as having come there until 1840, when Dr. Emery made his appearance. Sanford Emery, M. D., was born in Vermont, was graduated from the Burlington Medical College in 1838, removed to Byron in 1840, and practiced there about 30 years. He then went to Alabama, doing business there a short time, thence to the north- ern part of Batavia, where he remained until his death in 1880. He mar- ried, first, Elizabeth Warner; his second wife was Chloe Beebee, of By- ron. He had four children by his first marriage, and three by the sec- ond.

Dr. J. D. Fowler was a son of Deacon David J. Fowler, one of the pio- neer settlers of Covington, Wyoming County. He studied medicine with his brother-in-law, Dr. Eben Warner, was graduated, and began the prac- tice of his profession in Byron. He became a member of the Genesee County Medical Society in 1841, and died two years later from the poi- son received in a post mortem examination. He was a young man of great promise, and his early death was much regretted by all who knew him.

Dr. Appleton W. Billings was born in Barre, N. Y., in 1821. When 24 years of age he commenced to study medicine with Dr. Willard Eaton, of Orleans County, and was with him six years. In 1851 he settled to practice his profession at South Byron, and located where he now resides. Until 1888 he faithfully and successfully administered to the sick and afflicted, and is now on the retired list as much as his old patrons will permit him. He married, in 1851, Miss Lavina T. Thatcher, of Orleans County, and they have had seven children. Their son Charles and daugh- ter Hattie reside near their parents.

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Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 7

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co. Number of Pages: 920

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co.
Number of Pages: 920