History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 79

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 79

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In 1844 the first Reform Medical Society was or- ganized in Fredonia, Dr. J. R. Bush, president, and M. Hobart, secretary. Under the auspices of this So- ciety a course of lectures was given in Fredonia by Professor Hill, of Cincinnati, commencing in June, 1847. About twenty students were in attendance. The last meeting of the Society was held in September, 1850, at Jamestown.

By the year 1850, the manner of life of the people of the county had changed. The so-called asthenic or typhoid conditions became apparent. Nervous prostra-

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tion, not before heard of, was now a common form of disease, and the way was prepared for the great and radical change in practice which was brought about by the accession of a number of well educated young men to the profession in the early fifties.

In 1851 there was no medical society in Chautauqua county. The old County Society which during its life had the power of conferring the license to practice medi- cine, had died a natural death. At this time the strength of the profession was in the older men, some of whom were the first physicians who began their practice here in a comparative wilderness. One of them, Dr. White, of Fredonia, was a man of good name, and much be- loved by the early settlers. He was a positive force in the community and among the doctors. His eccentricities were many. In early days when land cost little, he acquired much in the town and near by. Its rise in value leit a comfortable estate to his heirs. Dr. Ira Peck practiced in the early days at Villenova.

Drs. Walworth of Fredonia, Simons of Brocton, Spencer of Stocton, and Jones of Westfield, Foote and Hazeltine of Jamestown, and Prendergast of Mayville, were of the older class. Drs. Charles Smith of Fre- donia, Harrison of Stockton, Holmes of Mayville, and others, were active practitioners of middle age, whose authority to practice was a license from the old Chau- tanqua County Society. Dr. Rodgers of Dunkirk was in practice about this time. As has been said, their practice was of the "Sangrado" type, the lancet. calomel and tartar emetic being the sheet anchors. Quinine was usel only for malarial fevers. Opium was used to quiet pain, but not as a curative agent. The profession was then in a transition stage, and in the early fifties a number of young medical men came to this county. They had been under the instruction of men like Austin Flint, Alonzo Clark and Frank Hamilton. Their names are familiar to all. Their personal life demonstrated their worth, their ability, their manliness, their culture, their strong influence for higher ends among the peo- ple. They were the early friends of Dr. Strong, and his personal associates. Three of them honored Dun- kirk by going there-H. M. T. Smith, his brother, Sam- nel Smith, and Dr. Irwin. Their life work was done there. About the same time Dr. Charles Washburn came to Fredonia. He was a most lovable man, one of the most scholarly men who ever resided in the county. He died in the army, after nearly three years' service as surgeon of the 112th New York Volunteers. Dr. George Bennett of Ripley also took the field as surgeon, rendered most efficient service, and later re- moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, where he practiced the remainder of his life. He was a large, handsome man, a practitioner of high grade, most honorable and loyal in his professional intercourse. Another of about the same age was Dr. William P. Bemus of Jamestown, a graduate of Berkshire Medical College. He enjoyed a large practice throughout the county and beyond its borders, was a first-class physician and surgeon. His personal address was charming, and his chief charac- teristic was his strong common sense.

Dr. Axtel of Jamestown, Dr. Edson Boyd of Ash- ville, Dr. William Chace of Mayville, Dr. Dean of Brocton, Dr. Glidden of Panama and others soon ap- peared upon the stage-all good men and faithful citi- zens. Drs. Gray and Hedges of Jamestown, and Dr. C. Ormes of Panama. who afterward removed to James- town, were the prominent physicians in the homoeopathic line.

With the accession of strength among the regular profession of the county, came the organization of the present Chautauqua County Medical Society. From

the first it was a vigorous working society, and soon controlled the medical thought of the county. The discussions which took place at the meetings of that society would have done honor to any medical society. Later other associations of medical men of the county have been organized: The Chautauqua County Branch of the New York State Medical Association, the James- town Medical Society, and the Dunkirk Society. These have been educators for the members, and their meet- ings have always been well attended and full of in- terest to the profession. The disappearance of per- sonal bickerings, jealousies and illfeelings, has been a direct result of a better acquaintance among the mem- bers. Broader views of the profession and the com- munity at large opened to view. Higher education com- mended itself to all, and long before our medical col- leges or the State had taken steps in that direction, the Medical Society of this county placed upon its records that no member thereof should receive into his office as a student anyone who had not an elementary education sufficient to pass the Regents' examination, and enough Latin to intelligently read and write pre- scriptions. This is practically the State law. With the conditions and membership of the profession of medicine of later years, we are all familiar.

A list of members of the medical profession of Chan- tanqua county who acted as surgeons in the different wars of the United States is appended. As Chautauqua county had no existence prior to the War of the Revolu- tion-none. War of 1812-Dr. Daniel Bemus, division surgeon. War with Mexico-none. War of the Re- bellion-Drs. Washburn, Irwin, George Bennett, T. D. Strong, Marvin Bemus, Glidden, Edson Boyd, A. Water- house, regimental surgeons. War with Spain-Dr. Wil- liam M. Bemus, regimental surgeon.

The Eclectic Medical Association of Chantanqua County was organized in September, 1856, Dr. O. C. Payne, president, Dr. A. P. Parsons, secretary. During nine years this association held thirty meetings and re- ceived thirty-five members.

At a meeting held at Dunkirk September 15, 1865, a new constitution was adopted in compliance with a re- quest of the State Society, and to become auxiliary thereto, the name was changed from "Association" to "Society," the name becoming The Eclectic Medical So- ciety of the 32nd Senatorial District.

The present Medical Society of Chautauqua County has ninety-eight members. Officers: Dr. Elmer W. Powers, president, Westfield; Dr. Geo. W. Cottis, Jamestown, Dr. Geo. E. Smith, Dunkirk, vice-presidents ; Dr. Geo. F. Smith, treasurer, Falconer ; Dr. J. W. Mor- ris, secretary, Jamestown. Censors-Dr. E. M. Scofield, Jamestown; Dr. V. M. Griswold, Fredonia; Dr. H. A. Eastman, Jamestown; Dr. A. Wilson Dods, Fredonia ; Dr. Edgar Rood, Westfield.

The Dunkirk and Fredonia Medical Society meets monthly at the Library building in Dunkirk. The James- town Medical Society meets monthly in the Young Women's Christian Association building. The Medical Society of Chautauqua County meets four times each year, the last Tuesday of March, June, September and the second Tuesday in December. Officers being elected at the December meeting, which must be held in James- town or Dunkirk.

THE FIRST LICENSED PHYSICIAN IN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY-Dr. Squire White, was born at Guilford, Ver- mont, November 20, 1785, and came at an early age with his father into Chenango county, New York. By patient study he acquired an education and laid the foundation of those literary tastes which his habitual reserve pre- vented him from publicly displaying, but which were

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through life in moments of relaxation a source of the highest gratification. He studied medicine in the office ot his brother Dr. Asa White in Sherburne, New York, and in the office of Dr. Joseph White of Cherry Valley, at that time one of the most celebrated physicians and surgeons in the State. Dr. Squire White came to Fre- donia in 1809 and bears the distinction of being the first educated physician to be licensed to practice in Chau- tauqua county. He soon acquired a large practice of which his numerous friends would not permit him to divest himself, and for many of the last years of his life his services were in most instances rendered gratuitously. He was noted for the depth of his medical knowledge, the clearness of his observations and his nice discrimination in everything relating to his profes- sion. An old physician of the county atter an intimate acquaintance extending over a period of nearly forty years said of Dr. White: "He was esteemed by the pioneer settlers as a good physician, humane, attentive to their calls, extremely lenient to his patrons and never avaricious."

On the organization of the county he was appointed surrogate, an office which he held two years. He was elected representative to the State Legislature in 1830- 31-32; served as supervisor of the town of Pomfret in 1838-39. His hrst wife, Sarah, daughter of Hezekiah Barker, to whom he was married October 28, 1813, bore hint four children : William D., a lawyer, who married Susan Blanchard and lived in Fredonia; Devillo A., married Lamira Jones, and resided in Fredonia; Julia S., married Francis S. White, a lawyer of Fredonia, where she died; Edwin, died in infancy. Mrs. Sarah White died July 13, 1823, and Dr. White married (sec- ond) August 24, 1826, Lydia, daughter of Judge Zattu Cushing, of Fredonia, and his first wife, Rachel Buck- ingham. Their children were: Ellen D., married Col. Stephen Morgan, (second) Joseph Quetting; George H., married Ellen E. Pierce, and resided in Fredonia ; Mary S., died aged nine years. Dr. White died April 2, 1857.

HOSPITALS-There are three modernly equipped public hospitals in Chautauqua county. The Woman's Chris- tian Association Hospital, The Orsino E. jones Me- morial Hospital, both in Jamestown, and The Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk. The Woman's Chris- tian Association Hospital is supported largely by volun- tary contributions, the Orsino E. Jones Hospital is municipally owned and controlled; The Brooks Me- morial Hospital is endowed, but the city of Dunkirk aids in its maintenance.

the Woman's Christian Association of Jamestown was organized in 1884, Mrs. Josephus H. Clark, presi- dent. The same year the Association began the work of organizing the hospital work and in 1885 the Wo- man's Christian Association Hospital was incorporated. On July 9, 1887, the hospital was opened for the re- ception of patients, there then being no similar in- stitution within seventy miles of Jamestown nor was there a graduate trained nurse living in the city. The first superintendent, Christine M. Hall, remained in that office twenty-three years. In 1890 a training school for nurses was established in connection with the hospital. The hospital is beautifully located at the corner of Allen treet and Foote avenue, the Hutton-Cheney Me- morial Cottage being for the use of private patients. There is also a Maternity Pavilion given by Mrs. D. H. Post and a nurses cottage. The hospital is well equipped and is a source of pride to the Association which founded, owns and controls it. The public has been very generous in responding to every call the hos- pital has made for financial aid.

The bequest to the city of Jamestown by Orsino E.

Jones of the valuable tract of land lying between Baker and Steele streets, long known as Jones Hill, made pos- sible the erection of that valuable addition to the means of giving care and comfort to the sick and injured, the Orsino E. Jones Memorial Hospital. The hospital was erected at a cost of $100,000 and is intended for the use and benefit of all regardless of race, creed or sex. This institution, one of Jamestown's notable entrances into the realm of municipal ownership, is strictly modern in its equipment for the care of the afflicted and ranks with the best institutions of its kind in the country. The J. W. Humphrey Contagious Pavilion, used ex- clusively for contagious diseases, is constructed on the same general plan of the main hospital, the latter a three-story and basement fireproof structure of stone, brick, steel, glass, sand and cement, with but little wood used in its construction. The management of the hos- pital is under the control of the Hospital Commission of the city of Jamestown, they having placed in charge a superintendent, with an assistant, also a night super- intendent, head medical, surgical and maternity nurses, operating room nurse and a staff of general day and night duty nurses. The hospital was opened and the first patient received July 8, 1911. John Morrison, a typhoid case, was the first patient and for a day he had the great building and its staff at his service, but he soon lost his exclusive importance. The records of the hos- pital show that during its first six months of ex- istence 260 patients were received.

The Brooks Memorial Hospital, Dunkirk, is a well- equipped registered hospital supplying an especially large territory, its nearest neighboring hospitals being Buffalo, Jamestown, Corry and Erie. It was established in 1899, through the generosity of the Horatio G. Brooks heirs, who donated their magnificent home property on the corners of Central avenue, Sixth and Eagle streets, upon which were situated a magnificent dwelling and spacious clubhouse. The former has been converted into the hospital proper, and the latter into an annex. The hospital also received a liberal endowment from the Brooks heirs. The steady and rapid growth of the hospital has rendered these buildings inadequate for the present needs, and plans are now being developed for an addition connecting these two buildings, which will materially add to the capacity and convenience of the institution. A modern and exceedingly complete X- ray equipment has been installed through the generosity of the American Locomotive Company, affording ample opportunity for instruction in this rapidly developing branch.

This hospital represents the medium size type of hos- pital, which gives the nurse in training the unusual op- portunity of individual care of patients. The institution was incorporated under its present name July 13, 1898.

The present officers are: F. F. Jewell, president; G. W. Woodin, vice-president; J. A. Holstein, secretary ; Ed. Madigan, treasurer. Directors: George E. Black- ham, H. P. Monroe, A. W. Cummings, F. F. Jewell, F. B. Barnard, J. F. Kauffman, G. W. Woodin, J. A. Hol- stein, H. C. Ehlers, Ed. Madigan, R. J. Cooper, J. Foss, Jas. L. Pierce, W. R. Nowak, J. L. Weidman. Margaret Braid, superintendent.

A Training School for Nurses is conducted at the hospital, and enjoys a particularly large surgical and obstetrical service, affording exceptional advantages ior instruction in modern surgical and obstetrical technique.

In accordance with the New York State law, the school is registered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York, thus placing it in the ranks of officially recognized training schools of the State. It is a requirement of the Board of Regents of the State that all pupils shall have at least one year of high

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school or its equivalent, and the pupils must be ac- cepted by the Board of Regents before they are accepted into the Training School. The pupils reside in the Nurses' Home, which is a spacious, comfortable build- ing near the hospital, equipped with all the modern con- veniences and comforts.

Officers of the Training School: C. H. Richards, M. D., president ; A. Wilson Dods. M. D., vice-presi- dent; W. J. Sullivan, M. D., secretary ; Margaret Braid, superintendent.

A county institution of worth is Newton Memorial Hospital for Tubercular Cases, founded under the will of Elizabeth M. Newton.

The Board of Supervisors entered into an agree- ment with the trustees of that will, on December 17, 1915, for the acceptance of a tuberculosis hospital under the terms and conditions set forth in Mrs. Newton's will. On November 12, 1917, the supervisors entered in a supplemental contract by which the county agreed to pay a certain part of the expense of furnishing and equipping the hospital. The hospital is located at Cassadaga and was first opened for the reception of patients in August, 1920.

The County Hospital is located at Dewittville in con- nection with the County Poor Farm.

The Visiting Nurses' Association of Jamestown is an incorporated body which owes its inception to Mrs. George W. Critchlow. The Association was organized early in the year 1909, the object being to furnish train- ed attendance for those unable to bear the expense of graduate nurse. Grace Cooper was the first visiting nurse and but a single nurse was employed until Janu- ary 1, 1913, when a second nurse was engaged. Selma Lincoln as visiting nurse during one year, 1912, cared for 247 patients and made 2,785 visits.

The statistics for the year ending February 1, 1919, show 843 cases attended and the grand total of 7,200 visits made. Three nurses were employed in the work. The Association maintains a Child Welfare Station and Dispensary which during the year attended 377 cases. An Auxiliary to the Visiting Nurses' Association does a great deal of purely charitable work, and the Associa- tion performs the nursing service for the Metropoli- tan Life Insurance Company. The funds to carry on this valuable work are obtained through subscriptions from a generous public. The officers of the Association are: President, Mrs. Erwin D. Shearman; vice-presi- dent, Mrs. J. Ernest Johnson; secretary, Mrs. C. I .. Eckman ; treasurer, Mr. A. W. Swan; president Ladies' Auxiliary, Mrs. John F. Westrom.

RELIGION AND RELIGIONS.

The history of the different sections of our country show a wonderful similarity of statement regarding the early pioneers in their willingness to receive a traveling minister and to listen to his teaching. New England early communities brought their minister with them and he was their trusted guide. When these New Eng- landers began to reach out for other wild regions to subdue they carried into the forests a reverence for religion, and the missionary preacher was welcome. This was true in Chautauqua county which was sup- plied with religious instruction in the earliest days by the Congregational Connecticut Missionary Society, the Presbyterian General Assembly, the Methodist circuit rider of every pioneer community, and his equally effici- ent coworker, the Baptist missionary.

The first gospel sermon preached in the county was doubtless by Rev. Joseph Badger, at the funeral of the lamented McHenry in 1803. This Rev. Joseph Badger was a missionary sent by the Connecticut Missionary So- ciety to the Western Reserve. The Rev. Robert Patter- son, who had just been ordained by Rev. Joseph Badger and others at a meeting of Presbytery in Erie, Penn- sylvania, was about this time engaged to preach a quar- ter of the time at Cross Roads, now Westfield, the rest of the time services to be maintained by the use of printed sermons. At an early date Lorenzo Dow preach- ed occasionally at Silver Creek. Like one of the old prophets, he would suddenly make his appearance, mount a stump and deliver his message, and naming a time to the day and the hour when they might expect him again, as suddenly depart. He was a Bunyan in religious experience, had personal fights with the devil, and won personal victories over him. A Methodist in belief, he was assigned a district, but could not confine himself to its narrow bounds, hut felt moved by the Spirit to go to regions beyond. He traveled extensively in the United States and went twice to Europe, feeling a strong call to preach to the Catholics in Ireland. He attracted great crowds, had some successes, and many persecutions. He was a strange character, and yet he made a powerful impression and was the means of more conversions than many of the regular itiner-

ants. The celebrated Adam Clarke is said to have look- ed upon him with favor, and others in high positions abroad counted themselves as his friends. He introduc- ed camp-meetings into England, and the controversy over them led to the organization of a new society called the Primitive Methodists. Born in Coventry, Conn., in 1777, and dying in Washington in 1834, he put more of successful labor into his fifty-six years than many men into a much longer period, and with his faithful wife Peggy is worthy the high esteem of all Christian people for their self-sacrificing labor.

The most distinguished missionary who labored in the early settlement of Chautauqua county was the Rev. John Spencer. He was of Spencertown, New York, a relative of Ambrose and Joshua Spencer, of legal fame, and also of Ichabod Spencer, that famous pastor in Brooklyn. After the Revolutionary War, in which he served, he prepared to preach, was ordained by the Northern Associated Presbytery and sent by the Con- necticut Missionary Society as their missionary to the Holland Purchase. For about ninetcen years, 1808-1827, he made Sheridan his home, and Chautauqua county, then much larger than now, his parish. He preached about every evening, and sometimes his congregation was a single family.

Among the ministers of the early pioneer period was Rev. Jonathan Wilson, a Baptist missionary from Ver- mont, who was very active in founding Baptist churches. He lived to the age of ninety, and supplied churches nearly to the end of his life. The Rev. Elisha Tucker, third pastor of the Baptist church at Fredonia, labored energetically and successfully to complete the church edifice believed to be the first erected in the county.

Gregg's "History of Methodism" states that "in 1808 a circuit was formed by the Philadelphia Conference called the 'Holland Purchase,' which embraced all of the State of New York west of the Genessee river, to which Rev. George Lane was appointed." It says that Mr. Lane formed a class in Sheridan in 1808-09. "This was undoubtedly the first Methodist preaching and the first class formed in Chautauqua county, which has since that time been a very fruitful field for Methodism

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and very productive of Methodist ministers." Among the Methodist, Rev. "Billy Brown" was remarkable for his unusual gift in prayer, and for his habit of search- ing out and elucidating obscure passages of Scripture. He was the first Methodist minister to preach regularly in the county, coming to the classes in Villenova and Sheridan about 1810. Gregg's history states that a class was formed in Silver Creek in 1812; Young's history gives it as 1819.

Rev. Samuel G. Orton, D. D., was one of the most useful men of his time. His evangelistic and pastoral labors in Chautauqua and neighboring counties ex- tended over the whole period from 1830 to 1870. He was a man of such amiable, judicious, and well-balanced character as is rarely to be found. He possessed a na- ture that was ruled by the spirit of love. Both before and after he settled in Ripley he spent much time in revival meetings, building up the churches of the coun- ty very largely. At Jamestown his labors were especial- ly blessed, bringing into the new Presbyterian church some of the strongest men of that place.

Among the early Presbyterian preachers in Silver Creek were Rev. Abiel Parmalee, who in 1830-31 supplied the first stated Presbyterian ministry in that region; Rev. O. C. Beardsley, the first pastor of the church organized in 1831, who had the longest pastorate (ex- cept one) in that church; Rev. Mr. Rogers and Rev. Mr. Hunter were Methodist preachers of the early day in Silver Creek; Rev. William Hall for more than sixty years was a devoted Presbyterian missionary to the Indians ; Rev. Mr. Frink, a Baptist minister, was said to have baptized six hundred persons, all of whom had been converted at his own meetings.

Three pioneer churches were organized in 1808, one in Chautauqua, now Stockton; one in Westfield; and one in Fredonia. The one in Chautauqua was taken into the town of Stockton when the town was formed. It began with nine original members and increased twelve- fold in the first twelve years. This Baptist church dissolved itself by its own vote in 1816.

The Presbyterian church of Westfield was organized a little earlier probably than any other in the county, the Rev. John Lindsley, a missionary sent out by the Presbyterian General Assembly, officiating. For some reason it fell into decline. A revival occurring in West- field in 1817. this church was reorganized. That was a glorious day for the Presbyterian church of Westfield when Rev. Johnston Eaton and Rev. Phineas Camp ad- ministered the sacrament to forty persons in connection with this church and the banner of the Cross was lifted never again to droop.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 79

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc. Number of Pages: 649

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649