USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I > Part 32
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DR. WILLIAM FREDERICK SCORESBY.
The Scoresby family is one of note in England. The name of Scoresby, under various orthographic modifications, but in direct line from the subjeet of this sketeh, has been traced back as far as the fourteenth eentury.
Walter de Scoreby enjoyed the distinction of " Bayliffe of York" in the year 1312; again, Nicholas de Scoreby represented that ancient city in the Parliament of Edward III .; while Thomas Scorosby occupied the civie chair in the same city in 1463.
The immediate progenitors of the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, however, moved in the humbler walks of life, none rising higher than the profession of clergy- men.
Capt. William Scoresby, the grandfather of Dr. William F. Scoresby, was born in Cropton, England, in 1760. At the age of nineteen he apprenticed himself as a seaman, and ten years later was in command of a Greenland whale- ship, in which capacity he made thirty voyages to the Arctic scas. He gained great celebrity, not only in his legitimate calling, but more especially through the impor- tance of his explorations and discoveries in those regions. He beemine an authority on all matters connected with Arctic navigation, and his observations and conclusions on this subject were of great service to the cause of seience. He had also a genius for invention, and made and suggested many improvements in connection with his professional oc- cupation. He retired from the seas with a handsome for- tune in 1823, spending the remainder of his days in Whitby, where he took an active part in the improvement of the town and harbor. He also wrote and published several essays on sanitary reform, and the improvement of harbors for the safety of vessels while in port. He died in 1828, leaving his family in comparative affluence.
Capt. William Scoresby's son, Rev. William Scoresby, D.D., took up his father's profession, and for many years was engaged in the whaling business. During this period he was carrying on a series of investigations regarding the laws of magnetism, and communicating the results to the scientific world in papers of great value. Retiring from the sea, he entered the church, and rose to eminenee as a divine. Meantime, he pursued his inquiries into seientifie subjeets, and became one of the leading savans of his day. He visited Australia as a member of the scientific com- mission ordered by the English government. He was a member of the Royal Societies of Edinburgh and London, of the Institute of France, and of the American Institute, Philadelphia. He visited this country twice, onee in 1844, and again in 1847-48. Ilis death occurred in 1857.
Capt. William Scoresby's daughter Mary married MIr. John Clark, of Whitby, England, who was largely engaged in the iron trade. Upon his death, in 1834, Mrs. Clark
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succeeded to the management of his business, and until the period of her death, March, 1876, her mining operations were among the heaviest in England, and were conducted under her sole direction.
Another daughter of Capt. William Scoresby, Arabella, married Capt. Thomas Jackson, a shipping merchant of Whitby. Mrs. Jackson is the mother of the late Prof. R. E. Scoresby Jackson, of the University of Edinburgh, whose brilliant talents gave promise of great distinction. After writing and publishing several scientific works, he died at Edinburgh, in January, 1866, his death being re- garded as a great publie loss. He married the ouly daugh- ter of Sir William Johnson, ex-Lord Mayor of Edinburgh.
Capt. William Scoresby's son Thomas, the father of Dr. William F. Scoresby, was born in York, England, in 1801. He made several voyages with his father and his brother William to the Aretie seas, as second officer. During these voyages he made surveys of the east coast of (Freenland, from the notes of which the " Scoresby History of the Arctic Region" was compiled. In the intervals between these voy- ages he studied medicine, and took his degree at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Edinburgh, in 1825. The same year he married Louisa, only daughter of Capt. George Richardson, of London, a lady of superior culture and rare graces of mind and character. Mrs. Scoresby was born in London in 1804, and died at Ellenville, Feb. 19, 1875. Dr. Thomas Scoresby practiced medicine at Whitby and Doncaster until 1834, when his associations and extra- vagant manner of living led him to seek a home in America, where he hoped to save what remained of his inherited for- tune. He wisely settled a portion of his money in England, affording him a small income for life, before his departure for America,-a provision that proved a great blessing to himself and family in after-years, for, after arriving in this country and settling at Port Jervis, he formed the acquaint- ance of a certain Mr. Bragg, an Englishman, engaged as a tanner in Sullivan County. ' Bragg induced him to remove to Fallsburg, near his place of business, and ultimately persuaded lim to interest himself in the tanning business, of which he had no knowledge. This enterprise resulted disastrously, and, in 1810, Dr. Scoresby removed to Ellen- ville and began the practice of medicine. He died at Ellenville, in March, 1866. Dr. Scoresby was a man of liberal culture, and excelled in some of the branches of medicine. Among the profession his counsel was sought, and the poor ever found in him a friend.
Dr. Thomas Scoresby had Eve children,-three sons and two daughters,-three of whom were boru in England and two in America. William Frederick, next to the youngest, with two widowed sisters, occupy the old family residence at Ellenville. Thomas, the oldest, is a Kansas farmer. Horatio, the youngest, lives at Elleuville, on the farm adjoining the Scoresby homestead.
Dr. William Frederick Scoresby was born at Fallsburg, Sullivan Co., Jan. 2, 1840. lle received an academic edu- cation, chiefly at Ellenville, under the tuition of the late Prof. S. A. Law Post. He then studied medicine and surgery under his father's direction and that of Dr. George Edwards, of New York City, and graduated at the medical department of Columbia College, New York City, iu 1861.
In 1865 he began the practice of his profession in connec- tion with his father at. Ellenville. Previons to this he re- ceived an offer from Dr. Edwards to locate in partnership with him in New York City, but a sense of duty constrained him to decline, his father's failing health and the influence of finnily ties proving more powerful than the impulses of ambition. Dr. Scoresby carly manifested an enthusiasm, aptitude, and skill in his profession that, in a larger sphere, could scarcely have failed to carry him to a high rank. Even in the restricted field of a country practice his success was large and flattering.
Jan. 29, 1867, he was married to Lillie, daughter of Capt. Jolm Ernhout, of Sandburg, Sullivan Co., a young lady of much beauty and grace of person, whose education had been conducted under supervision of her unele, Prof. John F. Stoddard, aud completed at the Willard Seminary, Troy, N. Y. She died Sept. 17, 1867, a few months after her marriage, au event that proved a severe blow to her husband.
Dr. Scoresby continued to advance rapidly iu reputation, and soon was recognized as the leading physician of his scetion. ITis counsel was sought throughout a wide neigh- borhood, and his energy and devoted sacrifice of himself to the interests of his profession enabled him to fill the ex- traordinary demands made upon his skill and advice. Es. pecially as a surgeon he achieved a high local reputation, and his services were widely sought throughout the sur- rounding country in all delicate and severe operations.
He possessed other popular qualities. Public-spirited and liberal, he was not of a nature to be an idle spectator of public affairs. Spite of considerable natural independ- ence of character and a personal pride and impetuosity tending at times to brusqueness, his usefulness and houesty were fully recognized, and he became one of the most popular young men of his section.
His first public office was that of health physician of Ellenville in the spring of 1866. In the spring of 1869 he was elected a member of the board of trustees of Ellen- ville, which office he hekl most of the time up to 1879, when he resigned ou account of ill health. He was presi- dent of the village one year. As a trustee he was an advo- cate of' village improvements, aud was identified with the construction of water-works, the flagging of the village sidewalks, ete. Early in his professional career he became a member of the Ulster County Medical Society. He has also served as medical exmuiuer for a number of life-ineur- ance companies.
Up to 1872, Dr. Scoresby's political sympathies had identified him with the Republican party. Joining in the Liberal bolt of that year, however, he was chosen a delegate to the Liberal State Convention at Syracuse, and his name appeared among the list of vice-presidents of that body. He was subsequently nominated as a candidate for State senator by the Liberal Senatorial Convention for the Four- teenth District, comprising the counties of Ulster and Greene. The nomination was promptly indersed and adopted by the Democratic Senatorial Convention. The call was unexpected by Dr. Scoresby, and he decided to decline the nomination, and so declared in consultation with his intimate friends. This decision was changed in a man-
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ner and through a motive characteristic of the man. On the heels of his decision to decline came the overwhelming Grant victories in Pennsylvania and Ohio. To his friends it was an added argument why he should not run ; to him- sell' it formed a conclusive reason why he should accept, which he did promptly, feeling that to retire in the face of gloom and disaster would be misconstrued as cowardice. Although advised by leading party supporters that his de- feat was inevitable by two thousand majority at least, and that it was idle for him to attempt a canvass, he entered into the fight with indomitable spirit and resolution. His faith was not in vain, for, spite of the disastrous termina- tion of the compaign, both locally and in the State and nation, his own election was secured. As a member of the Senate of 1872-73 he made an honoralle record, and his vote ou more than oue occasion decided adversely the politi- cal schemes of the majority. In 1877 he was unanimously tendered the Democratic nomination for supervisor of his town, and was elected by a large majority. He was again unanimously nominated the following spring, and chosen by au increased majority. As a member of the boards of 1877-78, Dr. Scoresby was a leading spirit of the majority, and his influence was fully recognized. He was a delegate to the Democratic State Couveution at Albany in the fall of 1878, and acted as one of the secretaries of the con- vention.
His health in the mean time had begun to decline, owing to the effects of blood-poisoning of his system through pro- fessional services of a peculiarly dangerous and self-sacri- ficing character, aggravated by arduous labors and a severe accident which kept him confined many weeks with a crushed leg. Spite of his condition, however, he was again called upon to receive his party nomination for supervisor, urged upon him notwithstanding his expressed objection. Accepting it in view of local party reasons, although con- fined to his home and nuable to conduct the canvass, he was defeated only by a close poll.
May 24, 1877, Dr. Scoresby was married a second time, to Grace A., daughter of Warren G. Rayner, a retired New York merchant and stock operator, of Bloomfield, N. J., a young lady of most graceful and pleasing person and char- acter, and well calculated to adorn the social and domestic sphere iu which she is called to move.
Both in professional and public life Dr. Score-by's career has been successful and honorable. He has never practiced the arts of flattery or conciliation to gain advancement. His faults have been the faults of an aggressive, ardent, and vigorous temperament. His field has been that of action, and his popularity and reputation are based upon services and sacrifices of a practical kind that speak louder than words or outward professions of his real qualities of heart and mind. He has traveled quite extensively, having made . four trips across the Atlantic. lle has visited all the prin- cipal towns and cities of England ai? Scotland, where his family connections afforded him superior opportunities of enjoying and observing the best society. On his last trip he visited the Continent, in company with his sister, Mrs. Sherman, an accomplished lady then residing in England, but at present making her home in Ellenville.
Personally, Dr. Scoresby is noted for a liberal style of
living, easy and frank manvers, ardent and generous nature, and thorough activity. He is an admirer of fine horses, and his stable and equipages have been second to none in Ulster County.
The fine old homestead that constitutes the Scoresby residence at Ellenville is one of the landmarks of the vil- lage. It is a family home; his sisters, Mrs. Eastgate and Mrs. Sherman, sharing in the duties of dispensing its refined hospitalities.
Still a young man, Dr. Scoresby's career may be said to have just opened when it was cut short by the failure of his health. No more useful man of his years has arisen in his section, and, should his health permit, the future is not without opportunities that will add to his record.
JOSIAH HAS BROUCK, M.D.,
whose portrait appears in connection with this sketch, was born in Marbletown, Jan. 1, 1830. His father, Jacob D. Has Brouck, was also a native of Marbletown, born Jan. 1, 1808, and died Aug. 25, 1865. llis mother, Ann (Oliver) Has Brouck (sister of Dr. James Oliver), was born Jan. 17, 1809, and resides at the present time (March, 1880) with her daughter Jane, in Westfield, N. J.
Josiah Has Brouck passed his earlier years upon his father's farm in Marbletown, acquiring those habits of in- dustry and that energy of character which have marked his subsequent life. He obtained the rudiments of his education in the common schools of the district. '
At the age of fifteen his father placed him at the excel- lent academy in Napanoch, then an institution of superior grade, Prof. Charles F. Maurice. principal. There he at- tended several terms. He afterwards became a student at Mt. Pleasant Academy, Sing-Sing, and completed his studies there, remaining a year and a half. The next year, 1849, he commenced teaching, and was thus engaged for three years in Marbletown and Rochester, a part of the time as principal of a select school at Stone Ridge. Hle then returned home and worked for a time upon the farm, courmeneing, however, the study of medicine with Dr. D. G. Perry, then a practicing physician of Marbletown. In 1854 he entered the office of Dr. Moses C. Has Brouck, of Nyack, as a student, and remained one year. Ife after- wards attended a course of medieal lectures at Buffalo, and completed his professional course at the Albany Medical College, where he gradnated in June, 1855. He imme- diately commenced practice in Woodbourne, Sullivan Co., where he continued in business one year. He married, Jan. 1, 1856, Ellen Jane Blauvelt, born Jan. 17, 1839, daughter of Gilbert D. and Maria (Maybe) Blauvelt, of Rockland County. In the spring of that year he removed to Stone Ridge, and practiced there for a few months.
Afier mature consideration he decided to locate perum- neatly in the town of Esopus, and removed to Port Ewen in 1857. He immediately entered upon an extensive prac- tice, taking high rank in his profession. There he has re- mained in active business to the present time, a period of twenty-three years.
The names of Dr. Has Brouck's children are Gilbert B., boru Sept. 30, 1856 (died in infancy) ; Walter D., born June 5, 185S; Gilbert D. B., born Feb. 19, 1860; John
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
M., born Oct. 22, 1862; and Josiah, born April 27, 1864. Two of his sons-Walter D. and Gilbert D. B .- are now in Rutgers College, members of the Senior elass, graduating in June, 1880.
Dr. Has Brouck, in addition to his professional labors, has also taken an active interest in all matters affecting the welfare of the community. He has filled many important publie trusts. He was president of the Ulster County Medieal Society in 1876, and has been a member of the State Medical Society since 1877.
In politics he has been a leading member of the Repub- liean party, and was chosen supervisor in 1869, 1864, and 1865. He was appointed one of the loan commissioners of the county by the Governor, and held that office for several years.
Ile has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and assisted liberally in carrying forward its works and in strengthening all of its interests.
He is now in the prime of active life, enjoying the con- fidence of the counmunity; a prudent counselor and a trusted friend.
DR. CHARLES H. ROBERTS.
" Dr. Charles H. Roberts was born Jan. 14. 1821. in the town of Moreau, Saratoga Co., N. Y. From necessity he grew to m.mhood in habits of strict economy and industry, and, like the sons of most farmers of those times, he was required to go in the field early and work hard and late in the day.
" At the age of sixteen the bonds of his attachment for home were greatly leszened by the loss of his mother, und he soon began to re- solve upon efforts for a livelihood beyond the livated sphere of farm surroundings and associations. Denied the advantages of good schools Dear his home, and yearning for better opportunities, he quittedl the parental roof at the age of eighteen, since which time be has been the architeet of his own charneter and fortune.
"Cirenmistances were by no means propitious at this time for the youth who had thus taken his fate in his own hands : his wardrobe was seanty, and the luck of means aud influence threw many and painful difficulties in his way. Yet, sustained by honesty of purpose. a consciousness of striet integrity, an la laudable ambition to strive and to win, he commeneed a manly battle of life by attending school during the winter seasons and laboring on farms through the busy months of summer.
"Some years of perseverance iu this manner enabled him to change bis season of lahor by attending school during summer and leaching through the winter months : and, after spumling a few smumers at the Glene Falls Academy, he evtameneed the study of medicine with Dr. N. Edson Sheldon, of that village, in 1812. Then followed several years of diligent application, alternating in the meantime teaching with studying, until, with some kindly assistance from his preceptor, he was prepared to enter the Albany Medical College.
" When it became necessary to enter the college above named, young Roberts, not being able to pay the tuition of less than one hundred dollars for the first course, ascertained that the charter of that institution required it to admit two worthy and promising students, one term each, gratuitously at each session, to be appointed by the regents of universities.
" On learning the course necessary lo pursue to obtain such op- pointment, he wrote to William Wilcox, member of the Legislature from his native county, who knew his circumstances, and through his intiurnee secured the appointment.
" After the close of the term which he, with but ten dollars in his porket, went to attend, followed another sonson of teaching nul studying, and then the tinal struggle, the second and last courses, and taking the diploma conferring the title of ' Doctor of Medicine,' it found competent. after the closing rigid examination.
" To defray the expenses of this second course without waiting still another year secured quite impossible, but arrangements were eventu. ally viale with the attorney of the college to take a joint uote of N.
Elson Sheldon and C. 11. Roborts for the tuition, payable one year after date. This note was given, the term attended, and the diploma received.
"The year soon passed and the note matured, but money enough bad not been aremmulated, after meeting necessary engagements, to pay in full.
" The amount on hand, however, was promptly applied on the note the day it matured, and satisfactory arrangements were made for paying the balance, principal and interest, in installments, which were subsequently promptly met.
" In his days of poverty and embarrassed circumstances Dr. Roberts* credit was always good, owing to his promptness in fulfilling bis agree- ments. In latter years it has been a subject of boastful pride that his name was never protested as payer of an obligation.
"To achieve what the doctor has accomplished may appear as an easy task to those living in these days of liberal compensation for services and far greater educational facilities, but young Roberts labored and struggled in different times. He was an extra man who commanded thirteen dollars per month for the eight farming months of the season, and an extra teacher that received fifteen dudliars per mouth in a country district school, with board alternated among his patrons.
" Dr. Roberts returned to Glens Falls after the close of the term at medical college, in the spring of 1846, with diploma in hand and his profession as his only present or prospective means of support. In his usual thoughtful habit he calmly comprehended the situation and surveyed his chances of success.
" The medical profession at that time appeared to him to be presed upon by pretenders aud charlatans of every kind, and the man of pretensions stood fully as good a chance for temporary success as the man of worth. To begin the struggle backed only by a diploma seemed too unpromising to Dr. Roberts, iuasmunch as he was wholly dependent upon his exertions for a livelihood, and already iu debt for tuition at the medical college. He could not, therefore, afford to enter the contest in the practice of medicine, and await the uncertain result. So he carefully looked about for some vocation to which his previous studies would bezt qualify him, and one that would give more imme- diate compensation. Hle finally decided on dentistry as the profession of his choice. After qualifying himself for practice, bo visited pro- fessionally several villages in Saratoga, Washington, and Dutchess Counties.
"He devoted the winter of 1848 to the study of chemistry and surgery iu the city of Philadelphia, and in May, 1849, first located permanently in Poughkeepsie, N. Y .. where his success was far better than could have been anticipated. In 1848 he commencel using the painless process for destroying the exposed nerves of teeth with a minute portion of pure crystalline white oxi le of arsenic mixed with morphia and tannie neid.
" This process was so effective in the purposes for which it was in- tended. that it materially aided him in the eummencement of bis practice.
" He was among the first to introduce in the practice the use of continuons-gum work on platinumu plates, and claims to be the first who covered the entire plate over the roof of the mouth with gum and body, thus giving the roof of the mouth the appearance of nature. He commenced this practice in 1853.
" In 1856, as his health was impaired by elose and unremitting at- tention to business. he sought rest and recreation in a visit tu Europe. where he had flattering offers by dentists to resume the practier of bis profession both in Paris and Vienna. But he had determined when he took leave of his office in Poughkeepsie to take also have uf the practice of the profession.
" In 1859 he commenced the manufacture of Roberts' . Os-Artifi- ciel,' a preparation of the silicate of the oxychloride of zine, which. in titue, was used wherever dentistry war practiced.
" Ile prosecuted the practice of his profession in the same rooms for nineteen years, and numbered ntnong his patrons many of the most prominent futnilies of the State.
" During this period he beenmo interested in numerous operativus outside of his profession, which were directed with good judgment aud prudence that led to success. Among the more prominent of these may be mentioned the entering of puldie lands in lowa. Wis- consin, and Missouri, which he commenced in 1855, entering all such only after personal examination of the kinds.
" During the crisis of 1857, and until 1861, he went into laitge
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operations in Western railroad securities, which proved abundantly successful. Scenrities purchased by him during these years to the full extent of his ability, und against the advice of his friends (as they were considered worthless and sold for nominal prices), enhanced in value as the war progressed.
" Western lands became valueless and a dead weight to carry over these years of depression, owing to increased taxation. Dr. Roberts not only carried his, but ndled many more by purchasing from those who desired to sell.
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