USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 17
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Before Dr. Miller left Butler, Dr. II. C. De Wolf arrived here. the time being somewhere between ES16 and 1818. He was born August 3. 1751. in Hartford. Conn .. and was a graduate of Yate College. Shortly after coming to Butler, he married Miss Jane MeQuis- tion. It is said that Dr. De Wolf built the first brick house in Butler. He was a physician of large ability. and seenred an extensive practice, not only going to all parts of Butler County, but frequently being called to attend the sick in the adjoining counties of Beaver. Mercer and Armstrong. In his time, a phy- sieian invariably traveled ou horseback, and, as the roads were few, usually followed paths through the woods. Dr. Do Wolf died July 24. 1854.
Dr. George Linn arrived here in 1823. He came from Georgetown, Mercer County, where he had prac- tieed a short time, but he was originally from the eastern part of the State. In 1825. after being in Butler two years, he married Miss Elizabeth Gibson. His death occurred in IS33. and he was thus known to the early residents of Butler for a period of only ten years. In that short time, however. he built up a large practice and became very popular. Ho seems to have been universally beloved as a man and re- spreted as a physician. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. and a pioneer in the temper- anee movement.
DR. ISAIAH ME JUNKIN.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
Dr. James Graham came here soon after Dr. Lin died, and shared the patronage of the people with Dr. De Wolf until his death, which occurred in 1815 or the following year.
Drs. Donnell & McQuaide, partners, and both good physicians, were here a short time during Dr. Graham's period of practice.
Dr. George W. Gettys came to the borough before Dr. Graham's death, and practiced for a number of years, finally removing to the eastern part of the State.
In 1841, Dr. Gotleib Miller, of Marburg. Ger- many, a graduate of Marburg University, settled in Butler, and enjoyed a prosperous practico until his death. which occurred in 1849.
Prior to the advent of the last-named physician, Dr. H. C. Linn had begun practice in Butler. He was in Butler from 1833 to 1835, and in the latter year removed to Sunbury, in which village and its vicinity he practiced until 1878, when he returned to Butler and entered the drug business. which he still follows. He is a nephew of Dr. George Linn. under whom he studied, and was born in Crawford County April 13. 1812.
In 1844, Dr. Isaiah MeJunkin began practice in Butler. He was a native of the county, a son of David MeJunkin. of Center Township, and was born in 1817. He graduated from Jefferson College, Washington. Penn .. in September. 1541, and subse- quently read medicine with Dr. Palmer, of Zelieno- ple. His medical education was completed. as far as schools was concerned, at the Louisville (Ky. ) Col- lege, and it was immediately after his graduation from that institution that he located here. In 1849. he married Miss Kate M. Spang, the daughter of a prominent iron manufacturer of Pittsburgh. He had a large practice in Butler and its vicinity. and was highly regarded. both professionally and socially. He chose, however, a wider field, and in 1860 removed to Chicago, where he died a few years later.
Dr. Agnew, who was quite an old man when he came to Butler, was for a short time a partner of Dr. MeJunkin's. He was a superior physician, and had a remunerative practice. but only remained in the borough a few years.
Dr. T. R. De Wolf, son of H. C. De Wolf, was in partnership with his father during a few years preced- ing the death of the latter, which occurred in 1854. and afterward practiced alone until shortly prior to his own death, which occurred in 1858. He was born in 1824. and was a graduate of Jefferson College at Cannonsburg, and of the Cleveland (Ohio) Medical College.
From 1850 to 1870. Dr. Charles Stein, brother of the merchant. Louis Stein, was in active practice either in Butler of Sunbury. He was a graduate of the Un-
iversity of Bonn, Prussia. In 1870, he removed to Wheatland. where he died in 1876. at the age of sev enty-one years.
Dr. W. J. Randolph was here from 1850 to 1853, and was quite successful. He was afterward in the army, and. when the war closed, engaged in cotton raising in North Carolina, where he resided until his death.
One of the ablest members of the profession ever in the borough was Dr. Charles Emmerling, who came about 1854 and remained until about 1865. He at tained a large practice, but has been even more sile cessful in Pittsburgh, whither he went from Butier, and where he is now located.
Dr. Theodore Frackenstein, now in Brooklyn, N. Y., was a practitioner from 1864 to IS68.
Dr. Stephen Bredin, second son of Judge John Bredin, was born in Butler in February, 1834. His literary education was received at Union College. Schenectady. N. Y. He read medieine with an uncle, Dr. Snowden, in Franklin, and graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylva- Dia, in Philadelphia, in 1856. After spending several years in the West, he began the practice of his pro fession in Butler in 1861. His practice quickly be- came an extensive one, and has been, since the first three or four years, all that he conkl attend to. Dr. Bredin's wife was a Miss Catharine Sloan, of Colum- biana County, Ohio. They were married in 1859.
Dr. George M. Zimmerman is the son of John Mi- cl ael and Mary Barbara Zimmerman, and was born in Butler November 18, 1842. His father. a native of Germany, after almost world-wide traveling, came to America in 1828, and to Butler in 1832. He was for many years the proprietor of the hotel which is now known as the Willard House. The subject of our sketch graduated from Jefferson College (then at Can- nonsburg, now in Washington, Penn.) in 1867, and, after preparatory reading with Dr. Stephen Bredin, attended, during the winter of 1867-68, the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Ho then read until the fall of 1869, when he entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he graduated in the spring of 1870. He went to Winona, Minn., where he remained a short time, and, after spending the greater part of 1871 and 1872 in Hubbard, Trumbull Co., Ohio, located in this, the town of his nativity, where he has since practiced, and also, for a number of years, in company with Joseph Wuller, carried on the drug business. Dr. Zimmer- man was married. in August. 1876, to Mrs. Jenie E. Ralston.
Dr. J. E. Byers was born in Summit Township June 15, 1848. He began his medical education un- der the tutelage of Dr. Neyman in 1575. In 1877,
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IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTV.
he graduated from the Medical University of New York City. and located here tho same year.
Dr. Pillow has followed the profession here for a short period.
The only homeopathie physician in the borough is Dr. E. N. Leake. He is a son of Rev. R. N. Leake. and was born in Buffalo, N. Y .. November 9. 1855. He graduated from the Syracuse (N. Y. ) University in 1877, and at the New York Houreopathie College in 1880. He first located in Blossburg, Penn., and from there came to Butler in the spring of ISS1.
NORTH WASHINGTON.
Dr. Nicholas M. Hoover, now a prominent resi- dent of the village of North Washington, in Butler County, Penn., was born in the township of North Buffalo, Armstrong Co., Penn., March 4, 1836. John Hoover, his grandfather, was of German origin, and removed from Dauphin to Armstrong County at an early day. He was the father of a large family of children, of whom David was the oldest.
The latter married Mary Myers, who was also a descendant of a German family, and to them were born three sons, viz. : George F., now a resident of Clarion County: Nicholas M., the subject of this ar- ticle, and Dr. A. M. Hoover, of Parker City. In 1842. David Hoover and his family located in Buhaio Township. Butler Co., Penn .. where the boyhood days of Nicholas M. Hoover were passed.
After availing himself of sneh educational advan- tages as the public schools and the Freeport Academy afforded, the latter began the study of medicine with Dr. Thomas MeGill, of Freeport, and in the winter of 1860-61, attended lectures at the Cleveland (Ohio) Medical College. The summer of 1861 found him still in t at State, but a gigantic civil war was then in progress: hence, fired with youthful ardor and patriotism, he abandoned his studies, enlisted in his country's defense and donned the uniform worn by the private soldiers of the Sixty- first Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. With that regiment, as a private, Hospital Stewart, Orderly Sergeant and in other capacities, he served with nuch credit until the expiration of his tine in July. 1864, having with his regiment participated in various campaigns and battles in the States of Virginia Kentucky. Tennessee and Georgia. During the bat tle of Wanhatchie. Ga .. fought at night between Gen Hooker's troops and those un ler the command of the rebel Gen Bragg, he was slightly wounded.
With the close of his first term'of military service. he again turned his whole attention to the perusal of me lical works, etc .. and after attending a course of lectures at the Jefferson Medical College. Philadel- phia, Penn., he graduated from that institution in
March, 1865. But the great conflict in which he had already actively participated was not over. The troops composing the northern armies were in need of the services of active, intelligent and skillful physi- cians, and quite as soon as the degree of doctor of medicine was conferred upon him. Dr. Hoover was commissioned Assistant Surgeon of the Eighty-seventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He at once assumed his duties, and remained in the field until the close of the war.
The war ended, he located in the fall of 1865. where he is still to be found. i. e., in the village of North Washington. On the 24th of April, 1866, he married Mrs. Bates, of Philadelphia, Penn., and in the autumn of 1879, after attending a third series of lectures, he became a post graduate of the Jefferson Medical College. Mr. Hoover is a gentleman possessing a splendid physique and pleasing address, and by reason of his social worth, as well as the eminent professional abilities pos- sessed by him, he ocenpies a prominent position in this and adjoining counties. We close the sketch by adding that he is a stanch Republican and a consist- ent member of the Lutheran Church.
HARMONY AND ZELIENOPLE.
Dr. Agnew, father of Judge Agnew, practiced in Harmony after the Rapp community left, and after- ward removed to Zelienople and remained a few years. Dr. MeHenry practiced in Zelienople and Har- mony very snecessfully from about 1815 to 1823. Ho was a man of literary taste, and wrote several books, mostly novels and poetry. He moved to Philadelphia. He was the father of MeHenry, the well-known rail- road magnate.
Dr. Linnenbruck, a German physician, settled in Zelionople and practiced successfully a number of years. Ho left this place in 1819 to become the physician of the Economite, at Economy.
Dr. Orrin D. Palmer, a worthy representative of the medical profession, skilled both in theory and in practice, resided in Zelienople from about 1836 antil 1860. He was esteemed both in his professional ca pacity and as a citizen.
Dr. Loring Lusk was born in Outario County, N. Y., in 1799. He was brought up in Hudson, Sum- mit Co., Ohio, in which place his father was one of the first settlers. He studied medicine in Mercer, Penn., with his brother-in-law. Dr. Cossett, and mar ried, in that town. Miss Smith. daughter of Joseph Smith, Esq., an carly settler. Dr. Lusk practiced in Harmony from 1523 to 1829, then went to Beaver County. where he remained a few years. Honext be- came an extensive contractor on the State works from the Ohio River to Lake Erie, and was thus engaged
B. Ma Theyman M.
Dr. A. M. Neyman, who has now been in contin- uous practice in Butler longer than any other physi- cian of the borough, is the son of Abraham Markle and Eleanor (McLeary) Neyman. and was born in Butler February 6. 1826. His father, who kept tav- ern in a log building where the Vogeley House now is, was killed April 12. 1827, by the falling of a tree during a storm (see chapter on Centre Township). and his mother received injuries at the same time, from the effects of which she never fully recovered. The boy, thus left a half-orphan when but little more ! than a year old. grew up in Butler, and received his education in the old Butler Academy, his last teacher in that institution being the Rev. William White, who, at the time, was considered to be one of the finest linguists in the State. Subsequentty, he taught school in the country, and clerked in the offices of Justices of the Peace, but, conceiving a fondness for the study of medicine, he went to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1845, and began reading with Dr. Washington More- head, of that place. In 1847, he returned to Butler. He was obliged to make his own way in the world. and again resorted to school-teaching and other occu- pations to sustain himself and provide means for fut. ure study. He clerked in the Recorder's office, and taught school in country and in town. In the year 1849, he was associated with Rev. William White,
and taught the English branches in the academy. During the winter of 1849-50, he taught school in Centre township, and, in the spring of 1850, was again able to follow his inclination for the study of medicine. Ho resumed his reading. Dr. Randolph, who has heretofore been spoken of, now being his preceptor. He attended the Western Reserve Med- ical College of Cleveland in the winter of 1850-51; returned in the spring of the year to Butler, and, go- ing into partnership with Dr. Randolph, gained much practical knowledge of his chosen profession. He practiced during IS51 and until the fall of 1852. when he again went to Cleveland. In the spring of 1853. he graduated from the college, and. immediately returning to Butler, opened the practice, which he has followed with but little interruption and very successfully since. After practicing a few years, he went to Philadelphia, and spent a winter in the city hospitals, an l there received much practical knowl edge not obtainable from other sources. His career has been highly ereditable from the fact that he over- came many difficulties, and is worthy the careful con- sideration and the emniation of young men who de- sire to succeed in life. Dr. Neyman was married. November 12, 1861, to Emeline. daughter of Jolm N. and Eliza Jane Purviance.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
until 1844, when he returned to Harmony and re- sumed practice. He went West in 1854. and settled at Canton, Lewis Co., Mo., where he practiced until 1861. At that date, he was elected Surgeon of the Twenty-first Regiment of Missouri Volunteers, and remained one year in the service. He then came to Zetienople and engaged in the drug business. He died in 1878. Dr. Lusk was an energetic business man and a very good physician. Two of his sons are living-Dr. J. S. Lusk, of Harmony, and Dr. Amos Lusk, of Zelienople, both well educated men and skilled physicians.
Dr. Joseph S. Lusk has been practicing in Har- mony over thirty years, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of an extensive cirele. He was born in Harmony in 1826; educated at Mercer Academy, and studied medicine under his father's tuition. He grad nated from the Medical Department of the Western Reserve College, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1850, and soon after entered upon the practice of his profession in Harmony. Besides pursuing a successful profession- al career. the Doctor has found time for extended reading, and has mingle l some in politics. He was a member of the State Legislature three terms-the sessions of 1872. 1875 and 1876-and has held var- ious local offices. Dr. Lusk is an enthusiastic stn- dent of geology and mineralogy, and, as the result of his scientific researches, he is the owner of a collec- tion of fossils and minerals, gathered from nearly all parts of the United States, which is both interesting and valuable. His library is extensive, and repre- sents the best in the classics and modern literature, as well as historical and scientific works.
Dr. Amos Lnsk was born in Harmony in 1828. and was educated with his brother. He began his practice in his native place in 1849, and removed to Zelionople in 1851. In 1854, he graduated in medi- eine at Cleveland. In 1853. he went to Pittsburgh to take charge of the United States Marine Hospital, and in 1857 removed thence to Canton. Mo. In 1861, he returned to Zelienople, where he has since prac- tieed continuously. Besides being a thoroughly ed- ucated physician, Dr. Lusk is a man of fine classical tastes, and has devoted years to the study of ancient and modern languages. He is perhaps the ablest lin- guist in the State of Pennsylvania. His study has comprised at least twenty-five languages, and of many of them he may be called master. His library is a large and valuable one. His oldest son, N. H. Lnsk, is an attorney in Butler, and his second son, James L .. a graduate of West Point. is now a Lieu- tenant of Engineers at the United States Military Academy.
We have chosen to place the history of Zelienople and Harmony physicians in the same sketch. inas-
much as their professional labors have been nearly co-extensive in both towns. The physician of the Harmony community was Dr. Miller. Dr. Loring Lusk was succeeded by Dr. Buriah Magoffin about. 1829, an intelligent. skillful physician, who remained until about 1514. when he removed to Mercer. Dr. Francis R. Moore came next. and remruined until 1849. Both places have been fortunate in having good doctors to attend to the wants of the afflicted.
EVANSBURG.
The first medical practitioner in Evansburg was Dr. Sample. a young graduate who came abont 1843 and remained a little over a year. There was then no physician in the place until 1818. when Dr. William Sterrett. a native of Lawrence County, settled here. He was edneated at Jefferson Medical College. Phil- adelphia. and was a successful and trusted physician. Ho remained in Evansburg until 1855, and died in 1856. at Talley Cavey, Allegheny County.
Dr. William Irvine, son of Samuel Irvine, an early settler. was born in Adams Township. Butler County. in 1528. He studied medicine under the preceptor- ship of Dr. Sterrett: attended medieal lectures at the Medical Department of the Western Reserve College. Cleveland, Ohio. in 1852-53, and at the Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia, in 1854-55, graduat- ing from the last named institution in the spring of 1855. He at once located in Evansburg, and suc- eerded Dr. Sterrett in practice. He was the only physician in the village until about 1868. Dr. Ir- vine was Examining Surgeon in 1862. In 1867-68, he was a member of the State Legislature.
The following gentlemen are also practicing med- icine in Evansburg at the present time:
Dr. Theodore Kersting, Dr. J. M. List and Dr. F. V. Brooks.
MIDDLE LANCASTER.
The first practicing physician who located in Middle Lancaster was Dr. Brothers. He came in 1853, and returned to Ohio some four years later. lle was succeeded by Dr. White, who now practices in Ilarlansburg. Dr. Acher came about the same time.
Dr. White was in partnership with him for a time. None of these remained more than five years.
Dr. A. H. Metz. a native of this place, studied with Dr. Cobb, of Portersville, and graduated from the Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia. He practiced here about three years, beginning in 1571. He removed to Springdale. Alleghany County, and thence to East Liverpool. Ohio, where he is engaged in the ding business.
Dr. George .A. M.Candle~ was the next physician, and is still here with a good practice. He is a son of A. M. MeCandless and was born in Center Town-
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
ship. Butler County, in 1852. Ho was educated at the Witherspoon Institute, Butler, and at the Salts- burg Normal School, Indiana County, Ponn. Ho graduated in medicine at the Louisville, Ky., Medical College in 1877, and the same year settled in Middle Lancaster and began practicing.
WHITESTOWN.
Dr. Andrew Spear, son of William Spear, an early settler of Franklin Township, lived in Whitestown many years and was considered a very successful doc- tor He was the first physician in the neighborhood. He taught school successfully when a young man. He died in Whitestown. One of his brothers, Dr. Matthew W. Spear, practiced in Prospect.
After Dr. Spear died, there was no settled phy- sician who remained long in this place until Dr. Clark
PETERSVILLE.
Dr. George Welsh was the first settled physician in the place. He came in 1853. remained a few years, then went to Saxonburg He returned to Pe- tersville and died here in 1862. During his absence from this place, Dr. Richardson and Dr. Covert each practiced here a short time. Dr. Porter succeeded Dr. Welsh and remained three or four years. He ro- moved to Prospect, and the village was without a physician for a time. Dr. C. A. McCaskey next came, and practiced two or three years. Dr. Christie is his successor.
Dr. J. L Christie, son of William A. Christie. was
born in Concord township. Butler County. Ho was educated at the Witherspoon Institute and at the Pine Grove Academy. After studying under the tu- ition of Dr. Neyman, of Butler, he attended medical lectures in Cleveland and Cincinnati, and graduated from the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati. in 1877. The same year, he located at Petersville, where he now has a good practice.
SAXONBURG.
The first practitioners of medicine in Saxonburg were all Germans, who had received a thorough edu cation in their own country and were consequently successful and esteemed in their profession. The first who came here was Dr. F. Schmidt; he remained tive or six years. Next. Dr. August Koch practiced ten years or more, removed to Missouri and died there. He was succeeded in practice here by Dr. Paul Held, who died here. Dr. Sweet and Dr. Bleiholder also practiced here. Saxonburg has now three physicians, each of whom enjoy a good practice and worthily represent the profession.
Dr. J. H. King located here in 1872; he is a graduate of the Medical Department of the University of Wooster, Ohio.
Dr. Ed N. B. Mershon. a graduate of the medical department of the University of Buffalo, N. Y .; has practiced here since 1877. His brother, Dr. H. L. Mershon, a graduate of the Bellevne Hospital Medi- cal College, located here in IS80. Both had pre- viously practiced in Youngstown, Westmoreland County.
PROSPECT.
Dr. Andrew Spear, who was brought up in Frank- lin township, was the first who practiced in this neighborhood. He lived in Whitestown; his brother, Matthew W .. born in 1807, studied medicine with him and with Dr. De Wolf, of Butler, and began his practicing in Prospect abont 1830. He was the fir t resident physician, and lived and died in the place. Ho was moderately successful in his professional ca- roer.
Dr. B. H. B. Brower, a man of fine literary and scholarly tastes, settled in Prospect in 1838. and practiced for eleven years with good success He was Burgess of the borough. Captain of a military company and orator of the day on numerous public occasions. He took a prominent part in building the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; he was elected a member of the Legislature in 1849, and re-elected in 1850. He published the Prospect Record six months, then moved the paper to New Brighton. Dr. Brower has since established twelve newspapers, He now re- sides in Danville, Penn.
Dr. James P. Alchorn came from Indiana County and practiced five or six years. He removed hence to Ohio, and died in Allegheny City.
Dr. William Lowman, a skilled physician and a good citizen, practiced here a short time before the war, then went to Butler and thence to the army, where he contracted disease. from the effects of which he died.
Dr. De Wolf and Dr. Marks came about 1880; each practiced a short time only. then moved away. Dr. Redmond located here in the spring of 1882.
Dr. N. M. Richardson began his professional ca- reer in Prospect in 1859. He was born in Conno- quenessing Township, this county, in 1830; studied medicine with Dr. O. D. Palmer, of Zelienople; at- tended medical lectures at Cleveland and Philadel- phia, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1863. He has been very successful in his labors.
UNIONVILLE. | For biography and portrait of Dr. Josiah Mc- Candless, see chapter on Center Township. ]
GLADE MILLS.
Dr. William C. MeCandless, eldest son of Dr. Josiah MeCandless, late of Unionville, was born in
8.28 Ball, Mal
Sylvester D. Bell began the practice of medicine in 1871. He was born near Brady's Bend. Armstrong County, June 30, 1847. His father. S. S. Bell, was the son of one of the early settlers of Butler County, and was born in Washington Township, this county. in the year 1822. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch came to Butler County about 1810.
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