USA > Ohio > Morgan County > History of Morgan County, Ohio, with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
278
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
the best and strictest of religious train- ing, as his parents were Presbyterians of the Scotch Covenanter faith, and lived fully up to their privileges. In 1840 he was married to Matilda Deaver, daughter of Levi Deaver, the founder of the village in this county bearing his name. The next few years are full of the struggles of a man who had both capacity and longings for a life which would bring him nearer his fellow-men. He farmed in the summer, taught school in the winter, was a good neigh- bor and citizen, and probably would never have changed his vocation had not the infirmities induced by hard work admonished him that his days for toil of that kind were numbered. Providence seems to have guided him in the choice of a profession. The apti- tude or appetence for treating diseases lay undeveloped and unknown to him- self until called out by the suffering of those near to him and the desire to al- leviate it. When eighteen years old he saw his father tortured by a "Steanı Doctor," and to use his own vigorous phraseology he would have hustled the doctor out of the house had he not been restrained by respect for the feelings and opinions of his parents. When a student of medicine, the northwest part of this county underwent a scourge from typhoid fever, in the treatment of which the most of the physicians of the county made such failures that many families refused to send for a physician. Dr. Rusk's father was stricken down and died. The present governor of Wisconsin was pulled through by his student brother. He treated four or five patients besides his brother, all of whom recovered. He did all the neces- sary preliminary work before beginning to read medicine, unaided, without
much encouragement, and with no sym- pathy. Chemistry he studied in this way, as well as physics. Then he read three years with his brother James, and two years with William II. Reeves, of Deavertown, practicing with the latter two years. In the fall of 1847 he re- moved to Rosseau, living there until the death of his wife, in 1858. He then, with his two boys, James M. Rusk, present superintendent of the public schools, Malta, and W. A. Rusk, moved to Malta, where he has since been, save one year, from the fall of 1862 to 1863, during which time he resided in Amnes- ville, Athens County, Ohio. In 1859 he was married to his present wife, a daughter of the late Ezekiel Lynn, and the widow of the late Warner Harrison, of Union Township, this county. He was appointed United States examin- ing surgeon for Morgan County in 1875, continuing in office until 1885. Such, in brief, are the annals of a life now drawing near the allotted age of man- three score years and ten. In his pro- fessional career Dr. Rusk has been a close student and a patient, painstaking observer, basing much of his practice on a knowledge of temperament and ten- dencies peculiar to the individual. He is fully in sympathy with the advanced thought of the day and seems to recog- nize the lines along which further ad- vances are to be made. In the practi- cal methods he employs where methods are not prescribed; in the bold ex- pedients adopted when death seems to lay claim to its victims; in the calm de- meanor amidst the distractions of ex- cited throngs or the lamentations of stricken friends; in the suppression of sentiment when treating one of his own flesh and blood, or battling himself with the cruel attacks of the destroyer, his
279
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
presence of mind and strength of will never desert him. His life has been unobtrusive and unostentatious; but it has cast sunshine on landscapse of misery. His life of activity and exer- tion is an example to be imitated. His trust in God, his firm stand on the side of right, his intense desire to promote happiness and alleviate misery, make him the center toward which kindly expressions and tender sentiments flow from every quarter, from the high and the low, from the rich and the poor, in continually increasing volume.
JOSEPH B. HUMPHREY, M. D., was born in Malta, April 2, 1848. Hle re- ceived an academical education, studied medicine under Henry Day, M. D., of Brownsville, Ohio, and graduated from the University of New York City in 1876. The same year he established him- self in the practice of his profession at Brownsville, Ohio, whence he came to Malta, where he is now successfully engaged. He is a contributor to the New York Medical Record and a mem- ber of both the Morgan and Washing- ton County medical socities.
HIRAM JUDSON NOYES, M. D., is of New England birth and education. He was the son of Cyrus and Mary (Page) Noyes, and was born in Haver- hill, Mass., April 8, 1834. When he was three years of age his parents moved to Amesbury, and after four years' residence there, to Andover. His father was superintendent of an almshouse in Andover and was acci- dentally killed. After his death ITiram returned to Haverhill, where he worked for his board and attended school for one year. Ile then worked for five years in a woolen mill owned by the late Hon. E. J. M. Hale. From August, 1849, to November, 1850, he
attended the Washington Street Gram- mar School, then entered the high school, where he remained one term. He next worked a short time in a shoestore, then went to Atkinson, N. HI., where he took care of twenty- four head of cattle for Rev. Jesse Page, President of Atkinson Academy, at the same time attending the acad- emy, under the preceptorship of Hon. Wm. C. Todd and Chase Prescott Par- sons, where he was prepared for col- lege. He was a student of Amherst College in 1855, and then began the study of medicine with Dr. Jolin Cro- well at Haverhill, and attended medical lectures at Dartmouth College, N. H .. in 1856. From 1856 to 1861 he was engaged in teaching. In the spring of 1858, while on his way from Philadel- phia to Boston, Dr. Noyes lost many valuable books and narrowly escaped losing his life. IIe was a passenger on the steamer " Palmetto," which was wrecked by striking on a rock near Block Island, seven miles from shore. The boat broke in two in the middle. and the passengers, taking to the life- boats, all reached the shore in safety, though several of them lost nearly all their worldly possessions. In 1862 he graduated from the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Pennsyl- vania. Dr. Noyes served in the Fair- fax Seminary Hospital from August. 1862, until April, 1863; was hospital steward and regimental postmaster of the 33d Regiment of Pennsylvania mili- tia from June 26, 1863, to August 4, 1863: hospital steward of the 34th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry from August, 1863, to Jnly, 1864; first assist- ant surgeon of the 4th Regiment of United States C. II. A. from July. 1864, to February, 1866. During the
280
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
latter period he had charge of the medical department of the regiment several months, and was acting sur- geon-in-chief of the post at Columbus, Ky., in the summer of 1865. In 1866 Dr. Noyes located at Meigsville, Mor- gan County, Ohio, where he has since resided and practiced his profession, taking a high rank as a physician and a citizen. He served as president of the Morgan County Medical Society in 1877; was treasurer of that society in 1881, vice-president in 1882, and one of the censors in 1885. From 1877 to 1851 he was a member of the Zanes- ville Academy of Medicine, and is now a member of the Muskingum Valley District Medical Society. He is also a permanent member of the American Medical Association. 1884-5 he was president of the board of education of Meigsville Township. Since 1871 he has been an elder in the Presbyterian church and superintendent of the Sun- day school ; was president of the Meigs- ville Township Sunday School Associa- tion in 1880; is a member of the National Institute of Pharmacy, a life member of the Ohio State Sunday School Union, and served as district secretary of that body from 1882 to 1886. He is a life member of the Alumni Society of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Noyes received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Amherst College in 1881. He has contributed many articles to the press and has written articles on " The Circulation of the Blood," "The Functions of the Spleen," " Venesection and Its Substitutes," etc. Ile was married December 16, 1864, to Mrs. Margaret Stewart, widow of T. L. Stewart, who served as a sergeant in Company H, 92d regiment, O. V. I.
Of this union one child has been born, a daughter, Mary Nettie, who was married in 1885 to Rev. T. C. Petty, Ph. B., of the East Ohio Conference.
The first resident physician of Deay- ertown was Dr. Baldwin, who came in the year 1827. Previous to that time Dr. Little had prescribed for the "ills that flesh is heir to." Dr. Baldwin remained but a short time and in 1829 Dr. Mercer, of Chandlersville, came. He had the practice for five years, when he left. In 1833 Dr. Lytle established himself in Deavertown, and did an extensive business until 1845, when he disposed of his business to Dr. William H. Reeves, who was in active practice for about ten years. About 1845 Dr. U. K. Hurd, an able physician and an ' excellent gentleman, commenced the practice. He remained nineteen years, leaving in 1864. Ile removed to Odin, Illinois, where he now resides. Dr. Philip Kennedy came in 1853 and remained until his decease, in 1882. In 1867 Dr. J. C. Devol came. He practiced his profession in Deavertown and vicinity until his death, which occurred in 1872. Dr. J. R. Bell suc- ceeded to his practice.
PHILIP KENNEDY, M. D .- One of the prominent characters of this county in medical circles was Dr. Philip Kennedy, of Deavertown, York Township. An Irishman by birth, his parents came to this country when he was an infant and located at Somerset, Perry County, where his mother is buried. While living at Somerset he acquired a good common school education, but it was acquired under difficulties that would have daunted one less determined than himself. On arriving at majority and while following his trade, that of a cab- inet maker, he determined to read medi-
Н. А. Моусо ЛЬЯ.
281
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
cine. His preceptor was Dr. Jonathan Axline, of Uniontown, Muskingum County, Ohio. Ile graduated with honor at the Ohio Medical College, in Cincin- nati, and established himself in practice at Uniontown in 1851 in connection with his preceptor. Two years after he came to Deavertown and entered upon the practice of his profession under very adverse circumstances. In a few years, however, he succeeded by means of that indomitable energy and untiring industry that always characterized him in building up an extensive and lucra- tive practice, which he held until his death, which occurred in 1882. This is largely to be attributed to the fact that he was a hard student and a conscien- tious and successful practitioner. In addition to his professional duties the doctor took an active interest in poli- tics. An ardent republican, he received the nomination in 1859 for represen- tative at the hands of his party, and after an active and earnest canvass was elected by a handsome majority over his opponent, Hon. James Moore. At the expiration of his term, two years after, he resumed the practice of his profession and followed it continuously with the exception of a short time spent in caring for the wounded soldiers after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, a ser- vice he was requested to perform by Governor Tod. The doctor was a charter member of the Morgan County Medical Society, also of the Zanesville Academy of Medicine and of the Perry County Medical Society, and for many years it was his custom to entertain once a year the members of these socie- tics at his pleasant home. Dr. Ken- nedy married Elizabeth, daughter of Lisle Fulton, of Uniontown, who sur- vives him. Ten children were born to
them, nine of whom grew up to be men and women. Dr. Kennedy was emphat- ically a self-made man. His early life was one of poverty and hardships, and whatever he accomplished he did alone and unaided. Perhaps no man in Southern Ohio was held in closer es- teem by his medical brethren and the community in which he resided for more than a quarter of a century.
DR. DIETZ, a native of Muskingum County, and a graduate of the Starling Medical College, came to Deavertown about 1883. He had previously been located at other points in the county. He is a young man of more than aver- age ability and is rapidly obtaining a prominent place in the profession. He is a member of the Morgan County Medical Society.
LUCIUS P. CULVER, M. D., was born in Watertown, Washington County. August 17th, 1837. He received an academical education and began the study of medicine in 1858 in the office of P. H. Kelley, M. D. of Water- ford. Ohio. He graduated with honor from the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. March 9, 1861, and after a year spent in a reviewing course under the direction of his preceptor, began the practice of his profession at Reinersville, Morgan County, Ohio, in the spring of 1862, where, by his emi- nent skill as a physician, his honorable character and genial qualities as a man, his energy and strict attention to busi- ness, he has built up a large and lucra- tive practice. He holds a foremost position among the medical profession of the county. November 10, 1863. Dr. Culver entered the army as assist- ant surgeon of the 61st Regiment. (). V. I .; by the consolidation of the regi- ment with the 82d O. V. I. he became
.
282
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
assistant surgeon of the 82d. June 13. 1865, he was promoted to surgeon of the 82d, which position he filled with credit until the discharge of the regi- ment, July 24. 1865. He participated in the battle of Chattanooga, Tenn., the campaign for the relief of Knox- ville, Sherman's Atlanta campaign, and the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Kenesa w Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and siege of Atlanta, the Savannah campaign and siege of Savannah, campaign of the Carolinas, the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville, with many other engage- ments of less importance. After his return from the army he resumed his practice at Reinersville, where he now resides.
The first physicians in Stockport were Drs. William and David H. Berry, who came from Belmont County about 1840. The former remained here but a few months, but Dr. D. H. Berry remained and practiced several years. His health failing he returned to Belmont County, where he died. Sickness was quite prevalent for several years after the slackwater improvement, and Dr. Berry's practice was quite extensive. He was moderately successful.
After Dr. Berry, Dr. George Monc- ton was the principal physician for several years. He studied medicine in Waterford, under Dr. Bowman, and practiced in Stockport from 1843 to 1850, when he went to California .
DR. JOHN S. ABBOTT was born in Washington County, Ohio, April 10th, 1824, and was educated in the common schools. He came to Morgan County in 1840 and began the study of medi- cine under Dr. James HI. Berry and fin- ished under Dr. James Bell, of Windsor township. He established himself in the practice of his profession in Stockport
1 in 1846 and has since been a useful and esteemed member of his profession. He was admitted to membership in the Morgan County Medical Society the same year, and is the oldest living mem- ber of that body. Dr. Abbott has served as president and vice-president and on the board of censors of the society. Ile is a democrat in politics and a Universal- ist in religious belief ; a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years. Dr. Abbott was married April 22, 1847. to Lucretia White, of Morgan County. Their children are Henrietta, Henry, Louisa, John Q., May Bell, Jesse R. and Arthur, living. James B. was drowned when six years old.
DR. JASON ROBERTS practiced for some years in this place in partnership with Dr. White. He came from Mc- Connelsville, where he had studied medicine under the tuition of Dr. J. 1 Alexander. From here he emigrated to Iowa. After his departure Dr. Abbott was for some time the only physician in the town.
DR. J. W. WHITE was for many years one of the leading medical practitioners of Morgan County, and one of the most popular and influential citizens. He was born in Marietta November 3, 1819. In 1825 his parents settled on Big Bottom, in Windsor Township. He was educated at Oberlin College, read medicine under Dr. James Bell and graduated from the Cleveland Medical College in 1848. He settled at Windsor, where his practice soon became very large, and so continued until 1867, when he retired from active practice. Dr. White was a prominent member of the Masonic order and a republican in politics. He died February 2, 1875.
WESLEY EMMET GATEWOOD, M. D., son of Thomas and Esther Connel Gate-
HOmmer Hatword MA.
4
283
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
wood, was born in Windsor Township, Morgan County, Ohio, October 23, 1845.
Like most farmer's boys of that period his summer's work npon the farm was alternated by a term at the district school in winter. In the primitive log schoolhouse with slab seats he received, despite the meager facilities afforded. the foundation for an excellent educa- tion. Here his ambition and aggressive energy made him the easy and acknowl- edged leader of a school of prond fame and enduring memory. By hard study, both at home and at school, aided by a retentive memory, he prepared himself for teaching, and at the age of nineteen we find him thus engaged. He continued teaching till 1869 with a record unexcelled. Ilis love for the higher mathematics was dominant and carried him from alge- bra to the calculus without a teacher. His collection of problems in the higher mathematics with his original solutions, one of which required seven years, is believed to be the finest in the county.
In 1867 he began the study of medi- cine under the preceptorship of Iliram Judson Noyes, M. D., of Unionville, Morgan County, Ohio. In the autumn of 1874 he entered the Bellevue IIos- pital Medical College of New York. In August, 1875, he entered the Dartmouth Medical College, New Hampshire, and was graduated from that venerable seat of learning, on the 3d of November, 1875. Returning to New York he re- entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and on the 21st of February. 1876, was graduated from that institu- tion.
In June, 1876, he began to practice his profession in Stockport, and being
impressed with the importance of his vocation, he devoted hinself to it with the utmost zeal and an indomitable energy and "courage that could not be battered down." In a short time his practice became so extensive as that it taxed the ntmost power of a will and endurance that scorned the elements. No storm has ever stopped him - no, opposition has broken his purpose. He has traveled a rough road to results and built it with his own hands. The fol- lowing are the names of those who studied medicine under his preceptor- ship : II. E. Bozman. M. D., T. J. Lyne, M. D .. P. B. McSwords, M. D., J. B. Naylor, M. D., John S. Milner, Hiran HIart. Charles II. Harris, and John M. Gatewood.
Ile is a member of no society and a disciple of no man. Self-reliant, im- perious and persistent, with an aggres- sive nature and a hereditary fixity of purpose that tolerates no intervention ; the austerity of his nature is softened by warm and generous impulses-by sincere self-sacrifice and kindness of heart-by his charity and public spirit.
Among the salient points of his char- acter are vigor of thought, energy of ac- tion, a native force and peculiar style of expression and a severe independence almost oppressive. Sensitive to injustice, injury or ingratitude, strong and earnest in his convictions, he regards a com- promise as the left hand of weakness- asks and makes no concessions, and when compelled to break off friendships tears up the bridge to prevent its return. Ilis friendship and his hostility need no cer- tificate. His individuality is positive and strong and he keeps it under his own hat. Ile concedes and demands the largest personal freedom and con- templates a defeat as a mere adjourn-
284
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
ment in a death race for dominion Fertile in resource, careful in method, thoughtful, diligent and faithful in the discharge of his duties he has been eminently successful in his profession. In possession of the most extensive, difficult and laborions practice ever con- trolled by one man in the history of the county, measured by the most exacting standard he is a living monument of earned success and usefulness. His ambition to earn and hold a useful position in the community in which he was reared has been amply gratified. The young men of the county may well emulate the example set by this " proud son of a proud mother." He is a hard student, a progressive thinker and a frequent contributor to the press. His writings are characterized by accuracy of method, originality and vigor of thought, clearness and force of expres- sion. A cheerful conversationalist of fertile fancy, vigorous imagination and fair memory ; a severe, unsparing satir- ist, indulging an unfortunate fondness for scathing sarcasm or keenest irony ; he is a devoted admirer of the genins of language whatever its office in fact or fancy-the fate of an empire or the fall of a tear.
He is a monotheist, with a profound and enduring faith in the civilization that is built on the Book. In habit, manner, taste and dress he is natural and nnassuming. Long devotion to scientific pursuits has developed a con- templative and severely analytic quality of mind, which finds contentment in the study of the immutable beauties of order and law. His convictions are the result of contemplation and are vigor- ously maintained under all circum- stances. Democratic in sentiment, he concedes the largest liberty to others.
while any interference with his own is resented with prompt and prodigious energy.
In scorching sun-in winter's driving steel
His check was to the storm-but still
He kept his mother's pride-her iron will,
And earned the people's love-a priceless fame. He watched the cradle, and the couch of pain Relieved. Bright eyes grew brighter when he came.
DR. JAMES BELL practiced in Wind- sor several years, then moved to Mc- Connelsville, where he remained a few years, then sold out to Dr. Brown. He was a graduate of the Ohio Medical College and was regarded as a capable physician. He went to Indiana and died in Terre Haute.
JAMES B. NAYLOR, M. D., one of the young physicians of the county, was born in Penn Township, Morgan County, Ohio, October 4, 1860. Hle received an academical education, which he made practically useful to himself and others by teaching. In 1882 he began the study of medicine with W. Emmet Gatewood, M. D., of Stockport, graduating from the Starling Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio, in the class of 1886; was married to Miss Myrta, daughter of Captain C. J. Gibson, of Windsor, March 28, 1886.
The first medical practitioners in Chester Hill and vicinity were the phy- sicians of Pennsville and Plymouth, and occasionally Dr. Johnson and others from McConnelsville. Dr. Jesse Foulke was in the place a short time prior to 1837. Dr. Isaac Huestis, who located here in 1837. was the first set- tled physician, and for years his prac- tice was extensive.
Dr. John Boswell, not then a gradu- ate, though he received a degree later, was in Chester Hill for a time about 1840, but never practiced much.
285
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
DR. ISAAC HUESTIS, a member of the religious Society of Friends, and the first resident physician of Chesterfield, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1810. In his early life he followed the vocation of a teacher. He began the study of medicine with Dr. Sylva- nus Fisher, and established himself in the practice of his profession at Ches- terfield in the summer of 1837. For many years he had a large and lucra- tive practice: he was frequently called in consultations and performed some very important and difficult surgical operations. It is said by physicians who know him intimately that as a surgeon and diagnostician he had few equals in this part of the State. He graduated from the Starling Medical College in 1848, and the following year was made a member of the Ohio State Medical Society. In 1856 he was a delegate to the American Medical As- sociation, at Detroit, Michigan, and in 1858 was a delegate to a meeting of that body held in Washington, D. C. In 1867 he again attended as a member of that association a meeting held in ('in- cinnati, Ohio. He was elected an hon- orary member of the Morgan County Medical Society in 1881. But few men in the profession have a more enviable record as a physician and citizen or stand higher in the public esteem than Dr. Isaac Huestis.
of his profession. He removed to Cedar County, Iowa, in the year 1861. where he was engaged in the practice of medicine about three years. He died in the year 1864. Dr. George Michener was well esteemed as a citizen and member of society, and as a phy- sician he had the confidence of the community in which he practiced.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.