USA > Ohio > Logan County > History of Logan County and Ohio > Part 40
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The contagion was so great that compara- tively few persons escaped some form of the disease, unless protected by recent vaccina- tion; even those who had small-pox in early life were not exempt, and a large part of those who had not been vaccinated for ten or more years had varioloid, while all recently vaccin- ate lescaped. The number of deaths was not great. If my memory is not at fault, it did not exceed ten. These were mostly children, and of these, two died of convulsions before the eruption appeared. The eruption came out upon a dissipated man in immense blocks as large as a moderate sized fist. He lived thirty days. He died in the dead of night and was buried the same hour. Good oppor- tunities were presented, during this epidemic, of observing effects of proper regimen and proper medication in influencing favorably the progress of the disease. When commenced in proper time, regimen rendered it always mild, and the same influences operated in the same manner upon the vaccine vesicle; caus- ing the latter to be small, the avoila small and the inflammation of the arm trifling. The facts developed during this epidemie show that vaccination after the lapse of many years, es- pecially if performed in quite early life, only partially protects against variola; and the same was true of those who had bad the latter disease in early life. Another fact, perhaps observed also by others, was that vaccination may be successfully performed after exposure
to the contagion of small-pox for five or six days. In one family, where several cases of the disease existed, vaccination was performed on the sixth day, and both diseases developed after the regular incubative peri- od; the variola died ont, while the vaccination pursued the regular course.
In May, 1850, dysentery made its appear- ance in the valley of King's Creek, south- east of West Liberty. It soon became intermixed with Asiatic cholera. The two diseases gradually crept up the valley and spread over the adjacent plains, so that by August the latter disease had arrived at that part of the valley where Tabor Ridge abruptly projects into the valley. Here, at the foot of this ridge, two or three persons were attacked by cholera. It then mounted the ridge and, passing a half mile north, seized three chil- dren in one family, after which there was no more cholera and but little dysentery this Season. During August, 1851, a fatal case of cholera occurred in the family of General A. S. Piatt. Judge B. M. Piatt also had a seiz- ure, but recovered.
Dysentery prevailed during the cholera sca- sons of 1851, 1852 and 1853. In the former years it occupied the highlands bordering the Mackachack, and was very fatal, twelve deaths occurring within a small radius, and in a short time. Many cases were also seen on the high- lands north of town. The country west and north was this year free from dysentery, but the next year, 1852, it prevailed with great violence and fatality among children in the neighborhood northwest of town. The next season it occupied the territory west and south- west, leaving the districts visited the former years; thus following very much the course of cholera, which seldom prevails two succes- sive seasons, to any extent, in the same dis- triet. A few peculiarities were observed dur- ing these epidemies, not usually seen in dysen- tery. One was the frequent collapse which
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took place the second or third day after the seizure, and from which few recovered; an- other was, in a few cases, the sudden subsi- dence of the dysenteric symptoms. and the supervention of muscular rheumatism, mostly confined to the lower extremities. The sud- den supervention of intense conjunctivitis was another peculiarity. When this took place it only gave partial relief to the dysentery. Iligh rolling or table lands were the places it most affected, low land being mostly ex- empted.
Influenza prevailed as an epidemic during the months of July and August, 1843, a few cases appearing earlier in the season. lt depended upon some peculiar, but unknown, atmospheric condition. and traveled with great celerity from east to west, and, like Asiatic cholera, made the circuit of the earth.
That severe and fatal disease, cerebro-spin- al-meningitis, made its first appearance in the village of West Liberty about March 1, 1848. It had prevailed in the New England States thirty years anterior to this time. It is pre- sumably the same disease which was then called typhus syncophalis. It continued to prevail in West Liberty for some two months, being confined to the town, with one excep- tion, and, as the weather became warm, it dis- appeared about the 1st of May for that year. It again appeared in the hilly region in the winter of 1851, along the upper Mackachack Creek, and continued to prevail upon the highlands along that stream for ten or twelve weeks, but disappeared upon the approach of warm weather. The disease again broke out during the cold weather of December, 1852, on the highlands bordering on Mad River, di- rectly north of town, and continued prevalent during the winter, but passing out of the neighborhood, after a few weeks, in a west- erly direction, so that for a time the seat of its operations was northwest, then west, after- wards southwest. It did not disappear until
the weather became warm, it being much more likely to prevail in cokl than in warin temperatures. The writer has never seen more than two or three sporadic cases during the warm season.
While there was a large proportion of re- coveries in those actively treated, there were many deaths, a few cases proving fatal in from seventeen to thirty hours. If the dis- case was not greatly relieved within five or six days, the prognosis was unfavorable, and death usually ensued sooner or later; in some instances not for several weeks. Those cases where the membranes of the cerebrum were chiefly implicated were more difficult to treat than those in which the spinal membranes were inflamed. Owing to reflex action, it sometimes simulated other diseases, in child- ren particularly: spasiodie croup and malig- nant scarlatina; but generally there was no great difficulty in making a correct diagnosis. The disease almost invariably seized the young in age, ranging from one year to twenty-five, but middle-aged persons have died of it. In all severe cases the attacks were sudden and without premonition, and were ushered in by three prominent symp- toms, to wit: chill, vomiting and delirium- the latter often boisterous-with intervals of quiet. It has not been the design to give anything like a complete clinical history of this disease, but merely to note briefly its history as it prevailed in this vicinity.
It now remains to notice specifically the names of those useful and philanthropic men who so often brought help, and confidence, and hope, where they were sorely needed. In the southern portion of the county, the first permanently established physician was Dr. Ordway, a sketch of whose life appears else- where in this volume.
Dr. S. W. Fuller came to West Liberty in 1838 and continued to practice there until 1855, when he removed to Bellefontaine. Dr.
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Fuller is also noticed mere especially in an- other portion of this work.
Dr. 1. C. Taylor settled in West Liberty in 1844. Dr. Taylor is a pioneer in this region in the domain of gynecology. Dr. D. B. Allen began the practice of medicine in West Liberty about the year 1848. He was a sur- gron in the army during the civil war.
Dr. J. C. Ayers, now of Urbana, settled in- West Liberty in 1853. In 1861, he accepted a place as Assistant Surgeon in the Thirty- fourth Regiment, O. V. L., and was promoted to the position of Surgeon. Dr. S. M. Jones studied medicine with Dr. Leonard in West Liberty. He graduated in 1866 in the Medi- cal College of Ohio. His health failing, he re- tired. Dr. Benjamin B. Leonard was educated in the Medical College of Ohio; he graduated M. D. in 1853. Dr. Leonard was Surgeon of the Eighty-fourth O. V. I. during its term of service. He is noticed elsewhere in this book. Dr. Benjamin Leonard. Jr., graduated at Ohio Medical College in 1880. He is located in West Liberty. W. T. Sharp, M. D., grad- nated at Starling Medical College, and located in Middleburg. Dr. W. Sharp graduated in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Sur- gery in 1875. He is located in Middleburg. Asearly as 1811, Dr. John Elbert came to Mid- dleburg. His son, Dr. John D. Elbert, prac- tieed medicine there for some years. C. C. Stokes, M. D., graduated at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1825. He is located in Middleburg. Dr. A. Fulton set- tled in Rushsylvania in 1838. John Wallace, M. D., graduated in Miami Medical College Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1877. He is located in Rushsylvania. William M. Goodlove, M. D., graduated at the Ohio Medical College in IST2. Dr. I. Doran is a leading physician of Rushsylvania. He practices the eclectic sys- tom.
Dr. S. M. Fisher graduated in 1861. He lives in Rushsylvania. Dr. Andrew Fulton
settled in West Liberty in 1843. He moved to Kansas City in 1818, and died of cholera in 1850. In the northern portion of the county there have been a great many physi- cians. Dr. Solomon Jenkins came to Belle Centre in 1847. He died there of typhoid fever in 1854. Dr. Thrall was in Belle Cen- tre from the spring of 1854 to 1855. lle was educated at Starling Medical College, and re- moved to Jowa. Dr. Lunger attended lectures in Cleveland. He practiced in Richland and Belle Centre, and died at the latter place about ten years ago. Dr. James S. Pollock first settled in Lewistown, and moved thence to Belle Centre. He graduated at the Ohio Medical College in 1855. Dr. Lyman Dow graduated from the Ohio Medical College in 1865. He entered the army as Assistant Surgeon, and remained there until the close of the war; since that time he has resided in Belle C'en- tre. Dr. Moses Devore Wilson received his medical education at the Jefferson Medical College, Pa., and at Ann Arbor, Mich., where he graduated M. D. in 1854. He resides in Belle Centre. Dr. L. S. Patrick was educated at Baldwin University, Berea, Ohio; received his medical education at the Eclectic Insti- inte, Cincinnati, Ohio. Ile died in 1822.
Dr. John A. Coulter took a private course of study under Prof. Dunn. He entered first O. V. I. as a private, studied medicine under the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Sur- gery, and graduated in 1822. In 1815, was acting assistant physician in the Newberry Lunatic Asylum. Dr. Joseph Snyder prac- tieed a few years in Huntsville; he died there. Dr. Brooks also died there after a brief practice. Dr. Starrett, while practicing his profession in the same place, died of milk sickness. Dr. Sanford A. Dewey came to Huntsville in 1865. Ile is a graduate of the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. John V. Ditzler attended lectures in the Jefferson Medical College of
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Pennsylvania. He located in Cherokee in 1843, and graduated at Starling Medical Col- lege in 1850. He practiced medicine in the vicinity of Cherokee until 1872, when he died. Dr. Edward Hamilton practiced medi- eine in the neighborhood of Huntsville be- tween thirty and forty years ago. He moved west. He is a wealthy citizen of Peoria, Illi- nois. S. R. Blizzard, M. D., graduated at the Ohio Medical College in 1860. Ile lives at present in Bellefontaine. Dr. Robert C. Dewey graduated at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1873. Ile prac- tiees in IIuntsville. Dr. Samuel A. Morton came to Cherokee in 1831.
Dr. Abraham Eller attended lectures at the Starling Medical College. He resides in Huntsville. John Kerr, M. D., graduated at Starling Medical College in 1878. Dr. John Ten Eyck graduated at the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati. He settled in Huntsville about the year 1875. B. F. Mc- Kinnon, M. D., graduated at Starling Medi- cal College in 1860. He entered the army in March, 1864, as Assistant Surgeon of the 139th and again of the 191st Regt., O. V. I. Dr. Edwin Pratt was for a number of years a very active practitioner in Bloomfield Township; he has latterly been pursuing his professional avocations in Bellefontaine. Dr. L. Prater has recently come to Cherokee from another State. In the eastern section of the coun- ty, Dr. James Crew was an early settler. Dr. Crew first studied medicine with Dr. Parker, of Columbiana County, Ohio. He subsequently studied in Richmond, Indiana. Here, in 1821, he married his first wife, hav- ing with her a family of eight children. In
the same year he moved to Zanesfield, in this county, where he practiced his profession for forty-seven years, when he retired. Ile died April 21, 1868. In the year 1832, the Doctor was elected a member of the Ohio Legislature. He served one term. He also filled the offices
of Justice of the Peace, Postmaster, etc., at various times. Dr. James W. Marmon studied medicine with Dr. Crew, but did not graduate until 1834, when he received his degree at the Ohio Medical College. Dr. James Robb, at the age of twenty-three, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Lord, of Bellefon- taine. Ile attended lectures at the Med- ical College of Ohio. After a brief period of ill health, Dr. Robb, in 1848, entered into part- nership with Dr. Crew, of Zanesfield. He has been twice elected County Commissioner. In the year 1845, Dr. William Gee came to Zanesfiekl and practiced about five years. In 1842, Dr. Tomphson settled in Zanesfield and practiced two years. About 1863, Dr. Campbell settled there also, and practiced on the eclectie system. After about eight years he removed to another State. Dr. J. G. Finley formed a partnership with Dr. Robb in 1862. After three years he removed to the eastern portion of the State. Amos Taylor, M. D., graduated at the Eclectic Med- ieal Institute of Cincinnati, in 1866. After practicing for a time, he graduated a second time at the Medical College of Ohio. Alto- gether, he practiced eight years in Zaneslield. In 1814 Dr. Outland begun the practice of medicine in Zanesfield; he is a graduate. In 1870 Dr. N. S. Crew practiced with Dr. Robb. After two years he removed to Missouri. In 1824, Dr. John J. Coram, a graduate of the Medical College of Ohio, formed a partner- ship with Dr. Robb. Dr. J. W. Hamilton came to East Liberty in November, 1836. Ile practiced medicine there until 1853, when he retired. Dr. Hamilton was born in Venango Co., Pa., and studied medicine with Dr. Gil- let, of Franklin County. Dr. Hamilton died August 1, 1879. Dr. W. S. Adams came to East Liberty in March, 1846; Dr. Adams died there in 1853. Dr. W. N. Unkifer came to East Liberty in March, 1872. He graduated at the Cincinnati Medical College. Dr. R. Il.
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Smith came to East Liberty in 1877, and has been there ever since; he graduated in Cin- cinnati Medical College. Joseph Canby, M. D., was born in Loudoun Co., Va .; he grad- uated in Rush Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa .; he was a student of Dr. Daniel Drake; Dr. Canby came to Logan County in 1825; he located near the point where the village of De Graff now stands; he died in 1843, at the age of sixty-two years; his death was hast- ened, it is supposed, from a shock sustained from a stroke of lightning. Dr. Canby was a man of good attainments in his profession, and had, withal, uncommon energy and force of character. Dr. Good, a graduate of Jof- forson Medical College, of Philadelphia, Pa., practiced medicine in Quincy, Logan County, from the year 1836 to 1843.
Samuel K. Leedom, M. D., graduated in Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1839. Dr. L. located in Quincy in 1843, where he remained until his death, in 1855. Drs. Morehead and Longfellow succeeded Dr. Leedom. Dr. Morehead practiced in several towns in Logan County, and died in Huntsville a few years ago. Dr. Longfellow is a graduate in medicine; after remaining in Quiney a short time he removed to Fos- toria, Ohio, where he now lives.
The following physicians appeared at var- ious times in Quincy: Dr. Barkerville, Dr, Hele, Dr. Landis, Dr. Edwards, Dr Laughton and Dr. Shafer.
Practicing there now, are Dr. J. C. Lilly; he graduated at Cleveland Medical College, and came to Quincy in 1520. Dr. J. S. Hub- bell graduated in Starling Medical College, in 18; 1. Ile resides in Quincy at this time. Dr. Moses La Pratt studied medicine with Drs. F. Brooks and B. W. Pratt. He located in Quiney in 1863, where he is now. Dr. N. V. Sporce is a graduate of Starling Medical College in Its. Dr. Sprece is in active prac- tive in Quincy.
F. M. Galer, M. D., graduated in Starling Medical College in 1867. He is practicing in De Graff. R. S. Gilchrist was born in Knox County, Ohio, August 5, 1823; received a literary and scientific education at Martins- burg Academy, and at Kenyon College, His medical preceptor was Prof. II. L. Thrall, M. 1). He was in the college laboratory at Kenyon three years. He graduated in medi- cine at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1853. He has partly retired in consequence of ill health. MI. A. Koogler, M. D., graduated in medicine from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 18:4. He located in De Graff, where is now engaged in practice. Dr. D. W. Richardson graduated in medicine from Ohio Medical College in 1868. He practices his profession in De Graff. Dr. A. F. Matson graduated in Cleveland Medical College in 1856. He lo- cated in Logansville. Dr. MI. entered the army as Assistant Surgeon of the 132nd O. N. G. He contracted a disease in the army of which he died April 9, 1867. J. C. Turner, M. D., attended lectures in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hle located in De Graff in 1850, and moved thence to lowa. Dr. William Thomas settled in Logansville in 1810. After ten years he moved to Bellefontaine, where he died. Dr. William Reams was educated at Starling Medical College, in 1853. He has practiced in West Manshield twenty-six years. Joshua A. Skidmore graduated at Miami Medical College in 1868. lle was with the army in Tennessee. Dr. Samuel Kerr practiced in North Greenfield from 1850 to 1853, where he died. Dr. E. Whittaker attended lectures in Miami Medical College. He is located in West Mansfeld. Dr. S. Maris attended medical lectures in 18 ;. He is living in West Mansfield. Dr. B. F. Hunt graduate 1 at the Pulte Medical College in INC. He is practicing in De Graff. J. F. Ilance, MI. D., is a graduate of the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati. He is of the class of 1849.
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
Ile is located in De Graff. Dr. Good is now practicing medicine in Logansville. He at- tended lectures in Cincinnati.
Dr. John Vail was an early and useful phy- sician in and about Middleburg. He gradu- ated in medicine in 1833, and died in 1870. He was a man of exceptionally fine intelli- gence, useful in his life, and lamented in death.
Dr. Peter Walker practiced medicine in Middleburg from 1835 until 1842, when he moved to Iowa.
William J. Sullivan, M. D., received his medical education at Ann Arbor, Mich., and Columbus, Ohio. Ile graduated at Starling Medical College in 1853. Dr. Sullivan served as Surgeon in the army during the rebellion. lle has practiced his profession in several lo- calities in Logan County. His residence at the present time is Urbana, Ohio.
One amongst two or three of the very earliest permanently resident physicians of Logan County, was Dr. A. H. Lord. He was not only one of the earliest, but one of the most prominent and active physicians in this portion of the State. It is, therefore, fitting that some biographical notice should be taken of him and his career. And it is believed that such notice, under the circumstances, will be more appropriate as a part of the medical history of the country, than under the special department devoted to isolated biography. Dr. Abiel Hovey Lord was born in Windsor, Vermont, April 26, 1802. His father emi- grated to Ohio, with his family, in 1806. IIe came as far as Wheeling by wagon: then he entered a flatboat to proceed to his destination. On the third day out, the boat was sunk by a tree falling across it while tied to the shore dur- ing a storm. His child Abiel was saved by be- ing carried to the bank on the back of a hired man, but the contents of the boat were ruined. After raising their craft, the journey was resumed, and, without further mishap, was
finally completed. At the age of thirteen, Dr. Lord went to Brookville, Indiana, under the patronage of Dr. David Oliver, a connec- tion of the Spencer family, well known in the pioneer history of Ohio. IIere he went to school most of the time for four years. In 1819 he entered the office of Dr. L. A. Waldo, of Wayne County, Indiana, where he remained one year. While visiting friends in Urbana, O., he became acquainted with Dr. Joseph S. Carter, and entered the office of that gentle- man, pursuing his medical studies two years longer. In May, 1823, Dr. Lord located as a physician in Bellefontaine. The practice of medicine in those days, and for many years subsequently, in Bellefontaine, occupied a large field. The nearest physician, on the south, lived in Urbana; the nearest upon the west was in Sidney: on the north none was to be found nearer than Perrysburg, on the Maumee river; on the east, Dr. James S. Crew was located in Zanesfield, and the el- der Dr. Elbert was yet farther to the east- ward.
Dr. Lord practiced in all the counties bor- dering upon Logan; namely, in Shelby, Har- din, Auglaize, Union and Champaign; but his most common remote practice was in Au- glaize and Hardin Counties, and in Kenton. A good deal of the kind and style of practice of Dr. Lord in that early period are described in the opening paragraphs of this subject. At that time there was an Indian reservation at Lewistown, and also one on the Muchinippi. These Indians were a mixture of Shawnees and Senecas. Dr. Lord had considerable practice amongst them, until they were re- moved, in the year 1832. The Doctor vacci- nated 750 Indians as they were about to leave their reservations. This number included certain Indians from Wapakonetta, and also certain ones from Shawnee village, in Allen County. On one occasion, Dr. Lord was called to visit an Indian chief at Shawnee village.
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The doctor was not at home when the mes- senger came, and he was compelled to make the trip alone, and started late in the day. When about at the site of the present village of St. John, in Auglaize County, his hat was knocked off by a branch of a tree. It was in a deep forest, and it had become very dark. It took some time groping about to recover the hat, and during the search the Doctor had become bewildered respecting the points of the compass. Letting his horse take his own course, it soon became apparent that the way was lost. Upon this discovery, the Doctor took off his saddle for a pillow and hitched his horse, determined to wait for daylight. Soon, however, the call and answering ery of wolves admonished him that he had better move on. Saddling his horse, he pushed on as best he could, and, after a considerable time, came to an Indian but, about three miles from Wapakonetta. Getting upon the right way, he kept on till awhile after daylight. He arrived at the Shawnee village, ten or twelve miles beyond Wapakonetta, which was the point of his destination.
Such incidents might be multiplied indef- initely, but this will suffice to afford some idea of the time, the work and the man. Dr. Lord was married the 25th day of May, 1824, to Miss Letitia MeCloud, daughter of Judge William McCloud, then a prominent citizen of the county, and one of the earliest and most reliable hunters and scouts. Mrs. Lord died in August, 1815. There were five chil- dren born to the doctor and his wife. Maria, the eldest, is the wife of L. G. More, now living near Bellefontaine. The second, Lu- cinda, is the wife of Dr. T. L. Wright. The third, Minerva, married Mr. George Hack- inger ; she died of consumption in 1876. The fourth, Richard S. Lord, entered the Military Academy at West Point, and gradu- atenI in 1856. He was stationed in the far West previously to the civil war. He served
in the cavalry arm of the regular army throughout the war, greatly distinguishing himself on many occasions. He was wounded at Gettysburg, and at the close of the war was upon the staff of Gen. Philip Sheridan. Ile died of consumption, at his father's house, on the 15th of October, 1866. The youngest child of Dr. Lord, Caroline, died in carly youth. Dr. Lord was in the active practice of medicine in Logan County for over fifty years, during which time he performed an in- credible amount of professional labor. He was a prompt and efficient physician, and, in the days of his prime, always had labor to perform fully up to his physical capacity, and very often beyond it. lle was justly pop- ular with his patrons and universally kind and forbearing toward the poor. Dr. Lord was Treasurer of the county for six years, he having been elected to that office three different times. Ile is still living, at the age of TS years.
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