Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 22

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890 > Part 22

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Benjamin Cushman practiced at Rodman, an I moved to Fort Wayne. Indiana.

Jonathan Sherwood was born in Willia nstown, Mass., in 1780. He studied his profession under Dr. Willoughby, of Newport, and became the partner of his preceptor, continuing with him 11 years at Fairfield. He moved to Champion, where he practiced several years. Ile then went to Turin, where he died April 15, 1829. The following extract is made from his obituary by Dr. Willoughby, president of Fairfield Medical College :-

"For nearly 30 years Dr. Sherwood pursned the objects of his important calling; priva- tions, ordinary ill health or fatigue never kept him from visiting the sick when necessity re- quired. Benevolence formed one of the distinguishing traits of his character. His liberality was as extensive as Ins means; his friendships warm and abiding; his piety to God, his useful- ness as a citizen and physician, his resignation to the Divine will, his perfect disinterestedness, and his ardent love of truth have been rarely equalled."

1819 .- "C. P. Kimball, president ; J. B. Burton, vice-president; L. M. Davis, secretary ; R. Goodale, treasurer; and H. H. Sherwood, J. B. Burton, L. M. Davis, E. Dunton, J. N. Clark, censors, were elected at this meeting. Drs. Burton and Davis were directed to address the annual meeting, or be fined two dollars. A tax of one dollar was imposed on each member. All periodicals, property of the society, directed sold. Semi-annual meeting ordered. Admitted Joseph N. Clark, Dr. Nelson, L. M. Davis, and Ambrose B. Page." Of Joseph H. Clark and L. M. Davis there is no record, except their being elected censors this year. Of Ambrose B. Page we have obtained no record, but think he practiced a number of years at the Great Bend.

David Nelson was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and was a surgeon's mate in the U. S. navy in the War of 1812-15. He came into Brownville about 1814, and was married to Sophia Patrick, December 16, 1816. 1Ie lived there until his death in 1830. In his day he was considered the leading physician in that section.

1820 .- " Dr. Spafford resigned as delegate ; Ira A. Smith, Rufus S. Waite, Ralph Rogers, and Oliver Brewster admitted as members. Dr. J. Spafford to give dissertation at a future meeting, or pay two dollars fine ; this meeting to be held at the house of Isaac Lee, Watertown, the last Tuesday in Feb- ruary. The following officers were elected : William Robinson, president ;.

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H. H. Sherwood, vice-president ; Reuben Goodale, secretary ; J. B. Burton, treasurer ; J. B. Burton, Reuben Goodale, H. H. Sherwood, John Spafford, and A. S. Green, censors ; Reuben Goodale, delegate." Rufus S. Waite has no record.

Ralph Rogers, born at Acworth, N. H., December 25, 1792, attended lectures at Fairfield, and graduated from that college. He practiced 12 years in Antwerp and 38 years in Water- town, and died February 21. 1872, aged 79 years. He was a genial, pleasant man, kind and benevolent to the poor, and exhibited the spirit of his Master more by deeds than words; a good friend and kind neighbor. He was censor from 1839 to 1841, and supervisor of Antwerp in 1828.

Oliver Brewster came into Theresa from Fowler, St. Lawrence County, about 1841, and practiced in that village until prostrated with illness, which terminated his life about 1853.

Ira A. Smith studied medicine with his brother, Calvin L. Smith, at Little Falls, N. Y., at- tended lectures at Fairfield, and graduated from Fairfield College. For a time he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in connection with his profession. He died at Evans Mills in 1863. He was treasurer of the County Society in 1828, and supervisor of Le Ray in 1836, and was one of the trustees of the First Associate Congregational Society, organized March 3, 1823. He had a son, Sidney A., who studied medicine with him, who was also a merchant and physician, and who died January 1, 1864. Dr. Smith was a very cordial, pleasant man, fond of telling stories, and full of jokes; never refused a sick call, and was a poor collector, but a man of wonderful tact and discrimination. He died of cancer of the stomach. The whole community attended his funeral, the greater part of whom were in tears.

1821 .- Fifteen members answered to their names. " Admitted James A. Wells," no record. "Joseph H. Bagg " lived at Rodman, and was one of the censors in 1828 and '30.

1822 .- Admitted James Brooks, "the first physician in Theresa, who came there in 1822, practiced about one year, and died in 1823."

Ithemer B. Crawe, a native of Connecticut, was born at Enfield, Hartford County, in that state, June 11, 1792. In 1802, when he was nine years old, the family moved to Hamilton, Madison County, N. Y. He worked on his father's farm summers and went to the district school winters until he was 19. In Angust, 1811, he injured himself by overwork in the wheat- field. From this time until 1813 he was under medical treatment. Being able to walk and ride about he turned his attention to botanical pursuits, and so great an enthusiast did he be- come that he has been known to ride long distances in pursuit of some particular plant. From his youth he was noted for the interest he took in anything belonging to the animal or veg- etable kingdom. During this time he made a large collection, arranging and classifying them, laying the foundation for that acknowledged proficiency in botanical research he afterwards attained. His physicians advising him to visit the seashore he went to Block Island, in Rhode Island, and returning taught school four months in Earlville, Madison County, N. Y. In April, 1815, he went to Augusta, Oneida County, where he taught a district school three terms, in all 17 months, and from November, 1816, to April, 1817, he had charge of a school at Clin- ton, in the same county. His health again failing he went to New Bedford, Mass., and sailed from there, about the first of May, for the Grand Banks of New Foundland, on a fishing voy- age. After making two voyages, his health being restored, in October he started for home, and on his way stopped at Albany, where he engaged to teach a select school. Here he stayed two terms of 12 weeks each, and returning home in March, 1818, he entered the office of Dr. Hastings, where he remained, pursuing his medical studies, about two years. Through the kindness of his preceptor he was enabled to indulge in his favorite pursuit, having the use of a plot of ground, where he raised many rare plants, among them being a bed of poppies, from which he obtained a quantity of opium. IIe next studied and worked in the laboratory with Dr. Noyes, professor of chemistry in Hamilton College. Connected with the college was a large cabinet of minerals, to which he had free access, and here, no doubt, his love of research in this branch of the natural sciences received additional stimulus, which never abated; for at his death his cabinet of minerals attained such size that it weighed eight tons. During the

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session of 1821 and '22 he continued his studies at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city. Coming home in the spring of 1822 he entered into partnership with Dr. Bissel, of Clinton, with whom he remained some six months, when he moved to Watertown, N. Y., where he married Charlotte F. Mortimer. After practicing here a number of years he was invited by some of the prominent citizens of Ogdensburg to locate there. Accordingly he went there, remaining about three years, and left to take charge of some lead mining op- erations at Lubec, Maine. This proved a failure, and he returned home and moved to Pontiac, Mich., where he resided some three years.

Sickness of himself and family obliged him to return to Watertown, where he continued to reside until his death. He discovered and described a number of new plants, one of which bears his name, Carex Crawei, or Crawe's Sedge. His friend Prof. Grey, of Cambridge, Mass., requested him to procure for him some rare plants which are found on the marsh at Perch Lake, and are in their greatest perfection about the first of June. Having patients on the opposite side of the lake he went there to see them June 3, 1847. After visiting them he crossed the lake in a leaky boat, the only one obtainable at that time, taking a small pan to bail with, and accompanied by Enoch Eddy, a large fleshy man, and William C. Gould. a young man. the son of one of his patients. They crossed the lake safely, and he made a large collection of the desired specimens, which he arranged in a large book, with heavy, strapped covers, About 5 p. M. they started to return. The wind having freshened sinee morning the waves were rolling, causing the boat to strain and leak badly. When about 20 rods from shore it became evident that the boat must sink. The Doctor, rising in the boat, threw his book as far towards the shore as possible. and, taking out his watch, said, " It is just 6 o'clock; this boat will sink in a few minutes. Mr. Eddy. you stick to the boat; Gould and I can swim." When the boat sunk he caught and held up Mr. Eddy. turned over the boat, and helped him onto it, and he soon floated near the shore. With Mr. Gould he started for land. The former was ahead and reached the shore with difficulty, and turning to look back he saw the Doc- tor's feet sticking out of the water. He was an exceedingly fine, powerful swimmer, and must have had eramps in his shoulders caused by the extra exertion he was obliged to make, en- cumbered as he was with clothing and long, heavy boots made to wade through wet, marshy grounds. When the news reached his home some of his Masonic friends started out that night and began dragging the lake early the next morning. His body was found some six rods from shore, in about seven feet of water. Thus was he eut down in the vigor of his manhood.

Dr. Crawe was widely known among men of science, both in this country and in Europe, as was evinced by his extensive correspondence and exchanges of specimens, by the notices of his death that appeared in scientific journals, and by the resolutions of respect and condolence offered and passed by the County and State Medical societies, and by the Masonic order. He enjoyed a large practice, was well and favorably known. and his loss at the time, and in the manner it happened, was a great shock to his family, and deeply felt by the community in which he lived. He was a prominent Mason, which fraternity attended his funeral in a body, and with the rest of his friends and neighbors testified their respect for his memory, sympathizing with his family in their great affliction, and manifested their own sorrow and regret at his loss. He became a member of the County Society in 1822; was its secretary in 1825; censor in 1826, '28, '29, '30, '34, and '41; president in 1827 and 1842; and delegate to the State Society in 1834 and 1844. In 1846 the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon him by the Regents of the University on the recommendation of the State Society.

1823 .- " Horatio Orvis, delegate ; Walter Webb and E. Mayhew Adams admitted."

Walter Webb was born in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, N. Y., in 1795. The family moved to Lee Center, Oneida County, and thence to Perch River, near the old stone Baptist Church. He was educated in the common schools of Brownville, and taught school at Moscolonge. While teaching he studied medicine with Dr. Alpheus S. Green, who then resided at Perch River, and whose sister Sabina he afterwards married. He later studied with Dr. Amasa Trowbridge, of Watertown. Dr. Webb then went to Fairfield and studied in the office of Dr. Willoughby, who afterwards became his uncle by marriage. Dr. Willoughby's sister was Dr. Green's mother, and Dr. Webb married her daughter. He graduated at Fairfield Medical

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College in 1823, and settled in Adams, where he spent nearly all his life. In 1868 he went to. live with his son Edward S., and moved with him to Washington. N. J., where he died at the age of 93. He always refused all public trusts, saying his own business demanded all his attention. In connection with his practice he carried on an extensive drug business. He was naturally poetical and composed many pieces; and although fond of jokes and sto: ies he was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church, whose pulpit he often supplied. He was a fine temperance lecturer and a strong Abolitionist at an early period. Dr. Webb was president. and censor in 1827.

E. Mayhew Adams is thought to have come from Massachusetts, and located in Smithville about 1825. He joined the County Society in 1828, was elected vice-president in 1834. censor in 1835 and '36, and moved to Cazenovia, and from there to Chicago, Ill., where he died. He was a man of fine address, and a religious, cultivated, and educated gentleman.

1824 .- " Admitted William S. Bates.'

William S. Bates was born May 22, 1793, a native of Massachusetts, and moved with his father's family to Lowville, Lewis County, N. Y., about 1803. Besides the common schools. he attended the Lowville Academy. studied medicine under the supervision of Drs. S. Miller and Perry at that place, and afterwards with Dr. Charles Squires, of Denmark. His license to practice was granted by the censors of the Lewis Connty Medical Society, September 12, 1821. After practicing a year or two at Denmark he moved, in 1823, to Pamelia Four Corners, and remained there until 1831, when he went to Lowville, where he practiced until April, 1836, when he went to Copenhagen, remaining at that place until September 22, 1845, at which time he came to South Rutland (Tylerville), Jefferson County, where he remained until he died, June 19, 1859. He has a son, N. W. Bates, M. D., practicing in Central Square, Oswego. County.

1825 .- "There were elected H. H. Sherwood, president; I. Weston, vice-president ; I. B. Crawe, secretary ; R. Goodale, treasurer. Seven mem- bers answered to their names ; tax ordered to be collected from each practic- ing physician, not members, in six months ; committee appointed to draft new by-laws, consisting of Drs. A. Trowbridge, E. Adams, and I. B. Crawe."

1826 .- " There were elected Alfred Ely, president ; A. B. Page, vice-pres- ident ; A. Trowbridge, secretary ; R. Goodale, treasurer ; A. Trowbridge, H. H. Sherwood, William Robinson, Eli Eastman, and I. B. Crawe, censors. Fifteen members answered to their names; collected from members and non-members 25 dollars and 75 cents; William I. Fisk, Charles Orvis, and Caleb Woodard admitted." There is no record given of Drs. Orvis and Woodard, except that Dr. Orvis was in the Assembly in 1830. Dr. Fisk was treasurer in 1835-36. " Hiram Mills and Lowry Barney were also admit- ted. Dr. Trowbridge gave a dissertation on remittent fever. A prize of $10 for best essay on hemorrhage in all its forms, medically and surgically, with the treatment."

Lowry Barney was born in Rhode Island in 1793. His preceptor was his father, Dr. Daniel Barney, with whom he practiced in Henderson, and resided in that village. He was graduated in 1820 or '22 from Fairfield Medical College. He wasa member of the State Medi- cal Society, and was president of Fairfield Medical College. Dr. Barney was a member of the legislature and served as justice of the peace in the town of Henderson. He was vice-presi- dent of the County Society in 1842.

Hiram Mills, born at Ransom, N. Y., July 25, 1797, married September 6, 1825. He was educated at the common and select schools, and is supposed to have graduated at Fairfield. He. first settled at Plessis, in the town of Alexandria, abont 1826, where he remained two years, when he moved to Brownville, where he stayed some four years, a portion of the time being in partnership with Dr. A. W. Gray. From here he went to Granville, Ohio, and practiced there- a number of years, when he went to St. Louis, Mo. Hedied May 3, 1881, at Montreal, Canada ..

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1827 .- " Elected Walter Webb, president ; I. B. Crawe, vice-president ; H. Mills, secretary ; Ira A. Smith, treasurer ; A. S. Green, A. Trowbridge, I. B. Crawe, H. H. Sherwood, and Walter Webb, censors ; Alpheus S. Green, delegate. Dr. I. B. Crawe, A. Trowbridge, and R. Goodale to investigate state of finances ; no essay offered on hemorrhage ; same prize offered. Com- mittee of award : Drs. Sherwood, Crawe, Trowbridge, R. Goodale, and A. S. Green."

1828 .- "There were elected A. Trowbridge, president ; Samuel Tucker, vice-president ; Hiram Mills, secretary ; Ira A. Smith, treasurer ; I. B. Crawe, P. Maxwell, J. H. Bagg, H. H. Sherwood, A. W. Gray, censors. Admitted G. S. Sackett, Peletiah Dwight, H. W. Bushnell, Philip Maxwell, John D. Davison, Almon Pitcher, E. M. Adams, A. W. Gray, William J. Sikes, Isaac Jenks, Samuel Wetmore, Foster Dexter, John P. Johnson, Converse J. John- son, Caleb Preston, O. W. Cushman, H. H. Hills, Elkanna French, Abner Benton, D. S. Kimball, Ira Wright, Samuel Tucker, David Dickison, Caleb Corp, Gordon P. Spencer, and Azariah Jones. Total present, 37. The old committee on by-laws was discharged, and Drs. Goodale, Trowbridge, and Crawe appointed." No records are found of Drs. Corp, Sackett, Maxwell, Almon Pitcher, E. M. Adams, Preston, French, and Jenks.

Samuel Wetmore graduated at Fairfield in 1826, joined the County Society in 1828, prac- ticed at Adams, and moved West in 1875.

A. W. Gray lived at Brownville, and was a partner of Dr. Hiram Mills in 1828. He was censor in 1829 and 1830.

Orlando W. Cushman, who was born in Rutland County, Vt .. September 7, 1794, graduated at Castleton, Vt., about 1815, and came into this county in 1816. It is thought that he first settled in Rodman, where his brother Benjamin, a physician, resided. He moved to Log Mills, now La Fargeville, where he built the first log house. He practiced there until his death, February 5, 1860.

Gordon P. Spencer was born at Salisbury, Litchfield County, Conn. He was educated under the supervision of Rev. Joseph Crossman, of his native town, and Ammi L. Robbins, of Nor- folk. He entered Williams College in 1807, graduating from that institution with honors, and began the study of medicine with Dr. North, of Goshen, concluding with the celebrated Dr. Lee, of New London, and obtaining his diploma from the Medical Society of New London in 1812. War with Great Britain having been declared, he sought and obtained a commission as surgeon from the Secretary of War. General Armstrong, and was ordered to report for duty to the colonel of the 11th Inf. Regt., and served with them until the close of the war. He was actively engaged in 1814, during the campaign in Canada, was present at and participated in the bloody battles of Lundy's Lane, Chippewa, and the blowing up of Fort Erie. Soon after this latter catastrophe the army retired to winter quarters and he was detailed to the hospital at Sackets Harbor. Peace having been declared, and his services being no longer required, Dr. Spencer, on his way home, passing through Champion, was called in by Dr. Durkee to assist in dressing the leg of a man which had been crushed. He arranged with the Doctor for a partnership, and began practice with him. He had an iron constitution, indefatigable in the pursuit of his profes- sional duties, and rode on horseback by day and by night, fording streams, with his clothes strapped to his horse's head, as I have heard him relate it. In pursuing his extensive and ex- tending practice, as long as his health would permit, he was called to visit patients and in council, in both medical and surgical cases, into Lewis, Oneida, Oswego, and St. Lawrence counties, and Canada, riding one horse over 20 years. In 1854 he was attacked by a malignant congestive fever, and it was about four months before he could resume his practice. Finding his health was so much impaired as to prevent his attending upon his numerous professional engagements, he concluded to change his residence, and moved into Watertown in the summer

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of 1857, and here he continued to reside until his death, from heart disease, March 25, 1859. He was elected vice-president of the society in 1830. I knew him well, and can testify to his urbanity, kindness of heart, skill, honesty of purpose, and devotion to his professional duties; never halting or faltering until all who suffered and called upon him for aid had received his ministering care.

Converse J. Johnson, born in Ellington, Conn., January 26, 1764, moved from that state to Enfield, N. H., where he practiced medicine several years. He then went to Charlestown, N. Y., remaining there about one year, when he moved to Champion in 1807. In 1808, having purchased 244 acres of land near Champion Peak, he built a log house and moved his family into it. Part of this tract is still owned by his son, Orin O. Johnson. Dr. Johnson had a large and extensive practice, which be maintained for about 30 years. He was prominent in town and county affairs.

John P. Johnson, son of Dr. Converse J. Johnson, was born at Enfield, N. H .. March 27, 1794. He studied medicine with his father, and practiced with him a few years, when he moved into Champion village, where he resided until his death, March 14, 1857.

Henry H. Hills formerly practiced at Chaumont. His health failing he went to live in Champion with his brother-in-law, Dr. J. P. Johnson, where he died of consumption about July, 1854 or '55.

Pelctiah Dwight was born in Somers, Conn., January 14, 1785. His education was acquired in the common schools of Vermont, and in 1814 he began reading medicine with Dr. Converse Johnson, of Champion. He received a diploma from the Madison County Medical Society, dated at Eaton, March 11, 1821, which is now in the possession of his son, D. A. Dwight, of Adams. For 60 years he practiced medicine in Henderson, and died of old age, at Adams, December 12, 1882, after an illness of only 17 hours. Well and faithfully had he per- formed his alloted task, almost to the last being called on in important cases, at the age of over 90. He united with the County Medical Society in 1828, and was commissioner and in- spector of common schools over 14 years.

D. S. Kimball practiced at Sackets Harbor for a number of years. after the war, and was for a time examining surgeon for pensions. He embraced homeopathy in his latter days, and died at Sackets Harbor some few years ago.

Azariah Jones came from the Eastern states about 1830, and settled in Ellisburgh, where he practiced until about 1860, when he moved to Rochester, where he died.

Abner Benton, born May 16, 1786, began the study of medicine under Dr. Anable, of Cayuga County, N. Y. He first located at Fabius, Onondaga County, where he practiced 10 years, when he moved to the Ox Bow, and in 1819 was the first postmaster in that place. Some years afterwards he is said to have attended lectures in Philadelphia, Pa. He joined the Jefferson County Medical Society in 1828, and was also a member of the Masonic fraternity.

William J. Sikes was born December 30, 1799, it is thought at Fairfield, Herkimer County, N. Y. He attended Fairfield Academy, studied with Dr. Reuben Goodale, and joined the County Society in 1828. He was secretary in 1834, censor in 1836, and again secretary in 1837, '39, and '40. He died September 27, 1872, on Franklin street, Watertown, aged 72 years and nine months. He was much respected as an honest, upright man, a good physician, and kind and attentive to his patients.

Foster Dexter, about 1825, was one of the teachers in the old academy which stood back of, and a little to the north of, the First Presbyterian Church. He also gave lectures on chem- istry in the hall of the Mansion House, also known as Gilson's tavern. Here, among other experiments, he administered nitrus oxide, commonly called laughing gas, to the boys, much to the edification of the audience. He was one of the first vestrymen of Trinity Church, of Watertown, being elected May 31, 1828, at its legal organization. While here he studied medicine with Dr. Amasa Trowbridge, and probably settled at Adams, as he was one of the in- corporators of the Adams Library, May 31, 1831.

John D. Davison, born in one of the central counties of this state in June, 1793, read medicine with Dr. Holmes, at Little Falls, N. Y., and was licensed by the Herkimer County Society, May 23, 1822. He first practiced in Pamelia, coming to Theresa in 1823, where he con- tinued to practice until his death, September 22, 1865, aged 72 years. His death was the re- sult of apoplexy, with which he was stricken while returning from visiting a patient. He was supervisor of Theresa in 1829 and in 1836, and belonged to the Masonic order.

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David B. Dickerson, father of Hannibal S. Dickerson, practiced for some years at Sackets Harbor, and moved to Adams Center, where he was doing a large business at the time of his death, in 1848, aged 69 years.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 22

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders Number of Pages: 1384

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384