USA > New York > Genesee County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Genesee County, New York, v. 2 > Part 2
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Other physicians who located in Batavia soon after the advent of Dr. Billings included Dr. Gilbert B. Champlin, who came in 1820 or 1821; Dr. Samuel Z. Ross. 1823; Dr. Amos Towne, 1823; Dr. C. Bradford, 1825; Dr. 11. Thomas, 1826; Dr. E. A. Bigelow, 1826; Dr. Charles E. Ford, 1826; Dr. Richard Dibble, 1822; Dr. Levant Ballard Cotes, 1827.
Dr. L. B. Cotes was born July 15, 1801, in Springfield, Otsego county,
٠ ٠. ١٣- جوجو جيييد ع حرامية الغابة
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N. Y., was educated under private tutors and at academies, principally the academy of Fairfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, located at the latter place, from which he was graduated in 1826. Immediately afterwards he located in Batavia, where he successfully practiced medicine and surgery for more than half a century. During that period he was a faithful member of the Genesee County Medical Society, filling the highest offices in that or- ganization and reading before it some of the most valuable papers ever prepared by a member of the profession, not only in Genesee county but in the State generally. He was also a permanent member of the Medical Society of the State of New York, elected in 1860, and of the American Medical Association, to which position he was elected in 1856. For a quarter of a century he was curator of the medical department of the University of Buffalo, and for the last ten years of his life was United States examining surgeon for pensions. Ile also served as post- master at Batavia for several years. He continued in the active prac- tice of his profession until about four years before his death, which occurred September 11, 1880, of apoplexy One of his sons, John R. Cotes, became a successful practitioner in Batavia and elsewhere, his career covering a long term of years
Succeeding Dr. Cotes were the following physicians: Drs. Jonathan Hurlburt and William II. Webster, 1828; Dr. Truman El. Woodruff, who practiced for some time in partnership with Dr. John Cotes, and who came in 1829; Drs. Eleazer Bingham and Elihu Lee, 1829; Drs. J. V. C. Teller and R. Belden, 1830; Dr. Zebulon Metcalf, 1831; Dr. E. H. Rokewood, 1833; Dr. S. P. Choate, Dr. C. V. N. Lent, Dr. E. Farnhamn and Dr. A. F. Dodge, 1834 or prior thereto; Dr. Holton Ganson, 1835.
Dr. Ganson was a representative of the pioneer Ganson family of the town of Le Roy. He received his early education in that village, and at a comparatively early age began the practice of his chosen profession. After having practiced for several years, he visited Europe and took a post-graduate course, after which he returned to Batavia. His partner- ship with Dr. John Cotes has been referred to in the brief sketch of the life and services of the latter. His practice was large and lucrative, and he accumulated a fortune. So great was his fame that he fre. quently was called upon to consult with some of the most eminent physicians of Western New York not residing in Datavia. He died December 1, 1875, while apparently hardly past the prime of life, and liis death was mourned by thousands.
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Following Dr. Ganson came Dr. Z. S. Jackson, 1836; Dr. Thomas E. Everett, 1838; Dr. Caleb II. Austin, 1841; Dr. W. B. Slosson, 1842; Dr. L. D. Stone, 1842; Dr. C. D. Griswold, Dr. Foote and Dr. Baker, 1848; Dr. Albert L. Cotes, 1854; and Dr. John R. Cotes.
Dr. John R. Cotes, as has been shown, came of a family illustrious for its physicians. The son of Dr. Levant B. Cotes, he was born in Batavia in 1829, where his preliminary education was obtained. After leaving school he began the study of medicine with his father, and in 1850 was graduated from the Buffalo Medical College. After a brief period of practice in the village of his birth he removed to Michigan, but four years later returned to Batavia, where he practiced until the beginning of the War of the Rebellion-seven years. He served dur- ing that war as surgeon of the 151st Regiment, N. Y. Vol. Infantry, returning to Batavia at its close, where he remained in practice until his death in 1884. For many years Dr. Cotes was secretary of the Genesee County Medical Society, was a member of the New York State Medical Society, was coroner one term, and for four years was physi- cian to the New York State Institution for the Blind at Batavia. 'Ile was esteemed as a scholarly man and a most careful, as he certainly was a most successful, practitioner.
Dr. John Root, who located in Batavia about 1856, was born in Sweden, Monroe county, N. Y., in 1824, and was graduated from Union College in 1844. In 1850 the Buffalo Medical College granted him a diplom 1. After practicing for a while in Lockport he settled in Batavia, where he resided until his death from consumption November 29, 1816. For many years Dr. Root was an active member of the county medical society, and was strict in his observance of medical etiquette. He married Margaret C. Billings, daughter of Dr. James A. Billings, and had a family of five children.
Dr. R. H. Benham, of Honcoye Falls, came to Batavia in 1867, but a few years later returned to his old home. Dr. Norris G. Clark, who came in 1859, was born in 1818 at West Bloomfield, Ontario county, N. Y., where his preliminary education was received. He was a grad- nate of the University of Pennsylvania. He assisted his brother, Dr. Oliver P. Clark, in a large and lucrative practice, which, upon the death of the latter, devolved upon Dr. N. G. Clark. The latter died July 25, 1876. Dr. John L Curtis, a native of Genesee county and a grad- uate of the Philadelphia Medical College, removed to Batavia after practicing for a time at Elba, ITis death occurred June 5, 1880.
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The pioneer physician of the town of Le Roy was Dr. William Coe, who located there in 1803. He engaged in practice for a long period of years. Dr. Ella G. Smith came in 1805. Dr. Frederick Fitch set- tled in town in 1808, where he soon became recognized as one of the most enterprising and progressive men in town. He was very public- spirited. It was he who organized the first company of artillery in Le Roy, becoming its first captain. During one of the oldtime train- ings at Stafford he was accidentally wounded in the leg, necessitating the amputation of that member.
Dr. William Sheldon was one of the most conspicuous members of his profession, as well as a citizen of more than ordinary worth, during the early history of the town. He came from Bennington, Vt., in 1810, riding all the way on the back of his faithful horse. He stopped at the Ganson tavern, alluded to in a previous chapter, announcing that he had come west to engage in the practice of medicine. His professional career began earlier than he anticipated. During the night the wife of his host was taken suddenly ill, and he was called upon to administer to her. She soon recovered, but the next day, and for several days thereafter, sick people who had learned of his presence at the tavern came to him for treatment. So successful was the young doctor that he was earnestly besought to locate permanently there, which he finally decided to do, there being no other physician in the neighborhood. During the war of 1812 he served as captain of a local mil tary com. pany for a time, afterwards becoming surgeon and aid de camp upon the staff of General Daniel Davis. Dr. Sheldon participated in seven battles in that war, was captured by the British during their attack up- on Black Rock, and carried a captive to Montreal, where he remained about six months. Returning to Le Roy he continued in active lucra- tive practice for many years, dying in January, 1874.
Dr. Chauncey P. Smith, who came to Le Roy in 1814, after saving the earnings of a large practice for a quarter of a century, engaged in the drug business and, through the cupidity of a dishonest partner, soon lost all his property. He was cared for in his declining years by his friends, but his mind finally gave way and he was sent to the alms- house, where his death occurred. The next practitioner to locate at this point was Dr. Elizur Batler, who located there in 1815 or 1816. Dr. Lakey came in 1818, but removed a few years later to Palmyra. Dr. Edmund Barnes was a contemporary.
Dr. Stephen O. Almy, born in Sterling, Conn., June 18, 1298, came
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to Pavilion when a young man, and a few years later bought out the drug business of Dr. Fitch. In 1821 he received a medical diploma from Yale University. After practicing for about fifteen years he en- gaged in the lumber business at Olean, subsequently engaging in the same line at Cincinnati. For several years he practiced his profession at Le Roy in company with Dr. Alfred Wilcox, and then both men established a private banking house. This failed during the financial crisis of 1851, and Dr. Almy returned to his practice. He resided some time at Cincinnati after this, engaging in practice there, but again re- turning to Le Roy, where he was stricken with apoplexy, which caused his death January 2, 1810.
Dr. Benjamin Hill, born in Guilford, Conn., April 15, 1265, came to Le Roy on horseback in 1808 and purchased four hundred and fifty- eight acres of land. He then returned to his native State, but came to locate here permanently in 1828. He died at Pavilion in April, 1849. Others who were in practice in this town about the same period included Dr. B. Douglas, 1819; Dr. Warren A. Cowdrey, 1820; Dr. Daniel Woodward, 1823; Dr. Nicholas D. Gardner, 1828; Dr. Alfred Wilcox, 1830. Dr. John Codman studied medicine with Dr. Alny, practiced in Le Roy four or five years, then removed to Michigan, where he died in 1870 About 1830 Dr. Prescott Lawrence. Dr. Graham Fitch, Dr. Will- iam A. Amy and Dr. Ezekiel Kelsey were engaged in practice. The latter was born in Greenfield, Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1801, came to Le Roy with his father at the age of sixteen, taught school for several years, then studied medicine and entered upon a professional career in 1830. His practice was very successful, but was cut short by death in 1840. Between 1830 and 1840 the following were engaged in practice in Le Roy: Drs. Charles Smith, Benjamin Bliss, Caleb H. Austin, Al- mond Pratt and Joseph C. Tozier. The latter, who resided in Bangor. Me., was one of the most successful practitioners of his period. Dr. Lemuel L. Tozier of Batavia is his son.
Few physicians have ever been so generally respected and loved, as well as uniformly successful in the treatment of diseases, as Dr. D. C. Chamberlain, who for thirty-seven years made Le Roy his home and the scene of his principal practice. Dr. Chamberlain was born in Que- bec, January 8, 1815, of American parents. At the age of eight he was sent to Hubbardton, Vt., to be reared under the care of a maternal aunt. In that historic village he received his elementary education. In 1833 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Charles W. Horton
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of Sudbury, Vt., and four years later was graduated from the Vermont Academy of Medicine. The following year he began practice at Cut- tingsville, Vt., and two years later took a private course of lectures on anatomy and surgery at Castleton, Vt., under Prof. Robert Nelson. For a year thereafter he assisted his old preceptor at Sudbury, and then becoming restless, he decided to start for the famed "Genesee country." He reached Le Roy in 1841, immediately entered upon practice, and the next year became a member of the county society. His practice was eminently successful. In 1861 he was engaged in en- listing and recruiting volunteers for the Union Army, was examining surgeon of the recruits brought to Le Roy to form the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, N. Y. Vols., and was commissioned as its surgeon. He served throughout the war, and after the expiration of his commis- sion in March, 1865, remained with the army as an independent volun- teer until after the fall of Richmond. Dr. Chamberlain practiced in Le Roy until Ists, when he retired from active work in his profession and removed from the town.
Dr. Moses Barrett, who came to Le Roy in 1842, removed to Wiscon- sin eight years later, where he became superintendent of the State Re- form School. He was subsequently elected to the chair of chemistry and natural science in the college at Ripon, soon after which he died. Dr. Barrett was profoundly learned in his profession.
Dr. Solomon Barrett, born in Rowe, Mass., February 23, 1810, was graduated from the Berkshire, Mass, Medical College in 1833, began practice at Buffalo, and in 1850 located at Le Roy. He was noted as a surgeon and oculist, and at one time maintained an eye infirmary at Le Roy. In his latter years he became nearly blind. His death oc- curred at Le Roy February 3, 1881. One of those who studied under his guidance was Dr. Chauncey M. Smith, who began practice at Le Roy in 1856. For a time he was in partnership with Dr. D. C. Chamberlain. Before entering upon a medical career he taught school, and under the old law was for several years superintendent of schools for the town of Le Roy. He died in 1864.
Dr. Asa W. Fuller, who came to Le Roy in 1864, was born in Lisbon, Conn., in July, 1817, and a graduate from the medical department of Yale university. Previous to locating in this town he had been en- gaged in practice in Rhode Island and at Middlebury, Wyoming county, N. Y. He followed his profession in Le Roy for thirteen years, dying January 29, 1877. Dr. O. P. Barber settled in town before 1870. Dr.
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George Emerson, a student and afterwards a partner of Dr. Chamber- lain, was in practice here for several years after 1870. Dr. George McNaughton located in this town for practice in ISSo, but a short time afterwards removed to Brooklyn, N. Y.
The first physician to engage in practice in the town of Pembroke was Dr. Abijah W. Stoddard, who came to this town in 1810 or 1811 from Hartford, Washington county, N. Y., where he had studied med- icine with Dr. Sill. His home was on the site of the present village of Corfu, where he remained until about 1855. when he removed to Mil- waukee, Wis., dying there five years later. His practice in Pembroke was very lucrative. Dr. David Long, accompanied by his son John, had come to this place in 1808, but as far as can be learned he did not engage in the practice of his profession. The next physician at that place of whom there is any record extant was Dr. Elihu Lee, who was in practice as early as 1820. Dr. Aaron Long was there in 1830, per- haps earlier; and the year following Dr. Alanson Owen, Dr. J. S. Dodge, Dr. James S. Grout and Dr. Barton Streeter ministered to the wants of the afflicted, in various parts of the town. Dr. William E. Brown was at East Pembroke in 1833. Dr. Samuel S. Knight is re- corded as a member of the county society in 1840. In 1864 Drs. Isaiah Rano and John Darboraw located in town. The same year Dr. Earl B. Loun-bury began practice at East Pembroke. He was a native of Alexander, born in 1438, and a graduate of the Buffalo Medical College. After remaining in town eighteen months, he removed to Byron Centre. Dr. L. B. Parmelee came to East Pembroke during or prior to 1867. but soon removed to Rochester, and later to Batavia. In 1868 Dr Joshua W. Read came to Corfu, Dr. II. W. Cobb to Indian Falls and Dr. George If. Norton to East Pembroke. The former was born in Batavia in 1832, graduated from the State Normal school at Albany, and after devoting four years to teaching began the study of medicine with Dr. Knight at Peekskill, graduating in 1866. Before removing to Corfu he practiced two years at Bloomington, Ills., and after remain- ing at Corfu two years he removed to Newark, N. J. Dr. Absalom Billington located at Corfu in 1969.
In 1821 Dr. Albert Crawford settled at Corfu, but ten years later he removed to Buffalo. Dr. Crawford was a native of Delaware and a graduate of the Buffalo Medical College in the class of 1862. Dr. Parker, who came to Corfu about 1881, remained there but a short time. Ile was a graduate of the Buffalo school.
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Dr. Charles Chaffee was probably the earliest physician to engage in practice in the town of Alexander. Dr. John Hall died there in 1812, but the date of his location there is unknown. In 1823 Dr. Ammi R. R Butler removed there from Stafford and for a time was associated with Dr. Stephen Martin. He followed his profession with great suc- cess until within a short time of his death, which oceurred in 1858 at the home of his daughter in Buffalo. Dr. Amos Walker came to Alex- ander in 1835, Dr. Erasmus D. Baker in 1832, and Dr. Lemuel MeAl- pine in 1839. Dr. H. B. Miller was there in 1860, and may have located there several year before that time. He was president of the county society in 1867. A year afterwards he removed to Johnsonburgh, Wyom- ing county, where he died soon afterwards. Dr. Isaac V. Mullen settled in Alexander in 1866. He came from Stafford, and was a graduate from the Vermont Medical College. He was a veteran of the Civil War, serving four years in that struggle. After practicing for twenty- three years at Alexander he removed to West Bethany. Two of his sons became physicians. Dr. John R. Mullen located at Alexander and Dr. I. T. Mullen has practiced in Stafford and Oakfield.
Either Dr. Woodward or Dr. Amasa Briggs was the pioneer physi- cian of the town of Elba. The latter located there in 1823, and is now generally supposed to have been the first in town. Dr. Benedict and Dr. J. A. Campbell were in practice there in 1830, and Dr. Jonas S. Billings the year after. He was an active and prominent member of the c unty society. He died about 1870. Dr. Francis Smiley was an early physician of whom little is now known. Dr. James H. Smith was in practice there in 1831 and Dr. E. B. Benedict in 1841.
Dr. Levi Ward, the pioneer doctor of Bergen, was in practice there as early as 1805, in which year he was a member of the Genesee County Medical Society. In 1810 he represented that organization at the an. nual meeting of the New York State Medical Society. Dr. Ward was one of the foremost physicians of his day, and was widely respected. He died in Rochester, whither he had removed in Is1t.
In 1818 Dr. Apollos P. Auger succeeded Dr. Ward. In 1825 or 1826 Dr. Eugene O'Donoghue began practice in Bergen, which he continued until his death in 1868. He was one of the most highly respected members of the profession in all Genesee county. Dr. Thomas M. Hendry was in practice there in 1836 or earlier. In 1840 Dr. Levi Fay was registered as a member of the county society, of which he became president in 1853. Dr. M. J. Munger located at North Bergen about
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1868. Among his contemporaries were Dr. R. Andrews, Dr. M. B. Gage and Dr. R. Gay. Others who practiced in that town included Dr. Orrin Lee and Dr. Gilbert Churchill.
The first physician of Oakfield of whom anything definite is now known was Dr. Andrew Thompson, who was enrolled as a member of the county society in 1830. He practiced there until 1876, when he re- moved to Bergen, dying at the latter place. Dr. Garrett Davis is also mentioned as one of the earliest practitioners of the town. Dr. William Pardee came to Oakfield in 1868 and remained there until his death, which occurred in 1884.
In Alabama the first doctor whose name appears upon the records of the Genesee County Medical Society, and probably the earliest to en- gage in practice in that town, on account of the lateness of its settle- ment, was Dr. Flint L. Keyes, who became connected with the local society in 1829. Dr. Guy B. Shepard came in two years later, and Dr. Alexander H. Cox in 1839. Each of these men may have been in prac- tice there several years before the date mentioned. Dr. Samuel C. Bateman, who was killed by the cars at Sanborn in 18St, settled for practice in Alabama in 1846. Dr. Townsend, who subsequently re- moved to Michigan, settled in town in 1855. Dr. Emery came soon after, but later on removed to Batavia, where he died. Dr. Tyler is recorded as having been in practice at South Alabama, as also was Dr. Nelson Horning, who became a member of the county society in 1866. In 1870 Dr. William M. Wallis located there, and two or three years later Dr. C. R. Pearce opened an office in town.
Dr. Benjamin Davis and Dr. Ammi R. R. Butler were the earliest physicians in Stafford. Dr. Davis opened an office there in 1821. Dr. Butler removed there from Alexander prior to 1823, but the exact date is not known. Drs. Thomas Blanchard, Elizur Butler, Samuel Butler and Jonathan G. Abbott practiced in town about 1829. Dr. W. B. Slawson was established at Morganville as early as 1831. Dr. Thomas D. Morrison came in 1839 and Dr. Jucius M. Haynes in 1840. The lat- ter remained in practice until his death in 1854. Dr. Mark W. Tomlin- son came to town in 1851 and Dr. Theophilus S. Loomis in 1852, but the latter soon removed to Bethany, where his death occurred.
One of the most conspicuous physicians of his day was Dr. Henry Pamphilon, who began business in Stafford in 1855. Dr. Pamphilon was born in England in 1828, was educated in London, came to the United States in 1851 and located at Lancaster, Erie county, N. Y. He
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practiced in Stafford from 1855 to 1884, dying March 13 of the latter year. He was a successful physician, and a man of high literary at- tainments. Contemporaneous with Dr. Pamphilon was Dr. T. S. King, a native of Plainfield, N. J., and a graduate of the University of New York. He continued in practice in Stafford until his death in 1862, at the age of forty-two years. Dr. Ayer was one of leading physicians of his day. In 1863, while the people were in a high state of excitement over matters pertaining to the Civil War, he was arrested and lodged in jail at Batavia for the too free expression of anti-war sentiment. Humiliated by this event, he soon after removed to Buffalo, where he he enjoyed a lucrative practice until his death.
Dr. F. L. Stone, who located in Stafford in 1868, was born at Marey, Oneida county, N. Y., in 1834, received his preliminary education at the Whitestown Seminary, and after studying medicine with Dr. Babcock of Oriskany was graduated from Bellevue Medical College in 1865. After practicing for a while with his preceptor he came to Stafford, where he enjoyed a successful practice for seven years. He then re- moved to Caledonia and subsequently to Le Roy.
Dr. Benjamin Packard, the pioneer physician of the town of Bethany, was established in practice there as early as 1813, as in that year he be- came a member of the county society. Little is known of his career. Succeeding him came Dr. Daniel Spalding, in 1816, and Dr. Daniel Rumsey in 1817. Dr. Jonathan K. Barlow, who settled in town in 1818, remained in practice there for more than thirty years. He was a man of high scientific attainments, and electricity was his hobby. He fre- quently delivered lectures on the subject when the science was in its infancy. Dr. Beriah Douglas was established in practice in 1819, prior to which year he is believed to have been located in Le Roy. Dr. Will- iam W. Markham settled in this town in 1829, Dr. Theodore C. Hurd in 1835, and Dr. William P. Hurd in 1832. Dr. Loomis was engaged in practice at East Bethany about this period, and at Linden Dr. John G. Meacham and Dr. John Howard. Dr. Alden was an early practitioner at Bethany Centre.
It is impossible at this late date to ascertain who were the first men to enter upon the practice of medicine in the town of Pavilion. In 1841, when the town was formed, two doctors were established in prac- tice within its limits-Dr. Warren Fay and Dr. Abel Tennant. The former resided at the village of Pavilion, and the latter at South Le- Roy, later Pavilion Center. Dr. Fay was born in 1197 at Walpole, N.
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H. After teaching school for a while he prepared for a medical career under Dr. Daniel White, then at the Castleton, Vt., Medical Academy, and finally, June 23, 1823, received a diploma from the Livingston County, N. Y., Medical Society. Soon after he came to Pavilion, where for a quarter of a century he remained in the active practice of his profession. He accumulated a fortune, and is reported as having been very successful in the treatment of diseases. His death occurred in 1525. Dr. Tennant was famous as a botanist. It was his firm belief that all the necessary remedies were to be found in the vegetable life provided by nature. He began practice about 1812, continuing his career for about forty years. In 1837 he published a work called "Tennant's Botany." In 1856 he removed to Pennsylvania, where he soon after died.
Dr. S. C. Upson settled in Pavilion in 1842. He was born in Bristol, Conn., March 20, 1792, received his diploma at Hartford, Conn., in 1816, began his career as a physician at Fabius, N. Y., where he re- mained until his removal to Pavilion. After practicing in this town for four years only, he removed to Nunda, N. Y., where his death oc- curred in 1829. Dr. Upson was extremely affable and courteous, and the possessor of a very kind heart.
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