History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 40

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio > Part 40

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In 1854, he established the Counsellor, the first medical weekly journal published in the West. He filled the position of editor of this journal for two years, when he was called to take charge of the Central Ohio Lunatic Asylum, at Columbus. For eight years, he satisfactorily filled the office of Superintendent, and then accepted a position to plan and superintend the erection of the largest State Asylum in the United States- that located at Weston, W. Va. When he fin- ished his labors there, in 1870, he returned to

Delaware and retired from active life. But he was not created to be idle, and, after a short rest, was prevailed on to accept the superintendency of the Girls' Industrial Home, a position he held at the time of his death, which occurred in October, 1879, at the age of sixty-eight years.

Dr. Elijah Carney was from Kentucky, and settled in Berkshire in 1835, commencing his pro- fessional career about the same time as Dr. Ralph Hills. For one so well known as was Dr. Carney, his personal history has been very difficult to obtain. He, soon after coming to the county, succeeded, in winning the confidence of the people, and, for many years, was the sole practitioner, almost, of a large scope of country. He was a graduate of the Cleveland Medical College, and a man of indus- trious habits, attentive to his patients, always showing a kind interest and much sympathy for them in their suffering. He died in 1869, but has numerous relatives still living in this and in Mor- row County.

Dr. Kingsley Ray came from Western New York and located in Worthington at an early day, and, in 1837, removed to Delaware. He gradu- ated at Berkshire, Mass. As a physician, he had the entire confidence of the community, and is said to have been well read, but, from some cause, he never achieved a very great success. In 1848, he went to Circleville, Ohio, where he still lived at the last known of him.

Dr. H. Lathrop also came from Worthington to Delaware about 1837-38, but never actually located in the city of Delaware. He stopped in Liberty Township, where he operated some mills and prac- ticed the profession a little at times, but never very extensively. In a few years he removed to Colum- bus, where he at length died.

Dr. M. Gerhard was born near Easton, Penn., and in early life came to Wooster, Ohio, where he clerked in a bank. It was while thus em- ployed that he read medicine and. attended one course of lectures at Philadelphia. In 1840, im- mediately after finishing his first course of lect- ures, he came to Delaware County, and located on Scioto River, at John Detwiler's. After about two years' practice, he went to Philadelphia, at- tended another course of lectures and graduated at the Jefferson Medical College. Upon graduating, he returned to Delaware County and resumed prac- tice. He was a thorough scholar, a well-read physician, and possessed the full confidence of his patients. He married a grand-daughter of Dr. Lamb; he died in 1868, leaving a wife and

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family. His widow and son are still living in Del- aware, the latter engaged in the lumber business.

Dr. William Johnston came from Crawford County, and settled in Norton, where he practiced medicine for several years, and in 1842 removed to Delaware. In later years, he was a great sufferer, and finally died from cancer.

Dr. Abraham Blymyer has been in the county so long that his name has become a standard of per- fection for the true physician, in the minds of all medical students. For more than forty years this favorite old Doctor has been going in and out before the people of Delaware County. Through the midnight darkness and the noonday sun, through the storms of winter and the heat of sum- mer, has he gone on his way and administered in his kind manner to the poor and needy. These long years of faithful practice and broken rest have made but little impression upon his iron constitution. Although he has been a practicing physician for a half-century or more, he rivals in activity many of his younger brethren, who number but months of practice where he counts years of hard work.

Dr. Blymyer was born in Pennsylvania in 1804. His father was a man of education and followed school teaching. It was under his instruction that the son received his early education. He com- menced the study of medicine in 1824, and, some two years later, fell heir to a fortune of several thousand dollars, with which he entered into the mercantile business. This venture proved success- ful, but a large "Iron Company," with which he was connected, failed, and his entire fortune, amounting to some $17,000, was swallowed up in the crash. He then returned to the study of medicine, and, after reading two years longer, took a course of lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He also attended two terms at Barten's Medical Institute, in the same city, where he received a diploma. Soon after graduating, he came West, and located at Mansfield, Ohio, where he commenced the practice of his profession. He remained there some ten ycars, during which time the Willoughby Medical College, near Cleveland, conferred on him the degree of M. D., as a token of merit. In 1840, he removed to Galion, but did not remain long (one year), and then came to Delaware. Here he soon won a large practice, and became an enterprising citizen. He took an active part in building up a county medical society, and found time to attend the meetings of the State Medical and State Central Societies, of both of which

he is at present a member. Twice he has been elected one of the Vice Presidents of the State Medical Society, and several times President and Vice President of the county society. And fur- ther than this, he has been the private instructor of over thirty medical students, some of whom have attained the head of the profession, and to others, who were unable to make a start in life without help, he furnished money, a horse, medicine and in- fluence. A few years ago, he partially retired from active professional work, but, through some bad investments, he again saw his goods taken by hungry creditors, and he was left with nothing but a strong old body and an active brain. Again he resumed practice, and is doing good work, with a fair prospect of many years of professional life still before him.

We come now to a more modern date in the history of the medical profession. Dr. Henry Gregg, it is said, read medicine at Eden in 1845, and graduated at Columbus. After that, he located in Liberty Township. \ few' years later he re- moved to Indiana, where he now lives.

Dr. Klapp settled in Berlin the same year Dr. Gregg located in Liberty Township. He was pro- fessionally well educated and a successful practi- tioner. He remained here until about 1863, when he retired from practicc.

Dr. D. W. Howell came to the county, and set- tled in Eden in 1845. He remained in Eden three years, then removed to Stratford, near Dela- warc, and, in 1856, removed to Circleville, Ohio, where he afterward died.

Dr. William Hendren located in Delaware about 1846-47, and was a graduate of Starling Medical College. He remained here but a short time and then went away, since which period but little has been learned of him, beyond the fact that he is dead.

Dr. H. C. Mann came from Butler County, .

Ohio, and settled in Delaware in 1846. Some three years later he joined a party. going to Cali- fornia, where he died. He was a man of intelli- gence, and well educated. His wife accompanied him to the Golden State. but after his death, re- turned to Ohio. The people of Delaware are in- debted to Dr. Mann for the best sketch of the county that has been written to the present timc. It may be found in " Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio," pages 567-574 of the Addenda.

Dr. James Carothers began the study of medi- cinc with Dr. Blymyer, while the latter was a resi- dent of Galion, before his removal to Delaware.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

When he came to Delaware, Carothers accompanied him and finished his studies, after which he attended the Cleveland Medical College, and graduated in 1846. He then located in Eden, where he re- mained until 1851, when he came to Delaware and entered into partnership with Dr. Blymyer. A few® years later he went to California, but, after a short stay, returned to Delaware, and renewed his old partnership with Dr. Blymyer. In 1855, he again went to California, and settled in Costa County, where he still lived the last heard from him.

Dr. Thomas B. Williams was born in South Wales in 1819, and came to the United States with his parents when but an infant. His father first located in Gallia County, Ohio, and, in 1824, came to Delaware County, where he soon after died, leaving his wife to care for and raise eight children. The subject of this sketch, Thomas B., though but a lad of six years of age at his father's death, showed marked ability, and, as he grew up, determined to learn the shoemaker's trade, which he soon mastered. A few years later, he was called upon to nurse an individual through a serious ill- ness, at the American Honse. It was in this experience that his qualities as a nurse and his interest in medicine were discovered, and his friends advised him to turn his attention to medicine. He commenced reading medicine in the office of Dr. Ralph Hills, and, after a thorough course of study of five years, he graduated at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, in the winter of 1848-49, after which he returned to Delaware, and was taken into partnership by his preceptor. When the late war broke out he entered the army as a volunteer surgeon in the One Hundred and Twen- ty-first Ohio Volunteers. His course through the war is best given in the language of those who shared the toil and danger of army life with him. Says one who knows whereof he speaks : "In September, 1862, he laid down an extensive prac- tice, bade farewell to home and family, and en- rolled himself with the patriots under Col. William P. Reid. For more than three years he rendered the Union Army invaluable services as a surgeon. After the battle of Perryville, he was promoted to Brigade Surgeon of the Second Brigade, com- manded by Gen. John G. Mitchell, of Columbus. His energy, indefatigable industry, his care of wounded soldiers, the cleanliness, efficiency and excellent arrangement of his hospitals, won still higher promotion, that of Division Surgeon in the Fourteenth Army Corps, under command of Gen. Jeff C. Davis. His bravery and self-possession

never forsook him in the most extreme fortunes of war." Says Maj. Henderson: " I have never known a man so admirably constituted for extreme emergencies." At Chattanooga, his commanding officer, Gen. Steedman, said to him : "Doctor, we are completely shut in, and I do not see how we can escape being cut to pieces." "Well," quickly replied the Doctor, " I must arrange my hospitals on a more permanent and efficient plan, and be ready for all misfortunes that may befall our troops." Mr. H. M. Carper thus speaks of him: "The mind of Dr. Williams was of a peculiar type, which usually acted with singular promptness, clearness and good judgment on occasions of peril involving important, if not vital interests. If the unwritten history of the war could only be written, the career of no surgeon could be shown to be more brilliant than that of Dr. Williams." "It was my fortune," said Gen. Mitchell, "to be intimately associated with Dr. Williams for three years in the field, and I have often thought over an intercourse which covered the most trying period of the war." Says Rev. Dr. McCabe : "He was one of the noblest men I ever knew, and the simple statement of his virtues a monument more enduring than marble or brass." He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and in all the battles of that period. He was present at Bentonville, the closing battle of the war.

Dr. Williams was widely known and universally beloved as a physician, and his noble qualities were the admiration of all. For many years he was elected a member of the School Board. In 1873, he was, chosen to represent his county in the Sixty- First General Assembly of the State, but declined the nomination. He was an honored member of the State Medical Society, and several times chosen one of its Vice Presidents. He was also a mem- ber of the State Central Society, and one of its Vice Presidents, and was one of the most active workers in the Delaware County Medical Society. He was elected President of the society, and served one term, but declined further honors, saying " the honor must go to others."

He was married, about 1855, to Miss Nannie Ritchie, daughter of the Hon. John Ritchie, of Perry County, Ohio. She was a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan Female College. They have but one child, a daughter, who graduated at the same college as did her mother. In 1859, Dr. Williams became a member of the Williams Street Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and remained one of its faithful and exemplary members until the time

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of his death. He died in 1879, at the age of 60 years.

Dr. John A. Little is a native of Delaware, and was born December 7, 1825. He was the second child and the first son of the old pioneer, William Little, who is frequently mentioned in other por- tions of this history. In 1840, when fifteen years old, he entered the Preparatory Department of Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio. It was here that he again met his old play fellow, President R. B. Hayes, and became his room-mate for two years. Dr. Little graduated in 1845. While in college, none stood higher in their classes, or graduated with more honors. It is said that he was admired by both faculty and students. After completing his studies at Kenyon College, he entered the office of Drs. Jones & Case, in Columbus. Dr. Little was a thorough student of medicine, and especially of botany, in which he had few superiors. He at- tended his first course of lectures at the Medical Department of the Transylvania University, at Louisville, Ky., and while there was a member of the family of the distinguished Dr. Drake. In 1847-48, he attended his second course of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, and where he received the degree of M. D. He first located at Sandusky City. but was soon called to Columbus, when he became a partner of his pre- ceptor, Dr. Case, Dr. Jones retiring. After about three years, Dr. Case retired from practice, and Dr. Jones became a partner of his former student, but died some three years later, when Dr. Little was left alone. His popularity and scholarly at- tainments had already introduced him into a lucra- tive practice. Through the influence of friends, in 1865, he removed to Delaware, where he soon grew into a large business. Dr. Dening said Dr. Little was a "born physician; he was an ambi- dexter, possessed almost intuitive knowledge of both diseases and remedies." His bearing in the sick-room was ever calm, reposed and cheerful, and inspired his patients with confidence and hope. To a student of his profession he was an invaluable instructor, ever imparting the most important teachings. To the young physicians he extended a kind word and friendly hand, and to the older members gave advice and counsel of the ablest character. His opinions and advice were sought by all classes. He was loved and esteemed by all who knew him, and especially the poor, who always found in him "a friend in time of need."

He was a member of the Ohio State Medical Society, and in 1873 read one of the most valuable

and able papers on the antidotal properties of bel- ladonna in opium poisoning, ever read before it. He was a member of the State Central Medical Society, and one of the organizers of the Second Delaware County Medical Society, and a member of Agassiz Scientific Association of Delaware. He was the proof-reader of Dr. J. G. Jones' American Eclectic Practice of Medicine. He was married to the youngest daughter of the late Judge Hosea Will- iams in 1850, and had one son and four daughters. He died January 13, 1877, of acute catarrhal phthisis, at the age of fifty-two years.

Dr. P. A. Willis was a native of Delaware County. After attending the district school he spent two years at the Ohio Wesleyan University. He read medicine with Dr. Hamilton, at Columbus, and graduated in Starling Medical College in 1862. Soon after he graduated, he entered the army as Contract, Surgeon ; and in a short time was pro- moted to Assistant Surgeon of the Forty-eighth Regiment, and in the spring of 1863, to full Sur- geon. At the close of the war, he was made Med- ical Director of an army corps under Gen. Andrews. After leaving the army, he engaged in farming and the practice of his profession. He died in March, 1876. at his home near Bellepoint.

Dr. B. F. Loofbourrow was one of the best of the root and herb doctors. He was widely known and universally esteemed. He first lived on the township road in Berlin Township, but afterward removed to Alum Creek, and, some time later, to Cheshire. He finally removed to the West, where he died:

Dr. Barbour moved into the county in 1840. He was from Richland County, and soon grew into a large practice, but lost it again in a short time, and moved away.

Dr. Daniel Skeels came to Sunbury in an early day. He was a root and herb doctor, and soon gained a large practice. He died iu 1824, at the age of seventy-nine years. Drs. Skinner and Leach settled at Millville about the same time that Dr. Barbour came to the county. Dr. Leach took up homeopathy, and removed to Cincinnati, and afterward to Middletown, where he now lives.

Dr. William H. Davis settled at Bellepoint, in 1850. He is said to have been a well-educated man, and an industrious practitioner. In 1856, he went to South America, where he became Governor, or held some high position in one of the small states. He at length returned to the United States, and settled in Iowa, and was a Surgeon in the Union Army during the late war, but has since

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE. COUNTY.

died. Drs. Dening and Brown settled in the vil- lage of Galena at an early day. But of them little is known. Dr. Granger was a student from Worthington Botanical School, but afterward grad- uated at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He located in Westfield in 1837, where he died in 1863. Dr. Lewis was a student of Dy. Loofbour- row, and was strictly a root and herb doctor. He settled in Cheshire and gained a large practice. He died there a few years ago.

Dr. Messe was a uroscopic doctor, and settled in Delaware in 1838. For many years he made open war on quinine, and used as a substitute a blue powder made from quinine and prussiate of iron. He retired from the field in 1845. Dr. William House was of the Thompsonian Steam School, and located in Galena. He finally turned his steaming into merchandising, which he found more profitable.

Dr. Erastus Field began the practice of medi- cine at Bellepoint, in 1844, where he remained until 1852, when he located in Ostrander. He is one of the oldest resident doctors in the county, and the oldest in Scioto Township, and has been a member of the State Medical Society since its organization in 1851. He has retired from active practice. His son, Dr. John H. Field, graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Sur- gery in 1870. Since that time he has been prac- ticing in Ostrander and vicinity, where he has taken much of his father's business. Dr. D. M. Kensell read medicine with Dr. Blymyer, and, . after graduating in the regular school, adopted the practice of homoeopathy, and, in 1856, removed to Columbus, where he soon grew into a large prac- tice. From a poor boy he has become one of the wealthiest men in the city of his adoption. Dr. D. C. Fay is a native of Union County. He read medicine and attended his first course of lectures at Starling Medical College, and, in 1866, grad- uated at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, after which he located in the village of Ostrander, where he is still in practice. Dr. E. Jones was a son-in-law and student of Dr. Blymyer. He went West, where he died some years later. The fol- lowing physicians have been practitioners of the county, but of them we have not been able to learn much : Dr. Joseph Cox, of Radnor; Drs. Morehead, Mount, Black, of Scioto Township; Drs. McCrary, Maine, Starnburg, Wigdons, of Delhi; Dr. Longwell at one time located in Eden, but died in the army, where he held the position of Surgeon; Drs. Robinson, Hill, Dennison, Eaton,

.of Delaware; Dr. Mills, now of Trenton Town- ship; Drs. Lewis, White, Pencoast, Doty, Wilson, of Ashley ; Drs. Van Deman, D. C. Peterson, Rowell, Benton, Skinner, Leach, were residents, at different times, of Millville. The profession in the county is thus represented at the present time, many of whom are noticed in the biographical department of this work. We give the year in which they came to the county, or the year they commenced practice.

Dr. H. N. Comer, 1852, Ashley; Dr. Erastus Field, 1852, Ostrander; Dr. William McIntire, 1850, Millville; Dr. James M. Cherry, 1850, Dela- ware; Dr. J. M. Snodgrass, 1842, Delaware Coun- ty; Dr. Calvin Welch, 1853, Delaware; Dr. Lewis Barnes, 1856, Delaware; Dr. James H. White, 1856, Delaware; Dr. N. S. Samsell, 1858, Dela- ware; Dr. A. E. Westbrook, 1865, Ashley ; Dr. W. H. Pulford, 1873, Ashley ; Dr. D. 'C. Fay, 1866, Ostrander; Dr. W. E. Rowell, 1879, Mill- ville ; Dr. F. W. Morrison, 1870, Delaware; Dr. Joseph McCann, Sr., 1869, Delaware; Dr. A. W. Dumm, 1879, Delaware; Dr. W. F. Crick- ard, 1877, Delaware; Dr. W. B. Hedges, 1879, Delaware; Dr. J. O. McDowell, 1877, Delaware; Dr. Jolin W. Vogt, 1876, Delaware; Dr. James H. Hughes, 1879, Delaware; Dr. William Gold- rick, 1865, Delaware; Dr. W. T. Constant, 1868, Delaware; Dr. S. P. Cummings, 1869, Delaware; Dr. Henry Besse, 1864, Delaware; Dr. John H. Field, 1870, Ostrander ; Dr. E. H. Hyatt,* 1855, Delaware; Dr. John W. Neil, 1871, Delaware; Dr. Samuel . White (colored), 1838, Delaware County ; Dr. S. W. Fowler, 1871, Delaware ; Dr. Lyman Potter, 1850, Delaware County; Dr. J. H. Smith, 1874, Eden ; Dr. J. C. Wintermute, 1875, Lewis Center ; Dr. W. C. Mercer, 1851, Lewis Center ; Dr. F. E. Eckelberry, 1877, Bellepoint ; Dr. J. Edwards, 1879, Delhi; Dr. J. McCann, Jr., 1879, Delhi; Dr. V. H. Goesling, 1877, Delhi; Dr. G. F. Foster, 1870, Olive Greene ; Dr. S. C. Dumw, 1873, Cheshire; Dr. W. T. Clute, 1879, Delaware; Dr. A. P. Taylor, 1871, Sun- bury; Dr. E. B. Mosher, 1873, Sunbury ; Dr. J. D. Williams, 1870, Sunbury.

It has been said that "associated action con- stitutes the main-spring-the controlling motive- power of society." When one looks over the present aspect and tendency of civilization, he will concede the truth of this saying. Thus it was that the early practitioners of the county saw the

* Dr. Hyatt was elected Professor of Therapeutics in the Columbus Medical College in 1875, a chair that he still occupies.

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great need of associated action, and set about form- ing a society. In or about 1848, Drs. Ralph Hills, Blymyer, Cherry, Gerhard, and a few others met in the room now occupied as the Mayor's ofice, and formed the first medical society of the county, known as the Delaware County Society. Dr. Hills was elected President, and Dr. Blymyer, Vice President, At this meeting Dr. Blymyer read his famous paper on "Milk Sickness.'

After a few years, this society went into a trance, in which condition it remained until 1868, when it was resuscitated by Drs. Blymyer, Williams, Con- stant, McIntire, Little, Willis, Hyatt, White, Cherry, Besse, Welch, Carothers, and others. Dr. Blymyer was elected President, Dr. Willis, Vice President, and Dr. Hyatt, Secretary. In 1869,

Dr. Blymyer was re-elected, and when his term ex- pired he gave a banquet to his brethren-a social custom that has since been kept up by his success- ors. At the last annual meeting, the society, or as it is now called, the association, had an attend- ance of thirty-five members. The greatest har- mony prevailed throughout the entire meeting. Dr. James H. White was elected President, Dr. S. C. Dumm, Vice President, and Dr. J. C. Winter- mute, Secretary.

NOTE .- The historian deeme it hut a matter of justice to mention here that Dr. Fowler (who is too modest to mention it himself) prepared and read before the society, at its meeting, December 11, 1877, a paper on " Nervous Debility," which was freely indoreed hy some of the ablest physiciane in the country, and was published by order of the society, for the benefit of its members. And at the meeting in January, 1880, he read a paper on "Scarlet Fever," which received high commendations, and was ordered published.

CHAPTER VI.

EARLY CHURCH HISTORY-SCHOOLS-SCHOOL STATISTICS-COMPULSORY EDUCATION-PIONEER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING-MORGAN ACADEMY-FEMALE SEMINARY-QUITMAN'S -OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY-WESLEYAN FEMALE COLLEGE-GIRLS' INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL-THE WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS-WHITE SULPHUR FOUNTAIN-THE PRESS.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 40

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818