USA > Ohio > Knox County > Past and present of Knox County, Ohio, Vol. I > Part 25
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Dr. Jonathan N. Burr, of Mt. Vernon, a native of Connecticut, born in 1800, whose ancestry came with John Winthrop's fleet in 1630, studied medicine with Dr. Daniel Upson, of Washington, and others, and finally in 1823 associated himself with Dr. James R. Hill, of Delaware, Ohio, and continued there to practice until 1825, when he settled in Mt. Vernon. In 1880 he was the oldest physician in Mt. Vernon, in years of practice. When he came to the city he found only two other physicians, one of whom soon left for other fields.
Dr. John W. Russell, another excellent physician, was born in Canaan, Connecticut. in 1804: entered Hamilton College, New York, in 1821 ; his health failed him and he went to South Carolina and taught school; re- turned to Connecticut in 1824 and studied medicine under Dr. Alanson Abbe, of Litchfield, took lecture courses at Yale College ; attended various schools and among them Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, graduating in 1827. In 1827 he went to Sandusky, Ohio, and in the fall of the same year located at Mt. Vernon, where he spent the best years of his life in the successful practice of medicine and surgery, being an especially fine surgeon. In the days of the Civil war he was examining surgeon for the soldiers who enlisted from here. He was president of the Mt. Vernon Bank during its existence and a large mining operator in Colorado. He died in March, 1887, aged eighty-three years.
Dr. Mathew Thompson, of Mt. Vernon, born in Ireland in 1816, emi- grated to this county in 1831, with his parents and located in Knox county,
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Ohio. He united with the Methodist Protestant church in 1837; graduated from the Medical University of New York in 1842, and entered the prac- tice of his profession with Dr. Russell in 1844, with whom he remained until 1861, when he practiced alone. He practiced also with Dr. Smith un- til the death of that doctor in 1867. As a Christian gentleman and an ex- cellent physician, the Doctor had but few, if any equals in Knox county.
Dr. Cassander E. Bryant, of Mt. Vernon, was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1826; was reared on a farm; attended the schools of Frederick- town; commenced the study of medicine when twenty-one years of age, Dr. Lewis Dyer and Dr. T. R. Potter being his preceptors. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1850 and began his active practice at Frederick- town, with Dr. Potter. He had for medical partners several, including Drs. McFarland and Burr. His health failed and after traveling in Europe for a year, he returned and retired from active practice.
Dr. Joseph Gordon, of Mt. Vernon, was born in Chester county, Penn- sylvania, in 1841 ; emigrated with his father's family to Knox county, Ohio, in 1853, finally locating at Fredericktown. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Twentieth Ohio Regiment, and participated in dozens of the great battles of the Civil war. In the spring of 1865 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Russell. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1868. practiced a short time in New Jersey ; he then located in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he soon built up a fine practice and in 1880 was president of the Knox County Medical Society. He is now deceased.
Dr. J. T. Hess, of Mt. Vernon, was born in Washington county, Penn- sylvania, 1830; the year of his birth the family removed to Ohio, locating in Jefferson township, Knox county; he read medicine with Dr. Shannon and Prof. Smith, of Philadelphia; graduated from the University of Penn- sylvania in the spring of 1857; in 1862 he was commissioned assistant sur- geon in the Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Regiment; served one year with the Thirteenth regulars; this was Gen. W. T. Sherman's old regiment; he was made surgeon of the Ninety-sixth Ohio; was in charge of the United States hospital at Fort Gaines; he served as division surgeon the last years of the war; he amputated hundreds of limbs; practiced after the war in Delaware, Ohio, until the spring of 1877 when he removed to Mt. Vernon. He is now deceased.
Dr. H. W. Smith, born in Massachusetts in 1826, came with his par- ents to Ohio in 1839; received his preparatory education in Mt. Vernon ; read medicine with Drs. Russell and Thompson; graduated from the Medi- cal University of New York City and practiced there twelve years, after which he came back to Mt. Vernon in 1861 and formed a partnership with
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Dr. Thompson which existed as long as Dr. Thompson lived, after which he practiced alone, and engaged in the drug business, which he followed un- til his death. December 15, 1875. He was a deacon in the Congregational church of Mt. Vernon a number of years and an excellent citizen.
Dr. A. J. Hyatt, of Brown township, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1835. His parents, who were early settlers, moved in from Mary- land. Young Hyatt entered Martinsburg Academy, then under charge of Rev. John Burns, and after his limited means was spent, he went to teaching school, which he followed winters and attended school summers until he had completed his course. In 1855 he took up the study of medicine with Dr. Isaac Putnam, of Mt. Holly. He attended medical lectures at Cincinnati in 1857-58 and in 1859 began the practice of his profession. In 1867 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine at the hands of the Charity Hospital of Cleveland. He moved west and died there a number of years since.
Dr. William E. Edwards, native of Carroll county, Maryland, came to Coshocton county in 1832 with the family and four years later to Knox county, Ohio. His father died when he was young and he had to support the family until twenty-five years of age, when he began the study of medicine with Dr. Aaron Edwards and attended lectures at the University of Michigan : began his practice in Muskingum county, Ohio, in the spring; in 1855 he came to Fredericktown; the fall of 1859 he removed to Amity where he practiced twelve years, after which he returned to Mt. Vernon. He was a member of the Methodist church-first the Protestant and later the Methodist Episcopal. He belonged to both the Masonic and Odd Fel- lows orders and to the Sons of Temperance.
Dr. Israel Bedell, of Mt. Vernon, was born in New York, in 1834; spent his youth on a farm; commenced reading medicine with Dr. McCarther, of Circleville. Ohio finishing his reading course with Drs. Russell and Thomp- son, of Mt. Vernon. He attended Ann Arbor and the University of New York City, finishing the latter place in 1863. He was appointed examining surgeon at Columbus, Ohio, for the Sixth Precinct of Ohio troops, report- ing in the field for duty, at Bridgeport, Alabama, remaining until his regi- ment was honorably discharged. He was then appointed a contract surgeon, stationed at Camp Dennison, where he had charge eight months. He be- came first assistant surgeon for the One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Regi- ment, but was not mustered into service. He came home and was engaged in practice at Cardington two years and came to Mt. Vernon where he built up a large, paying medical practice. He was partner of Dr. Bryant for two years in Mt. Vernon, but the doctor's health failed and the partnership re-
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lation was dissolved and Dr. Bedell practiced alone again. Dr. Bedell re- moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he still practices.
Dr. John L. Black, physician of Pike township, was born in Union township. this county, in 1846; he attended the academy at Spring Moun- tain, Coshocton county, Ohio, and studied medicine with Dr. C. Sapp. of Danville. He attended lectures at Cleveland in the medical department of the University of Wooster, graduating in the spring of 1869, and at once commenced the practice of his profession at Amity, Knox county. He there Isaac and John E. Russell are both deceased. Jayne Payne, now deceased, built up a large, successful practice and was still there in the eighties. He accumulated a good property and stood high among his fellow practition- ers. He served in the Civil war as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment, Independent Infantry, where he remained ten months. This physician has been dead a number of years.
Dr. F. C. Larimore, physician of Mt. Vernon, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, April 12, 1846, his father being a merchant and canal con- tractor, who died when Frank was but ten years of age. He then came to Knox county to live with an uncle, Thomas Larimore, of Milford town- ship. There he worked summers and attended school in the winter. In 1861 he enlisted as a soldier in the Twentieth Ohio Regiment, being a mem- ber of Company G. He was wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, in April, 1862, by a shell and was discharged on account of this. He then at- tended and taught school for a time, and in the spring of 1864 enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment National Guards, and was appointed fifth sergeant. In March, 1865, he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Drs. Thompson and Smith. He read there a year and a half and attended lectures at Ann Arbor six months, and then returned to Mt. Vernon and read six months longer with his old preceptors, Thompson and Smith. He took other lecture courses at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which he graduated in March, 1869. He practiced three years at Mt. Vernon, and in 1872 went to Europe for the purpose of visiting the hospitals, spending six months in Vienna, Austria, in the hos- pital, gaining knowledge there from private instructors in medicine and surgery. After traveling and studying thirteen months in Europe, he re turned to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and opened his office for general medical prac- tice, which he has kept up ever since. With the general public as well as with the medical profession Dr. Larimore stands high and in surgery is counted superior to any within the county.
Dr. Jennie Brown, the third daughter of Gilman Bryant and wife, the well known pioneers of Mt. Vernon, was born May, 1819. Her father
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was the first merchant and postmaster in the city of her birth. She married Dr. Joseph Brown in 1851. He was a professor of the Eclectic Medical Col- lege at Cincinnati. She read medicine with her husband, attended lectures at Cincinnati, also at Syracuse, New York, where she graduated in 1854. She practiced with her husband until she graduated and assisted him, es- pecially in diseases of women. Shortly after her marriage they removed to Lyons, Iowa, where they established a health institute, which was suc- cessfully conducted two years, when they sold and went to Chicago, where Dr. Joseph Brown died in 1874. She was unfortunate enough to be burned out twice. In 1873 she returned to Mt. Vernon where she practiced medi- cine many years. She had the honor of being the fourth lady graduate in the United States.
Dr. Eugene Eggleston was born near Chicago in 1836, his birthplace being within an Indian tent of the Cherokee tribe. He received his educa- tion at Utica, Ohio; read medicine with his father, Hiram Eggleston, M.D., and attended lectures at Springfield, Illinois, after he commenced practicing, coming to Mt. Vernon in the seventies.
Dr. B. Merriman, physician, of Waldo, Hilliar township, Knox county, was born in Bloomfield, Ohio, 1854, son of a farmer; worked on the farm summers and attended country schools in the winter months. When twenty years of age he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. F. C. Larimore, of Mt. Vernon. He completed his office studies with Drs. Russell and Mc- Millen, of Mt. Vernon. He attended Columbus Medical College and Long Island College, Brooklyn, New York, graduating in 1878. He first started his practice in Marengo, Morrow county, Ohio; removed to Centerburg, Knox county, Ohio, in the autumn of 1879, where he became a successful doctor of medicine. He still practices at Centerburg, this county.
Dr. E. G. Wilson, physician at Mt. Vernon, was born in Granville, Licking county, Ohio, in August, 1853; educated at Dennison University, at Granville, in April, 1875. commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Larimore, of Mt. Vernon. In the winter of 1877-8 he took his first lectures at the Columbus Medical College, graduating in June, 1879, from Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, New York. He was appointed resi- dent surgeon of that hospital, filling that position until the summer of 1880. He then returned to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and formed a partnership with Dr. F. C. Larimore, with whom he was associated many years. He is now prac- ticing in Columbus, Ohio.
Since about 1880 the following have practiced at Mt. Vernon, in addi- tion to those already named as being here at that date. Of their where- abouts, the following paragraph will inform the reader :
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R. W. Carey, who removed to Colorado and became very wealthy. Isaac and John E. Russell are both deceased. Jayne Payne, now deceased, was an eminent physician and, notwithstanding he had only one eye, was very successful. Jacob Stamp, Dr. Bruce and Dr. Robinson, also John W. McMillen and L. Y. Scribner, all practiced here since 1880 and are all now deceased.
PRESENT PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY.
In October, 1911, the following physicians were practicing within Knox county :
Ackerman, E. V., at Fredericktown. Jefferson, T. E., at Danville.
Arndt, G. D., at Mt. Vernon.
Larimore, F. C., at Mt. Vernon.
Armentrout, L. W., at Mt. Vernon.
Lind, L. C., at State Hospital.
Blair, H. W., at Mt. Vernon.
Lee, J. F., at Mt. Vernon.
Best, S. R., at Centerburg.
Merriman, W. B., at Centerburg.
Buxton, J. W., at Howard.
Mclaughlin, R. B., at Mt. Liberty.
Claypool, J. B., at Gambier.
Norrick, J. H., at Fredericktown.
Colville, R. W., at Mt. Vernon.
Nixon, Isabelle, at Mt. Vernon.
Pennell, W. W., at Mt. Vernon.
Phillips, W. O., at Centerburg.
Porter, E. L., at Danville.
Putnam, Robert, Brinkhaven.
Putnam, W. S., at Brinkhaven.
Reed, John G., at Jelloway.
Scott, B. B., at Mt. Vernon.
Shrontz, J. F., at Martinsburg.
Shrontz, W. E., at Martinsburg.
Singery, F. L., at Mt. Vernon.
Stonehawker, W. W., at Bladens- burg. Watson, D. D., at Fredericktown.
Fisher, V. L., at Mt. Vernon.
Fulton, G. T., at Mt. Vernon. Grant, O. S., at Centerburg. Gray, I. E., at North Liberty.
Walker, C. D., at Gambier.
Welker, G. D., at Gambier.
Williams, L. L., at Mt. Vernon.
Workman, I. S., at Mt. Vernon.
THE KNOX COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
At a called meeting of the legalized practitioners of Knox county held in the basement of the Baptist church at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, on April 10,
(17)
Cole, R. E., at Democracy.
Coleman, D. S., at Howard. Conrad, C. K., at Mt. Vernon.
Conwell, C. B., at the State Hospital. Darling, H. S., at Fredericktown.
Deeley, S. E., at Mt. Vernon.
Deeley, W. S., at Mt. Vernon.
Eastman, W. H., at Fredericktown.
Eastman, N. R., at Mt. Vernon.
Eley, W. T., at Fredericktown. Eley, T. L., at Mt. Vernon.
Humbert, B. F., at Mt. Vernon. Hahn, J. E., at Brinkhaven. Hull, Marion, at Bladensburg.
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1903, a temporary medical organization was effected by the election of Dr. WV. W. Pennell. chairman, and Dr. F. C. Larimore, secretary.
On motion, Drs. Blair, Colville, Humbert and Lee were appointed a committee on constitution and by-laws.
The next meeting was held April 24, 1903, when the following named physicians came forward, signed the constitution and by-laws and paid two dollars for their annual dues for 1903: Drs. Larimore, Pennell, Colville, Blair, Lee Norrick, Arndt. Hyatt, Bradfield, Gray, Mahaffey, Humbert, Eley. Jefferson, Lewis, Ackerman, Deeley. Conrad, Pickard, Cosner, Russell.
At the same meeting the following were elected officers of the society : President. R. W. Colville: vice-president, G. D. Arndt ; secretary, H. W. Blair : treasurer, W. H. Eley. The board of censors was made up as fol- lows: W. W. Pennell, J. H. Norrick, E. J. Hyatt. Delegate, F. C. Larimore.
The society is known as the Knox County Medical Society and it holds its meetings the second Friday in each month, except in the months of June, July and August, when they are omitted. At least once a year open meet- ings are held at which the general public are invited to attend and to take part in the program if they choose to.
The officers serving at this time (the autumn of 1911) are: President, W. H. Eastman; vice-president, H. W. Blair; secretary, I. S. Workman ; treasurer. J. H. Norrick.
HOSPITALS OF MT. VERNON.
There are now two creditable hospitals and sanitariums in Mt. Vernon. What is known as the Mount Vernon Hospital-Sanitarium was established in 1904 by U. S. Clymer, as a private institution. In the fall of 1906 it was incorporated by a stock company, which was dissolved in 1908. It was then taken over by L. C. Penn, who conducted it until September, 1911, when Dr. Charles E. Welch took hold of it and is making it a successful concern. Its capacity is about twelve patients. Both surgical and medical work is here carried on. Trained nurses and a training school for nurses is a part of the work of the institution. It is open to any school of practice and many of the city and county physicians bring patients here for treatment. Its lo- cation is ideal, being in a quiet section of the city on Thistle Ridge, No. 115 Hamtramck street. It is in the old John Cooper residence, later known as the Braddock place, and is owned by John Hawn. It is a three-story and basement structure, well planned for hospital uses. The grounds are ideal for pleasure. comfort and health renewing qualities.
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The Mount Vernon Medical and Surgical Sanitarium, at the corner of Sugar and Mulberry streets, Mt. Vernon, was established in 1906 by V. L. Fisher, as superintendent. They have built up an enviable reputation and have all the cases they have room for. This hospital was at first conducted out at the park and was there known as the College Springs Sanitarium, being run in connection with the Advent College out there. It was moved to the city in October, 1909. They here bought a large, handsome residence property at the above-named streets and have a cottage to the east of the hospital and a medical and surgical office on High street. They conduct a training school for nurses and take what patients they can care for. They have thirty-two rooms, well-lighted and heated by both natural gas and electricity. Elevators convey people from one floor to another of the build- ing, which has hot and cold water throughout. A large addition has been built to the original house. It is operated on the Battle Creek plan and the rates are reasonable. To do good is their motto.
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CHAPTER XIX.
BANKS AND BANKING.
Banking in Knox county dates back to the close of the war of 1812-14, when there was a great complaint of the scarcity of money all over the United States, especially in the western states, including Ohio. Hence it was suggested that there be issued what was called "currency." As early as December. 1814, a meeting was held, and articles of association for the or- ganization of a bank to be styled the "Owl Creek Bank of Mount Vernon" were entered into, fixing the capital stock at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, divided into shares of fifty dollars each, payable in installments of not exceeding five dollars each, and appointing certain commissioners to open stock books. etc. Petitions were then presented the Legislature, praying for a charter, and this being denied them, they concluded to go ahead without any state sanction.
April 10, 1816, the first meeting was held at the court house, at which meeting the following proceedings were had :
"Agreeable to previous notice. there was a meeting in the court house on April 10. Jonathan Miller was called to the chair, and Joseph Brown was appointed secretary. The following independent sentiments were set forth :
"Resolved, that we have by the constitution of this state a full and fair right and privilege to have charters granted when we shall petition the legis- lative body of this state for that purpose. We, the undersigned, have com- plied with the requisitions of the constitution, and will continue to do so, without waiving our rights and privileges.
"Therefore be it resolved, that we do form ourselves into a company for the purpose of establishing a bank in the town of Mt. Vernon, Knox county,.
"Resolved, that the following named gentlemen be appointed managers of said bank and to draft articles of association and by-laws for the future government of the company, viz: James Smith, William Mitchell, M. Mer- ritt. Abraham Darling. Hosmer Curtis, John Warden, Gilman Bryant, Jona- than Miller, L. S. Stillman, Benjamin Martin, Joseph Brown, John Green and Jacob Young."
OWL CREEK BANK.
After the above named meeting and resolution, the articles of associa- tion were drafted and they numbered twenty in all. Among these provisions
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may here be named : Article first, "The capital stock of the company shall be two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, current money of the United States. with the privilege of extending it to five hundred thousand dollars." The bank was to commence as soon as twenty-five thousand dollars was subscribed.
Article sixth provided that the affairs of the bank should be conducted by thirteen directors (the "unlucky number," as it proved), a president and cashier. James Smith was elected president and L. S. Stillman, cashier.
Having been refused a state charter, the association went ahead, trust- ing to the honor, honesty and integrity of its borrowers, they pledging them- selves to waive all rights the laws might give them. Every borrower was required to sign the following oath before some qualified justice of the peace : "Before me. A. B., a justice of the peace for the county of . aforesaid, came C. D .. who before me being duly sworn and saith, that, whereas he has thrown a note into the Owl Creek Bank of Mt. Vernon for discount ; saith, that if discounted, he will take no advantage of any statute law of this state; and farther this deponent saith not."
Under these conditions the bank commenced doing business, and in March. 1817. it declared a dividend of six per cent. The stockholders were all jubilant and things went merry so long as the bank had money to loan. But one day its funds ran low, it had no cash, notes became due and an effort was made to collect them. Then came the "hard times." People were sud- denly convinced of the deep sin and crime of fostering an unchartered bank. Samuel Williams, a hotel keeper of Mansfield, had borrowed five hundred dollars, and after taking his oath that he "would not take advantage of the law," when these notes were tendered him for hotel bills, refused them, and freely used the columns of the newspapers to destroy this banking house that had befriended him when in need. In such times of evil talk what could the bank do but go down? But suddenly a few whole-souled men came in to rescue the bank. The number of stockholders were never known, by reason of mutilation of the books which took place pending a suit at law between Luke Walpole and some of the stockholders. One night the bank was entered and a large box containing the books and papers was carried away. Later the box was found in the hazel brush, east of town, broken open, the books and papers scattered, with several of the names of stock- holders obliterated. When once carried through the courts, the papers in the case, all labeled "The Owl Creek Bank Case," would fill a large volume. The building in which this Knox county's first banking institution was kept was a covered log house that stood where later the hardware store of James Rodgers stood; it was about twenty feet square, contained two rooms, with
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doors and windows protected with large-headed nails. These were driven in so thick that no one could saw or cut their way into the bank, it was believed. The bank building was painted fire red and was conspicuous indeed.
The books and list of stockholders having been partly destroyed, the case assumed one of great difficulty. Finally, Henry B. Curtis was appointed master commissioner, and he, after a thorough examination, in September, 1837, made a report which was published in the newspapers. The supreme court in September that year approved this report, by which it appeared that $26,796.20 was required to be raised to meet and discharge the present un- paid indebtedness of the bank. The liabilities of the stockholders being shown, it was ordered that said sums, as assessed by said master commissioner, be paid by said parties to him, but the cause was continued on some law point. Other commissioners were appointed. One was Mr. Hunter, in 1840, who made a final report, showing that there was still $17,457 short of paying out the amounts due. It was continued along in the courts until 1859, when in June of that year an entry was made on the journal that the case was ended at last, by the payment of a sufficient sum to liquidate all outstanding indebted- ness. The receiver's final report has these among other befitting words con- cerning this celebrated bank case in Knox county :
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