Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 56

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

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and resides in Winona, Minnesota ; Eunice, who is the widow of John Crangle, and also resides at Winona; and Joel W., who was born in 1838, and died August 12, 1876,-by profes- sion he was a druggist. In 1863, when troops were called for at the time of the battle of Get- tysburg, he enlisted in a Philadelphia regintent. He married Elizabeth Woods, of Bellaire, Ohio, who survives him.

Judge Carroll was afforded excellent edu- cational advantages by his father, who sent him first to Franklin College, at New Athens, Ohio, and later, to Washington College, in Pennsylvania. Answering the call of Presi- dent Lincoln for 75,000 men, the subject of this sketch first entered Company K, 17th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., organized under the three

months' call, and re-enlisted, in September, 1861, in Company E, 15th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., in which he gallantly served for three and a half years. Ile was then commissioned lieu- tenant-colonel in the 184th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war.

Judge Carroll is one of the men who served from the beginning to the end of the Civil War, upholding his country's honor on every occasion at the risk of his life. His first term of service was in the Army of the Ohio, and his second was in the Army of the Cumber- land. Ile participated in the battle of Shiloh and all the battles in which the command took part,-such as Stone River, Chickamanga, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge and Lookont Mountain, and closed with the battles at Franklin and Nashville. He was at one period under constant fire, day and night, for three months. His entrance was as a humble pri- vate, but his promotion was rapid. He became second lieutenant in the 17th Ohio Regiment ; then first lieutenant, and later, captain, in the 15th Ohio Regiment; and lastly, lieutenant- colonel in the 184th Ohio Regiment. During this long and severe service he was never taken prisoner and received no wounds. His place in march or battle was never vacant on account of sickness, and in fact he was a typical soldier, whose usefulness was proven on many ocel sions.

ELMER J. HUTCHISON.

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Since his years of discretion, Judge Carroll has been interested in the law, and learned its underlying principles with his father. In 1854 he was admitted to practice, and this he re- sumed on his return from the army. In 1866 he was elected Probate judge, and served for nine years, having been re-elected three times. On December 12, 1899, he was appointed post- master at St. Clairsville, since which time he has been the popular incumbent of that posi- tion.

On May 16, 1860, Judge Carroll was mar- ried to Mary B. West, who was a native of Belmont County, and a daughter of the late Dr. Henry West, who for many years was a leading physician of the county. The five children born to this union were as follows: Carlo C., who is employed in the Union Pacific Railroad office at Kansas City, married Car- rie Asher, of said city, and has one daughter, Marguerite; Henry W., who is an employee of the Armours at Kansas City, and married Jessie Morton ; Clara, who married George W. Dunn, managing editor of the Columbus Citi- sen, of Columbus, Ohio, and has four children, Carroll, Mary L., John and George; Clinton, who is a locomotive engineer on the Union Pacific Railroad ; and Eleanor, who is the wife of Arthur S. Kuder, a commercial traveler, who resides at Columbus, and has one son, Harold B.

In Masonic circles, Judge Carroll has long been a very prominent figure, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery, in each of which he has held high official posi- tions. Ile is a charter member of the G. A. R., Drummond Post, No. 203, in which he has filleed the office of commander.

ELMER J. HUTCHISON, a well known business man of Barnesville, has, since 1895. been sole proprietor of one of the largest indus- tries in the place,-the Barnesville Box Fac- tory. Under his wise and conservative man- agement the business has made rapid progress. That he has been able in so short a time to

accomplish a great work is largely due to the fact that he previously had years of valuable mercantile experience, and has inherited from good ancestors both mental and physical power. Born in Barnesville, March 2, 1855, he is a son of Asbury and Eliza J. (Taylor) Hutchison.

Asbury Hutchison belongs to one of the okdl- est and most respectable families of Barnes- ville, and was born there in 1826. During his youth he learned the trade of a carpenter, which upon reaching manhood he followed as a means of livelihood. The rapid growth of his own community, and of other places in the vicinity, furnished him with plenty of work and enabled him to command the highest wages. With a steadfast purpose, he contin- ued the pursuit of his trade throughout his active life, laying by, from year to year, some- thing for a time of need. Becoming possessed of considerable means he discontinued his labors a few years ago and is now living a life of leisure. His wife, Eliza J. ( Taylor) Hutch- ison, died in June, 1890.

Elmer J. Hutchison obtained his mental training in the public schools of Barnesville, and afterward developed habits of self-reliance and close attention to business, which have so prominently characterized his mature life. Ambitious to advance himself, at the age of 21 years he went to Chicago and secured a position as private secretary to the traffic man- ager of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- pany. Giving excellent satisfaction, he remained there for many years, acquiring much valuable knowledge of various lines of business. Later he was commissioner of the Merchants' Association. Ill health, however, in the course of time obliged him to sever that connection. About this time, March 1. 1892, he purchased an interest in the box industry in Barnesville, conducted by Talbot & Brothers and 11. Campbell, where he remained as a part- ner for about three years. On January 1, 1805. he became the sole owner of the box factory, which he has since managed with such gratify- ing results. This business is one of the largest of its kind in the vicinity, is backed by a cap-

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ital of $7,500 and its output is valued at $15,000 per annum. It furnishes regular employment to 20 skilled workmen, and is of much benefit to the place.

Mr. Hutchison married Lucy Talbott, a daughter of John D. Talbott, a real estate dealer of Barnesville, and they have had four children,-William A., Edwin J., Mary M., and Dorothy A. In religious belief the family are Methodists. and the children have been reared in that faith. Mr. Hutchison's remark- able success in business has won for him the popular confidence in his section. Socially he is highly esteemed, and affiliates with the F. & A. M. As a Republican, in politics, his word carries weight in local affairs.

DR. JOSEPH HEWETSON, deceased.

This address of Dr. J. M. McConahey on the death of Dr. Hewetson is taken from "The Transactions of the Belmont County Medical Society," printed in 1855.

Mr. President and Fellow Members :

As a general thing, the death of a fellow be- ing produces but a momentary impression ini the mind of the living; it excites but little sympathy, viewed as the fulfillment of a law of necessity, resting upon all terrestrial created beings. He is dead, a word familiar to all, from its daily use, is passed round the circle of the deceased's acquaintance, and it matters but little whether that circle be large or small, the sound dies away, and with it the name and memory of the individual are forgotten. And as the ravages of the destroyer increase, in a given time, the impression produced seems to decrease in the same ratio, as may be seen dur- ing and after the prevalence of a desolating epidemic.

Oblivion is sought and cherished, and the desire to forget the past increases, as death, the king of terrors, adds to the number of his subjects. This, while it should admonish the living to hold themselves in readiness to obey the same power, should not be called unfeeling or ungrateful, but the development of a wise and essentially necessary principle of our

natural organization. But, when man dies, do his works die with him? When he ceases to breathe, when his spirit returns to God who gave it, and his body to its primitive elements, do his influences cease? If so, he lives to no purpose. If so, life is not worth protection. On the contrary, does not every individual ex- ert an influence, either active or passive in its nature, which in a certain sense is indestructi- ble, and continues its effects to an indefinite extent ? But he whose life has formed a link in the great chain of progression, which char- acterizes the generation in which he lived, may be laid in the grave, his name forgotten by the living, yet le has left behind him that which will live and teach by its formative influences, when time has reduced to dust the granite or the marble which marked the place of his re- pose. On the present occasion, we are under more than common obligations, associated to- gether for laudable purposes, which are de- signed to accomplish both a general and a spe- cial good, and he whose death we deplore, was amongst the projectors of our association. He was with us from the beginning, teaching by his learning and experience, imparting to his fellow members the fruits of many years' labor and research. But he has passed from amongst us and lies, forgotten by the world, in the dark and narrow house, "where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary find rest." But with us he lives in memory -- and will ever hold a hallowed place in the archives of this association.

Of the first periods of the life of Joseph llewetson, the subject of this sketch, or his ancestry, we have nothing very definite. We learn, however, that his father, John Hewet- son, was a farmer; and that his son was born August 18, 1804, upon the tenement occupied by his ancestors for more than three genera- tions, some of them living to the advanced age of 100 years. This was near Thorn Hill, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

Joseph's elementary education was com- menced at the parish school, situated near his father's residence. How long he remained there, we are not able to say. We next find

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him, without dates, at Thorn Hill, which was probably a grammar school of such character as to prepare youth for entering college. We here lose sight of him until 1820, making him 16 years of age, we find him admitted to the senior humanity class, in the college of Edin- burgh, for the session of 1820.

Accompanying his tickets, we find the cer- tificate of Prof. James Pillans to his unexcep- tionably good conduct, his regular attendance and performance of all the written exercises prescribed.

The requirements of these time-honored in- stitutions of learning being of such character, that the persons admitted to their college class would, in this country, be considered on ad- vanced standing, the tickets of Prof. George Dunbar admitted him to the junior Greek class, November 16, 1820. Accompanying Pro- fessor Dunbar's tickets, are certificates, show- ing his regular attendance and his unexcep- tionable moral character, industrious habits and satisfactory proficiency up to October, 1824. But that his knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages was above the ordinary standard cannot be doubted, as he retained his acquaint- ance with them to a degree rarely equalled amongst professional men, whose pursuits do not necessarily require their frequent use as reference. We ascertain from his papers that while prosecuting his collegiate course he com- bined with his classical studies the lectures of Prof. John Barclay on anatomy and surgery. His tickets and certificates show that during his collegiate course he attended four courses on these professional branches, under the teachings of Professor Barclay. Certificates also from the same professor, of his unexcep- tionable moral character, habits of industry and the most satisfactory proficiency in these pro- fessional branches. And in all the departments of surgery and medicine, tickets and certifi- cates of his proficiency, morals and upright course, given by the respective professors of the various departments, are found with his papers, viz : anatomy, surgery and pharmacy, chemistry, materia medica and obstetrics, theory and practice of medicine, institutes of

medicine, principles, practice and operations of surgery, dietetics, &c. Also for practical anatomy in Dublin ( Ireland ) for a full term. We find also tickets of admission to the Royal Infirmary of Dumfries and Galloway, as assist- ant house surgeon for one year; also admis- sion for one year to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, in the capacity of assistant house surgeon; and from the principal of each of these institutions certificates of approval as to moral deportment and professional skill in dis- charging the duties and obligations devolving upon one engaged in these highly responsible stations.

The names of the following professors are found upon his tickets and certificates : Pillans. Dunbar, Barclay, Milligan, Hope, Russel, Duncan, Allen, Thompson, Campbell and Spaulding. Ilis diploma bears date 1826, given by the faculty of the Edinburgh college and signed by ti of the royal professors. Hlow long after receiving his diploma before he opened an office is not known to us. The first account we have of his opening an office is in a village near his father's residence, called, we believe, Monihive. There, it seems, he com- menced his professional career in Dumfries- shire. But he did not remain in this location very long; but, of the cause of his change, we have no account., From there he removed to the town of Wigton, Wigtonshire. Scotland, where he remained in the practice of his pro- fession until the spring of 1833.

Ilere he became acquainted with the present Mrs. Hewetson, who was his first patron at Wigton. She had been under treatment for spinal disease about 12 months prior to his locating in this town. They were married April 12. 1830. There are no incidents of spe- cial importance connected with his practice here. One circumstance, however, may be named, as characteristic of the man, and one which evinced but a natural trait, as those acquainted with him know to have been strictly observed in all his intercourse, both professional and relative in the transactions of life, showing a firm adherence to principle, and an unwillingness to yield to influences un-

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founded on principle, whether those influences were calculated to operate for or against his own personal interest.

In the excitement connected with the pass- age of the reform bill by the British parlia- ment, he and but one more of all the voters of the town of Wigton cast their votes for a particular candidate. Party spirit ran high and there were feelings indulged which threatened to affect adversely his pecuniary and professional inter- ests. In this state of political turmoil and proscriptive feeling, a deputation came from a neighboring town where the vote had been thrown as strongly in favor of the Doctor's candidate, as in his own locality it had been against him. That deputation solicited his re- moval, making specious promises of reward, for his political opinions and firm adherence to these, under circumstances most discouraging in their nature. A wide field for developing his professional skill, with lucrative patron- age sufficient to afford a rich reward, was held out. But they were mistaken in the man. His opinions were fixed in the belief, that the duty of medical men was to stand upon their pro- fessional merit alone, and under no circum- stances to compromise the honor and dignity of the profession, for mere pecuniary or selfish considerations. Possessing these views and feelings, he declined accepting the the offer. Time and sober reflection allayed the excite- ment, and having their confidence previously as a medical man, things returned to their old channels, without materially affecting his pro- fessional interest. But in consequence of an attack of acute disease resulting in a fixed chronic affection, he conceived the notion of quitting the practice of his profession. And always being favorably impressed with the simple and unmolesting beanties of agricul- tural life, determined to adopt it; and with this conclusion, the notion of emigrating to America was matured. Accordingly, in the spring of 1833, he with his wife and two sons sailed in the ship "Britannia" from Liverpool. Ilis original destination was for the then far West, by way of Pittsburg, where a portion of

Mrs. Hewetson's relatives were then residing. But from the opinions formed, of the portion of country through which they had passed, the design of going further west was for the pres- ent abandoned. They removed from Pitts- burg to Washington County, Pennsylvania. The season being too far advanced to favor a commencement of agricultural pursuits, and not feeling satisfied to live unemployed. he concluded, for the time being, to resume the practice of medicine, until he could settle upon his future course and permanent location, where he could commence his contemplated occupation as a farmer. He continued to prac- tice until the spring of 1835. In April of that year he removed to Belmont County and settled upon a farm near St. Clairsville, fully determined to abandon his professional pur- suit, believing that his health would thereby be improved, and life more fully enjoyed. Soon after this, quite a number of cases of smallpox appeared in the vicinity of his resi- dence. Some discussion, as to the true char- acter or grade of the disease, amongst the attending physicians, was in existence; and, they not being able to agree, he was consulted, more perhaps from his supposed acquaintance with the disease, from its more general preva- lence in the old country than in this, than from any knowledge of his professional skill or medical education. Another circumstance, as related by his neighbors, probably tended more to involve him again in practice than the one above. A neighbor, as I understand it, while attending a threshing machine had his hand and arm badly mutilated, by being drawn into some part of the machinery. A physician was called, and upon examining the limb seemed at a loss what to do. Dr. Hewetson having re- paired to the house on hearing of the injury, and seeing what was needed, immediately amputated the arm. Whether the first occur- rence, as related by Mrs. Hewetson, or the sec- ond, as related by a neighbor, became the cause of turning public attention towards him as a physician, is not known, but from this time he was gradually drawn into practice and his con- templated retirement broken up. llis bodily

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strength was frequently overtaxed by long rides, as a great amount of his practice con- sisted in consultation, both as a surgeon and physician.

There was in his nature no mercenary feel- ing to urge him to sacrifice ease and jeopardize health, neither was there any of the pinchings of poverty impelling him. His kind and gen- erous nature, and the cheerfulness with which he ministered to the sufferings and wants of the poor, both with his means and his skill, would contradict the former, and against the latter he had ample competence. That class of persons, whose circumstances in life ren- dered them unable to afford even a small re- muneration, received alike his kind and careful attentions, with those more fortunate; and in some instances I have known him to neglect the calls of the latter, for the benefit of the former. As a physician he was kind and evinced a most scrupulous regard for the feel- ings of his patients, but never allowed his feelings or interest to conceal his honest opin- ions as to the probable results when inter- rogated by relatives.

In his investigations at the bedside, he was minute, even in cases seemingly trivial, and where it might be thought a mere passing notice sufficient. As a diagnostician but few if any, having but the facilities of a country practice, excelled him, and his success in the treatment of disease was fully acknowledged by all his brethren, and happily appreciated by a widespread community who had been the re- cipients of his medical skill.

As a surgeon, but few opportunities in the country are afforded in this department of the profession, but a sufficient number of opera- tions were performed by him to give him the credit due to a safe and cautious surgeon. It is more than likely he excelled in this depart- ment as it was to it he gave special attention in his studies, and which was his legitimate practice in his native country. As a counsellor, he was extensively known and his course as such was one of conscientious candor towards patient and attendant, carefully observing the strictest rules of professional etiquette, unless

waived by request ; and where in the discharge of duty he had nothing to recommend or dis- prove, nothing afforded him more pleasure than an entire concurrence with the attendant, thus giving fresh confidence to the patient and his friends, and if the attendant be young, in- spiring him to greater efforts to acquit himself with honor and honesty in the responsibilities of his calling. When solicited by friends or patients for his opinions respecting the final result of the case, his views of duty con- strained him to answer their inquiries candidly, whether for or against their recovery. This course, we are all aware, is condemned by many, but he viewed it criminal to deal in evasion or dissimulation where honesty is of the most vital importance to the inquirer, and especially should this be the case where implicit confidence is placed in the opinions and candor of the physicians.

Ilis manner was frank and courteous to all those with whom he had intercourse. His man- ner was to speak evil of none in the profession, while he excercised the right of preference; his opinions with regard to others rested with himself. If the envious insidiously assailed him, he suffered it to pass unnoticed; con- scious of the uprightness of his course, he was willing to let the world form its own conchi- sions, satisfied that persons so unfortunately constituted as to suffer envy to lead them into trouble had at all times within them the ele- ments of misery and discontent. But we have stated in this sketch his earnest desire and de- termination to retire from the profession; we have also stated the cause to be loss of health. In July, 1830, he was attacked with acute rheumatism which held him to January, 1831. It was very severe in its character, and affect- ing the system generally. After some time it affected the heart producing in this organ hypertrophy and valvular disease, and which no doubt contributed much to bring about a premature close of his useful life. After vari- ous fruitless efforts at relief, he proposed to his medical advisers bloodletting, to an extent beyond what they were willing to risk, but he expressed it as the only hope of relief in his

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case. Willing to assume the responsibility of the measure, he was accordingly bled profusely by which he was greatly relieved and he gradually improved from this time; and it was always his opinion that, if the same treat- ment had been resorted to in the commence- ment of the cardiac affection, organic disease might have been obviated. In this, there is scarcely a doubt but that he was correct.

The bleeding must have been carried to an almost unprecedented extent, as it became necessary to fan him incessantly for three days afterwards, he was so faint. In giving a de- scription of the feelings produced by this treat- ment, in conversing with a friend, for three days he stated the feeling to be such as would be experienced by lying on the back, and the feet raised up from the bed, to an angle of 45 degrees. This sensation was owing probably to the great and sudden reduction of the vol- ume of the circulation affecting the contrac- tile power of the heart, which had been over- taxed for so long a time, and in consequence of this an almost entire suspension of the cir- enlation in the inferior extremities. Ile slowly, but steadily improved, and resumed business as strength returned. Nothing more is said of this affection until 1840, when there was a severe return of rheumatism, which no doubt aggravated and rendered more hopeless his cardiac disease. A friend tells me that, in 1842, he remembers well the Doctor's emaci- ated and feeble condition; says he has never seen in his face or cheeks so great a flaccidity at any time since. As the warm and settled condition of the weather came on in the spring of 1842, his improvement was more rapid, and again he resumed practice-which he had given up for near two years, having practiced none, except a few consultations, and in these he was under the necessity of frequently stop- ping by the way. to rest for a considerable time, to prevent complete prostration and a return to his bed. Ile wore a seaton over the region of the heart from this time, about one year, 1843 to 1844, at the same time attending to business as far as his debilitated condition would admit. His health was measurably re-

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Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 56

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490