History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 57

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Ohio > Summit County > History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 57

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Dr. J. M. Crafts was born in 1840, and is the son of Dr. Ambrose S. Crafts, who came to Ravenna in 1860. He graduated from Charity Hospital Medical College, Cleveland, in 1864, and then entered the army as Assist- ant Surgeon, serving as such for nearly three years. In 1873, he came to Cuyahoga Falls, and is practicing there at the present time.

Dr. W. S. Hough was born in Portage

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County, Ohio, in 1844, and served during the late war as a private. At the close of his army life he studied medicine, and graduated from Charity Hosptial Medical College in 1866. Practiced ten years with Dr. J. C. Ferguson at Mogadore, and then came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he is now practicing in partner- ship with Dr. J. M. Crafts.

Dr. A. H. Bill was born in Cuyahoga Falls in 1851. Studied medicine with Dr. C. M. Fitch, of Chicago, and graduated from Rush Medical College in 1875. Practiced in the office of his preceptor until November, 1875, when he returned to his old home, where he is now practicing.

Dr. H. W. Carter (Homœopath), was born in Twinsburg, Summit Co., Ohio, in 1841. Graduated from the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College in 1869, and after one year of professional experience at Knoxville, Tenn., he located in Cuyahoga Falls, his present place of business.

Dr. Moses Thompson was in all proba- bility the first physician who was ever per- manently located in that section of the country now known as Summit County, and to Hudson belongs the credit of furnishing this historical character. He studied medicine in Litchfield County, 'Conn., with Dr. Everest and Dr. North, and with such training as he got from his worthy preceptors. he went to what is now known as Kinderhook, N. Y., to practice his profession. While here the Con- necticut Company's great land purchase and the consequent Western fever attracted him, and being authorized by his father and brother to go and "spy out the land" for them, he came to Hudson with the colony under the guidance of Daniel Hudson. Having selected land for his father and brothers, he went East on foot and brought back his own family and those of his father and two brothers. This was in the year 1800, when he began the practice of his profession in the wilderness, and for some years there was no other physi- cian nearer than Warren, and his ride ex- tended from Cleveland to fifty miles south of Hudson. In 1815, he retired from practice and went into general business, which he fol- lowed until his death, which occurred in 1858.

Dr. Jonathan Metcalf, the second physician

to settle in Hudson, was a native of Connecti- cut, and received his early education at the academies of Franklin and Colchester, and the public schools of the period. In 1807, he went to Middlebury, Vt., and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Barr, and during his three years stay here he attended two courses of medical lectures at Dartmouth Col- lege. After completing his medical education in the spring of 1812, he started on horseback to look up some good field for practice in the West. In this way he came to Aurora, then a settlement of a few years' growth, but not being very favorably impressed with the out- look, he was on the point of returning to Pittsburgh, when he met Mr. Hudson, of the Hudson colony, who persuaded him to visit the latter place, which he did on the 6th of June, and being highly pleased with the pros- pect he decided to remain, and at once began the practice of his profession. At that time Twinsburg and Streetsboro were not yet set- tled, but subsequently his practice extended into those places as well as to Aurora, Mantua, Auburn, Troy, Hiram, Brecksville and Bath. He retired from active practice in 1850, and died in 1869.

Dr. Israel Town came from Connecticut to Hudson during the first half of the second dec- ade of present century. Of his early life nothing definite can be obtained, but he is credited with being a well-read and careful practitioner, his counsel in critical cases being especially in demand. He continued in the practice of his profession until within a few years of his death.

Dr. William Everett was a native of Ver- mont, and came to Hudson some time between 1825 and 1830. He continued in practice until his death, which occurred in 1833. On the occasion of his death, the Congregational Church, of which he was a member, made the following record: "Dr. Everett was chosen to the office of Deacon in November, 1831, which office he well discharged while living. He adorned his profession as a Christian, and died universally lamented."

Dr. L. D. Osborne, after receiving an academic education, entered the Lake Erie Medical College, since merged into the Star- ling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio: study-

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ing in the meanwhile as a private student under Dr. Delemater, a professor in the insti- tution. He graduated in 1845, and, after practicing in various parts of the State, came to Hudson in 1854, where he has since fol- lowed his profession up to the present time.

Dr. F. Hodge began his collegiate course in Western Reserve College, subsequently graduating at Yale College. He studied med- icine with Dr. Frank Hamilton, now of New York City, and attended lectures at the Buf- falo Medical College. In 1864 he settled in Hudson, where he is now practicing.

Dr. A. E. Berbower began the study of med- icine with Dr. Baker, of Wooster, Ohio, and subsequently became the private pupil of Prof. Weber, of Cleveland. Graduated from Medi- cal Department of the Wooster University in 1865, after which he practiced his profession until 1880, when he died of consumption.

Dr. G. L. Starr is a native of Hudson, and an alumnus of Western Reserve College, Class of '56. He studied medicine with Dr. May- nard, attended lectures at the Cleveland Med- ical College, and subsequently graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City. Located in Hudson in 1878, and continues in his profession to this time.

Dr. J. P. Sobey graduated from the Cleve- land High School in 1871, and from the Cleve- land Homoeopathic Medical College in 1877. Came to Hudson in the following year, and has since followed his profession in that place.

Dr. Harrison Danforth, a native of New Hampshire, came to Hudson about the year 1840 and read medicine with Dr. Town. After sev- eral years of study, he adopted the so-called Eclectic system of medicine which he has since continued to practice. In the early years of his practice, he devoted some of his time to farm- ing, but for the past twenty years he has given his entire attention to the practice of his pro- fession in the vicinity of Hudson.

Tallmadge Township, though it claims but a small share in the medical history of the county, yet furnishes one of the most valuable contributions in our whole collection, its spe- cial interest being due to the fact that three generations of the same name and family have been regular practitioners of medicine in

the township; the first of whom was one of the earliest settlers, as well as the second phy- sician in the county; the second being now one of the oldest physicians in this section of the country, while the third has but recently entered the profession.

Dr. Amos C. Wright was born in Winsted, Litchfield County, Conn., September 5, 1782. His father, Captain John Wright, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and a pioneer in the settlement of the northern part of Con- necticut. At the age of sixteen, the subject of our sketch began the study of medicine with Dr. Minor, remaining with him about five years, and being in the meantime licensed to practice by the Litchfield County Medical So- ciety. In 1801, he came to Ohio and settled in Vernon, Trumbull County, where he remained about a year and a half practicing and teach- ing school, after which he went back to Con- necticut and was married to Miss Lydia Kinne. Accompanied by his wife and his father's fam- ily, he returned to Ohio in 1803, and prac- ticed in Vernon, Trumbull County, until 1808, when, at the solicitation of Rev. David Bacon, he came to Tallmadge. At that time there were only three or four families in the town- ship, and Dr. Thompson, of Hudson, was the only physician in Summit County. In 1812, he was appointed Surgeon to a company of militia which was stationed at Old Portage, by order of Gen. Harrison, until after Perry's victory on Lake Erie. Dr. Wright continued in the practice of his profession until near the close of his life; was successful, had a wide- spread reputation and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He died in 1845.

Dr. Amos Wright, the son and successor of Dr. Amos C. Wright, was born in 1808, and was the first white male child born in Tall- madge Township. When nine years of age, he was sent to the academy to study the class- ics as preparatory to a professional education, and, at the age of nineteen, began the study of medicine under his father. In 1830, he attended his first course of lectures at the Med- ical College of Ohio, in Cincinnati, and the next year attended the Medical Department of Yale College, receiving his diploma from the last-named institution in the spring of 1832.

He first began practicing medicine in Mid-

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dlebury, now the Sixth Ward of Akron, and while there kept the first exclusive drug store in the county. Six months later he went to Vernon, Trumbull County, where he remained three years, gaining quite an extensive prac- tice, but, in 1835, at the earnest solicitation of his father he returned to his native town, where he has been in practice continuously up to the present time.

Dr. Samuel St. John Wright, son of Dr. Amos Wright, was born in Tallmadge and re- ceived his education at the common schools and at Western Reserve College. At the age of eighteen he began reading medicine with his father, and a few years later graduated from Cleveland Medical College. He practiced one year in Tallmadge, then removed to Ne- braska, where he remained four years, and since that time has practiced with his father in Tallmadge.

Dr. Sperry has for many years been a resi- dent of Tallmadge, but during a considerable portion of the time has been engaged in the manufacturing business. His early history and place of birth were not ascertained. Sev- eral more physicians have at various times been located in Tallmadge, but none except those named above have ever remained for any great length of time.

Concerning the early history of medical practice in Norton Township, very little can now be ascertained, but from careful research we find that since 1840 no less than fifteen phy- sicians have at various times been located with- in its limits for the practice of their profession.

Dr. Alexander Fisher was born in Massa- chusetts, read medicine with a Dr. Richards in, or near, Skaneateles, N. Y., and came to Western Star sometime between 1840 and 1845, where he remained until about 1852; then practiced in Akron until near the time of the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he went West and is now practicing in Chicago. During his stay in Norton he enjoyed the rep- utation of being a splendid physician for his time, and had probably more students than any one doctor ever in the township. Among the latter were Drs. Amos Warner, Harry Spellman, A. H. Agard, E. G. Hard, now of Medina, and John Hill, now a member of the Ohio State Legislature.

Dr. M. M. Dickson came to Norton Town- ship in 1852, and began the study of medi- cine, soon afterward taking his degree from Cleveland Medical College in 1855. The next year he located at Johnson's Corners, where he practiced until 1862, when he entered the service of his country as Assistant Surgeon. Was attached to the Western army under Gen. Rosecrans in the campaign of Stone River and Chattanooga, and thence with "Sherman to the sea." After a service of two years and eight months he returned to Johnson's Corners, where he has continued in the practice of his profession until the present time.

Dr. A. H. Agard succeeded his preceptor, Dr. Fisher, in the practice of medicine at Western Star, but after a stay of only a few years he went West and is now at Sandusky, Ohio.

Dr. Dreher began practicing at Western Star some time near the beginning of the late war, but after a few years removed to Loyal Oak where he remained two years, going next to Smithville where he now resides.

Dr. John Hill was born in Sussex, England, in 1823. His father, Mr. John Hill, came to this country in 1828, and settled near Utica, N. Y., where he was engaged in farming until 1837, when he came to Cuyahoga County, in this State. The subject of this sketch left home at the age of fifteen, and by means of hard work and teaching school, succeeded in acquiring a lim- ited education. In 1847, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Alexander Fisher, of Western Star, and in the two following win- ters attended lectures in the Cleveland Medi cal College. In 1850. he went to California where he remained about three years, going from there to Australia. then to London and finally back home again in 1854. During the winter of 1854-55. he attended lectures at Cleveland Medical College, and the following winter went to Jefferson Medical College, Phil- adelphia, graduating in the spring of 1856. After practicing in Sharon, Medina County. for nearly a year, he settled on a farm near Western Star, where he now resides. For a few years he devoted part of his time to prac- tice, but soon dropped medicine entirely and paid his entire attention to farming. In 1870, he was elected to the office of County Commis-

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sioner, which office he held by virtue of re- elections until 1879, when he resigned by reason of his election to a seat in the State Legislature.

Dr. F. F. Falk served during the late war as Hospital Steward of the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteers, and while acting in that capacity read medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. B. S. Chase. After being mustered out of serv- ice he attended lectures at Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, receiving his degree in the spring of 1865. He then went to Nash- ville, Tenn., where for the next six months he did efficient hospital duty under an appoint- ment of Assistant Surgeon United States Army. Upon his return to Ohio, he located at Western Star; but after a few years prac- tice he fell a victim to consumption and died.

Dr. Charles F. H. Willgohs, a native of Germany, settled at Dennison, in Norton Town- ship, about the year 1870, and continued prac- ticing there until about 1878, when he removed to Doylestown, Wayne County, his present home.

Dr. F. W. Swan, a native of Pennsylvania, succeeded Dr. Dreher, as the next physician, at Loyal Oak. He remained but two years.

Dr. William T. Parmele, a native of New York State, came to Loyal Oak in 1875. After practicing in that place about three years, he went to Greensburg, but two years later, in 1880, returned to Norton Township, locating this time in New Portage, where he is now practicing.

Dr. Austin T. Woods read medicine with Dr. J. A. Knowlton and Dr. H. M. Fisher, of Akron, graduated from Cleveland Medical Col- lege in 1879, and soon afterward began prac- ticing at Loyal Oak, where he is at the pres- ent time.

Dr. A. B. Campbell, Dr. Griesmer, Dr. Zwisler and Dr. Mikesell, each practiced in the township a short time.

Dr. Alpheus Babcock was one of the earliest settlers of Coventry Township, and practiced there for a number of years.

Dr. Elijah Canfield, another of the early set- tlers, practiced medicine in the township for over thirty years.

Dr. Samuel Austin practiced in the town- ship a few years.

Dr. Jackson Chapman began practicing in Copley about the year 1835, and continued twelve or fifteen years.

Dr. Byron Chapman began the practice of his profession in Copley about 1845, and has continued up to the present time.

The history of Green Township furnishes us with an addition of about fifteen to our already long list of Summit County doctors, but, unfortunately for the reader as well as for future historians, little if anything more than a mere mention of their names can be said of a majority of them at this time.

Dr. Smith, first name not known, was the first man who practiced medicine in this town- ship, and all that can be learned concerning him is that he was an old man in 1830.

Dr. John Thomas was the first physician in the village of Greensburg. He came there about 1838, and remained two years, removing thence to Wood County.

Drs. A. H. Mann, H. Peters, Jacob Musser, Wesley Boden, David Joseph, Benjamin F. Sampsell and Garber followed in close succes- sion, each remaining a year or two. Then came Dr. C. A. Perdue, who practiced in the village about six years, though not continu- ously. Next came Dr. Markam, who re- mained one year; then Dr. O. E. Brownell, who remained ten years, and is mentioned among the Akron sketches. Following him came Dr. Howland who remained two years, Dr. Parmele, one year, and Dr. Reynolds, who was there at the same time and also remained one year.

East Liberty has had two doctors, L. S. Witwer and Jonathan Buchtel, each of whom remained about six years. The township is without a physician at present.

Richfield Township has for the last fifty years or more been well supplied with medical men, so far at least as numbers are concerned; and from the date of the earliest settlements , in the county up to 1840, the surrounding towns to a distance of about eight or ten miles depended upon Richfield doctors.

Dr. Secretary Rawson, the first physician in the township, was born in the town of Warwick, now Franklin Co., Mass., in the year 1796, and received his early education in the common schools of that State. At the age of ten he

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received from an uncle a share in a circulat- ing library, which for the next six years occu- pied his leisure hours: reading mostly at night and by the light of a pitch-pine knot stuck in the chimney corner, which. "as he says," not only gave light and intelligence to the recipient, but to the whole household. When seventeen years old he began a regular course of study at New Salem Academy, where he continued through the summer months of the next four years, his winters in the mean- while being spent in teaching school. He then entered the office of Dr. Secretary Rawson, of Waterbury, Vt .. where he remained two years, going thence to Royalston, Mass., where he spent three years in the office of Dr. Batchel- lor. During the last two years of his medical course of study he practiced enough to pay his own expenses. and at its close received a diploma from a medical society at Montpelier, Vt. In 1823, he came to Ohio, and after prac- ticing one year in Madison. Geauga County, came to Richfield, where he continued in active practice for the next forty-two years. In 1866. he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he still resides. He was always an en- ergetic and well-informed physician, and had the will and ability to defend his opinions with tongue or pen, being then. as he is now. a fre- quent contributor to the newspapers.

Dr. Bela B. Clark practiced in Richfield from 1830 to 1836, going then to Brunswick. Medina County. Next came Dr. Hiram Whee- ler and Dr. William Munson, both of whom did a large business for a number of years. The former died several years ago, and the latter is now living in Independence, Cuya- hoga County. Following these came a Dr. Everett. who practiced in the township a few years only.

Dr. Nathan Stevenson read medicine in Richfield with Dr. Munson, and after graduat- ing from a college in New York City, prac- ticed some years with his preceptor. He then removed to Illinois; served as Surgeon during the rebellion, and died some years ago.

Dr. A. E. Ewing came to Richfield in 1850, and has ever since resided there except when his roaming propensity has carried him off to some other field for a short time. He gradu- ated from an old medical college in New En-

gland. but, as he says. "is not considered quite orthodox in medicine or anything else." Dr. H. B. Johnson, now of Beloit, Wis., practiced in the township some years, and served as Surgeon of an Ohio regiment during the re- bellion. Dr. I. B. Beach also practiced here a few years in company with his son-in-law. Dr. Johnson. Dr. William Jones studied med- icine with Dr. Johnson, and like his preceptor served as Surgeon in the late war. Dr. Cra- ven practiced here about three years in the first half of the present decade. Besides the above a Dr. Jewett was here a short time pre- vious to 18440, and a Dr. Dickerson from about 1860 to 1870. Three or four homoeopaths have at different times tried to gain a patron- age in the township, but their success has never warranted more than a short residence in the place.

At the present time the health of the town- ship is looked after by Dr. Ewing, Dr. Wesley Pope and Dr. Chamberlin.

In Bath Township there are several doctors practicing at present. Dr. E. K. Nash, at Montrose, and Dr. R. Randall. at Hammond's Corners.

In Franklin Township Dr. Adam Sisler. a native of Pennsylvania, has practiced in Man- chester since about 1850. Dr. D. Rowe has practiced in the same place since about 1873 or 1875.

Twinsburg Township has found need for physicians like all the world beside. but very few have ever found it a profitable field for practice.

Dr. Otis Bois. from Blanford. Mass., came to the township about 1834. and practiced medicine about two years in connection with carrying on a general merchandise store. The next was Dr. Taylor. from Aurora. Portage County, who came to Northfield about 1840, and practiced successfully about three or four years. Following Dr. Taylor came Dr. John E. Stevens, who remained a few years and then went to Youngstown, Ohio. About the same time or perhaps a little later, Dr. Selby moved into the township from Colimer, and re- mained a few years. In 1863. Dr. Collins, of Bedford, came into the township where he practiced for the next three or four years. About the same time Dr. Seth Freeman, who

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

had privately read homœopathy, began the practice of his profession, and has advanced to a fair business. Not far from the same time Dr. Proctor Clark, after attending lec- tures in Cleveland began the practice of ho- mœopathy.

Suman Griste, a brother-in-law of Dr. Freeman, studied homoeopathy with the lat- ter, and is to-day practicing his profession.

The first physician of whom we have any record as having practiced in Northfield Town- ship was Dr. Hosea Bliss. He graduated from Burlington (Vermont) College, in 1825, and. fn 1834, came to Northfield where he continued in practice until the time of his death. in 1874.

Dr. Perkins Wallace came to Brandywine. in this township, some time about 1836, and remained one year. After this we find the names of Dr. Caruther, Dr. Jones, Dr. Benja- min, Dr. Haseltine, Dr. Carley, homœopath, and Dr. Cranmer, homoeopath, each of whom remained about one year.

Next came Dr. H. B. Hart. who remained two years.

Dr. R. S. Hubbard came to the place in 1877, and continues in practice at the pres- ent date. He was educated at Baldwin Uni- versity, and is a graduate of Charity Hospital Medical College.

The only physician who was ever located in Stow Township was Dr. Luther Spaulding. He came from Connecticut and located at what is known as Stow Corners in the spring of 1825, practicing there until August of the same year, when he died.

From Boston Township we get the follow- ing brief history: Dr. S. Pixley was born in Franklin County, Mass., in 1816, but came to this county before he was a year old. Having received his preliminary education at the com- mon schools and Wadsworth Academy, he be- gan the study of medicine with Drs. Trask and Leonard, of Stringsville, about the year 1841. He afterward read one year with Dr. Munson, of Richfield. Graduated from Cleve- land Medical College in 1847, and since then

has practiced most of the time in Penin- sula.

Dr. Humphrey read medicine with Dr. Pix- ley, and has practiced in Peninsula for four- teen years.

Dr. A. M. Cole also read medicine with Dr. Pixley, and has been in Peninsula for the last six years or more, though engaged in other business than the practice of his profession during most of the time.

Coventry Township has for the most part depended upon Akron and Manchester for its doctors. Dr. William Reed practiced for a number of years in Thomastown, and, about 1876. removed to Mogadore. Dr. J. W. Sor- rick was born at Manchester, this county, in 1848, and received his education in the com- mon schools of that place, and the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. About 1871, he be- gan reading medicine with Dr. W. C. Jacobs. of Akron, and, in 1875, graduated at medical college of Ohio at Cincinnati. Practiced in Akron until 1878, since which time he has been practicing at Thomastown. Dr. John B. Thomas was reared in the vicinity of Thomas- town. read medicine with Drs. Bowen and Foltz; graduated at Charity Hosiptal Medical College, Cleveland. in 1880, and has since then been practicing at his old home.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 57

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104