USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 38
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
of directions before pulling it out. No fee was paid the doctor for tooth-extracting, the patient usually remarking that "it hurt bad enough without paying anything for it." A few years later some of the doctors occasionally ven- tured to charge a " shilling " for such services.
Dr. McComb (or McCombs) came here in 1823. He was quite a popular physician, and had the confidence of the few settlers who were then here. He was a man of pleasant address; was well calculated to make friends ; had good common-sense ; was " well read," as the expres- sion goes, and was a man of much experience. His usefulness during his latter years was much impaired by a too great fondness for strong drink. He died, about 1836, at the residence of the parents of Dr. Fitzsimmons, about three miles southeast of Bucyrus. The immediate cause of death was a fall from his horse, death ensuing a few hours afterward. His wife also died here.
Dr. Hobbs came here about 1824 or 1825, and remained until about 1832. His wife, in 1830, taught what was among the first schools of the village. Dr. Hobbs, after leaving here, went to Indiana ; remained there some time, then came back to Mount Vernon, Ohio, at which place he died two or three years since, at the age of eighty-three or eighty-four years. A number of the early physicians of Crawford remained but a short time, since the practice of medicine in those early days required a great deal of physical and moral energy. The country was sparsely settled. Instead of roads, there were mere trails, almost impassable the greater part of the year, on account of mud and water ; frequently not even these, but simply paths leading from one lonely cabin to another. South of town, on the "plains," some of the natural grasses attained a height of six or eight feet, and one of the earlier physicians (Dr. Merriman) informed us that in riding along these paths, flanked by the long grass, his clothing would be completely wetted through
by the dews in his nightly rides. Besides, as nearly all the settlers were poor and frequently sick, the Doctor was not in the habit of getting much ready pay, and had, as a matter of course, to await the time when his patrons would be able to settle their bills-usually a long way in the future, and often never. People sick nearly all the working months of the year were illy prepared to pay doctors' bills. Under these discouraging surroundings, the Doctor, as far as his physical wants were concerned, fared about as badly as his patrons.
Dr. Pierce came here from the State of New York, about the year 1825. He was then a widower, with two children, and soon after- ward married Miss Mary Carey. In addition to practicing medicine, he kept a "tavern," in a building across the street from Mrs. Rogers', on the lot now occupied by Mr. Christian Shonert. He remained here seven or eight years, and then " went West." The old settlers speak of him as a man of fair attainments and a good citizen.
Dr. Willis Merriman was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1801, and came to Ohio in 1817, studied medicine in Norwalk, Ohio, in the years 1822 and 1823, practiced there for some time, coming to Bucyrus in 1827. He con- tinued in practice here until the death of his first wife in 1834. (Her maiden name was Lois Cook, of Mansfield.) Dr. Merriman, in 1835, entered into the mercantile business, which he followed until 1853. He gave us the following anecdote, connected with his early mercantile life : In those days, it was customary for mer- chants to have on their counters a bottle of whisky for the entertainment of all those who wished to partake. As some of the Wyandot Indians were in the habit of visiting the town, especially on Saturdays, he placed on his coun- ter, on a certain Saturday morning, a bottle of tincture of cayenne pepper, instead of whisky, for their especial benefit. Pretty soon a red man came in, took a drink, and as soon as he
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
was able to speak, slyly remarked to the Doc- tor-" Leave him be, more Injun outside."
Dr. Merriman was, for several years, one of the Directors of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad Company, and its first President. He retired from this position January 1, 1855, on tlie consolidation of the railroad companies into the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail- road, becoming at the same time one of the Directors of the new organization, which posi- tion he held until 1868. He was also Deputy U. S. Collector from 1863 to 1865.
Dr. Merriman was a man of sterling integ- rity, noted for his real goodness of heart, and always a gentleman-traits of character which won for him the respect and esteem of all. His mental powers were vigorous, and his knowl- edge varied and extensive. He died in Bucy- rus August 30, 1873.
Dr. Sinclair came here about 1830, and re- mained until 1836. He went from here to Maumee City, where he did a very successful business, pecuniarily and otherwise. He was a popular physician, and had the confidence of the people generally.
Dr. Douglas came here in 1835, and remained until October 1850, when he went back to New York. He was a man of fine professional and literary attainments, and in every sense of the word a gentleman. Every act and every word of his was well considered, and under no circumstances did he ever permit himself to be vulgar, or anything approaching thereto.
Dr. Andrew Hetich was born and brought up in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Penn. ; re- ceived a liberal education for those times, studied medicine and located in Bucyrus, in 1835. His wife not liking the place, he re- turned to Chambersburg, but finally came back in 1839, resumed practice, which he continued until a short time before his death in 1860. Dr. Hetich was a gentleman of respectable pro- fessional attainments, pleasant and affable in his manners, acquainted with nearly every
person in the community, and generally re- spected.
Dr. G. A. Hetich, a cousin of Dr. Andrew Hetich, was also born and reared in Chambers- burg, Penn .; came to Ohio in 1835, located in Bucyrus, and practiced his profession until his death in 1844. Dr. G. A. Hetich, both in a literary and professional sense, was a gentle- man of more than ordinary attainments, had the confidence of the general public, but almost uninterrupted bad health prevented him from doing a very large amount of general practice, which in those times implied a vast amount of physical exertion. Buggies and carriages were almost unknown, and nearly impractica- ble, on account of the generally new and bad state of the roads, consequently the country doc- tor was compelled to go on horseback or on foot.
Dr. A. M. Jones was born in Berkshire County, Mass., and came with his parents to Ohio in 1817, settling in Lorain County. He came to Bucyrus in December, 1835, and prac- ticed medicine for ten years ; after which he became associated with Samuel Clapper in the woolen-mill business, which partnership lasted three years, he then selling out to Clapper. He has not given any attention to the practice of medicine for the past thirty years, having turned his attention largely to the real estate business, in which he has been remarkably suc- cessful.
Dr. Bochler (a German) came here in 1837, and remained until 1841 or 1842, when he went to Tiffin, and some time afterward died there. He belonged to the uroscopians, a class of doctors which we have already attempted to clescribe.
Dr. William Geller came here in 1840, and remained until 1844, going to Mount Gilead on the erection of the new county of Morrow. While here, he was elected County Treasurer, and soon after went to California. He is well spoken of by such of our old citizens as were acquainted with him.
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
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Dr. Jacob Augenstein read medicine with Dr. Boehler, already mentioned, began practicing about 1842, and continued in the business until about 1862. He resides at present in Napoleon, Ohio. He also belonged to the uroscopian or water doctor system of practice.
Dr. Hauck, a compound doctor, made up of homeopathy and uroscopy, came here in 1843, and remained until his death a few years after.
Dr. Frederick Swingley was born in Mary- land ; came to Ohio, and commenced practice in Chesterville, in 1835. He remained at the lat- ter place until December, 1844, when he loca- ted in Bucyrus, and has been in continuous practice since. He served several years as sur- geon during the rebellion. During the years, especially 1851, 1852, 1853, 1834, we remember that Dr. Swingley did quite a large amount of surgical practice in and about Bucyrus.
Dr. Haas, a German Jew, came here in 1845, pretending to be a dentist, and was the first one offering himself in that capacity to the people of the place. That he was not always a doctor we learn from a poem purporting to have been written by him, a verse or two of which is as follows :
" A Jew pettler once I vas, And pettled round my vares, But now a doctor man I pes, Vich makes the peoples stares.
Ven first on Bucyrus I vas vent,
I pe'est not comed dere long, Until I see a pooty cal, Vich makes me write dis song."
The Doctor wore expensive clothing, sported considerable jewelry, and had really a magnifi- cent set of dental instruments, for those times, at least, but which, unfortunately, he did not know how to use, and soon left the place.
Dr. Cochran Fulton was born in Westmore- land County, Penn., February 22, 1819, and when quite a young man came with his parents to Ohio. He read medicine in Stark County, and came here to engage in practice in 1845. Graduated in Eclectic Medical Institute in Cin-
cinnati in 1848, and has been engaged in prac- tice since. During a period of thirty-five years' practice, he has always enjoyed a fair share of the public patronage. The drug and book store opened by him in 1861 is the oldest es- tablishment of the kind in the town, and prob- ably in the county.
Dr. Robert T. Johnson also came here in 1845, from Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, prac- ticed a short time, but soon engaged in the drug and book business, which business he still carries on.
Dr. Potter, belonging to the " lobelia, pepper and steam " system, came here in 1847, and re- mained several years. When questioned as to the particular system of medicine which he practiced, his answer usually was " Anti-poison, if you please." This he repeated so frequently that the boys about town dubbed him, "Dr. Anti-poison, if you please." He engaged board- ing in town by the meal, and when he had a patient in the country, usually managed to "happen round " about meal-time, and by this dodge lived quite economically. We have not been able to learn of anything redounding much to his reputation in any direction.
Dr. Robert Sweeny read medicine here, and began practicing in 1847. He remained here until the spring of 1851, when he went to Ma- rion, where he has since resided, and where he has always enjoyed the public confidence.
Dr. Applebaugh came here in 1848, stayed three or four years, and then went to Philadel- phia, Penn., and engaged in the commission business. We have heard that he received consignments from parties here, the returns of which were not considered very satisfactory. He is said to have been very fond of fishing, etc., and was a good performer on the violin.
Dr. Samuel Long came here in 1849, and re- mained two years. He was well educated, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, of fine literary tastes, and being in casy circum- stances did not give much attention to the
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
practice of his profession. We have learned that during the rebellion he held an important place in the Medical Department of the army, at Washington.
Dr. Barsham, a homeopathist, came here in 1850, and remained two years.
Dr. James Milott came in 1851, and died here in 1853. He was an eclectic.
Dr. Francis Meyer was born in Frankfort, Germany ; attended the schools of the city, and received his medical education at the universi- ties of Tubingen, Heidelberg and Halle. After graduation, he passed what might be called the State Board of Examiners, and served for sev- eral years as surgeon in the Schleswig-Holstein war. He came here in 1851, and continued in the practice of medicine until broken in health, about five years ago. Dr. Meyer, receiving a classical education in his early life, has, by con- stant reading of the best authors, added largely to his original stock of knowledge, and has al- ways had the confidence of a large portion of the citizens of Bucyrus and vicinity. Being a gentleman of fine literary and artistic tastes, his office and rooms have always been the re- pository of many articles of virtu, rare and valuable.
Dr. W. R. S. Clark came here in 1852, prac- ticed until 1857, when he became a partner of Dr. Fulton in the drug business. He bought the interest of Dr. F. in this business in 1860, and carried it on until about 1867, when he sold out and removed to Indiana. He served as surgeon for several years during the rebellion.
Dr. Rogers, an eclectic, came here in 1853, and went to Illinois in 1855.
Dr. M. C. Cuykendall was born in Cayuga County, N. Y .; came to Ohio when a young man, read medicine in Plymouth, Ohio, and be- gan practicing in Ganges, Ohio, in 1854. He came to Bucyrus in 1857, and remained in practice until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he entered the military service as surgeon, and before the close of the war reached the posi-
tion of Medical Director. Since 1865, he has devoted his attention largely to the practice of surgery, in which department he has the confi- dence both of the profession and the public at large. He has held for several years past the position of Professor of Gynecology in the Med- ieal College of Columbus. His failing health, caused by disease of the bowels, contracted during the term of his military service, has pre- vented him to a certain extent from doing much active work during the past two or three years.
The following persons, in addition to those already mentioned, are practicing in Bucyrus at present :
Dr. E. P. Penfield, homeopathist, came in 1861.
Dr. Fitzsimmons, in 1871.
Dr. Kissner, 1871.
Dr. Carson, 1876.
Dr. Krider, 1877.
Dr. Chesney, in drug business since 1874.
Dr. Georgia Merriman, since 1879.
Dr. Bonar, came present season (1880).
Dr. Atwood, present season.
Dr. MeNutt, has resided here for past seven or eight years.
Dr. Price, a botanic, located on the Johnson farm, seven miles south of Bucyrus, about the year 1837 ; remained in the neighborhood about fifteen years, and then went to Illinois.
Occola .- Dr. J. N. Richie read medicine with Dr. Leander Firestone, of Wayne County, Ohio, and Dr. Henry Houtz, of Canal Fulton, Stark County ; graduated at Willoughby Medieal Col- lege, and commenced the practice of medieine at this place in 1847, and has been in active practice ever since. He is a gentleman, pleas- ant in address, affable at all times and to all persons, familiar with the details of his profes- sion, energetic in business, and consequently obtained and has always retained the confi- dence of his many patrons.
During his professional life here, many phy- sicians, at different times, have located, but
Detwingly
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
soon finding the field unprofitable, sought loca- tions elsewhere. In the spring of 1874, he en- tered into partnership with Dr. William O. Han- by, a young man of great promise, which part- nership was abruptly broken up by the un- timely death of the latter in October, 1879. He has recently taken as a partner Dr. John Ches- ney, son of Dr. Chesney, of Bucyrus.
Dr. Richie received a kick from a horse, about a year since, which caused the loss of one eye, and has otherwise so much affected his health, that he is scarcely able, much of the time, to endure the fatigue attendant on a country practice.
Dr. Hahn, now of Three Locusts, began prac- ticing here in 1852, but remained only eight months, going then to New Winchester, where he remained until 1867.
Dr. Fruth located here in autumn of 1879, and still remains.
This has always been a good field for the practice of medicine, since that portion of the county west of it was settled, many years after the other portions, on account of its being part of the Wyandot Reservation.
From this circumstance, malarious diseases are still much more prevalent here, than in that part of the county east of it.
Sulphur Springs, or Annapolis .- The first phy- sician that came to this place, as far as we can learn, was a Dr. Kelley. He located here in 1836 or 1837, but remained only a short time.
He was succeeded by Drs. Barnitz, Smith, Palmer, Chapman and Griffith, none of whom remained any considerable length of time.
Dr. Geo. Zeigler located here in 1840, and remained until his death in February, 1872. Dr. Zeigler had a good practice during his entire professional life. He acquired the habit of making long professional rides. for the purpose of visiting patients scattered over quite an ex- tent of territory, frequently being from home for two or three days, often sleeping on the floor in preference to going to bed. All this told on
his general health, which was much impaired during his latter years.
His neighbor, Dr. Squiers, advised him to give up his night riding and hard work gener- ally, but he replied that he " might as well die at his post," and finally did so, being overtaken by a severe attack of lung disease. when about two miles from home, stopped at the nearest farm-house and remained until death, which oc- curred two or three days after.
Dr. John B. Squiers was born in Washington County, N. Y., May, 1818. Came with his par- ents to Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio, in the autumn of 1822. In 1835. he at- tended school at Norwalk, Ohio, one term of three months, began the study of medicine with Dr. Zeigler in 1845, and commenced practice with him in 1848, after having attended a course of lectures in Cincinnati, and graduated at the latter-named city in 1853. Since that time, although much crippled, and frequently really unfitted for the laborious duties of a country practitioner, he has constantly been at his post.
He is emphatically a self-made man. and, al- though never receiving the advantages of a lit- erary education at any college or other institu- tion of learning, has been a diligent student for the past forty-five years ; has read general lit- erature quite extensively, and has always been a reader of the serial medical literature of the day. As far as we know, he has deservedly the entire confidence of the people with whom he has been so long associated.
We have never heard him speak unkindly of a brother practitioner, nor have we ever heard any one accusing him of the commission of any aet derogatory to the dignity of the profession.
About the year 184-, there was in the place. for a short time, a doctor usually styling himself C. Turley, M. D .. of whom we have never heard any one speak very kindly. He was thought to have in his composition a more than ordi- nary amount of impudence, as the following
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anecdotes will show : When practicing in West Liberty, he called an old gentleman across the street, as he wished to see him. The victim waded the deep mud, in order to reach him, when the Doctor wished to know whether he could give him change for a dollar bill ! When in Sulphur Springs, he sent his boy to Dr. Squiers' office with a message that he wished to see him. Dr. Squiers left his business and repaired to the Doctor's office as hastily as possible, and on his arrival was asked whether he could lend him an ounce of quinine. On a certain occasion, the Doctor went into the old- fashioned " bar-room" of the old-fashioned " tavern," and at once placed himself between a facetious old gentleman and the stove, com- pletely cutting off his supply of heat and dis- turbing his range of vision. The old gentle- man at once cried out, "Cramps, cramps !" and, raising both legs and throwing forward his hands, precipitated the Doctor on the hot stove. The latter soon righted himself, but, a second attack of convulsions coming on, he was again thrown against the stove. The convulsive attack then ceasing, the Doctor was permitted to make his escape.
Drs. Zimro and Patterson practiced here about 1870, but neither remained long. Dr. M. M. Carothes has been located here since 1872. Dr. H. S. Bevington has been practicing and carrying on the drug business since 1872.
Richville .- Dr. Fairbanks located here in 1848 and remained until 1858. He was sue- ceeded by Dr. Peitzel, who remained until 1863. He died in Missouri a few years ago. He was succeeded by Dr. Urias Tupps, who remained until his death, in 1873. Dr. Zeigler, son of the late Dr. Zeigler, of Sulphur Springs, has been here since 1871.
West Liberty, or Liberty Corners .- Dr. Wood commenced practicing here about 1843, and died of typhoid fever in 1847. He was a gentleman of fine attainments, and his death was universally regretted.
Dr. Thomas C. Aiken succeeded him, and practiced here until the autumn of 1851. The writer of this sketch was here from May, 1851, to May, 1860 .* There were several other phy- sicians here between 1851 and 1865, but none remained any length of time. The place has been without a doctor for the past fifteen years.
De Kalb .- Dr. Carleton came to this place in 1831 or 1832, and remained for several years. In addition to practicing medicine, he sold dry goods in a log building standing on the lot afterward occupied by David Anderson and others, at the junction of the Plymouth road and the one running north through Vernon Township. He is remembered by a number of the early settlers, who speak of him as a man of considerable ability.
Dr. R. A. N. Be was born in the State of Rhode Island about the year 1798. He received a tolerably liberal education, and graduated at one of the medical colleges of Philadelphia. He came West about 1830, and at first located in Southeastern Indiana, but, not being satis- fied with the country, came back to Ohio and located at this place in the year 1836. He continued to practice here until 1854, when he went to Van Wert County, Ohio, and remained there about ten years, coming back to De Kalb in 1864. In December, 1865, he had an apoplec- tic attack, which very considerably impaired his mental powers, and he resided with the writer from February, 1866, to July, 1867 when he visited his brother in Galesburg, Ill., dying there the following December. Although quite eccentric in many particulars, and peculiarly reticent in everything pertaining to his early life, he was a man of much more than ordinary ability and attainments.
*Dr. Keller, the author of this excellent sketch of the medical profession, is too modest to say anything of himself, but the his- torian dooms it dne to him that he should have a place with the other physicians of the county, and feels it his duty to add this notice. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Ilarley. In 1846-47, he attended the Cleveland Medical College, and, in the winter of 1852-53, graduated at Cincinnati. After several years at West Liberty, he located in Bucyrus, in the fall of 1861, where, with the exception of two years, he has ever since remaincd, rank- ing among the leading physicians of the town.
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
He devoted his time, when not professionally engaged, to reading, both professional and oth- erwise, and in his office there might always be found rare medical works not usually found in the office of the country practitioner, with the best serial medical and other literature. He was a good practitioner, a reliable friend and a strictly honest man. The following points con- nected with his early history, not known dur- ing his life in De Kalb, will explain many things in his private life, which were regarded, gener- ally, as eccentricities. When reading medicine, he was thrown from a horse, fracturing his skull, and otherwise injuring him, the result of which was the impairment of his intellectual faculties to a considerable extent and for some length of time. While in this state, he was sent by his preceptor to visit a patient. The mother was highly incensed at the doctor for sending a crazy man (as she expressed herself) to visit her daughter, and so informed the young man. The Doctor, on hearing himself thus spoken of, determined to leave the country at once, go West, change his name, and forever cut loose from his then friends and relatives, arguing that if he kept up any correspondence with them, that his history would soon follow him wherever he might go, and destroy his future prospects. He accordingly went to Indiana, as we have stated, changed his name from Roman Babcock to Rom A. N. Be, by which name he was known until his death. During the long, weary years from 1830 to 1866, he never once communicated directly or indirectly with mother, brothers, sisters, or other relatives- completely dead to every friend and associate of his youthful days. His many surviving friends will now understand why he was always so reticent in reference to his early life and family.
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