History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 39

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > New York > Orange County > History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 39

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He was in 1870 elected justice of the peace, and still fills the office. Mr. Bodine abandoned mercan- tile pursuits in 1877, and began the study of law with Joseph M. Wilkin, Esq. He was admitted to the bar as attorney and counselor at the general term held in Brooklyn, February, 1880, and at once engaged in the practice of his profession. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and an earnest advocate of the principles of the party. He is an active and useful member of the Presbyterian Church of Montgomery, of which he is an elder. Mr. Bodine has been twice married. He was first united to Miss Mittie Graham, June 5, 1862, to whom was born a son, Theodore. Mrs. Bodine's death occurred Feb. 28, 1870, and he was a I second time married, Nov. 16, 1870, to Mrs. Emma Decker, of Montgomery.

PRESENT ATTORNEYS.

The following are the practicing attorneys in the county at the present time :

Newburgh .- Walter C. Anthony, Eugene A. Brew- ster, John Baldwin, David Barclay, J. B. B. Brun- dage, J. R. Buxton, Charles F. Brown, Abram S. Cassedy, Charles L. Chatterton, C. P. Curtis, George II. Clark, William D. Diekey, Samuel E. Dimmick, Darwin W. Esmond, Nehemiah Fowler, James G. Graham, M. II. Hirschberg, Gideon Ilill, Russell Headley, John B. Kerr, John Miller, H. C. Mills- paugh, M. H. Mullenneaux, Joseph J. Rogers, Seward U. Round, David A. Scott, J. D. Shaffer, L. S. Sterritt, Charles E. Snyder, Howard Thornton, James W. Tay- lor, Charles St. John Vail, C. L. Waring, L. B. Waring, Harvey Weed, Grant B. Taylor, James T. Boothroyd.

Middletown .- Howard Allison, John F. Bradner, George H. Decker, Charles G. Dill, M. J. Donovan, Andrew J. Durland, Jirah I. Foote, Henry W. Foote, Daniel Finn, William J. Groo, Oliver N. Goldsmithi, Gilbert O. Hulse, Benjamin Low, J. W. Powers, T. N. Little, William F. O'Neill, A. V. L. Powelson, James

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IIISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

N. Pronk, William B. Royce, Wickham T. Shaw. William H. Stoddard, Samuel R. Taylor, William Vanamee, D. W. Van Zandt, Charles T. Vail, John G. Wilkin, John Wilkin, Henry W. Wiggins.

Goshen .- Henry Bacon, R. C. Coleman, Charles W. Coleman, B. R. Champion, W. H. Cuddeback, Henry C. Duryea, David F. Gedney, Herbert Gedney, Geo. W. Greene. J. W. Gott, John E. Howell, James F. a "hamlet." Hoffman, George W. Millspangh, John H. Murray, But whatever may have been the condition of medi- cal practice elsewhere, there were physicians in the period, and apparently learned and skillful ones. Charles L. Mead, Harrison W. Nanny, William F. Sharpe. A. DuBois Staats, John B. Swezey, E. A. ' district the history of which we are tracing, at an early Van Siekle, Henry A. Wadsworth, William H. Wyker. Port Jervis,-James M. Allerton, Lewis E. Carr, C. E. Cuddeback, O. P. Howell, Thomas J. Lyon, John W. Lyon, Amos Van Etten, Jr.

Montgomery. - Fred. Bodine, Joseph M. Leeper, Henry V. McNeal, J. H. Walden Loughran, John Peter Sears, Edward Van Orsdall, J. M. Wilkin.

Warwick .- John J. Beattie, J. V. D. Benedict, John Burt, M. Kane.

Cornwall .- Lewis Beach, William H. Clarke, D. F. Sontherland, Daniel E. Pope.

Westtown .- T. S. Hulse.

Turner's .- E. D. Stokem.

CHAPTER XII.

PHYSICIANS-MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

THE physicians of the county, although many of them have been conspicuous in its political, military, and social affairs, are, as a class, so especially "silent" in its records that a list of them, either past or pres- ent, will be far from complete. It is probably true that to some extent the early ministers, itinerant as well as located, were physicians ; but it is also prob- able that many of the first settlers were their own medical advisers, and relied largely upon such reme- dies as nature provided and their own experience ap- proved, many of them living even to a "good old age" without the aid of a professional " doctor." Per- haps they were profited to some extent by the expe- rience of their Indian contemporaries or predecessors, who could cure wounds and hurts, treat simple diseases quite successfully, and tell all about the medicinal vir- tues of native roots and herbs. There was one rem- edy that came from them that was of very general use,-beavers' oil. For dizziness, for trembling, for rheumatism, for lameness, for apoplexy, for toothache, for earache, for weak eyes, for gout, and for almost every ill, beavers' oil was the specific, at least among the early Dutch, who, with equal unanimity, rejected that other Indian specific,-the sweating-bath. They could not bear to be thrust into a heated hole in the ground with their head covered until the perspiration had reached its highest point, and then to be removed

and immersed immediately in cold water. It strikes one singularly to read now that this or that State or colony had given somebody a hundred pounds for a recipe for some remedy with a view to make it pub- lic property ; at least it prompts the conclusion that there was a great deal of what is now called " quack- ery" going on among the " rude forefathers" of many

CADWALLADER COLDEN, of Coklenham, was a physician of no ordinary grade for his time. He settled at Coldenham in 1728, remained there for over thirty years, and wrote some able medical works. | True, he was also a surveyor and a politician, and a botanist, and in the round of his years was Lieutenant- Governor and acting Governor of the colony; but these offices came to him at a later period.

We cannot say that "next" to Dr. Colden came EVAN JONES, in New Windsor ; but he was a prac- tieing physician and surgeon there, and died in 1763, leaving sons, JOHN and THOMAS, who became emi- nent physicians in New York City. His wife was the daughter of Vincent Matthews, of Matthewsfield. His residence was on the farm which, after his death, became the property of Samuel Brewster, and is now marked by the old stone house which the latter erected.

. ALEXANDER CLINTON and CHARLES CLINTON, sons of Col. Charles Clinton, of Little Britain, were also early physicians. Alexander studied under Dr. Mid- dleton, of New York, located at Shawangnnk, and practiced in that town and in Montgomery and New Windsor. He died in Shawangunk in 1758, of "con- fluent smallpox." Charles was also a pupil under Dr. Middleton. He was a surgeon's mate in the Brit- ish army at the capture of Havana; subsequently located in the precinct of Hanover (now Montgomery), where he had a large practice, and where he died in 1791.

Although not practicing physicians in the town of New Windsor, THOMAS and JOSEPH YOUNG, sons of John Young, one of the associate immigrants with Charles Clinton, became physicians, and were in ser- vice in the army of the Revolution. Thomas received a medical education, and Joseph taught himself, or, as he himself wrote, became qualified " by accurate observation and attentive application," having been "greatly assisted by Dr. Alexander Clinton, not as a v professed student, but by riding with him and receiv- ing oral instructions."

JOHN SMEDES was a contemporary of Dr. Charles Y Clinton, but his residence has not been ascertained. He was in practice in 1783. Among Dr. Clinton's papers is the following note, which serves the purpose of his identification as well as to illustrate the methods of treatment at that time:

Joseph Whelan

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PHYSICIANS.

" Mrs. Cooper was taken on Monday morning early with a cold chill, which continued more or less almost throughout the day. About nine o'clock in the morning she was seized with a violent pain in the left hy- pochondria, resembling laboring pains, with vomitings, and a taste in her mouth like rotten eggs,-great thirst. In this situation 1 came to ber, judging it to be an inflammation in the womb, arising from cold she must have taken a few days ago from wet feet. I bled her immediately - the blood was not sizy, but very coagulated-and gave her nitrous pow- ders. lu the afternoon the symptoms were the same, the pain alterua- ting, leaving her in some degree, and then returning with violence. I bled her again,-the blood was somewhat sizy. About evening her symp- toms all vanished, and she was very well until Wednesday morning (ex- cepting having felt some slight pains on Tuesday afternoon ; she had this day taken a dose of Thei). On Wednesday morning her symptoms re- turned. She was bled again, but I could not get above five ounces from her. In the afternoon, her symptoms continuing without abatement, I bled again, and took about five ounces. She swooned very nearly. ] continued the nitrous powders, and ordered a glyster, which did not op- erate effectually. This morning I ordered another, which had the de- sired effect. I gave her this day powders of jalap, uitre, and crem tart., agreeable to consultation yesterday with Doctr. Suckett. This afternoon I gave her a decoction of Seneca snakeroot, since which the vomiting has left her, but her other symptoms continne, with a scarcity of urine. | Mrs. Cooper desires Doct. Clinton's consultation. I am

" Your very humble serv't, " JOHN SMEDES "

MOSES HIGBY was in practice in Newburgh and New Windsor prior to the Revolution. Ilis name stands connected with local history during that period, and particularly for his part with Daniel Taylor, the British spy, who swallowed the silver bullet, and lost it under Higby's emetics.

Many anecdotes are related of him, for, of course, such things will be remembered when real merits are forgotten. His practice was among old and respect- able families, where his coming was welcomed by old and young, and where he not unfrequently remained several days. He was a man of stern integrity, and upright and open in manner. He died May 3, 1823, upwards of eighty years of age, having practiced medicine over sixty years. Beyond the fact that a danghter married Samuel Bond and left children, we know nothing of his descendants.

ISAAC BROWN was a physician in Newburgh in 1767. and ROBERT MORRISON and his son HUGH were in practice there as early as 1775. DR. JAMES STICKNEY was another old physician of Newburgh.

NATHANIEL ELMER, of Florida, was a physician of the Revolutionary era. Ile was a native of Sharon, Conn., and removed to and settled at Florida, where he practiced his profession for many years with credit. His wife was a daughter of Judge William Thomp- son, by whom he had three sons- Dr. William Elmer, of Goshen ; Dr. Nathaniel Elmer, of Den- ton ; and Jesse Elmer, of Bellvale-and two daugh- ters,-Mrs. Robert Armstrong and Mrs. Smith. After the death of Mr. Smith the latter married Joshua Conkling. Her children by Mr. Smith were John E. Smith, of Goshen, and a daughter, who became Mrs. Ira Gardner. By Mr. Conkling she had William S., who settled on the old Conkling homestead in Goshen ; Enos S., of New York; George S., of lowa; Mrs. Samuel Wilson, of Bellvale; and Nathaniel E., who resides on the Dr. Elmer homestead. The latter has

displayed much taste in opening new streets and in other undertakings of advantage to the community in which he lives.

THOMAS WICKHAM, JOHN GALE, * JOHN PIERSON, and BENJAMIN TUSTEN, JR., were all in practice in the old township of Goshen in 1769, and some of them at an earlier date. DR. DU Bois, of Warwick ; DR. ROSENCRANS and DR. HENRY WHITE, of Mini- sink ; and DR. CHANDLER, of Blooming-Grove, have an honorable record in early history of this class of physicians.

BENJAMIN TUSTEN was a native of Southold, L. I., where he was born Dec. 11, 1743. He was the only son of Benjamin Tusten, a respectable farmer, and re- moved to the precinct of Goshen with his father's family in 1746. He was educated at an academy in Jamaica, L. 1., and at nineteen years of age com- menced the study of medicine under Dr. Thomas Wickham, of Goshen, whose standing as a physician was very high in his day. After spending a year with Dr. Wickham he went to Newark, N. J., and spent another year under Dr. Barnet, and a third year in the office of Dr. Thomas Jones, of New York. In 1769 he returned home and commenced practice in competition with Dr. Wickham, Dr. Gale, and Dr. Pierson, and soon performed some operations in sur- gery which gave him considerable celebrity. In 1770 he introduced inoculation for smallpox, and for this purpose hired four houses,-one in Hamptonburgh (then Goshen), where he lived, another near Stony Ford bridge, a third at East Division, and the fourth on the little island near the cedar swamp. In these houses he inoculated ahout eight hundred persons, with such success as to entirely destroy the prejudice which had previously existed. He kept his houses two years, after which inoculation conld be performed in private houses. In the discussions which culmi- nated in the Revolution he took an active part, and during the remainder of his life did what he conld to secure independence. In 1777 he was appointed lieu- tenant-colonel of the Goshen regiment of militia, and in 1778 was appointed surrogate of the county. Hesi- tating at no sacrifice, he marched with his neighbors in the pursuit of the invaders of Minisink, and in the battle with them gave up his life. His wife was a Miss Brown, of Newark, N. J., by whom he had two sons and three daughters.

After the Revolution, and prior to the formation of the Orange County Medical Society, a number of new names were added to the list of what are now called old physicians. Among this class was JOSEPH WHALEN, who located first in what is now the town of Crawford in 1788, but soon after removed to near the village of Montgomery, where he practiced medicine for more than half a century. He was a native of Ireland, well educated, and a gentleman in all re-

* Samuel Gale, fifth sou of John Gale, was born in Goshen in 1743. He was a physician of note in Troy, N. Y.

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

spects. In religious faith he was a Catholic, but never intruded his opinions upon others. His brother, Rev. Charles Whalen, an Irish Franciscan, was the first Catholic priest stationed in New York. He had been a chaplain on board the French ships of Admiral de Grasse's fleet, engaged in assisting the colonies. The late Joseph V. Whalen, for years one of the principal lawyers of Montgomery, was his son, and one of his daughters was Mrs. McWilliams, of Montgomery, and another Mrs. Dennis MeCool, of Newburgh. We believe there were other children.

The following additional facts have been furnished. The Whalen family are of Irish lineage and were first represented in Orange County by the subject of this biographical sketeli, Dr. Joseph Whalen, who left his home at the close of the Revolutionary struggle, and soon after his arrival on American soil located in Crawford township, then Montgomery.

After a residence of a few years at this point he re- moved to the village of Montgomery, the scene of his lifelong professional labors.

He had already acquired a classical education and made himself proficient in the science of medicine, which proved congenial to his tastes. He determined to follow this profession, and was licensed by the Orange County Medical Society on the 1st of July, 1806, which at that early date was accorded full power to examine and grant licences to practitioners.

The doctor was at the first meeting of the society elected one of its censors, and subsequently held many of its most responsible offices. He ranked among the most judicious and skillful of the expon- ents of the healing art in the county, and his reputa- tion readily brought to him an extended practice.

He was a man of progressive ideas, of energetic character, and of an indomitable will, which invari- ably brought success to every project undertaken by him.

Dr. Whalen was a man of varied accomplishments, having received not only a liberal education but such early training as moulded well his character and de- veloped those traits which in later years rendered him so fine an example of the "old-school gentle- man."

He was a man of charitable instincts, and gave much time and professional labor with little pecuni- ary return. All deserving causes found in him a helper, and the poor and suffering were invariably the recipients of his bounty. He participated rarely in public life, being always actively engaged in the duties of his profession. At a meeting of the council of appointments held at the city of Albany on the 20th of March, 1802, he was appointed surgeon of the regiment of militia in the county of Orange of which William Faulkner, Esq., was lieutenant-colonel com- manding. In his religious tenets he espoused the faith of his family, and was through life a firm but unobtrusive Roman Catholic. Dr. Whalen was mar- ried in early life to Miss Mary Byrne. Their children

were Elizabeth, Mary, Martha, Catherine, Joseph Virgil, and John Horace. His death occurred at Montgomery, Orange Co., N. Y.

His grandson, Benjamin Crosby, who contributes this memorial sketeh, was born Dec. 31, 1831, on the homestead. He spent his boyhood at school, first near his home and later at Montgomery. In connec- tion with his brother he came into possession of the family estate. Mr. Crosby has spent his time in cul- tivating this land. In politics he is a Republican, thoughi not an active worker in the political arena. He is a worshiper at the Presbyterian Church of Ilopewell.

INCREASE CROSBY .- The name of Crosby is, in the State of New York, associated with distinguished public services and high social position. In the ab- senee of authentic facts regarding the family it will be necessary to defer to the accepted legend handed down by tradition, which relates that four brothers emigrated from Scotland to the New World. On ar- rival their paths diverged,-one having settled in Pennsylvania, another in Massachusetts, while a third chose the genial climate of the South, and the pres- enee of the fourth is involved in uncertainty.

The subject of this biographical sketeh is a repre- sentative of the Massachusetts branch, and removed from that State to Orange County during the latter portion of the eighteenth century. Having, while in New England, begun and completed the study of medicine, on his arrival and after the purchase of the ancestral property, he began the practice of his pro- fession. . Dr. Crosby may therefore be regarded as one of the earliest practitioners in the county and a pio- neer representative of the healing art. The duties were at that time laborious, requiring long and tedious rides over rough and unbroken roads, generally made on horseback, from the superior convenience of this mode of travel. The doetor was a skillful horseman, and largely dependent upon the serviees of his trusted steed. His original purchase, embracing sixty-four acres, was increased by later acquirements, and in 1802 the homestead at present occupied by his de- scendants was erected. Dr. Crosby was united in marriage to Miss Isabella Milliken, of Ulster County, and had children,-Robert, Cyrenus, and Mary, who became Mrs. John Jordan, of Orange County. The doctor was a pronounced Democrat, of the Jeffer- sonian type, and strongly pro-slavery in his views. His life was one of great activity and extended use- fulness, which was only ended by his death, May 13, 1845, in his eightieth year. Mrs. Crosby died during the year 1827. The birth of their son Robert occurred on the homestead Nov. 12, 1791, where he followed agricultural occupations during his lifetime. He was a man of quiet tastes, had no political aspirations, and from choice filled no public offices. He was married to Miss Catharine, daughter of Dr. Joseph Whalen, born May 10, 1797, and became the father of six children,-Cyrenus, who died in early life; In-

Increase Grosty

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PHYSICIANS.

crease, Joseph V. W., R. Milliken, Benjamin, and one who died in infancy. The death of Mr. Crosby occurred Aug. 26, 1833, and that of his wife, March 17, 1852. His son R. Milliken, who, with his brother Benjamin, is owner of the homestead, and contributes this sketch of his grandparent, was born June 16, 1826, and spent his early life at the paternal home,

DAVID FOWLER, JR., another of this class, settled in North Newburgh in 1786. He was born at Crom Pond, Westchester Co., and was engaged in com- pleting his studies in New York when the Revolution broke out. After the British obtained possession of the city he accepted the appointment of surgeon in the Second Regiment of Loyalists, and served during the continuance of the struggle. He resided on his farm at North Newburgh until 1828, when he re- moved to the village of Newburgh, where he died in 1835, when it was written of him that he " lived re- spected, esteemed, and beloved, and died regretted. His amiable manners, his correct deportment, and the distinguished virtues which adorned his character, secured him an extensive circle of friends. He was the cheerful companion, the unwavering friend, the kind and affectionate husband and father. He was a blessing to his friends, an honor to the community, and one of the highest ornaments of our nature. Of him it may be truly said that he was a man without guile and withont reproach. He was just, generous, humane, and benevolent. The strictest honor, probity, and integrity were happily blended in his character. The law of God was his constant guide, and the day- star of his noble and cultivated mind. Those who knew him will often turn with melancholy pleasure to the remembrance of his virtues, and drop a tear to his memory." Gilbert Ogden Fowler, of Newburgh, Dr. Fowler's only surviving son, has been noticed in connection with the bench and bar.

CHARLES FOWLER, for many years a practicing physician in Montgomery, was a cousin of Dr. David Fowler, of Newburgh. IIe married first, Sarah Hill, and second, Ann E. McNeal. By his first wife he had eleven children, of whom two were sons, viz. : Dr. Charles G. Fowler and Peter H. Fowler.

ELEAZER GIDNEY, of Newburgh, was a descend- ant from the Gidneys who located and gave name to the district called Gidneytown, about 1760. He was in practice at Newburgh at the commencement of the present century. He died April 9, 1830, in his sev- enty-second year. His sons were Dr. Charles S. Gidney (born 1804, died 1850) and David F. Gidney, of Goshen. He will receive further notice in connec- tion with latter (see Bench and Bar). It may be

remarked here, however, that he had a very large practice and was highly respected.

WILLIAM GOURLAY, of New Windsor, was a prac- ticing physician there soon after the Revolution. He was a native of Ireland.

ELIAS WINFIELD, PHINEAS HEDGES, BALTUS L. VAN KLEECK, and CHICHESTER BROWN, of New- having in 1845 assumed control of the farm. Hle . burgh, deserve more extensive notice than our infor- was, in 1860, married to Miss Hannah C., daughter of David C. Ball, of Crawford township, and became the parent of two children who died in infancy. Mr. Crosby is in politics a Republican, though seldom a participator in the strifes which secure official ad- vancement. mation will enable us to give them. ELIAS WIN- FIELD was an editor as well as a physician, having been connected with the Rights of Man. He made himself somewhat notorious in 1803 by his advocacy of the theory that yellow fever was of "domestic origin," and that it was " not a contagious disease." He removed to Kingston and died there. His daugh- ter Catharine married Josiah Hasbrouck, and had issue eight children, one of whom, Gilbert, settled at Napanoch, Ulster Co.

PHINEAS HEDGES was an infidel, and is said to have died " of visitation of God" for his participation in the administering of " the Holy Communion" to a dog, but the tradition is erroneous. He died in July, 1799, at which time it was written, " In justice to his memory it ought to be observed that he was a man possessed of a strong mind, and this mind highly im- proved and cultivated by the principles of general science and the knowledge of the philosophy of nature."

BALTUS L. VAN KLEECK was. years ago, gener- ally regarded as an eminently safe practitioner. He died in 1843, aged sixty-nine. He came from Duch- ess County. His sister was the wife of Judge Jona- than Fisk ; his wife was a daughter of Robert Boyd, of New Windsor. His son, Rev. Robert Boyd Van Kleeck, of the Episcopal Church, died recently.

CHICHESTER BROWN was the son of John Brown, of Monaghan, Ireland, who, from his connection or sympathy with the Irish Rebellion of 1798, found it necessary to escape to America, and who, soon after his arrival here, located in Newburgh. His family, including his son, followed him in 1800. The latter was born in January, 1783, died Aug. 8, 1849; married Catharine, daughter of Dr. Geo. Graham, of Shawan- gunk ; had John, James, and George, the latter also a physician. He received a liberal education, fol- lowed for a time the occupation of a teacher, but soon after took up the study of medicine under Dr. Graham. In 1808 or 1809 he entered practice in the western part of the town of Newburgh, and in 1812 or 1813 removed to the village, where he continued to reside until his death. He was one of the most devoted of physicians. No hardship was too great for him to encounter, and the voice of suffering always found him ready at its call. Especially was he kind and attentive to the poor. The wealthy he knew could command attendance and comfort, and that the poor were too frequently permitted to suffer and die without a thought for their condition. This evil he labored to correct, and in his mission of good never

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 39

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1336

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336