History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 147

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 147

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Soon after commencing practice Dr. Corson married Ann Jones, daughter of Edward and Tacy Foulke.

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

Their eldest son, Edward Fonlke, born October 14, 1834, studied medicine with his father, graduated at the university, and began practice at Conshohocken. He afterward obtained the post of assistant surgeon on board the United States ship "Hartford," and spent three years on a cruise in Asiatic waters. He was, during the Rebellion, made full surgeon, and stationed at the Marine Hospital, Philadelphia. On applica- tion, he was later assigned to theship " Mohican," which for eighteen months scoured the seas for the rebel vessel " Alabama," and returned without the loss of a single man by illness. He returned broken in healthı, and died, after an illness of a few weeks, June 22, 1864, in his thirtieth year, greatly mourned as a young man of much promise. The second son, Joseph K. Corson, born November 22, 1836, entered upon the business of a druggist, and on graduating in the College of Phar- macy, Philadelphia, returned home. He enlisted in Captain Walter H. Cooke's company, Colonel ITart- ranft's regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, as a private, and served until the company was ordered to the | ristown to embark in his profession.

Philadelphia. The youngest child, Mary, resides with her parents at Maple Hill, their home.

DR. WILLIAM CORSON.1-The youngest of the children of Joseph and Hannah Corson was born August 8, 1806. Though losing his mother at the early age of four years, he, under the guidance of his sisters, became impressed in early boyhood with those humane feelings and with those literary cravings which so distinguished them, so that when he grew to adult age he shared with the whole family the hostility to slavery which they have ever since so strongly manifested. He studied medicine with his brother Hiram, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in the spring of 183], in the same class with Dr. Henry D. W. Pawling. It was a singular circumstance that the latter, whose family was one of the most influential of those long resident in Norris- town, immediately on graduation moved away from Norristown to the Chester Valley, at the King of Prussia, to practice, and Dr. Corson moved to Nor-

At that time the town and region for miles around was supplied by Drs. Isaac Huddleson, an aged man, and George W. Thomas, then past the prime of life. These two physicians were pleased to have young Corson ( with whose father they were well ac-

rear to be mustered out on the eve of the battle of ' Bull Run, being one of the few who offered to remain in service and participate in the disastrous confliet. On his return home he began the study of medicine with his father, attended medical lectures and at the same time entered the Military Hospital, corner of 'quainted) to aid them in attendance and in some of Broad and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia, as assistant the work at night, when it was necessary to go miles away. to the surgeons. On graduation he was sent to the seat of war as surgeon's assistant in one of the regiments To him this opportunity for practice was a welcome one, and led him directly into a business which soon . employed his whole time. During the lives of these two physicians the most cordial friendship existed among the three friends and fellow-laborers. Upon the death of Dr. Thomas, who survived Dr. Huddle- son several years, Dr. Corson, who had already been for years engaged in a most extensive practice, was the acknowledged head of the profession there, and has so continned ever since. During fifty-three years he has bestowed his skill and labor on all classes of society, never once refusing aid to the poorest or most depraved when it was in his power to help them. Fee or reward was the last consideration with him. His conscientiousness was great, his humanity and be- nevolence boundless. No other man in Montgomery County has ever had so large a practice during so long a period of time. His great experience caused his neighboring physicians all through the county to seek his advice and skill in their difficult cases, and they continue to do so even to the present time. Sen- sitive almost to a fault, he has, except rarely, avoided communicating his experience in the treatment of diseases and his skill in surgery to the profession through medical journals, but has taken an active part in all discussions of medical subjects in our medical society. of the Pennsylvania Reserves. He participated in the battle of Gettysburg and most of the battles of the Wilderness, ending at Cold Harbor, where he was re- lieved. He for a brief time assisted his father, but eventually applied for a position in the army, and was assigned to duty on the lines between Omaha and Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory, and other posts in the far West. While on the plains he made long journeys in search of fossils, and was fortunate in dis- covering the remains of many extinct animals. He is still pursuing the scientific explorations. He is married to Ada, daughter of Judge William Carter, of that territory. The third child of Dr. Corson, was Caroline, born April 2, 1839, who died of consumption after receiving a superior education. The fourth is Tacy Foulke, married to William L. Cresson of Norristown. Charles Follen, the fifth child, was entered and gradnated at the University of Pennsylvania, after which he studied law under William Henry Rawle, of Philadelphia, and has since been actively engaged in his profession in that city. For some years he has been a member of the law-firm of Goforth & Corson. He was married, in 1876, to Mary, daughter of Lewis A. Lukens, of Conshohocken. The sixth child is Susan F., married to Jawood Lukens, of the firm of Alan Wood & Co., iron manufacturers of Consho- hocken. The seventh is Bertha, wife of James Yocum, of Philadelphia. The eighth child, Frances Stockton, married Richard Day, of the firm of Day Brothers, 1 Sre sketch of Corson lamily at close of chapter on Plymouth town- ship.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

A great many young men have received instruction from him as students in his office, and have grad- uated honorably at the University of Pennsylvania. To the young men of the profession who care- fully observed the code of ethics he has been the ever-ready friend and helper with heart, hand and purse.

Botany was a favorite pursuit with him, and in the intervals snatched from the labor of practice and the study needed for it made much progress in that branch of study, so congenial to the male as well as female members of the family.

in front of his office, in the dusk of a coming night, he felt a tap on the shoulder, and, looking around, was confronted by the face of old Dan Ross. In a whisper he said : "We want a little money ; the Gorsuch men and women are in my house ; we want teams to send them on to Canada. 'Doc' Corson, Jake Beding. Isaac Roberts and Larry have given some." An hour later, on the commons where now stands what was the Bush Institute, the fugitives departed, on the brightest of moonlight nights, for Bucks County, and in a few days were in Canada. How vividly are re- called the scenes and incidents of those cruel times

Importan

There was no more decided, outspoken anti-slavery person in the family than he was. In times when fugi- tives were fleeing, as best they could, he was ever ready to aid, and when Abolitionists were cursed, threatened and slandered, he openly avowed himself. When the house of old Dan Ross was filled with "runaway " men, women and children (as many as sixteen sometimes lying on the floor of a night), himself, Isaac Roberts, Larry Corson and some others were always ready to furnish food and clothing and hold the secrets of the fugitives ; not one having been taken back by the master. Ax Dr. Hiram Corson stood on the pavement

The case of poor Charles Brice, with his family of seven or eight little children, frightened from their home at Sandy Hill (Guinea Town) by the passage of the Fugitive Slave Bill, and compelled to give up the home which they had paid for to flee to Canada for safety. Other cases, too, there were of which much might be written, but want of space forbids. This would all be quite irrelevant were it not that he of whom this is written was so intimately associated with all these scenes and trials, "all of which he knew and part of which he was," that they seem inseparable from his history. Through all the long anti-slavery

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

crusade, in the face of friend and foe, he boldly advo- cated the right of all men to freedom alike.

Mr. Auge, in his biography, says of him : " During the late war Dr. Corson was appointed by Dr. Henry II. Smith, surgeon-general of the State of Pennsyl- vania, in connection with Professor Traill Green, M.D., of Easton, and Dr. Wilmer Worthington, of West Chester, a member of his board, to examine those physicians who desired to accompany our regiment to the field as surgeons and assistant surgeons." has been well said that no State in the Union had a more competent board of examiners,-all men of long and successful experience in surgery and the practice of medicine. The board convened at Harrisburg, and performed its work under a deep sense of the great responsibilities involved in selecting persons to attend to the medical and surgical needs of our sick and wounded soldiers. "Subsequently he was appointed to fill the position of examining surgeon, or medical offi- eer, of the Sixth District during the drafts. This was a post of great responsibility, demanding good judgment, conclusion of the war he was appointed examining surgeon under the pension laws of the United States. a position which he still holds.

medical experience and high moral courage. Since the ; ford the river at all times and seasons. His skill in

"A few years since he was appointed, in connection with General James A. Beaver and Dr. John Curwen, one of the commissioners to superintend the build. ing of a large hospital for the insane at Warren, Pa." This involved a sacrifice of much time and attention, : daughter of Peter Conover (C'ovenhoven in the lan- but the completeness of that great structure and its adaptedness to the needs of the inmates testify to the ability and honesty of the commission.

Dr. Corson is still engaged in his profession, -a stal- wart and active man, full of mental and moral energy, and as prompt as ever to snccor the poor and suffering.

DR. BENJAMIN JOHNSON was born May 30, 1787. the Medical Department of the University of Penn- the Medical Department of the University of Pennsyl- . for a period of nearly half a century pursned his pro-

in Quakertown, Bucks Co., Pa. He graduated from vania in 1809. He located at Pottstown, and was ap- pointed regimental surgeon towards the close of the war of 1812, and served three months while the regi- ment was stationed at Marcus Hook. After peace was declared he returned to Pottstown and practiced till 1818. About this time he married Sarah Jones, of this place. He then practiced successively two years in Long Swamp, Berks Co .; ten years at Sumney- town ; five years at Philadelphia, and finally returned to Norristown in 1836, where he continued in active practice until his eyesight failed, in 1861. During a portion of this time he filled the office of clerk of courts, continuing also in practice. He was a man of great energy and noted as possessing a remarkable memory. He died January 17, 1870, in his eighty- third year.

DR. JOSEPH LEEDOM was born in Northampton, Bucks Co., August, 1769. He was the son of Richard and Sarah Leedom, members of the Society of Friends. He received a classical education at Rhode Island

College (now Brown University). After leaving the university he entered as a law-student with Mr. Ingersoll, at that time a prominent lawyer of Phila- delphia. The profession of law not being to his taste, he abandoned it for that of medicine. At first he studied with Dr. Fenton, of Bucks County, and subse- quently with Dr. Benjamin Rush, attending lectures at the University of Pennsylvania. He commenced the practice of medicine in Sussex County, N. J., but It , on account of the country being wild and sparsely settled, he moved to Pennsylvania, settling at Plym- outh Meeting in 1803. While a resident of New Jersey he married Eleanor Conover, an estimable and accomplished lady. After settling at Plymouth he continued the practice of his profession until his death, a period of forty years. lle was considered a skillful physician, and had an extensive practice throughout the county. At that time Conshohocken was a village of about half a dozen houses. As many of his patients lived on the other side of the river, throughout Lower Merion, he found it necessary to

the treatment of fevers, so prevalent at that time, was well known and highly appreciated.

EDWIN CONOVER LEEDOM, M.D., son of Dr. Joseph Leedom, is descended from a family of Quakers on the paternal, and of Hollanders on the maternal side. Dr. Joseph Leedom was the son of Richard Leedom, of Bucks County, Pa., and his mother, Eleanor, the guage of Holland), of Monmouth County, N. J. The doctor was born on the 20th of December, 1805, in Plymouth township, Montgomery Co., P'a. After a thorough primary training he received a classical education, and on its completion entered upon his career as a student of medicine, and graduated from

sylvania. He at once located in Plymouth, and has fession successfully in the field made familiar by the footsteps of his father, who preceded him in practice.

Dr. Leedom has for many years been a valued contributor to various journals, having written on mechanics, natural philosophy and medicine. He published two papers in Silliman's American Journal of Science and Art, entitled "An Astronomical Ma- chine: the Tellurium," and "Experiments and Ob- servations on the Solar Rays." In the American Journal of the Medical Sciences were likewise two papers on "The Structure of the Eye Examined in Connection with the Undulatory Theory of Light," and "Night Blindness Successfully Treated." IIe has also now in readiness for the press a work entitled " Enquiries concerning the Origin and Destiny of Man." In early life he manifested a great fondness for astronomy, and constructed several machines which elucidated the movements of the heavenly bodies, the "Tellurium," among them, having already been re- ferred to. Dr. Leedom is a member of the Montgomery

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

County Medical Society, of which organization he has been president. He was, in 1848, married to Susan, daughter of Peter Lukens, of the same neighborhood, and a member of the Society of Friends. They have five sons, of whom Oscar, who graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylva- nia, has succeeded his father in practice. Joseph, who graduated from the Law Department of the same university, is pursuing his profession in Philadelphia. Daniel M. graduated as a mining engineer from the Polytechnic College of Pennsylvania, and Howard and Franklin are engaged in other pursuits.

and Wistar were professors therein. He graduated and commenced practice in the spring of 1812, at Skippackville, and followed it continuously there until 1844, when his son James had finished his medical education and entered into partnership with him. James, the elder, however, practiced at times as long as he lived. In all those thirty-two years or more he had a very laborious practice, extending largely over the townships of Perkiomen, parts of Upper and Lower Providence, Lower Salford, Lim- erick, Frederick, Franconia, Towamenein, Hatfield, Worcester and Norriton, covering an area, perhaps, of

86 Leedom

DR. ANTRIM FOULKE studied medicine with Dr. Green, of Quakertown, Bueks Co. In 1816 he began practice at Gwynedd, in partnership with Dr. Joseph Meredith. After practicing for some time in this place he removed to Philadelphia, leaving his practice at Gwynedd to his son, Dr. John Lancaster Foulke, one of the five originators of the County Medical Society in 1847. A few years later he also removed to Philadelphia.

DR. JAMES HAMER was born on the old homestead, in Lower Providence township, on March 3, 1781. After receiving a good education he engaged for a time in teaching. He next commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Griffith, of Bucks County, attend- ing lectures at the medical university when Drs. Rual

a hundred square miles. He was largely engaged in midwifery practice, recording the births as they oe- curred, which aggregated near two thousand eases. Some years as high as eighty-nine were registered, and occasionally as many as two or three a day. Dr. Hamer never till late in life abandoned the more robust habit of making his professional visits on horseback, instead of the light carriage, which prevails now. He managed to train his horses so that they would keep the path and avoid accidents even on the darkest nights, when he could not see the way him- self. During the prevalence of the ague, or malarial epoch, from 1820 to 1830, he also suffered at times from the " shakes," and has been known to dismount for a short time while the chill lasted, lie down a

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

while, and theu start on his round again. Ilis habit was to leave a memorandum at home of the route he meant to take, and as subsequent callers often pursued him with professional summons it frequently hap- pened that he would not return to his family for days-

of the boarding-school at Trappe and afterwards of the Germantown Academy, meanwhile engaging for a time in teaching. He then entered his father's office as a student of medicine, and attended lectures of the Medical Department of the University of New York, from which he graduated ju 1844, having pre- viously been a private student in the office of Dr. Pattison, professor of anatomy, and also of Dr. Whit- taker, demonstrator of anatomy in the medical school above mentioned. Dr. Hamer, after serving as dis-

JAMES HAMER, M.D., is a great-great-grandson of James Hamer, who purchased from the agents of William Penn, in 1717, a tract embracing three hundred acres of land in Upper Providence town- ship, upon which he settled. His son James married, and had among his children a son James, who located . trict physician in the New York Lying-In Asylum,

James Hamer

upon the ancestral land, having married Sarah Bates, returned to his home and became associated with his whose children were James, Humphrey. Jesse, Charles, father in his profession, remaining for several years thus engaged. He then removed to Oneida, Madison Co., N. Y., and for three years enjoyed a successful practice. Kulpsville, Montgomery Co. was next the scene of his professional experiences, from which point he removed to his present home, at Collegeville, in the same county, having purchased the property in 1864. Here for a while he pursued his profession, but finally abandoned it for the healthful and congenial employments of a farmer. Dr. Hamer was, on the 9th of July, 1844, married to Miss Caroline, a daughter John, Martha, Sarah and David. James, of this num- ber, chose medicine as a profession, and graduating from the Medical Department of the University of Penn- sylvania, subsequently practiced in East Perkiomen. He married Frances Gotwals, and had children,- James and a daughter Mary (Mrs. Seth Lukens, of Gwynedd township). The former was born on the 28th of November, 1819, in Skippackville, East Perkiomen township, and pursued his early studies in the com- mon schools near his home. He later became a pupil

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

of William M. and Caroline Downing, of New York. Their children are James 11., Caroline, Cecilia (wife of John M. Vanderslice, attorney-at-law and member of Common Council of the Twenty-eighth Ward of Philadelphia), Fannie, Lizzie and Emily. James H., after traveling on the Continent and residing for three years in London, returned and began the study of medicine. He graduated from the Hahnemann, Homeopathic Medical College, Philadelphia, taking the first prize for skill in anatomy and surgery, and is now in active practice at Collegevillle.

Dr. James Hamer was formerly in politics a Repub- lican, but has recently affiliated with the Prohibition

WILLIAM A. VAN BUSKIRK .- The subject of the previous sketch left a son who proved him- self well qualified to assume the mantle of his father,-William Alexander Van Buskirk, who was born April 16, 1827, at Pottstown. He commenced his professional studies early in life, and entered, as a stu- dent, the office of the late Professor Joseph Pancoast, of Philadelphia, and in the year 1847, when in his twenty-first year, graduated at the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia. He then returned to his home at Pottstown and commenced practice at that place. About the year 1850 his father, having prac- ticed about forty-three years, retired, and he then

party. He is of Quaker stock, though a worshiper with the congregation of Trinity Christian Church, of which Mrs. Hamer is a member.

GEORGE W. VAN BUSKIRK, M.D., was born in 1786, located at Pottstown in 1819, and there pursued the practice of medicine. He was a man of fine natural powers and endowed with more than ordinary ability ; was fond of reading and possessed of much general information. As a physician he was widely known, enjoyed an extensive practice and in his day stood in that section among the foremost in his pro- fession. He resided in Pottstown up to the time of his death, which took place in his eighty-fourth year.

succeeded him. During the time he was in practice he acquired considerable skill and eminence both in medicine and surgery. In the latter branch he was especially celebrated, being consulted in most difficult operations, and called at times to a great distance- In the discharge of his professional duties he was conscientious, faithful and careful. He continued in active practice in Pottstown until the time of his death, which occurred suddenly on December, 5, 1874.

DR. JOHN R. GRIGG, whose father was a celebrated English clergyman, was born in North Carolina. He received an academic education at Petersburg and Richmond, Va. He studied medicine in the office of

Chas, Shoemaker .

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

Dr. Shoemaker, on Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in the class of 1820. Dr. Grigg located at Barren Hill in 182I, and after removing to several places in the county, finally settled at Evansburg in 1829. His kindly bearing and skill as a physician soon won for him an extensive practice, which he followed ardu- ously for a period of fifty years. During forty-three years of this time he was physician to the Montgom- ery County alinshouse. He is still living with his son at Pemberton, N. J., enjoying the distinction of being the oldest living physician who has ever practiced in the county.

CHARLES SHOEMAKER, M.D., is a native of Gwyn- edd township, Montgomery Co., Pa., where he was born of Joseph and Martha Shoemaker, April IS, 1801. As soon as Charles was of school age he was placed in charge of competent tutors, and his advance- ment in the different rudimentary branches was quite rapid until he was fully prepared to enter upon the studies of the profession he had chosen for a life-work, viz., that of medicine, and entered the University of Pennsylvania under the care of Dr. Joseph Parrish as his preceptor, and graduated from that institution in 1827. He then entered upon his future career as a practitioner, and through his skill as a physician and surgeon soon became one of the most prominent of his profession in the many years that he practiced. He was well and prominently known throughout Montgomery and adjoining counties for his skillful treatment of critical cases of the various diseases to which the human flesh is heir, as well as for the me- chanical skill he always displayed in the treatment of surgical cases of the most dangerous and critical character. His counsel was sought by the most emi- nent physicians of the times when he practiced, and throughout the section of country over which he traveled his name for many years was a household word, and many remember Dr. Charles Shoemaker for his kindness and fatherly care of the sick and

disabled, and especially the poorer portion of his . 1846, nine years after their marriage. In 1848, Dr. medical parish revere his name.

after having served well his day and generation, here- tired from practice, followed to his retirement with the love and esteem of all who knew him or who had felt the influence of his love and kindness. Ile now resides near Ashbourne.

Dr. Shoemaker's ancestors were all members of the Society of Friends, and adhered to the doctrines of

the Bible as expounded by George Fox, and Charles, having early in life imbibed the same spirit, has been nearly all his life a devoted member of the Society of Friends.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 147

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534