Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 51

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

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DR. GEORGE M. SMITH. The next year after Dr. Burr left Delaware, Dr. George M. Smith, a newcomer, formed a partnership with Dr. Hills, which continued as long as he was in Delaware. He went to Mississippi and married a rich lady. A few years after his marriage, he came north on a visit and died of cholera. Dr. Smith was a thorough anato- mist. He was born in New Hampshire. He was compelled to leave his native State for ex- huming a body for the purpose of study. After several years in Delaware. his abode was dis- covered by the authorities in the East. He then went South. He introduced quinine into the county in 1826, and was the first to use it in the treatment of chills and fever.

DR. W. M. MILLER. Virginia in 1827 sent one of her sons to Delaware to contend for business. He first located at Worthing- ton. the favorite resort of the new physician to the new world. After a brief stay. Dr. W. M. Miller opened an office in Delaware. He was an alumnus of an eastern college and a well-read physician. He did not succeed very well. and soon moved to Columbus, and after- ward to Missouri. He was a brother-in-law of President Tyler.

DR. CHARLES H. PICKETT made his ad- vent to this favorite resort in 1831. after a short stay in Worthington. He died here in 1855. He was educated in New York City and came of a very influential family. His fa-

ther and brothers conducted a female semi- nary in the city, and the father was the author of several school books. None questioned his ability, and it is said that he never questioned it himself. His son, Alexander, read medi- cine with him and soon after died suddenly.

* *

DR. C. C. RANSBURGE came to Delaware about the same time, and became a partner of Dr. Pickett, but soon retired from ill health. Some of his descendants are yet living in this locality.

DR. JAMES LANGWORTHY came here from Albany, N. Y., in about 1835, and engaged in the drug business. In a short time he began to practice medicine.

DR. ELIJAH CARNEY was from Kentucky. He settled in old Berkshire in 1835. He and Dr. Ralph Hills entered the profession about the same year, the latter in Delaware. There are many yet living in the county, and espe- cially around Berkshire, who well remember old Dr. Carney. His wonderful ability and ways gave him the entire business for many miles in and around the village of Berkshire. He graduated at the Cleveland Medical Col- lege. His attention to his patients, his indus- trious and studious habits, as well as his sym- pathetic power, gained him the confidence of the people. He died in 1869, leaving numer- ous relatives in this and Morrow Counties.

DR. KINGSLEY RAY came first to Worth- ington in 1820, and then here in 1837. He graduated at Berkshire, Massachusetts. Not- withstanding his superior qualifications. he never succeeded here very well in the practice. In 1848 he moved to Circleville, Ohio, where he had a large business for many years before his final call.

DR. RALPHI HILLS. No physician of the county, or of Delaware, was ever more highly respected for his high qualifications as a scholar. citizen and physician than Dr. Ralph Ilills. His looks, demeanor, education, and his remarkable ways commanded respect and

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attention. This son of Dr. James H. Hills had every known advantage, and improved them to the limit of his ability. When the elder physi- cian came to Delaware from the Darby Plains. after leaving Worthington, this son was a youth of twelve years. At the age of seven- teen he began the study of medicine with his father, as well as pursuing his studies in the day schools. He continued reading and pre- paring for his future professional life under the guidance of his father until the latter's death : when he was given a license to practice. The father's business came to him at once. He related how he rode over the first bridge in the county, which spanned Alum Creek on the road to Sunbury from Delaware. Dr. Hills was a great student of the nervous system, and mental diseases. After having been in the general practice a few years, his illustrious uncle, Dr. Eli Todd, who was in charge of the Hospital for the Insane at Hartford. Con- necticut, sent for the nephew to take the place of first assistant on the staff. Here he re- mained for several years, drinking from the well of knowledge he was interested in. The instruction and knowledge gained here proved of the greatest benefit to him in after life. He returned to Delaware, and uninterruptedly fol- lowed the general practice for twenty years. In 1830 the degree of M. D. was conferred upon him for meritorious service. He became known throughout the county and central part of the State. He had a wonderful and exact knowledge of botany and chemistry, as well as of astronomy. From 1836 to 1838 he was called to lecture in Russell's Great Planetar- ium. This gave him prestige both at home and abroad. These side issues never detracted from his interests in his studies in medicine. in which all gave him credit for being an able thinker and a profound student. His ability was never questioned except by the mediocre. He was an able and clear writer on all sub- jects coming under the influence of his remark- able brain. His executive and financial abil- ity were recognized by the county, church and State authorities. It was in his home that the idea originated which finally developed the Ohio Wesleyan Female College. The facts concerning the origination and final develop-

ment of this idea will be found in another part of this history. In 1854 Dr. Hills established and edited the medical journal known as the "Counsellor." This was the first medical journal published in the West, and was a weekly edition. After two years of practice and editorial life, he was called to take charge of the Ohio Central Lunatic Asylum at Co- lumbus. Ohio-the largest one in the country. He remained at the head of this institution for eight years, bringing it to a high state of usefulness and ,scientific attainment. His or- iginality in treatment of the insane gave him a reputation far beyond his native county and State. He became national and international in fame. He visited Europe to study during the war, and again in 1872 for pleasure. He was called in the latter part of the sixties to plan and superintend the erection of the larg- est asylum in the United States, at Weston, West Virginia. After completing his labors there he returned to Delaware to rest. Did he rest ? No, this great, brainy man could not be idle. He was called to the superintendency of the Girls' Industrial Home-a State institu- tion. Here he again established many timely changes and reformations, bringing the home up to the idea it was intended to be by the law of such institutions. He died in 1879 at the age of sixty-eight, while engaged at his work. The monument of honest ability and high at- tainment crowns his life. Never was a word of suspicion breathed against any of his ad- ministrations of the places he was called upon to fill. He died a Christian. He died as he lived, known of all men for his noble, honest and well-spent useful life. * *

DR. H. LATHROP. Worthington in 1837 sent another of her arrivals to Delaware, Dr. H. Lathrop. In 1838 he came to contest for business. He first located in Liberty Town- ship in the old Case or Carpenter District, and operated a saw mill, and looked after the health of pioneers. He left Delaware for Columbus. where he died.

DR. M. GERIIARD was born, raised and educated in Easton, Pennsylvania. He came to Wooster, Ohio, and was a bank clerk. While

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thus engaged he read medicine and attended lectures in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. at Jet- ferson Medical College. After completing his studies he came to Delaware County and lo- cated on the Scioto River near his old friend, John Detweiler. but soon moved into Dela- ware to practice. He was a thorough student and scholar, and a careful practitioner. He married a granddaughter of old Dr. Lamb. He died in 1868, leaving a wife and two children. who are now living in Minneapolis. Minne- sota.

DR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON came from Crawford County, and located in Norton in 1842, where he died.

DR. KLAPP and DR. HENRY GREGG located in Liberty Township in 1845. In 1863 they both left the county. Dr. Klapp moved to the W'est. and Gregg moved to Indiana.

DR. D. W. HOWELL and DR. W. HEN- DOM located here in 1845. but soon moved away.

DR. H. C. MANN came to Delaware from Butler County in 1846. In 1849, he with his family joined the "forty-niners" for Califor- nia, where he died. His wife, soon after his death, returned to Ohio. Dr. Mann possessed a fine education and great intelligence. He wrote the sketch. for Howe's Historical Col- lection, of Ohio, which has been of great bene- fit to historians.

DR. P. A. WILLIS was a native of Dela- ware County, and was the oldest son of a fam- ily of many children. He received his educa- tion in the district school and the Ohio Wes- leyan University. He read medicine in the office of Dr. J. W. Hamilton of Columbus, Ohio, and graduated at the Starling Medical College in 1862. He entered the army as contract surgeon, and was soon promoted to assistant surgeon of the Forty-eighth Regi- ment, O. V. I., and in 1863 to a full surgeon of the regiment. At the close of the war he was made medical director of an army corps under

General Andrews. Upon his return home, he engaged in farming and country practice at Bellpoint, Delaware County, Ohio. He died in 1876. His widow is now a resident of the city of Delaware, Ohio.

DR. JAMES CARUTHERS was a student of Dr. A. Blymer. He graduated from the Cleveland Medical College in 1846, and at once located at old Eden. In 1851 he became a partner of his preceptor for a few years only, when he left for California, where he is still living. He is very old, but is yet practicing. He passed safe through the recent earthquake. His brother, Dr. John A. Caruthers, succeeded him at old Eden. He was a soldier from 1861 to 1865, and served with distinction. He was superintendent of the Infirmary for several years, and served one term in the Legislature. He died in California at the home of his brother.

DR. BARBOUR came to Delaware in 1840 from Richland County. After several years he located at East Liberty. Ohio, and enjoyed a limited practice. He died a few years ago.

DR. B. F. LOOFBOURROW was the Nestor of the root and herb doctors. He lived and practiced in the country for many years. first on Alum Creek and then at Cheshire. Finally he moved to the west where he died. X

DR. DANIEL SKEELS was another root and herb doctor. He came to Sunbury in an early day. He, like others of his school. had a large practice. He died in 1824.

DR. LEACH and DR. SKINNER settled in Millville, now Warrensburg, and practiced homeopathy. about 1840. Dr. Leach later moved to Cincinnati, and afterward to Middle- ton, where he died in 1878.

DR. WILLIAM H. DAVIS, in 1850. settled in Bellpoint. Ohio. In 1856 he went to South America. He became a governor of one of the small states. He was highly educated and was a genial fellow. He returned finally to

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America, and settled in Iowa. Ile was a sur- geon of an lowa regiment during the war.

DRS. DEMING and BROWN were located in an early day at Galena, Ohio.

DR. GRANGER was a student in the Worth- ington Botanical School, and graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He located at Westfield and died in 1863. *

DR. MESSE was the only uroscopic physi- cian in the early days. He settled in Dela- ware in 1838. They say he had no special knowledge of this branch of medicine. He made war on quinine, but used it, mixed with prussiate of iron. He fooled both patients and doctors. After about seven years he re- tired from the field.

There were others who remained here in the county for a short time, and moved, and oi . whom little can be learned-Dr. Joseph Cox of Radnor, Drs. Morehouse, Mount, Black, Mc- Crary, Maine, Stamberg, and Dr. Longwell who was at Eden. He died there, leaving two children, who are both living in the county. *

DRS. ROBINSON, HILL, DENNISON and EATON located for a short time in Delaware. * *

DR. T. B. WILLIAMS. To show what push, energy and honesty will do for one wishing to succeed in life, the history of Dr. T. B. Wil- liams fully exemplifies. He was a poor Welsh child, born in South Wales in 1819, coming to America with his parents when only an in- fant. They located in Gallia County, Ohio, for five years, when they moved to Delaware County, Ohio. Soon after coming to their new home, the father died, leaving the wife to raise eight children, and fight the battle of life alone in the new world. The lad, Thomas B., was only six years old when the father died. The little lad began the bread winning by do- ing light work for the Welsh friends, and thus assisting the mother. llis marked abil- ity to do things was the talk of all the people. He attended school as much as possible, until he arrived at the age when he wished to learn

shoemaking. It is said that no better work- man ever drove a peg. His honesty and abil- ity grew with his years. His kindness, atten- tiveness and skill led one of the foremost physicians to employ the young man as a nurse to a patient at the leading hotel-the "American House." The shrewd physician, Dr. Hills, discovered the dormant qualifica- tions of a great physician in the youth, and told his friends, and advised him to study medi- cine. After consulting with his mother and friends, he entered Dr. Hills' office, where he remained for five years studying by day and far into the night, and still doing some work at his trade to pay expenses. He graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1848-9. He at once became a part- ner of Dr. Hills, his preceptor. For thirteen years his practice grew, and he became one of the leading physicians of the county. In 1862 at the call of his adopted land, he entered the service as a surgeon of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, O. V. 1. He gave up his business, bade farewell to home, wife, mother and friends, and enrolled as a patriot for duty. From 1862-5, he was found faith- fully doing his work for his country, and for the sick and dying in camp and on the field of battle. His great skill and thoroughness gave him the brigadier surgeonship after the battle of Perryville-the Second Brigade under General John G. Mitchell. Battle after battle he passed through with such remarkable en- ergy and success in the care and attention to the sick in camp and on the battlefield, together with the cleanliness and excellent arrangement of his hospitals, that he was promoted at once to division surgeon in the Fourteenth Army Corps under the command of General Jeff C. Davis. It was often said that his daring. cool- ness, and self-possession never forsook him in danger. He was always ready for the most extreme emergency. General Steadman at the danger point called the doctor and said "We are completely hemmed in, and I cannot see how we can escape being cut to pieces." "Well, sir," he replied, "I must arrange my hospitals on a more permanent and efficient basis, and be ready for all misfortunes that

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may befall our troops." The praise and ad- miration he was given by such men as Hon. H. M. Carper, Rev. Dr. L. D. McCabe, and the army officers, would make an article alone. He went to the sea with General Sherman, and was at Bentonville at the closing struggle of the war. Dr. Williams was widely known and universally loved as a physician. man, soldier, and citizen. For many years he was a member of the School Board, with Prof. Wil- liams and others, and was a member of the Sixty-first General Assembly, and at the close positively declined another nomination. He belonged to the American Medical Association. Ohio State Society, and was several times elected vice-president, and of the County Medi- cal Society he served as president. Through his modesty he declined other elections say- ing. "Pass it around."

He was married in 1855 to Miss Nancy Ritchey of Perry County, Ohio, who was one of the first graduates of the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, now united with the "O. W. U." Their only child. Miss Clara, graduated from the same institution as the mother, and is a professor in the School of Music of the "O. W. U." The doctor was a faithful men- ber of the William Street M. E. Church. He died in 1879.

DR. JOHN A. LITTLE was a native of this county. He was born in 1825. He was the second child of Mr. William Little, a pioneer merchant, business man, and landowner, who has been frequently mentioned in history. None disputed the superior scholarship of this son. All knew him as a student. gentleman and true friend. At the age of fifteen, he en- tered the preparatory department of Kenyon College, in Gambier, Knox County. He there met his old playmate and friend ( President ) R. B. Hayes, and together they roomed for three years while at Gambier. Dr. Little grad- uated in 1845. He had a high standing in college, and graduated with honors. He was admired and loved by both faculty and stu- dents. After completing his college course, he entered the office of Dr. John Case ( who is mentioned in this article), of Columbus,

Ohio. Dr. Little was a careful and thorough student of medicine, botany, chemistry, and general literature. He could tell the names of all the flowers in the woods. He first at- tended lectures at the Transylvania Univer- sity at Louisville, Kentucky. While there he was a member of the family of Dr. Drake, so well known to the profession. In 1847 and 1848 he attended a course of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, from which he received his degree of M. D. After his return home. he went to Sandusky City on Lake Erie. In a short time he was offered and accepted a partnership with his old preceptor, Dr. Case ( husband of Mrs. Jane Case, spoken of in this article ), Dr. Jones. a former partner, retiring. Dr. Case soon died and Dr. Jones became a partner of Dr. Little. In three years Jones died and Little was left alone. His popularity and ability in- troduced him into the best society and a large and lucrative practice. Through the persua- sion of his relations and friends, he was in- (luced, in 1865, to come back to his old home in Delaware to locate. He at once entered upon a large practice. Dr. Little, all admit- ted, was a born physician. He was ambi- dextrous, and possessed almost intuitive knowledge of diseases and remedies. His bearing in the sick room was ever calm and assuring, was always reposed and cheerful, in- spiring his patients with confidence and hope. To the student he was an invaluable instruc- tor, ever imparting the most important truths to the listener. He never indulged in story telling, and to young physicians he ever ex- tended a kind word and a kindly hand, and to the older members of the profession. advice and counsel of the ablest character. He was loved and esteemed by all classes. He was a member of Ohio State Medical Society, and in 1873. read before it one of the most valuable papers on the antidotal properties of bella- donna in opium poisoning. He was a member of the State Central and county societies, and a member of the Agassiz Scientific Associa- tion. He read the proof of Dr. J. G. Jones' "American Eclectic Practice of Medicine." In 1850 he married the youngest daughter of the

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Hon. Hosea Williams. He had one son and three daughters. The son is a banker in Co- lumbus, one daughter is living in California, one in Cleveland, Ohio, and one in Mt. Ver- non, Ohio. He died in 1877. * * *

DR. JOSEPH H. VAN DEMAN was born in Delaware, Ohio, in 1829. He is a good ex- ample of a self-made man, of an ambitious young American, who without inherited wealth, overcame obstacles, conquered diffi- culties and achieved success. He was a grad- uate of the Ohio Wesleyan University in 1849, M. A. in 1852, and the same year graduated in the Cleveland Medical College. He at once opened an office in Delaware, where he re- mained until 1857, when he was elected clerk of the Ohio Senate, and served at two sessions. At the close of his term of office he returned to Delaware and to his practice until 1861. Prior to that time, for a short time, he prac- ticed his profession at Millville, Delaware County, Ohio, and at Waldo, Marion County, Ohio. When the Civil War broke out he espoused the cause of the Union, and raised Company K. in the famous Sixty-sixth O. V. I. He participated in the battles of Winches- ter, Port Republic, and Cedar Mountain, Vir- ginia. In the last mentioned battle he was wounded and captured while leading a recon- noisance at night. He was taken to Libby prison, kept there five months and was ex- changed January, 1863, and rejoined his com- mand near Washington, D. C. He resigned in January, 1863, and was appointed assist- ant surgeon of the Tenth O. V. 1. in May; joined his regiment at once and participated in the battles around Chattanooga, Tennessee He remained with that regiment one year. when he was promoted to chief surgeon, with seven assistants of the United States Military Railroad Division of Mississippi, and re- mained in that capacity with headquarters at Chattanooga until the close of the war. After that he was surgeon in charge of the Refugee and Freedman's Department at Chattanooga. and for seventeen years after, was examining pension surgeon. He was also post surgeon of that post until it was closed. During his

residence in Chattanooga of over thirty years, he passed through three epidemics of small- pox, two of cholera, and one of yellow fever, remaining at his post during the continuance of each. He was elected president of the Ten- nessee Medical Society in 1873. and presided over that body for two years. For over twen- ty-five years he was a member of the Ameri- can Medical Association, and was for three years a member of the judicial council of that body. Ile was a member of the Public Health Association since 1874. He frequently con- tributed to medical literature, notably two ar- ticles-one on the cholera of 1873, and one on the yellow fever epidemic of 1878-published in the reports and papers of the latter associa- tion. He retired from active practice in 1883. except as surgeon, which he continued until 1890, when he retired absolutely from the practice of both medicine and surgery. He was a 33rd degree Mason, a Knight of Pyth- ias, a member of the G. A. R., and of the Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion. His first vote was for the Whig ticket, but when that party died, he went to the Democrats, and al- ways remained a Democrat. Ile was married to Aliss Rebecca Norris, daughter of Judge William G. Norris, in 1855 at Delaware. His father was Rev. Henry Van Deman, for over forty years pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Delaware. Dr. Van Deman enjoyed a re- spected and honored position in the city of his residence. He died in 1902, and was buried in the National Cemetery at Chattanooga with Masonic rites and honors. * *

DR. JAMES BUSBY NORRIS was born on his father's farm in Troy Township in 1849. His father was Judge William G. Norris, who was a pioneer of that township. He was graduated at Kenyon College in 1869. After his grad- uation he studied medicine with his brother- in-law. Dr. J. H. Van Deman, then entered the Miami Medical College, and also took private instructions from the famous Dr. Carson of Cincinnati. He went to Detroit, where he was graduated at Detroit Medical College in 1872. After his graduation he went to Chattanooga, where he commenced the practice of his pro-

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fession. He labored faithfully and fearlessly in the cholera epidemic of 1873, and in 1874 in the smallpox epidemic. In August, 1878. the chairman of the Howard Association pub- lished a call to the country for physicians to come to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where an epi- demic of that fearful disease, yellow fever was raging. Dr. Norris, with that true hero- ism which goes wherever duty calls, saw the call, carefully consulted the subject, and de- termined to volunteer his services. On the 28th of August, he left with a corps of fifteen nurses, arrived the ist of September, went to work at once, and had at one time one hun- dred and eighteen cases under his care. He was taken with the dread disease, September 6th, and breathed his last September 9th. He died a hero, and so highly was his martyrdom considered, that on the recommendation of the President of the United States, the War De- partment issued an order, permitting his re- mains to be buried in the National Cemetery at Chattanooga ; and he is the only one not a soldier who was ever buried there. The Presi- dent thought his brave life and heroic death well fitted him to lie among the 18,000 other heroes who died in the call of duty. Dr. Nor- ris was a member of the Episcopal Church and was never married. He was a son of Dela- ware County, and though he never practiced here, the memory of this great sacrifice honors the county of his birth, and he is worthy of a place among her medical heroes.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 51

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926