USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Memoirs of the Miami valley > Part 48
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In 1838 Dr. Conklin married Miss Ann Blake, daughter of pioneer John Blake, and a native of Burrobridge, England, and reared a family of three children.
Dr. Wilson V. Cowan was born near Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, in 1816. He was graduated from the Miami university and from the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati, and came to Hardin, Shelby county, in 1844, making his permanent home there and devoting himself to the local interests. In 1856 he represented the county in the state legislature, and in 1861 he went into the Civil war as assistant surgeon of the Fremont body guards, later became surgeon of the First Ohio cavalry, and afterward brigade surgeon. Following the war he returned to Hardin, where from then until his death, in 1874, he devoted himself to his profession. Dr. Cowan is said to have been an excellent physician of the old school, sympa- thetic and kindly but practical, with gentle manners and much per- sonal charm. Dr. Charles Cowan, a son, followed his father in practice for several years, but later left to live in California.
Dr. Albert Wilson, son of Col. Jesse Wilson, a Shelby county pioneer, was born in 1826, and began his medical studies under Dr. H. S. Conklin, in Sidney, completing his preparation for his profes- sion at the Ohio Medical college, from which he graduated in 1851, locating in Sidney soon after. His practice was transferred to war service in 1861, he being the first man in Sidney to respond to Presi- dent Lincoln's first call for troops. After more than four years in service, Dr. Wilson returned to Sidney and became a valuable mem- ber of the local profession, a doctor of sincere and honest purpose and a citizen of clean life. He died in 1903, survived by his wife and daughter, Miss Jessie Ayres Wilson.
Dr. Stephen C. Hussey, born in Greene county in 1819, came to Port Jefferson, Shelby county, in 1848, a graduate of Starling Med- ical college, in Columbus. He practiced there until his death in 1871, leaving a family of ten surviving children, two of whom, Mil- lard F. and Allan Hussey, became practicing physicians in the county, Millard F. at Sidney, and Allen Hussey at Port Jefferson.
Dr. John L. Miller, who also practiced at Port Jefferson, was born at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1833, and came to Shelby county in 1854, beginning his medical study under Dr. Stephen C. Hussey. Subsequently he attended Starling Medical college and practiced at Port Jefferson from 1857 until a few years before his death, which occurred in 1906 at Delaware, where he had removed.
Dr. D. R. Silver, whose life and memory are still vivid in the light of his comparatively recent death, in 1913, was born near Wooster, Ohio, in 1844. He received his academic education at Vermilion institute, at Haysville, Ohio. He began the study of medicine in Wooster, and later graduated from the Jefferson Medical college at Philadelphia, and entered upon his practice at Apple
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Creek, Wayne county, Ohio, whence he came to Sidney in 1871. In 1872 he married Miss Jennie E. Fry, who survives him, with their two children, Miss Edith Silver and Dr. Arthur Silver. Dr. Silver was the founder of the Shelby County Medical society, which he organized, in 1871, as a unit of the Ohio State Medical association, and, through it, of the American Medical association. Dr. Silver throughout his career stood high in public estimation, a keen, straight-forward, stable-minded man in every capacity, and one of the most outspoken and formidable enemies of the liquor traffic during the years when the "wet and dry" fight was being waged in Ohio. He was a member of the city health board and medical inspector in the schools, his investigations being of positive benefit to the community. He also held for a term the presidency of the Ohio State Medical association.
Dr. Henry E. Beebe, native of Wyandot county, Ohio, born 1849, was educated in the public schools and at Wittenberg college, and graduated from Cleveland homeopathic medical college in 1873, locating in Sidney the same year. The era of prejudice which the young physician then encountered has passed away, and no one, professional or otherwise, denies today Dr. Beebe's title as dean of the medical corps of Sidney, after his forty-six years of uninterrupted activity in relief of suffering among its people. With the exception of Dr. Conklin, whose practice covered fifty-four years, Dr. Beebe has already been in active professional life longer than any other doctor of Sidney. His following is not exceeded, and his friends are legion. Dr. Beebe has served one term as president of the Homeo- pathic Medical society of Ohio, and one term as vice-president of the American Institute of Homeopathy, and was also an original member of the Ohio State Medical Examining board, on which he served for fourteen years.
Dr. Hugh McDowell Beebe is a native son of Sidney, born in 1883 and educated in the local high school, and at Ohio state uni- versity and in the homeopathic college of the University of Michi- gan, from which he graduated with the class of 1907. He began practice with his father, Dr. H. E. Beebe, in Sidney, winning imme- diate recognition of his skill in surgery and medicine. More than five years ago he was called to Michigan university to occupy a chair as professor of surgery, and went from that institution into military service at the beginning of the war. Major Beebe has but lately returned from nine months' service in France, where he was appointed to Evacuation Hospital No. 19, Allarez, France, was in charge of a surgical team at Argonne, and after the fight became chief of surgical service in the hospital. Major Beebe will return to Michigan university this autumn (1919). The Drs. Beebe, father and son, are Fellows of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Frank D. Anderson is a native of Sidney, educated for his profession in Pulte Medical college, from which he graduated in 1893, and has since been in constant practice in Sidney, for twenty- six years. He is an expert anæsthetist, and has for some years been a professional assistant of Dr. Beebe, sr., with whom he shares office headquarters.
Dr. W. D. Frederick, a native of Shelby county, has practiced
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medicine for years in Darke county, and in Anna, where he subse- quently made his home until 1911, when he came to Sidney to reside. Dr. Frederick enjoyed a wide acquaintance and practice, which he has not entirely given up, although less active than formerly.
Dr. S. G. Goode was born in Champaign county, and a good part of his professional experience was passed outside of Shelby county, where he is now counted among the oldest doctors still in practice. He came to Pemberton in 1881, moved to Port Jefferson in 1883, and some years later located in Sidney where he has been very successful. Dr. Goode is of the eclectic school of practice. He is now county physician and for several years has occupied the office of coroner.
Dr. B. M. Sharp, a native of Franklin township, Shelby county, went into the Civil war just as he had arrived at college age, and following the war took up school teaching, in which he attained a high standing during nine years' experience, several of which were spent as superintendent of the Quincy, Ohio, schools. He attended Columbus Medical college (merged into Starling 1879-80), and graduated in 1879, coming at once thereafter to Sidney, where he has now been in continuous practice for forty years. Dr. Sharp is a nephew of Dr. J. Sharp, who practiced in Port Jefferson many years ago. He is himself the oldest physician, in point of years, now practicing in Sidney. He has a wide acquaintance, and a devoted following.
Dr. Cyrus E. Johnston, a native of Shelby county, graduated from Starling Medical college in 1880, and first located in Sidney, practicing for a long period. Within the past few years he has removed his home to Anna, this county, but still maintains an office in Sidney and attends to some practice there, while also per- forming the duty of medical examiner for the Metropolitan Insur- ance company.
Dr. A. W. Reddish was born in Sidney, in 1859. He graduated from Pulte Medical college in 1883, and located in his native town where he has long been one of the leading physicians. Dr. Reddish is a very active Free Mason, a member of the Shelby County Medical society, and of the State Medical association. He also has served the city of Sidney as member of the board of school directors.
Dr. A. W. Hobby, born near Port Jefferson, where he prac- ticed for five or six years before coming to Sidney, is a graduate of the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati. He located in Sidney about fourteen years ago, and has become prominent in local prac- tice. Dr. Hobby is now (1919) leaving Sidney temporarily to at- tend the Chicago Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat college, after which he will devote his practice to these special lines. He has served two terms as county coroner.
Dr. J. C. Ferree was born in Perry township, Shelby county, in 1874. He received his education in the county schools, and at Lebanon normal college, and graduated from Cleveland Homeo- pathic Medical college in 1901. He practiced in Sidney for eight or nine years in general lines, and then took up eye, ear, nose and throat treatment at Michigan university, after which he located in Dayton, and entered upon a highly successful special practice. From
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Dayton he was called about four years ago to occupy the chair of the eye, ear, nose and throat department in the Homeopathic col- lege at Ohio State university. Dr. Ferree's success has been almost spectacular in its character, and his confrères take generous pride in it. A brother of Dr. Ferree, Clarence E. Ferree, Ph.D., graduate with honors and degrees from Ohio Wesleyan and from Cornell universities, has held the chair of psychology in Bryn Mawr uni- versity since 1917. Dr. C. E. Ferree is a rising authority on the eye and is the inventor of valuable eye-testing apparatus, used by the government here and in France, during the late war, in the aviation department.
Dr. August Gudenkauf, of South Ohio avenue, Sidney, was born in Germany, 1870, came to America with his parents in 1874, and was educated in the Sidney schools, graduating in 1893, after which he pursued teaching until 1900. He then spent five years at Ohio State university, and graduated with the class of 1905 in medicine, serv- ing one year as interne in the Protestant hospital at Columbus be- fore locating in Sidney to practice. Dr. Gudenkauf has, by his fine service, acquired firm standing in the professional ranks of the city.
Dr. J. W. Costolo was born in Shelby county, 1854, in the log cabin of his father, Thomas Costolo, who came to Shelby county from Ireland in 1835, and began life unarmed by anything but his native wit, but succeeded in becoming a foremost citizen, trusted and esteemed. Young Costolo removed with the family to Fort Loramie in 1878, and there began the study of medicine with Dr. Hamer. After eighteen months in Dr. Hamer's office, Costolo read with Dr. Edward F. Wells of Minster for three years, which was followed by two lecture courses at Ohio Medical college, where he received his diploma in 1883. He practiced in Fort Loramie for thirteen years, coming in 1896 to Sidney, where he married Miss Alice Quinlin. Dr. Costolo took great interest in politics and served several terms as coroner. He was a leader in the temperance cause, and fought the liquor traffic with all his energy, when it was un- popular to do so. He was prominent in the Knights of Columbus and Irish Fellowship organizations, as well as in professional asso- ciations. Dr. Costolo was instrumental in establishing the tubercu- losis hospital at Lima, and was its first superintendent, and three years on the board of trustees, returning to Sidney in 1916. His death occurred in March, 1918, at his home on Ohio avenue.
Dr. Flint Hubbell, a grandson of Hezekiah Hubbell and son of Dr. James A. Hubbell, of Quincy, was born in Quincy, Ohio, in 1879. Finishing the course provided in the Quincy schools, he graduated from Ada normal university and Starling Medical college, and began practice at Quincy in 1901. Before locating in Sidney, Dr. Hubbell took advantage of several valuable post graduate courses, spending six months as an interne at Bellevue hospital, New York, and in 1904 graduated from the Chicago clinical school, after which he spent eight years in practice in Sidney. Again, in 1912, Dr. Hubbell at- tended a post graduate course in the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat col- lege at Chicago. Dr. Hubbell became a member of the county, state, American and international medical and surgical associations,
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and held a high professional position, locally, with as bright a future still open before him as any physician of the county ever faced. His sudden death occurred at the close of the winter of 1918.
Dr. John Franklin Connor, born and reared in Sidney, has been in the medical and surgical service of the English army ever since the outbreak of the world war in 1914, shortly after his professional career was launched. His return to Sidney a few weeks since (June, 1919), places him once more in the local ranks, and he will succeed to the general practice of Dr. A. W. Hobby.
The Drs. O. O. and Vernon LeMaster are brothers and natives of Indiana. Dr. O. O. LeMaster was born in 1876, and graduated from Starling Medical college in 1902, practicing in Kettlersville, Shelby county, for twelve years before settling in Sidney. Dr. Vernon LeMaster was born in 1887, and graduated from Michigan university medical college in 1914, about which time both brothers came to Sidney. Lieut. Vernon entered the army medical service during the war, and has just returned from overseas service with the U. S. colors. (1919.)
Dr. W. Judd Conklin, son of Dr. H. S. Conklin, became a physician of brilliant attainments, eminent in Dayton (where he was one of the principal founders of the public library), and was often called to Sidney in medical councils. Dr. Harry Conklin, another son, practiced medicine here in association with his father. He died while yet a young man. Dr. W. R. Keve, who married Dr. H. S. Conklin's daughter, was also his partner for a time, and a brilliant and capable physician. He removed to Piqua.
Dr. H. A. Tobey was a son-in-law of Judge Jacob S. Conklin, and a partner of Dr. H. S. Conklin for some time. He rose to an eminent position as psychopathist, and removed to Columbus.
Dr. Lester C. Pepper was born in Shelby county near Sidney, in 1875, but spent his youth in Conover, Ohio, where he graduated from the high school in 1893, and prepared himself for medical prac- tice by a year's readings under Dr. W. H. Parent of Lockington, followed by four years' work at Starling Medical college, graduat- ing in 1898. He located in Loramie the same season and practiced his profession there until 1907, when he removed to Dayton for two years; after which he settled in Sidney, and has taken high rank as a physician. He is president of the Shelby County Medical society for the current year, and is a member of the Ohio State and the American Medical associations. Dr. Pepper was married in 1913, to Miss Clara O. Kolb, of Handen, Ohio, and five very beau- tiful little Peppers are growing up in their home.
Dr. A. W. Grosvenor was born near Fort Loramie, Shelby county, in 1856, and received his academic education through the county schools and personal application, afterward graduating from the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati in 1882. He practiced first at Lockington, then spent some years at Hardin, before locating in Piqua, where he practiced for about eleven years. In 1902-3 Dr. Grosvenor took a course in the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat college at Chicago, being an interne at the same institution, and returning to Piqua practiced as a specialist in these lines for two years. He
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came to Sidney in 1906, and has remained as a permanent factor in the local profession, among whom he is held in high regard.
Dr. Millard F. Hussey was born in Port Jefferson in 1858, edu- cated at Lebanon normal college and at the Ohio medical college at Cincinnati, graduating from the latter in 1891. He located in Sid- ney and has long been accounted among the best of the city's citizens and doctors. Dr. Allen Hussey, a brother, who was born in Greene county in 1847, was also a graduate of the same college in the class of 1872, and practiced in Port Jefferson for twelve years. He died in 1884.
Dr. Millard F. Hussey's eldest son, Cyril C. Hussey, born in Sidney in 1894, has already taken his B.S. degree, in 1917, at the University of Ohio, and M.D. at Johns Hopkins university, 1919, and will next complete a year's interneship at Maryland hospital for Women before entering practice.
Dr. J. W. Milholland, a graduate of Miami University medical school in '76, and long a physician of Pemberton and Sidney, still lives in East Sidney, but is now broken in health and mind, and retired from practice. He was well-known and of excellent standing.
Dr. J. D. Geyer, a physician who became prominent in the profession and as a citizen, was first a student under Dr. B. M. Sharp, afterward completing his preparation for the practice of medicine at Indiana Medical college in 1883. He was twice presi- dent of the Sidney board of education. His death occurred in the summer of 1914.
Dr. Kidder is also remembered as a physician of old time, about fifty years ago. His home was on Ohio avenue.
Dr. Werth, who was for a time associated with Dr. H. S. Conk- lin-perhaps fifty years ago or less-afterward became a professor of nervous diseases in Columbus Medical college-which was merged, 1879 and 1880, into Starling-where many later students from this section came into scholastic contact with him. Dr. Werth was of German birth and education.
Dr. Arthur Silver was born in Sidney, Ohio, in 1880. He at- tended the public grade and high schools of Sidney, and graduated therefrom in 1898, later attending Miami university, where he com- pleted the course in 1904. He then entered the medical college of Ohio at Cincinnati, and after completing the course became interne and house surgeon at the Cincinnati General hospital from 1908 to 1910. From 1910 to 1912 he was associated in Cincinnati with. Dr. Horace J. Whitacre, in surgery. Dr. Silver then returned to Sidney and practiced until he was commissioned in the medical corps of the U. S. Army, in 1916, during the Mexican border trou- bles. He served throughout the campaign, discharged, and was immediately recalled upon the entry of the United States into the world war, being discharged finally in December, 1918. He has re- entered local practice and is district surgeon for both the Big Four and B. & O. railroads.
The osteopathic method of treating diseases has developed a dignity it was scarcely permitted to wear twenty years ago when it was new; and there are now (1919) in Sidney four representa- tives of the system, all of whom are busy doing their share toward
4
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relieving those forms of human ailment for which their treatment is especially prescribed. They are: Drs. F. D. Clark, Margaret Wil- son, T. J. Emley, and B. H. T. Becker. Mrs. Becker is also a graduate osteopath. One chiropractor, W. R. Sayre, has also lo- cated in the city.
The dental brotherhood is of high grade, and goodly number, including Drs. J. A. Throckmorton, J. F. Richeson, C. B. Orbison, William Shea, R. W. Guthridge, R. M. Kerr, O. S. Sickman, Lieut. Comstock and Taylor Davidson. Among the earlier dentists who are remembered for their skill and worth are Drs. J. S. Stipp and S. B. Messinger, both of whom are deceased.
It is a remarkable fact that with the death of Dr. William Gaines at Houston, in July, 1919, there is not a physician left in Shelby county, outside of Sidney, who is located south of the Big Four railroad ; and with the exception of Dr. Strosnider at Newport and Dr. Raterman at Fort Loramie, there is not now a resident physician west of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad in Shelby county. It is not possible to make the list of county physicians complete, in a chapter of this kind, and many careers may have been lost sight of which were of importance in their day and place. At Port Jeffer- son, when the elder Dr. Hussey located there, three physicians were already practicing, Dr. Pratt (whose descendants are now prominent in Bellefontaine, Ohio), Dr. Osborne and Dr. J. Sharp, uncle of Dr. B. M. Sharp. Dr. Crumbaugh was also a physician of Port Jefferson. Dr. Carter, who was in practice from 1868 until his very recent death at Jackson Centre, should not be forgotten. And there are others. Dr. Edward McBurney, an old soldier of the Civil war, is still in practice at Jackson Centre, and at Botkins Dr. George M. Tate, the oldest physician in the entire county, attends to quite a number of patients, though past eighty years of age.
Dr. Thomas Beamer, eclectic, who practiced many years at Plattsville, died in 1918. The elder Dr. Gaines (father of Waldo N.) preceded his son at Pemberton. Dr. H. G. Steeley was a pioneer doctor of Anna, long deceased.
Other physicians practicing in the county are :
Montra, Dr. Charles Faulkner (twenty-five years in practice) ; Maplewood, Dr. Charles Howard Lisle; Houston, Dr. William Gaines (deceased) ; Pemberton, Dr. Waldo N. Gaines; Newport, Dr. James N. Strosnider ; Loramie, Dr. Frank Raterman; Botkins, Dr. Fred McVey, Dr. Arlington Ailes, Dr. Mary Ellen Hauver, Dr. Edgar McCormick; Anna, Drs. C. E. Johnston, G. E. Martin and Milliette, and Dr. Edw. A. Steeley ; Kirkwood, Dr. E. A. Yates, native of Conover, Ohio, and graduate of Medical College of Ohio.
Educational
In the story of its development from a cornfield set in a forest to a snug little city famed for its beauty and its industries, the cap- ital of Shelby county derives no greater pride than that which comes from the contemplation of its public schools.
As an older historian said, the first schools were "rude and feeble." Education at the beginning of settlement was regarded
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as a luxury rather than as a necessity. The settlers had little time to indulge in luxury in any form, and necessity demanded the ex- penditure of nearly all their energy in other directions than that of learning. None the less, there were schools here, from the very earliest days. Charles Starrett, the original owner of the town plat of Sidney, had provided a half acre for the purpose of building a schoolhouse, and, prior to the opening of the newer town, a small log schoolhouse had been built at Hardin.
The first schools were not free schools, although the school- houses were generally erected by public subscription, and a part of the expense of operating them was provided by public moneys or by private benevolences, the remainder being met by tuition fees from the pupils who attended. As stated in a very able sketch, written some years ago by Mrs. Jane Cummins Arbuckle, "the edu- cational spirit was manifest among the citizens, and the object of the teacher was the diffusion of sound literary and moral instruction ;" yet "there was no concerted effort toward popular education for two decades after the establishment of the town [of Sidney]."
Up to 1840 there were no free schools in the town, though private schools had come and gone, and were still flourishing-or languishing, if that be nearer the truth.
The earliest school of all had been conducted in the little court- house on the west side of Ohio avenue, opposite the public square, being taught by Mr. J. C. Calhoun .* Mr. Shephard had taught an early school in the first little Methodist church, which stood on the southeast corner of Miami and North streets, where the Baptists reared their edifice in later years. On the northeast corner of the same streets, in the old Presbyterian church, Judge N. R. Wyman taught a school for a number of years, extending well into the for- ties, possibly longer. In a small frame building on South Main avenue, separated from the O. J. Taylor home site, by the alley on the north, Rev. and Mrs. Samuel Cleland, assisted by Mr. Arm- strong, taught a school during six months each year. The home of the Business Girls' association occupies the same site, at present (1919). Also, in 1840, a school for girls was taught by Mrs. Dr. Johnson, in a building three doors above the northeast corner of Main and Poplar streets. Mr. Alexander Green taught a school on the second floor of the same building, and both teachers were noted for thoroughness in the matters of teaching and discipline.
The next year, 1841, four free schools were established in the village, Alexander Green, Abraham Fulton, Mrs. Mckinley and Elijah Lynch being retained as teachers at the modest salary of $75 each, per quarter, a public fund having been raised for the amount.
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