History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 40

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 40

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).

166

IHISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

paused to inquire into the pecuniary circumstances of his patient. He fell a martyr to this noble trait in his character, -contracted disease in the humble cabin of the immigrant, and, after a short illness, rested from his labors. If it be true that

" All our actions take

Their hues from the complexion of the heart,"

then is his memory justly cherished.

DR. JAMES MCNAIR GARDINER was a lineal de- scendant, in the third generation, of James Gairdner, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who married a Miss McNair, and had issue, Robert. James, Margaret, and Cecilia.

DR. JAMES McNAIR GARDINER.

Robert Gardiner, father of Dr. Gardiner, was born in Scotland, May 31. 1769. About 1790 he emigrated to this country, and took up a permanent residence in Newburgh, where he clerked in the store of Hugh Walsh, and afterwards of John Anderson and John McAuley. He was the first to change the orthogra- phy of his name by transposition of the letter "i" from the third to the fifth place in the family name. In 1795 he established a general store on the south- west corner of Water and Fourth Streets, and adjoin- ing it he opened a " coffee-house,"-the first of its kind in Newburgh. His establishment became a favorite place of public resort. He became a natu- ralized citizen of Newburgh in 1802, and until 1812 followed the various avocations of a school-teacher, painter, captain of a sloop, and merchant, finally opening a confectionery and toy shop. He was a member of the local militia, and in 1812 was ordered, with the company of which he was first lieutenant, to Staten Island, where he remained about three

months. About this period the use of shinplasters began, and "among the many individuals and corpo- rations by whom they were issued," says Mr. Eager, in his "History of Orange County," " none had a greater circulation than Robert Gardiner's small bills. Some idea may be formed of the extent of the circulation of shinplasters at that time when the fact is stated, that the average weekly amount taken in exchange for bank-bills and his own, together with what he re- ceived in the course of business, amounted to no less than two thousand dollars."

Robert Gardiner was twice married. His first wife -to whom he was united in 1791-was Jane, daugh- ter of Benjamin Smith, who bore him the following children, viz., James MI., born Oct. 24, 1792; Robert S., died young ; Robert S. (2), born Oct. 29, 1795 ; and Cecilia B., born July 11, 1799. Mrs. Jane Gardiner died in 1803, and on Feb. 19, 1804, Mr. Gardiner married Sybil Burr, of whom were born Jefferson V. V .; Arabella J. G. V. V .; Cicero A., died Feb. 24, 1875; Demosthenes C. ; Iduella T. R. ; Lawrence L. ; Marion A .; Zelima; Franklin M .; Lewis W .; Baron Steuben ; and Anastesia MI., who married Lewis H. Stansbrough. Mr. Gardiner died March 3, 1831, and his wife in 1854.

Dr. James M. Gardiner was born in Newburgh on the date indicated above, and received his academical education in Newburgh. At the age of sixteen years he commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Gid- ney, and subsequently pursued his professional studies under Dr. Mott, of New York, for a year and a half. He commenced practice in 1813, and a short time after spent a year in the leading hospitals of Europe. He engaged in the practice of his profession in New- burgh throughout his life, and died Dec. 8, 1858.

As a physician Dr. Gardiner was devoted to his profession, and enjoyed a large and successful practice for nearly half a century. A short time before his death he is alleged to have said that before he had been a student one year, so great was the demand for the services of a physician, that he was pushed for- ward by his instructor into practice, and that before he was seventeen years of age he had attended with success several difficult cases of child-birth. "May God forgive me for any errors in practice that I may have committed then," said he, "but I did the best for suffering humanity that I could. And since that time, how many of the first accents of the living and the farewells of the dying have fallen upon my arm. I have seen suffering in all its forms ; have had what few physicians can claim, two cases of triplets -one all boys and the other all girls-pass through my hands into this breathing world; and, as a rule, F may claim, and I am too near my grave to be accused of boasting, a most successful practice."* On Sept. 8, 1814, he was appointed surgeon in the Ninety-first Regiment of Militia, Gen. Hopkins' brigade, com-

. Rnttenber's History of Newburgh, page 38%.

167

PHYSICIANS.

manded by Col. Michael, but was not called into active service.

invention, and brought to the discharge of his profes- Newburgh, but owing to impaired health consequent

Dr. Gardiner was of a studious turu of mind, pos- sessed of a powerful memory, which was cultivated and reinforced by a system of mnemonics of his own sional duties a thorough knowledge of the pathology and cure of disease. Of a genial and happy disposi- tion, possessed of wonderful personal magnetism, and a faculty for story-telling which few enjoy, he bore a pleasant look and encouraging manner into the cham- ber of sickness, and was justly popular in the com- munity in which he dwelt. He was a great reader, was familiar with the works of the standard authors of Great Britain as well as of his own country ; quoted with facility from them, and was a frequent contribu- tor to the literary associations to which he belonged and to the public press. He was a remarkably good chess-player, a game in which he took great delight, and had few equals among the players of the State.

Dr. Gardiner was twice married-first to Maria, daughter of Josiah Vail, of Wallkill, who died in 1824; and secondly, to Caroline H., daughter of David Havens, of Cornwall, who survives him. By the first

Dr. Garrison has led a quiet and retired lite, confined marriage were born two children, Robert W. and Lucy , himself strictly to the regular practice of his profession Ann Cornelia, who married Dr. Daniel Wells, of New- when permitted by his health to engage in active busi- ness pursuits, and has avoided political and public life. ; As a physician he was recognized as skillful in the diagnosis and treatment of his cases, successful in meet- ing and combating the various forms of disease with which he met in an extensive practice, and in the de- burgh. The issne of the second marriage were Maria A., who married Charles Smith, of Newburgh, died May 2, 1855; James H., died young ; Walter Scott, a poet and artist of ability and reputation ; Caroline H .; James H., died young ; Emma Jane, who married Charles Stewart, of Newburgh ; James 11. (2); and ; partment of surgery he ranked among the first of his Henry C. James H. devotes much of his time to the , profession. He became a member of the Orange study of mathematical science, is in correspondence with some of the leading scientists of the day, and, as an amateur astronomer, was the discoverer of what is known as Gardiner's comet, in 1863.

DR. ISAAC GARRISON was born in the town of Plattekill, Ulster Co., N. Y., on Ang. 11, 1802, and was the youngest of a family of ten children of Isaac and Martha (Denton) Garrison. His father was an intelligent farmer of Plattekill, and his grandfather, Richard Garrison, early engaged in agricultural pur- suits near Sing Sing, N. Y.

The early life of Dr. Garrison was passed upon his father's farm, and his educational advantages were such as the common schools of his day afforded. At the age of fifteen or sixteen years he attended the academy at Sing Sing, Westchester Co., N. Y., for a short time, and subsequently commenced the study of medicine under his uncle, Dr. Joshua Garrison, of Pleasant Valley. After one year he removed to New- burgh, Orange Co., and pursued his studies under Dr. Charles Miller, a leading physician and surgeon of that city, with whom he remained four years, He ! then attended courses of lectures at the Vermont Medical College, Castleton, Vt., for two years, and was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine from that institution on Dec. 2, 1823. During a

portion of the time that he was in attendance upon the Vermont Medical College, Dr. Garrison filled the position of adjunct professor of anatomy in that institution.

After receiving his degree Dr. Garrison returned to upon close application to his studies, he was obliged to return to his father's residence in Plattekill for rest, where he passed the winter. The following spring he was called to Newburgh by Dr. Miller, who was then in poor health, as his assistant. Dr. Miller died soon after, and by his request Dr. Garrison snc- ceeded to his large and lucrative practice, and contin- ued in the regular and successful practice of his pro- fession until 1849, when his health again failed him. He then removed to Brockport, Monroe Co., N. Y., ! and purchased a farm, residing there seventeen year. During this period he acted as consulting physician in a number of important cases, but did not pretend to apply himself to regular practice. In June, 1865, he returned to Newburgh, but did not resume the duties of his profession. He has since resided in that : city.

County Medical Society on Jan. 21, 1829. During a long residence in Newburgh he has ever performed the part of a worthy and exemplary citizen, and will- ingly co-operated in the various benevolent and pro- gressive enterprises of his day. On Feb. 26, 1827, he was appointed by Governor DeWitt Clinton assistant hospital surgeon of the Thirty-fourth Brigade of In- fantry of New York. For many years he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church of Newburgh.

Dr. Garrison has been three times married. His first wife was Miss Matilda Miller, sister of Dr. Charles Miller, of whom was born one child, which died in infancy. Miss Mary Tousey, the second wife, died without issue. His present wife is Catharine A., daughter of Jeremiah Scott, of New York. An only son, Charles Miller Garrison, is a student of medicine under Dr. John Deyo, of Newburgh.

DAVID HANFORD, M.D., was born July 16, 1786, at Westport, Fairfield Co., Conn., and was graduated from the Medical Department of Yale College in 1807.

He settled in the practice of his profession in Mid- dletown, N. Y., in 1810, and was for thirty-four years the leading physician of the place; identified with all of its temporal and spiritual interests, and for many years he was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church.

168

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

He was one of the number who pledged themselves to provide means to bring the Erie Railroad from Goshen to Middletown.

Dr. Hanford was one of the early members of the Medieal Society of Orange County, and was always interested in the elevation and dignity of the profes- sion. Dr. Hanford was one of the founders of the Wallkill Academy, and took an active interest in it as long as he lived. He died Oet. 13, 1844.

He married, in 1812, Margaret, daughter of Capt. Daniel Bailey, one of the old settlers of Phillipsburgh, Orange Co.

Two children survive,-John B. Hanford, a mer- chant in Middletown, of the firm of Shaw & Hanford from 1840 to 1856 (now retired), and one daughter, Caroline, wife of Charles Young, a farmer in the town of Hamptonburgh.

CHARLES WINFIELD, of Crawford, who died in 1858 or 1859, was the son of Daniel Winfield, of Shawangunk, in which town he was born, June 15, 1789. He studied under Dr. Benjamin Bevier, and subsequently graduated at the medical college in New York. He commenced practice in Crawford, and con- tinned there until his death, doing a large amount of professional business, and maintaining with severity his opposition to every species of empiricism and med- ical imposture, under whatever name, place, or guise soever. He was widely known as a politieian and public servant in an official capacity, as well as a physician. Besides minor offices, he was repeatedly elected supervisor of the town, and served as chair- man of the board, and in 1832 and again in 1834 was elected to the Assembly. He was a member of the Reformed Dutch Church, and died, as he had lived, in the love and fear of the Lord. His son, Charles H. Winfield, of Goshen, was elected district attorney in 1850, and member of Congress in 1863, and again in 1865.

DAVID C. WINFIELD, M.D., was born in the town of Crawford, Orange Co., N. Y., Nov. 19, 1817, the eldest son and child of Dr. Charles Winfield and Margaret Crawford, one of the family from whom the town derived its name, and was the first of the chil- dren to die.

His father, Dr. Charles Winfield, was a prominent physician, well known in the eonnties of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan, residing upon a farm adjacent to the village of Pine Busb, where the subject of this memoir spent his youth attending school; later, partly employed in labor upon his father's farm, and partly as a merehant's elerk in the country store of Mr. Wm. I. Smith.

He pursued his classieal studies at the Montgomery Academy. In 1837 he entered his father's office as a student in medicine and surgery. He attended medi- cal leetures during the session of 1838-39 at the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, and obtained his degree of Doctor in Medicine from the Albany Medical College in the spring of 1840.

He at once began the practice of his profession as a partner in the business with his father, and so con- tinned until his removal to Middletown in the fall of 1841.

On Nov. 26, 1845, he married Jane, daughter of the late Henry S. Beakes, and granddaughter of Stacy Beakes, one of the earliest merchants of Middletown. She survives her husband, and by her marriage with Dr. Winfield has two sons,-Charles H., a member of the firm of Wallace & Winfield, dry-goods merchants of Middletown, and David C. Winfield.

After his removal to Middletown, Dr. Winfield always resided and pursued his profession there until his death, which occurred on May 23, 1878, with the exception of the period of time from Jan. 1, 1859, to Jan. 1, 1865, when he was chosen to discharge the duties of clerk of his native county, having been re- elected in the fall of 1861. While filling this hon- orable position he resided in Goshen. Previous to his election to the position of elerk of the county, he had suffered from occasional attaeks of pulmonary hemorrhage, which indueed him to accept the office, hoping by rest from the fatigue and avoidanee of ex- posure ineident to his profession to regain his health. Dr. Winfield has for several terms filled the position of presiding officer of the Medical Society of Orange County, of which he became a member in 1843, and at the time of his death was its viee-president. By his fellow-citizens of Middletown Dr. Winfield was highly esteemed, and held several positions of honor and trust. He was a member of its board of water commissioner: from its formation, in 1867, to the time of his death; also a director in the Wallkill Bank from an early period of its existence until its close; one of the incorporators of the Middletown Savings-Bank, and its first vice-president from its or- ganization to his deeease ; also for a number of years a member of the board of edneation of Middletown, and at his death was its presiding officer.

As a physician, Dr. David C. Winfield attained to a high position in the ranks of his ehosen profession. Possessed of a sound judgment, giving due deference to the opinions of others, and exercising great care in forming his own opinions, his advice was often sought by his brother physicians, to whom he was always courteous and generous. To his clientage he gave the best efforts of his life, seldom consulting his own convenience or comfort in answering their calls. He soon gained and retained a strong bold upon their respect and affection. To the poor among his patrons he was always patient, considerate, and kind, often supplementing his advice and remedies with substan- tial evidences of the benevolenee which was a prom- inent trait of his character. Of an eminently social disposition, he was always welcomed by neighbor and friend as a genial and affable companion, while all in the community in which he lived regarded him as one of God's noblest works-" an honest man."

At the first meeting of the Medieal Society of

Doctor Robert Shaw

169

PHYSICIANS.

Orange County after his death, among other resolu- tions showing the high regard of the society for the memory of Dr. Winfield were the following :

" Resolred, That in the death of Dr. David C. Winfield, of Middletown, this society has lost a member whom we all honored and sadly miss, and wish to express our grateful remembrance of his kindness of heart, his manly uprightness and integrity of character, his cheerful and faithful discharge of professional duty both to patients and to his medical brethren.

"Resolved, That while his loss will long be regretted by his church and the large number of those who knew and loved him, nowhere ontside of his broken family circle will he be missed as by us,-his fellows and friends of the Orange County Medical Society."

ROBERT SHAW, M.D .- The Shaw family are of Scotch-Irish extraction, having at an early period set- tled in the north of Ireland, from whence a branch emigrated to America about the year 1750. Among this number was William, who chose a residence in Orange County, purchasing land in Mount Hope township, which is still in possession of the family. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Waldron, of New York, and was the father of the following chil- dren : John, Robert, Samuel, Rev. Henry, Alexander, William, James, Charles, Elizabeth, and Mary. The death of William Shaw occurred in 1822. The sim- plicity, integrity, and purity which governed his life are best illustrated by embodying in this sketch the following letter left by him on his death : "This is to be read to my children when I am laid in the grave. My dear children, as God in his merey has given you all the natural faculties and powers that are natural to man, I hope you will daily return thanks for the same, and that you will make the Seriptures your rule of life, and seek and serve God in the way and man- ner that he will approve and bless. As your mother has nursed you with the greatest tenderness, endeavor to give her a suitable return by honoring her person, and receiving her counsels and providing for her wants while God continues her in time. I hope you will love and cherish one another, not taking the least advantage, and if misfortune should befall any of you I hope the rest will, not only with your counsel, but with your property, assist your unfortunate brother or sister. Be just in all your dealings with mankind; be content with your own, be it little or much, for it is not the quantity that makes men happy, but being content with your condition. Signed with my hand this third day of June, one thousand eight hundred and six."-WILLIAM SHAW.

Robert, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. William Shaw, was born Oct. 30, 1780, on the homestead, in Mount Hope, where his early years were spent, the time being varied by study at the neighboring public school, or labor on the farm. He began his business career at a later period by engaging in the employments of a clerk at Kinderhook, N. Y., and at a subsequent date embarked in mercantile pursuits at Carpenter's Point. During this time his energetic mind sought a wider sphere of activity, and prompted him to aspire to a professional career. 11is leisure hours had already

been devoted to the study of medicine, and advantage was taken of the earliest opportunity to enter the office of Dr. Jonathan Swezey, of Goshen, under whose preceptorship he received his diploma. His first pro- fessional labors were confined to Westtown, Orange Co., where he immediately located.

In 1822 he purchased the family residence now oc- cupied by his widow, in her eighty-first year, and his son, William W. Shaw. Here Dr. Shaw continued practice luring the remainder of his life.

He was, Aug. 4, 1821, united in marriage to Miss Meliscent, daughter of Salmon Wheat, of Wallkill, whose children were William W., Elizabeth W., Mary W., Robert Livingston, and William W. (2). Dr. Shaw was a man of much influence in the com- munity, not more as a skillful physician than for his high personal character. Ile was intimately associated with the best and most prominent men of the day, " and filled, both socially and professionally, a large place in the early history of the county. He was a Whig in his political preferences, and a man of much public spirit, though not an aspirant for official place. lle was a Presbyterian in his religious convictions, and a cordial supporter of the church and all efforts for the promotion of morality.

The death of Dr. Shaw occurred in 1848, and in- spired the most earnest professions of regret as well from the public as from nearer friends.

DAVID R. ARNELL, whose name deserves com- memoration from his successful efforts in recovering from the battle-field the remains of the heroes who were slain at Minisink, is thus spoken of in an obitu- ary notice in the Goshen Republican :

"Died, on the evening of Saturday, the 2d of September, 1826, David R. Arnell, of the village of Goshen, aged fifty-five years. By his death society has lost a valuable member, religion a distinguished supporter, science a zealous votary, and the profession iu which he was an extensive practitioner an eminent and valuable member."

He was a native of the town of Minisink, but began . his practice at Prospect Hill, near Scotchtown, where for some years before receiving his diploma he was engaged in the manufacture of brown earthenware. He removed to Goshen in 1808 and commenced prac- tice, growing in public estimation until his death. Devoted to his profession and active in all its inter- ests, he gave time and thought to its study, and was so especially useful as a member of the Orange County Medical Society as to be regarded as its father. Full of patriotic inclinations, he read a paper before the society, in 1820, on Dr. Tusten, which awakened an interest that culminated in the gathering up of the bones of the fallen at Minisink and their interment at Goshen, and which planted the seed that subse- quently bore fruit in the gift by Dr. Merritt H. Cash of the present monument to their memory.

CHARLES DRAKE, one of the more recent physi- cians of Newburgh, was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y. After receiving a liberal education he studied medi- eine, and, after graduating, removed to Plattekill,

170

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Ulster Co., and entered upon the practice of his pro- once a foremost place among the physicians of Orange fession. He married a daughter of Dr. Adna IIcaton, County. of Ulster County. In 1846 he was elected to the He was an active member of the Orange County Medical Society, and aided materially in its organiza- tion, and during his life he always took a deep interest in its welfare. But the practice of medicine was not the only direction in which his talent lay, or his use- fulness was felt and appreciated in the community. Ile was a far-seeing and accurate business man and financier, and he not only looked carefully after his own interests, but his advice and counsel was much sought by others, and, as executor and administrator, many estates of his neighbors and friends were con- fided to his care for settlement and distribution, and his final accounting was always serupulously exact and rendered to the last farthing. He was twice chosen to the State Legislature, and there acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Assembly by the Democratic party. Soon after the expiration of his term he removed to Newburgh, where he continued the practice of medicine. 1852 he was elected a member of the board of trus- tees of Newburgh, and served one year. In 1855 he was elected elerk of the county by a combination of " Whigs" and "Barn-Burners," and served three years. On the formation of the Republican party he became one of its most zealous members. Ile died Jan. 29, 1863. As a physician he occupied a high rank, and throughout his professional career enjoyed a large and Incrative practice. In his official trusts he was faithful and efficient. He was charitable to the poor, and his acts of kindness and benevolence were only known to the recipients of his bounty. He was outspoken and fearless in his views upon all Late in life he married Hannah, daughter of llon. Joseph Davis, with whom he lived happily about seven years, and whose memory he cherished fondly to the end of his life. publie questions. For many years previous to his decease he was a member of Trinity Methodist Epis- copal Church of Newburgh, and took a deep interest in the erection of the church edifice now ocenpied by that society. He will be remembered as one of the representative men of Newburgh and the county. His son, J. Hallock Drake, now of New York, was district attorney of Orange County, 1865-68.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 40

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