USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. II, Pt. 1 > Part 13
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Dr .. Felter's paternal ancestry was of French and Dutch origin, the genealogy being traced back to French Huguenots who took refuge in Hol- land to escape the persecutions of the Medicis. The early history of the family shows it to have been located in the fertile plains of Languedoc. Dr. Felter's paternal ancestry at an early date immigrated to America, settled in the valley of the Hudson and were among the founders of the village of Saugerties, New York. His maternal ancestors were of English extrac- tion.
Dr. Felter was bereaved of his mother when he was a boy of eight years, and during the subsequent years of his youth and young manhood met with varying fortune. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Troy, Lansingburg and Green Island, and in the Groveside dis- trict school at Pittstown, New York. When 17 years old he obtained a teacher's certificate, and taught school for three successive winters at the Potter's Hill, East Pittstown and Groveside district schools. During those
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periods when he was not engaged as schoolmaster, he labored at farming. Subsequently he attended the Lansingburg Academy, at Lansingburg, New York. In 1883 he began the study of medicine and surgery, under Dr. Alex- ander B. Willis, of Johnsonville, New York, an old school physician of prominence and liberal views. Looking with disfavor upon the Allopathic branch of the profession, as he saw its practice, he decided to adopt the Eclectic system of medicine, and, though bitterly opposed by friends who honestly believed the choice to be suicidal to professional preferment, he - entered the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati in 1886, and graduated June 5, 1888, at the head of a class of 62. He then located in Troy, New York, for the practice of his profession. In 1889 Dr. Felter came to Cin- cinnati, with an established reputation for skill and ability, having been a valued member of the Albany County Eclectic Medical Association, of which he was treasurer up to the time of his departure.
Since coming to Ohio Dr. Felter has been prominent in medical circles and has been many times honored by the different Eclectic organizations in this and other cities. He is a member of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Society, of which he has served as president, as secretary and as chairman of the board of censors; the National Eclectic Medical Association; and the Ohio State Eclectic Medical Association, of which he has served as presi- dent, as vice-president and as permanent chairman of the committee on ne- crology.
In April, 1891, Dr. Felter was chosen demonstrator of anatomy in the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, vice Dr. McPheron, and during the session of 1891-92 he was temporarily (to fill vacancy) professor of descrip- tive and surgical anatomy. He was appointed quiz master in chemistry in 1895, and in 1898, in addition to his other duties, was appointed demon- strator of chemistry. In 1897 he was made adjunct professor of chemistry. and in 1900 became professor of chemistry, pharmacy and toxicology, which position he still holds, together with the professorship of descriptive and surgical anatomy. His favorite recreation studies are botany and general and medical history and biography. He is an associate editor of the Eclec- tic Medical Journal, to which he has also contributed regularly in original articles, his special topics being medical history, pharmacology, materia med- ica and specific medication. He has also been a regular contributor to the Annual of Eclectic Medicine and Surgery, particularly upon the subjects of
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ROBERT J. MORGAN.
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materia medica and specific medication. His papers on Eclectic medicines, running for several years in the Eclectic Medical Gleaner, attracted consider- able attention in this country and abroad, and were widely copied in many pharmaceutical and medical periodicals. In 1895 Dr. Felter collated and edited, with large additions, the lectures on materia medica delivered by Professor Locke before the classes of the Eclectic Medical Institute, and published the work as "Locke's Syllabus of Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics." In 1900 he brought out a second edition to which he added a large number of articles. This work is now used in all Eclectic medical colleges as a text-book. His revision of the King and Lloyd "American Dispensatory" (1898) has been accepted as standard by the Eclectic school of medicine and has been adopted as official by the National Eclectic Medical Association ; this work alone is sufficient to make him one of the leading practitioners of this advanced school. He is also the author of the "History of the Eclectic Medical Institute, 1845-1903." He is a member of the His- torical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, and of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History.
On June 1, 1890, Dr. Felter was married to Martha Reyburn Caldwell, who is a daughter of James Calvin and Mary H. ( Miller) Caldwell, of Fair Haven, Ohio, and a lineal descendant of the Caldwells of the Carolinas, of which family the mother of John C. Calhoun was a member. They have two children: Dorah Helen, born October 23, 1893; and Lloyd King, born July 9, 1896.
Dr. Felter and wife belong to the Northside Presbyterian Church of this city. His success has been attained under many difficulties, and may be attributed to his energy and perseverance, and to the enthusiasm which must be the guiding star of every one who attains eminence in the medical profession.
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ROBERT J. MORGAN.
ROBERT J. MORGAN, member of the well known Russell-Morgan Print- ing Company, and second vice-president and a director in the United States Printing Company, one of the best known and most highly regarded business citizens of Cincinnati, was born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland, June 24. 9
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1838. His mother died when he was six years of age and he accompanied his father to America at the age of nine. They reached Cincinnati on May 21, 1847, after three weeks on the Atlantic Ocean and three more on inland waterways in the journey from New York to this city.
The father of our subject was a wool comber by trade but found no em- ployment of the kind in his new home and turned his attention in search of something else. Thus he became connected with the firm of Butler & Brothers, manufacturers of boot and shoe blacking and small articles of trade and deal- ers in paper. With this firm our subject obtained his first situation, which he held for two years. From there he entered the newspaper office of the Chronicle and Atlas, where he received $1.50 per week. Gen. Andrew Hick- enlooper was employed just across the street in the old Dispatch office. Soon after this, our subject became apprenticed to learn the printer's trade to Caleb Clark and C. W. Starbuck, owners of the Ben Franklin job printing office, and, during his term of two and a half years there, the youth learned many details of the color printing business. From there he went into the job rooms of the Enquirer and remained there until he reached his 19th year, and then accepted a position as foreman of the pressroom of Hutton & Frealy, in Memphis, Ten- nessee, at a salary of $40 per week: There he was employed at the opening of the Civil War, when he returned to Cincinnati to offer his services in de- fense of the Union, enlisting in the 27th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was elected 2nd lieutenant ; Anthony O. Russell, his friend and later his partner, was elected captain of Company G, 6th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. ; both had previously belonged to the "Guthrie Greys" and were thus familiar with military tactics. Our sub- ject resigned and returned to Memphis, August 1; 1861.
On returning to Cincinnati in the November following, he found that ยท three of his brothers had enlisted and his aged father was alone, and decided to remain with him. He had accumulated $5,000 by saving his earnings and by the sale of 200 acres of land in Iowa at $10 per acre, which land he had previ- ously purchased as an investment. In January, 1867, the firm of Russell, Mor- gan & Company was established, and the job rooms of the Enquirer were pur- chased. This firm later became the Russell-Morgan Printing Company. This was the nucleus of the great business enterprises that are described hereafter. They erected a large building on Race street, but the business soon outgrew these premises and they erected an immense building on Sixth and Lock 'streets and ten years later added another large structure on Fifth and Lock.
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This plant is equipped with the finest, modern, up-to-date machinery in ex- istence and is the largest label printing establishment of its kind in the world. From the original firm have grown the United States Printing Company, the United States Playing Card Company and the United States Lithograph Com- pany. All three of these concerns are separate and distinct in their operations. Branches have been established in Brooklyn and other cities, and employment is given to more than 2,000 people. About two-thirds of all the playing cards . used in the United States and large show posters are manufactured. In 1891 the United States Printing Company was established and our subject be- came one of its directors as well as second vice-president. He is vice-presi- dent, treasurer and director in the United States Playing Card Company. In April, 1900, Maj. Anthony O. Russell, our subject's partner, died; his biography will be found elsewhere in this volume.
In many ways aside from his great business interests, Mr. Morgan has been and still is a prominent citizen. He was a member and the first president of the Cincinnati Board of Police Commissioners and was instrumental in or- ganizing the present splendid police system. Mr. Morgan is the donor of the Morgan Medal, awarded each year. On March 6, 1894, he was again ap- pointed on the Board of Police Commissioners by the late Governor Mckinley to succeed M. S. Forbus. For many years he served with great efficiency on the Board of Education and has always shown a lively interest in all that goes to advance Cincinnati. In manner he is genial, frank and pleasant and is noted for his kind and friendly interest in those whom he meets. He is a man of generous instincts, but is unostentatious and only those who have benefited by his charity realize its extent. In May, 1893, Mr. Morgan retired from active business.
On January 2, 1866, Mr. Morgan was married to Emma F. Armstrong, a member of a prominent pioneer. family of Cincinnati. Of the four children born, two survive: Arthur Russell and Ethel. Arthur Russell Morgan is a very prominent attorney of the Hamilton County bar, with offices in the Ral- ston Building, Cincinnati. He is a graduate of the Cincinnati Law School, treasurer of the Inter-State Life Insurance Company and resides at No. 2519 Bell place. Our subject's beautiful family residence, situated at No. 2125 Alpine place, Walnut Hills, is adorned with exquisite and costly paintings, many of which are very rare products of the artist's brush. It is not only a happy, refined, intellectual home, but it is one that is lavish in its hospitality.
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Fraternally, Mr. Morgan is a Master Mason and has taken the 32nd degree, Scottish Rite. He is a life member of Cincinnati Lodge, No. 5, B. P. O. E. . \ portrait of Mr. Morgan accompanies this sketch.
GUSTAVE BRUHL, M. D.
GUSTAVE BRUHL, M. D., who, since 1848, had been a resident of Cin- cinnati, and who for many years had been a leading German-American of this city, died suddenly from an attack of apoplexy at his home, February 16, 1903. Thus closed a long life of useful endeavor and removed from this city one who had gained fame in his profession, and as a traveler, philosopher and author. Dr. Bruhl was born May 31, 1826, in the village of Herdorf, in Rhein-Preussen, Germany.
Dr. Bruhl was educated in the gymnasiums at Siegen, Muenster-Eiffel and Trier, and was graduated as a doctor of medicine, philosophy and his- tory at the universities of Halle, Munich and Berlin. In 1848 he came to Cincinnati and soon became one of the leading German practitioners of this city. Some 15 years since he retired from active practice and devoted his attention to literature. As a token of the esteem in which he was held by his friends, he was nominated as a candidate for State Treasurer, while on a trip to California, and, although the Democratic candidates were de- feated, he received the highest number of votes on the ticket. Some time after, he was nominated as a Tilden presidential elector from this State.
A great traveler, Dr. Bruhl had visited almost every country on the globe, and' as a linguist occupied a place in the front ranks. His writings under the nom de plume of "Kara Giorg," mainly poems and articles of travel, made his name known to many students of German in the public schools. His poem, "Weihe der Kuenste" ("The Glorification of the Arts"), won fame for him and for Dr. N. J. Elsenheimer, of the Cincinnati College of Music, who built his cantata of that title. upon Dr. Bruhl's poem. Dr. Bruhl was at work on his most important book at the time of death, this being an attempt to prove that America was settled during the glacial period. a scientific exposition which had attracted wide interest. He read a paper supporting his views before the International Etlmological Society of Amer- ica in New York City, in August, 1902, and had one in preparation for the
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society's coming convention in Stuttgart, Germany. As a member of the Board of University Trustees, he caused many reforms for the betterment of the local school system. He was a member of the Historical and Philo- sophical Society of Ohio, American Medical Society, International Ethno- logical Society of America, the German Literary Club and many other lit- erary and medical associations. His health began to fail in 1896, after a visit to the Holy Land, where he suffered severely from the effects of a rain- storm that overtook him between Jerusalem and Damascus. During his last years he took much pleasure and interest in adding to his collection of antiquities and specimens.
Dr. Bruhl was married to Margaret Reis, who has been deceased some 10 years. He is survived by two sons. both prominent business men,-At- torney Theodore Bruhl, of this city, and Charles W., of Zanesville,-and one daughter, Fanny, wife of Dr. William H. Wenning, dean of St. Mary's Hospital, Cincinnati. The last sad rites attending Dr. Bruhl's death took place at St. Edward's Church, and burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery. Ac- cording to his expressed wish, the ceremonies were of the simplest descrip- tion, his pall-bearers being those he loved best in life, his sons and his son- in-law.
WILLIAM FLETCHER BOYD.
WILLIAM FLETCHER BOYD, member of the prominent law firm of Boyce & Boyd, Cincinnati, was born on his father's farm near the hamlet of Cool- ville, Athens County, Ohio, February 15, 1840, and belongs to a family which has been conspicuous for intellectual acquirements. His father was born in Ireland of Protestant parentage and came to America in 1819. He was a man of robust constitution, as well as mental strength and force of will. Arriving in Philadelphia, he walked all the way across the mountains to Steubenville, Ohio, and earned his first money as a teacher near that place. Later, in 1838, he invested his small savings in a farm in Athens County. He married a countrywoman, Jane Elliott, who came with her parents to Ohio in her 12th year. This family also was of noted intelli- gence, her brother being the distinguished Rev. Charles Elliott, D. D., LL. D., who for 16 years was the able editor of the Western Christian Ad- vocate. The father of Mr. Boyd died in 1867 and the mother some years
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later. The children born to these parents reflect their best characteristics. Among them were Dr. John Elliott Boyd, who was a practicing physician in West Virginia at the time of his early death in 1855; Rev. Hugh Boyd, D. D., who is professor in a Western college, which position he preferred to retain rather than accept the presidency of the Ohio University, to which he was once elected; Kate, who is principal of the Athens (Ohio) High School; Margaret, who was the first lady graduate of the Ohio University at Athens and later became a teacher in the Cincinnati Wesleyan Female College; and William Fletcher, of this sketch.
The demands of the farm kept our subject engaged in agricultural operations until his 18th year, during which time his educational oppor- tunities were limited, but his father, who was township librarian, was able to supply a naturally active mind with food. At the age of 18 years he was engaged as a teacher and one year later entered Coolville Academy and there formed his friendship with his present business partner, Mr. Boyce. Indeed so identical were the succeeding careers of both these young men that a history of one might apply to the other. In 1862 our subject entered the Ohio University and graduated in 1866 with the degree of A. B. His parents could give him little but encouragement and he was thrown upon his own resources. His self denials and hardships developed a strong char- acter which his later life has made conspicuous. His proficiency in Latin and Greek secured him a position as tutor at the University and for one year he thus enjoyed a small salary; later he secured the position of prin- cipal of the public schools of Chillicothe in the eastern district of that city. In 1868, with Mr. Boyce, he came to Cincinnati, acting under the advice of the late Judge Bellamy Storer. Both young men entered the Cincin- nati Law School, where their close application, exemplary habits and deter- mination enabled them to graduate in 1869, having taken the two-years course in one. Next followed the forming of the partnership, then and ever since known as Boyce & Boyd, the partners "drawing cuts" to determine which "B" should come first in the title. The most cordial relations have ever existed between this modern "Damon and Pythias." They married sisters, live in the same home, and their income is common property between them. It is a beautiful example of true friendship which the business work of to-day too seldom sees.
Mr. Boyd holds a high professional position and is regarded with es-
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teem in the city. He is a prominent layman in the Methodist Episcopal Church and a member of its board of trustees, which board has the manage- ment of the large financial interests of the denomination at large. He re- tains his membership in his college fraternity, Beta Theta Pi.
WILLIAM H. FALLS, M. D.
WILLIAM H. FALLS, M. D., one of the representative and best known members of the medical profession in Cincinnati, is a native of this city which has been the scene of his entire active career. He was born November 24, 1849, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Clendenin) Falls, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. He is of Scotch-Irish extraction, his pa- ternal ancestors having come to this country from County Tyrone, Ireland, and his maternal ancestors, from Dumfries, Scotland. His father was for many years a leading carpet merchant of Cincinnati. His mother came of the prominent Clendenin family, the distinguished Dr. William Clendenin being her brother.
Dr. Falls received a liberal education in the schools of Cincinnati, after which he read medicine under the direction of his uncle, Dr. William Clen- denin, and attended Miami Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1873. He was then for one year interne at the Cincinnati Hospital, and for five years thereafter was assistant to Dr. William H. Mussey, a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this work. At the end of that time he was taken into partnership by Dr. Mussey, with whom he continued until the latter's death in 1882. He has since practiced alone and enjoys the pat- ronage and friendship of a leading class of Cincinnati citizens. He has always been a close student and keeps abreast of the rapid advancement being made in the medical science. He is connected with city, State and national medical societies and has been a valued contributor to their literature. For two years he was physician of the branch of the Cincinnati Hospital. He has steadfastly declined to accept places on the faculties of different insti- tutions, though he has frequently been importuned, preferring to give his undivided attention to his large practice and careful professional study. From 1878 to 1880, Dr. Falls was a member of the Board of Education of Cincin-
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nati. Religiously, he was reared in the Presbyterian faith and has always been a faithful adherent to the doctrines of his church. For many years he has been an elder and the treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati. Dr. Falls is unmarried. He is fond of social life, very congenial and has a warm attachment for his friends. He has traveled extensively in this country and abroad and is a patron of art and music, especially the latter.
WILLIAM HEBERDEN MUSSEY, A. M., M. D.
WILLIAM HEBERDEN MUSSEY, A. M., M. D., now deceased, was one of the distinguished physicians and surgeons of Cincinnati for many years, and held high rank as an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War, rendering invaluable service to the government in the line of hospital and sanitary work. He was born at Hanover, New Hampshire, September 30, 1818, and came of sturdy New England stock.
Dr. Mussey's literary and classical education was acquired in the acad- emies of New England, after which he engaged in the mercantile business for a short time. He determined to enter the field of medicine as his life work, a natural choice as his father was a successful practitioner of that pro- fession. He read medicine under the direction of his father, Dr. Reuben D. Mussey, and completed a thorough course of study at the Medical Col- lege of Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1848. He then took an ad- vanced course of study in the best institutions of Paris, France, and upon his return to this country engaged in practice in partnership with his father until the outbreak of the Civil War. When the intelligence reached him that Fort Sumter had been fired upon, he set to work planning how he could be of the greatest assistance to the government. With the permission and en- couragement of Secretary Chase, he undertook the establishment of a volun- teer army hospital in the city of Cincinnati. He secured the old Marine Hospital on Lock street for the purpose. Obtaining the necessary funds through private contributions and organizing the hospital under the neces- sary board of management, he brought it into an effective working condi- tion, and at the end of three months turned it over to the United States government-the first and one of the best volunteer hospitals the country
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possessed during the entire war. He also successfully established the Cin- cinnati Branch of the United States Sanitary Commission. He then offered his services to the government to serve as long as the war should last with- out compensation, but his offer was refused. He repaired to Washington, D. C., was examined and commissioned brigade surgeon with the promise that he could assume charge of the hospital he had founded in Cincinnati. After arriving home, however, he received orders to go to the front as med- ical director of a division in General Buell's army, and immediately joined the forces in the field, serving at the battles of Pittsburg Landing and Cor- inth. He was then promoted to be medical inspector, with the rank of lieu- tenant-colonel, and, after serving at the second battle of Bull Run and the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg, he made a tour of inspection in which he inspected every regiment from Washington to Florida. He was considered one of the most efficient medical officers in the service, and re- ceived high praise for his work from headquarters at Washington.
In 1865, after the war's close, he was appointed professor in Miami Medical College, an institution with which he was identified for many years. In 1874, Dr. William H. Falls became associated with him as assistant and a few years later as partner, this association continuing until the death of our subject in 1882. He was a thorough student of his profession, in which he gained honor and distinction.
Dr. Mussey held many offices compatible with his profession. In 1863 he was appointed surgeon to the Cincinnati Hospital; in 1864 became vice- , president of the American Medical Association ; in 1865 surgeon to St. John's Hotel for Invalids; in 1876 surgeon general of the State of Ohio; and, also in 1876, president of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History. In literary matters pertaining to the profession, he contributed many valuable articles which were read before medical societies and appeared in medical journals, being a lucid and forceful writer. He founded the Medical and Scientific Library, which now forms a part of the Cincinnati Public Library, which is of great value to the profession and public in general.
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