History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 107

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

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Dr. Welcome Pray was born in the Town of Winfield, Herkimer County, New York, on Oc- tober 27, 1809. Having received an education from the Schools of that part of the State, he attended lectures and was graduated from the Western College of Physicians and Surgeons located at Fairfield, New York, an uncle, Dr. Paris Pray, being his preceptor. Having re- ceived his diploma in the Spring of 1830, he immediately began the practice of his profes- sion, but being a young man he believed that his field for usefulness was away from the scenes of his boyhood, and so chose Ohio as his future home, removing to this State in 1833. Maumee City was at this time the largest place of Northwestern Ohio, and he selected the Vil- lage of Waterville, only a few miles South of that metropolis. Toledo at that time was but a hamlet, not even baving received its name, for Vistula and Port Lawrence were separated by forests and bluffs. Many a time our pioneer Doctor was compelled to swim his horse in crossing Swan Creek when desiring to reach Port Lawrence. Dr. Pray has lived in the same locality for 53 years, and when visited some time ago at his home, was able to recall many incidents of his professional life, which were interesting and instructive. For some time past, he has been suffering from a partial paralysis, the left side of the body being almost entirely useless. Notwithstand- ing this affliction, he appears to be as well preserved as any man of his age ; and although he knows his life-work is ended, he still lives to enjoy the fruits of a well-spent and useful life.

Dr. Harvey Burritt was a native of Connee- tieut, having been born in that State in 1804. After attending School for some years, he began reading Medicine, his early advantages in the study of his profession being of a high order. He was graduated at the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons under the tuition of those giants of the profession of that day, Willoughby, Delamater, McNaughton, Romeyn, Beck and others. His professional attainments corresponded with the advantages possessed, of which his highly successful practice in Wood County, as well as at Maumee City, furnishes ample demonstration. IIe came to the Maumee Valley in 1833, and set- tled at Gilead, Wood County, where for nearly 20 years he followed the practice of Medicine with continued success, beloved and honored by all classes of his fellow-citizens. In 1853, he removed to Maumee City, where be was en- gaged in his professional duties until his death. An old acquaintance of 30 years' standing observed : " I can most truly say of him, that very few more useful men ever lived in this Valley. I never knew a Physician who practiced the profession with as much assiduity, or who with equal generosity attended on both rich and poor. The hearts of thousands will beat with emotion, and their eyes fill with tears at the announcement of his demise." Dr. Bur- ritt married on December 13, 1831, in Camp- belltown, New York, Miss Babcock, who survived him, his death occurring on February 10, 1868, at Maumee City. An only child, Dr. W. H. Burritt, is living and following his father's profession at the old home, from whom was obtained the foregoing history.

Dr. Jacob Clark was born June 8, 1807, at Poughkeepsie, New York; studied medicine with Dr. Caleb Pieree of St. Lawrence County. New York, and was graduated at Burling- ton, Vermont, in 1828. After practicing at Canton, St. Lawrence County, he removed to Toledo in 1834, where he still lives, one of the three living pioneer Doctors. At the time of his arrival on the Maumee there were but few houses, and the whole River front from Oak to Lagrange Street was a dense forest, with wild riee growing into the River from both shores. Many a night the Doctor has sat upon his door-step and heard wolves answer- ing wolves on the opposite shore of the River. Ilis first residence is still standing, now called the Laird House, 461 Summit Street. During the year 1838 scarcely any rain fell, and the whole earth was parched and burnt. The Canal was being dug and a large number of Irish laborers were camped along the line upon the flats. Most of them were too sick to work, and endeavored to drown their sorrows with whisky. Many interesting anecdotes are re- lated by the Doctor in describing his endeavors to treat these poor destitute sufferers. Toledo at this time was perhaps among the most unhealth-

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ful places in the universe. During the cholera epidemie, in 1849, the call for assistance was so great that Dr. Clark, as well as all other Phy- sieians, was nearly worn out by his labors. No success followed the treatment as generally pursned, but adopting a method of bleeding, as recommended by foreign Physicians, the number of his recoveries was remarkable En- thusiastically, he says : " If I treated cholera now. I would bleed and save my patient- bleed until you think you are killing the patient, and he will get well." At the age of 80 Dr. Clark retains his vigor, and his ereet form may be seen on the Streets every day. Ifis fund of aneedote is large, and an hour spent with him is highly entertaining and in- structive. [Elsewhere will be found mention of Dr. Clark and historieal facts supplied by him.]

Dr. John Mosher was one of the pioneer Physicians of Lucas County. He was born in Dorset, Vermont, March 28, 1805, and was graduated at Woodstock, same State, in 1831. He removed to Toledo in 1834; and after practicing his profession there for 11 years, he retired in 1845 to a farm in Oregon Township, where he led the quiet life of the Farmer, yet occasionally rendering medical aid to his neighbors. While not regarded as wealthy, he accumulated considerable property, and died at his residence, October 24, 1872, aged 67 years.

Dr. Horace Green was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1811. Ile attended School there until his father moved to Wayne County, New York, when he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Lovejoy. He attended lectures at Geneva College, receiving his diplo- ma there in 1835, and removed to Sylvania in the same year. He was successful in business, but during the cholera epidemie of 1849 he contracted that disease, of which he died at the age of 38 years, leaving a wife and three children. His widow and two daghters (Mrs. William Acers and Mrs. A. D. Randall) still reside in Sylvania, the one son, C. H. Green, residing in Toledo. In speaking of him, his obituary says : " A kind and affectionate husband and parent, a confiding friend, an obliging neighbor, a prompt medical attendant, and a true friend in affliction, has passed away."

Dr. James L. Chase was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, February 10, 1805. In 1816 the family removed to Titusville, Pennsylvania, then a mere hamlet, while " Seneca Oil," now the great " Petroleum," was known only as a remedial agent. In 1827 they went to Forest County, same State, where James engaged in iron manufacture. At the age of 23 years he commenced the study of medicine, and three years later had completed the same. January 1, 1836, he reached Lucas County, then just organized, stopping at Manhattan, which eon- tinued to be his home while there was a Man-

hattan. Ho came but a few months after the more threatening events of the boundary ques- tion had transpired, but in time to see much of the bitterness which the contest had caused. The final adjustment of the dispute in the ad- mission of Michigan into the Union, had not then been reached. But the Doetor was here in ample time for another local contest, which took many years for its outcome. That con- sisted in the struggle for supremacy between the rival " Cities " which lined the banks of the Maumee from its mouth to the foot of the Rapids. Of these none proseented its claims with more assurance and energy than did Man- hattan, which to its people seemed to have material advantages over all others. Among these, in succession, were the terminus of the Miami and Erie and Wabash Canals and of the Ohio Railroad-two considerations which could hardly be more hopeful of future success. The Canal was secured, but was disappointing in its results, while the Railroad was never finished. Dr. Chase soon began the practice of medicine, which was eontinned for nearly 40 years in that locality, and has now scarcely been relinquished in his 83d year. His " ride "-covering a cir- cuit of 30 miles-was one of the most severe even in this region ; and it is safe to say, that few pioneer settlements were subjected to greater siekness and poverty, than were those embraced within his practice. Dr. Chase was the Township Treasurer of Manhattan for 36 years, and a Trustee for several terms. Hle remained in Manhattan as long as the name was spared from the territorial grasp of its older rival, when, in 1874, ho removed to his present home, 602 Superior street, Mrs. Chase and daughter Hattie being yet with him ; while his son, George, resides at Detroit.

Dr. Blakesley Henry Bush was born at San- gerfield, Oneida County, New York, March 25, 1808. Having received a good Common School education, he entered the College of the Medi- cal Society of the County of Madison, at Eaton, New York, where he was graduated with honors January 26, 1831. After graduation he remained for some time in the office of Dr. Thomas Spencer, President of the College, but commenced practice at Chittenango for a time shortly thereafter. From Chittenango he went to Manlius, and in 1834 came to Port Law- renee Township, living for a short time in a log-house, the site now being the corner of Monroe Street and Detroit Avenue. Shortly thereafter he moved into the Vistula Division of Toledo, and located a Drug Store on Cherry Street, near the corner of Superior. This was soon abandoned, as there were not people enough in that neighborhood to make the undertaking a financial success. Having al- ways had a natural taste for farming, he pur- chased a farm near his old home on Monroe Street, and moved there, continuing for some years the practice of his profession ; but find-

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ing the labor too severe, he finally retired en- tirely from the work, and remained npon the farm until his death, in 1874, aged 69 years. Dr. Bush was twice married-the first wife being Miss Margaret Tubbs, whose daughter is now Mrs. R. E. Richards. The second wife was Miss Frances E. Whitney, who bore him several children. three of whom are living- Mrs. Colonel Nathaniel Haughton, Mrs. Wm. H. Bishop, and Mrs. Adolph Schansenbach, all of this city. Dr. Bush was one of the most popular and successful physicians in the early days of Toledo. As a man and neighbor, he was greatly esteemed, and had the confidence of all who knew hin.

Dr. Alexander Anderson, an eminent physi- cian, commenced the practice of medicine in New Philadelphia, Ohio, but soon thereafter removed to Fremont, then called Lower San- dusky. There he practiced from 1826 to 1842. when he removed with his family to Maumee, thus entitling him to rank as one of the pio- neer physicians of this County. As one of the leading physicians of that time, he was sue- cessful. His genial manner and wonderful magnetism rarely failed to inspire hope and confidence. Though never a resident of Toledo, his practice was divided between the two places. In the year 1849. in company with James B. Steedman and others. he " crossed the plains " for California, in which trip he encountered hardship and found " all was not gold that glitters." Having accumulated money. he returned to Maumee ; but not being content to remain, he went back to California. Being interested in some mines in Mexico, he took his family to New Albany, Indiana, and went to Mexico to look after his interests there. Having accumulated enough to satisfy him, he started on his journey homeward, but was stricken with disease, and in the year 1862, in a strange land, surrounded by friends, he passed to " the bourne whence no traveler returns." A daughter of Dr. Anderson ( Mrs. Don A. Pease) still resides in Toledo, and to her the writer is indebted for the foregoing sketch of his lite. Mrs. John J. Manor is also a daughter of Dr. Anderson.

Dr. Horace A. Ackley was born in Gene- see County, New York, in 1805. He removed to Elba, in the Western part of that State, when a boy, and studied in both the Common Schools and the Academy. He began the study of medicine with Dr. Billings, and con- tinued it under Dr. Coats, of Batavia. He was graduated at Fairfield, New York, under Dr. Delamater, in 1833, and went to Rochester, New York. remaining there a short time, giving a course of lectures on anatomy at that time. In the Spring of 1835, he came West, and settled at Akron, Ohio. In the Winter of 1835-36 he gave his first course of lectures in the Medical College at Willoughby. In the Summer of 1836 be located in Toledo. In 1837

he entered into partnership with Dr. Geo. R. Perkins, and so remained until he removed to Cleveland in 1839. He was appointed to the chair of Surgery in the Medical College at Cleveland, which position be retained until 1855, when he resigned on account of failing health. In the year 1849. when the cholera in its worst form visited Sandusky, he went thither with his students, and remained until the cholera had abated. Although Dr. Ackley lived 10 years thereafter, he never was the ro- bust man he was before enduring the labor attendant upon his practice in Sandusky. When returning from a visit to Detroit, April 21, 1854, he was taken severely ill with pneumonia, and died on the 24th, being 49 years and 9 months old.

Dr. Manley Bostwick was the oldest sou of Shelburn and Mercy Smith Bostwick, and was born Jannary 29. 1810, in Manlins, New York. His father removed to Obio with his family in the Summer of 1828. and located on a new farm in Geauga County. Manley re- mained at home, assisting his father clearing up the farm, until his 21st birthday, when he went to School at Concord. In the fall of 1831 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Gorham, and continued it under Dr. Sherwood, of Unionville. Having received license to practice Medicine and Surgery from the Medi- cal Society of Northwestern Ohio, he went to Jefferson, and afterward to Toledo, arriving at the last-named place in May, 1836. He soon entered into partnership with Dr. Mosher. They dissolved partnership in 1838, and after practicing alone for several years, he became a partner of Dr. Jacob Clark. Dr. Bostwick married Ophelia Atkins, of Jefferson, Ohio, May 25, 1837. They had for children- one daughter and three sons. Frank L., the youngest, is the only one now living. Mrs. Bostwick still lives, and it is to her the writer is indebted for the foregoing statements. Dr. Bostwick died April 27, 1849. His body now lies in Forest Cemetery. Ilis death was the result of a fall from his horse.

Dr. Chas. McLean was graduated in Wash- ington City, and came to Toledo in 1836. He located at the corner of Summit and Walnut streets, where he opened an office and Drug Store. During his stay of about four years in Toledo, he was a leading Physician, doing a large and Incrative business. He was reeog- uized as a leader in society and a well informed and genial Physician. His health failed him and he was compelled to move East. and select- ing Baltimore he remained there, practicing his profession until he died in 1883, at the age of 76.

Dr. B. S. Woodworth was born in Leicester, near Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1816; went to Rome, New York, when 13 years old, and resided there eight or nine years. In 1831 he went to Hamilton College, but did not graduate, although in after years the honorary degree of

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A. M. was conferred upon him by that College. Dr. Woodworth began the study of medicine in Rome, and attended his first course of lec- tures at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, and was graduated from the Berkshire Medical College, Massachusetts, in 1837. Soon after his graduation he came West, and was the pioneer Physician at the head of the Rapids of the Maumee, selecting Providence, then one of the embryo Towns of this seemingly inviting country. After practicing at Providence for about nine years, he removed to Fort Wayne, where he still lives, enjoying his large and In- crative practice. From an interesting letter recently received, the following extract is of interest : " I shall not undertake to tell the in- credible hardships of the 'Swamp Doctor,' which I was for seven years. In 1839-40 I recollect during the so-called sickly season, of riding on the average 50 miles each for five successive days and nights, getting asleep the last night on my horse, to the great danger of breaking my neck. When I lived at Provi- dence, it was quite a lively business place, being the point where goods for the Wabash Valley were transhipped to Keel Boats and Pirogues, and poled up the sluggish Maumee over 100 miles, taking 10 to 12 days to perform the trip. On the 4th of July, 1839, I delivered the ora- tion in the shade of a magnificent elm, which then stood under the hill at Providence."

Dr. William St. Clair was born at Bangor, Maine, May 23. 1799. He was graduated from Harvard in 1834, and came immediately to Bucyrus, Ohio, where he practiced about two years. From there he came to Maumee in 1837, where he practiced for many years. In 1864 Dr. St. Clair retired from his profession and removed to Kansas City, where he engaged in the Banking business. He died November 4, 1877. His wife, a sister of Mrs. Judge Nichols of Toledo. is still living.

Dr. Wheeler came to Manhattan in 1837 from Unionville; was graduated from Wil- loughby Medical College ; remained but a few years and returned to Unionville.

Dr. Calvin Smith was born February 23, 1811, in Franklin County, Massachusetts. He received his academical education at his home, where he also read medicine. He attended lectures at Pittsfield and Woodstock, and after- wards in Philadelphia. In 1835, at the age of 24, he came West, and settled in Ypsilanti, Michigan, afterward removing to Manhattan, and in IS41 to Toledo, where he continued 11 years in practice, and until he died in 1852 at the age of 41 years. As showing the character of Dr. Smith, the following, taken from a funeral sermon by Rev. Anson Smythe, will be sufficient : " Dr. Smith possessed a fresh and vigorous intellect. He thought deeply on any subject to which his particular attention was directed. He was shrewd and sagaeious, and, though not distinguished for eloquence,

he had such manner of giving expression to his opinions that he seldom was misunderstood. Dr. Smith was a generous and kind-hearted man. A stranger might judge otherwise of him, for he was somewhat stern in countenance and rigid in manner. But it is not always those who most easily smile or weep. that have the kindest hearts. Dr. Smith was a faithful, judicions and successful Physician."

Dr. George R. Perkins was born at Roxbury, Connecticut, January 6, 1813. He studied medicine in Utica and tieneseo, New York, was graduated from the Fairfield Medical School, Herkimer County, New York, and moved 10 Toledo in 1835, where he soon built up a good practice. He married in Toledo Eliza- beth Jenks Acres, January 2, 1843, who lived but two years thereafter. Dr. Perkins died in Geneseo, New York, July 15. 1846. Those who knew him as a Physician unite in saying he had no superior as a faithful and wise practitioner.

Dr. Parker came from Massachusetts to Man- hattan in 1844, remained about a year and moved to Monroe, Michigan, where he died.

Dr. Chauncey Matthews was located in Mau- mee, where he practiced medicine and engaged in lumbering. He was in charge of the County Infirmary for some time. He died from ery- sipelas in 1847.

Dr. Isaac N. Hazlett was born in 1815; was graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in 1842; practiced medicine in Dresden and Zanesville, Ohio, and came to Toledo in 1848. Ile soon gained prominence in his profession, winning the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends. He was one of the founders of the Toledo Medical Association, and took deep interest in medical questions. Hle died in Toledo, May 10, 1861, aged 46 years.

Dr. Hosmer Grabam was born in West Sims- bury, Connecticut, October 26, 1797. He went with his father's family to Madison County, New York, when quite young. His medical education was received at Lexington, Ken- tucky, being graduated at Transylvania I'ni- versity, in 1827. Hle first practiced in Roches- ter, New York, removing thence to Willoughby, Ohio, and from there to Monroe. Michigan. In 1843 he was called to fill a Professor's chair in the Willoughby Medical College. Dr. Gra- ham eame to Toledo in 1848, where he resumed

the practice of his profession. He died Novem- ber 10, 1855, from injuries caused by a run- away horse. His venerable wife and a dangh- ter (Mrs. Alonzo Godard), yet live in Toledo.

Dr. John H. Van Avery studied medicine under Dr. Oscar White at Manmee ; was grad- uated at Cleveland, and was appointed Surgeon during the Mexican War. He came to Toledo in 1849, and remained several years.

Dr. Alfred Taylor was born in Cherry Valley, New York, in 1827; was graduated at Phila- delphia; came to Lucas County in 1850, and

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

practiced in both Maumee and Toledo. He lived for a short time in Bryan. He enlisted as Surgeon of a Cavalry Regiment during the late War, and died on the way to join the Regi- ment. Dr. Taylor was one of the original members of the Toledo Medical Association.

Dr. Franz Joseph Klanser .- The subject of this sketch was born at Haillingen, Oberamt Riedlingen. Kingdom of Wnertemberg, on Feb- ruary 21, 1824. At the age of eight or nine years, he prepared for the gymnasium ; after passing through which he entered the Univer- sity of Tuebingen, where he studied Medicine and Surgery, as he also did at Ileidelberg and Freiberg. He began the practice of medicine in 1849 (the year of his graduation), but as most of the students of that time and vicinity were readily drawn into the German Revolu- tion, known as the Baden Insurrection, so he became one of the Revolutionists, and was attached as a Surgeon, and with them he fled to Switzerland, where they were received and treated as political refugees. Whilst in Switz- erland he was married with Miss Loeffler, and with his wife emigrated to America in the Winter of 1849-50. settling in Toledo during the year 1850, and with a brief intermission, practiced his profession there until his death. Owing to the poor health of his wife, and to gratify her desire to revisit her old home, he applied for a European Consulship, but was un- able to obtain a post nearer to their former homes than Amsterdam, Holland. There he served as United States Consul from Septem- ber, 1861, to the Summer of 1863, when he re- turned to Toledo and resumed the practice of his profession. During his Consular service he had frequent opportunities for aiding his Gor- ernment in its struggle to defeat the great Re- bellion-once, in particular, by refusing a sus- pected blockade runnera " Clean Bill of Health," he delayed its departure and gained the time necessary to notify his superior, the American Minister to Holland, so that our Atlantic Squadron could take measures for the capture of the vessel and its cargo of arms and other War supplies. Dr. Klauser died September 1, 1883, the immediate cause being a cold which he contracted while making professional calls, he not having rallied from a serious sickness which had previously confined him to the house for many months. His wife, and four sons-Dr. F. E. Klanser, and his brothers A. E., Herman R., and Charles, with their only sister, Mrs. Avery S. Hill - still reside in Toledo. Dr. Klauser was kind, generous and manly in all his dealings. His memory is ten- derly cherished by all who knew him, as that of a faithful husband, a loving father, a courte- ous, cultured gentleman, and a skillful physi- cian.

Dr. David L. Briggs was born in the State of New York, in November, 1824. He removed to the West when a youth, selected medicine as

his profession, and was graduated at Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, in 1850. He commenced practice in St.Joseph County, Mich- igan, where he remained until 1859, when he came to Toledo, and there devoted his energies to his profession until the time of his sad death, February 6, 1863. At a fire on Summit Street, with other citizens he was attempting to save the contents of a store, when, without warning, the walls fell and he was buried be- neath them. No man was ever held in higher esteem by his professional brethren than he. As was said in an eulogy by Dr. Charles Cochran : " As a professional brother, he was a model in his intercourse with others, scrupulously obey- ing the injunction, ' Whatsoever ye would that others should do unto you, do ye even so to them.' As a Christian, he was stable, always true to the great principles of his Divine Master."

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 107

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408