History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 20

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 20

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Thomas Robinson, September 25. 15 : 1. J. Rebstock. March 26, 1860; W. IT. H. Riddle, March 28, ES61 ; Ferdinand Reiber, June 1, LS69 ; Elliott Robb, October 27. 1870: George L. Rankin June 19, 1876: John M. Roth. November 1, 1575 : Everett L. Ralston. March 6. 1883 : James W. Reed. September 8, 1884 ; Aaron E. Reiber. September 10, 1855 ; John M. Russell, April 10, 1586; Alonzo E. Russell, September 5, 18: Edwin S. Riddle, June 13, 148 ; William .1. Ralston. June, 1892, and George E. Robinson, June. 1-93.

Charles Shaler, August 30, IS19; George W. Smith. April 7, 1829; Charles C. Sullivan, October 10, 1881 ; William 11. Scott, June 11, IN38; Wilson F. Stewart. August 10, 18-12 : Joseph Sliker, June 12, 1814; John Mc Pherrin Sulli- van, December 9, 1815 : John Q. A. Sullivan, June 10, 1861 ; R. P. Scott, Janu- ary 11. 1869; Moses Sullivan, June 14, 1869; Charles A. Sullivan, March 15, 1870: Harvey N. Snyder, June 10, 1870 ; O. E. Shannon, October 20. 1878; James II. Smith, September 10, IS75; E. R. Sbanor, May 31, 1880 ; Samuel B. Snyder. April 21, 1882; J. S. Snyder, March, 1886; Henry Stauffer, March, ISST; J. V. Sloan, June, ISSS : Albert T. Scott, March, 1888, and John Scheiring, Decem- ber, 1891.

James Thompson, April 9, 1828; William Timblin, September 14, 1841 ; 1. D. P. Taylor, September 9, 1515: William G. Thompson, November 15, 1853 ; John M. Thompson. February 24, 1854; Henry D. Timblin, April 23, 1867 ; Joseph F. Timmeny, April 21, 1871; John H. Thompson, April 20, 1877: O.

Verytruly yours. JohnHa Mitchell.

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THE BENCH AND BAR.

D. Thompson, May 31, Isso; W. C Thompson, June 29, 18 2. and Horace J. Thomas. June 6. 1892.

Joseph C. Vanderlin, September 7, 1571.

William Wilkins, February 13, 1804: David O. Walker, January 7, 1828; Clarence Walker, March 18, 1871; George R. White, March 18, 1871; A. G. Williams, November 1. 1875: Leonidas Walker, May 22, 1578; William H. Walsh, September 6, 1879: William J. Welsh, April 11, ISSB: Levi M. Wise. September 5. 1558; John P. Wilson, December 2, 1859: Huston Q. Walker. May 25. 1891 ; John HI. Wilson, December, 1891, and Zill J. Wilson. Decem- ber, 1591.

Watson J. Young, November 19, 1866, and Elmer E. Young, June 10, 1890. Jacob Ziegler. April Is, 1836, and George W. Ziegler, 1839.

The present members of the bar are T. M. Baker, A. T. Black, Newton Black. Albert 1. Bowser. S. F. Bowser, W. D. Brandon, Joseph B. Bredin, Ezra I. Brugh, T. C. Campbell, A. M. Christley, A. M. Cornelius, I. E. Coulter, Stephen Cumming>. W. C. Findley. George W. Fleeger, Francis J. Forquer, William A. Forquer. James M. Galbreath, H. H. Goucher, Walter L. Graham, John M. Greer, John B. Greer, S. 11. Huselton. James W. Hutchison, Frank X. Kohler, Porter W. Lowry, William II. Lusk, James B. Mates, M. B. Mc Bride, A. B. C. McFarland, Ebenezer Mc Junkin, Ira Mc Junkin, J. B. Mc Junkin, J. D. Mc Junkin, Livingston MeQuistion, Lewis Z. Mitchell, Alexander Mitchell. James N. Moore, W. Z. Murrin. John II. Negley, J. M. Painter, S. H. Peirsol, George C. Pillow. E. L. Ralston, A. E. Reiber. Ferdinand Reiber, W. H. HI. Riddle, E. S. Riddle, Thomas Robinson, A. T. Scott. R. P. Scott, John M. Sullivan. John M. Thompson. W. C. Thompson, J. C. Vanderlin. Clarence Walker, H. Q. Walker, George R. White. A. G. Williams, Levi M. Wise and Elmer E. Young.

The Butler Bar Association was incorporated June 28. 1802. It embraces in its membership the following named attorneys: T M. Baker, A. T. Black. Newton Black, W. D. Brandon. Joseph B. Bredin. A. L. Bowser, S. F. Bowser. E. I. Brugh, T. C. Campbell. A. M. Christley, A. M. Cornelius, I. E. Coulter. Stephen Cummings, W. C. Findley, George W Fleeger, W. A. Forquer, James M. Galbreath, II. H. Goucher, W. L. Graham, John M. Greer. S. H. Huselton. J. W. Hutchison. Frank X. Kohler. P. W. Lowry, W. IL. Lusk, H. N. Mar- shall, J. D. Marshall, James B. Mates, M. B. McBride, A. B. C. McFarland, E. McJunkin, Ira MeJunkin. J. D. MeJunkin, J. B. Mc Junkin, Livingston MeQuis- tion, Alexander Mitchell, Lewis Z. Mitchell, James N. Moore, J. M. Painter. George C. Pillow, E. L. Ralston, A. E. Reiber, Ferdinand . Reiber, E. S. Riddle, W. H. HI. Riddle, A. T. Scott. R. P. Scott, HI. J. Thomas, John M. Thompson, W. C. Thompson, J. C. Vanderlin. H. Q. Walker, Clarence Walker, G. R. White, J. P. Wilson, A. G. Williams, Levi M. Wise and E. E. Young.

CHAPTER XI.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

INTRODUCTION -EARLY PHYSICIANS-INCIDENTS OF PIONEER PRACTICE -BRIEF PERSONAL SKETCHES-A MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENT-THE NOTORIOUS HENRI DE COLIERE REG- ISTERED PHYSICIANS-MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

T HIE family physician, by reason of the very nature of his calling, comes into closer intimacy with his followmen than does the member of any other profession. From the natal couch to the bed of death, in all conditions of life, his services are required. Ilis mission is to cure disease, ease pain and alleviate suffering. Confiding in his skill and in his professional honor, we freely admit him to the innermost sanctuaries of our homes, and impart to him secrets and make him the repository of confidences such as we commit to the keeping of no one else, and such as he must henceforth keep locked within his own breast. The man worthy to be thus admitted to the bedside of the young and old. poor and rich, and to have free access to hovel or mansion, should not only be skilled in the art of healing, but should be a gentleman. And, to the honor of the medical profession, not only in Butler county, but throughout the country and the world, be it said that the family physician, with rare exceptions, is a gentleman, with a high standard of personal and professional honor.

The pioneer physician was. perhaps, less highly educated and less polished than his brethren of to-day, when, with an unselfish, self-sacrificing and fearless devotion to duty. he rode at all hours of the day and night through the sparsely settled districts that marked the advancing wave of civilization in western Penn- -ylvania during the closing years of the last and the opening years of the present century. Equipped with little knowledge, less skill and a limited supply of simple remedies, he was compelled, in waging an unequal war against disease, to bring his common sense to the front. thereby establishing an individuality always marked, often peculiar and occasionally eccentric. He learned to know the people and to treat their complaints with as fair a degree of success-taking into consideration his advantages and opportunities-as could be expected, and he left behind him, when he died, an honorable name and a limited estate, as the principal heritage of his descendants.

The physician of to-day not only knows more, but he occupies a more important place in the community. His field of effort and influence has widened. He has become the conservator of public health, keeping cholera and yellow fever from our seaports, preventing the spread of epidemic and contagious diseases,and confining them to the locality of their origination. To him we owe boards of health, sanitary laws and ordinances, and those hygienic rules, that, by prevent- ing disease, tend to dispense with his services. He has, in his professional soci-

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eties and organizations, by rules of ethics adopted for his own guidance, and by the passage of laws enacted at his solicitation, raised the standard of his profes- sion, and shut out from an opportunity to impose upon and deceive the public the unprofessional charlatan and quack. He has also played an important and hon- orable part in the history of Butler county.

In all civilizations, the physician holds a leading place, as the medicine man does in barbaric nations. The secrets of physical man are his, and the ills of a community his care. His voice is always raised against excesses and his mind directed toward the alleviation of suffering in every form. His profession is, indeed, a saving one and his life .generally, one of good works.

The modern physician varies only in his volume of knowledge from the pio- neer doctor. While his territory is not so extended as the latter's was, his patients are more numerous and the greater number of cases brought under his observation in a year, of this fast age of steel, were seldom presented to a physician of Butler county during the first half of this century. Manners, customs and morals have changed-some think for the better, others think for the worse-making new work for the physician, just as the change suggests and creates new demands in every other profession and trade.

Prior to 1805, when the physicians of Rapp's colony at Harmony came among the people, the leech or " blood-letter" of the settlement was the physi- cian, for, be it known, the pioneers had blood to spare. Midwifery was then practiced by women. Sometimes a doctor from Greensburg would be called in, and even aid from Pittsburg was demanded on more than one occasion.

The pioneer physician, outside of Harmony, was George Miller. He was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, received his literary and medical education at Cannonsburg ; but went beyond the border to find a helpmate, marrying Martha Anderson, of Trumbull county, Ohio, about 1814. It is said that he came to Butler immediately after marriage, and was, undoubtedly, the only physician in the county when the agrarian trouble on the Maxwell farm took place, in 1815. In October of that year, when Maxwell was wounded, Dr. Miller came to his aid promptly, while a messenger was sent to Pittsburg for Dr. Agnew, who arrived the evening of the day of the tragedy. In 1822 or 1823. Dr. Miller removed to Ohio, where he died prior to 1830. He was a member of the first borough council in 1817, and treasurer of the academy.

Henry C. DeWolf, the second resident physican, a native of Hartford, Con- necticut, came to Butler borough in 1817 or 1818. Born in 1781, he was still a young man when he located in Butler. Like Judge Moore in legal circles, he laid down a style of dress and manners, which however elaborate on the first part and severe on the second, he found few to imitate. His marriage with Jane McQuistion took place in 1820. In 1821 he was chosen trustee of the academy ; in 1825, treasurer of the borough, and filled many other local offices during his long residence here. He, next to John Sullivan, led the brick building enter- prises of 1825. by erecting on the site of Mr. Balph's store, the first brick dwelling in the town, part of which was removed in 1890. His death occurred July 24, 1854, in his seventy-third year. His son, T. R. DeWolf, practiced here from 1851 to August 24, 1859, when death removed him. in his thirty-fifth year.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

J. McHenry, who located at Zelienople late in 1815, and Dr. Agnew, father of Judge Agnew, who settled at Harmony about the same time, were recognized physicians, and undoubtedy should share with Dr. Miller the honors of pioneer- ship. Dr. McHenry removed to Philadelphia in 1828, while Dr. Agnew removed from Harmony prior to 1820.

John Cowden, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, read medicine in Ohio, and in 1818 established himself as a physician at Portersville, and, the following year, married Elizabeth Christie. Though entering on the professional life when twenty-one years old, he observed all the forms of the pioneer doctor. He witnessed the deaths of the first settlers in the northwestern townships and lived among their children and grand children, dying himself at Allegheny City, where he moved after a residence of fifty years, at Portersville February 15, 1880, in his eighty-third year.

George Linn, a native of Pennsylvania, came from Mercer county to Butler in 1823, and was one of the two physicians here that year. In 1825, he married Elizabeth Gibsom; in 1828, was elected trustee of the academy, and was making rapid progress in his profession when called away by death in 1833.

Loring Lusk, born in Ontario county, New York, in 1799, read medicine with Dr. Cossitt, of Mercer, Pennsylvania, and began practice at Harmony, in 1823, immediately after the removal of Dr. McHenry. He went to Beaver county in 1829, as a contractor on the canal, resimned practice at Harmony in 1844; migrated to Canton, Missouri, in 1854, was elected surgeon of the Twenty- first Missouri Volunteer Infantry in 1861, and, in 1862, returned to Zelienople, where he carried on the drug business, in connection with his profession, until his death, in 1878.

Eli G. De Wolf moved from Ohio to this county in 1825, and, selecting the Centreville neighborhood as offering a fair field to a young physician, located in the village that year. Ile married into the Harris family, and, for over twenty-two years, or until his death in 1847, was one of the most progressive men in the village.

Dr. Beriah Magoffin settled in Harmony about 1828. The code of ethics prohibiting a physician from advertising, beyond a mere card of announcement, was evidently not in force in those days. At least, if it existed. it was not observed by the Doctor, who advertised as follows in The Repository of 1829 :

DR. B. MAGOFFIN

Offers his services in the various branches of his profession as physician, surgeon and accoucheur to the citizens of Harmony and Zelienople and vicinities. Having studied both in Europe and Transylvania University, Kentucky, and being successful in some of the most difficult cases, he hopes still to benefit those who may consider him worthy of their confidence. His office is at the house of John Fleming, Esq., Harmony.

Notwithstanding this departure from the code of medical ethics as enforced to-day, Dr. Magoffin was considered a good physician. He afterwards removed to Mercer, where he built up a large practice.

Andrew Spear, the pioneer physician of the Prospect and Whitestown neigh- borhoods, was born in the latter village. Having taught school there for many

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years, he began the study of medicine, and ultimately settled at Whitestown. He possessed a very large red nose, which always attracted attention. On one occa- sion, a company of raftsmen, returning from their season's work, halted at Pros- pect to have refreshments. He who was treating asked the Doctor to have a drink, but the latter refused politely, saying he did not drink liquor. The rafts- man looked at him and simply said : " Take down that sign, then."

Matthew W. Spear read medicine under his brother, and later under Dr. II. C. De Wolf, from whose office he moved to Prospect in Is30, to enter upon practice.

Dr. Du Panchell, a French physician, was here in the Thirties. He was, of course, a polished and learned physician. It is said that Patrick Kelly's Dutch hostler, whose head was not altogether " level," was subject to heroic treatment by Dr. Du Panchell. He trepanned the skull with such success as to render the hostler a sensible mortal.

H. C. Linn, a nephew of Dr. George Linn, began practice at Butler immedi- ately after his uncle's death ; moved to West Sunbury, in 1835, and resided there until 1878, when he returned to Butler, where he now resides. A veteran of the medical circle, he takes lively interest in the progress of the profession, and is himself a student of modern methods.

Dr. Goodall was at Butler in 1834, but remained only a few years. He was looked upon as a very excellent man and good physician.

Orrin D. Palmer, a resident physician of Zelienople, from I835 to 1860, was one of the old-time doctors, who was known throughout a wide region and always welcomed in the settlements. Dr. Germich, a contemporary of Palmer, was there in 1841, at least. and practiced for some years; while Dr. Linnenbruck, who became the community physician at Economy, in 1849, practiced at Harmony for some years.

James Graham, who studied medicine in Northern Ireland, arrived in Butler about 1834, and opened a school in a building on Mckean street, opposite what has been known recently as " The Rink." John H. Negley, who was one of his pupils, writing of him in 1891, says :

He brought with him from the old country, some of the old methods of school teach- ing. One of these was the use of taws, or cat-of-nine-tails, as a whip for the bad boy. The taws was composed of a round wooden handle, to which were tacked nine leather straps, knotted at ends, each about three feet long. This instrument hung on the wall, always ready for use. He did frequently use it, and sometimes with terrific force and effect.

He was a thorough physician and scholar ; taught in the old academy, and, in sober hours, was popular, but the use of drink led to his death, about 1843.

Gottlieb Miller, a native of Marburg, Germany, and a graduate of the uni- versity of that city, arrived at Butler in 1841. He practiced here until his death, in 1849.

William Lowman, who, after a short residence at Prospect, removed to Butler, was a popular physician in 1860 and 1861. Entering the armny, he died of disease.

Isaiah Mc Junkin, born in Centre township, Butler county, in 1817, received

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

his education at Jefferson College, Washington county, studied medicine under Dr. O. D. Palmer, of Zelienople, in 1841, and later in the Louisville Medical College. Early in the Forties, he established himself at Butler and made extra- ordinary advances in the profession. In 1860, he removed to Chicago, at once took a leading place among the physicians of the Garden City, and died there in his forty-sixth year. In the history of Camp Douglass, as well as in that of the city, the Doctor's name holds a place.

William R. Cowden, of Middle Lancaster, is the second oldest practitioner in Butler county. Ile was born in Portersville in 1820, read medicine with his father, Dr. John Cowden, attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Phil- adelphia, in the sessions of 1844-45 and 1845-46, and in the spring of 1846 com- menced practice in his native town. With the exception of three years spent at West Sunbury, and a few years in Worth township, he was engaged in the active duties of his profession at Portersville for nearly half a century, and only recently removed to Middle Lancaster. Dr. H. C. Linn, of Butler, is the only physician in the county that outranks him in the number of years devoted to medical practice.

F. Schmidt, the pioneer physician of Saxonburg, arrived early in the thirties ; but left the settlement prior to 1840. when Dr. August Koch came from Germany to Saxonburg.

II. B. Brower, referred to in the chapter on The Press, located at Prospect, as a physician, in 1838. He indulged his taste for journalism there, but man- aged to attend faithfully to every professional duty until 1849, when politics led him to the legislature, to which he was re.elected in 1850. Hle died at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, in 1886, aged seventy-two years.

Dr. Gleason, a Philadelphian, was here in the Forties. His lectures on med- ical and sanitary subjects were largely attended and the lessons he inculcated observed by' his hearers.

Josiah MeCandless, a native of Centre township, Butler county, read medi- cine under Dr. Whittaker of Allegheny City for three years, and in 1839 located in Centre township as a physician, and practiced there until his death, Jan- uary 5, 1875.

George W. Gettys, who was interested in one of the Whig newspapers of Butler, came about 1843 and remained until 1855 or 1856. Dr. W. J. Randolph was his contemporary from 1850 to 1858.

Ilenri De Coliere, who said he was a Frenchman, came to Butler in the for- ties, and introduced to the people new ideas of the human structure. He made his office next the building then occupied by Anthony Rockenstein, near Colonel Sullivan's present house, and where, after the fire of 1859, Rockenstein erected a brick house. The Doctor was the antithesis of Mr. Rockenstein, though his neighbor. He had his property heavily insured, and when the fire was over, many looked upon the physician as the incendiary. Only when all other physicians would fail to relieve the sick, was Dr. De Coliere called upon ; for the people feared him, while believing he could cure any disease. Ile was a desperate char- acter, who had a penchant for using the knife, and his victims were numerous, both in the Butler and Harmony neighborhoods. Owing to this penchant he was

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

placed on trial here for manslaughter, but escaped from jail. Prior to this denou- ment, he attended a case of delerium tremens at Butler. He diagnosed the case and declared the patient would die. In broken English, he said the patient would die " in three minute," and to make his prediction good, he administered a poi- son, which killed the man within the time specified.

Lyman L. Howard, a native of Ithaca, New York, located at Centreville in 1835-36, but moved to Harrisville in the latter year, where he practiced until 1854, when he removed to Indiana. Later he established himself in Illinois. Howard was at Harrisville about the time Dr. James Owens left the settlement for the western country. Dr. James McConnell moved West in 1856, when Dr. J. H. Elrick came, and died in California.

Josiah McMichael, a native of Meadville, began the practice of medicine in Venango township, when twenty-six years of age, located at Millerstown in 1858, and was prominent in professional and local affairs there until his death, January 12, 1880.

Dr. Sample, the first physician at Breakneck, now Evans City, located there in 1844, but left before the close of 1845. In 1848. William Sterrett arrived and remained until 1855, when he moved to Allegheny county, where he died a year later.

Joseph S. Lusk, born at Harmony in 1826, received his education at Mercer Academy, and subsequently studied medicine under his father. Later he attended the Western Reserve Medical College, graduated in 1850, and the same year began practice at Harmony. A reference to the Political Chapter will point out definately his services in the legislature. Together with being a physician and politician, he was also a geologist and archeologist, gathering round him a valuable collection of mineral and antiquitie». His death occurred at Butler, to which borough he had removed, February 3, 1859.

Amos Lusk, born at Harmony in 1828, studied medicine under his father, Loring Lusk, and began practice in 1849 in his native town. In 1851 he located at Zelienople, was appointed in charge of the United States Marine Hospital at Pittsburg in 1853, moved to Missouri in 1857, returned to Zelienople in 1561, and practiced there until his death, November 17, 1891. He studied many lan- guages, some say twenty-five different tongues. A> his brother, Joseph S .. was a student of natural history, Amos was a lover of books and an industrious student.

A. M. Neyman, a native of Butler borough, began the study of medicine, under Dr. Morehead, of Zanesville, Ohio, in 1845, but two years after returned to Butler, and in 1849, taught the English classes in the "Old Stone Academy." Subsequently he taught school in Centre township, and early in 150 resumed medical study, under Dr. Randolph. The winter of 1850-51, was passed by him in the Western Reserve Medical College, at Cleveland ; but although he did not graduate therefrom until the spring of 1-53, he began practice in 1551 at But- ler. In the winter of 1855-56, he practiced at Philadelphia in the hospitals. Returning to Butler he was one of the actors in the first Ceaserian operation per- formed west of the Allegheny mountains, and has since been a leading physician of this county.

Charles Emmerling, now of Pittsburg, a young physician, arrived from

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Germany about 1854. Some time later, he called on Dr. Neyman, in the night, to assist him in performing a Ceasarian operation on a German woman who resided in a cabin in the St. Joe neighborhood, near Col. M. Gillespie's house. They not only saved the child, but also the woman. Colonel Gillespie and his wife were present and witnessed this heroic operation.

William Irvine was born in what is now Adams township, in 1828, read medicine in the office of Dr. William Sterrett ; subsequently studied in the Medi- cal Department of the Western Reserve College, Cleveland, Ohio, during the winter of 1-52-53, and in the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, 1-54-55, and received a diploma from the last named institution, March, 1855. He, how- ever, began practice at Evans City in 1853, and became the successor of Dr. Ster- rett. In 1863, he was one of the military examining surgeons, and in 1876 he was elected to the legislature. He is to-day one of the oldest practicing physician in the county

George Welsh, who located at Petersville early in the Fifties moved to Saxonburg about 1:55, but returned to Petersville, where he died in 1862.

J. W. Beatty, who settled at Fairview in 1855 or 56, practiced in that field until removed by death in 1881.

N. M. Richardson, a native of this county, studied medicine at Zelienople under Dr. Palmer, and established himself at Prospect in 1859.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 20

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1658

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658