History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 36

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288

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Notwithstanding all these difficulties, the practice of medicine has made great advancement. The blood-letting process of the olden times has been superseded by more rational treatment. The publication of medical journals, the organization of medical associations, the cultivation of the mental and physical sciences, the abandonment of irrational modes of practice, and the general desire on the parts of its members to elevate the standards of the pro- fession, have given an impetus in the right direction. It is not irrational or unkind to say that we are rapidly leaving the period when the condition of things was truthfully represented by H. C. Dodge, in his description of

THE OLD-FASHIONED DOCTOR.

O, don't you remember the old-fashioned doctor, Who, when we were children, would enter the room, And, looking as wise as an owl or a proctor, Would frighten and fill us with thoughts of the tomb?

He'd stalk to our crib-side and order us gruffly To stick out our tongue, which we'd do with such dread, And give, while he handled our pulses so roughly, An ominous shake of his solemn old head.

And then, while he listened to mother's description Of things we had eaten and what we had done, He grimly would write his old Latin prescription For nastiest medicines under the sun.

Those horrible doses. How mother would scold us And beg us and buy us to take 'em in vain,

And O, how we'd struggle when father would hold us And squeeze shut our noses regardless of pain.

And, when forced to open our mouths, quickly mother Would shove in a spoonful that strangled us till We spluttered it out-just in time for another. It's vile, deathly taste's in our memory still.

Thank goodness that old fashion dosing is ended, With sweet candy pellets and powders in lieu, The sick little toddlers who take 'em so splendid That even the well oncs all cry for 'em too.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Pioneer Physicians of Mercer County. - Unfortunately no available record has been found of the physicians who from time to time have come into the county. Had the present registry laws existed in the primitive days, we could give much more reliable and satisfactory information concerning those who established the medical practice; or had files of the early papers pub- lished in the county been preserved, the same result might have been secured.

Of those who practiced at Mercer one of the early ones was Dr. Clark. Concerning him nothing definite has been learned. The only resident who remembered him was Mrs. Rogers.

The two Cossitts, Epaphroditus and James S., were probably next to appear in the place, the former as early as 1809. The following facts were obtained concerning them and the third brother, H. D. La., who located at Greenville, from notes left by Mr. Garvin: Silas Cossitt migrated from Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., in the spring of 1805, and settled in Trumbull County, Ohio. He had served as a captain in the Revolutionary War. When he came West, besides his wife, Sarah, he had seven children, five sons and two daughters. He left two sons at Yale College to complete their education, Epaphroditus and John. On leaving college Epaphroditus settled in Warren, Ohio, in 1805, and commenced the practice of medicine. He at once obtained a repu- tation as a surgeon. His first operation was the amputation of the thigh of Hon. Webb, a prominent attorney at law. He also established a newspaper. In 1808 he removed to Mercer and resumed the practice of medicine, and was regarded one of the best surgeons in Northwestern Pennsylvania. When the War of 1812 broke out he went to Erie as a captain of Mercer troops. He was transferred to Harrison's army, where he was made surgeon-general, a position he held until the close of the war. He then returned to Mercer, where he practiced for many years, or until his removal to the West. He was one of the organizers of the first Masonic order in Mercer, in 1822.

Dr. James S. Cossitt also lived and practiced in Mercer for a long time, but finally removed to New Castle in April, 1831. He returned to Greenville in old age, where he practiced a few years, and again went back to New Castle.

Dr. James Magoffin, Jr., was one of the early physicians of Mercer. His son, Dr. Magoffin, thinks his father located in Mercer in July, 1821. He was the son of Dr. James Magoffin, Sr., who subsequently came to Mercer and did a little practicing. The senior member died February 7, 1840, aged seventy years, and his remains lie in the old Presbyterian grave-yard. He had formerly been a practicing physician in the town of Newry, Ireland. When he came to Mercer the present iron-clad code of medical ethics did not exist, and he announced himself in the following newspaper card:

James Magoffin, Sr., Physician, Surgcon and Accoucher, informs his friends and the public, that he has removed from the City of Pittsburgh (where he has practiced for a number of years) into the borough of Mercer, Penn. He tenders his services to the inhabitants and vicinity, and hopes, by care and attention to his patients and moderate charges, to merit a share of public patronage. He is well supplied with a regular assort- ment of the most genuine medicines. He may be consulted at all hours, if not professionally engaged, at his house, formerly occupied by the Rev. Dinwiddie, Market Street.

?"He has been very successful in the cure of very malignant fevers, etc., etc. October 12, 1830.

Dr. James Magoffin, Jr., had a very extensive, lucrative and successful practice. As early as 1831 he announced that upward of $10,000 were standing out, and that a settlement must be had prior to the 1st of May of that year. In 1834 he and his father appear as partners in business as physicians and surgeons. He died the 25th of November, 1879, aged eighty-two years.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Later, probably about 1840, a brother of James Magoffin, Jr., Beriah Magoffin, came from Butler and began the practice of medicine in Mercer. He was a good physician. A full sketch of the Magoffins will be found in the biographical chapter of Mercer.

Dr. Christopher Heydrick, one of Mercer's earliest practitioners, was born in Philadelphia County, Chestnut Hill, in 1770. After having fitted himself by a thorough literary education, he studied medicine under the instruction of the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Say, of Philadelphia, and in 1792 graduated with high honors at the University of Pennsylvania. Six years afterward, in 1798, he was elected a member of the Philadelphia Society of Medicine, and during the same year and for some time afterward he was physician of the Philadelphia Hospital. In 1815 he was elected resident member of the Cabinet of Sciences in Philadelphia. Having been engaged in the practice of medicine in Chestnut Hill and Philadelphia from 1792 to 1820, he at the latter date removed to the borough of Mercer. He resided in this place several years, and had a very successful and lucrative practice. But from his youth having a passion for agriculture, he determined to abandon his profession, and to enjoy for the remainder of his life his favorite pursuit; and having this object in view he removed from Mercer to a farm in the valley of the French Creek, Venango County, where he continued to reside until his death February 9, 1856, in his eighty-sixth year. During the last ten or twelve years of his life he was afflicted with blindness. Dr. Heydrick left two surviving children, Charles H. Heydrick, Esq., of French Creek Township, Venango County, and a daughter, who is the wife of Thomas J. Brown, of Mercer.

Thomas Coffey was one of the early physicians of Mercer. He attended lectures in Philadelphia in 1822-23. Dr. G. W. Yeager, of Mercer, has in his possession the notes taken by him of the lectures delivered. He was a post- master at Mercer, a bachelor then, but subsequently removing to St. Louis was there married, and also died in that city.

On the 9th of November, 1833, Dr. M. K. Johnston offered his services to the citizens of Mercer and adjacent country, in physic, surgery and obstetrics. His office was on North Erie Street.

Dr. E. W. Glezen was in Mercer as early as October, 1830. He lived then in the stone house opposite Dr. J. S. Cossitt, on North Pitt Street, owned at present by Mrs. J. H. Robinson.

Dr. John Baskin, a physician of considerable prominence in Mercer, suc- ceeded Dr. Glezen about 1844. He had two sons who became well known, one as an attorney and the other as a physician. The attorney was B. F. Bas- kin, whose name occurs in various connections in this work as a lawyer in Mer- cer and Greenville. The physician, George W. Baskin, was the efficient sec- retary of the second Mercer County Medical Society. He was stricken down when but twenty-eight years of age by the hand of an assassin, the deed having been committed in Mercer April 10, 1853. Dr. John Baskin came to Mercer from Union County, Penn., where he had served as associate judge, being ap- pointed by Gov. Porter in 1841. He continued to practice until severely hurt by his horse running away, from the effects of which he died September 26, 1851, in his sixty-third year.

The two Mehards, S. S. and J. W., father and son, had quite an extensive practice. Both died in 1883, comparatively young men. The records of the medical society show how they supported that means of professional growth.

In addition to these, John W. Rogers (eclectic), J. B. Pauley (eclectic), G. T. Monroe and Dr. Blakeley, both homœopathists, and Dr. Slemmons were in the town, and engaged in practice at a later date.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

At Greenville the earlier physicians were Dr. Hardscrabble, who was in the place about 1819; Dr. Lane, some three years later; Dr. Obadiah Hall, 1824; Dr. H. D. La. Cossitt, 1825; Dr. Samuel Wylie, 1826; Dr. Beriah Magoffin, 1827, and Dr. R. E. Breiner, 1835.

H. D. La. Cossitt grew up in Ohio, and received his principal education in Mercer, where he attended the academy under the principalship of Prof. Anderson. He read medicine with his brothers, and attended lectures in the sessions of 1824-25 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Fairfield, Her- kimer County, N. Y., and subsequently at Geneva, N. Y. Dr. Cossitt was married June 9, 1825, and the following August located in West Greenville, where he commenced the practice of medicine. He continued the active duties of his profession in Greenville and vicinity until his death, at his homestead southwest of that borough, March 1, 1877. He was recognized as one of the leading practitioners of Mercer County. A fuller notice of Dr. Cossitt will be found in the biographical chapter of West Salem Township.

Dr. R. E. Breiner located in Greenville in the spring of 1835, and soon after formed a partnership with Dr. H. D. La. Cossitt, who had then been practicing in that town for ten years. His parents were George and Maria (Spiegal) Breiner, of Lehigh County, Penn. Dr. Breiner was born in Maccungie Township, Lehigh County, April 13, 1808, and at an early age began the study of medicine under Dr. Peter Martin, of Maccungie, Penn. He attended lectures in 1828-31 at Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- phia, and in 1831 commenced practice in Maccungie, whence he came to Greenville, where he devoted the rest of his life to the duties of his profession. Soon after locating in Mercer County Dr. Breiner graduated at Willoughby Medical Institute, of Lake Erie, now Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, which added to his previous knowledge of medical science. He always kept well up with the progress in medicine, and won and retained one of the largest practices in this section of the State. Dr. Breiner was married June 10, 1841, to Miss Sarah Ann, daughter of Robert G. Mossman, one of the most prominent pioneer business men of Greenville. She died June 1, 1861, leav- ing two daughters, Maggie M. R. E., wife of E. T. Beatty, of Greenville, and Susan J. P., wife of W. H. Findley, of the same borough. Dr. Breiner was' one of the pioneer medical practitioners of Mercer County, and the fact that he practiced medicine successfully in one community from 1835 up to 1868 is abundant proof of his ability and worth. Owing to declining health he ceased regular practice about two years prior to his death, which occurred at Minne- apolis, Minn., August 25, 1870, whither he had gone the previous May, with the hope of recuperating his shattered constitution. Coming of English and German ancestry, he possessed many of the rugged, sterling characteristics of those races. Positive in opinion, of strong likes and the opposite, he was, nevertheless, of a courteous and affable disposition. He was, however, deeply wedded to his profession, and devoted all of his indefatigable energy to the duties which his calling imposed. He practiced for miles in every direction, and was well liked and respected, both by the profession and the people at large. A writer in one of the local papers paid Dr. Breiner the following tribute at the time of his death: "Few men have endured more hardships, few have discharged the difficult and toilsome duties of the medical profession so unceasingly and so long. Both his co-laborers and his patients will testify to the promptness and fidelity, the energy and watchfulness, with which he performed his professional duties,"

Dr. Daniel B. Packard may also be classed among the earlier medical practitioners of Greenville. He graduated at Willoughby Medical Institute

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

in February, 1842, and soon after began practice at Clarksville, Mercer County, whence he removed to Greenville the following August. He entered into partnership with Dr. Cossitt, which lasted about ten years. Dr. Packard continued in active practice until 1854, when he retired from the profession and engaged in mercantile pursuits.

Dr. R. G. Stephenson appears as a physician at Greenville in 1847, his card bearing date April 30 of that year. Some others were probably here, but these are the best remembered and remained longest in practice.

Dr. John Mitcheltree located south of Sharon at quite an early day; it is claimed in 1807. He was a native of Ireland, and married Jane Irvine, a sis- ter of Dr. John M. Irvine, of Sharon. Dr. Mitcheltree was the first resident physician in that part of the county, his practice extending along the Shenango Valley for many miles. He accumulated a large estate, but left no children to inherit it. He died February 6, 1852, his widow surviving him two years.

The first physicians who practiced in Sharon were Drs. Mitcheltree and Elijah Flower, the latter of Brookfield, Ohio. Dr. Robert McCormick was, however, the first resident physician of the town. He came from Cumberland County, Penn., about 1839. These were succeeded by Drs. Martin, Edward Reynolds, Christy, Wolf and W. N. Reno, the last of whom practiced from 1841 to 1850.

One of the prominent physicians of a later date was Dr. J. M. Irvine, who was born at Mount Vernon, Ohio, October, 11, 1814. Being left an orphan at a very early age, he was adopted into the family of Dr. Mitcheltree, who had mar- ried his oldest sister. He was thus enabled to secure what educational facilities were afforded by the common schools. After completing this scholastic training he engaged in mercantile business with his elder brother, Armstrong Irvine, and at the same time began the study of medicine. He pursued the latter under- taking so faithfully that in 1837 he had completed a course at the Cincinnati Medical College, and graduated with the degree of M. D., locating shortly afterward at Lexington, Mo. Remaining in this place for a year only, he returned to the East, and located in Sharon, where he resumed the practice of his chosen profession. In the spring of 1842 he married the oldest daughter of Rev. John Winter. Three years later, in the winter of 1845, Dr. Irvine removed to Texas, remaining several months. Becoming dissatisfied he returned to the North, locating for a time at Nauvoo, Ill., where he became such an active leader among the Gentiles in their efforts against the Mormons that he became fearful of their enmity. After a period of two and a half years' suc- cessful practice, he again removed to Sharon, in which place he continued the performance of professional duties until 1862, when he retired from active. practice. Dr. Irvine was an enterprising, public-spirited man, always giving freely his support and money to worthy purposes. In politics he belonged to.

the Democratic faith, and in his later years espoused the cause of temper- ance. In 1866 he was a candidate for State senator, and greatly reduced the. majority of his successful Republican opponent. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he raised a company of cavalry and tendered its service to the gov- ernment. That kind of military forces not being in active demand, the offer was not accepted. Dr. Irvine was a member of the Masonic order, but was never identified with any church. He died April 29, 1878, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He left three children, all of whom are yet living. Of these Mary is the wife of Prof. S. P. Dame, and resides in Pittsburgh; Armstrong is engaged in cattle raising in the West, and Frank, who was recently mar- ried, is also living in the West. Mrs. Irvine is still living in Pittsburgh, at an advanced age.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Dr. Robert Irvine is represented to have lived in the vicinity of Wheatland as early as 1808.

Dr. Dowling was at Jamestown in 1832. He lived in the John Williamson house.

Dr. William Gibson arrived in Jamestown in the fall of 1836. He was born January 22, 1813, in Oswego County, N. Y., the son of Samuel and Mary Gibson, who came to America at the time of the insurrection in 1791. Samuel Gibson died in 1815, leaving two children, William and Mary, the latter the wife of Dr. William Cotton, deceased, of Brownsville, Penn. William spent his youth at Harrisburg, Penn., where he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Agnew. He subsequently continued his study with Dr. Alexan- der Proudfit, of Oswego, N. Y. He graduated at the New York Medical University, and at the time of his death held the oldest diploma in Mercer County. He commenced the practice of medicine in Oswego, with Dr. Proud- fit, his preceptor. In the fall of 1836 he started for St. Louis, Mo., but en route was detained at Jamestown, where he subsequently established him- self permanently. He married Susan, youngest daughter of Joseph Beatty, of near Meadville, who survives him. Years ago he bequeathed to the United Presbyterian Foreign Mission Board of the United States the perpet- ual annual income of two large brick blocks in the city of Erie, costing over $75,000, for the gratuitous distribution of the Scriptures in Arabia, Egypt and Palestine. The Doctor and Mrs. Gibson traveled extensively in Europe, Asia and Africa. They were members of the Quaker City excursion, which Mark Twain so graphically describes in his "Innocents Abroad." Dr. Gib- son obtained, while at Jerusalem, a fine museum of Assyrian, Babylonian, Roman, Greek and Hebrew coins. They were to be presented by the United States Consul to the National Museum at Washington, but were given to Dr. Gibson instead. This collection has been greatly augmented by valuable contributions from many other sources. All is yet in the possession of Mrs. Gibson. Prior to his death, which occurred July 16, 1887, Dr. Gibson began the erection of a granite monument from material obtained in New Hampshire. It cost upward of $75,000. It is simple, bearing on the south, "William Gibson, M. D."; on the east, "William and Susan Gibson"; north " Susan Gibson."

Samuel Axtell, the original of the line of physicians of that name in Mer- cer County, was born in Washington County, Penn., on the 28th of Novem- ber, 1791. He removed with his family to Mercer County, and located in Sheakleyville in 1825. He practiced in the village and the surrounding country until 1852. By reference to the sketch of the two first medical socie- ties, it will be seen that he was an active and honored member of the same. He died in November, 1864, at the round age of seventy-three.

His successor in practice, as well as his associate for many years, was his son, Dr. W. H. Axtell, usually called Dr. Harvey Axtell. He was born under the parental roof in Washington County, November 27, 1816, and came with his parents to the new country, where he enjoyed such educational facilities as the times furnished. He finally studied medicine, and began to practice in 1840. His success was such as the most ardent could desire. He has always been esteemed among the medical gentlemen of the county, and still lives and practices at Sheakleyville, the oldest physician in Mercer County. Like his father, he began and continued under the old system of practice; and like him, he has held to the Presbyterian form and system of theology. He has the con- solation in his old age of knowing that his son, John L. Axtell, who graduated in 1885, at one of the most reputable schools, is thoroughly competent to become his successor, and to vindicate the fair name of the Axtells.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Drs. Brainard and John Vath were the first two physicians in Sandy Lake.

Died, near North Liberty, April 13, 1847, Dr. George Kirtpatrick. He had been a practitioner in the county for more than thirty years.

Dr. Grier was at New Hamburg in 1839, and Dr. Harnett about seven years later.

Dr. J. R. Andrews settled at New Vernon about 1845, and died in that place in 1867.

Dr. Cornelius Byles is said to have been the first physician in Fredonia. As early as 1841 Dr. Jesse McMurray was at Sharpsville.

Epidemics .- Mercer County has been comparatively free from epidemics. Of course, while the country was new, the vast amount of vegetable matter which occupied the lower districts, and the imperfect means of drainage then existing, produced more or less of fever and ague, and various forms of malarial disease. As the country became more fully cleared, and the drain- age was improved, these special forms of disease naturally decreased, until at present they are comparatively scarce. Then, again, medical practice became more conversant with the physical features of the country, and the necessary tendencies of the inhabitants, all of which aided in mastering the most perplexing types of disease.

From Dr. W. H. Axtell, of Sheakleyville, we learn that in 1838 an epidemic of dysentery occurred in Sandy Creek and New Vernon Townships. It began in July and continued until October or November. It was extensive, and fatal in its results. Dr. Samuel Axtell was the leading physician.

In 1844, commencing in July and continuing until November, an epidemic of malignant dysentery raged in French Creek and Sandy Creek Townships. It was more extensive, and fatal, too, than that of 1838. The symptoms were the same-the most violent purging. Nearly every family in the infected region had its victims. Drs. Samuel and W. H. Axtell, and Drs. Bennett and J. R. Andrews were the physicians in charge.

The most extensive and fatal epidemic, however, which ever reached Mer- cer County, was that of 1847. . It was the same in kind as those of 1838 and 1844. Its territory embraced French Creek, Old Sandy Creek and a portion of Salem Townships, in Mercer County, and a part of Greenwood Township, in Crawford County. The physicians employed were Drs. Samuel Axtell, W. H. Axtell and G. W. Brush, of Sheakleyville, and Bennett and Andrews, of New Vernon. Dr. Samuel Axtell himself became afflicted with the disease, and his patients had to receive the attention of his son, requiring riding nearly day and night for a long period. The disease, by some called dysentery and by others bloody flux, began in June, but its most disastrous results were produced in August and September. The symptoms are described by William M. Burns, of Milledgeville, one of its victims, thus: "Vomiting and purging; some fever, and bloody stool, with severe griping or pain."

The number of victims is variously put, ranging from eighty to 200. Jacob Zahniser, of Jackson Township, represents the number as 131, but Dr. W. H. Axtell informed the writer that there were over 200 deaths within the bounds of his own practice. William M. Burns has furnished the names of the following victims: Mrs. John Rice and two children, Mrs. Mumford, two children of William M. Burns, child of Joseph Andrews, Daniel Williams, Andrew Williams' wife and several children, W. G. Voorhies' child, Benjamin Bumgartner's son, Israel Gear's son and others. Dr. W. H. Axtell had the greatest labor imposed upon him-too much to be successfully prosecuted.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

He is said to have been very successful in the cases committed to his care from the first attack. The cause of these epidemics seems never to have been satisfactorily fixed upon. The season was very dry, and water somewhat scarce. In this condition, possibly, existed the origin.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 36

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1288

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288