USA > New York > Seneca County > History of Seneca Co., New York, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public building and important manufactories > Part 29
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open, and Lieutenant Crocker, with a section of B, from the only available ground at forks of the road, opened fire at six hundred yards' distance. Cheering, three colored regiments charged, but were repulsed, and the rebels charged in return, and several times some of them crossed the bridge. Captain Mercereau's section of B came up, and the four guns did their part in repelling the enemy. Lieutenant Crocker received a musket-ball in the right eye, but fonght his guns for an hour after. Seven men were wounded. B, completely exhausted, with guns too hot to fire, was then relieved by F, which worked its guns rapidly and encouraged the infantry in their attacks. Night came, and Foster, relinquishing the attack, retired from the field, Clark, of F, being the last to leave. Wildt died shortly after the amputation of his leg. On December 6, Foster renewed his attempts on the railroad, and Battery F was engaged to good purpose, a single spherical case-shot laying low ten men. From Foster's position on the 8th the railroad was within range. The in- tervening timber was slashed, and every train ran the gauntlet of the battery. The position of Foster held six thousand men in his front, and Sherman came ont upon the coast with but fifteen thousand, under Hardie, to keep back his veterans from Savannah. Foster brought B and A Battery of the Third Rhode Island from Boyd's Landing to relieve F. The railroad was now rendered impassable, and Hardee hastened to evacuate and retreat into South Carolina. Co-operating with the advance of Sherman, B and F were a portion of the forces sent by Foster to amuse the enemy and attract his attention.
On February 17 Charleston was evacuated, and its first Union artillery occu- pants were a detachment of B in garrison at Fort Shaw in charge of equipage. Batteries B and F were ordered to trenches, running from the Ashley to the Cooper, and lay in camp for some time.
On April 14, 1865, amid national salutes fired by B, F, and the harbor forts, the same flag hauled down four years before was raised again on battered Sum- ter-ours again !
When Sherman set out from Savannah for Goldsboro', the old Twenty-third Army Corps of Schofield, twenty-one thousand strong, came from Tennessee aud landed at Fort Fisher. Wilmington having been captured, J. D. Cox's Division was sent to Newbern preparatory to an advance towards the objective point.
On March 1 Cox formed two divisions, each six thousand strong; one under Palmer, the other under S. P. Carter. In the first was Battery D, Captain Van Heusen; and in the second, Battery I, four guns,-one section being left at Newbern. The advance began March 3, and by the 7th the troops were at Southwest Creek, which ran at right angles to the Union advance. Here the enemy were in force. Our skirmishers along the banks of the creek opened a sharp fire of musketry, while a section of D, under Lieutenant Stevenson, threw shell into a rebel redoubt on the other bank, and drew a reply. At dark, the section, having fired a hundred shots, drew back and took position on the extreme right, where, being joined by the other sections, it had six guns. The place of Stevenson's section was supplied by Battery I, in a position retired from that of B. To guard against attack, works were thrown up, and a heavy starting of timber made during the night. On the morning of the 8th General Carter sent a force to reconnoitre the bridge, and with them was Seymour's seetion of Battery I. When within one thousand yards of the bridge, the guns were put in position, and shelled the bridge. For three hours occasional firing was kept up, when in a moment the din of battle raged around. General Hoke had brought around three brigades between Upham's force and the Union works. As Seymour heard the rebel yells and sputtering fire, he limbered up and started for the rear. One piece thundered through the rebel lines, and reached the works. The other was delayed, and before it could go a dozen rods the horses were shot down and the gun takeo. Some of the men escaped, but John and James Hart, J. C. Langham, A. J. Hawks, and A. Kellaborn were captured ; but few of Up- ton's men escaped. Hoke now attempted to crush Cox before the other division of Conch should arrive. All along our line his veterans tried to break through the slashing and abattis, but in vain. The enemy carried the skirmish line of rifle-pits at the centre, and tried hard for the main line. Here was Battery D with four guns; and, under severe fire, they held to their work unflinchingly. Ruger arrived with a division and formed along the centre. The enemy were driven back, and the rifle-pits retaken. On the 9th Schofield arrived, and Hoke still kept up a fire of artillery and musketry. The breastworks crossing the Kinston Pike on the left flank turned to the left at right angles and ran parallel to the pike for a half-mile to the road by which Conch was expected. Here Batteries G and I and the Sixth Michigan were stationed. The breastworks of I were made of logs, over which dirt was thrown by the use of tin plates.
On the morning of the 10th, where a division of Union troops was expected, a corps of men in gray, in dense columns, was moving forward. In a moment our cannon and musketry had opened a murderous fire, yet still the enemy surged onward. A piece of Battery I, on the pike, commanding the crossing, sent shot after shot in rapid succession into the butternut ranks, until when they were but
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a few yards away the mass halted, hesitated, and then fled to the sheltering woods. The rebel advance from the woods was greeted by a severe and continued fire as it came nearer and reached the abattis; here it halted and opened a rapid, steady fire. Reinforcements came to the Union lihe, and within ten minutes the rebels gave way. As they fell back, our men cheered londly ; and a large force placed by Hoke opposite our centre, taking this as the aignal of success, charged forward and met severe repulse. Again the rebels charged on the left, and were repulsed. A third charge was made with desperation ; the abattis was crossed, and some of the more daring were struck down almost at the muzzles of the guns. The main force finally fell baek, and nearly a thousand caught by the abattis were captured. The battle had lasted but half an hour, and the rebels had lost two thousand men killed and wounded, and two thousand prisoners. Hood was satisfied to retire upon his works. Schofield's second division arrived at dark; and he found himself in command of twenty thousand exultant men. Hoke now retreated, burning bridges and evacuating powerful and extensive intrenchments, while Schofield pushed forward and occupied Kinston. The rebels in light foree skirm- ished with Schofield's force, while Hoke had gone to assist Johnson in an attack upon Sherman. The battle of Bentonville was a final effort, and soon the army of Schofield was joined to their old comrades of the West, and while preparing for a grand and final move the tidings of Lce'a surrender electrified the camp. Hard after Johnson the army pushed on to and through Raleigh. There the New York batteries took part in a grand review, and won especial notice from Sherman. June 19, orders to return home were received. Transportation waa furnished to Syracuse, New York, whence the men went to their homes. The regiment numbered twenty-two hundred men when discharged, and had received a total of forty-four hundred and eight. It lost by discase two hundred and forty-seven men; killed in battle, fifteen; wounded, two hundred and thirty- three; prisoners, seventy; descrters (bounty-jumpers), three hundred and forty- seven. Ten guns were lost by capture, one by bursting. The services of this organization in the various fields was conducive in many instances to turn a threatened disaster into victory ; its fire was deadly, and its batteries, as we have acen, without support, have contended heroically with charging masses, and have given ground only when further stay would be madness.
A large number of men from Sencca County were in these companies, and so far as possible an attempt has been made to apcak particularly of the batteries manned by them. While they had approved themselves good soldiers, they have in these succeeding years shown themselves good citizens, and many of them may be found to-day active in honored and useful positions, and rightfully proud of their service in the ranks of the Third New York Artillery.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
SENECA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY-FIRST PHYSICIAN IN SENECA COUNTY- BIOORAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE PROFESSION IN THE COUNTY.
A COUNTY medical society existed in Sencca at an carly period, but the organ- ization was abandoned in about the year 1840. Unfortunately, all the records of this pioneer association are lost. The transactions of the State Medical Society ahow that at its meeting in Albany, February 6, 1810, Dr. Oliver C. Comstock presented hia credentials from Seneca County and took his scat in that body. He was a prominent citizen, and represented this County in the Legislature in 1810, and two years afterward was appointed Judge of the County.
In 1829 the State Medical Society acknowledges the receipt of two dollars from the Seneca County Society, through Dr. Caleb Loring, its secretary, and his name appears in the State transactions for the years 1830-31, as secretary, that being the only office reported.
After a period of about twenty-five years, August 1, 1865, the present society was organized, and the following officers chosen : President, Dr. Gardner Wellce; Vice-President, Dr. Alfred Bolter ; Secretary, Dr. F. B. Seelye; Treasurer, Dr. O. S. Patterson ; Censors, Drs. James Flood, W. W. Wheeler, E. J. Schoon- maker. Since that period the society has been well sustained, and has proved a useful and important organization. The present officers are as follows : Pres- ident, Dr. S. R. Welles; Vice-President, Dr. Elias Lester ; Secretary, Dr. E. J. Schoonmaker ; Treasurer, Dr. J. Dennison ; Censors, Drs .. A, Bolter, E. J. Seboonmaker, and W. W. Wheeler.
The following extracts and biographical sketches are from an address delivered before the Seneca County Medical Society in July last, by Dr. A. J. Alleman, of Varick.
The first physician who located in Seneca County was Dr. SILAS HALSEY, who was born in Southampton, Long Island, October 6, 1743. He studied med- icine at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and in about the year 1764 he was licensed by a medical board, when he returned to his native county and began the practice of his profession, where he remained until 1776. Being a rebel, he became very obnoxious to the British, and was compelled to seek shelter in Killingsford, Con- necticut, remaining there until the close of the war. After the close of the Rev- olutionary struggle he, together with several others, atarted westward in a skiff, and finally landed at what is now known as Lodi Landing, where he struck his tent and called it home. He removed his family to Lodi Landing in the follow- ing spring, and there remained an honored and respected citizen until his death, which occurred October 1, 1832.
DR. JARED SANDFORD was the next physician. He was born in Southampton, February 19, 1774, and studied medicine under the instruction of his brother, James Sandford, of Huntington, Long Island. He graduated at Columbia Medical College in the winter of 1793-4, and during the latter year located about two miles south of the present village of Ovid, on premises now owned by a Mr. Eastman. Dr. Sandford was a man of ability in his profession, and was evidently appreciated by the people aside from his professional services. He was the first County Judge of Seneca County, in 1803, and the first will was admitted to pro- bate before him in 1804. He was also the first Postmaster in the County. He was a skillful practitioner, and, as an old gentleman remarked, "to get Dr. Sand- ford to doctor you was to get well." He was stricken down amidst a life of use- fulness, August 18, 1817.
DR. ETHAN WATSON was born in New Hartford, Connecticut, January 11, 1780. He studied his profession with Dr. Woodward, of Torringford, Connecticut, and was licensed to practice by a Medical Board, in 1801. In 1801 he located at what is now called Frelie's Landing, in the town of Romulus, aud in the spring of 1807 he removed to Romulusville, where he remained in active practice, highly esteemed as a physician, until a few years previous to his death, which occurred May 28, 1858. He, with Dr. Sandford, organized the first Medical Board, about the year 1814-15. Dr. Watson was a relative and namesake of Ethan Alkn, of Revolutionary fame, and was imbued with many of the characteristics of that illustrious chieftain.
DR. HUMPHREY C. WATSON, a nephew and student of Dr. Ethan Watson, graduated at Albany in 1842; settled in Romulus, and succeeded his uncle in practice. He moved West in 1852.
DR. E. DORCHESTER, a graduate of Geneva Medical College, located in Ovid in 1849, and upon the removal of Dr. Watson he located iu Romulus, where he remained until 1867, when he removed to Geneva, New York.
DR. RICHARD DEY succeeded Dr. Dorchester in Romulus, where he is still practicing.
DR. JOHN L. EASTMAN, a native of Massachusetts, located in Ovid in 1817, and iu the following year moved to the residence of the late Dr. Sandford in Lodi, and subsequently married the widow of Dr. Sandford. He died in Lodi in 1857.
DR. CLAUDIUS C. COAN was born in 1794, and studied medicine with Dr. Duncan, of Canandaigua. He was licensed to practice, and in 1816 located at Townsendville, and was highly esteemed as a practitioner. He is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-two years.
DR. PETER COVERT, a native of New Jersey, located in Ovid in 1818, and practiced medicine there many years, and died in 1868.
DR. N. W. FOLWELL, a graduate of Fairfield, Medical College and student of Dr. Coan, located in Lodi-as a partner of the latter-in 1830. He has aban- doned the active practice of his profession, and is residing in Romulus.
DR. ALFRED BOLTER was born in Massachusetts, studied medicine with Dr. Coan, graduated at the Geneva Medical College in 1837 or 1838, and soon after located in the village of Ovid, where he still resides, a successful surgeon.
DR. P. H. FLOOD was born in Pennsylvania in 1814, studied medicine with Dr. Gearhart, of Washingtonville, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, graduated at Geneva Medical College in 1841, and the same year located at Lodi Centre. He moved to Elmira in 1854. In 1862 he entered the army as Surgeon of the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment New York State Volunteers, and remained in the service until 1865. He was elected Mayor of the city of Elmira two snc- ecssive years, 1871-72. Dr. Flood still resides in Elmira, and has become a celebrated surgeon.
DR. JAMES FLOOD was born in Pennsylvania in 1826. He studied with his brother, Dr. P. H. Flood, and in 1850 graduated at the Geneva Medical College. Immediately after graduating he located at Lodi Centre, where he remained until 1870, when he moved to the village of Geneva.
DR. JAMES KENNEDY, a atudent of Dr. James Flood, and a graduate of the Buffalo Medical College, located in Lodi Centre in 1868. Died in May, 1873.
DR. WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE, a student of Dr. P. H. Flood, graduated at the
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Geneva Medical College, and located at Townsendville in 1848, where he remained two years.
DR. LEWIS POST, a native of Seneca County, located in Lodi Village in 1834, and has continued the practice of medicine to the present time. He served two years in the army during the late Rebellion, represented this County in the Leg- islature in 1864, and is the present Member of Assembly.
DR. J. DUNN is a native of New Jersey, graduated at Geneva Medical Col- lege in 1847, and during the same year located in Lodi Village, where he still continues in active practice.
Dr. C. R. KEYES, a student of Dr. James Flood, graduated at Detroit Medical College, Michigan, and located in Lodi in 1875.
DR. ROSE was the first physician in Farmer Village, locating in 1797.
DR. R. S. BOWEN came to this village in 1816.
DR. ALMY located in the following year, 1817.
DR. WILLIAM KIDDER settled in the village soon after Dr. Almy.
DR. WHEELER graduated at Fairfield Medical College in 1829, and soon after located at Farmer Village, where for many years he had a large and lucrative practice. He died in 1861.
DR. H. C. SKINNER located here after Dr. Wheeler.
DR. R. F. COLEMAN was also a practicing physician in this village.
DR. W. W. WHEELER graduated,at the Geneva Medical College in 1861, and the same year began the practice of his profession, which he still continues.
DR. C. C. WHEELER graduated at the Buffalo Medical College in 1848, and is now practicing in Farmer.
DR. J. DENNISON located at Hayt's Corners in 1866, and is still practicing his profession at that place.
DR. GARDNER WELLES was born in the town of Gilead, Tolland County, Con- necticut, August 26, 1784. He studied his profession with Joseph White, M.D., the celebrated physician and surgeon of Cherry Valley, New York. Dr. Welles was licensed to practice medicine November 1, 1809, and in the following year settled in Junius, and in 1816 located in Waterloo, where he resided until his death, which occurred February 18, 1872.
DR. LINUS ELY was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, January 26, 1786. He studied medicine with Dr. Crane, of Warren, Herkimer County, New York. He soon after located in Junius, and subsequently formed a copartnership with Dr. Welles. They continued in business until 1816, wheu Dr. Welles moved to Waterloo. Dr. Ely remained in Junius practicing his profession until the winter of 1852-53, when he removed to Clyde, where he passed the remainder of his life pleasantly surrounded by his family and friends. He died May 1, 1864.
Aside from Drs. Welles and Ely, the following physicians practiced in Junius : Puffer, Randolph Welles, Coppt, Shelden, and Horaee Smith.
DR. E. J. SCHOONMAKER was born in the town of Rochester, in the county of Ulster, in the year 1824. At the age of twelve years his parents moved to Seneca County, and located on a farm in the town of Tyre, Magee's Corners. His early school days were spent in Waterloo, where he completed his academic course. At the age of twenty-one he commenced the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Jacob Hasbrouck, of Tyre, and continued in his office for two years. The third year he was in the office of Dr. Landon Welles, of Waterloo. He attended three courses of lectures at the Geneva Medical College, and gradu- ated at the same place in the year 1848. He commenced the practice of his pro- fession in the spring of 1848, in Tyre, Magee's Corners, and has continued in the same place ever since. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1857, and has held the office ever since.
DR. JACOB HASBROUCK was born April 2, 1800, in the town of Marbletown, in the county of Ulster, New York. He completed his academic course at Kings- ton, Ulster County, entered Union College in 1815, and graduated at the same place in 1819. He commenced the study of medicine in the office and under the in- struction of Dr. Henry Hornbeck, of Walkill, Ulster County, and graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, in the year 1822. Com- menced the practice of medicine in the town of Rochester, Ulster County, New York, where he remained three years. Moved to the town of Marbletown, in the same county, and was in active practice for seventeen years. He then moved to Seneca County, located in the town of Tyre, and continued in the practice of his profession for six or seven years, after which he relinquished the practice of medicine, and devoted his time to agriculture. He died December 26, 1862.
DR. T. C. MAGEE located at Magee's Corners in 1816 or 1817, and for many years was a substantial member of the profession.
DR. JAMES A. HAHN was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1804. He studied medicine with Professor Gibson, Professor of Surgery in the Penn- sylvania Medieal College at Philadelphia, and graduated there in 1824. He was resident physician in Bloekley College Hospital. He located in this County in 1826, first in Fayette, then Canoga, afterward Bearytown, and subsequently in
Waterloo. After a successful career of about eighteen years, he moved to Mar- ahall, Michigan, locating there iu 1844, where he was twice elected to the office of Mayor. In the fall of 1854 he moved to Chicago, where he practiced his pro- fession, and also served six years as Alderman, two years as City Physician, and was President of the Chicago Board of Health at the time of his death, which occurred October 25, 1875.
DRS. PARKER and TAYLOR located in Scauyes in an early day, but little ia known of their history.
DR. PITNEY was a pioneer practitioner at the " Kingdom." He remained but a short time, and located in Auburn, New York, and subsequently became a dis- tinguished surgeon. .
DR. ELLIOTT was Dr. Pitney's successor at the " Kingdom."
DR. STEWART was the first physician that located at Waterloo. He kept a drug store in part of Swift's mercantile establishment, and afterwards sold to Dr. Caleb Loring. In 1817 there were practicing in Waterloo, Drs. Stewart, Fifield, Welles, and Loring. Stewart is still residing in Kalamazoo, Michigan ; Fifield died a few years since; Loring died in 1865, and Welles in 1872.
DR. ELDER located in 1820, and remained until 1830.
DR. NORMAN EDDY from 1835 to 1836.
DR. PERRINE from 1840 to 1845.
DR. LANDON WELLES from 1845 to 1868, when he died.
DR. O. S. PATTERSON creeted a dwelling in Scauyes in 1840, which was successively occupied by Drs. J. E. Smith, J. H. Sternburg, and A. A. Alleman. Dr. Patterson subsequently removed to the Williams " Mansion," and continued the practice of his profession until his death, which occurred in 1869.
DR. ABIJAH HUBBARD settled in Waterloo in 1806, and practiced until his death, in 1826.
DR. FRISBIE was practicing in this village in 1815.
DR. WIRTS located in Waterloo in 1830; is now dead.
DRS. S. R. WELLES, J. H. STERNBERO, J. W. DAY, and WM. WACHTER are the resident practitioners.
Dr. Lewis Oakley early located in West Fayette. Dr. Daniel Hudson also located in West Fayette in 1820, and remained fifteen years. Dr. O. S. Patterson also located here. In Bearytown, Drs. Hahn, Childs, Emmons, Sutherland, De Groff, Sayer, Flickinger, Frank H. Flood. In Canoga, Drs. Patterson in 1815, Chitsey in 1816, Aaron Davis in 1817, Frank Hahn and H. L. Eddy in 1839. In other portions of the town, Drs. Hunt, Roiee, Harkness, Sayer, and Rogers. In Variek, Drs. Leman, Vantyne, Goss, Glauner, and Alleman.
In Seneea Falls, Dr. Franklin Lang was the first physician ; he located in 1807, and died in 1830. Dr. Keeler located in 1810; Dr. Bellows in 1812, and for a long time was the principal physician in the place. He was succeeded by his son, James Bellows, who commeneed practicing in 1847, and died in 1864. Dr. T. H. Swaby was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1817, located in Seneca Falls in 1840, and died in 1843; Dr. John S. Clark located in 1843, and remained until 1856; Dr. L. M. Carson in 1850, died in 1852; Dr. W. A. Swaby located in 1862, and is still practicing; Dr. S. S. Covert in 1852, and remained one year; Dr. Dunham in 1858; Dr. Howe in 1851; Dr. Davis in 1853; Dr. Scelye in 1864; Dr. Lester in 1865; Dr. White in 1866, and Dr. Purdy in 1869.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
CONCLUSION.
OUR task is done, and from early settlement to present permanence the varied interests of the towns and villages of Seneca County have been studi- ously considered. We have seen the settler upon the clearing, the millwright erecting the mills upon the stream, the many landlords in their wayside taverns, the teachers in the log school-houses, and the preacher at times under the open canopy of the sky. Again the wild woods have been peopled by the Indian, and the deer have been seen leaping through the clearings. While some have migrated farther west, families yet more numerous have moved in and more than filled their places. Large farms have been apportioned to the ability to cultivate, and agriculture has been conducted by intelligence. We have noted the organi- zation of towns, the origin and growth of manufactures, and notable incidents of the early day. Again Cayuga bridge is built, and the old turnpike is crowded
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
with team, train, troops, and travelers. Again the taverns are crowded with lodgers, Mynderse conducts the business of the Bayard Company at Seneca Falls, and Swift and Williams develop the resources of Waterloo. Desirous only of a complete history of Seneca County, every source has been made available and every assistance thankfully received. Pioneers, clergymen, editors and others have contributed valuable materials in such numbers as to prevent other than general hearty acknowledgments. The history of the Fiftieth Engineers is the handiwork of one of its most efficient officers, Colonel McDonald, and that of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth the joint production of Generals Guion and Murray, approved soldiers in command of that excellent regiment. The record of other regiments has been taken from the press and from volumes of regimental history. Organizations not given are omitted only on the ground of want of space, and a history in detail would constitute a library.
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