USA > New York > Yates County > History of Yates County, N.Y. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 18
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George E. Baley was born in Barrington, October 29, 1842 ; he was educated in the district schools, Starkey Seminary, Dundee Academy, and attended one year at the People's College at Havana. He read law with Hon. Jeremiah McGuire at Havana and also with Hull Fanton at the same place, and was admitted to the bar at Rochester in June, 1867. Mr. Baley has always resided in Barrington and practiced his profession in connection with his other labors as farmer.
Michael A. Leary, a prominent lawyer of Penn Yan, was born in Ire- land on the 7th of August, 1847, and came to this country with his parents, locating at East Bloomfield, Ontario County, when he was about eight years old. In Ontario County young Leary was educated in the districts schools and the Bloomfield Academy. In 1866 he came to Penn Yan and entered the academy, taking the preparatory course, and studied the classics for two years. In 1868 he commenced reading law in the office of John L. Lewis, and at the Monroe County General term in December, 1869, he was admitted to practice. In 1871 Mr. Leary entered into law practice with Hon. Daniel Morris, a relation that con- tinued until 1877. Since that time Mr. Leary has practiced alone. In politics Mr. Leary is a Democrat, and as such his voice has been heard through the county and elsewhere in Western New York. In 1873 he ran against Henry M. Stewart for the office of district attorney and was defeated by only 300 votes. As a candidate for Assembly against S. C. Cleveland he was beaten by 31I votes only, and in that canvass Mr. Cleveland had the sympathy of many hundreds of Democratic voters. Mr. Leary was never a candidate through his own political as- pirations, but rather through the sense of duty to his party. In 1884
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and in 1888 he was delegate to the Democratic National Conventions. In 1890 he was a member of the constitutional commission appointed to revise the judiciary article of the constitution of the State of New York.
John T. Andrews, 2d, was born in Reading, Steuben (now Schuyler) County, March 9, 1842. His early education was acquired in the Dun- dee and Watkins Academies, supplemented by a preparatory course at Alfred University. In 1863 he entered Union College and was gradu- ated in 1864, having entered the junior class. In August, 1864, Mr. Andrews enlisted Company D of the One Hundred and Seventy-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry. In December he became its second lieutenant, but was promoted first lieutenant and afterward brevet cap- tain. Hewas mustered out of service June 23, 1865. Returning from the service Captain Andrews spent three years in mercantile business in Dundee and in 1868 commenced reading law with B. W. Franklin, of Penn Yan. He was admitted in December, 1870, at Rochester. While Captain Andrews has ever since been identified with the profession his practice has become secondary to other interests. In 1873 he com- menced manufacturing on the outlet and is now the proprietor of one of the best paper- mills in the country. He is also connected with a law, real estate, and loaning firm at the county seat. In 1881 Captain An- drews was elected member of Assembly. He was appointed postmas- ter at Penn Yan in July, 1890.
Henry V. L. Jones, of Dundee, was born at Lodi in 1846, and got his first start by earnings saved from holding the plow and pitching hay. When fourteen he became a clerk in a small country store and when fifteen obtained a teacher's certificate. In 1864 he entered the Union army as a volunteer ; leaving the service with an honorable discharge he became a student at Ovid Academy ; in 1867 he entered Genesee College. Leaving this institution he became a student at Cornell. He graduated from that institution in the class of '70. After graduating he became a student in the law office of John J. Van Allen, of Watkins. In the fall of '72 he received the nomination to the Democratic ticket for school commissioner of Seneca County and was elected to that office. In 1875 Mr. Jones was admitted to the bar and at once entered in a successful practice at Ovid, afterward coming to Dundee. At that place
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he was twice elected to the office of justice of the peace by large ma- jorities. Mr. Jones has always been active in political matters and usu- ally has taken the stump during important campaigns, and frequently is the representative of the Democratic party in State conventions. In 1878 he was united in marriage to Miss Ella Sawyer. Since going to Dundee Mr. Jones has rapidly risen in the local ranks. In 1886 he was a candidate for the office of district attorney and again in 1889 was a candidate for county judge. He received a handsome vote in both campaigns, but was overpowered by the heavy Republican majority.
Darius A. Ogden was born in Penn Yan, March 10, 1850. He was educated at the Penn Yan Academy and entered Cornell for the scien- tific course. After three years he left the university. In 1871 he com- menced reading law with Morris & Leary and in 1874 at the Monroe General term was admitted to the bar. For two or three years Mr. Ogden practiced in Penn Yan, and then left the profession to take charge of the local gas company, with which he was connected eleven years. In April, 1891, he became proprietor of a hardware business in Penn Yan, succeeding the old firm of Morgan & Perkins.
John T. Knox, the present district attorney of Yates County, was born in the town of Wilson, Niagara County, on February 26, 1844. His elementary education was acquired in the common schools and the Wilson Collegiate Institute. In September, 1863, he entered Hamilton College and was graduated in 1867. After teaching one year in the Cooperstown Seminary Mr. Knox came to Penn Yan and taught in the . academy. During the school year of 1869-70 he was principal. In June, 1870, he entered the office of Judge Briggs for a course of law study and on January 4, 1871, was admitted to practice. In 1872 Mr. Knox became the law partner of Judge Briggs, a relation that was main- tained for six years and until our subject became district attorney, while his partner at the same time became county judge, thus ending the partnership. Mr. Knox was first elected attorney for the county in 1877 and again in 1880. In 1891 he was again nominated for the same office and again elected. He was village clerk for twelve years and is one of the village trustees for the fiscal year 1891-92. Mr. Knox is a Republican ; likewise he is a leader of his party in the county.
Andrew C. Harwick was born at South Barre, Orleans County, N. Y.,
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
November 30, 1849. He was educated at the Albion Academy, fol- lowed by the scientific course of Cornell University, from which latter in- stitution he was graduated in 1873. He read law with O. A. Eddy, of Holley, N. Y., and was admitted in October, 1876, at the Monroe County General term. Counsellor Harwick practiced at Albion for about a year and then came to Penn Yan. Mr. Harwick was district attorney of Yates County from January, 1884, to January, 1887, and has been otherwise prominent in village affairs and politics. He is also a leading spirit in fire department matters and with a number of the social and fraternal bodies of the village.
Delos A. Bellis, who since 1885 has filled the position of police jus- tice of the village of Penn Yan, was born in Barrington, March 17, 1851. In the district schools and in the Dundee and Penn Yan Academies he received his education. In 1871, at Kalamazoo, Mich., he com- menced law study with Thomas R. Sherwood and afterward with Sherwood & Edwards, but in 1872 he came to Penn Yan and finished his course with John L. Lewis. At the Monroe County General term in October, 1874, Mr. Bellis was admitted to practice. From that until the present time he has practiced at the county seat. In 1883 Mr. Bel- lis was the successful candidate for justice of the peace of Milo, he be- ing the nominee of the local Democracy. In this office he has since served, being re-elected at the expiration of each succeeding term. In 1885 the village trustees appointed him police justice and at the end of each subsequent three years' term he has been re-elected by the village electors.
William Hamlin Fiero was born in Milo, January 5, 1846, and was ed- ucated at the district schools, Penn Yan Academy, and Lima Seminary. From March, 1872, to June, 1875, he read law with Prosser & King, of Penn Yan, and was admitted at the June General term at Roches- ter in the last named year. Mr. Fiero has always practiced at the county seat and without a partner. He is a Republican and as such was, in the spring of 1889, elected justice of the peace of the town of Milo, an office he still holds.
William T. Morris was born in Potter, September 12, 1853. He at- tended the Penn Yan Academy and entered Cornell in 1869 and was graduated in 1873, having taken the scientific course with Latin added.
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He read law with his father, Hon. Daniel Morris, and with Foster & Thomson, of New York city, and was admitted at the Brooklyn Gen- eral term February 17, 1876. Mr. Morris remained with Foster & Thomson one year in the capacity of managing clerk, and in the fall of 1877 came to Penn Yan, where he has since practiced. In Septem- ber, 1877, he was one of the law firm of Morris & Sheppard, but on April 1, 1879, he became junior partner in the firm of Wood, Butler & Morris. March 3, 1883, the firm dissolved and Ralph T. Wood and Mr. Morris continued under the style of Wood & Morris until June, 1884, since which time Mr. Morris has practiced without a partner. He was admitted to practice in the United States Circuit Court on June 21, 1891.
Calvin J. Huson, lately and particularly remembered as having been able to carry Yates County as Democratic nominee for the Assembly, was born in Barrington, January 30, 1855. In the district schools and in the Dundee and Penn Yan Academies his education was acquired. In 1873 he commenced a course of law study with Briggs & Knox and at the Monroe General term in April, 1876, he was admitted to practice. After his admission Mr. Huson went in the office of Judge Struble and when the firm of Spicer & Struble was formed he became managing clerk. After two years he succeeded Mr. Spicer in the firm, which then became known as Struble & Huson. Four years later Judge Struble went on the bench and O. F. Randolph became partner with Mr. Huson under the style of Huson & Randolph. The latter soon retired and Mr. Huson practiced alone until January, 1889, when Will iam D. Dwelle became associated in the business under the name of Huson & Dwelle. Calvin J. Huson is a leader of the Democracy in Yates County and has frequently represented his county at Democratic State conventions. For a number of years he has been chairman of the Yates County Democratic Central Committee. In 1890 he represented Yates in the lower House of the State legislature. During the session of the legislature in 1891 he held the important office of Assembly journal clerk. On January 1, 1892, Mr. Huson was appointed deputy comptroller of the State of New York, which position he now holds.
Orville F. Randolph was born in the town of Torrey, August 2, 1855. He graduated from Starkey Seminary in 1873 and entered Oberlin
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
College in the class of '76, but left before finishing his course. He read law with Spicer & Baker, of Dundee, and with Briggs & Knox, of Penn Yan, and was admitted at Buffalo in June, 1877. Mr. Randolph has practiced in Penn Yan and Dundee, but a part of his time has been spent in the West. From 1884 to 1886 he was in partnership with Calvin J. Huson. Since the summer of 1888 he has been connected with the office work of the Yates County National Bank.
Abraham Gridley, more familiarly known as Captain Gridley by rea- son of his connection with a local military organization, was born at Auburn on the 29th of October, 1851. His early education was acquired in the common district schools only, but by self- application and perse- verance he fitted himself for college. In 1869 he entered Cornell, tak- ing the scientific course, and was graduated in 1873. He then entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and graduated in 1875. He came East and read law with Judge Stru- ble, and was admitted at Syracuse as an attorney in 1878 and at Roch- ester in 1880 as a counselor at law. The present law firm of Carmody & Gridley was formed in 1889.
Thomas Carmody was born in the town of Milo, October 9, 1859. He was educated at the district schools, the Penn Yan Academy, and attended Cornell University for three years, but was not graduated. During his studies at Cornell he read law with A. A. Hungerford at Ithaca. He was admitted at the Monroe County General term in April, 1887. In January, 1889, he formed a law partnership with Abraham Gridley at Penn Yan under the style of Carmody & Gridley. In April, 1891, Governor Hill appointed Mr. Carmody to the office of district attorney of Yates County.
John H. Johnson, junior member of the late firm of Franklin, Andrews & Johnson, was born in Canandaigua, August 2, 1853. He was ed- ucated at the academy of his native village and entered Hobart Col- lege as a sophomore in 1874, but was not graduated. He read law with Smith & Hamlin, of Canandaigua, and was admitted at Rochester in 1879. He practiced at Canandaigua until 1882, when he came to Penn Yan and became associated with the firm of Franklin & Andrews, and in 1888 he became a member of the firm.
Henry C. Harpending, of Dundee, was born at Starkey on the 8th
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of September, 1847. He was educated at Dundee and at Starkey Sem- inary, where he graduated in 1868. He read law with Feeter & Baker, of New York city, and then with Mr. Baker at Dundee. He was ad- mitted to the bar in the spring of 1872 at Oswego, and immediately opened an office at Dundee. Mr. Harpending has for many years been identified with public affairs. In the spring of 1873 he was elected justice of the peace and served four years. In the spring of 1883 he was elected supervisor and served one year. In the fall of 1883 he was elected a member of the New York Assembly ; he served one term. Mr. Harpending is the only Democrat, with two exceptions, that within the last twenty years has represented the Republican county of Yates in the State Assembly.
Lewis J. Wilkin, a practicing lawyer at Dundee, read law in the office of Prosser & Briggs at Penn Yan and was admitted to the bar in 1856.
William D. Dwelle was born in Potter, January 2, 1863 ; he was edu- cated at Penn Yan Academy and entered Cornell in 1879, graduating in 1883. He read law with Struble & Huson and Briggs & Baker, of Penn Yan, and Stevens & Selden, of Rochester, and was admitted at Rochester, April 1, 1886. Mr. Dwelle practiced alone until 1889, when the present law firm of Huson & Dwelle was formed. He has held the office of village clerk since April, 1888.
In this connection there should also be mentioned the names of two other members of the legal profession in the county: Maj. Foster A. Hixson, of Vine Valley, and Lyman J. Baskin, of Starkey. Major Hix- son was formerly prominently identified with the practice in the county, but since the war of 1861-65 has directed his attention to other mat- ters. He is a grape grower in Middlesex. Lyman J. Baskin practices at Starkey.
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF YATES COUNTY.
W HEN we consider the importance and elevated character of the science of medicine-its object, the preservation of the health and lives, and the healing of diseases, and the amelioration of the physical and mental sufferings of our fellow human beings, its extent embracing a knowledge of all science-it is evident that medical education should engage the earnest attention of the entire medical profession. The ad- vances made in all the branches of knowledge, and especially in the science of medicine during the past century, have exceeded in extent and value those of all past ages ; and it is no longer possible to com- press its vast domain within the narrow limits of "seven professor- ships." The present age owes its wonderful progress to experimental and scientific research.
Evolution and development are the talismanic watchwords of the nine- teenth century, and the doctrine is now being accepted that things in the world do grow and are not made; it is no longer universally ac- cepted as a matter of religious faith that the world was created by su- pernatural power, for many of our deepest thinkers, men of the most profound understanding, believe that it has been gradually unfolded by the action of natural causes. But not wishing to be accused of heresy it may be stated that whether the theory be according to Darwin, or Hackel, or Spencer, or some other philosopher, the law will be the same in any case, and away back behind "protoplasm," "germinal matter," and " celular germ " there exists abundant proof of a "first great cause," of an "infinite wisdom," for the depth of which language hath not expression. A flood of light on this subject is now pouring forth on the world, but its acceptation as a convincing truth rests in a great measure wholly with the individual.
" The world," says Goethe, " is not so framed that it can keep quiet." All the natural energies are brought into full force by the spirit of enter- prise, by the spirit of progress. The telegraph wires wipe out all ter-
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
ritorial boundaries and railroads penetrate the utmost confines of the earth, and by them States and territories are bound fast together in one web. Science and enterprise have spanned the continent with electric wires, cabled the Atlantic Ocean, given us the measurements of revolv- ing planets, spread forth the canvas to the gale, and made the trackless ocean a highway through the world. By the use of scientific and cun- ningly devised instruments bleak skies and rude winds are foreseen and the navigator places himself in safety. The electric light has displaced gas as effectually as the latter did the "tallow dip," and is established upon a secure commercial basis. School-houses, churches, newspapers, and books open up to the poorest the lights and opportunities of knowledge.
The great and wide advancement in the different branches of medical science within the last generation is as much a marvel as the progress made in any other of the arts and sciences. The poorest laborer can now obtain advice and medicine far superior to that which royalty could command one or two centuries ago. " The advance in medical know]- edge within one's memory," says Sir James Paget, "is amazing whether reckoned in the wonders of science not yet applied, or in practical re- sults, in the general lengthening of life, or, which is still better, in the prevention and decrease of pain and misery and in the increase of working power."
The dawning of medical science which now sheds its light through the world began with Hippocrates nearly 2,300 years ago, and he first treated of medicine with anything like sound or rational principles. He wrote extensively, much of which has been translated, and serves as a foundation for the succeeding literature of the profession. He relied chiefly on the healing powers of nature, his remedies being exceedingly simple. He taught that the people ought not to load themselves with excrements, or keep them in too long ; and for this reason he prescribed " meats for loosening the belly," and if these failed he directed the use of the clysters. Three hundred years before Christ Erasistratus invented and used the catheter, introduced the tourniquet, and produced an in- strument for lithotriptic operations. Celsus flourished A. D. 50 to 120 as the greatest of Roman surgeons. Through all the centuries, from the beginning of the Christian era down to the time of the discovery of
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the circulation of the blood by Harvey, 1619, medicine shed but a glimmering light in the midst of the darkness then enshrouding the world, and the greatest strides in the advancement of the various branches of medical science have been made in the last 100 years, and most of them may be placed to the credit of the last half century.
Physiologists no longer believe with Parcelus in the sixteenth century that the planets have a direct controlling action on the body, the sun upon the heart, and the moon upon the brain ; nor do they now believe that the vital spirits are prepared in the brain by distillation ; nor do they admit that the chyle effervesces in the heart under the influence of salt and sulphur, which take fire together and produce the vital flame. On the contrary modern physiology teaches that the phenomena of the living body are the results of physical and chemical changes ; the tem- perature of the blood is ascertained by the thermometer ; and the differ- ent fluids and gases of the body are analyzed by the chemist, giving to each its own properties and function.
While the eighteenth century witnessed greater advancement in the department of medical science than any or all of its predecessors, the crowing achievements seemed to have been reserved for the nineteenth, the present century. Among the thousands of elements that com- prise this century's advance in medical science mention will be made of but one, and that among the first discoveries, i. e., the use of anæsthet- ics, which benumb the nerves of sensation and produce a profound but transient state of insensibility, in which the most formidable operation may be performed while the patient sleeps and dreams of home and happy hours, and the physican is left to the pleasing reflection that he is causing no pain or suffering.
But it appears that as rapid as has been this advance during the last 100 years so, correspondingly, have these developed new forms and phases of disease to baffle the skill of the most eminent physicians and scientists in the land ; and while diseases, malarious in their character, have for a time defied the attempts to overcome them, they have nev- ertheless been subdued and conquered. Medical skill has proven equal to every emergency. There is today known to botanists over 140,000 plants, a large proportion of which are being constantly added to the already appalling list of new remedies. Many of these new drugs pos-
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sess little if any virtue, save as their sale adds to the exchequer of some enterprising pharmacist. A drug house in New England recently issued a circular in which they advertised 33 syrups, 42 elixirs, 93 solid ex- tracts, 150 varieties of sugar- coated pills, 236 tinctures, 245 roots, barks, herbs, seeds, and flowers, 322 fluid extracts, and 348 general drugs and chemicals.
The ancients were not so well supplied with drugs. It was the custom among the Babylonians to expose the sick to the view of pas- sers-by in order to learn of them whether they had been afflicted with a like distemper and by what remedies they had been cured. It was also the custom of those days for all persons who had been sick and were cured to put up a tablet in the temple of Esculapius, wherein they gave an account of the remedies that had restored them to health. Prior to the time of Hippocrates all medicine was in the hands of the priests and were associated with numerous superstitions, such as sympathetic ointments applied to the weapon with which the wound was made, in. cantations, charms, amulets, the royal touch for the cure of scrofula, human or horse flesh for the cure of epilepsy, convulsions treated with human brains.
While all this credulous superstition of early ages, born of ignorance, existed to a vastly large extent, it has not been fully wiped out by the generally advanced education of the present day. The latest appeal to the credulity of the masses of the people is an invention to relieve the unfortunate sick, and is known as the "Faith Cure." The persons seeking to popularize this means of cure are either deceived themselves or are deceiving others. Upon this point a popular writer says : If the disease be an incurable one all the prayers in the world will not cure it. Filth brings fever ; prayer cannot interpose. There is probably no de- partment of medicine at the present time more promising of good results than is sanitary science. While physiology and pathology are making known to us the functions of the human body and the nature and cause of disease, sanitary science is steadily teaching how the causes of disease may be removed or avoided and health thereby secured.
Progress during the coming 100 years, if only equal to that of the past, will more than have accomplished great works in the advancement of sanitary science ; but the accomplishment of this work calls not only
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