USA > Ohio > History of the Upper Ohio Valley, with family history and biographical sketches, a statement of its resources, industrial growth and commercial advantages, Vol. I > Part 71
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Dr. Cook, of whom little can be learned, practiced in and about Wellsburg, prior to 1827, and was one of the very earliest .practition- ers in Brooke county.
W. C. Kirker was born in western Pennsylvania, November 21, 1802. He attended medical lectures in Philadelphia, and commenced the practice of medicine in 1824. He came to Wellsburg about 1834, continuing in practice until a short time prior to his death, which oc- curred January 26, 1883.
Albert Wheeler, Samuel Grafton and N. W. White practiced in Wellsburg prior to the civil war, the latter leaving to enter the con- federate army.
Dr. Drummond, who closed his career as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, practiced medicine in Wellsburg many years ago. He gave up his practice to enter the ministry, and occupied pulpits in Wheeling, St. Clairsville, Cadiz and other points. He will be much better remembered as a preacher than as a physician. The writer has frequently heard him in the pulpit, and has been entranced by his wonderful eloquence. He often made use of poetical quotations, and so eloquent and ornate was his style of oratory that it was some- times difficult to tell where the poetical quotation ended. He died in Cadiz about 1885.
E. H. Moore, only son of Robert Moore, Esq., was born in Wells- burg, April 4, 1814. After preparatory study in the public and pri- vate schools of his native town, he entered Washington college in 1833, but on account of illness, was compelled to give up his studies when within a few months of graduation. He soon after began the study of medicine with the late Dr. J. C. Campbell, and graduated from the Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, in 1840. Returning to Wellsburg, he at once entered upon the practice of his profession, and continued it with singleness of purpose and great assiduity until his death, which occurred after but seven hours' illness, January 17, 1878. Dr. Moore possessed good natural ability, and was a close student, often sitting up for study until a late hour at night. This habit of study, with close observation at the bed side, rendered him a scientific and skillful physician. He was also an in-
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telligent and refined Christian gentleman, and an active member of the Disciples church. He had gathered around him a large and val- uable library, not only of medical, but miscellaneous, books. He was an ardent admirer of fine paintings and engravings. The surround- ings of his home always testified to the inner life and character of the man. Dr. Moore joined the State Medical society the year of its organization, and was one of its four delegates to the San Fran- cisco meeting of the American Medical association in 1871. He wasa member of the Rocky Mountain Medical association, honorary mem- ber of the Rush Medical society, and also of the California State Medical society. At the time of his death, Dr. Moore was the recog- nized head of the medical profession in Brooke county.
Ohio County .- In a paper by the late Dr. E. A. Hildreth, from which much what follows concerning the earlier physicians of Wheel- ing is condensed, we are informed that "during the period from the fall of 1769, the time of the first occupancy of the site of Wheeling by the Zane brothers, until they laid it out in 1793, there is no record or tradition of any physician having practiced here. The early set- tlers being in a wild, uncultivated country, far removed from one another, upon a frontier exposed to daily attacks from their savage neighbors, surrounded by dangers and privations, created a com- munity of interest and benevolence, exhibited by mutual nursing and attendance in sickness or injury; from experiences of this kind, tradi- tion and history have handed down to this period, the names and practice of a number of men and women noted for their success."
Gideon C. Forsythe .- So far as can now be learned, the first physi- cian who permanently located in Wheeling was Gideon C. Forsythe, who came, in 1803, from Chester county, Penn. He was Wheeling's only physician for about three years, when several young men entered his office as students. One of these, Dr. H. Potter, afterward became a partner. Dr. Forsythe continued in practice in Wheeling until after the close of the war of 1812, when he removed to Louisiana, abandoning the profession of medicine. He acquired a reputation for special skill in the treatment of malarial diseases, which he cured by the use of calomel and Peruvian bark, a practice not far removed from that of to-day. Dr. Forsythe, by his pursuit of anatomical studies at home - resur- recting and dissecting the body of a colored woman who formerly be- longed to a neighbor, the mutilated remains being afterward found in a box near the river - drew upon his head the indignant denunci- ation of the former owner of the " subject," one George Knox, who thus sends a communication to the Wheeling Repository, of Decem- ber 31, 1807:
" If the remains of deceased persons are to be disturbed and mangled in this way by the savages of the " doctor shop," it is fair to presume that cases of death will be heard of with satisfaction and de- sired by them; so that our graves will require a guard to prevent their bodies being taken up. This is published to the world to awaken public indignation against such inhuman and abominable proceedings."
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H. Potter studied in the office of Dr. Forsythe, and after a tempo- rary absence returned to Wheeling in 1808, and entered upon the practice of medicine. Thomas Toner, another student of Dr. Forsythe, after practicing for a very few years, abandoned medicine and became associated with a relative in editing and publishing the Northwestern Virginia Gazette. James Ralff, who came from Penn- sylvania to Wheeling, after completing his studies in the office of Dr. Forsythe, left Wheeling, having been appointed a surgeon of a Vir- ginia regiment which was ordered to Richmond in 1814. Job Wilson was educated at Princeton, N. J., and studied medicine under Dr. Rush of Philadelphia. Began practice in 1812, which was continued until his death in [829. His place of residence was 'six miles above Wheeling. He had a great reputation as a surgeon, and was a bold and successful operator, being sent for far and near.
Martin Luther Todd was born in New York state, April 29, 1782. After completing his literary studies, he commenced the-pursuit of medical knowledge under his brother, Dr. John Todd, and finished his studies about 1808. After an unsatisfactory business venture with his brother in Waynesburg, Penn., Dr. M. L. Todd located in Wheeling in 1814, and entered upon the practice of his chosen pro- fession. He soon acquired an excellent reputation for skill in the treatment of disease, and was honored by having conferred upon him by Col. Moses Shepherd the office of surgeon of the Fourteenth Regiment of state troops, then being raised in the Pan-handle counties of Virginia. His commission he retained until the close of the war. After peace was restored he resumed his medical practice, and in a few years became one of the leading physicians of the town, being quite popular, affable and sociable in his manners, secured to him a large and lucrative practice, which he enjoyed for many years. He married an accomplished and beautiful young lady, daughter of Mr. Andrew Woods, an early settler. One child, a daughter, was born of this union. She afterward became Mrs. Dr. Junkins, of Bellaire. After gaining a competency Dr. Todd retired from practice to a beautiful country residence in Ohio, above Bellaire. After the loss of his wife after fifty years of happy married life, he lived with his son-in-law until his death which occurred in March, 1866, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.
Joshua Morton was born in Massachusetts, studied medicine and graduated at Harvard university. He opened an office in Wheeling in 1816, and continued in active practice until his death in the early part of 1839. He died suddenly of peri cardial effusion, being about fifty-six years old. Dr. Morton was a man of few words and sharp, austere manner, rather repulsive to those unacquainted with his bet- ter qualities of heart and mind. Notwithstanding this he had a large business and was highly esteemed. Soon after settling in Wheeling, he formed a parnership with Dr. William Scott, which at the end of one year was dissolved, Dr. Scott leaving the place.
John Eoff was born in Jefferson county, Va., in 1788. Having prac- ticed medicine in Charleston, Kanawha county, he moved to Wheel-
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ing about the year 1817. He had married Miss Helen L. Quarrier, of Richmond, Va., by whom he had four sons and six daughters. His oldest son, John Q. Eoff, studied medicine and practiced several years. Dr. Eoff and family being wealthy, he after nine or ten years retired from practice. He died January 28, 1859, in his seventy-first year.
James W. Clemens was born in Washington county, Penn., May 26, 1795. His grandfather emigrated to Loudon county, Va., in 1764, and afterward to Washington county, Penn., then considered a part of Virginia. Dr. Clemens graduated at Washington college, Pennsyl- vania, in 1816, after which he removed to Wheeling, where he com- menced the study of medicine, and at the same time taught school. He began practice in 1819. In 1822 he engaged in the drug business with J. W. Ray, and prospered until 1827, when he lost everything by fire. He graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in IS24. He was at different times associated in partnership with Drs. Townsend, Frissell, R. H. Cumming and others. Dr. Clemens was am- bitious in his profession, a constant student of medical literature and always informed as to the latest improvements and discoveries in the line of his profession. He was an expert chemist, and is said to have introduced several new remedies. He was also quite a mechanic, and manufactured his own splints and other surgical apparatus.
Dr. Clemens was a ready writer, fluent, and fine speaker, and de- livered many public addresses, among which may be mentioned an ad- dress to the students of Franklin college, Ohio; another on laying the corner-stone of the court house in Wheeling, by request of the Masonic fraternity, of which he was a member; another on laying the corner- stone of old Masonic hall, on Market street; another of laying the corner stone of Odd Fellows' hall; another on the reception of Presi- dent Harrison, in 1840; another at a dinner given Daniel Webster at the old Virginia Hotel; another on the reception by the citizens of Henry Clay, of Kentucky; another addressed to the citizens of Wheeling, on the effects of excessive alcohol drinking on the coats of the stomach, gastric juices and the brain, illustrated by colored maps taken in dissection from actual victims and subjects; besides many other orations and discourses not here mentioned. He died of peri- toneal inflammation on the 21st of November, 1846, in his fifty-second year.
James Tanner was born of Irish parents in Baltimore, Md., in 1796. .He studied medicine under Dr. Buckler, of that city, and graduated in the Baltimore Medical college about the year 1819, settling in Wheeling about 1820. Soon after he married Miss Deborah Graham, by whom he had a son and daughter. The son died when about fourteen years old, and the daughter is now the accomplished wife of Hon. A. I. Boreman, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, who was the first governor of this state. Dr. Tanner was thoroughly read in medicine, and actively alive to its progress and improvement. He was regarded as a very successful practitioner; passionate, warm-hearted and devoted to his patients and friends; public-spirited; participating largely in the affairs of the
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city government, being at the time of his death, December 26, 1858, mayor of the city, and then sixty-two years old. Dr. Tanner proba- bly did more hard, laborious practice, rendering the citizens of this city more charitable eleemosynary, and unrequited service in the thirty-eight years of his practice, than any other practitioner, and his death was deeply regretted by our citizens.
Jonathan Zane was born in Wheeling, August 25, 1802. He studied medicine under Dr. Rhodes, of Zanesville, Ohio, and began to practice in Wheeling late in 1826. On account of impairment of health he emi- grated to Louisiana, where he died in 1836. Archibald Todd was one of a family which contained five physicians. He was born April 10, 1798, and received his early education in New York state. He came west in 1820, and for several years resided with a brother, Dr. S. P. Todd, at West Newton, Penn. Here he began the study of medicine. He taught school one winter and came to Wheeling about 1824, continuing his medical studies with another brother, Dr. M. L. Todd, graduating from Transylvania university, Ky., in 1826. After this he practiced in connection with his brother until the latter's retirement, when he continued to practice alone until about 1868. Dr. Todd mar- ried Miss Mary A. E. Woods, February 19, 1828. She died October 24, 1829. He was married a second time, June 25, 1831, to Miss Mary E. Jarrett, by whom six children were born. But two of these, with the mother, survive. One is the wife of Dr. J. C. Hupp. Dr. Todd has been prominently identified with the medical organizations of the state. He was one of the organizers of the City Dispensary and Vac- cine institution in 1845; of Ohio County Medical society, in 1847; of the State Medical society, in 1867, and of the Medical society of the city of Wheeling and county of Ohio, in 1868. Of the last named he was once the president. In 1872 he resigned his membership in the State Medical society. Previously he contributed to the society two papers on the Medical Botany of West Virginia, which were printed in the Society's Transactions. As a botanist and mineralogist he had no superior in the state. For almost half a century Dr. Todd was identified with all that concerned the good name and prosperity of the city. He was for many years a member of the board of educa- tion. and of the board of examiners for teachers. Also a member of the city council. Successful in business, he became financially inter- ested in the suspension bridge, the gas works, street railway, banking and other enterprises, and was called to assist in their management. He was to the end of life a charming companion, and always took pleasure in the visits of his friends. He was an active and sincere Christian man, and elder in the Second Presbyterian church. Dr. Todd's continued interest in his profession is shown by a remark he made to the writer long after his retirement from practice, that he "hoped some day to provide a permanent meeting place for the City Medical society." This purpose was perhaps frustrated by the carp- ing criticism of the doctor's technical breach of the code of ethics, persistently heralded by one or two members of the society who had more than once given the same code a " compound, comminuted frac-
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ture." Dr. Todd died May 1, 1883, loved and sincerely mourned by many and respected by all, and his memory will long be cherished by all who were honored with his friendship.
Thomas Townsend was born near Uniontown, Penn., about the year 1877. He was essentially a self-made man, his early opportunities for acquiring an education having been quite limited. We cannot learn that he ever attended medical lectures; nor did he commence the study of his profession until about thirty-five years of age. But he developed a fondness for natural science, applied himself closely in all his studies, being especially fond of botany, in which he became quite an expert. He gathered a complete herbarium of the botany of this region, and having been frequently seen climbing around our hills, and putting his specimens into his hat for preservation, there originated a report of his being of unsound mind; for, said they, we saw him " wandering over the hills, pulling up weeds and putting them into his hat." He subsequently studied the geology and mineralogy of our hills, and collected a very clever cabinet. This latter service, according to the ideas of his old enemies, corroborated their opinion of his insanity, for they saw him "picking up old stones and bringing them home." The literary and scientific culture of the town, as may be imagined, was not at that time of the highest order. While Dr. Townsend was very zealous in his studies, he had a child-like sim- plicity of manner, and a candor with all whom he met, that made him engaging and attractive. He is said to have treated successfully a number of complicated and difficult cases of bone surgery. He was at one time president, and for a number of years treasurer, of the Ohio County Medical society. Dr. Townsend was a member of the Society of Friends, and in 1828, came from Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, to Wheeling, and began the practice of medicine. The latter years of his practice were not a pecuniary success; and during his last illness, except for the attention of his medical friends, by whom he was much beloved, he might have suffered want. He died of pheumonia on the 29th of March, 1851, being about sixty-four years of age. In 1873, his place of burial in Mt. Wood cemetery being unmarked, at the sug- gestion of Dr. J. C. Hupp, a subscription was taken among the physi- cians of the city, and a memorial stone was purchased and erected to his memory.
In the period from 1820 to 1828, Drs. Emery, John Thompson, Hun- ter, Downey and I. H. Irwin, practiced here for short periods. Their histories we are unable to learn. D. B. Dorsey located in Wheeling in 1834. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and also practiced medicine. He is said to have been the first physician in the city to use a stethoscope, the one employed by him being simply a cylinder of wood. He went to Steubenville, and of his later history nothing is known.
S. P. Hullihen was born in Northumberland county, Penn., in 1810, and died in Wheeling March 27, 1857, of typhoid pneumonia. He was of Irish extraction, and his father a farmer. His early educational advantages were only such as were afforded by the district school.
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At an early age he manifested a love for medicine and surgery, and his vigorous pursuit of these studies was shown by his success in after life. He commenced the practice of dentistry at Canton, Ohio. In 1835 he married and removed to Wheeling. He never practiced general medicine; his great success and usefulness appeared in sur- gical operations, these being chiefly confined to operations about the face. Patients of all classes, confiding in his skill and frank character, came in great numbers from the surrounding country, so that the value of his services, as well as the influence of his reputation, were considered the common property of Wheeling. Dr. Hullihen was a man of genius, and gifted in overcoming difficulties by original con- ceptions. He possessed a discriminating mind, rapid eye and cunning hand, all acting in harmony to produce the best results in practice. These qualities, the marks of a great surgeon, soon impressed the community, and inspired with confidence all who came to him for re- lief. He had a roughness of manner at times that almost terrified those who failed to read him well and know his warm and generous heart. Dr. Hullihen successfully performed numerous surgical and dental operations of the most delicate character, but those were not. such as are known to surgeons as capital operations. In addition to his surgical work, he published many valuable papers on surgical sub- jects, among them in 1839, "An Essay on Odontalgia"; in 1844, “A Treatise on Hare-lip, and its Treatment"; in 1845, "An Essay on Cleft-Palate, and its Treatment"; in 1846, an essay on "Abscess of the Jaws and its Treatment"; in 1849, " Report of a case of Elonga- tion of the Under-jaw, with Distortion of the Face and Neck, caused by a Burn, successfully treated." He was the inventor of many new forms of instruments of great value to the dentist and surgeon. He had, by his success as a surgeon, his kindness to the poor, and his whole-souled generous nature, so endeared himself to the community that his death caused profound sorrow throughout the city. The medical profession, the city council, and the Wheeling Hospital as- sociation passed appropriate resolutions, and at a public meeting of citizens held at the court house the following were adopted:
Resolved, That we have heard with profound sorrow of the death of Dr. Hullihen, and have assembled to express the universal respect of the community for his memory. His decease, in the prime of life, in the midst of an honorable and useful career, and in the full vigor of his rare intellect, has impressed us with a deep sense of the unusual calamity. Eminent in his profession, and exalted in his personal character, he achieved a noble fame, in which gratitude for his ben- efactions was mingled with admiration for his genius. To us he was endeared by long association, by nobility of nature, and by many gen- erous and estimable qualities. By those who knew him best, he was most beloved. For his loss we feel the peculiar grief of friends added to the general sorrow for the decease of a distinguished citizen.
Resolved, That we will erect a suitable monument for the deceased in testimony of our respect for his memory, and that a committee be appointed by the chairman to carry this resolution into effect.
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This monument has long since been erected with the following in- scription, it marks his resting place at Mt. Wood cemetery: "Erected by the citizens of Wheeling to the memory of one, who had so lived among them, that they mourned his death as a public calamity."
J. H. Kieffer was born in western Pennsylvania. In his early man- hood he was a Lutheran preacher, having read somewhat of medicine before emigrating to Wheeling. In 1836, he turned his attention to practice here, chiefly among his German friends. In 1845 he entered into partnership with Dr. Victor L. Auler, which, however, after a few months, was dissolved, Dr. Auler leaving the city. Dr. Kieffer died in 1848. He was highly esteemed among his country-men, being re- garded as a positive, rough and ready practitioner.
E. A. W. Wehrman was born in Hanover, Germany, and educated at the University of Gottingen; emigrated to Wheeling in 1838. He was a great favorite among the German population, devoting his chief attention to the practice of obstetrics. His health rapidly failing, he left the city and settled near Captina, Ohio, in the spring of 1845, hop- ing to recover his health, but about one year afterward he died of phthisis pulmonalis.
Robert H. Cummins was born in Washington, Penn., in February, 1817. He pursued his academic studies at Washington college, but did not complete the full curriculum. Heafterward, however, received the degree of A. M. from the college. His preceptor in medicine was Dr. F. J. Lemoyne, and he received the degree of M. D. at the University of Pennsylvania in 1841, immediately locating in Wheeling for the practice of his profession, as a partner of Dr. J. W. Clemens. After Dr. Clemens's death in 1846, he joined his brother James in partnership. Dr. Cummins's early professional career was beset with trials that would have crushed a weaker man, but these only stimulated him to more determined effort, which placed him in the front rank of the profession. His heart was full of kindness, his keen intellect ever busy gathering new facts, and his energy in the practice of his chosen calling never flagged. He acquired unusual intelligence and skill, being especially well qualified as an obstetrician. His practice was very large, and he was greatly beloved by the many families and pa- tients whom he attended. Many still delight to tell of his kindness in the sick room. This feeling of regard for him was shared by all classes of society, and many will recall the sad scene, on the day of his funeral, as great numbers of humble women stood with stream- ing eyes around the casket of their dead friend and physician. Dr. Cummins's literary qualifications were of a high order. He contrib- uted several valuable papers to the American Journal of the Medical Sciences. He was in 1870, president of the Medical Society of the City of Wheeling and County of Ohio, and at the time of his death was president elect of the Medical Society of the State of West Virginia. His presidential address he left in a finished state, and it was read to the society by Dr. Hildreth, and was one of the most forcible ad- dresses ever delivered to the profession. Dr. Cummins married Miss Ann, daughter of the late Samuel Ott, Esq., in February, 1849. Five
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children survive the parents. Dr. Cummins died of pleuro-pneumonia at his mother's home, near Bellaire, Ohio, on April 12, 1873. When almost in extremis, but with intellect still unclouded, he exhibited the fullness of his unselfish nature, and his devotion to science, by direct- ing that an autopsy be made of his body, and to insure its accom- plishment, asked his family to interpose no objection. This done, he calmly and without fear awaited the end, and met it with a philosophy based upon his knowledge of immortality.
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