USA > New York > Tioga County > Our county and its people : a memorial history of Tioga County, New York > Part 17
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to 1857, and also advocated and carried through the project of Evergreen cemetery. In Waverly he evinced the same public spirit, organizing the gas company, interesting himself in the water works and other local improvements. He was elected special county judge in 1856, and was once the democratic candidate for the county judgeship. He was also an interested student of local history and in 1876 wrote by request the centennial history of Tioga county. May 7, 1846, Mr. Warner married with Helen J. Dana, daughter of Eleazer Dana. Mr. Warner died November 7, 1890.
Benjamin Franklin Tracy, whose most recent public service was as secretary of the navy, appointed by General Harrison, president, on March 5, 1889, and who has been as highly honored by selec- tion for places of special prominence as any son of Tioga, was born at Apalachin in 1829, and was the son of Benjamin Tracy, an early settler in the town of Owego, and the grandson of Thomas Tracy, one of the pioneers of the Susquehanna valley. Benjamin F. was educated in the district schools, and at Owego, and for some time was himself a teacher. He read law in Col. Davis's office and was admitted to the bar in 1851. Two years later he was elected dis- trict-attorney of Tioga county, and re-elected at the expiration of his term. In 1858, he, with the late W. F. Warner and Gilbert C. Walker, formed the law-firm of Warner, Tracy & Walker. Governor Walker retired from the firm in 1859, and the other partners dissolved in 1860. July 22, 1862, General Tracy, then member of assembly from this county, was authorized by the war department to raise a regiment of volunteers in the counties of Broome, Tioga, and Tompkins. This he did, and, on the organiza- tion of the regiment at Binghamton, it was given the numerical designation of One Hundred and Ninth Infantry, "Colonel Benja- min F. Tracy commanding." Soon after the battle of the Wilder- ness, May 5-6-7, 1864, General Tracy resigned and was placed in command of the Confederate prisoners' camp, and of the head- quarters for drafted men, at Elmira. At the close of the war General Tracy went to Brooklyn and resumed law practice, and soon attained a position of prominence among the distinguished lawyers of the state. October 1, 1866, he was appointed, by Presi-
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dent Johnson, United States district-attorney for the Eastern Dis- trict of New York, and January 23, 1871, President Grant re-appointed him to the same office. He declined a third appoint- ment and returned to his law practice in Brooklyn, partner with General Catlin. December 8, 1881, General Tracy was appointed judge of the Court of Appeals, and March 5, 1889, he was appoint- ed Secretary of the Navy by President Harrison. With the close of Harrison's administration General Tracy returned to Brooklyn and to his law practice, but during all the years of his public ser- vice and residence in the metropolitan district he has maintained his associations with Tioga county ; and at this time, and for many years past, he has operated a large stock-farm at Apalachin.
Gilbert C. Walker was born at Cuba, Allegany county, August 1, 1833, and came to the Tioga county bar, at Owego, in August, 1855. In 1858 he became one of the law-firm of Warner, Tracy & Walker, but in 1859 retired and removed to Chicago. He went to Norfolk, Va., in 1864, where he was president of the Exchange bank for three years. In 1869 he was elected governor of Virginia, serving one term, and in 1874 was elected to congress from the Richmond district. In 1876 he was re-elected, and at the end of his second term came to Binghamton, N. Y., and practised law in partnership with the late Charles A. Hull. Governor Walker died in Binghamton, May 11, 1885.
Charles A. Munger was the son of Judge Alanson Munger and succeeded the latter as special county judge in 1864. Charles was born at Hamilton, N. Y., July 13, 1830, and began practicing law about the time he attained his majority. He was twice special county judge, and was also justice of the peace, but his favorite pastime was contributing to various magazines. He wasa writer of splendid ability, and, in addition, was a poet of no ordinary genius. He died at Owego. September 3, 1873. In 1874 a volume of his poems was published at the request of his numerous friends.
Isaac'S. Catlin, better known perhaps throughout the state as General Catlin, was a native of Tioga county, born at Apalachin, July 8, 1833. He studied law in New York city and in 1859 came to the Tioga county bar. Soon after he became a member of the law-firm of Warner, Tracy & Catlin. In January, 1861, he was
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elected president of Owego village, and within the next ninety days he left Owego for Washington, D. C., as captain of Co. H, Third N. Y. Vol. Infantry. He resigned, and in the summer of 1862 he assisted in the organization of the famous 109th regiment, and was elected and commissioned its lieutenant-colonel. When Colonel Tracy resigned General Catlin succeeded him in command. At Petersburg, July 30, 1864, General Catlin lost a leg. He after- ward was given a colonel's commission in the regular army and stationed at Louisville, Ky., where he was promoted to brigadier- general. On his return from the service General Catlin resumed law-practice, and in 1865 was elected district-attorney of Tioga county. Later he removed to Brooklyn and was partner with General Tracy ; and was twice elected district attorney of Kings county. General Catlin has a splendid stock farm near Apalachin, where he passes the summer season.
George A. Madill came to Owego from Towanda, Pa., and began the practice of law in partnership with John J. Taylor, April 19, 1860. That relation was continued until April 14, 1865, when the junior partner, Judge Madill, removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he afterward became prominent both as a lawyer and magistrate, and in fact was one of the foremost men of that city, where he still lives. He was elected judge of the St. Louis Circuit Court in 1874.
Another member of the old bar and one of the shrewdest law- yers of his day was Ziba A. Leland, for a long time the law part- ner of John H. Avery, of Owego. Mr. Leland came here in 1820, and in 1822 was appointed justice of the peace. He removed to Bath. He was first judge of Steuben county from 1838 to 1843, and represented that county in the Assembly in 1842 and 1643. He subsequently removed to Saratoga, where he died.
About twenty years ago John J. Taylor, then senior member of the Tioga county bar, prepared a list of the lawyers of the county from the year 1800 down to about 1877. Having access to many of Mr. Taylor's accumulated papers, the present writer is able to reproduce the list mentioned, together with a reasonably accurate roll of the members of the bar from 1878 to the present time. The latter portion of the list is compiled from court calendars and rec- ords, and the year noted opposite each name indicates the time in
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which it first appears. According to these authorities the attor- neys of Tioga county have been as follows ;
1800-Eleazer Dana. 1856-Gilbert C. Walker, Delos O. IIan- 1801-John H. Avery. cock. 1810-John Tillinghast. 1857-Charles A Munger.
1812-Daniel Cruger.
1858-C. W. Ormsbee.
1814-William Platt.
1859-Isaac S. Catlin, Willoughby Bab- cock, James P. Lovejoy, Charles E. Par- ker.
1816-Latham A. Burrows.
1819-Seth A. L. Warner.
1820-Ziba A. Leland.
1860-John S. Hopkins, Elbert O. Scott.
1822-Stephen Strong, Ezra Starkweather, 1861-George A. Madill, John Hutchins.
Ezra S. Swect.
1826-Henry Wells.
1827-Cyrus Dana.
1828-Thomas Farrington.
1830-Robert Charles Johnson.
1831-David Riddle.
1832-Charles Noble, Nathaniel W. Davis.
1833-Ira Clizbee, John M. Parker.
1834-Henry II. Wells.
1835 John J. Taylor, John E. Clancey, 1869-Lyman Settle, Charles Hayden, Mil- Gardner Knapp. ton J. Warner, James S. Tozer, John E. 1836-Saumuel Barstow. Ashe, M. M. Cady, Charles D. Nixon, J. Newton Dexter.
1838-George Sidney Camp, C. Manuel Harmon.
1840-Alanson Munger, W. L. Shermau, Charles P. Avery.
1841 -Austin Blair, Algernon S. Nye, Josiah C. Pumpelly.
Thomas P. Waterman, John A. Nichols. 1872 -- Charles F. Barager, John H. Rumpff, 1843-B. C. Whiting. Richard A. Elmer.
1844-Isaac B. Headley, William Fiske 1873-Coe Mullock. Warner, Robert H. S. Hyde.
1874-Harrison Bostwick, J. F. Shoemaker,
1845-Frederick J. Fay, Solomon Giles. Charles E. Hollenback, William D. Pearne, Charles N. Matson.
1846-Edward G. Gibson, Charles E. Fil- kins.
1876 -Peter P. Gallagher, E. H. Ryan, H. Austin Clark, John R. Murray.
1847-Elisha P. Higbe, Charles H. Sweet, George W. Coburn, Gurdon Hewitt, Jr., 1877-C. D. Watkins, F. P. Harkness. M. S. Leonard, J. Newton Jerome.
1848-George B. Wood.
1878-Charles P. Masterson, Frank A. Dar- row. 1879-L. J. Barnes.
1851-Benjamin F. Tracy.
1852-George W. Parker, Octavius Yates. 1880-D. Wellington Allen, R. A. Bennett, 1853-James B. Edmunds, Adolphus G. Allen. Osear B.Glezen, Rodolph C. Oakley, Timo- thy B. Oakley, John G. Sears, Chester D. Van Vradenburg.
1854-L. B. Pert,
1864-Eugene B. Gere, -- Abbey, Charles F. Johnson, Jr., Samuel W. Hunt, Al- bert A. Twiss.
1866-F. D. Wright, James B. Caryll, F. J. McLean.
1867-John G. Storrs, Paul I. Hedges, William II. Gale, Charles A. Clark, Oliver P. Harris.
1868-Henry H. Rouse, Ambrose P. Eaton.
1870-S. O. Lockwood, Jacob B. Floyd, M. V. B. Sweetlove, Jerry S. Gross. 1871-David T. Easton, Howard J. Mead,
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1881-Frederiek H. Church, Jonathan C. 1890-Edward E. Fredenburg, Theodore R Latimer, D. J. M. Loop. Tuthill.
1883-George F. Andrews, Henry A. Bal- 1891-W. N. Fessenden, Herman D. Walters. eom, Rev. M. G. Bulloek, Romaine F. 1892-Philip H. Hull, James T. Rogers, Bieber, E. F. Goff, H. C. Hutton, G. William HI. Russell.
Ernest Lindsley.
1884-S. Jay Ohart, Martin S. Lyneh, Wil- lis II. Moses.
1887-Fred C. Hill, Lyman T. Stanbrough.
1888 Edward E. Dean, Stephen S. Wallis, W. Seott Smith, Frank Beek.
1895-R. D. Wieke.
1889-Benjamin W. Loring, Jr.
1896-Fred J. Davis.
THE PRESENT BAR.
In the department of this work relating to Personal Chronology will be found sketehes of members of the bar in the county.
Adolphus G. Allen, Waverly.
Frederick E. Hawkes, Waverly.
Fred C. Hill, Owego.
George F. Andrews, Owego.
Philip H. Hull, Waverly.
Henry E. Barrett, Owego.
J. C. Latimer, Tioga.
Frank Beek, Owego.
Benjamin W. Loring, Jr., Owego.
Frank A. Bell, Waverly.
Martin S. Lyneh, Owego.
H. Austin Clark, Owego.
Howard J. Mead, Owego.
Fred W. Clifford, Owego.
Frank A. Darrow, Owego.
Charles D Nixon, Owego.
Fred J. Davis, Owego.
Clarence I. Nixon, Owego.
David T. Easton, Owego.
Ambrose P. Eaton, Smithboro.
E. E. Fredenburg, Candor.
W. N. Fessenden, Candor.
J. B. Floyd, Waverly.
Theodore R. Tuthill, Owego.
Stephen S. Wallis, Owego.
R. D. Wieke, Owego.
J. T. Gridley, Candor. Oscar B. Glezen, Owego. O. P. Harris, Niehols.
Timothy B. Oakley. Owego. Charles E. Parker, Owego. J. F. Shoemaker, Waverly. Lyman T. Stanbrough, Owego.
J. S. Gross, Owego.
De Witt A. Millen, Newark Valley.
D. Wellington Allen, Waverly.
1893-Fred W. Clifford, J. T. Gridley, Frederick E. Hawkes, Henry E. Barrett. 1894-Frank A. Bell, Charles Nelson Dohs,
DeWitt A. Millen, Clarence I. Nixon, Benjamin S. Spaulding,
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CHAPTER XIV.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN TIOGA COUNTY.
T 1 THE dawning of medical science which now sheds its light throughout the world began with Hippocrates nearly twen- ty-three hundred years ago, and he first treated of medicine with the simplest remedies, relying chiefly on the healing powers of nature. He wrote extensively, and many of his works were translated and served as the foundation for the succeeding litera- ture of the profession. However, the greatest advances in medi- cal science have been made during the last hundred years, and chiefly during the last half century. Physiologists no longer be- lieve, as did the practitioners of the sixteenth century, that the planets have a direct and controlling action on the body, the sun on the heart and the moon on the brain ; nor do they now believe that the vital spirits are prepared in the brain by distillation. On the contrary modern physiology teaches that the phenomena of the living body are the results of physical and chemical changes ; the temperature of the blood is ascertained by the thermometer, and the different fluids and gases of the body are analyzed by the chemist, giving to each its own properties and functions.
There are now known to botanists more than one hundred and fifty thousand plants, many of which are constantly being added to the already appalling list of new remedies. Many of these new drugs possess little if any virtue, yet by liberal advertising they hold a place in nearly every drug store.
The ancients were not so well supplied with drugs and were compelled to resort to other means of cure. It was a custom among the Babylonians to expose their sick to the view of passers- 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 a custom of those days for all persons who had been sick to put up a tablet in the temple of Esculapius, whereon they gave
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an account of the remedies by which they had been restored. Prior to the time of Hippocrates all medicines were in the hands of the priests and were associated with numerous superstitions, such as charms, amulets, and incantations; sympathetic oint- ments were applied to the weapon with which a wound had been made ; human or horse flesh was used for the cure of epilepsy, and convulsions were treated with human brains. Yet, notwith- standing the great and wide advances made in all the branches of medical science during the last century, this credulous superstition of early ages has not been fully wiped out by the generally ad- vanced education of the present day. One of the latest appeals to the credulity of the people is the so-called "Christian Science," and the "Faith Cure." The persons seeking to popularize this means of cure are either deceived themselves or are deceiving others. On this point a popular writer has said : "Filth brings fever, and prayer cannot interpose."
It is not the purpose of this work to treat at any length of an- cient or even modern medical history, and while a review of the progress of this science from the time of the Egyptian medical deities, or the Greek or Roman medical mythology, would be both interesting and instructive, it is hardly a part of the medical his- tory of Tioga county ; and the introductory observations are merely to suggest to the reader the difference between the ancient and modern means of healing.
The medical profession of Tioga county has preserved but little of its own history, and while there are meagre records by which may be learned the proceedings and membership of the medical societies that have been formed, one of them dating back to the early years of the century, there are no reliable data upon which can be based a history of the development of the profession in the county. The great advance in all branches of art and science has indeed been marvellous, but in none has there been greater pro- gress than in medicine and surgery.
The settlement of the region now included in Tioga county be- gan soon after the revolution, but progressed slowly during the first half score of years. The country was then an almost unbroken wilderness, except as occasional improvements had been made by
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the Indian in the fertile Susquehanna valley. At that time, and indeed for many years afterward, the facilities for obtaining a medical education were very limited. The state of New York, unlike New England and Pennsylvania, had done little to encour- age science, and there were few schools of medicine worthy of the name nearer than Boston or Philadelphia. Few young men could afford to go so far to qualify themselves for a profession which offered but little pecuniary inducement, and the prevailing custom was for the medical aspirant to enter the office of some physician and read two or three years, at the same time accompanying his tutor in his professional visits and learn his methods of practice. At the end of the term the young doctor would seek some promis- ing field and begin life.
The legislation which then regulated the admission and practice of physicians was so defective as to be really worthless. However, in 1806 an act was passed repealing all former laws relating to the profession, and at the same time authorizing a general state med- ical society, and also county societies. The enabling act was passed April 4, and October 13 of the same year the physicians of Tioga county held a meeting and organized the Tioga county medical society .. However, several years previous to the formation of the society a number of prominent pioneer physicians were settled and in practice in the county. Therefore, before proceeding to a de- tailed history of the society it is proper to recall in a general way the nanies of some of the early physicians, those at least who antedated the organization. The reader must remember, how- ever, that in 1806, the year in which the society was formed, Tioga county was somewhat peculiarly situated. The erection of Broome county took from the mother shire all her territory east of Owego creek, and the result was that Doctors Tinkham, Waldo, Ely, Fay, and possibly others, now forgotten, were residents of Broome, whereas in fact they were also pioneers of the profession in Tioga. Yet, in 1822 the territory of the present towns of Owego, Newark Valley, Berkshire, and Richford was restored to Tioga county.
RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY PHYSICIANS.
According to well authenticated records, the pioneer physician
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION,
of original Tioga county was Dr. Joseph Hinchman, who settled in the old town of Chemung in 1788, and who in 1793 or '94 re- moved to Newtown. Dr. Hinchman was born at Jamaica, Long Island, August 28, 1762, and was the son and grandson of a physi- cian. His father was a surgeon on a British man-of-war during the French war, and the pioneer of the profession in Tioga county was himself a soldier in the American army during the revolution. February 18, 1795, Dr. Hinchman was appointed sheriff of Tioga county. He died July 23, 1802.
Another of the early and prominent physicians of Newtown was Amos Park, the first president of the medical society. He came from Orange county in 1793, and is said to have built the first framed house in Elmira. Dr. Elias Satterlee was one of the origi- nal members of the medical society, and also lived in the western part of old Tioga. Dr. Chrisjohn Scott is said to have been in the Newtown region previous to 1800, though his name does not appear on the medical society records.
The pioneer physician of Tioga county, within its present bound- aries, was Dr. Samuel Tinkham, a native of Plymouth, Mass., born July 17, 1769, and whose mother was the great great grand- daughter of Miles Standish. Dr. Tinkham was a graduate of Dart- mouth college, and received his medical education at Philadelphia. He came to Tioga county in 1788, locating at the Goodrich settle- ment, in the present town of Tioga, where the proprietary intend- ed to establish a village. However, in 1793 Dr. Tinkham came to Owego, and with Caleb Leach purchased at mortgage sale a con- siderable tract of land on the south side of Front street, also other parcels, which had been owned by James McMaster, and were by him mortgaged to Robert H. Bowne, a New York merchant. Dr. Tinkham afterward lived in Owego, and was engaged in general trading, his store standing west of the entrance to the bridge, on Front street. His medical practice was extensive and his drives long and sometimes tedious. His fatal illness came in the fall of 1804. He had visited New York city and there contracted yellow fever. After returning home he was soon called to attend a pa- tient in Newark Valley, and while on the visit was suddenly stricken, and died at the house of Mr. Sparrow. Dr. Tinkham
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married with Mary, the daughter of Col. David Pixley, and to them were born three children : Sarah E., who married William Pumpelly ; Samuel Standish, and David P. Tinkham.
Dr. James H. Tinkham was the grandson of Dr. Samuel Tink- ham, and was born in Owego, March 16, 1836. In July, 1861, he entered the United States service as naval surgeon, and although a young man was nevertheless a physician of much promise and a surgeon of unusual ability. In 1879, during a visit to Owego, he was attacked with quick consumption, and died July 2d of that year. During his illness, Dr. Tinkham was ordered as fleet-sur- geon to the West Indies squadron.
Dr. Elisha Ely was another of the early physicians of the county, and came to Owego from Saybrook, Conn., in the fall of 1798. He was the second physician of the village, and is recalled as a good practitioner and a man of prominence in the locality. He had been a surgeon in the American army during the revolution, and while in the service had by exposure contracted consumption, from which he died in 1801. His sons were William A., Daniel, Gilbert, Elisha, Edward and James Ely, of whom at least three afterward became prominently identified with the business inter- ests in Owego.
Dr. James Osborn was one of the pioneers of the medical pro- fession in Owego, as his advertisement in the American Farmer of March 20, 1811, states that he "will continue the practice of physic and surgery in Owego, and will relieve, cure, and warrant patients in every disease subject to the human frame." That he was qual- ified for practice is fully attested by the following certificate signed by the president and three of the faculty of some medical society or institution : "Owego, March 10, 1811. Dr. James Osborn has been approved relative to his knowledge in physic and surgery, and he has practiced a number of years with success ; and there- fore I do recommend him perfectly skilled in every branch of his profession." Signed, &c., JAMES WELSH, President, and others.
Dr. Joseph Waldo was the first physician in the northern part of the county, and as well was one of the pioneers of Berkshire. He was born at Windham, Conn., October 5, 1755, and was a sur- geon in the American army during the revolution. On coming to
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this state he settled first at Lisle, Broome county, and thence, in October, 1800, removed to Berkshire, where he lived the remain- der of his life. For many years Dr. Waldo was the only physician north of Owego, and his practice was very large. He was identi- fied with the early history and development of the northern part of the county, and was regarded as one of the foremost men of the region. He was one of the founders of the "First Church in Tioga" (1803), and later a constituent member of the Congrega- tional church in Berkshire. Dr. Waldo married, July 17, 1778, with Ann Bliss, of which marriage three children were born : Mary, who married with Joseph Waldo, 2d; Nancy Ann, who became the wife of Solomon Leonard ; and Joseph Talcott Waldo, also a prominent physician of Berkshire in after years. Dr. Joseph Waldo died February 13, 1840 ; his wife September 14, 1836.
Dr. Godfrey Waldo, another early physician of the county, settled at Owego in the summer of 1810 and began the practice of medicine. He came from Plymouth, N. H., and in 1839 removed to Birmingham, Mich., thence to Pontiac, in the same state, where he afterward lived. He died September 16, 1848.
Dr. Jedediah Fay, who for a period of nearly forty years was asso- ciated with professional and business life in Owego and its vicinity, was a native of Massachusetts, born at Hardwick, January 30, 1786. He was an educated physician when he came to Owego, in 1811, and at once began practice in partnership with Dr. Samuel Barclay, who was another of the old-time medical men of the county. Later on Dr. Fay conducted a store in the village, and from 1830 to the time of his death was in the drug business. He was also quite prominently connected with civil and military affairs ; was postmaster from 1820 to 1842; was commissioned captain of a troop of the 8th regiment of cavalry in 1815, and in 1820 became surgeon of the 53d regiment of infantry, resigning the latter after three years. Dr. Fay was a well known and highly esteemed physician and merchant of Owego, and one whose ac- quaintance extended throughout the region. His sons were George W. Fay, of Owego, and Frederick J. Fay, of Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Fay died April 23, 1848.
Dr. Lewis Beers was one of the old and noted physicians of the
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
county, a resident of Spencer as early as the year 1810. He became a member of the county medical society, and its president, in 1811, and was re-elected to a second term as president in 1821. Local records and tradition furnish little information relating to his antecedents, but the memory of old settlers give him a good stand- ing in the early times of Spencer. From the family surname Beers's settlement in Danby was founded. Lewis and Jabez Beers came from Stratford, Conn., in 1797, and in 1807 Dr. Lewis Beers was appointed one of the first justices of the peace in the town. in the same year he was also appointed judge of the common pleas court, and enjoyed the further distinction of having been the first and only president of the Owego and Ithaca turnpike company, his service being from 1812 to 1841. Dr. Beers died September 4, 1849, aged 81 years. Dr. Jotham Purdy, a promi- nent early physician of Elmira, read medicine with Dr. Beers at Spencer in 1821, and afterward practiced in that town about two years. Dr. Purdy died suddenly in Elmira in 1858.
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