USA > New York > Wayne County > Landmarks of Wayne County, New York, Pt. 1 > Part 13
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lawyer who died carly in his career), Thomas Ninde, and finally Charles MeLouth, with whom he became associated in 1858, and continued until 1866. In that year he went to New York city and substantially made that his residence, gaining a large practice. He was elected dis- trict attorney of Wayne county in 1861. Besides his law business in New York, Mr. Aldrich assisted in organizing the Union Trust Com- pany and was its secretary. He was also appointed by the courts re- ceiver for large estates. He died November 14, 1878.
James Peddie was a native of Fulton county, N. Y. He came to Palmyra after having taught school a few years, and began practice. He was a Democrat in politics, a speaker of considerable ability, gener- ous hearted, and became very popular. He held the office of town superintendent of schools and justice of the peace. Late in life he re- turned to his native place and died there.
L. S. Ketchum was conspicuous in the early bar of the county. He was probably a native of Chautauqua county and settled in Clyde early in his career. He was elected judge of the county in 1851, and re- elected in 1856, holding the office eight successive years. He married Mary Young of Marion. Judge Ketchum was noted among his brethren for his kindness and consideration towards young lawyers who appeared before him ; for his unfailing generosity, and for a sturdy and outspoken honesty which would never permit any misrepresenta- tions of witnesses or other questionable practices by attorneys. Several local lawyers studied in his office who subsequently became prominent. Among them are George W. Cowles, of Clyde, and Charles Mc- Louth, of Palmyra. He was quite prominent in politics and altogether attained a position of honor among his fellow citizens. He died in Clyde about twenty years since.
George II. Middleton came to Wayne county from New London, Conn., either with or about the same time of his father who settled first in Newark village. The father died in the town. The son had been admitted to practice before his removal to Wayne county, and for many years was one of the leading lawyers of this section. He was elected county judge in 1847 and held the office one term. He was twice married, his second wife being a sister of H. K. Jerome. Judge Middleton removed to Syracuse where he died.
William S. Stow was born in Middlebury, Vt., October 6, 1797; studied law with Elisha Williams in Hudson, N. Y., and was admitted to the bar August 19, 1818. He began his practice in Cherry Valley
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in 1819; removed to Bainbridge, N. Y., in 1820, where he married a sister of William S. De Zeng, and removed to Clyde in 1825. He was a man of very active mind and possessed good ability as a lawyer. He was one of the founders of St. John's Episcopal church in 1840; a trus- tee of Clyde High School at its organization in 1835; was for thirty- eight years a warden and vestrymen in St. John's church; twenty-eight years a delegate to the Diocesan Council, and was a persistent collector of local historical material. He was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity from 1823 until his death. His son, De Lancey Stow, is now in practice in Clyde.
Clark Mason was born in West Woodstock, Conn., in 1809, and came to Newark in 1828. He lived there until 1863, when he was elected county clerk and removed to Lyons. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1850 and practiced in Lyons, where he died in January 30, 1882. From 1829 to 1863 he was a justice of the peace in Newark, and was six years a member of the Board of Education in Lyons; he was also justice of the peace in the latter town from 1878 to 1882. He married in 1847 Emeline Petrie, who survived him.
Charles D. Lawton was a native of Newport, R. I., where he was born September 2, 1802. He was educated at Hamilton College, and studied law with Hiram K. Jerome, of Palmyra, and was admitted ' about 1831. In 1833 he began practice in Clyde. In 1837 he was ad. mitted to practice in the Supreme Court. Elected district attorney, he removed to Lyons in 1844 and in 1848 went to New York city where he was in practice with his brother Cyrus: About a year later he re- turned to Clyde, where he died August 31, 1877. He was a lawyer of good ability and high ideals of his profession.
Hon. Horatio N. Taft was born in Savoy, Mass., in 1806'and came to Lyons in 1822, where he was one of the founders of the Union school. He was admitted to the bar and advanced in his profession. In 1845 he was elected judge and in 1846 was sent to Congress. In 1876 he was appointed chief examiner in the U. S. patent office. He left Washington in 1866 and for about twelve years was one of the editorial staff of the Scientific American. He subsequently settled in Sag Harbor.
Luther M. Norton, of Newark, was born in Groveland, Livingston county, N. Y., in February, 1832. He studied law in Mt. Morris in that county and was admitted to the bar in December, 1855. He re- moved to Newark and for one year was a partner with the late Judge
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George. II. Middleton. Ile soon assumed a prominent position as a gen- eral practitioner, and took considerable interest in politics. He held the office of justice of sessions and in 1870 was elected county judge and surrogate, holding the office one term. In 1892 he was again elected to the same office and is the present incumbent. Judge Norton enjoys the confidence and respect of the county bar and the public at large.
Charles H. Roys was born in Lyons in 1837 and was adopted when a child by his maternal grandfather, Samuel Westfall. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1861; raised a company of volunteers in Clinton and went to the war as lieutenant; was promoted to a captain in 112th Regiment and brevetted major. Returning he studied law with John T. Mckenzie, in Lyons. He was elected district attorney in 1870. Mr. Roys is a brilliant orator, well versed in the principles of his profession and has had a successful career.
Thomas Robinson was born in Rose in 1837. He was a son of Henry Robinson, a native of Ireland, who settled in Rose in 1835,. and died in 1874. The son was educated in Red Creek Academy and Falley Seminary ; was elected school commissioner in 1860 and served four years, meanwhile reading law with George W. Cowles; was admitted in 1865, and remained in the office with Judge Cowles until 1881, when he began practice by himself. He was elected State senator in the fall of 1883 and served two years.
George H. Arnold was a promising young attorney of Lyons whose career was closed by death at the age of thirty-seven years; he died July 2, 1867. He was a graduate of the law school at Poughkeepsie and began practice in the office of Smith & Cornell in Lyons.
In Part II of this volume will be found personal sketches of numer- ous other living attorneys of Wayne county.
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CHAPTER XI.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Wayne County Medical Society-Wayne County Homeopathic Medical Society- Sketches and Reminiscences.
PREVIOUS to the formation of Wayne county the medical profession was, of course, under the jurisdiction of the Ontario County Society, which had its origin early in the present century. There is now no prac- ticable means of learning the number of members of that society, or the officers, if any, who were from within the present limits of Wayne county, except as they may be inferred from the list of those who shared in organizing the Wayne County Society.
A meeting of physicians and surgeons was held, pursuant to a call, in the Presbyterian Church in Lyons on June 2, 1823, for the purpose of organizing a medical society in the new county. Dr. Gain Robinson was chosen to preside, and William White acted as secretary. The fol- lowing named persons were found competent and authorized to practice medicine, and enrolled their names: Seth Tucker, C. S. Button, Samuel Moore, Abraham L. Beaumont, Robert W. Ashley, Daniel Chapman, William White, Joseph P. Roberts, Henry Hyde, Elisha Mather, Levi Gaylord, Gain Robinson, Durfee Chase, Allen II. Howland, John Lewis, William A. Gilbert, J. B. Pierce, Henry C. Hickox, Jonathan Corwin, Morris T. Jewell, Timothy Johnson, and John R. Taintor.
This made a membership of twenty-two. The election of officers fol- lowed with this result: President, Gain Robinson; vice-president, John Lewis; secretary, William White; treasurer, Elisha Mather; censors, J. B. Pierce, sr., A. L. Beaumont, Robert Ashley, Morris T. Jewell, Durfee Chase.
The preparation of by-laws for the society was entrusted to a commit- tee consisting of Seth Tucker, J. B. Pierce, and William White. Will- iam H. Adams and Alexander R. Tiffany were admitted honorary mem- bers of the society and chosen its attorneys. A committee was also selected to procure a society seal, to bear the symbol of a lancet.
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It was determined to hold two meetings each year, in June and in February." At the second meeting, which was held in Sodus, four new members were elected: Alexander McIntyre, Josiah Bennett, Jacob S. Arden, and Hiram Mann. After this meetings were held in the vari- ous more prominent villages of the county.
That the Wayne County Medical Society early determined to open a war upon illegal practitioners is indicated by the fact that at the meet- ing held in Newark in 1824 a committee was appointed from each town to report illegal practitioners to the attorneys of the society, and a reso- lution was adopted that a fine of twenty-five dollars be imposed upon any member who should in any way assist or countenance such illegal practice. This was an unusually severe penalty for an offense that in early times was often difficult to avoid. A resolution was adopted at a later meeting, that representatives of the county in the Legislature be requested to endeavor to secure the passage of the law making it a felony to practice illegally. The beneficent law of 1880, which makes it imperative for every physician intending to practice in any county to register his name, place and date of birth, when and where graduated, etc., in the county clerk's office, renders such regulations unnecessary in these later times, and at the same time supplies a record which may be read by both professional and layman.
Eight new members were admitted to the society in June, 1824. At the annual meeting of 1825, held in Newark, an effort was inaugurated to procure the removal of the medical college at Fairfield, Herkimer county, to some point farther west, with the expectation that it might be ultimately located in Wayne county. The annual meeting of 1826 was held in Palmyra, and Dr. Alexander MeIntyre was chosen as the first delegate to the New York State Medical Society ..
During the period between the formation of the society and 1840 this society seems to have experienced a period of prosperity and activity, during which 117 members were admitted; but the act of May 6, 1844, removing to a great extent the restrictions on physicians, and ignoring their qualifications, struck a severe blow at all medical societies, and for a few years the Wayne society was discouraged. About 1850 interest again awakened, members became active and earnest in working for the general welfare and good reputation of this profession, and the so- ciety has flourished ever since. Many able and important papers have been prepared and read before the society by its officers and members.
In 1884 this society withdrew from the New York State Medical So-
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ciety and joined the New York State Medical Association, of which it has since been a member.
The successive presidents of the Wayne county society have been as follows: Gain Robinson, 1823-26; Robert W. Ashley, 1822; J. B. Pierce, 1828; Gain Robinson, 1829-30; Robert W. Ashley, 1831 ; John Delamater, 1832-34; A. McIntyre, 1835-38; J. M. Wilson, 1839-41; A. Melntyre, 1842-43; Nelson Peck, 1844-45; Dr. Gaylord, sr., 1846; A. MeIntyre, 1847-8; J. B. Pierce, 1849; from 1850 to 1876 the following: C. G. Pom- eroy, Darwin Colvin, L. M. Gaylord, S. Weed, E. W. Bottom, J. E. Smith, A. F. Sheldon; C. M. Kingman, 1876; J. N. Arnold, 1826; L. S. Sprague, 1848; Alexander Sayres, 1829; H. F. Seaman, 1880; L. A. Crandall, 1881; C. G. Pomeroy, 1882; J. W. Putman, 1883; D. B. Hor- ton, 1884; Darwin Colvin, 1885; D. B. Horton, 1886; J. W. Arnold, 1887; W. J. Hennessy, 1888; N. E. Landon, 1889; A. A. Young, 1890; George D. York, 1891; M. E. Carmen, 1892; Darwin Colvin, 1893.
The annual meeting of this society for 1894 was held at the court- house in Lyons on July 10. The annual address was read by the presi- dent, Dr. Darwin Colvin, on the subject: "Medical Men and Medical Literature Fifty Years Ago." It was a valuable and interesting paper. Committees were appointed to prepare resolutions of respect and sym- pathy upon the death of Drs. John A. Patterson, of Harwick, Mass., and Frank H. Finley, of Macedon. A vote of thanks was tendered the retiring secretary, Dr. J. M. Turner, for her long and faithful service. The following officers were chosen for the ensuing year; Dr. L. H. Smith, of Palmyra, president; Dr. T. H. Hallett, of Rose, vice-presi- dent ; Dr. A. A. Young, of Newark, secretary; Dr. Darwin Colvin, of Clyde, treasurer; Drs. M. A. Veeder, N. E. Landon. W. J. Hennessey, and A. A. Arnold, censors; S. B. MeIntyre, esq., of Palmyra, attorney.
Following is a list of the members of the society for 1894: Thomas H. Hallett, Rose; Charles H. Towlerton, Lyons; M. Alice Brownell, Newark ; L. A. Crandall, Palmyra; J. N. Arnold, Clyde; J. W. At- wood, Marion; G. D. Barrett, Clyde; H. N. Burr, Palmyra; H. L. Chase, Palmyra; Darwin Colvin, Clyde; E. H. Draper, Wolcott; W. J. Hennessey, Palmyra; N. E. Landon, Newark; James W. Putnam, Lyons; H. F. Seaman, Alton; A. F. Sheldon, Lyons; J. E. Smith, Clyde; L. H. Smith, Palmyra; J. L. Sprague, L. S. Sprague, William- son; Miss J. M. Turner, M. H. Veeder, Lyons; George D. York, Hu- ron ; A. A. Young, Newark; M. E. Carmen, Lyons; Frank S. Barton, Clyde; F. L. Wilson, Sodus; M. W. T. Negus, South Sodus; W. F. Nutten, Newark,
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The society now holds annual meetings on the 2d Tuesday of July, at which officers are elected, and semi-annual meetings on the 2d Tues- day of January. Since 1880, 194 physicians have registered in the county clerk's office in Lyons.
Wayne County Homeopathic Medical Society .-- Ever since the intro- duction into this country of the school of medical practice founded by Hahnemann, Wayne county has had its representatives, and among them have been men of high character and intelligence, who have been favored with large practice. All this is indicated by the fact that as early as 1864, on February 9, a society of physicians of this school was organized at Lyons, at the office of Dr. S. D. Sherman. Dr. M. F. Sweeting, at South Butler, was chosen chairman. The society organ- ized by the election of the following officers: Durfee Chase, president ; M. F. Sweeting, vice-president; E. R. Heath, secretary and treasurer. A code of by-laws and a constitution was prepared and at a later meet- ing was adopted. It was at first determined to hold semi-annual meet- ings, and afterwards quarterly. Besides the officers before named the following constituted the original membership: A. G. Austen, O. C. Parsons, S. B. Sherman, L. Goedicke, and A. P. Troop. At the pres- ent time (1894) the society has twelve members. The last body of of- ficers was elected in 1889 as follows: President, J. A. Reed, of Newark; secretary, William II. Sweeting, of Savannah. Dr. Sweeting has held the office of secretary continuously, since 1881. The following have held the office of president of this society: Drs. Durfee Chase, 1864-65: S. D. Sherman, 1866: M. F. Sweeting, 1867-73-76; A. G. Austin, 1868 69; S. D. Sherman, 1870 21; W. B. Brown, 1872; G. C. Childs, 1877- 79; IL. P. Van Deusen, 1880-85; J. C. McPherson, 1881-84; D. Mc- Pherson, 1886-88; J. A. Reed, 1889.
Biographical memoranda of the early physicians of Wayne county is very difficult to obtain, excepting in such instances as it has been con- tributed by direct descendants. Even then it is often fragmentary and incomplete.
In the original town of Wolcott Dr. Zenas Hyde was prominent as a physician and useful as a citizen. His first settlement was made in what is now the town of Huron, in January, 1808. A child of his was the second person born in the town. In the winter following he per- formed the first surgical operation in that town by amputating the leg of Daniel Grandy, which had been badly crushed by a falling tree. It is a tradition that the doctor had no regular surgical instruments and
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cut the off leg with a razor, a handsaw, and a darning needle, and that the operation was successful. He was afterwards taken to task by his pro- fessional brethren for working with such unorthodox instruments.
Artemas W. Hyde was a doctor who settled very carly in the town of Arcadia, but probably practiced very little, if at all. He built a tav- ern at Hydeville, which he kept as a popular resort during his life.
The first physician in Lyons was Dr. Prescott, and came probably as early as 1800. A Dr. Willis also settled there, but did not like the prospect and went away. Dr. William Ambler located there a little later and lived in a log house on the corner of Broad and Pearl streets. Ile afterwards removed to Sodus.
Dr. Pierce was in practice about fifty years in Lyons, and died in the village. Dr. E. Ware Sylvester located in Lyons as a dentist, though he was educated as a regular physician. He practiced many years, and finally established the Lyons nurseries, and was instrumental in developing the fruit industry of the county.
Dr. Edward Wheeler Bottum was born in Red Hook, N. Y., June 22, 1811. Ile graduated from the Castleton (Vt.) Medical College, began practice in Victory, N. Y., removed to Huron, and settled in Lyons in 1856, where he was afterwards associated with Dr. William G. David, and Drs. Chamberlain, Gillette and Veeder. He was a member of the New York State and Wayne County Medical Societies, and was member of Assembly in 1851. He died February 29, 1888.
Dr. Hiram D. Vosburg was born in Herkimer county in 1831, attend- ed Fairfield Academy, moved to Macedon in 1849, and the next year began the study of medicine in Palmyra with Dr. Hoyt. He gradu- ated from the medical college at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1853. He also studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1862 he went into the army as surgeon of the 8th New York Cavalry, was disabled and assigned to Columbia Hospital, Washington. In 1865 he settled in Monroe county, and in 1870 removed to Lyons, where he died, March 25, 1870.
Dr. Fletcher J. Sherman practiced in Lyons from about 1881 to the date of his death in October, 1887. He was born in 1852, graduated at the Rochester University in 1876, and studied his profession in the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Richard P. Williams was an early physician in Newark, and built the house afterwards occupied by Dr. Charles G. Pomeroy. Dr. Button was also located early in Newark.
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Dr. Charles G. Pomeroy was a native of Madison county, N. Y., and settled in Fairville in 1838, where he practiced seven years, and then located in Newark. He was for many years a leading physician in this county, was president of the Medical Society many times, and a mem- ber of the State Medical Society.
Dr. William N. Lummis migrated from Philadelphia to Sodus Point in 1804, and was among the very early and prominent physicians of what is now Wayne county. He was born in Woodbury, N. J., April 15, 1755. He had previously explored more or less of the Genesee country, and selected Sodus for his home. When the war of 1812 began he removed two miles west, where he built mills and a forge. His former house at the Point was burned during the attack of the British. He held various town offices, and was in all respects a public- spirited and useful citizen. Turner's History says of Dr. Lummis: "To indefatigable industry and perseverance he added extraordinary business talent, and to a vigorous intellect he added a thorough edu- cation, cultivated literary tastes and pursuits, which, in hours of relax- ation from the sterner duties of life, made him an agreeable and in- structive companion." He died April 16, 1833.
Dr. Thomas G. Lawson, from England, was an early settler at Sodus Point, where he purchased lands and spent money freely in their im- provement. He returned to England after a few years.
Other early physicians of Sodus were: Drs. Coon, Gibbs, and Johnson. After 1810. Dr. Elisha Mather practiced in the town. He was from Saybrook, Conn., located first on a farm, and in 1821 settled in Sodus Center, where his son afterwards resided. Dr. Levi Gaylord, who died in 1852, practiced thirty years in the community, and left his son, Dr. Levi M. Gaylord, to follow in his footsteps. He was born March 27, 1823, and died in Sodus, January 20, 1890, where he had practiced about forty-five years. Dr. H. H. Ostrom was the pioneer physician at Alton, and father of Dr. H. Ostrom. Dr. P. S. Rose, a native of Oneida county, settled at Sodus Center in 1847. Dr. John C. Lamont, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland graduated from the College of Physicians' and Surgeons, New York, and settled in Sodus to begin practice in 1871; he died December 13, 1887. He was a prominent Mason.
Dr. Darwin Colvin, of Clyde, comes of a family distinguished for professional ability and honor. His father was Dr. Nathan P. Colvin, formerly of Washington county, N. Y., who was in practice more than
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sixty years. The ancestors of the family came from Rhode Island. Dr. Colvin was born on the 6th of July, 1822. When nine years of age his father moved from Washington county to Wayne county. The son at- tended the academy at Clyde. Then for three years he was under special instruction in the classics with a view of preparing himself for West Point United States Military Academy. He was, however, born to be a physician. For awhile he was in a drug store, then he com- menced studying medicine with his father, and later still with his uncle, Dr. Robert T. Paine, who was associated with his father in the practice of medicine. In January, 1844, he graduated from the Geneva Medical College, and commenced practiced at Clyde. He was associated with his father for about five years. Then he moved to the office he now occupies on the corner of Sodus and Genesee streets. In this office he has practiced for thirty-three continous years. In 1845 he was united in marriage to a daughter of Dr. Linus Ely, of Seneca county. He has one child, who is the wife of George J. Oaks, a merchant of Rochester. Dr. Colvin's devotion to the Democratic party has been very marked. Many times has he gone to county and State conventions. In 1874 he became a member of the State Democratic Committee and remained as such until the close of 1876. This was, as will be remembered, the be- ginning of the Tilden campaign. The doctor was an ardent supporter of the governor throughout these years. Many years ago Dr. Colvin was nominated by the Democrats to the office of county coroner. He has spent three years as a member of the School Board, and recently has received the appointment of Regents' examiner, and will assist the principal in conducting all regent examinations. For many years he was health officer of the village. . Four times was he elected president of the village, during the years of '65, '66, '67 and '77. In 1850 he be- came connected with the Wayne County Medical Society, and served as secretary and president. Now he is its treasurer. About 1850 the society became considerably demoralized, and he was in conjunction with Dr. Pomeroy of Newark principally instrumental in reorganizing it. He was a member of the old New York State Medical Society, and is now a retired permanent member of that society. He is at present a member of the New York State Medical Association, having been at its organization, seven years ago, one of its founders. He has been vice-president of the Fourth District, and a delegate to the Pennsylvania State Society. For many years he has been a member of the American Medical Association, and in 1887 was by acclamation elected its second
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vice-president. Frequently has Dr. Colvin been a contributor to med- ical journals. In 1885 he was appointed by Governor Hill a member of the Board of Trustees of the New York State Custodial Asylum for feeble-minded women, at Newark, N. Y., and is still a member. Dr. Colvin on many occasions has been called upon to testify as an expert in insanity and other cases, and has now a large consultation practice. He is a gentleman who is still in active practice, and though in some- what advanced life, is both in professional and political circles a power in the land.
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