Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 26

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848-
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck
Number of Pages: 1318

USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania > Part 26

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PRESIDENTS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

1838. B. Richardson.

1873-78. W. L. Richardson.

. 1839-46. No record.

1879. L. A. Smith.

1847-48. E. S. Park.

1880. H. Pennepacker.

1849-54. No record.

1881. S. Birdsall.

1855-56. B. Richardson.

1882. E. F. Wilmot.

1857-58. J. Blackman.

1883. A. T. Brundage.

1859-60. L. W. Bingham.

1884. E. N. Smith.

1861-65. B. Richardson.

1885. A. Chamberlin.

1866-67. L. A. Smith.

1886. G. A. Brundage.

1868-71. C. C. Halsey.

1887.

F. D. Lamb.

1872. C. C. Edwards.

SECRETARIES.

1838. J. Blackman.

1860. G. Z. Dimock.

1839-47. No record.

1861-63. C. C. Halsey.

1848. E. Patrick, Jr.

1864-72. E. L. Gardner.

1849-54. No record.

1873-78. C. C. Halsey.

1855-56. G. Z. Dimock.

1879. E. L. Gardner.

1857-58. E. S. Park.

1880-87. O. C. Halsey.

1859. W. L. Richardson.

DR. BENADAM DENISON, son of George and Theody Brown Denison, of Stonington, Conn., was born at Hartland, Vt., March 31, 1773. He was twice married,-first to Polly Morse, of Hartland, Vt., and second to Eunice Williams,

at Montrose, Pa., in 1817. He moved to Montrose a few years previous to his last mar- riage, where he resided until March, 1836. He then moved to Dimock Four Corners, and died at Montrose February 8, 1837. His second wife died in 1872. He read medicine in Vermont, and (as one of his sons says) after- ward graduated at Geneva Medical College, N. Y. He had twelve children, of whom seven are now living, and three are physicians in practice.

DR. ELEAZER PARKER, a native of Connec- ticut, came to Great Bend in August, 1807, and practiced medicine and surgery two and a half years successfully. In the fall of that year he was appointed surgeon's mate to the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment, which had been formed the spring previous. He was commissioned the first postmaster in the county February 1, 1808, Isaac Post, of Bridgewater, being commissioned one month later. The same year, March 6th, Dr. Parker performed the operation of bronchotomy on a little girl two years old (Lucina Farrar), and extracted a watermelon-seed from her windpipe. She re- covered, had the seed in her possession, and died at Harford in 1873. He introduced vac- cination into the county, and vaccinated a number. His practice extended into almost every settlement in what is now Susquehanna County-a circuit of fifty miles of bad roads, on horseback when practicable, but in many places there were only foot-paths for miles through the woods-and, laborious as it was, it proved very unremunerative, for the people were really unable to pay much.

Dr. Parker married a daughter of Jonathan Dimon, and in 1810 moved to Kingston, Luzerne County. He was examining surgeon of the Thirty-fifth Pennsylvania Regiment during the War of 1812; was a teetotaler over forty years, and never prescribed alcoliol to a patient in his practice of sixty years; and, in 1872, at the age of ninety years, was hale and active. On petition of Dr. Parker, the north end of the Newburg turnpike, finished by D. Summers, was made a post-road.1

1 Blackman's " History."

138

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The physicians who had lived at Great Bend, and removed previous to 1807, were Drs. Forbes, Noah Kincaid, Charles Fraser and Jonathan Gray. Dr. Forbes was there in 1791 or before, and was probably the first regular physician in Susquehanna County.

In 1813 or 1814 Dr. Daniel McFall, an Irishman, educated and highly respected, came to Great Bend and died there about 1835.1

Dr. Israel Skinner and his twin brother Jacob came in 1814 to the farms adjoining or lying on the line between Great Bend and the present township of Oakland (then Harmony). Dr. Skinner is remembered as the author of a " History of the American Revolution in verse." 1

DR. WILLIAM WELLS PRIDE, of Cambridge, N. Y., a returned missionary from the Choc- taws, was established at Burrows' Hollow, Gib- son, in January, 1830. He married Miss Han- nah Thacher, daughter of Obadiah Thacher, of Harford, at the Choctaw Mission. In 1834 he removed to Springville, and remained there nearly twenty-five years, when he renioved to Middletown, Conn., where, having passed the evening of his days with his daughter, Mrs. Rev. Dr. J. Taylor, he died March 24, 1865, aged sixty-nine. Mrs. Pride died August 8, 1861, aged sixty-one.

One cannot correctly estimate the value to the community of two such Christian lives as those of Doctor and Mrs. Pride. Both had gone in their early prime as missionaries of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions (1819-26) to the Choctaws in Missis- sippi. Dr. Pride was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church at Springville, and was an active anti-slavery advocate. He enjoyed in a high degree the respect and confidence of all who knew him. He was one of the original members of the Susquehanna County Medical Society.

DR. CHARLES FRASER, son of Charles and Obedience Tyler Frazer, was born in Connecti- cut, 1779. His parents removed during his boyhood to Sangerfield, Oneida County, N. Y. He made good use of his advantages for acquir-

ing an education. His daughter, Ann L., has heard him say that he read medicine with Dr. White, of Cherry Valley, N. Y. He attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, when Dr. P. S. Physick was professor there. He practiced a short time at Great Bend, and re- moved to Montrose. He married Miss Mary Lord, of Clinton, Dutchess County, N. Y., De- cember 25, 1809. They had four children,- Philip, Franklin, Ann L. and Caroline, of whom only Ann L. is living.

Dr. Frazer held the offices of prothonotary, clerk of courts, register and recorder, by ap- pointment of Governor Snyder, from the or- ganization of Susquehanna County, in 1812, for four years, and he was elected to the State Sen- ate in 1816. Dr. Frazer was precise and accu- rate in manner, dignified and prepossessing in appearance. He died February 4, 1834, and his widow, September 13, 1870.

DR. CALVIN LEET, from Vermont, located in 1819, first at " Slab City,"-as the vicinity of Wright's Mill was called,-but in 1820 re- moved to Friendsville, where he owned about three hundred acres. His father, Captain Lu- ther Leet, came soon after. Dr. Leet was the first regular physician in the western half of the county, and for some years the only one. "He had a rough circuit to ride at a time when roads were rooty and full of stumps." He married Miss Susan Williams, of Vermont, in 1813. They had six children, of whom only Dr. Nathan Young Leet, of Scranton, Pa., and Martha D., wife of Dr. E. L. Hendrick, of Friendsville, are living. Dr. Leet was one of the original mem- bers of the Susquehanna County Medical So- ciety. After a practice of nearly fifty years, he died January 1, 1874. He was once associate judge of Susquehanna County, and served in the Legislature. His son, Dr. N. Y. Leet, practiced several years at Friendsville, joined the Susquehanna County Medical Society in 1860 ; was surgeon during the war of 1861, and has since enjoyed an immense practice at Scranton, Pa., his present residence.

ELEAZER LYMAN, M.D., was born in Hins- dale, Mass., 1802; married Miss Sally Payne, and removed to Berkshire, Tioga County, N. Y., about 1821; thence removed to Friendship,

1 Blackman's " History."

139

MEDICAL HISTORY.

Allegany County, N. Y., where he studied medicine with Dr. James Wellman. He gradu- ated at Geneva Medical College about 1831. He practiced at Bolivar, N. Y., about two years, and at Speedsville, N. Y., until about 1835, when he removed to Great Bend, where he con- tinued in practice until his death by an acci- dental fali from his horse, in 1845. (He suc- ceeded Dr. Daniel McFall, who died at Great Bend in 1835.) His first wife died in 1838,

at Fort Fisher in 1865) ; Vincent P. was second lieutenant in a California regiment.

DR. E. N. SMITH was born in Brooklyn township, Pa., November 23, 1818, and was the second son of Latham A. and Sally (Newton) Smith. He early evinced a liking for study, and availed himself of all the advantages of the district schools, and also attended Newton's select school in Brooklyn. He afterwards taught school for several years in his native State, and

and he afterward married Miss Sally Clark, of | also in New Jersey. He then decided to adopt Great Bend.

Of Dr. Lyman's sons, Chauncey A., the eldest, was a lawyer at Lock Haven, Pa., and lieuten- ant-colonel of the Seventh Regiment Pennsyl- vania Reserves; Charles E., a lawyer at Great Bend, was captain of Company H, Two Hun- dred and Third Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- teers; Dr. J. W. was medical director of the Kearney Division, and, after 1863, lieutenant- colonel of the Two Hundred and Third Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers (he was killed

the profession of medicine, and entered the office of Dr. Braton Richardson, of Brooklyn, Pa., as a student. He continued his studies after- wards at Geneva College, but did not graduate. In 1848 he located at Lanesboro', and entered into partnership with Dr. Henry Shutts in the practice of his profession. When the Erie Rail- road Company established their shops at Sus- quehanna, Dr. Smith opened a branch office there, and shortly afterwards himself and Dr. Shutts crected a building on the site of the

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

present post-office, put in a stock of drugs and opened a drug-store. Upon the dissolution of the partnership, which continued several years, the building and drug business became the property of Dr. Smith. This building and contents were afterwards destroyed by fire, and he then erected the store-building now occupied by Mitchell. Here he carried on the drug business in connection with his profession until about 1872, when he relinquished it and gave his exclusive attention to his professional duties and extensive practice. In 1852 he married Frances (1836-69), daughter of Calvin (1805) and Mary (1805-86) Sheldon, who was born in Broome County, N. Y. Their children were, Bert E. (1853) educated at graded and select schools at Susquehanna, and also at the Wy- oming Seminary, at Kingston, Pa .; he studied medicine with his father, and afterwards at- tended the medical school at Syracuse, N. Y. In 1873 he went West and spent several years in Mexico, Colorado and other Western States. While engaged in railroading, as conductor of a train, he met with a serious and nearly fatal accident. In 1880 he married Anna Guilkey, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. In 1885 he returned home on account of the illness of his father, and is now residing at Susquehanna. George S. (1859), educated at the public schools of Susquehanna, and also attended the medical school at Baltimore, Md. He also studied medicine with his father, but never engaged in the practice of that profession. He resides with his brother at Susquehanna.

Dr. Smith was widely known in Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New York as a skillful and successful physician. Coming to Susquehanna when it was simply a small ham- let, he saw it grow and expand into the first town in the county. Into the households of many of its first residents he came as their family physician, and he continued to hold this relation until his death, which occurred in March, 1886. In 1873 Dr. Smith married, for his second wife, Mary E. Marshall, born in 1837, who survives him. Wedded to his pro- fession, which, in its exacting demands upon his time, left him but little opportunity to exer- cise the social proclivities of his nature, yet he !

was ever genial and pleasant in his intercourse with his fellow-citizens, and ever took a lively interest in all public enterprises for the improve- ment and benefit of his town. His large and lucrative practice gained him a competence, and in his death the medical fraternity lost an honored member, and the community a skilled and successful physician.

DOCTOR LATHAM AVERY SMITH, eldest son of Latham A. (1781-1848) and Sally (New- ton) (1789-1840) Smith, was born in Brooklyn, Susquehanna County, Pa., Angust 14, 1816. His parents were natives of Groton, New London County, Conn., where they were mar- ried in 1807, and whence they came to Susque- hanna County in 1813, having purchased a large tract of land in Brooklyn township.

His paternal grandparents were James and Annis Smith, who were born and raised in New London County, Conn., and had ten children. They came to Susquehanna County with their son and died here. His maternal grandparents were Elijah and Judith (Jones) Newton, of Gro- ton, Conn., who were married in 1788 and died within a few months of each other, after attain- ing the great age of ninety-five years. The children of L. A. and Sally (Newton) Smith were Sally L. (1808-72), married William W. Weston, one of the pioneers of Brooklyn and the parent of E. A. Weston, ex-superin- tendent of schools and a prominent citizen, and was the mother of Dr. Wm. L. Weston, the dentist, practicing at New Milford ; Cyntha S. (1810-84), married Edwin Tiffany, of Harford township; Emma A., born 1812, is the wife of Col. C. M. Gere, and resides at Montrose; Mary H. (1814-84) was the wife of James Adams, the tan- ner, of Brooklyn township; Latham A .; E. N. (1818-86) studied medicine and became a prominent practitioner in the county, as will be noted in a sketch on page 139 of this chap- ter; Hubbard N., born 1821, a farmer, of Lenox township; Deborah A. (1824-82) was the wife of L. R. Peck, a well-known farmer and business man of Harford township ; James F., born 1826, a farmer of Lenox town- ship ; and Eunice J., born 1829, the wife of John Ives, of New Milford borough.

The youthful days of Latham A. Smith were

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spent upon his father's farm and in attendance upon the district school, finishing with a course at Harford University in 1836. The following spring he commenced reading medicine with Dr. Braton Richardson, of Brooklyn, Pa., and during 1839 and '40 he attended lectures at the Fairfield Medical College, N. Y. After a year and a half of practice with his preceptor he located at New Milford, where he has been in continuous practice to the present time. In 1841-42 and part of 1843 he was in partner- ship with the late Dr. L. W. Bingham.

Dr. Smith joined the Susquehanna County Medical Society in 1840 and, with two excep- tions, has attended every meeting of that body for the past forty-six years. He was president of the society in 1866 and '67 and again in 1879. He represented the County Society at the State Medical Society's meetings in 1858 and 1864, and was a delegate in attendance upon the meeting of the American Medical As- sociation also, in 1864. Dr. Smith is the premier of the Susquehanna County medical fraternity in continuous practice within the county, and lias ever maintained a high position in the estcem of his professional brethren and of the community at large.

In 1845 he married Mary J. (1824-59), daughter of Henry and Eliza (Fairchild) Bur- ritt, who were among the first settlers of New Milford. They had three children, all of whom died in September, 1852.

May 30, 1865, he married Mary, the daughter of Elias and Mary (Weston) Hoyt, of Luzerne County, Pa., who is a cousin of the Hon. Henry M. Hoyt, ex-Governor of Penn- sylvania, and is a lady of cultivated tastes and artistic ability. Their children are Isabella, married Charles Tipton, a business man of Brantford, Ontario ; Sidney Hoyt (1868-72); Channing (1871-72); Gessella and Pauline Smith.

DR. LEMUEL WEBB BINGHAM was born at Windham, Conn., in 1794, and read medicine at his native place with Dr. Avery, completing his course with lectures at the Medical Department of Yale Col- lege. In 1817 lie commenced the practice of medicine at New Milford, where he spent the

remaining fifty years of his life, his death oc- curring in 1867. He married Alma Dean, and of their nine children, only one, Mrs. Dr. G. D. Kimball, of New Milford, is now living in the county. Dr. Bingham was in partner- ship with Dr. L. A. Smith in 1841-42, and with Dr. D. C. Aincy in 1860-61.

He met the hardships and trials incident to the practice of a pioneer physician resolutely and cheerfully, finding many warm-hearted friends among his patrons, not only in New Milford, but in all the adjoining townships. Without much of the culture or polish of the schools, he profited by his experience, and aimed at a high standard in his chosen vocation. He was among the earliest and most active to organize a County Medical Society, and on the 19th of November, 1834, he was one of six who met for that purpose, and was chairman of the committee to draft the constitution.

He was president of the society in 1859 and 1860, and was ever held in high regard by his professional brethren. His services were so cheerfully rendered to all classes, that his gen- erous disposition did not allow the accumulation of much wealth, but his memory is embalmed in the hearts of many to whom he ministered.

DR. SAMUEL BISSELL, the youngest of five children of Samuel and Betsey Pierce Bissell, was born at Newport, R. I., in 1789. His parents removed to Hartwick, Otsego County, N. Y., where he read medicine two years with a Dr. Arnold, and practiced two years under instruc- tion with Dr. Gott, a graduate from Edin- burgh, Scotland, residing in Hartwick. He did not attend lectures or receive the degree of M.D., but had for his credentials a certificate signed by Drs. Arnold and Gott, of Hartwick ; Dr. White, of Cherry Valley, and two prom- inent physicians of Cooperstown, N. Y.

In 1811 he married Sally, daughter of Israel Foote, of Hartwick, and in 1815 removed to what is now Brooklyn, this county, where he practiced medicine until his death, in 1829. He had twelve children, eight of whom are now liv- ing. His practice extended from Bridgewater to Abington, and he often went on horseback through the woods to the latter place and back without partaking of food. Some of the roads

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

could be followed only by marked trees, and he was sometimes out all night in the woods. He was a surgeon of the War of 1812, and had an honorable discharge from the service. He was also a Free-Mason.

His widow survived him until her death, in 1783, at the age of eighty-two years. For twenty-five years after the doctor's death she was so often sent for to see the sick, that her family sometimes felt that she did not stay at home at one time long enough to make a visit.

His daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Fairchild, re- sides close by the old homestead, about half a mile west of Brooklyn Centre.

CHESTER TYLER, M.D. (1787-1847), was a successful practicing physician for twenty-two years, and resided in Kennedy Hill, in Gibson. He was a native of Windham County, Conn., was examined in physics and surgery at Delhi, N. Y., in 1816, and licensed to practice by the Board of Examiners. He settled at Hartwick, Otsego County, N. Y., where he remained until 1825, when he removed to Gibson. He had a wide field of practice, was known as a student of his profession, and his counsel was often sought by the neighboring physicians. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

DR. WILLIAM BISSELL, son of John and Mary Bissell, was born at Milton, Litchfield County, Connecticut, in 1803. In 1828 he came to Brooklyn, this county, and studied medicine with Dr. Samuel Bissell one year, and at Mont- rose, with Dr. Charles Frazier one year and eight months. He practiced a short time at Warren, Pa., and at Friendsville with Dr. Calvin Leet, until he was married, in 1834, to Parthenia H. Webster. He then settled in Forest Lake, and subsequently moved about two miles south, in Rush (now Jessup) township, where he lived until his deatlı, in 1883. Of eight children, only Jessie W., widow of ex- Sheriff M. B. Helme, survives him. His son, Alanson W., died for his country at Belle Plain, Va., in June, 1863. With the increasing infirm- ities of life, the doctor gave more attention to his farm than to practice in his last years. His widow resides with her daughter at the homestead.

Dr. Bissell was a member of the Susquehanna

County Medical Society and enjoyed the respect of the medical profession for his worth.

DR. NATHANIEL PENDLETON CORNWELL, son of Alba and Keturah Cornwell, was born in the Black River country, in the State of New York in 1804. When he was a year old his parents removed to Susquehanna County. When a mere lad he began to live with Dr. Mason Dennison, of Montrose, and afterward read med- icine with him. He practiced about three years at Warren; Pa., and then Paupack, Pa., in con- nection with hotel-keeping three or four years. About 1840 he purchased a farm at Fairdale, where he lived until his death, in 1883. For many years he had an extensive practice, and was considered a shrewd financier. His first wife was Amanda Reynolds, and they had eight children, six of whom attained to adult years.

BRATON RICHARDSON, M.D., the youngest son of Caleb and Huldah Richardson, was born at Appleborough, Bristol County, Mass., in 1803, and came with his parents to Harford, Pa., in 1806. He was to a great extent deprived of literary advantages ; yet his education was not neglected, for around his father's fireside he and his brothers diligently prosecuted their studies. He read medicine with Thomas Sweet, M.D., at Canaan, Pa., in 1825-27, and with Charles Marshall, M.D., at Newton, N. J., in 1828-29; attended lectures at the Western Medical Col- lege, at Fairfield, N. Y., receiving a diploma from Albany Medical College in the year 1834 ; commenced practice at Carbondale, Pa. in 1829 for one year, and at Brooklyn, this county, in 1830, where he led an active and useful life of thirty-four years.

In September, 1840, he married Lucy C. Miles, daughter of Joshua Miles, Jr., of Brook- lyn. They had no children and she survived him.

He was the first president of the Susquehanna Medical Society when organized, in 1838. He was also president in 1855 and '56, and from 1860 to his death, after a brief illness, March 20,1864.

For several years he represented the County Society at the State Society, of which he was one of the censors, and twice attended the American Medical Association as a delegate.

As a physician, Dr. Richardson was in the

RAGardner

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MEDICAL HISTORY.

foremost rank of the profession in Susquehanna County. He despised quackery out of the pro- fession or in it, and was a zealous supporter of medical organizations for its suppression. He was remarkable for his punctuality in all appoint- ments, and whenever absent or tardy, it was well-known that there must be some good reason for it. Precise, dignified and courtly in man- ner, with a vigorous intellect and good common sense, he secured the respect and esteem alike of his professional brethren and the community to whose welfare he devoted the best years of his life.

DR. JOSIAH BLACKMAN, son of Josiah and Clarissa Camp Blackman, was born at Newtown, Conn., May 24, 1794. He read medicine with Dr. Gideon Shepard, of the same place, and at- tended lectures at the Medical Department of Yale College in the winter of 1814 and '15, and received his diploma to practice medicine according to the practice of the time from the Connecticut Medical Society, January 16, 1816. A certificate of his qualifications to practice, which has the autograph of Prof. Benjamin Silliman, is now in the possession of his daugh- ter. In April, 1816, he settled in Gilbertsville, Otsego County, N. Y. He married Miss Emily Donaldson, of Butternuts, N. Y., Feb. 8, 1820. They had three daughters, of whom ouly Emily C., the historian of Susquehanna County, sur- vives. They adopted a son, who bears the name of Harlan Page Blackman, and resides at Wilkes- Barre. Mrs. Blackman was a most estimable lady, and died in 1864.

In September, 1829, Dr. Blackman removed to Binghamton, N. Y., and in July, 1836, he located at Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pa., where he remained in practice nearly forty years, until his death, July 25, 1875. Nov. 12, 1836, he united by letter with the Presbyterian Church at Montrose, of which, Feb. 25, 1840, he was elected a ruling elder, and held that position for more than thirty-five years.

He was elected coroner of Susquehanna County for three years in 1857. He was sec- retary of the meeting of physicians hield Nov. 19, 1838, which dates the successful organiza- tion of the Susquehanna County Medical Soci- ety, and was actively interested in it for thirty-

seven years. He held the offices of secretary and treasurer at different times and was presi- dent in 1857 and '58.

Dr. Blackman was plain and unassuming, modest and diffident, slow and cautious in coming to conclusions, but firm and decided in them when reached. An independent thinker, a sincere Christian, kind-hearted and generous, Dr. Blackman commanded the highest respect and confidence of the church of his choice, of the community in which he lived and of the medical profession, of which he was an honored member.

His extreme modesty in regard to the value of his services was such that, in a field where many would have secured ample means, his last years found him in moderate circumstances. He sought a good name rather than riches, and his reward is on high.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 26

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848- Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck Number of Pages: 1318

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848-
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck
Number of Pages: 1318