USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 53
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Doctor Ernest located at South Solon about 1861. and Dr. Washington Atkinson located there about 1866. The latter, who had studied with Doctor Curtis, of South Charleston, Ohio, previously had practiced at Midway. The next to locate at South Solon was Dr. John S. Smith, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, a graduate in med- icine. Dr. Thomas Wessinger and Dr. H. G. Mcclellan also practiced at that point.
Dr. O. G. Field, son of Dr. Abel W. Field, was reared at Amity, this county, and studied medicine. in part, with his father. He was graduated from Starling Medical College and practiced at London, California and Midway, as well as at South Solon. Dr. John Sidner, who was graduated from Columbus Medical College with the class of 1882, located for a short time at Jefferson, and then moved to Solon.
CALIFORNIA.
Doctor Davis, probably the first resident physician of Fairfield township, lived about three miles northeast of where the village of California now stands. Doctor
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Holmes built the first house in the village, in 1849. He began practicing there the same year, and when a postoffice was established there he was appointed the first postmaster. Doctor McComb, from South Charleston. Ohio, located there in 1851; Dr. Dennis Warner, in 1853: Dr. John Zimmerman and his son-in-law, Doctor Martin, about 1854. and Dr. B. F. Welch, in 1855. The latter was a pupil of Dr. A. H. Baker and also of Dr. Jenmet Stutson, of Jefferson.
Dr. Orestes G. Field, who located at California about 1858, had as a partner Doctor Thomas, who had previously been a partner of Doctor Strain's at London. Doctor Field was commissioned as assistant surgeon in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, March 19, 1864. and was promoted to surgeon of the same regiment on October 25. 1864.
Dr. Charles W. Higgins, son of Charles Higgins, was born and reared near Alton. Franklin conty, Ohio, and was a soldier in the Union army during the Rebellion. He studied medicine with Dr. Richard Woodruff, of Alton, Ohio, and was graduated from Starling Medical College. after which he located at California, abont 1865. He com- bined merchandising with his profession and prospered. Doctor Smeltzer, a graduate of Miami Medical College, located there in 1882.
TRADERSVILLE.
Dr. Thomas P. Bond, who was born in Harrison county. West Virginia, June 13. 1825. studied medicine in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and was graduated at Laporte, Indiana, in 1847. He located at Tradersville abont 1847. and boarded first with Isaac Fox, and afterward with Abram Lewis. He moved to Mechanicsburg about 1850, and was elected treasurer of Champaign county in 1861. He was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but had to resign on account of ill health. Recovering his health after his return home, he was again tempted to accept a commission in the Thirty-second Regiment, Ohio Voluntary Infantry, of which he became the surgeon. Again breaking down in health. he again had to resign his com- mission. Doctor Bond was a good physician and an educated and accomplished gentle- man. He died at his home in Mechanicsburg of disease contracted in the army, Marchi 28. 1866. He was married on September 9, 1851, to Mary J. Blew. who survived him.
NEWPORT.
Doctor Thornburg was the first resident physician at Newport. Dr. Anderson Nei- barger, who was born in Pleasant township, Clark county, studied medicine with Doc- tor Thornburg, and practiced first at London, from about 1865, for about one year, and then at Newport for four or five years, and moved to Jamestown, Greene county, near which place he died, about 1875. He married a Miss Morse. of near Catawba, Clark county. a sister of Mrs. David Woosley.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin Riggin, who was born on May 1. 1844, in Pickaway county. near Mt. Sterling. son of Isaac C. and Lucinda ( Baker) Riggin, spent five years at Ohio Wesleyan University and left at the end of his junior year. in 1862. He then became a pupil under Dr. John Holton. of Mt. Sterling, and was graduated from Starling Med- ical College with the class of 1865. During the previous year he had been a partner in practice with Dr. John Holton. at Mt. Sterling, and upon receiving his diploma, returned to Mt. Sterling. and practiced there until 1875, in which year he went to Columbus. where he remained one year, at the end of which time he located at Newport. where he remained until Septmber. 1882. in which month he moved to London, the county seat. He was married on May 17, 1865. to Isabella Leach, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah ( Bostwick) Leach.
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DANVILLE.
Dr. William MeClintiek, a brother of the Dr. Samuel McClintick who has been referred to as a pioneer physician of Mt. Sterling, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, near Zanesville, in 1817. He studied medicine with Dr. James F. Wilson, of New Hol- land, Ohio, and located in Mt. Sterling in 1840, where he practiced for about twenty years. He was graduated from Starling Medical College in 1848. He bought a farm two miles east of Danville, and moved to it in 1860, where he died on November 21, 1871, of cancer. He was a good physician ; Danville was a good point, and his excessive labor in his profession probably brought an untimely death. In 1842 he married Han- nah Reeves, who died in 1845, without issue. In 1847 he married Fannie Reeves, sister of his first wife, who, with two daughters and one sou, survived him.
Dr. Thomas Reeves McClintick, who was born in Mt. Sterling, this county, in 1848, read medicine with his father. Dr. William McClintick. and was graduated from the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati in 1870. He lived on his father's farm until 1877, in which year he married Sarah Howsman, and then moved into the village of Danville. In 1880 he moved to Kansas City, Missouri.
Dr. James Bradley Morgan was born in Ross county. Ohio: read medicine with Dr. William Latta, of Frankfort, that county, and was graduated from the Ohio Med- ical College at Cincinnati in 1869, locating at Danville the same year. He stayed about one year and then moved to Clarksburg, Ross county. Dr. C. M. Deem, who located at Danville on the 11th of August. 1881, had practiced at Plain City and at Lilly Chapel. Ohio, before going to Danville.
LILLY CHAPEL.
Dr. L. F. Scofield, the first physician to locate at Lilly Chapel, was born at Hilliards Station. Norwich township. Franklin county, Ohio. September 12, 1853, studied with Dr. J. M. Merryman, of Hilliards, and was graduated from Columbus Medical College in Feb- ruary, 1881. He located at Lilly Chapel on the 23rd of March, 1881.
THE SICKLY SEASONS OF 1822-23.
In 1873-74 a series of articles were contributed to the Plain City Press by Dr. Jere- miah Converse, of Darby township, in one of which he gives the following graphic description of the malarial epidemic that spread desolation over the eastern part of Madison county sixty years ago. He says: "In 1822-23 this country was visited with a terrible epidemic, which struck down many of the hardy pioneers and laid them low in the dust. There are those yet in our midst whose minds will instinctively go back, upon the mention of these years, to the sorrows and sufferings experienced by them- selves, and the inroads and devastating raids of death over a large scope of territory, upon neighborhoods and families. There was scarcely a family in all this great scope of country (Darby Plains) in which death had not marked one or more of its members as its victim. Children were made orphans, the wife a widow. the husband deprived of his companion, parents rendered childless, and in some instances every member of the family was stricken down by the fell monster.
"No tougue can describe, no pen portray. to the mind or imagination of the reader, the scenes of suffering witnessed and experienced by these early settlers. All business transactions ceased, gloom brooded over the minds of the people. and many stout hearts were made to tremble in awe of the impending doom that seemed to await them. Death reigned supreme. Men and women who were not prostrated with disease were busy day and night ministering to the wants of the needy, mitigating the suffering of the sick and consoling the grief-stricken widow and orphan children, whose dependence had been ruthlessly torn from their embrace. The condition of many of these sufferers was heartrending. Away from the homes of their childhood, separated from kindred and
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friends by a vast intervening distance of forest, mountain and river, with no kind parental voice whispering consolation to the broken-hearted, no loving mother to imprint the kiss of affection or check the fast-flowing teardrops on the fevered cheek : wipe the cold perspiration from the brow of her dying child, or bid a last farewell to the remains of her loved one. Truly here was pestilence that walketh in darkness' and a 'destruc- tion that wasteth at noonday.' Many were the bitter tears of anguish wring in these two years; many a household was hushed in the stillness of death; and still many were the families where one or more of the little group were laid low by the king of terrors.
"Some of my readers, perhaps, may think that I have overdrawn the picture, but this description is but an imperfect outline of the realities that were experienced in those days. Many, no doubt, would have been saved conld they have had proper care and attention ; but where should they look for help? Scarcely a family but what had their sick or dying; the few that were not prostrated with disease were worked down with constant watching; yet these messengers of mercy visited each day all the sick that were assigned them in their division. to administer to the wants of the living and prepare the dead for burial.
ONE DISTRESSING INCIDENT.
"One instance among the many might be given of loneliness, mental and physical suffering : where the wife, prostrated on a bed of sickness, unable even to help herself to a cup of water. had three small children crying to their mother to attend to their wants for food and drink. In another part of the room the husband and father lay in the cold embrace of death. For twenty-four hours this helpless group of sufferers was shut ont, as it were, from the world, with no visible hand to minister to their wants or whisper consolation to their bleeding hearts, surrounded by the stillness of death, occasionally broken by the children's cries of Mother, mother,' and the deep. heavy sighs of that mother as she looked upon the helpless forms of her babes. This is but one among the many causes of privation and suffering that was experienced by the early settlers of this county. So threatennig were the consequences from this terrible malady that many of those who had the means at their connnand left this part of the state to escape the desolation that seemed as if it would spare none; but a large majority of the inhabitants were compelled to remain. Some were so poor that to procure means would be impossible. while others, again, had invested all their money in land. which, at that time. under the threatened depopulation, could not be sold at any price. Thus they were compelled to stay and undergo whatever might await them. Sickness reigned so universal that but few were in attendance to pay the last tribute of respect to the dead, or follow them to their last resting-places. There were a few instances where the father was compelled to make the rude coffin, dig the grave and deposit beneath the clods of the valley the loved form of his child.
"We talk about suffering. hard times, privations! Just let the reader take a stroll to the cemetery south of Plain City, and. with pencil in hand. mark the number whose tombstones make these years the eventful period in its history ; and in addition to this, the scores where no slab marks the resting-place of the silent sleeper beneath. Again there were other cemeteries and cities of the dead that were largely peopled during these sickly years. besides the many that were buried on the farms, which could not be removed to far-off burial grounds. Then, again, the abandoned cemeteries, one of which is barely discernible, on the farm now owned by Joseph Atkinson. The most of the sleepers there fell in 1822-23. Sum this all up, and you have a faint conception of the reign of terror and death. It has been carefully computed that, in what was then called the 'South settlement.' one-half of the inhabitants died during these two years.
"Between Chuckery and Homer, on a farm subsequently owned by John Smith, but
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then held in smaller farms, there were seventeen deaths. In what was known as the 'Converse settlement,' not more than one-fourth of the people died. The territory invaded by this epidemic extended for a short distance east of Big Darby, and perhaps about the same distance west of Little Darby. All of the territory lying between these points seemed to generate the poison that produced the disease, whatever that may have been. There was an unusual amount of sickness all over Madison county, as well as in a large portion of Clark, but the deaths were comparatively few, except in the district mentioned.
CAUSES ..
"The exciting causes which led to the development and breaking out of the disease in question may be, and perhaps are, shrouded in mystery. The condition of this county previous to and at the breaking-out of the epidemic, to a careless observer, would pre- sent no material changes to that of former years. In many portions of the prairie comtry it was no unusual thing for large bodies of stagnant water to remain upon the surface until late in autumn, exposed to the scorching rays of a summer sun. ' Up to this time, but little attention had been paid to the drainage of the country. The rich soil produced annually enormous coats of vegetation, which, prior to the settlement of this county, and for many years afterward, were destroyed by the fires that swept over the prairies every autumn. Neither of the years above mentioned were unusually rainy or wet seasons, but they were characterized by dense fogs, extending all over this coun- try, commencing very early in the season and continuing until the beginning of winter. There can be no question in the minds of scientific men that the primary or exciting cause of the disease was the result of malarious influences; but why it should be gen- erated so copiously, and attended with such poisonous effects that scarcely a human being was proof against its powers, is a difficult question to settle satisfactorily. Scien- tific researches and experiments have established the fact that, when our large cities have been visited by malarial epidemics, the free use of lime or alkaloids in the filthy alleys and gutters acted as an antidote toward the freeing of these places from malaria. Taking this view of the subject, we may be able to approximate to a certainty the excit- ing causes which led to the development of the disease in question.
"If we were to call to our aid the fact that, prior to and during the early settle- ment of this part of Ohio, the prairie fires annually destroyed the greater part of the luxurious growth of vegetation that grew on the prairies. leaving the residue of ashes strongly alkaline in principle, which, according to more recent researches, would act as an antidote to malarious development. we shall understand one of the exciting causes of the epidemic of 1822-23. The great amount of sickness during these years was not alone confined to the Darby country, but other portions of Madison, Franklin and Clark counties were visited by this disease in a milder form. In a recent conversation with an aged gentleman, who, at that time, lived in Clark county, information was elicited that even there an unusual amount of sickness pervaded a large portion of the county.
"For a few years prior to the years in question. this part of Ohio was rapidly set- tled by emigrants from Eastern states. As a consequence, honses and barns were built, fields were fenced, orchards were planted, and all the necessary means made use of to make home comfortable. By reason of these improvements, it became necessary to arrest the prairie fires, which, prior to this period. annually swept over the country. The consequences resulting from arresting these fires were that a large portion of the luxuriant growth of vegetation was subject to decomposition. which, in connection with the heat of the sun, increased the development and poison of malaria. The arrest of those annual fires took away the purifying agent, or alkaloid, which. hitherto, had ren- dered malaria comparatively inert. This course of reasoning would lead to the detec- tion of the causes which produced the sickly seasons of 1822-23.
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SYMPTOMS.
"The precursory or incipient stage of the disease was announced by a feeling of las- sitnde, indisposition to exercise, loss of appetite, nausea, thirst, a dry skin, constipated bowels and chilly sensations experienced by the patient. Sometimes these symptoms would continue for several days; in others there were no precursory indications; but eventually the disease was announced by a severe rigor or chill. the patient suffering from the intense sensation of cold. The whole body was brought under its influence. in which the muscular and nervous systems participated. There was a marked livid and purple appearance of the skin. with accelerated respiration, and a quick, feeble pulse, evidently indicating severe congestion of the internal organs. This condition of the patient would frequently continue for several hours: but these symptoms subse- quently gave way by the ushering in of a sensation of severe heat. a frequent and full milse, great thirst. severe headache, nausea and vomiting, while sometimes delirium would supervene. In children, during this state of the disease, it was no unfrequent occurrence for the patient to be attacked with convulsions. This latter condition would continue for several hours, when they would gradually subside, and the patient expe- rience a degree of comfort and freeness from suffering that would induce him to a delu- sive opinion that the disease had given way and convalescence begun: but his hopes would be sadly disappointed in finding the succeeding day ushering upon him all the symptoms. in an aggravated form, that were experienced on the preceding one. In the second attack there were unmistakable evidences of the existence of severe internal congestion. There seemed to be less power in the system to bring about reaction. and again the equilibrimn in the action of the heart and arteries. Many instances occurred where the patient sank into an inflammatory type of fever, which ran its course from seven to fifteen days, but more frequently ended in death on the eighth or ninth day of the inflammatory state. Taking all the symptoms of this disease into consideration, and the great amount of malarial poison existing in the system, may we not safely coneinde this to have been a pernicious fever or sinking chill epidemic?
TREATMENT.
"The attending physicians during the epidemic in the region of the Darby country were Dr. Lorenzo Beach and Dr. James Comstock. So numerous were the patients, and protracted the epidemic. that these men became worn down from labor, exposure and anx- iety : but the great responsibility resting upon them, and the urgent appeals trom suffering humanity, so stimulated their nerve power as to render them impervious to the malarious poison that was prostrating those around them. At least. they were preserved by an overruling providence from the ravages of the disease.
"The general outline of treatment made use of by the profession to arrest the dis- ease and produce convalescence was that recommended by Eberly and other writers of his day. If the patient was seen in the first stages of the disease an emetic was admin- istered, and perhaps bleeding was resorted to. After the patient had recovered from the effects of the emetic, an active cathartic was given, composed of calomel and jalap. This active process so reduced the patient that he became an easy prey to the next paroxysm. These cathartics were administered almost daily, with the view of freeing the system from pent-up bilious matter. The anti-periodics made use of by the profession were then in a crude state. Quinine or any of the extracts were unknown : consequently the only available anti-periodic medicine to be relied upon was the Peruvian or 'Jesuit's' bark. In consequence of the enormous doses required to check the paroxysm and its nauseous taste. but few stomachs could retain the medicines in sufficient quantities to arrest the progress of the disease. But. then. what could be done? The physicians evidently saw that their medicines were powerless, and that death was not stayed by their efforts.
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This was truly a pitiable condition. to see our fellow-creatures prostrated by disease, suffering from the dire effects of an epidemic, and yet powerless in rendering material aid to their pleadings for help. But such were the facts, and such were the sufferings experienced by the early settlers who located on the rich prairies of Madison county."
EPIDEMIC AT AMITY.
In 1849. soon after the removal of the mill-dam, by order of the court, Asiatic chol- era broke out in all its virulence and horrors in Amity, sweeping away many of its inhabitants in the space of a few days, striking terror to the entire populace of Amity and vicinity. Among the prominent and promising that were ruthlessly torn away was Dr. Burr Carpenter, a very able and learned young physician, who was actively engaged among the cholera patients in rendering all the aid that science could command.
Again, a few years later, that place was visited with smallpox, which carried its loathsome terrors and death to its inhabitants.
MADISON COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
An attempt was made to organize a county medical society in September, 1857 or 1858. The meeting was called by publication, and a few physicians responded. Dr. William Morrow Beach was selected as president and Dr. A. H. Underwood as sec- retary, but nothing further was done at this initial meeting. On motion of Dr. Toland Jones the appointment of committees was deferred until the next meeting. There was an unusual amount of sickness during the next month, and when the meeting-day came around there was not a quorum present for transacting business, and so this, the first attempt to establish a society in the county, became a failure.
On the 31st of May. 1878. in accordance with a movement inaugurated by the physi- cians of Plain City, there was a meeting held at Jefferson, Ohio. There were present at that meeting Drs. Salathiel Ewing and M. J. Jenkins, of Plain City; J. N. Beach. H. S. Quinn and Charles Snyder, Jefferson; J. S. Howland, New California, Union county ; W. H. Jewitt, Amity ; Richard Woodruff, Alton. Franklin county; Toland Jones, H. J. Sharp and James B. Sprague, London, and Doctor Davis, of Georgesville. Richard Wood- ruff, of Alton, was chosen chairman pro tem. ; Doctors Ewing, Beach and Howland were appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws, which committee reported before the close of the meeting, and their report was adopted. Salathiel Ewing was cho- sen president and M. J. Jenkins, secretary. The officers of the association were to be elected twice a year. At the meeting in December. 1878, J. N. Beach was chosen presi- dent. In June. 1879. Toland Jones, of London: in January. 1880, E. B. Pratt. of Mt. Sterling. and A. J. Strain to succeed M. J. Jenkins as secretary. In June, 1880, William Morrow Beach. of London. was elected president; in January, 1881, H. J. Sharp, of London: in June, 1881, Richard Woodruff. of Alton; in December, 1881, J. P. Kirkpat- rick. of Midway. The meetings were usually held at London. This society was com- posed of the physicians of Madison and Franklin counties. The later history of this, the first medical society, cannot be given in full, owing to the fact that the records since 1881 have not been preserved. This association continued in active service until about 1895. when it ceased to exist through lack of support and interest.
MADISON COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The present Madison County Medical Society was organized July 31, 1903. Acting on the suggestion of Dr. Charles W. Hamilton, president of the Ohio Medical Society. Doctor Christopher and Doctor Strain sent a written request to every physician in the county to meet on the above stated date in the educational room of the court house, for the purpose of organizing a county medical society. In response to this request the fol- lowing physicians were present : M. J. Jenkins, H. S. Quinn, M. B. Wilson, A. F. Green.
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W. P. Kyle. M. C. Sprague, R. H. Trimble, Andrews Rogers, A. J. Welch, A. S. Beck- with, J. C. Johnston, W. C. Barr. J. L. Cannon, William Francis, Willis G. Lewis, H. J. Stevens. C. B. Meade, W. II. Christopher and A. J. Strain. Doctor Rankin, of Colum- bus, district counsellor, was present to assist in the organization of the society. Dr. HI. S. Quinn was chosen temporary chairman. with A. J. Strain, secretary. The object of the meeting being stated, remarks were asked for, and each gentleman present responded. favoring immediate organization. A motion to that effect carried unani- monsly. A permanent organization was effected by choosing II. S. Quin. president, and A. J. Strain, secretary and treasurer. H. W. Christopher was made first vice-president and A. J. Welch, second vice-president. Doctor Rankin had with him a paper on cholera infantnin, which he read by unanimous request of the society. The paper was timely and exceedingly well received, and a very interesting discussion followed. Dues were fixed at two dollars, one-half of which was to go to the treasurer of the state society. All physicians named above paid dues and were the charter members of the society. It was decided to hold meetings on the last Friday of each month at 2 P. M. This was the beginning of the Madison County Medical Society.
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