USA > New York > Jefferson County > Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890 > Part 27
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The semi-annual meeting was held at the Woodruff House, Watertown, July 12, 1887. The meeting was called to order by the president, Dr. H. A. Mellmoyl, at 11 o'clock A. M. Members present, 18; new members ad- mitted: Drs. George H. Davis, Black River ; J. Mortimer Crawe, Jr., and Gordon P. Spencer, Watertown ; L. G. Gifford, Rodman ; and Edward F. Johnson, Champion.
"Quarterly meeting at Woodruff House, October 11, 1887: The meeting was called to order by the vice-president, Dr. J. D. Spencer, at about 1:30 P. M." Members present, 16. "A communication from Dr. George M. McCombs, requesting to be restored to membership in this society, was read by the secretary. A motion was made by Dr. Vincent, and seconded by Dr. Hutchins, that Dr. McCombs be received into the society as a new member upon his surrendering his old certificate of membership. Carried. A com- munication from the secretary of the State Medical Society, requesting this society to hold its annual meetings in May or June instead of January, was also read."
Henry A. Melmoyl. M. D .. a native of Canada, was born April 5, 1853, at Cardinal, Pro- vinee of Ontario. He received his early education at the Iroquois High School, and entered the office of Dr. I. E. Morden, of Brockville. January 1, 1873. He attended lectures at MeGill Medical College. Montreal. from 1872 to 1876, and graduated in March, 1876. Dr. McIlmoyl removed to Clayton. Jefferson County, in 1876. where he still resides, engaged in the active practice of his profession. He became a member of Jefferson County Medical Society April 3, 1877, and was elected vice-president in 1886, president in 1887. and censor in 1880.
Mason Lee Smith. M. D., born at Muunsville, Madison County, N. Y., October 3, 1859, came with his parents to this county in 1866. His early education was obtained at the public schools of Watertown, and he graduated from the High School June 20, 1877. He began the study of medicine with Dr. A. R. Rudd, in January, 1877, attended lectures in 1877, '78. '80, and '81 at the University Medical College of New York city, and graduated therefrom March 8, 1881. Dr. Smith has always practiced in the city of Watertown. He joined the County
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Medical Society October 4, 1881, and was one of its censors in 1888, '89. and '90. He was elected coroner of Jefferson County in November, 1888. '89, and '90, and holds a commission as first lieutenant and assistant surgeon in the 39th Separate Co. N. Y. Inf.
1888 .- Annual meeting at Woodruff House, January 10, 1888 : "The meeting was called to order by the president, Dr. H. A. McIlmoyl, at 1:45 P. M." Members present, 22. " A communication from Dr. Jesse B. Low, making application for membership in the society, was read by the secretary. On motion the matter was referred to the board of censors to report at the next meeting." The following officers were duly elected : President, J. D. Spencer ; vice-president, Charles Douglas ; secretary, F. M. Shepard ; treasurer, Charles M. Rexford ; censors, Drs. H. G. P. Spencer, J. Morti- mer Crawe, M. L. Smith, D. C. Rodenhurst, and George G. Sabın ; delegate to State Medical Society, Dr. H. H. Deane. "By request of the secretary of the State Medical Society, and upon motion of Dr. Jones, it was decided to hold the annual meetings of this society the second Tuesday in July, and the semi annual meetings the second Tuesday in January. A motion was made and carried that the question of medical ethics be laid on the table until the next annual meeting."
The quarterly meeting was held at the Woodruff House, April 10, 1888, and was called to order by the president, Dr. J. D. Spencer. Members pres- ent, 18; new member admitted, Dr. Jesse B. Low.
" Annual meeting at the Woodruff House, July 10, 1888: The meeting was called to order by the president, Dr. J. D. Spencer, at 10:15 A. M." Members present, 41 ; new members admitted, Dr. Kite Parker and Dr. O. C. Eastman, of Watertown ; Drs. W. O. Forrester, of Black River ; Frank R. Porter, of Sackets Harbor ; Fred C. Bailey, of Adams Center ; and J. W. Thompson, of Fisher's Landing. " The president appointed Drs. Sabin and Gifford as tellers, and on motion the secretary was instructed to cast a ballot for the present officers for the year ending June, 1889. On invitation of Drs. McCombs and McIlmoyl, and on motion of Dr. Rodenhurst to ac- cept the invitation, the society adjourned to meet at Clayton the second Tuesday in September."
" The quarterly meeting, held at the Walton House, Clayton, September II, 1888, was called to order by the president, Dr. J. D. Spencer, at 1 1:30 A. M." Members present, 19; new member admitted, Dr. F. T. Dale, of La Farge- ville. "A motion was made by Dr. Deane that Dr. A. S. Low be re ë ected to membership in this society. A vote of thanks was given Drs. McCombs and McIlmoyl as committee on arrangements." The society then adjourned for an excursion on the river.
" Semi-annual meeting, held at the Woodruff House, Watertown, Decem- ber 11, 1888, was called to order by the president, Dr. J. D. Spencer, at 10:40 A. M." Members present, 29; new member admitted, Dr. T. C. Baker, of Watertown.
" The quarterly meeting held at the Woodruff House, March 12, 1889, was
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called to order by the president, Dr. J. D. Spencer, at II A. M." Members present, 31.
James D. Spencer, M. D., son of H. G. P. Spencer and grandson of Gordon P. Spencer, was born in Denmark, Lewis County, N. Y., April 14, 1849. He received his literary education at the Jefferson County Institute, Watertown, Regiopolis College, Kingston, Ont., and Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, N. H. He studied with his father and attended lectures at Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York city, from which he graduated in February, 1870. Since then he has practiced in partnership with his father in Watertown. Dr. Spencer joined the County Medical Society July 7, 1870, was its president in 1888, vice-president in 1887, treas- urer in 1872, and delegate to the State Medical Society from 1880 to 1884. He was also sur- geon with the rank of major in the 35th Regt. N. Y. state militia.
1889 -The annual meeting held at the Woodruff House, June 11, 1889, " was called to order by the president, Dr. J. D. Spencer, at 10:45 A. M." Members present, 31 ; new members admitted: Drs. A. J. Boyd, of Water- town, now (1890) at Sackets Harbor; A. K. Hale, of Adams; and George E. Sylvester, of Black River. "A motion was made and carried that Dr. Hale be reinstated upon his signing the constitution. Dr. McCombs moved that the next quarterly meeting of this society be held at Clayton. Carried. Drs. McCombs and McIlmoyl were appointed a committee on arrangements." The following officers were elected: President, Dr. Charles Douglas; vice- president, Dr. C. G. Stevens; secretary, F. M. Shepard ; treasurer, C. M. Rexford ; censors, L. G. Gifford, J. Mortimer Crawe, Sr., M. L. Smith, D. C. Rodenhurst, and George G Sabin. "A motion was made and seconded that Dr. Low be reinstated and his dues remitted to date."
" The quarterly meeting held at Clayton, September 10, 1889, was called to order by the president, Dr. Charles Douglas, at 11:45 A. M., on board of the steamer Jessie Bain. Dr. M. L. Smith was made secretary pro tem." Members present, 17. " President appointed a committee, consisting of Drs. H. G. P. Spencer, I. H. Abell, and H. H. Deane, to draw up resolutions expressing the regrets of the society at the loss of our able secretary, Dr. F. M. Shepard, who has recently located in Denver, Col. A motion was made and carried that all further business be dispensed with, and that the society adjourn to meet at Watertown the second Tuesday in December."
"Semi-annual meeting held at the Woodruff House, Watertown, Decem- ber 12, 1889, was called to order by the president, Dr. Charles Douglas." Members present, 24; new members admitted: Dr. H. H. Smith and Dr. Charles Rice, of Watertown. "The resignation of Dr. J. B. Low was re- ceived and accepted."
The quarterly meeting was held at the Woodruff House, Watertown, Tues- day, March 11, 1890, and was called to order at 1:30 P. M. by the vice-pres- ident, C. G. Stevens, the president being absent, and he appointed Dr. H. H. Smith to act as secretary pro tem. in the absence of the secretary. New member admitted. Dr. J. Monroe Smith.
Charles Douglas was born at Evans Mills, April 2, 1842. He was educated at the common and select schools of that village, studied medieine with Dr. L. E. Jones, of that place, and attended lectures at Ann Arbor (Mich.) University, the University of Buffalo, and Bellevue
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Hospital Medical College of New York, from which latter institution he graduated in 1875. He began his practice at Rodman, Jefferson County, where he remained one and one-half years, when he moved to Dexter, where he has since been engaged in active practice. He be- came a member of the County Society October 5, 1875, was vice-president in 1888, and presi- dent in 1889.
La Dette G. Gifford was born in the town of Brownville, one mile north from the village. His father moved to Watertown in 1863, when he was about five years old. His early educa- tion was obtained in the graded schools and in the Watertown High School. From 1875 to 1881 he attended school winters and acted as elerk in the hotel kept by his unele, Charles Fenton, at No. 4, in the Adirondack region, Lewis County. He began the study of medicine in 1881 with Dr. L. M. Smith, of Watertown, with whom he remained a year, and con- tinned his studies with Dr. C. M. Johnson, of the same place. He attended lectures at the University Medical College during the sessions of 1882, '83, and '84, graduating in the latter year. Dr. Gifford began the practice of his profession at Rodman, where he was located five and a half years, and in October, 1889, moved to Watertown, where he now resides. He be- eame a member of the County Society July 12, 1887.
1890 .- The annual meeting held at the Woodruff House, Tuesday, June II, 1890, was called to order by the vice-president, C. G. Stevens. Dr. Charles Rice was appointed secretary pro tem New member admitted, Dr. G. H. Wood. The secretary was instructed to draw up resolutions respecting the illness of the president, Dr. Douglas. Officers elected : President, C. G. Stevens ; vice- president, E. A. Chapman ; secretary. Charles O. Rice ; treasurer, C. M. Rexford ; censors, L. G. Gifford, P. H. Johnson, M. L. Smith, D. C. Roden- hurst, and George G. Sabin. On motion of Dr. Hutchins the next session was to be held at the Crossmon House, Alexandria Bay, and the society ad- journed to meet there the second Tuesday in September.
Calvin G. Stevens, M. D , is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y .. and was born at Fair- mount, March 31, 1862. Ile attended the Syracuse High School in 1879, and for two years was: a student at the Syracuse Liberal Art College. In October, 1881, he began the study of his- profession with Dr. O. D. Totman, and was also a student of Dr. U. H. Brown. From October, 1881, to 1884 he was studying and attending lectures at the Syracuse Medical College, where he graduated in 1884. He then visited England and attended the clinical lectures at St. Thomas's Hospital, London. Returning to Syracuse he was appointed house physician to St. Joseph's Hospital, and remained in practice in that eity until December, 1886, when he moved to Watertown, where he has been located for the past four years, making diseases of the eye- and ear a specialty. He became a member of the County Medical Society January 11, 1887. He is also an active member of the 37th Separate Co. N. Y. Inf.
Engene A. Chapman, M. D., was born at Belleville, N. Y., December 9, 1839. While still a boy his parents moved to Henderson, where he received a common school education. From 1857 to 1859 he was a student at the Union Academy of Belleville, and began the study of medicine in 1859 with Dr. Daniel Nugent, of Henderson. He attended medical lectures at the University of Michigan, sessions of 1860-61, and the University of Buffalo, sessions of 1861- 62, and graduated at the last named institution in February, 1862. Dr. Chapman com- menced the practice of medicine at Clayton in March following, and in June entered the mili- tary service as a first lieutenant of artillery. He was mustered into the United States service September 11, 1862, and was first lientenant and adjutant of the 10th N. Y. H. A. until July, 1863, when he was promoted to captain. In August, 1864. while stationed near Washington, D. C., he was examined before an army medical board, and on returning from the Shenandoah Valley campaign found, at Winchester, Va., a commission as assistant surgeon, with orders to. report to General Butler, at Fortress Monroe. He was assigned to the 127th U. S. C. I. in November, 1864. From January 1 to April 2, 1865, he was on duty at Point of Rocks Hospital, Virginia, and was with his regiment from Petersburg to Appomattox. After 30 days leave of absence, in June, he rejoined his regiment at Brazos Santiago, Texas, of which port he was.
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quarantine officer during the summer, and was mustered out of service in November, 1865. He began the practice of medicine at Henderson in 1866, and remained there until the spring of 1873, when, his health being poor, from overwork, he moved to Salamanca, N. Y., and worked for the Erie and Atlantic and Great Western railroads for one year. His health improving he resumed the practice of medicine, at Salamanca, in the spring of 1874. In January, 1875, on account of the death of his wife, he returned to this county and began practicing at Belleville. where he has remained since, except for a short interval of three or four months in 1877, when he was at Little Falls. N. Y. He has been four times elected coroner of Jefferson County, for several years has been health officer of the town of Ellisburgh, and has, for the last four or five years, been president of the board of trustees of Union Academy of Belleville. He became a member of the County Society January 12, 1869, and was elected vice-president in 1890.
Charles Orrin Rice, M. D., was born in the town of Cape Vincent, January 8, 1868. He at- tended the district schools and Ives Seminary at Antwerp. Jefferson County, and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. James D. Spencer, of Watertown, February 6, 1886. He at- tended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of New York city. during the ses- sions of 1887, '88, and '89, and graduated therefrom June 13, 1889. Dr. Rice has practiced in Watertown since the latter date. He is a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
The author deems it necessary, in justice to himself, to append some ex- planatory remarks in regard to the plan of his work. It has been my aim, and one of the main inducements that prompted me to engage in this work, to rescue from the oblivion that was about to surround them the members of the medical profession practicing in this county at an early day, belonging to the regular school, and especially those who, by their action in joining the old County Medical Society, manifested their interest in their work, and their desire to elevate the standard of their profession. The reorganized society's members are nearly all alive, and, before the public, can, as individuals and collectively as a society, by their conduct and their work, speak for them- selves. I have merely noted the time and place of their meeting, the number present, and enough of their transactions to show when and why the time of said meetings were changed ; the names of the new members, and their places of residence at the time they were enrolled ; resolutions of respect in cases of deceased members, and a short sketch of the officers of the society for each year. Thus I have shortened my task, and left a foundation on which others with more time and space can build. If any have been omitted it was not intentional, nor for want of zeal. This work, to be complete and accurate, should have years instead of months devoted to its preparation. I have been obliged from the limited space allowed me, for the large amount of work to be accomplished, to curtail my original plan as carried out in relation to the old society, and instead of giving a sketch of each member, to give sketches only of the officers of the society. By this plan, and much to my regret, I am obliged to leave out individual notices of many personal and highly esteemed friends, and many other very worthy members of the profes- sion. By request of the publisher an appendix has been added containing sketches of the physicians of the city of Watertown, who, from not having been officers of the society, were left out of the main body of the work. The publisher thought that the book would require about 800 pages with about
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Io devoted to the medical profession. Instead the work has grown until it requires about 1, 250 pages to complete it and the medical department four or five times the original estimate. The number of physicians who have and are now practicing in the county were so much in excess of all our calcula- tions that a longer time and more space were required than was at first thought necessary, in order that I might do myself and the profession justice.
All the members of the old society are dead with the exception of Drs. William E. Tyler, of Sackets Harbor, and M. J. Hutchins, of Redwood. Appended will be found a list of the deceased members of the reorganized society :-
N. O. Bemis, Adams.
J. K. Bates, Watertown.
Charles W. Burdick, Watertown.
Frederick Bott, La Fargeville.
Jacob Daab, La Fargeville.
N. M. Davidson, Theresa.
Amos Ellis, Clayton.
William H. Forsyth, Watertown.
L. E. Frame, Depauville. John Grafton, Watertown. K. Hannahs, Watertown.
E. G. Howland, Watertown.
G. N. Hubbard, Carthage. William P. Massey, Brownville.
S. L. Parmelee, Watertown.
J. T. Peeden, Carthage. A. R. Rudd, Watertown.
D. E. Pierce, St. Lawrence. Truman Tuttle, Rodman.
William R. Trowbridge, Watertown. Fanny G. Willard, Watertown.
J. MORTIMER CRAWE, M. D .*
J. Mortimer Crawe, M. D., son of Ithemer B. Crawe, M. D., was born in Watertown, May 23, 1831. He was educated at private schools and the Jefferson County Literary and Religious Institute, studied medicine with Dr. H. G. P. Spencer, and attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Phil- adelphia, sessions of 1856, '57, '58, and '59. He first settled in Hamilton, Madison County, N. Y., in September, 1859. His health failing it was thought a change would benefit him, and he moved to Champion, Jefferson County, the following May, and in July, 1861, he returned to Madison County on a visit. There were a number of cases of diphtheria in the village, and being solicited by some of his old patients, whose families were afflicted, he
NOTE .- I am under many obligations for valuable information to Mrs. Hiram Hubbard, of Champion ; Mrs. William P. Massey and Mr. and Mrs. George Plumb, of Brownville; Mrs. I. Munson, Mrs. A. P. Sigourney, Mrs. E. A. Mattison, Miss Mary Zimmerman, Messrs. George Smith, C. William Clark, H. S. Munson, C. G. Comstock, and O. Hungerford, of Watertown; William H. Clark and W. B. Camp, of Sackets Harbor; and to Drs. Abell, Hutchins, Sabin, Sill, Ward, Willard, and Merrill .- J. MORTIMER CRAWE, M. D.
* This and the following sketches were received too late to be printed in the places assigned in the respective years in which the several subjects held office in the Jefferson County Medical Society .- EDITOR.
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consented to take charge of them,and finally concluded to remain permanently. In September, 1862, he went to the front as assistant surgeon of the 157th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inf., raised in Cortland and Madison counties. When the army advanced that fall on Thoroughfare Gap he was placed in charge of one of the reserve hospitals at Fairfax Court House. Here he remained until March, when, his health having failed, he was ordered to Washington, where he was ordered to report to Dr. Climer, in charge of sick and disabled officers, and by him was sent home on sick leave. He remained at home two months and rejoined his regiment at Aquia Creek, below Washington, on the eve of the march for Chancellorsville. Here with his wounded he was made a prisoner, remaining with them on the field for three weeks, when, an exchange being effected, he returned to his regiment. His health having been affected by the anxiety and exposure he had endured he was sent home on sick leave. After a short time, learning that the army was about to move, he rejoined his regiment, and with them participated in the march to and the battle at Gettysburg. Having, by order of the medical director, been de- tailed both at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg as an operating surgeon he was detained here in charge of the sick and as recording officer of the 1 1th Corps Hospital for about a month, when he was ordered to report to Gen. Hallack at Washington. He found his regiment had been ordered to Charleston, S. C. He served in this department until February, 1864, when he was promoted to the rank of surgeon and sent to the 128th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inf., in Gen. Sherman's command at Savannah. Dr. Crawe served with his regiment as medical inspector and brigade surgeon until August, 1865, when they were mustered out of the sercice at Albany, N. Y.
He was one of the founders of the reorganized Jefferson County Medical Society; was elected in 1868 and served as censor from its organization to 1872 and from 1880 to 1886; was treasurer in 1873, vice-president in 1874, president in 1885, and was delegate to the State Medical Society from 1886 to 1880. Dr. Crawe was made permanent member of the State Medical Society in 1879, and was one of its delegates to the American Medical Asso- ciation in 1878, of which he was made a member. In 1884, becoming dis- gusted and dissatisfied with the action of the State Society in regard to its Code of Ethics, he, with Dr. C. M. Johnson, of Watertown, then delegate from Jefferson County, and Dr. Ira H. Abell, of Antwerp, ex-delegate, in connection with many others, withdrew from the State Society and founded the New York State Medical Association. Dr. Crawe was its first vice-pres- ident. He was appointed pension surgeon about 1869, served some years, and resigned. When boards for the examination of pensioners were formed, in 1881, he was solicited, and accepted an appointment on the board for Jefferson County, and was its president for four years. He still continues in active practice in partnership with his son, Dr. J. M. Crawe, Jr.
N. O. Bemis, M. D., a native of Massachusetts and a graduate of Berkshire Medical Col- lege, Mass., practiced many years at Adams, Jefferson County, where he died August 21, 1883,
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aged 63 years. His death was caused by his horse running away, throwing him out of his carriage. He lived only a few days after the accident. Dr. Bemis became a member of the County Medical Society June 3, 1873, and was elected censor in 1875.
J. H. Miller was born in the town of Hammond, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., February 12, 1830 or '35. He was educated at the common and High schools of Theresa, and for some years he was a teacher. He studied medicine with the elder Dr. Davison, attended lectures at Geneva, N. Y., and Castleton, Vt., and was a graduate of the latter institution. Dr. Miller practiced at Hermon, St. Lawrence County, and Chaumont, Champion, and Carthage in Jef- ferson County. He became a member of the County Medical Society June 4, 1872, and was censor in 1875. He now resides at Glendora, Cal.
William P. Massey was born near Watertown, September 23, 1824. His younger days were occupied with his studies and his duties as a clerk to his uncle, Dr. James K. Bates, who car- ried on a drug store and was postmaster at Brownville from 1840 to 1848, and he was his chief clerk most of that time. His character was the result of hard study and close application at the select schools of Brownville, and as a student of the Black River Literary and Religious Institute of Watertown. During the winter of 1843-44 he taught school near Cape Vincent. He then regularly commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Bates, attended lectures at the University of New York during the sessions 1846-47 and 1847-48, and graduated in 1848. Re- turning to Brownville he was taken into partnership by Dr. Bates. In a short time Dr. Bates decided to move to Watertown, and Dr. Massey bought his business and property. He suc- ceeded beyond his expectations in building up a large practice, and in gaining to the utter- most the confidence, respect, and esteem of the community in which he lived. In August, 1855, while returning from Perch River, he was thrown from his carriage. When found he was lying in the road unconscious, his shoulder broken, his spine injured, and his limbs paralyzed. This so disabled him that he could not attend to his business until the next November, and then he had not fully recovered, as any overexertion or anxiety would pros- trate him, and on three or four occasions these attacks were of so grave a nature that his life was considered in great danger. This accident, by prostrating his nervous system, greatly interfered with his usefulness by limiting his powers of endurance, and was the main factor in shortening his life. He was naturally an energetic, ambitious man, and in spite of the incubus of his bodily ills he led an active life. The winter of 1860-61, with a view of increas- ing his medical knowledge, and to acquaint himself with all the new discoveries and additions to medical science, he spent in New York attending the lectures and visiting the various hos- pitals of that city. Coming home he again entered actively the ranks of the profession. In 1881 he received the appointment of examining surgeon for pensions, and with Drs. C. M. Johnson and J. Mortimer Crawe constituted the board of pension surgeons for Jefferson County, of which he was the treasurer. Dr. Massey was ever conscientious, painstaking, and courteous. In him the government found a good, faithful servant, and the pensioner a kind, sympathizing friend. May 22, 1885, he died while dressing the foot of a patient who had just been injured. He gave a groan, fell over, and lived only a few moments. Thus peacefully passed away the good physician, the kind friend; for in him was combined all that goes to make up the character of the good citizen and a Christian gentleman.
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