USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 47
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Drs. Sheridan, Lowman, Hay and Vickroy, of Johnstown, Lemmon, Smith and Bunn, of Ebensburg, were all original mem- bers of the Medical Society of Cambria county, of which body Dr. Sheridan was three times president-the last time being in 1883.
Walter Winston Walters was born in the town of Brecon, South Wales, on January 11, 1824, and died in Johnstown, July 23, 1896. His father-Rev. John Walters-was a minister of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church.
Ile came to this country in 1843, and located at Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, where he was employed at the blast furnaces of the Crane Iron Works, under the direction of the famous David Thomas, the great ironmaster. He graduated in the class of
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1853 of the Medical Department of Pennsylvania College. at Philadelphia.
After graduating he began practice in Catasauqua, and re- mained there for two years. The successful operation of the Cambria Iron Works, at Johnstown, commencing about 1854, induced quite a number of the ironworkers of Catasauqua to remove thither, and Dr. Walters followed in 1855, since which time, with the exception of two years-1859-60-passed in Ebens- burg, he was a citizen of Johnstown. He took an active interest in the Medical Society, and was present at its first reorganiza- tion in 1868 and again in 1882, at which meeting he presided, and became president in 1886.
In the great Flood of 1889 Dr. Walters' home was badly wrecked and was entirely destroyed by the fire of June follow- ing, together with an extensive library and mineralogical collec- tion. The day after the Flood he attached himself to the tempo- rary hospital, established in the old "Hansmann" Hall, on Bed- ford street, and was one of the members of the first board of managers of the Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital. He found time to take an active interest in public affairs; and his early struggles for an education gave him a peculiar interest in the public schools. He served as a school director of Johnstown borough from 1866 to 1881, fifteen years, nearly all of which time he acted as secretary of the board. The establishment of the high school was one of the first results of his work in this connection, and his interest in the public school system never flagged. In politics Dr. Walters was an ardent Republican, hav- ing been an original Abolitionist. He was present at the or- ganization of the Republican party of Cambria county, and was named as a candidate for coroner on the first ticket nomin- ated.
Samuel Moorhead Swan, son of Samuel Swan, D. D., was born March 10, 1833, near Ligonier, Westmoreland county, and died in Johnstown, July 23, 1898. When he was ten years old his parents moved to Johnstown, where he attended public school for three or four years. At the age of fourteen he was sent to Elders' Ridge Academy and in the fall of 1849 he entered the junior class of Jefferson College, at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, remaining there until he took his degree of A. B. in 1851. The same year he began the study of medicine with Dr. Campbell Sheridan, followed by two courses of lectures at Jefferson Med- ical College, from which he graduated in the spring of 1854.
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He spent the summer of that year in the town of Indiana. Pennsylvania, practicing with Dr. Thomas St. Clair, but the next year travelled in the Western States prospecting, and for a few months had charge of a drug store in Iowa City, Iowa, but finally located in DeKalb county, Illinois, where he remained five years, engaged in the practice of medicine and in farming.
At the breaking out of the Civil war Dr. Swan entered the army as assistant surgeon of the 12th Illinois Infantry. In March, 1864. he was promoted to the surgeoncy of the 111th Illi- nois Infantry; he was in the seige and capture of Atlanta, marched with Sherman to the sea and through the Carolinas, participated in the grand review at Washington, and was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, in June, 1865.
The same year he returned to Johnstown and entered into partnership with his preceptor-Dr. Campbell Sheridan-which arrangement continued until 1874, when it was terminated by Dr. Sheridan's removal to the West.
He helped to reorganize the Medical Society of Cambria county both times and was president three different times- first in 1871, then in 1884 and 1887-and he was a member of the American Medical Association, to which he was sent as delegate once at Washington and again at Philadelphia, and to the State Society.
Owing to the privations and sufferings at the time of the Great Flood, the Doctor's health began to fail, and he was compelled to call to his assistance Dr. L. H. Mayer, with whom he was associated until the spring of 1892, at which time, on account of the total failure of his health, he was compelled to abandon entirely the practice of his profession, and until his death lived in comparative retirement. He was married in 1869 to Miss Elizabeth Collins and they had one son-Collins M. Swan, born December 1, 1874, and died March 17, 1900, after a few day's illness. He was a graduate of the Johnstown high school, and was the president of his class of 1897. At the time of his death, he was a registered student of the law in the office of H. W. Storey.
Webster Bodine Lowman, son of the late Dr. John and Mrs. Margaret Ann (Bodine) Lowman, was born March 25, 1841, at Indiana, Pennsylvania, and died in Johnstown, December 5, 1904. His preparatory education was obtained at Burlington College, N. J., of the senior class of which he was a member when the war broke out, and would have graduated in six
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months. He commenced the study of medicine in 1865, at Johns- town, under the direction of his father, attended two courses of lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduat- ing in 1867, and was ever after actively engaged in practice. He was early identified with the Society, having been present at its first reorganization in 1868, was its Secretary for several years and president one year ; and again in 1882, becoming presi- dent again in 1893; was a member of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, and one of its vice-presidents in 1886, and a member of the American Medical Association.
A companion of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, he served as private 3d Pennsylvania Infantry, April 19, 1861; discharged for disability May 4, 1861, private 136th Pennsyl- vania Infantry, August 20, 1862; first sergeant, August 27, 1862; discharged for promotion February 18, 1863; second lieutenant same regiment February 19, 1863; captain April 21, 1863; honorably mustered out May 29, 1863; captain 5th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, September 10, 1864; honorably mustered out June 30, 1865. His military service began with the outbreak of the Civil war, leaving college to go to the front, under the first call for troops. He enlisted in the three months' service, but was discharged on surgeon's certificate. Pending the call for nine months' volunteers, he contributed largely to the or- ganization of what became Company K, 136th Pennsylvania Infantry, of which he was the original first or orderly sergeant. As such he participated in Burnside's attack on Fredericks- burg, and was a part of the column that assaulted Marye's Heights. In the absence of the commissioned officers of his company, he gallantly commanded the same through the battle, and was shortly thereafter promoted to the captaincy of the company, as a reward for his skill and gallantry. After his muster out in 1863 he remained at home, pursuing his medical studies until 1864, when he organized Battery D, Fifth Heavy Artillery (204th Pennsylvania), of which he was commissioned captain, and served with his command until June 30, 1865, when he was mustered out. He also commanded his company in the Chancellorsville battle, under Hooker.
Daniel William Evans, son of William Evans, was born on a farm in Cambria township, four miles south of Ebensburg, January 21, 1827, and died in Johnstown, May 26, 1895. In early life he attended school near Ebensburg during the winter
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and assisted his father on the farm during the summer months. When seventeen or eighteen years of age he began to teach in the schools in his neighborhood and afterward in Ebensburg, and later entered Hiram College, in Ohio-of which the late President Garfield was president-to prepare himself for the ministry, but on account of a lack of oratorical ability he aban- doned this ambition and decided to study medicine. In 1859 he went to East Liberty, Pennsylvania, to complete the study of medicine with Dr. David Lewis, formerly of Ebensburg, re- turning to Ebensburg to practice. At the time of Lee's invasion at Gettysburg, in 1863, he went out as a private, but was soon after taken sick with typhoid fever and was sent home. He remained in Ebensburg until about 1882, when he came to Johns- town and opened an office on Main street, opposite the park, where he remained four years, removing therefrom to the Fifth Ward. He was one of the incorporators of the Memorial Hospital and for two years a member of the board of managers, and was a member of the medical staff at the time of his death.
Thomas Sherman Troxell was born at Cresson, Pennsyl- vania, March 11, 1858, and died of apoplexy, at Gallitzin, Decem- ber 16, 1904. Early in life he attended the public schools, and subsequently was employed as clerk in his father's general store, followed by the usual course of study at St. Francis College, Loretto. On September 26, 1876. he began the study of medi- cine under the preceptorship of Dr. Robert Devereaux, at Sum- mit, Pennsylvania, and in 1877 matriculated as a student at Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia, taking three courses. and graduating in the spring of 1880. After spending three months very profitably at Jefferson Hospital he returned to his mountain home, locating at Gallitzin, and began practical life as a physician. He became a member of the Society in 1886, and was its president in 1894. He served many terms as a school director.
Francis Schill, son of Francis Joseph Schill, a cooper, was born in the Granddukedom of Baden, Germany. September 20. 1831. He attended the schools of his native place until about fifteen years of age, when he entered the Gymnasium or Lyceum of Freiburg. After remaining the required length of time and passing the examination he was promoted to the University of the same place, where he entered as a medical student. He afterward twice visited the University of Heidelberg, without, however, matriculating. After passing the state examinations
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-- which were different from those in vogue at the present time -he came to this country at the solicitation of a medical friend located in America, February, 1864. By recommendation and after presenting his papers and passing an examination (in German) at Columbus, Ohio, he was appointed assistant sur- geon of the 107th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was composed largely of Germans. When he joined the regi- ment-May, 1864,-the latter was encamped at Jacksonville, Florida, at which place he was stationed for several months. From there he was transferred as post surgeon to Fernandina, Florida, where he remained almost a year. July 3, 1865, he was ordered to Charleston, South Carolina, where his regiment was quartered, and he remained there several weeks, having had plenty of work and very little pleasure. The regiment was soon ordered home to Cleveland, Ohio, where barracks were occupied for two weeks, and the Doctor was mustered out of service with the rest. In the latter part of August, 1865, he came to Johnstown to practice medicine, where he has since re- mained. He was a U. S. examining surgeon, and for five years a member of the board of health of the city of Johnstown; one of the incorporators of the Memorial Hospital, and a member of the board of managers and of the medical staff of the same. He was one of the organizers of the Society in 1868 and also in 1882, and for many years has been and is its treasurer. He is a member of the State Society and of the American Medical Association. In May, 1875, he married Miss Anna Lorentz, and they have one son-Francis Schill, Jr.,-a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in the class of 1897, and now practicing his profession in Johnstown. He is also a member of the board of school controllers.
Joshua Morrell Cooper, son of James Cooper, was born April 29, 1844, near Jennerville, Somerset county. At the age of seven years he removed with his parents to the vicinity of Johnstown, where his primary education was secured in the public schools. At the age of eighteen he entered upon a course at Allegheny College, Meadville, receiving subsequently from that institution the degree of A. M. In 1865 he began the study of medicine under the tutorage of the late Dr. John Lowman, and the next year began a two-year course at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in 1868. Soon thereafter he took up his residence in Erie, Pennsylvania. The next ten years was a resident of the home of his youth, having acquired a
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comfortable practice soon after his removal to Johnstown. He was one of the reorganizers of the Society in 1882 and its presi- dent in 1885, and a member of the State Society, American Medical Association, and International Medical Congress. Since 1886 he has been censor of the Medico-Chirurgical Medical Col- lege of Philadelphia. After the flood of '89 he removed to Meadville.
Alfred Newlon Wakefield, son of Samuel Wakefield, D. D., LL. D., was born on his father's farm, near Mt. Pleasant, West- moreland county, December 7, 1842. At the age of six he re- moved with his parents to Pittsburg, where they resided two years, during which time he attended the public school in an old two-story frame building on Marbury street, now Duquesne Way. They returned to the farm, near Mt. Pleasant, but soon sold it and bought another in Rostraver township, near West Newton, same county, to which he was taken at ten years of age. Here he attended the public schools during winter and worked on the farm at other times, until about seventeen, when he allowed his ever-present dislike for farm work to conquer, and he entered the West Newton Academy, where he pursued the usual course of study for three years, and in 1861 began the study of medi- cine under the direction of Dr. David Porter, an old and distin- guished practitioner of that neighborhood; after two years' continuous reading in his office he was compelled to change pre- ceptors, by the retirement of Dr. Porter to private life and his removal from the county. He finished the prescribed four years' course of reading with Dr. H. S. Lindley, in Ligonier, after which, in 1865, he went to Philadelphia and took a course in anatomy under Prof. Forbes, whose kindness and attention at that time he still cherishes in his memory. In the fall of 1866 he matriculated at the Western Reserve University, Medical Department, Cleveland, Ohio, taking two courses, and grad- uated March 4, 1868.
Returning to his native county he immediately began prac- tice by purchasing the property and good will of Dr. D. W. Mc- Conanghy, in Madison, remaining there four years, when he sold out and removed to Johnstown in the fall of 1872, locating on the South Side. Thus he was the pioneer physician of that section, he being for several years the only one on that side of the river. In the Great Flood his residence with all his house- nold and office furniture were ruined or washed away, he and his family fortunately escaping the following day to the hill,
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where he immediately began the work of relief to the sick and injured, and the same day secured a private house and estab- lished what proved to be the first dispensary opened and the last to be closed of that memorable period.
The Doctor became a member of the Medical Society a few months after its last reorganization and was its president the year of the flood. By direction of the Society he received and disbursed to twenty-seven physicians relief money to the amount of $6,967.60; he is one of the directors of the Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital, and a member of the surgical staff; a per- manent member of the State Society, and a member of the American Medical Association. On July 1, 1894, the board of trustees of the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia elected him a censor of that institution, with all the privileges belonging thereto; he was for several years physician to the out-door poor of this vicinity; U. S. examining surgeon for four years, and the first president of the Johnstown Board of Health.
George Washington Wagoner, son of George and Mary L. (Henrie) Wagoner, grandson of George Wagoner, was born February 22, 1856, at Pittsburg. He was educated in the com- mon and public high schools of Johnstown. At the age of seven- teen lie published for one year-1873-The Literary Herald, an amateur weekly newspaper, size 13x26, and did a general job printing business, having a plant worth about one thousand dollars. In 1875 he began to read medicine under Dr. A. N. Wakefield, at Johnstown; attended two courses of lectures at the Western Reserve University, Medical Department, Cleve- land, Ohio, graduating in March, 1878, being the valedictorian of his class, and at once located in the practice of medicine at Johnstown.
Dr. Wagoner became a member of the Medical Society soon after its final reorganization, was secretary in 1887-89, and presi- dent in 1890-91; of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsyl- vania, of which he has been treasurer since 1903; of the American Medical Association; was secretary of the U. S. Pen- sion Examining Board, 1884-89; deputy medical inspector for the Pennsylvania State Board of Health after the Great Flood of 1889, having charge of the sanitary operations in the Fifth and Sixth wards.
John Campbell Sheridan, son of Campbell Sheridan, M. D., was born in Johnstown, December 8, 1853, where he spent his boyhood days; attended the public schools for eight or ten
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
years, after which he went to Glade Run Academy. and finally finished his general education at the State Normal School at Edenboro, Pennsylvania, after which he taught two terms near Johnstown. In 1873 he went to Illinois and engaged in the drug business, in which he continued for five years, after which he matriculated as a student in Rush Medical College, Chicago, took two courses, and graduated in 1879.
Returning to his old home in Pennsylvania soon after to begin the practice of medicine, he has proved himself unusually successful. He was among the original number who reorganized the Medical Society in 1882, and became its president in 1891. He is a member of the State Society and also of the American Medical Association; also a member of the Ninth International Medical Congress. He is a member of the National Association of Railroad Surgeons, of the Baltimore & Ohio Association of Railroad Surgeons and Surgeon at Johnstown for that Com- pany. He was U. S. Examining Surgeon from 1890 to 1894, and is an incorporator and a manager, as well as a member of the surgical staff of the Memorial Hospital. At the time of the flood he, with the rest of the physicians, took a conspicuous part in the work of relief and reconstruction.
Joseph Campbell Wakefield was born in Indiana county, in 1853, spending his early life on the farm, and attended the school in his neighborhood every winter and at academies in Homer City and Mechanicsburg, Indiana county. He thus early acquired a studious habit which has persistently remained with him. Beginning the study of medicine in 1875 under the guidance of Dr. B. F. Tomb, now of Morrellville, in the fall of 1876 he entered the Western Reserve University, Medical De- partment, at Cleveland, Ohio, took two courses, and graduated in March, 1878, Dr. George W. Wagoner, of Johnstown, being a classmate. He located at Vinco, Cambria county, Pennsyl- vania. the next year, soon built up a lucrative practice, and, ex- cepting for a short period, has lived there since. He was one of the original members of this Society as reorganized in 1882. was secretary one year, and became its president in 1892. While president the Doctor removed from the county, resigning both as president and member, returning, however, to Vinco soon after.
John Wesley Hamer, president in 1894-95, was born 1855: graduate of Columbus Medical College, Ohio, class of 1882. He was secretary of the Society in 1890.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Louis H. Mayer, president in 1896-97, was born in Johns- town, 1862; graduated in the class of 1887 from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. He is a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association and of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania. Dr. Charles E. Hannan was the secretary. Both practice in Johnstown.
Frank U. Ferguson, president in 1898, was born in 1864, and graduated in the class of 1890 from Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia. He is also a member of the American Medical Association and of the Medical Society of Pennsylva- nia. Resides at Gallitzin. Dr. F. B. Statler was secretary.
Henson F. Tomb, of Johnstown, president in 1899, was born 1860; graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadel- phia of 1887; he is also a member of the American Medical Association and of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania. Dr. Francis Schill, Jr., was the secretary.
Frank B. Statler, of Johnstown; born 1864; graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, class of 1889; he is a member of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsyl- vania, and was president of the Cambria Society in 1900. Dr. Schill, Jr., secretary.
Francis Schill, Sr., of Johnstown; president in 1901; born in 1831; he is a graduate of the University of Freiburg, Ger- many, class of 1863. He is a member of the American Medical Association and of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania. Dr. Schill, Jr., secretary.
William D. Haight, president in 1902; born 1859; graduate of Rush Medical College of Chicago, in 1883. He is also a mem- ber of the American Medical Association and of the State of Pennsylvania. He resides in Johnstown. Dr. Schill, Jr., sec- retary.
Harry Somerville, resides at Chest Springs; born 1867; he is a graduate of the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, 1888, and was president of the Society in 1903; also a member of the American Medical Association and of the State of Penn- sylvania.
Dr. Eloise Meek, who was the secretary, is a graduate of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, class of 1899; she is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion and of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania; she resides in Johnstown; her parents live at Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
John B. Lowman, of Johnstown, born 1874; president in
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1904. as was his grandfather and father on several occasions. He is a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadel- phia of 1895; also a member of the American Medical Associa- tion and of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania. Dr. Longwell was secretary.
James A. Lynch, of Cresson; born in 1871; president in 1905 ; a graduate of the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadel- phia, class of 1896; he is also a member of the American Medical Association and of the State of Pennsylvania. Dr. Longwell, secretary.
John B. Woodruff. of Johnstown; born 1859; president in ยท 1906; a graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, of 1896; he is also a member of the American Medical Associa- tion, and of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania. Dr. Long- well, secretary.
William A. Wheeling, of Spangler; born 1872; president in 1907 ; he is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Philadel- phia ; also a member of the American Medical Association and of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania. Dr. Henry J. Cartin, of Johnstown, is secretary.
CAMBRIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY ..
Organized in 1852. Reorganized in 1868 and 1882. Officers and members, March, 1907; President, William S. Wheeling, Spangler; Vice-President. Clarence B. Millhoff, Johnstown; Vice-President, Arthur F. Stotts, Ehrenfeld; Secretary, Henry J. Cartin, Johnstown; Treasurer, Francis Schill, Sr .. Johns- town; Reporter. Henry J. Cartin, Johnstown. Members 70, as follows :
Akers, Andrew Franklin, Gallitzin. Anderson, Guy R., Barnesboro.
Barker, Olin G. A .. Johnstown.
Barr. John W., Nanty-Glo. Blaisdell, Irving C .. Wilmore.
Born, Charles E., Johnstown.
Burkhart, Ephraim J., Johnstown.
Carlisle, Henry Lorain, Windber.
Cartin, Henry J., Johnstown.
Comerer. James Alvin, Vintondale. Detrick, Frank A., Cresson. Dowler. William I., Patton.
Dunmore, Albert F., Barnesboro.
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