Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 43

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1074

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Youngstown > Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th > Part 43

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Youngstown, being appointed in July, 1803, and holding the office until March 9, 1818. He seems to have been well fitted by nature for life in a pioneer community-of shrewd judg- ment, prompt in action and though somewhat rough in manner, of strong social proclivities. His brother physicians regarded him as an able man in his profession, if at times some- what heroic in treatment. Yet he was gener- ally liked and respected as an active, useful, and substantial member of the community. Dr. Dutton was twice married. His first wife, Cynthia, died in 1816, leaving one child, Jane, who became the wife of Dr. Lemuel Wick. He married for his second wife, in April, 1822, Miss Cordelia Poole, of Youngstown. He died in March, 1842, his wife surviving him several years.

Dr. Henry Manning was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, January 31, 1787. He came of old Massachusetts stock, and through his pa- ternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Seabury, claimed descent from Governor Bradford of the Plymouth colony. He was brought up on his father's farm, and at inter- vals attended an academy at Colchester, Con- necticut. Beginning at the age of twenty, he studied medicine two years under Dr. Hutch- inson, of Lebanon, and one year under Dr. White, of Cherry Valley. New York. During this period, and previously, a part of his time

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was spent in teaching school. Having pre- pared himself for the practice of medicine, he set out on horseback for the Western Reserve, arriving at Youngstown July 13, 1811. Al- though he had not as yet received a diploma from any medical college or institution, he be- gan practice, and in spite of the small popula- tion of the place, succeeded in sustaining him- self. The war of 1812 found him plenty of occupation. After Hull's surrender of De- troit in August, that year, he became surgeon on the staff of Col. William Rayen, who com- manded the First regiment, Third brigade, Fourth division of Ohio militia, and with whom he went to the front. He was en- camped for a while at Cleveland, and later at Huron and Lower Sandusky, finding much sickness, and gaining the esteem and affection of the men of his regiment by his efficient treatment and unwearying attention to their wants. In March, 1813, he returned to Youngstown, where he found his reputation had preceded him, and henceforth he found sufficient practice to occupy his whole time. His skill became widely recognized and he re- ceived honorary diplomas from several medical colleges. In his latter years he withdrew to some extent from practice, owing to the in- firmities of age and the demands of other business interests, yet he was ever ready, when his health permitted, to minister to the sick who needed his assistance. In company with Colonel Caleb B. Wick, he conducted for about ten years, beginning with 1815, what was probably the first regular drug store in Youngstown. He was a prominent figure in local financial circles, in 1854 being elected president of the Mahoning County Bank ; and in 1862 president of the newly organized First National Bank of Youngstown. He served several terms as one of the township trustees. Political honors were thrust upon him ; in 1819 he was elected representative in the state legis- lature, in 1825 he was elected state senator, and again representative in 1843. In 1835 he was elected by the legislature an associate judge of the court of common pleas for a term of seven years. Perhaps no man of his day was more closely connected with the business,

social, and moral advancement of Youngs- town, or did more to give it that impetus which has resulted in its present condition of pros- perity, and in the stability of its leading insti- tutions. Dr. Manning died January 11, 1869, at the age of eighty-two years, having suffered no serious impairment of his faculties, save that of sight, which failed about two years before his death. His demise caused universal sorrow in the community wherein he had so long made his home, and which he had done so much to benefit.

Timothy Woodbridge, M. D., was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in March, 1810, and was a son of John E. Woodbridge, who settled in Youngstown as early as 1807, and who was still living in the eighth decade of the century just closed. This hardy pioneer was a native of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and a grand- son of Rev. Jonathan Edwards, the famous theologian and early president of Princeton College. After coming to Youngstown he purchased a tannery of Joseph Townsend, which he thereafter conducted for many years. One of his sons, John, was drowned in the Mahoning river while bathing, the subject of this sketch at the same time having a narrow escape.

Timothy Woodbridge passed his youth at- tending school and assisting in his father's- tannery. Shortly before arriving at his ma- jority he determined to adopt the medical pro- fession, and placed himself for that purpose under the tuition of Dr. Henry Manning. He- subsequently became a student at the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, where he was. graduated M. D. in 1833. He first practiced a few months in North Lima, after which he returned to Youngstown, and entered upon his- long and successful professional career. In 1847-48 he spent about a year in Rio Janeiro,. as family physician of Hon. David Tod, then United States Minister to Brazil, returning to. Youngstown with Mrs. Tod and the children. Soon after the breaking out of the Civil War he was appointed a surgeon of volunteers in the United States army, and was stationed at Johnson's Island in Lake Erie, where he re- mained until the close of the struggle, when he

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was honorably discharged and resumed prac- tice in Youngstown. In 1879 he was ap- pointed by President Hayes, a surgeon in the United States army and assigned to Fort Peck, Montana, where he remained about three years. He returned to Youngstown and prac- ticed here until no longer able to do so on ac- count of the infirmities of old age. He died in the city hospital in 1893, at the age of 83 years. He married, April 3, 1844, Miss Isabella McCurdy, daughter of Dr. Robert McCurdy, who came to Youngstown with his family, in 1843, from Ireland. She died in 1869, and he married for a second wife, in 1871, Mrs. Sarah E. Brewer, of New Lisbon, Ohio, widow of A. L. Brewer, Esq.

Charles C. Cook, M. D., another early physician of Youngstown, was born in Wall- ingford Connecitcut, June 22, 1799. He was a nephew of Dr. Charles Dutton, whose his- tory has been already sketched. His father removing to New Haven, he began his medi- cal education in that city under the mentor- ship of Dr. Eli Ives, and subsequently attended lectures at the medical department of Yale College, from which he was graduated in 1822. Providing himself with a wife in the person of Miss Mary E. L. Salter, who was born in New Haven in February, 1800, he came to Youngstown, about 1824, and began practice here as a physician. He was success- ful in his profession, and gained a wide repu- tation throughout this part of the state as a more than usually able medical practitioner. He also occasionally performed operations, though making but slight pretensions to sur- gical skill. His personal character was of the highest, and he was a fine musician, both vocal and instrumental. In 1857 he was appointed by the court of common pleas one of the five trustees. He repeatedly declined political hon- ors, preferring to devote his whole time to his profession, and to such useful work as he could accomplish locally for the advancement of education and the general improvement of the material and social conditions of the com- munity in which he lived. He died September 26, 1863. having survived his wife not quite a year.

C. N. Fowler, M. D., in his day one of the best known and most successful physicians and surgeons of northwestern Ohio, was a son of Dr. C. R. Fowler, of Canfield, and was born February 13, 1828. He was educated at Can- field Academy and began the study of medi- cine under his father's tuition. In 1850 he was graduated from the Western Reserve Medical College. For two years, 1849-1851, he served as clinical assistant in the hospital under Prof. Ackley. For a few years he practiced his profession at Canfield, in associa - tion with his father, but subsequently removed to Poland, where he engaged in general prac- tice, and also had charge of the anatomical department of the Law College. In August, 1862, he entered the army, being commis- sioned surgeon of the One Hundredth and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was afterwards medical inspector in the Fourteenth army corps, serving in General Baird's divis- ion. Captured at Chickamauga, he was im- prisoned for about four months in Libby Prison, by which his health became much im- paired. He was mustered out of service in. 1865. Soon after he began practice in Youngs- town, where he attained an exceptional repu- tation as an able and successful physician and surgeon, never giving up a patient until he had exhausted in his behalf the very last resource of medical or surgical science. Dr. Fowler died in March, 1901, the immediate cause of his demise being an attack of the grip, though he had long been in failing health. In 1853 he was married to Mary Snyder, of Canfield, Ohio.

James F. Wilson, M. D., was born in Ber- lin township, Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1847. son of Joseph and Mary (Boyd) Wilson. He attended Mt. Union College, read medicine under Dr. W. K. Hughes, of Berlin Center, and was graduated from the medical depart- ment of the Western Reserve College, at Cleveland, in 1872. After practicing his pro- fession for a year in Wayne county, Ohio, he settled in Youngstown, where he remained until some nine or ten years ago, when he be- came a resident of the state of Georgia. He was a member of the American Medical Asso-

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ciation, was secretary for some years of the Mahoning Medical Society, and was twice elected county coroner-in 1879 and 1881. He was married in 1880 to Miss Mary A. McGaw of Youngstown.

John S. Cunningham, M. D., was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1833, eldest son of Judge Joseph and Jeanette Cunningham. He was educated in the dis- trict schools and at the Poland (Ohio) Acade- my, and taught school for two years. At the age of nineteen he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he spent some three years. He prepared for a medical career, under the tuition of Hon. J. W. Wal- lace, M. D., at New Castle, Pennsylvania, subsequently attended lectures at Cleveland Medical College, and in 1860 was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College at Phila- delphia. After practicing medicine at Plain Grove, Pennsylvania, for about two years, he settled in Youngstown, of which place he be- ·came a prominent citizen, besides ranking high as one of the most able members of the medical fraternity here. He was frequently elected to public office. He was county coroner one term, a member of the Board of Health six years, and for a number of years served on the Youngstown Board of Education, a part of the time being president of the board. He was married at Plain Grove, in June, 1861, to Miss Sadie R. Campbell, by whom he had four ·children.

F. V. Floor, M. D., was born in Beaver ·county, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1836, son of Jacob and Agnes Floor. His youth was spent in Berlin, Mahoning County, Ohio, to which place his parents had removed in the spring of 1838. He was educated in the district schools and at Poland Academy, which latter institu- tion he attended for about three years. After spending some time in teaching, he com- menced at the age of twenty years to read medicine with Dr. W. H. Brown of Lords- town. Trumbull county. After one term in Michigan University at Ann Arbor. he en- tered the University of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated about 1866. He set- tled in Youngstown in 1872, and within a few

years had built up a good practice. He re- ceived his medical degree fro mthe Cleveland College, where in 1876 he attended a course of lectures.

Isaiah Brothers, M. D., was born in Law- rence county, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1831. His literary education was obtained chiefly at Poland Academy, which he attended for sev- eral terms. He began the study of medicine, in 1850, under the tuition of Dr. E. F. Davis of Hillsville, Pennsylvania, and continued with him until the winter of 1852-53, when he went to Cincinnati to take his first course of lectures. Soon afterwards he began prac- tice in Lancaster, where he remained for sev- eral years. He then took another course of lectures, and in 1857 commenced practice in Hillsville, in which place he remained for fif- teen years, coming in 1872 to Youngstown, where the rest of his life was passed. He was married in 1853 to Miss Rhoda Patterson, a native of Lawrence county, Pennsylvania.

Joseph Wilson, M. D., was born in Youngstown township, Mahoning county, Ohio, September 14, 1836, son of William J. and Mary (Kincaid) Wilson. His paternal

great-grandparents emigrated to America from the north of Ireland. Their son, Jo- seph, Dr. Wilson's grandfather, who was born on ship board during their passage across the Atlantic, settled with his family on land about two and a half miles west of Youngstown, as early as 1799, and there cleared a farm. He was a prominent member of the pioneer com- munity, was famed as a mighty hunter, and was a member of the jury in the McMahan murder case, at the first court held in Trumbull county. William J. Wilson, the doctor's fa- ther, was born in Pennsylvania in 1799, and died on the homestead near Youngstown in 1870. His wife Mary, who was the daughter of Robert Kincaid of Youngstown township, survived him many years. They were the parents of seven children.

Joseph Wilson, the immediate subject of this notice, resided on the home farm until he was about ninteen years of age, attending school, as he was afforded opportunity, in Youngstown and Girard. He then found em-

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ployment as a drug clerk, thus acquiring a practical knowledge of materia medica that was useful to him in his professional career. Beginning in 1858 he read medicine for three years with Dr. Isaac Barclay, and during this period he also attended lectures at the Cleve- land Medical College, where he was graduated in 1862. He first practiced three years in North Jackson, Mahoning county, removing in 1865 to Girard, where he remained four- teen years. In 1879 he came to Youngstown and was a prominent member of the medical fraternity here until his retirement about three years ago. In 1862 Dr. Wilson married Miss Emily P. Shepherd, a native of Milton, Ma- honing county, Ohio. Of this union there were two children-Blanche M. and William G.

John MacCurdy, M. D., was born in County Donegal, Ireland, January 21, 1835, and with his parents emigrated to America in 1843. They came directly to Youngstown, Ohio, set- tling three miles above the city. The father, Robert MacCurdy, was a physician-a gradu- ate of Edinburgh University. After removing to the Mahoning Valley he purchased 500 acres of land and engaged in stock-raising in which business he was quite successful. He raised a family of nine children. His death occurred in 1867.

John MacCurdy, son of the above named, fitted himself for the practice of his profes- sion at Cleveland and Philadelphia, being graduated in the former city in 1857, and in the latter in 1858. He began practice under Professor Ackley, at the Marine Hospital, Cleveland, coming to Youngstown, where he has since resided, in 1858. Early in 1861 he entered the army, was passed before the med- ical board of examiners, at Columbus, and was ordered to the Twenty-third Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, as assistant surgeon, serving in West Virginia. After he had held this posi- tion for about a year, General J. D. Cox de- tached him as medical inspector of his dis- trict-of West Virginia-in which capacity he served until assigned to the duty of surgeon of the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which occurred on the field of Antietam, im- mediately after the battle. Captured at Chick-

amauga, he remained a prisoner for about four months, most of the time in Libby prison. On being exchanged he joined his regiment, and as its surgeon served in the Atlanta campaign. While thus engaged he was requested by Gen- eral Cox to submit to an examination before the United States examining board for en- trance into the United States Volunteer Corps which he passed, and receiving his commis- sion, was ordered on the staff of General Pal- mer, as assistant medical director of the Four- teenth Army Corps. He was again captured, this time before Atlanta, and was a prisoner some six weeks, going the rounds of the rebel prisons. After his exchange he was assigned on the staff of General Thomas, as medical in- spector, which position he filled until the dis- persion of General Hood's force, when he re- signed and came home, the war being virtually ended. After the war he was appointed United States examiner for pensions, at Youngstown, and filled that position for about twenty-five years. He was married, in 1866, to Miss Mary L. McEwen and has a family of. five children. He is still in active practice at Youngstown.

William L. Buechner was born in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, Germany, December 3, 1830. He completed his literary education at the University of Giessen, where, after a five years' course of study, he was graduated in 1853. His ancestors in direct line, for sev- eral generations, had been physicians, as also were four of his uncles, one of whom served under the first Napoleon in the disastrous Rus- sian campaign, and perished in the retreat from Moscow. Dr. Buechner came to America in the fall of 1853 and began the practice of his profession in Pittsburg. In the spring of the following year he removed to Youngs- town, of which place he subsequently remained a resident until his death, which took place in September, 1904. , He was a skillful physician and surgeon, and a citizen whose loss was deeply felt by the community in which he had cast his lot.

He was a member of the State and County Medical Societies, and was local surgeon of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Rail-

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road. He served one or more terms as coun- cilman, was for a number of years a member of the Board of Education, and of the Board of Health, and also served as health officer. He was a Free Mason of high rank in the order. He married in March, 1858, Elvira Heiner, a native of Pennsylvania, whose father, John Heiner, was the first mayor of Youngstown.

William H. Buechner, M. D., was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in May, 1864, son of Dr. William L. and Elvira (Heiner) Buechner, mentioned in the preceding sketch. He was educated in the schools of his native city, in- cluding the Rayen High School. His pre- liminary medical studies were pursued under his father's direction, and he was graduated from the medical department of the Western Reserve University in 1885. He then took a post-graduate course at the University of Pennsylvania. Afterwards, to acquire a still more perfect knowledge of his profession, he - spent four years in Europe, during three of which he was assistant to the famous surgeon, Prof. Von Volkman, of Halle, Germany, and had exceptional opportunities for gaining sur- gical knowledge and experience at the uni- versity hospital in that city. In 1890 he re- turned to. Youngstown, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he has taken a high rank. He is a member of the County and State Medical So- cieties, and also of the American Medical As- sociation. He is a prominent Free Mason, and a member of the Elks.

William J. Whelan, M. D., was born in Ireland, September 27, 1840, and emigrated to the United States in 1849. He began the study of medicine in Detroit, Michigan, where he remained until the breaking out of the Civil War. He then joined the First Michigan Cavalry as hospital steward. He was cap- tured at Winchester, Virginia, in the Shenan- doah campaign and parolled in January, 1863. During the winters of 1863-64 and 1864-65, while on duty at Benton Barracks hospital, St. Louis, he attended two courses of lectures at the St. Louis Medical College. In the spring of 1865 he was sent to Fort Kearney, Ne-

braska, where he remained until February, 1866. He then resigned his position in the army and going to Chicago attended lectures at the Chicago Medical College, from which he received a diploma. After practicing for a while at Saratoga, New York, he came to Youngstown in March, 1867, and has since been a resident of this city. He attended the session of 1874-75 at the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, New York City, and was graduated from that institution. In 1867 Dr. Whelan married Miss Jennie E. Hewitt.

Dr. Theodatus Garlick settled in Youngs- town in September, 1834, and practiced medi- cine and surgery here until 1853, when he re- moved to Cleveland, where he was living in 1874. He was an intimate friend of Hon. George Tod, Hon. William Rayen, Dr. Henry Manning, James Hillman, James Mackey, and other leading citizens of Youngstown in early days. He established a high reputation in Cleveland as a surgeon.

John E. Woodbridge, M. D., was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1841, son of Henry and Elizabeth (White) Wood- bridge. Through the mother of his paternal grandfather, he was a descendant of Jonathan Edwards, the eminent New England divine and theologian. His paternal grandfather, John Eliot Woodbridge, settled in Mahoning county in 1807. After beginning his education in Youngstown the subject of this sketch re- moved with his parents to Kentucky, where he attended more advanced schools. He read med- icine under Dr. B. C. E. Weber, of Wooster University, Cleveland, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1866. He served one year as house surgeon of the United States Marine Hospital at Cleveland, and was afterwards for two years post surgeon at Fort Inge, Texas. In 1871 he returned to Youngstown, where he subsequently followed his profession for nearly thirty years. He twice enlisted in the Civil War: first in the Twenty-seventh Kentucky (Union) regiment, from which he was dis- charged on account of ill health, and after- wards in the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth regiment of Ohio National Guard. He was. mustered out at Cleveland in September, 1864.

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He was an able physician, and origiated a new method of treating typhoid fever, which caused a considerable stir in the profession, but which is now little used. He died in Germany in 1900 of consumption, while endeavoring to introduce his method of treatment into the hospitals there. His wife, who in maidenhood was Miss Carlyn C. Price of Detroit, Michi- gan, had fallen a victim not long before to the same fell disease.

William H. McGranaghan, M. D., of the medical firm of McGranaghan & Blaine, is a native of Maysville, Kentucky, and son of Dr. W. H. McGranaghan, one of the pioneer homeopathic physicians west of the Allegheny mountains. He was graduated from Center College at Danville, Kentucky, with the degree of A. M., and received his medical degree at Hahnemann College in Philadelphia, which was named after the father of homeopathy. At the age of twenty-one years Dr. McGrana- ghan came to Youngstown and has since prac- ticed medicine here with remarkable success. He is obliged to devote a part of his time to out-of-town consultations, and it is doubtful if any physician in Youngstown has a larger individual following. The doctor is one of the best known citizens in the Mahoning valley, and it is claimed for him that he has taken part in more charitable entertainments than any other resident. He is a member of the Elks and other social organizations, and no gathering of his associates is considered com- plete unless he is present.

Myron S. Clark, M. D.,. was born at Galli- polis, Ohio, October 9. 1840. His parents, P. P. and Sarah E. (Barber) Clark, were natives of Massachusetts, and were descended from old colonial stock. They came to Ohio in 1834, and for some years resided on a farm in Port- age county, where Mrs. Sarah Clark died in 1859. The father subsequently contracted a second marriage and removed to Fulton county. Myron S. Clark, after attending an academy at Freedom, Ohio, became a student at Hiram College, of which James A. Garfield, afterwards President, was then principal, and which he attended at intervals from 1855 to 1861, his winters being occupied in teaching.

Graduated in the year last named, he enlisted in the Forty-first Regiment Ohio National Guard, of which he was made corporal. . He served out his term of enlistment, and in the winter of 1863-64 attended medical lectures at Michigan University. He then re-enlisted in the army, this time in the One Hundred and Seventy-first Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was commissioned hospital steward, and served until August. 1864, when he was honorably discharged. At Cynthiana, Ken- tucky, he was taken prisoner, but ' was subse- quently re-captured by Unien troops. Again en- tering Michigan University, he resumed his medical studies, and was graduated from the university in March, 1865. He first practiced for short periods in Austintown, Warren, and Bristolville, after which, in 1873, he came to Youngstown, where he has since remained, en- gaged in the practice of medicine. He is a popu- lar physician, well versed in his profession, and enjoys a lucrative practice. He is at present serving as vice-president of the Board of Health, and as one of the United States pen- sion examiners at Youngstown. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Foresters, and the Sons of St. George. He was married, in 1867, at Hiram, Ohio, to Miss Hettie J. Smith, daughter of Rev. John T. and Esther (Cheney) Smith. A separate sketch of Mrs. Clark, as also of the doctor, appears elsewhere in this volume.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 43

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1074

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1074