History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 55

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 55

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Peter Martin, the fourth son of Dr. Christian Frederick, studied medicine under his father, and after remaining with him several years, en- gaged in practice until he died in 1846.

Mary Martin, daughter of Dr. Christian Frederick, married John Dickenshied and was the mother of Dr. Charles H. Dickenshied, and a daughter of Dr. Charles H. Martin, became the mother of Dr. Samuel Young.

Dr. Charles F. Dickenshied was born near Emaus, Jan. 22, 1791. His father dying when he was only eight years old, he was brought up by his grandfather, Dr. Charles L. Martin, edu- cated and graduated from the U. of P. in 1817. He engaged in a very active and profitable prac- tice for 40 years when he retired at Allentown. He died in October, 1881.

John H. Dickenshied, son of Dr. Chas. F., was born on the homestead June 4, 1826, and was graduated from the U. of P. in 1847. He associated with his father until 1847, when his father removed to Allentown and he took con- trol of the extensive practice in the county where he distinguished himself by his skill and success as a practitioner. He married Amanda Stein- man (dau. of Geo.), and they had three sons, Dr. Eugene H., Frederick S., (dec'd), and Chas. F., and four daughters. He died Oct. 17, 1905.

Geo. Van Buskirk attended the U. of P. and Jefferson Medical College, and practiced at Mil- lerstown ( Macungie) during the English War of 1812-15, after which he removed to Potts- town. He had a son who practiced dentistry at Allentown.

Jacob Stein, a native of Allentown, studied medicine under Dr. Chas. H. Martin, 1816-18, and practiced about 15 years until his death, Oct. 3, 1826. His son, Jacob, was an attorney. Dr. Abraham Stein, his brother, practiced here a short time until his death, Aug. 13, 1827, at the early age of 24 years.

Griffith Scholl was born in New York in 1800, and after graduating from U. of P. immediately located in Heidelberg township. In 1829 he succeeded Dr. John Romig at Fogelsville, and about 1850 removed to Hecktown where he prac- ticed until 1882, after practicing 60 years. He left a son, Joseph, who became a physician in Crawford county.

Henry Scholl, brother of Dr. Griffith, also graduated from U. of P., practiced at Saegers- ville and died in 1837, aged 38 years. His wife (Rachel Steckel), realizing that his end was near from consumption, studied medicine under his instructions and at his decease continued his prac- tice and reared their family of six children. Three sons were educated, graduated from Jeffer- son Medical College and became physicians, John D. having remained at home and practiced until 1857 when he died, at the age of 33 years.

Wm. F. Danowsky, of Poland, practiced «broad 18 years, then emigrated to the U. S. in 1836. He practiced for awhile in Emaus; then located and practiced in Allentown until he died in 1875. In 1853 he commenced the manufac- ture of illuminating gas in a small way, and this resulted in establishing the Allentown Gas Works, of which he was the founder. He had a son, Dr. E. J. Danowsky who was a druggist and died March 9, 1909.

John Romig was born Jan. 3, 1804, in Centre Valley, studied medicine under Dr. John I. C. Baum, at Allentown, and graduated from U. of P. in 1825. He practiced for a while at Fogels- ville, then located at Allentown. His profes- sional labors in Lehigh county extended over a period covering half a century and he was distin- guished for his great skill and success. In 1834 he embraced the new system of Homoeopathy and assisted in establishing the Allentown Academy of Medicine, from which he was gradu- ated in 1838 and then filled the chair of ob- stetrics as one of the faculty. He married Eliza Fogel (dau. of Solomon), and they had a large family of children, among them John, William H., and George M., besides three daughters. He died Feb. 5, 1885. His sons, William and George, were graduated from the U. of P., and also the Hahnemann Medical College.

Wm. J. Romig, younger brother of Dr. John, was born June 18, 1821. He studied under his brother, and then practiced at Catasauqua and

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Allentown. He retired in 1872 and died in 1883. He was an early leader in the Anti-Slavery move- ment, and showed much interest in the cause of temperance, Christianity, and the welfare of the Church. He was married twice.

Frederick A. Wallace, of Easton, located at Hynemansville in 1845 and practiced there five years when he moved to Philadelphia and after- ward to the West.

Frederick Seiberling practiced in Weisenberg township from 1862 for eight years; and H. A. Saylor from 1871 to 1875, when he served as the prothonotary of the county for one term of three years, and afterward resumed his professional duties. Joshua Seiberling and John Brunner be- gan practice in the same locality in 1875.

Joshua Kern, of North Whitehall, graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1846 and began practice at Orefield, in South Whitehall.

Thomas B. Cooper was born Dec. 29, 1823, at Coopersburg, studied medicine and graduated from U. of P. in 1843, and practiced his pro- fession at his native place. As a relaxation he interested himself in politics and came to repre- sent his congressional district (Lehigh and Bucks) during 1861-1862. He died at his home April 4, 1862. He was a popular, capable and success- ful physician. He was married to Elmina C. Schantz and they had four sons ( Oscar F., Tilgh- man S., Llewellyn H., Thomas E.) and two daughters.

John Herbst was a manufacturer of clothes in Saxony, and among his children was a son Frederick William, born in 1804, who emi- grated to Pennsylvania when 16 years old, studied medicine, graduated from Jefferson Medical Col- lege and practiced his profession in Berks county till he died in 1880.

William Herbst, son of Dr. Frederick Wil- liam, was born in Berks county, Sept. 24, 1833, studied medicine and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1855. He located at Trex- lertown, Lehigh county, and carried on an ex- tensive practice until his death.

He made a special study of local botany and his remarkable attainments on the subject led to his selection as a tutor of Muhlenberg College which position he filled for seven years. He published a book on the fungi. He was an active member of the County and the State Medical Societies since 1860, upwards of 30 years. He was married to Eleanor B. Schall (dau. of David), and they had two children, H. Herbert and Carrie. The son studied medicine and was graduated from the U. of P. and practiced medi- cine at Allentown for many years.

Aaron Miller was born July 1, 1839, at Sae- gersville, educated for the medical profession, and

graduated from the University Medical College of New York in 1862. He embarked in practice at Germansville, continued there only two years, and then located at Saegersville, where he still carries on an extensive practice. He was married to Sarah K. Mosser (dau. of William), and they had two sons and two daughters.

Jacob S. Shimer (son of Charles B.), was born at Shimersville, April 4, 1836, studied medicine and graduated from U. of P. in 1857. After practicing several years at Macungie and Bethle- hem, he located at Shimersville, where he car- ried on his profession till 1863; then identified himself with the Evangelical Association and became a minister of the gospel in 1866. He died July 27, 1898.

Albert M. Sigmund (son of Frederick, promi- nent iron-master), was born in Upper Milford, Feb. 27, 1839, studied medicine and was gradu- ated from U. of P. in 1860. After practicing a short time with Dr. John H. Dickenshied, he en- gaged in the iron business with his brother, Hen- ry, and carried on the Hampton Furnace. In 1863 he was commissioned as a surgeon in the Civil War and served for two years. He then 'returned to Shimersville, purchased the residence of Dr. Jacob S. Shimer and resumed his practice which he carried on till he died April 10, 1872.

Theodore Conrad Yeager was born April 1, 1828, son of Rev. Joshua Yeager, and a grand- son of Rev. Johann Conrad Yeager, whose pas- torates of Lutheran charges in and near Allen- town continued 92 years. He was educated at the Allentown Academy and Allentown Semi- nary, studied medicine with Dr. Charles L. Martin, began practicing in 1860; engaged in the drug business with Dr. W. E. Barnes ; was as- sistant Medical Inspector of Lehigh county in 1862; assistant Surgeon of the 51st Regt. in 1863; Professor of Chemistry and Botany at Muhlenberg College, and Deputy Revenue Col- lector under President Grant. He became very active in politics and was elected Mayor of Al- lentown in 1873, and while serving this position, died January 14, 1874.

MEDICAL SOCIETIES .-- The practicing physicians of Lehigh county organized a medical society in 1853 at the office of Dr. Charles H. Martin in Allentown, and the following were the first of- cers :

President, Dr. Charles H. Martin, Allen- town; Secretary, Dr. David O. Mosser, Breinigs- ville; Treasurer, Dr. Thomas B. Cooper, Coop- ersburg. Other members of the society were, Dr. Peter Leisenring, Macungie; Dr. William Kohler, Egypt; Dr. Tilghman H. Martin, Al- lentown.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The society had a short existence of only a few years and was disbanded.

A re-organization was effected in 1858 and since then the society has held regular meetings. In 1865 there were 24 members; in December, 1913, there were 85. Two addresses on selected topics relating to medical practice are read at the monthly meetings (excepting the annual meeting in January) which are followed by dis- cussions.

The Allentown Academy of Medicine was or- ganized as an institution similar to the Harris- burg Academy of Medicine, by a number of medi- cal practitioners at Allentown for the purpose of promoting and promulgating the science and art of medicine, and a charter of incorporation was secured on March 10, 1910. The first officers and directors were as follows:

President, W. D. Kline; V. Pres't, Geo. F. Seiberling ; Secr't'y, W. A. Hausman, Jr., Treas., J. Treichler Butz; E. H. Dickenshied, W. W. Hartzell, F. A. Fetherolf.

The society secured quarters on the third floor of the Free Library building and there it has since held its meetings. A library of medical books has been collected, numbering about 600 . volumes, and numerous pamphlets.

STATE DISPENSARY .- In 1908 the State Board of Health established a Free Dispensary at Allen- town ( No. 118 N. 5th St.), for the treatment of tuberculosis, and appointed Dr. M. F. Cawley as the chief with Dr. J. Treichler Butz as his assistant. Free services are given there three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri- days, from 3 to 5 p. m. Dr. Cawley acted as chief until his death in 1911, then Dr. W. D. Kline became his successor, Dr. Butz continu- ing as assistant. A professional nurse is in at- tendance. Many cases are treated.

HOMEOPATHY.

The first school of homœopathic medical in- struction in the world was founded at Allen- town, Lehigh county, Pa., and called "The North American Academy of Homoeopathic Healing Art." It had its inception in "The Homoeopathic Society of Northampton County and counties adjacent ; and also in the pioneer organization of Homœopathy of Pennsylvania known as the "Hahnemann Association." Its establishment excited considerable interest not only among the clergy and laity, but among physicians who were disposed to investigate the new doctrine.

The plan of Dr. Constantine Hering, at Phila- delphia, was to devise a course of lectures and encourage students of medicine to learn the Ger- man language in order to understand and appre-

ciate the value of the founder's principles; but the members of the Northampton County So- ciety felt the need of a school for teaching homœopathy, and in writing on the subject, Dr. Henry Detwiller, as early as Dec. 30, 1833, said that Wesselhoeft, Romig and himself called on Dr. Hering in Philadelphia and they adopted a plan which ultimately resulted in the erection of the academy. This plan was matured on Dr. Hering's birthday, Jan. 1, 1834. It provided for an academy to be located at Allentown, of which he was to be the president and principal instruc- tor; and he was to remove to that place as soon as a salary equal to that of a first-class Allen- town clergyman was guaranteed to him.

Different suggestions were made as to secur- ing a building and carrying on instruction, but they were not at first realized, because obstacles and discouragements arose which confused the operations of the founders. They succeeded how- ever in opening an academy and carried forward its work. The fund was created by 100 sub- scribers from Allentown, Bethlehem, Philadel- phia and New York, but the greater part was raised at Philadelphia through the efforts of Wil- liam Geisse who was the real founder of homœo- pathy in that city. The mistake in not realizing better results was in giving medical instruction in the German language in an English speaking com- munity, and therefore American students, rather than educate themselves in German, were in- clined to enter other schools and adopt a system of medicine other than homoeopathy.

The Allentown Academy was so well conduct- ed in its early history, that a diploma from the in- stitution was regarded as a medical distinction, because the professors were graduates of German universities and they subjected candidates for practice to a rigid examination. The Homoo- pathic Medical College of Pennsylvania was in a way the indirect outgrowth of the Allentown Academy, although not immediately a part of it, whose successor was the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia.

Several important publications were issued under the auspices of the Allentown Academy : "Einige Wort uber Nothwendigkeit" (address at dedication of academy) ; "Homœopathic Do- mestic Physician" ( Hering, 1835-38) ; "Hahne- mann's Organon" (reprint of Stratton edition) published at "Academical Bookstore" in 1836, with a preface by Hering; "Correspondenzblatt" (1835-'37) ; "Wirkungen des Schlangengiftes" ( Herring, 1837).

This Allentown Academy, the first school of homopathic medical instruction in the world, was founded April 10, 1835, the 80th anniver- sary of the birth of Hahnemann, the founder of

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the new system. Its cornerstone was laid with due ceremony on May 27th of that year, and the contents of the box were as follows: Hahne- mann's Organon and picture; constitution of the academy corporation, printed in German and English; names of members of the Academy household and the incorporators; Hering's ad- dress ; Philadelphia newspapers containing an ac- count of homœopathy in Ohio ; a copy of Friedens- bote; quantity of homœopathic medicine, names of state and city officers; programme of the cele- bration.

At a meeting of the founders and incorporators held on the same day these officers were elected : President, Constantine Hering; V. President, John Romig; Secretary, Adolphus Bauer ; Treas- urer, Solomon Keck; William Wesselhoeft, Eb- erhard Freytag, Henry Detwiller, Rev. Christian Becker, John Rice, Christian Pretz, Joseph Sae- ger and George Keck, Directors; William Eck- ert, Rev. Philip Goep, Henry Ebner and J. V. R. Hunter, Trustees.

On June 17, 1836, the legislature granted a charter to the North American Academy of the Homeopathic Healing Art, and the institution then entered upon its interesting and eventful career. The incorporators completed the or- ganization and adopted a constitution, the second article reading as follows:

"The Academy shall consider every member of a Homeopathic Society in the United States as a member of its own body, and shall grant to all equal privileges in the use of what has been ac- complished by means of its enterprise, according to conditions hereafter mentioned, without de- manding therefor, generally a stipulated contri- bution."

The constitution provided for a thorough course of study, medical and otherwise, which was as follows: Clinical instruction, examina- tion of the sick, and semoitics, pharmacodyamics and materia medica; pharmaceutics and medical botany; dietetics; special therapeutics, surgery and obstetrics; medical jurisprudence ; general therapeutics ; symtomatology and human pathol- ogy ; physiology and anatomy ; comparative physi- ology and comparative anatomy; zoology, phy- tology and mineralogy ; chemistry, physics, geolo- gy, astronomy and mathematics; history of medi- cine and natural sciences; Greek, Latin and Ger- man languages.

The faculty of the academy comprised the fol- lowing experienced physicians : Drs. Hering, Wil- liam Wesselhoeft, E. Freytag, John Romig, J. H. Pulte, and Henry Detwiller. The last named resided at Hellertown, Northampton county, who on the 24th of July, 1828, had prescribed the first dose of homoeopathic medicine ever given

in Pennsylvania. The remedy was pulsatilla, given to a lady at Bethlehem on whom several doctors had tried all their remedies without suc- cess, and he cured her very speedily by its use.

The plans contemplated a commodious 3-story brick, triple structure, in reality a large main building, with transverse wings at its ends, but they could not be carried out. A large lot on the east side of Penn street, south of Hamilton, 250 feet front and 230 feet deep, admittedly a superior location, was secured and on this lot the two wings were erected in their respective positions according to the plans but not the main building.

Annual sessions were held in these two wings from November Ist to August Ist for a period of six years, from 1836 to 1842, and the academy was apparently in a promising, if not a flourish- ing, condition; then a crisis fell upon the insti- tution from an unexpected quarter which result- ed in its complete ruin, and this crisis was the financial embarrassment of its treasurer, John Rice, and the failure of the Northampton Bank of Allentown of which he was the president.

As Allentown was then but a small struggling country town with no prospects of an early re- sumption, the above named faculty deemed it prudent to separate and introduce homœopathy into the different sections where they resided. Accordingly, Dr. Hering, the president of the academy returned to Philadelphia, where he be- came very eminent, and took a leading part in the organization of the Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Wesselhoeft re- moved to Boston, and there he became one of the most prominent homœopathists of that city. Dr. Pulte went to Cincinnati and became one of the most honored physicians of the West. Dr. Ro- mig remained in Allentown, and Dr. Detwiller removed from Hellertown to Easton, where he became known and respected throughout the en- tire Lehigh Valley. The action of these men in thus separating and introducing the new medical system into different parts of the country was doubtless a wise one, and the result was of much benefit to a great part of the population.

The property was sold in 1843 by the sheriff at public sale for the payment of debts to Philip H. Goepp, and after holding it until 1851 he sold and conveyed it to the school district of Allen- town. These wings are still standing, but they were enlarged towards the east ends, the win- dow-sashes were altered, towers were added to the front ends, and rooms were constructed for school purposes.

The only homoeopathic physicians who re- mained in the county after the close of the academy were Dr. John Romig and Rev. John

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Helfrich who had graduated at the academy dur- ing its existence. Their number was not in- creased until 1846, when Dr. J. Henry Helfrich, son of Rev. John Helfrich, who had just gradu- ated at the Pennsylvania Medical College in Philadelphia (there was no homeopathic school in existence at that time), began to practice at Kern's Mill, in Lehigh county and a few years later he took up his father's practice in Weisen- berg, where he remained until 1858, when he re- moved to the village of Fogelsville. In 1866 he left this place and went to Kutztown, Berks county, where he practiced for eleven years. In the spring of 1877 he sold out his business in Kutztown, and removed to Allentown. Dr. Helfrich was a man of wonderful endurance. It is doubtful whether any physician in the county worked harder during his life in the practice of his profession. Wherever he located he had a very extensive practice. He devoted his whole time to his chosen work, and no outside influences had any charm for him.

In 1849 his father had published a German work on homeopathic veterinary practice which was the first book on this subject published in this country.

From 1846 to 1862 no physicians in this county took up homœopathy exclusively, though several practiced it along with the old system. Such were Dr. Charles L. Martin, of Allen- town, and Dr. Samuel R. Rittenhouse, of Mil- lerstown, now Macungie. About the year 1865 the latter removed to Reading, where he became an exclusive homœopathist, and one of the lead- ing physicians of that city. During the same period Dr. William Herbst, of Trexlertown, and Dr. Joshua Kern, of Siegersville, began to prac- tice homœopathy. After 1835 many families in the county procured works on domestic medicine, based on the new system, together with a case of homœopathic remedies. In this way many who had no homeopathic doctor in their vicinity were able to cure their own ailments and prevent seri- ous illness.

In the beginning of 1860, Frank J. Slough, of Claussville, this county, began the study of medi- cine, and of homœopathy in particular, with Dr. T. Henry Helfrich, then residing at Fogels- ville. On the 3d of March, 1862, he graduated from the Homoeopathic Medical College in Phila- delphia as the first graduate of that institution in this county. Within a month thereafter, Dr. Slough entered into partnership with his pre- ceptor at Fogelsville, and remained until No- vember, 1864, when Dr. Helfrich removed to Kutztown, leaving his partner (who had shortly before become his son-in-law), alone at the form-

er place. Dr. Slough continued to practice at Fogelsville until October, 1875, when he left that field in charge of his brother, Dr. Chester Slough, and located at Allentown. He established, in connection with his professional practice, a homœ- opathic pharmacy, locating it at No. 845 Ham- ilton street, corner of Ninth. This was then a new thing, not only in Allentown, but in all Eastern Pennsylvania, except Philadelphia. It proved a complete success and powerfully influ- enced the community in favor of homoeopathy. Meanwhile, Dr. Slough's professional practice in- creased so much that in February, 1877, he sold the pharmacy to Dr. J. Henry Helfrich, who had moved into this city from Kutztown. Dr. Helfrich continued the business at the same place for several years, when, his practice having also become quite extensive, he gave it into the pos- session of his daughter, Mrs. Agnes M. Slough, wife of Dr. F. J. Slough, and she has conducted the business in a successful manner until the pres- ent time. Dr. Slough was a member of the Ameri- can Institute of Homeopathy, of the State Medi- cal Society of Pennsylvania, of the Homoeopathic society of the Lehigh Valley, and of the Homœo- pathic Pharmaceutical Association of Pennsyl- vania. Their daughters became graduate phar- macists: Libbie O. (the wife of Horace A. Luckenbach, of Bethlehem), in 1879, and Minnie H. A., in 1895, and they were actively engaged in the business for a number of years.

It is just to mention that Dr. Wm. Wessel- hoeft of Bath, in Northampton county was among the first homoeopathic physicians in the United States and he became an enthusiastic advocate of the new system. In the fall of 1830, he began to make weekly visits to the home of Rev. John Hel- frich in Weisenberg township, about a mile west of Ziegel Church, for the purpose of instructing him in the practice of homœopathy, and there a number of patients were regularly present to put the new healing system to a practical test. The results were very encouraging and the meetings were kept up until Aug. 23, 1834. Then a so- ciety was organized called "The Homœopathic Society of Northampton and Adjacent Counties," including Lehigh county. The members from Lehigh county were Rev. Helffrich, Dr. John Romig, of Allentown, Dr. Joseph Pulte, of Trex- lertown, and Dr. Adolph Bauer, of Lynn town- ship. Dr.Pulte's ability and prominence after- ward came to be recognized and appreciated at Cincinnati, Ohio, by the erection of the Pulte- Homœopathic Medical College in his honor, he having located there and practiced the new sys- tem of medicine in a most successful manner.

The society, held regular meetings at Allen-

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town and Bethlehem, and also at the residences of its members, and their natural result was the establishment of the academy in 1835.

Among the students of the Allentown Homœo- pathic school was Dr. P. Scheurer who was born in Lehigh county, Aug. 18, 1799, and labored in the ministry for fifty years. Ill health induced him to read medical books and in 1839 he became in- terested in homœopathy and practiced success- fully until his death at Hanover, April 20, 1875.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 55

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158