History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 51

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207

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Since its organization a number of social clubs and two church societies have joined the London Federation of Woman's Clubs, so that eight organizations, numbering more than two hundred women, are now banded together for social and welfare work, civic improvement and club fellowship.

The London federation, in its short existence, has proved a power for good in the community. The first great achievement of which the members feel justly proud, was the beautifying of the grounds around the high school. Under the efficient chairmanship of Mrs. Lee Williams, the entire federation, with Mrs. Sallie Robison at the head of committee on ways and means, worked as a unit, until the last payment of the one thousand and thirty-five dollars, the contract price, was paid. A community Christmas tree was arranged in 1913 for the benefit of all the children in London; another splendid one in 1914 and a Christmas dinner, consisting of all the delicacies that constitute a real Yuletide feast, were given under the auspices of this organization. with Mrs. Clinton Morse and Mrs. John R. Tanner, chairmen, thereby proving that the members are interested in the social and moral uplift of the community.

The crowning activities of the past year have been the work accomplished by the educational and civic committees. The former, with funds solicited by the committee, has sent four girls to normal school, thereby preparing them for positions as teachers in the schools throughout the state. The committee which brought this worthy project to fruition was composed of Mrs. Neva Chenoweth. Mrs. A. J. Strain. Mrs. Horace Jones, Mrs. Minnie Cheseldine, Mrs. Scott Chenoweth and Mrs. Frank Warner. The civic committee, under the chairmanship of Mrs. John Parker, has done a wonderful work in the beautifying of London, and in interesting the school children in garden- ing and flower raising. Prizes were awarded to forty children for the best display of flowers and vegetables and much interest was manifested. A recent home talent enter- tainment, "Fi Fi." given under the leadership of Mrs. Gideon Clark, chairman of the ways and means committee. was staged for the purpose of helping a new and worthy organization in our midst and the entire proceeds were given to the Madison County Health and Welfare League.

It became necessary a few months ago to make the federation an incorporated body. in order that it might be a beneficiary under the will of the late Miss Bertha Coover, that grand, noble. self-sacrificing woman having bequeathed to the federation the sum of seven thousand dollars for the purchase or erection of a club house. A board of trustees was elected as follows: Mrs. Peyton Emery, Miss Sallie Dooris, Mrs. J. R. Atchison, Mrs. William Chandler. Mrs. Clinton Morse. Mrs. A. J. Strain, Mrs. Robert Moore, Mrs. Charles E. Gain, Mrs. Frank Noland, Mrs. Martel Bryan and Mrs. Ogan Stroufe. The officers of the club at the present time are as follow : President, Mrs.

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Sallie K. Robison; recording secretary, Mrs. Ida F. White; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Frank Noland; treasurer, Mrs. Martel Bryan.

The beautiful Dixon home on North Main street was purchased by the federation, in the early summer of 1915, and henceforth will be the club home, not only of this organization, but of the societies and clubs of which the federation is formed, as well as two or three not included in its membership.

The London Federation of Women's Clubs is a powe. for good in this community, and while so much has been accomplished in the short two years of its existence, greater, nobler, grander achievements are being hoped for by the members in the years that are to follow.

MARRIED LADIES THIMBLE CLUB. By Mrs. E. C. Spitler.

The- members of the Married Ladies Thimble Club take pride in the fact that theirs is the oldest sewing club in London. The first meeting was held at the home of Mra. Ormond Bryan and the club was properly organized about January, 1890. Some time later Mrs. J. F. Ganschow suggested the use of printed calendars, which since have been issued each year.

The first officers were: President, Mrs. Ora Vance; vice-president, Mrs. Ella Jones; secretary, Mrs. Earl Hathaway.

The club has grown in membership from twelve to thirty. The members meet once in two weeks, spending the time in attending to business, sewing, and elaborate refresh- ments are served.

The following served as officers during 1913-1914: President, Mrs. Ella Shough; first vice-president, Mrs. Allie Chenoweth; second vice-president, Mrs. Addie Bowlen; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Olga Spitler; recording secretary, Mrs. Minnie Chesel- dine; treasurer, Mrs. Estella Dodds; assistant secretary, Mrs. Grace Bryan.

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CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

It is presumable that the many different isms and systems of practice that have prevailed here have prevailed in common elsewhere throughout the country, but .it may not be amiss to state that, owing to the scarcity of physicians and the difficulty that the early settlers of Madison county experienced in attaining the wherewithal for a quid pro quo when they were obliged to employ them, cheaper systems of practice were introduced by charlatans. One of these was the system of "steaming" the patient. The practice was to place the patient in bed, closely covered. Then a large kettle of water was placed over the fire, in the open fireplace, with a close fitting lid, through which a long tin spout was inserted. When the water began to boil, the farther end of the spout was thrust under the bedclothes and all the generated steam was thus turned on to the patient. A large portion of the families through the country had their steam kettle and tin spout. An old settler recalls the story of an old woman over in the Darby plains who sent for a "steam doctor," and who was really very ill. She did not live many hours after the "doctor's" arrival, and when they came to "lay her out," they found her parboiled. The skin slipped from her body like the skin from a boiled eel.

Upon the heels of this system came the Thomsonian, or botanical system. For this system they sold "family rights." Their different preparations were numbered and labeled. No. 1 was good for one thing, and No. 2 for another thing. Their favorite number was "No. 6." To take a teaspoonful of it one would think he had made a mis- take and got No. 60, capsicum, or Cayenne pepper, being the chief ingredient. "Doctor Gunn," a work on domestic practice, was placed on the table by the side of the Bible and "Fox's Book of Martyrs." But this was a great improvement over the "steam doc- tors." No. 6 and lobelia, as universal panaceas and specifics, however, have had their day. A lobelia doctor was called up at Milford, in the palmy days of lobelia and No. 6, to see a very nice little woman, a bride of three months, who was moderately sick with milk-sickness. He prescribed a lobelia emetic. He told her to stick her finger in her throat to aid the emetic. It is likely it did to some extent, as she died in two minutes, from collapse. But a new light has dawned. More rational systems now prevail, and the main differences now existing, exist mostly in the names. Under the laws of Ohio now, all practitioners are required to be graduates of some regularly chartered col- lege; and most of the physicians of Ohio, and all in Madison county, are reasonably well qualified for the responsibilities and requirements of the calling.

LONDON PHYSICIANS.

Dr. Simon Steers, the first resident physician in London, probably came from Jef- ferson county, Ohio. He lived on the John Thompson land, on the north side of the road, near where the lane came on from Israel Dalby's house. He was a lame man and under size. William Wingate, of Union township, north of London, is quoted as having heard him called "Little old Doctor Steers." Doctor Steers arrived at that farm, west of London, about 1810. and probably died in this county. Dr. Samuel Balderidge, who came about 1811, was the second physician here. He was also a Pres- byterian preacher and was long remembered by the old citizens with a moderate degree

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of respect. When he left London, about 1820, it is thought he went over about Cam- bridge, Ohio. Doctor Blount located here for a short time in about 1814. He was from Massachusetts and probably from Boston. He married a Miss Donlin, who lived on the west side of Deer Creek, in Deer Creek township, on the James Wilson farm, and nearly opposite his residence.

Dr. Aquilla Toland was born on September 26, 1793, in Harford county, Maryland. He was a pupil of Doctor Luckey, of Baltimore, and, after one course of lectures in the University of Maryland, he came West and located for a time at Franklinton, near Columbus, and in 1819, located in London. He was graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College in the year 1837, after he had been for eighteen years a practitioner here. In 1843, he was elected by the Whig party to the state legislature. He was tall, portly, dignified, of a somewhat austere demeanor, but extremely gracious and cour- teous, and courtly to his colleagues. He never had occasion of jealousy toward them, for they were compelled to be respected, and as for practice, he always had more than he properly could attend to, his practice extending beyond the limits of the county. The business about Midway was divided between him and Dr. Joshua Martin, of Xenia, and he was the one relied on in great emergencies for twenty miles around in all directions. He always rode on horseback, and looked like a very knight errant, he sat a horse so gracefully. In the summer season he generally returned late at night, when he returned at all, and, in riding through the tall prairie grass and in unbeaten paths, he would usually return wet to the waist by the heavy dews. Dr. Aquilla Toland was the Nestor of the profession at London for forty years, both in medicine and surgery. He died at London, of erysipelas, December 30, 1866, aged sev- enty-three years, leaving a large estate. He married, April 11, 1822, Elizabeth Lewis, of London, Ohio, who long survived him.

Doctor Scott was at London for several years, from about 1820. While there he married a Mrs. Gregory, from Oldtown, Ohio. Doctor Eastman was here probably as early as 1820. Dr. Seeley Waite also located at London as early as 1820. Old inhabi- tants long remembered him as an elegant gentleman. He married Clara Phifer, sister of George Phifer. His widow married Lewis Crane, and after the latter's death, mar- ried William Vance, of Champaign county, Ohio, brother to Governor Vance, of Ohio. Doctor Waite died in Springfield, Ohio, in abotit 1822. Doctor Gage came to London in about 1820, but lived there only about three years. Dr. Robert Martin, whose brother, Dr. Joshua Martin, was in practice at Xenia, located here about 1822.

AN IMPULSIVE DISCIPLE OF AESCULAPIUS.

Doctor Raiff, a German, located at London, about 1823. He was an . eccentric, fiery, impetuous, but educated physician. Many anecdotes characteristic of the man are still extant. It is recalled that he rode like a whirlwind. It is said of him that one Delashmutt, down on the glade, once sent him a formula after which he wanted him to make him some pills. The doctor flew into a passion and said: "Cot tam him. Vat's dat? Some bills? He no dink I un'erschtan how to, make bills. I .make him bills I show 'im," The pills were sent and Delashmutt lived just two hours. Doctor Raiff had carried Schuler McDonald through the milk-sickness. When the patient was .conyal- escent, the doctor cautioned him repeatedly about guarding his. appetite. The, doctor presently was sent for in great haste, and upon reaching McDonald's home found . his patient dead. He ascertained that death had been caused by the immediate indulgence of the appetite in a plate of bacon and cabbage. The old doctor again lost his temper. and going to the corpse, he caught it by the nose. Tweaking that member, violently, he said .: "You eat cabbitch, ha! Cot tam you, eat cabbitch, again mit bacon, vill you; as much as you blease now !" and mounting his horse, was off like a rocket. 1.

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Dr. John Warner, a twin brother of William Warner, a former sheriff of the county, located here for a time, about 1825. He subsequently went West, and died at Pekin, Ill. Doctor Craig was also here for awhile, about 1825. Doctor Grover was also here about 1825. Dr. Joseph Anthony, brother to Gen. Charles Anthony, of Springfield, Ohio, came to London about 1831 or 1832. He was a lame man, but large, portly and prepossessing. He was remembered best, however, by his having a printing press, upon which he printed sacred hymns and such like literature as was in demand. Doctor Herriman came here about 1834. He married a Miss Mitten, somewhere beyond Jefferson, in the Darby country. Dr. David J. Maulsby, born in Fredericktown, Maryland, came about 1835; practiced here until about 1842 or 1843, and returned to Maryland. He became quite irregular in his habits, but was a good practitioner when not in his cups. Dr. Dennis Warner was a pupil of his for a while.

Dr. Dennis Warner, son of William and Susan (Matthews) Warner, born in Union towiship, Madison county, Ohio, May 19, 1818, commenced the study of medi- cine in 1838, under Dr. David J. Maulsby, and afterward with Dr. Aquilla Toland. He began the practice of medicine and later, March 2, 1847, was graduated from Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He was married, November 10, 1847, to Mary Chenoweth, daughter of John F. and Margaret (Ferguson) Chenoweth, born in Madi- son county, October 10, 1829. Dr. James M. P. Baskerville, of Range township, studied medicine, but did not practice to any extent. He was scholarly, and devoted to the dead languages and the exact sciences. He also read medicine with Doctor Toland. Dr. Alfred Jones practiced at London at one time. Dr. Enoch Thomas, au eclectic and a man of more than ordinary ability, about 1842 left London to go to Cleveland. Dr. Lewis was in London about 1842, and Dr. Jehial Gregory came in about 1840. Dr. William A. Strain, son of John C. and Margaret Strain, born in 1813 in Greenfield, Ohio, studied medicine with Doctor McGarry, of Greenfield, Ohio, located at Mt. Sterling, this county, about 1837. About three years later he moved to London, where he remained until 1865, when he removed to Greenfield, Highland county, the place of his birth. He was graduated from Starling Medical College with the class of 1852. Shortly after commencing practice he married Mary G. McMillen, daughter of William McMillen, of Greenfield, Ohio. Doctor Thomas was here as a partner of Dr. William A. Strain in 1859. He moved to California, this county, in about 1860, and died there in 1861. He was a partner, while there, of Dr. O. G. Field. He married, about 1860, a daughter of Sylvanus Bates. Dr. James Allen married. first, Betsy Russel ; second, Martha Reyburn; was more identified outside of the county, but was a highly respected gentleman and a good physician-much above the average. He read medicine with Dr. A. Toland, moved to Darbyville and returned to London in 1859.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD.

Dr. Toland Jones, born in Union township, this county, January 10, 1820, son of Thomas Jones, studied medicine with Dr. Aquilla Toland. of London, and after one course of lectures at Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, commenced the practice of medicine in London. The title of doctor of medicine was conferred upon him by the Cleveland Medical College about 1858. He married, March- 19, 1846, Frances A. Toland, of London, eldest daughter of Dr. Aquilla and Elizabeth (Lewis) Toland. He was colonel of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the war, and practiced in London for years. Dr. A. J. Miles was a practicing physician before entering the war in 1863, as a private in the Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from Darke county, Ohio; was the hospital steward of the For- tieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was discharged for disability and came to

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London and commenced practice in 1864; went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he married, and was a college professor for years. Dr. D. W. Williams, born in Granville, Ohio, July 15, 1836, educated at . Dennison University, Granville, Ohio, studied medicine with Dr. D. H. Beckwith, Zanesville, Ohio, was graduated from the Cleveland Homeo- pathic College in 1865, and came to London in the spring of that year. He was married to Adelia Chrisman, youngest daughter of Jacob Chrisman, in the fall of 1866. Dr. William Morrow Beach, who lived two miles north of London, moved to the farm in 1865, after the war. Dr. John H. Holton practiced first at Mt. Sterling, this county, and located in London in 1866. He was eminent in the profession. He died of pneumonia about the year 1874, his death having been caused by exposure and overwork. His widow long resided in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. D. B. Wren came from Mechanicsburg in 1864, but did not remain long.

Dr. A. H. Underwood was born on April 21, 1836, in Brimfield, Portage county, Ohio, and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. S. Weatherby, of Cardington, Morrow county, Ohio, in 1862, being graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medi- cine and Surgery in 1865. He commenced practice the same spring in South Charles- ton, Clark county, Ohio, and, in February, 1866, came to London, where he was in practice for many years. Dr. C. G. Slagle located in London shortly after the war. While there, he married Emma Sprung, daughter of the longtime and veteran editor of the London Chronicle. He moved to Greenfield, Ohio, about 1868, but later moved to Minnesota, where he was for years an associate editor of the Northwest Medical Journal. Dr. James T. Houston, born in 1816, on a farm four miles east of Spring- fleld, Ohio, commenced the study of medicine in 1843, with his brother, Dr. Robert Houston, and Doctor Bradberry, of South Charleston, Ohio. At the session of 1837-38 he attended a course of lectures at the Cincinnati Medical College, known as "Drake's School," the faculty of which consisted of seven professors, Drake, Gross, Parker, Harrison, McDowell, Rievs and Rodgers. Among Doctor Houston's classmates were Carey A. Trimble, John Dawson, Samuel Mitchell Smith, Davis, Kaincaid and Brown. He commenced practice with his brother, Robert Houston, of South Charleston, in 1838 and in 1840 removed to Jeffersonville, Fayette county, this state, where he prac- ticed for fifteen years, and then removed to Jamestown, Greene county, where he prac- ticed fifteen years, making thirty-one years of continuous professional labor, nearly twenty of which was performed riding over mud roads on horseback. He was gradu- ated from Starling Medical College in 1857, and located in London in 1869. In 1838 he was commissioned by Governor Vance, of Ohio, as brigade surgeon of militia of Clark county, Ohio. He was married, in 1844, to a daughter of Capt. William Palmer, of Fayette county, Ohio.

Dr. James B. Sprague was born in Harmony township, Clark county, Ohio, and was educated in part at an academy of which Chandier Robins was superintendent. He was a pupil of Dr. Robert Rogers, of Springfield, Ohio, and was graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, in March, 1851. He practiced at Vienna Cross- roads and at Springfield, Clark county, Ohio, and located at London, January 9, 1871. He was in the army three years as the assistant surgeon of the Twenty-seventh Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was married on November 8, 1843, to Sarah Chamberlain, youngest daughter of Isaac Chamberlain.

Dr. Henry J. Sharp was born on March 2, 1845, in Geallia county, Ohio, and was educated at Ohio Wesleyan University. He later was a pupil of Prof. John W. Ham- ilton, of Columbus, Ohio, and was graduated from Starling Medical College, in 1871, locating in London in October of same year. He was married in April, 1872, to Kath- erine E. Dooris, of Zanesville, Ohio. Doctor Rooney was in partnership with Dr. J. B. Sprague in Vienna, and was with him at London also, for about a year, later moving

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to Springfield, Illinois. Dr. D. A. Morse, a one-time London physician, was for years superintendent of, the hospital for the insane at Oxford. He also was a professor in dif- ferent medical colleges, his specialty having been nervous diseases, and was author of several works on medicine, some of which were reprinted in Germany.

Dr. A. J. Strain, born in Greenfield, Highland county, Ohio, January 3, 1845, was a pupil of William A. Strain, his uncle, and was graduated from Miami Medical Col- lege at Cincinnati, in March, 1873. He located in London in 1876 and was married on January 7, 1880, to Mary, daughter of Washington Wilson, of Springfield, Ohio, and is still living. Dr. Clifton S. Morse, son of Nathan and Amelia (Calliver) Morse, born at Amity, this county, on July 28, 1857, was graduated from Starling Medical College in 1879, and located in London the same spring. He married Emma McDon- ald, daughter of J. B. McDonald, of Union township, and moved to Creston, Iowa, in 1882. Dr. Addison Platt King, born in Marion county, Ohio, in 1847, was graduated from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, in 1878, and was married in July, 1881, to Mary Smith, of Mansfield, Ohio, daughter of E. W. Smith, a clergy- man. Both were drowned by the overturning of a skiff in a storm, on Lake Chautau- qua, New York, the summer following their marriage. The news produced a most profound sensation in London, where the doctor had been residing for about two years. He was not a practitioner, though a member of the Ohio Medical Society, but was a member of the drug firm of Robinson & King.

Dr. Melville M. Moffitt, born in Orville, Wayne county, Ohio, November 15, 1857, was educated at Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio, and studied medicine with Drs. Rayer & Kirkland, Massillon, Ohio, and afterward with Prof. A. O. Blair, and was graduated from the Homeopathic Hospital College, Cleveland, Ohio, March 8, 1882. While in college, he was physician in charge of the newsboys and bootblacks home,. and also was an acting assistant physician in the county jail of Cuyahoga county for one year and during his residence in London held the position of surgeon of the Indiana, Bloomington and Western Railroad. . He was married on February 17, 1881, to Flora N. Henderson, daughter of H. T. and M. A. Henderson, of Westerville, Ohio. Dr. A. J. Kepler, who was born in Dayton, Ohio, July 22, 1852, read medicine with Dr. G. W. Dickey, of Eaton, Ohio, and was graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, on June 6, 1882. He practiced with Doctor Dickey, his pre- ceptor, at Eaton, Ohio, until in October, 1882, and then moved to London. He mar- ried, March 3, 1873, Rosannah Dafler, of Dayton, Ohio, and is now living at Wash- ington, D. C.

PLAIN CITY.

Doctors Hill and Tappan were the first resident physicians of Darby township. They were Eastern men-probably from the state of Vermont, and "the deep dam- nation of their taking-off" was for robbing a grave of the body of a squaw for the purposes of dissection. This excited the resident Indians to a high degree, and, as the act also excited the indignation of many of the white citizens, the doctors came to the conclusion that, under the circumstances, "discretion would be the better part of valor," and accordingly their leaving was somewhat precipitate. Their location, while in this county, was probably near where Plain City now is.

Dr. Isaac Bigelow, son of Dr. Israel Bigelow, was born August 25, 1797, near Bal- ston Spa, Saratoga county, New York. At the age of seventeen, in the year 1814, he came on foot from Center county, Pennsylvania, to make a payment for his father on a land purchase from his uncle, Isaac, the land being that where Plain City now stands. Returning to Pennsylvania, he studied medicine with his father, Dr. Israel Bige- low, and in 1817 returned to Ohio and located on Trickle's creek, in Champaign county. He remained there one year, and in 1818 came to Madison county and laid out the

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town of Westminster, in Darby township. This name was afterward changed to that of Pleasant Valley, but in 1872, after Doctor Bigelow's death, the citizens petitioned their representative in the Legislature-William Morrow Beach-for an act to change the name to Plain City, which was done, the reason therefore having been the fact that there were four or five towns in Ohio of the name of Pleasant Valley, and per- ishable merchandise, shipped by railroad, was often sent wrong, thus becoming a loss to the receiver before reaching the proper destination. In about 1828, after his fa- ther had located for practice in this county, Dr. Isaac Bigelow went out of practice and became a general trader, diligent, persevering and active in all his enterprises. He had kept a hotel and store on the southeast corner of Main and Chillicothe streets until after the year 1838, when he sold out to Samuel O. Weatherington. He built a large brick dwelling house on the northwest corner of the same streets, about the year 1842. He was mayor of Pleasant Valley at one time, and was postmaster during Polk's administration. He married, July 17, 1815, Polly Bigelow, daughter of Isaac and Polly Bigelow, who then lived where Plain City now stands. He died in Pleasant Valley, April 10, 1857, of pneumonia.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 51

Author: Chester E. Bryan Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1207

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207