The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II, Part 74

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II > Part 74

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Bushwick and East Brooklyn Dispensary, No. 942 Myrtle avenue, is the result of the consolidation of two incipient organizations, the history of which is as follows : June 15, 1876, a few citizens met in St. Bar- nabas' Church, Bushwick avenue, to consider the ques- tion of the establishing of a dispensary in the eastern part of the city. A committee of six, appointed to prepare a plan for a permanent organization, presented a report at a meeting held Feb. 2, 1877, which report was adopted ; and the " Bushwick Dispensary Associa- tion " was thereupon resolved into existence. Standing committees on finance and charter were appointed, and subscriptions to the amount of ninety dollars were made.

On the afternoon of the first Sunday in November, 1877, Dr. F. L. Tetamore, and a few friends, opened rooms on DeKalb, near Nostrand avenue, for a Mission Sabbath School. Shortly after, they fitted up a num- ber of beds, where destitute young men could find lodgings. Places of employment for such were sought, and in some instances found; and, besides these benev- olent undertakings, the establishing of a dispensary was planned, and actually began the work of minister- ing to the sick poor on December 10th.

939

HOSPITALS, DISPENSARIES, ETC.

The medical staff consisted of the following : Dr. Williams, President; Dr. Hunt, Secretary, and Messrs. Fowler, Sizer, Hamilton, Crutchley, King and Evans. The work grew so rapidly upon them that they cast about to obtain a more perfect organization; and, in seeking persons to become incorporators of the "East Brooklyn Dispensary," they learned of the steps which had already been taken for the formation of the "Bush- wick Dispensary." This resulted in a preliminary conference, at the house of John M. Phelps, of a few friends of each organization. On the evening of Feb. 13, 1878, a more general meeting of the friends of both organizations was held in the chapel of St. Matthew's Church, which resulted in the consolidation of both dispensaries under the name of Bushwick and East Brooklyn Dispensary. At subsequent meetings offi- cers were elected, and a constitution and by-laws adopted. A charter meantime had been obtained, and the medical staff had reorganized ; an apothecary had been secured, and, on March 1, 1878, the dispensary was opened at 942 Myrtle avenue, with the following OFFICERS (1879-'80): Nicholas Wyckoff, Pres .; Darwin R. James and Hosea O. Pearce, Vice-Presidents; Jud- son C. Watson and John S. Norcross, Secretaries; Frederick Herr, Treas. OFFICERS (1882-83): Henry O. Pearce, Pres .; John L. Nostrand, First Vice-Pres .; Frederick Herr, Second Vice-Pres .; Eugene F. Barnes, Rec. Sec .; William Valentine, Cor. Sec .; A. Howell Topping, Treas.

The Brooklyn Sanitarian Hospital and Dis- pensary, 103 Lawrence street, was the outgrowth of the labors of T. S. Wilcox, M. D., and was organized with seven members, December 6th, 1879 (incorporated nine days later), for the care of the sick and destitute.

The first managers were: George Wilson, John Francis, T. S. Wilcox, M. D., Col. Thos. Carroll, Robt. L. Garretson, F. M. Wilcox and Wm. H. Tintle. The house, 103 Lawrence street, was purchased, hospital beds supplied, and a dispensary opened January Ist, 1880, in charge of Dr. Wilcox, who has since been House Physician and General Superintendent. A donation of $1,000 from Dr. T. S. Wilcox was accepted.

After an unsatisfactory effort to organize a medical staff from the different schools of practice, a resolution was unanimously adopted by the board, declaring the practice in this hospital to be that of the Homeopathic school; with discretionary powers by the resident physician to use such remedies as in his judgment should be most beneficial to each particular case.

The first OFFICERS were: George Wilson, President; John Francis, Vice-President; Thomas Carroll, Treas- urer; Frank M. Wilcox, Secretary; Robert L. Garrett- son, Counselor. The succeeding presidents were : Joseph E. Wceden, 1880; Rev. J. Hyatt Smith, 1881; Dr. William Harris, 1882; Rev. B. F. Reeve, 1883. The other OFFICERS for 1883 are as follows: Wm. S. Ford, Vice-President; Rev. G. DeB. Stoddard, Secretary;

Wm. P. Walsh, Treasurer; A. L. Martin and Henry A. Hine, Counselors; Miss Melissa M. Balcom, Matron and Manager since the opening of the institution. The Board now numbers 26 members.

Ninety-seven cases were treated in the hospital in 1883, and 3,470 in the dispensary, at a total cost of $2,999 -11- A peculiar feature of the hospital is the privilege that a patient can be attended by his own physician while in the hospital, this being the only in- stitution in Brooklyn in which such a privilege is allowed.

MEDICAL AND SURGICAL STAFF: Samuel Eden, M. D., Surgeon ; N. A. Robbins, M. D., Assistant Surgeon ; G. C. Hamilton, M. D., C. H. Bronson, M. D., William Barker, M. D., H. G. Treat, M. D., and Henry Riedt, DD. S., Dental Surgeon.

This active and useful institution has never received a dollar from the city, except its pro rata share of the excise moneys, amounting to between three and four hundred dollars yearly. The balance of its support comes from private sources.

There are ten patients at present in the house, which has but ten regular beds, with means of extemporising as many more extra. Estimates are being made to enlarge this hospital at once to double its present capacity.

The Brooklyn Diet Dispensary .- In Decem- ber, 1875, a few ladies and gentlemen met by appoint- ment in the parlors of Mrs. George Stannard, to con- sider and discuss the question of relief for the sick poor. They decided to organize a society under the name of the Diet Relief Association. Although they collected only a little more than fifty dollars, they went forward, feeling confident that the money would come when the nature of the work should be under- stood. At a subsequent meeting, held on the 12th of January, 1876, a constitution was agreed upon, and the name was changed to the Brooklyn Diet Dispen- sary Association, which is suggestive of the object, viz., to dispense to the sick poor such diet as their physicians may prescribe, and furnish it to them free of charge. Their first principle of action was economy in expenditure and promptness in payment, the aim being to do the most good with the least money. The next principle was freedom from sectarianism, both in theology and medicine. They resolved to make no distinctions of creed, color, school, or nationality; to ask only, "Is the patient worthy of aid, and in need of it ?" A room was hired at 49 High street, and the first " diets " were issued on the 17th of January, 1876, One of the first rules adopted in regard to diets was, " All definite orders of physicians must be filled."

From a modest beginning the work has increased to a well-organized society, incorporated under the laws of the state in 1877, and acknowledged to be indis- pensable to the completeness of a perfect system of charity in any large community.

940

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

It has matured so rapidly that, although just entering upon the eighth year of its existence, it has organized three branches, all of which are in successful opera- tion. The Main dispensary being at 21 DeKalb av- enue; the East branch at 574 Gates avenue; the South at 293 Sackett street, and the Williamsburgh branch at 194 Conselyea street.

Each branch is in charge of a directress and a matron, both of whom are under the control of the board of managers. A visitor is employed by the board to call upon those who receive diets; and if, in any case, a doubt as to character exists, it is reported to the Investigating Committee, who, after further visitation and inquiry, decide on its merits, and, if found unworthy of aid, the patient is cut off from the list and the doctor is notified of the result.

The society has in the past year (1883), reached 3,659 patients, which called for 10,347} pints of beef tea, 1,312 pints of mutton broth, 30,428 eggs, 25,123} pints of milk, and other delicacies suitable for a sick room. The sales of beef tea have amounted to $530.95.

OFFICERS (1882-'83): Mrs. Geo. Stannard, President; Mrs. F. B. Fisher, Vice-President; Hon. J. W. Hunter, Treasurer; Mrs. J. P. Dike, Assistant Treasurer; Mrs. R. B. Fithian, Recording Secretary; Mrs. H. J. Stevenson, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. J. L. Far-

ley, Directress Main Dispensary; Mrs. J. O. Bedell, Directress East Brooklyn Dispensary; Mrs. H. Jessop, Directress South Brooklyn Dispensary; Mrs. W. R. Taylor, Directress Williamsburg Dispensary.

(Omitted from Its proper place on page 890.)

WM. K. BROWN was born in Boston in 1807. Deciding on medicine as a profession he graduated from Dartmouth (Han- over Medical College) in 1829. For a time he practiced in Port- land, and then tried Philadelphia; but, dissatisfied with his attainments, he went to Europe early in 1840, and studied for some time under Velpeau, Andral and Duhois. Returning in December, 1841, he came to Brooklyn, and located on the corner of Henry and Remsen streets, afterward removing to Henry and Montague, where he remained in practice for two and thirty years. In the earlier years of his professional life he preferred surgery; and, as early as 1830, while in Portland, he tied the carotid artery. Shortly after removing to Brook- lyn he was called out of town one night, to treat a girl whose legs had been crushed by a train on the Long Island Railroad. Time was valuable and instruments lacking. With a pocket knife and meat-saw, by the light of a lantern, and with a brakeman for an assistant, he successfully performed the operation of amputation. He held the love and esteem of his patients during the many years of his life. In his leisure hours he amused himself by the study of insect life, but he left little literary record of his work. Dr. Brown was long a member of the County Medical Society and of the New York Academy of Medicine. An injury to his head, caused by a fall from a horse car, eventually caused his death in 1879.

PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.

The Kings County Pharmaceutical Society was organized in 1877. Its object is the elevation of the standard of qualification among pharmacists, and the protection alike of the profession and the public.

The first President was George Close, followed in succession by L. E. Nicot, William De Forest, Edward A. Sayre, and the present President, Robt. Blacke; the other OFFICERS for 1883-'4 are: L. D. Sheets and John MacDonald, Vice-Presidents, Charles R. Paddock, Sec. and Treas.

The Brooklyn Board of Pharmacy, was or- ganized July 19, 1879, and incorporated under chapter 502, N. Y. laws of that year. Its object is to restrict the sale of medicine and poisons to competent pharma- cists, and to examine and register the same. It is com- posed of five members, two of whom are physicians, and three pharmacists. The first OFFICERS were: G. M. Baker, M. D., Pres .; L. E. Nicot, Sec. Present OFFI- CERS: Wm. P. De Forrest, Prcs .; L. E. Nicot, Sec.

Among the prominent pharmaceutists of Brooklyn, we may mention the following:

Albert Black.

264 Bridge street.

Established 1854; member of Common Council seven years, serving as president two terms.

Louis E. Nicot .. . 67 Union avenue.

Druggist; established 1871; member of Board of Edu- cation from 1882 to 1887; elected Examiner and Secre- tary of "Kings County Board of Pharmacy," 1879; re- elected 1882; was President Kings County Pharmaceuti- cal Society; now represents Fifth Congressional District in New York Republican State Committee.

Richard Lauer 365 Pacific street.

Importer of drugs; established 1864, in New York; Supervisor, 1880-'81; Excise Commissioner, 1882-'83.

Thomas M. Lahey. 146 Smith street.

Apothecary; established 1854, in New York; removed to Brooklyn 1857; graduate of Queens College, Galway, Ireland, 1851.

Hermann A. Miller. .204 Columbia street.

Druggist; established 1859, Brooklyn.

George S. Phillips 39 Fleet place.

Pharmacist; established 1854; first colored man estab- lished as a druggist in Brooklyn.

J. C. Ubert Division, corner Lee avenue. Druggist; established 1883, in Brooklyn; born 1883, in Wisconsin.

Van Brunt Wyckoff. .. 622 Third avenue.

Drugs, paints, oils, hardware, etc .; born May 25th, 1820, in Wyckoff Homestead; established 1853, at 122 Third avenue, removing from there to present address.

THE

PROFESSION OF DENTISTRY IN

KINGS COUNTY AND BROOKLYN.

T is our intention simply to place before our readers a purely local history of dentistry in Kings county from its birth, about fifty years ago, up to the present time. Its beginnings being entirely the aggregated results of the individual labors of its earlier practitioners, we are naturally led, at first, to the con- sideration of the lives of these

Pioneers of Dentistry in Kings County .-

HEZEKIAH N. STRATTON was born in Phillipston, Mass., in July, 1822; at the age of twenty-one came to Brooklyn, and under the careful tuition of Dr. George Wood, studied dent- istry for three years. He then opened an office at 139 Atlan- tic avenue, above a confectionery and bakery store, estab- lished by his brother a short time before. Here Dr. Stratton practiced for twelve years, at the end of which time, a fine and costly residence was finished at the corner of Clinton and Pacific streets, where he added another twelve years to his active professional life, and died "in the traces," Feb 15, 1869. Dr. Stratton's initiation into dentistry is worthy of mention, as being thoroughly characteristic of the man. Early in 1843, a conversation between himself and Dr. Geo. Wood was interrupted by the entrance of a patient. After a very short absence, Dr. Wood returned, saying quietly, "There's a dollar quickly earned." "So soon," cried young Stratton; then, after a moment's thought, "this is the busi- ness for ms." The words were prophetic; it was the business for him. Men of his stamp are rarely met with. He combined a marked intellectual ability and energy with a noble heart and frank, genial temperament. His charities were number- less; for many years he gave his services gratuitously to the six hundred orphans in St. Paul's Parish, on Court street ; to the Convent attached to St. James' Church on Jay street, and the Cloistered Nuns at the Villa de Sales, at Bath, L. I. Attending his funeral were the representatives of many char- ities in which he had been actively interested.

GEORGE A. COOPER was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1822, and commenced the practice of dentistry in Brooklyn in 1845, after several years of practical training; he died at his residence in Adelphi street, in 1870. His professional in- tegrity was unimpeachable, and the enviable reputation ac- corded him by his brothers in the profession, flattering though it was, fell far short of his deserts.

GEORGE WOOD was born at Groton, Mass., July 24, 1813. At the age of sixteen, after having learned the masons' trade

at Groton, he came with his parents, brothers and sisters, to Brooklyn, where the family settled in the Fifth Ward. Here he soon obtained employment as clerk in a grocery store, over which the Wood family lived. Two years passed in this laborious occupation, when an opportunity was offered to George by his elder brother Charles, who was practicing in New Hampshire, to study dentistry with him. The offer was accepted, and for a year the brothers traveled about the New England States together; when George returned to Brooklyn, and, thinking the grocery business more lucrative than dentistry, opened a store, to which he devoted himself for four years. In the meantime, the love for the profession which he had abandoned grew stronger, and ultimately forced him into the office of Martin K. Bridges, with whom he studied one year. Then, on Fulton street, near Concord, he opened a modest office and began a professional career of unprecedented success. Dr. George Wood has been so va- riously spoken of and criticized by the press and his profes- sional brethren, that a correct estimate of the man is perhaps impossible. Such names as charlatan, quack, etc., have fre- quently been applied to him, let us hope, unjustly. All, however, acknowledge him to have been a very remarkable man. His will was indomitable, and his self-reliance and assurance inspired him with a courage almost heroic. His practice for many years was purely experimental; his mode of treatment severe ; and in the mechanical branch his suc- cess was not phenomenal. "Hit or miss" seemed to be the motto of this reticent and unsocial man, who never spoke thoughtlessly, and had no intimacies.

JAMES E. MILLER was born January 7, 1820, in the town of Somers, Westchester county, N. Y., and his early years were passed on his father's farm, situated in the heart of the Quaker district. He received his education at the district academy of his native village; and, being of an ambitious and industrious temperament, came to Brooklyn in 1839, when quite a young man, aud accepted an offer from Wil- liam Healy, a brother Quaker, to teach in the school under the Friends' meeting house, corner of Clarke and Henry streets. Here he remained six months, when he opened, on his own responsibility entirely, a school on Fulton street, op- posite Pierrepont. While engaged in this occupation, a little incident occurred which shaped the course of his future life. Happening to require the services of a dentist, he consulted Dr. Martin K. Bridges, who was one of the pioneers of the profession in this city. As young Miller was seated in the operating chair, the thought of studying dentistry found ex- pression in the words : " Why can't I do this ?" He made a

942

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

proposition, which was accepted, and early in the morning, and in the afternoon after his duties as tutor, he would re- pair to his instructor, in whose office he spent the balance of his time, paying from his slender earnings for the privilege. He soon made rapid strides in his chosen work, and opened, in the spring of 1842, an office in Squire's Building, on Atlantic avenue, between Hicks and Henry streets. Here he remained for three years; thence moved to pleasanter quarters on the corner of Pacific and Henry streets, where, for ten years, a very successful practice rewarded his efforts. In 1855, the Doctor moved to the corner of Henry and State streets, and lived there, or in the immediate vicinity, until June 6, 1883, when he died of pneumonia, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He was associated in business, at different periods, with Dr. Charles Miller, Dr. D. H. Mumford, the late Dr. Carlton Jones, Dr. H. G. Mirick, Dr. C. D. Cook, Dr. Charles H. Haskins, Dr. E. H. Miller, and, at the time of his death, with Dr. Charles C. Allen. Probably no one man in the city had a larger or wider circle of friends. People came to him from all parts of the country for advice and counsel, which was freely given, without money and without price. Dr. Miller was active in many public reforms, especially in reference to cruelty to animals ; was a vegetarian in the very strictest sense ; a religious revolutionist of marked type ; a great reader and deep thinker ; erratic at times, and dogmatic generally, but always generous-hearted, high-principled, and of sterling character. Many years ago he severed his rela- tions with the Society of Friends, whose distinctive dress, however, he continued to wear. His funeral services were conducted in accordance with the rites of that sect.

MARTIN KINSLEY BRIDGES was born in Hardwick, Mass., August 1, 1800. The early years of his life were spent on a farm, in the northern part of Vermont, near the border line of Canada. Here, during the spring, summer, and autumn, he worked as a farmer, and, in the winter, attended the dis- trict school in Craftsbury, three miles away. At the age of eighteen, prompted by the nomadic spirit which never wholly left him, he moved to Moriah, a small town in the heart of the iron district of Essex county, N. Y., bordering Lake Champlain. Here young Bridges obtained employment in the country store of the place, which position he held for two years, when an opportunity was given him to take charge of one of the small lake steamers plying between Port Henry and St. Albans. One season on the water satisfied him that his time might be better employed, and he removed to Watertown, N. Y., accepting there a clerkship in a general store. This, however, did not long satisfy his ambitious na- ture ; and, when a better opportunity offered itself, he gave way to the impulse of his roving disposition and went to Rut- land, Vt. There he was employed by a certain Mr. Page, who, in addition to the country store of the place, owned a small factory, to which the hero of this sketch had access, and made use of the opportunity offered to develop his taste for mechanics, which was recognized in him at an early age. Hero, too, he was enabled to attend the Rutland Academy for three terms, securing to himself a solid educational foundation, for which he never ceased to be grateful. He remained in this place eight years, was married, and buried his only son there. Here, too, the thought of dentistry as a profession was suggested to him, and he spent his hard- earned dollars in the purchase of books which treated of the subject, bought a few instruments, made many himself, and began studying in a quiet experimental way. He had always been an adept with tools, and was possessed of in- ventive genius of no mean order, which stood him in good stead in this new venture.

In 1836, he went to Saugerties, where he remained one year in the office of Hiram B. Lathrop, an experienced prac- titioner. In the fall of 1837 he came to Brooklyn, where, at the corner of Fulton and Hicks streets, he opened a modest office. Thus far, the practical results of his untiring labors and years of study were discouraging. Presently, however, all was changed ; the ability of the man was at last recog- nized and acknowledged ; his practice grew marvellously. At this time, Brooklyn could not claim 40,000 inhabitants; the Heights were scattered masses of barren rocks, rudely fenced in ; and, about two hundred yards from the doctor's office, a pair of bars adorned the roadside, through which the cows from the Packer farm were driven to and from pasture. For many years Dr. Bridges occupied the unpre- tentious quarters in which he first settled ; then, moving with the tide of civilization, opened offices at (old number) 109 Henry street, where, in September, 1853, he died, young in years comparatively, but old in the experiences of a life that had been full of changes, both of place and fortune. The immediate cause of his death was brain-softening, superinduced by overwork. For many years The Dental Mirror, published for gratuitous circulation, was edited by him; an interesting sheet largely made up of quotations per- tinent to the subject of dentistry, and of advertisements. The benevolent disposition of the man is clearly set forth in this quotation, which appears conspicuously on The Mirror for 1843: "Two hours in each week-day, from seven to nine o'clock in the morning, are devoted to the service of the poor without charge."

In 1841, he became a member of the American Society of Dental Surgeons, and, for many years, was the only repre- sentative in the Society from Kings county. His charitable nature was largely developed ; he was actively interested in many prominent benevolent societies; gave freely his thought, time or money, as the demand might be ; and died regretted alike by rich and poor ; his friends were legion ; foes, he had none.

JOHN SCOTT was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., Septem- ber 4, 1813. As a boy, he was precocious, and evinced an earnest desire for knowledge. He began, at seventeen, the study of medicine and dentistry, in New Haven, where he remained several years; and, at the age of twenty-two, hav- ing given up the study of medicine, began the practice of dentistry in Seymour, Conn., where he remained until 1840. At about this time, the necessity for a collegiate course was largely felt by the profession. Young Scott, recognizing the desirability of such a course, went to the Philadelphia Dental College, where he graduated in 1843; and, an opportunity offering itself the following year, he came to Brooklyn and opened an office at 193 Atlantic avenue, near Court street. Here he took the practice of Dr. Hammond, who was in- fected with the gold fever, and had gone to California, where, a few years later, he died, regretted by many on both sides of the continent. The house in which Dr. Scott had located was quite pretentious for those days ; the parsonage of the Pacific Street Methodist Church was next door ; and a long row of high-stoop brick houses opposite, gave an air of un- questioned elegance to the neighborhood. The year follow- ing the advent of Dr. Scott, the first line of street-cars in Brooklyn was introduced on Court street, or Fulton street; the clumsy stages still rattled along, and the tunnel under Atlantic avenue was still a thoroughfare. In 1849, Dr. Scott moved to 267 Fulton street, near Tillary; and, six years later, purchased a house at 257 Washington street, where the last twenty years of his busy life were spent, and where he died, January 21, 1883. Dr. Scott was one of the organizers of

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II, Part 74

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co Number of Pages: 1345

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345