History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 150

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 150

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GORHAM PARSONS SARGENT, M. D., of Bryn Mawr, a physician of long and extensive practice in Mont- gomery and Delaware Counties, was born December 10, 1834, in Philadelphia, where his father, Winthrop Sargent, was for many years treasurer of the Presby- terian Board of Publication. His mother was Emily (Haskell) Sargent, of the old and highly respectable Haskell family, of Gloucester, Mass., At the age of eight years he removed with his parents from Philadelphia to Essex County, Mass. He received his preparatory education at Dummer Academy, in the township of Newbury, in that county, near the city of Newburyport, and at the close of his academic course entered Dartmouth College, at Hanover, N. H., where several of his brothers were graduated. In I859 he was elected a member of the Massachusetts Legislature for the town of Newbury. In the term which he then served in the House of Representatives he was the youngest member of that body, of which

I For history of the Corson family, see Plymouth township.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

tbe Hon. Charles Hale was the Speaker. During the time of his service in the Legislature he was also a student of medicine. He afterwards attended lectures at the Harvard Medical School and at the Long Island College Hospital (Brooklyn, N. Y.), where he was graduated in I 863.

Prior to that time, at the opening of the war of the Rebellion, he entered the Union army as a medical cadet, and was assigned to hospital duty, in which he was chiefly employed during his continuance in the service, being stationed a large part of the time as acting assistant surgeon at the Satterlee Hospital,

Shepherd (for children), at Radnor, Delaware Co. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Bryn Mawr.

Dr. Sargent was married, in 1865, to Caroline, daughter of Frederick Montmollin, of Lexington, Ky. They had one child, a daughter, who died in infancy, in 1866. Fitzwilliam Sargent, M. D., brother of Dr. G. P. Sargent, was formerly demon- strator of anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania, and is now (as he has been for many years) living in Europe. Another brother, Winthrop Sargent, M.D., who was also for several years in practice in Mont-

G.Saugend

Philadelphia, and also, for a shorter period, at Camp , gomery County, and a member of its Medical Society, Copeland, Braddock's Field, near Pittsburgh. From is now residing at Newton, Mass. the close of the war until the present time he has been DAVID R. BEAVER, M.D .- David Beaver, the grandfather of Dr. David R. Beaver, of Consho- hocken, was the great-grandson of George Beaver, who came from Alsace, Germany, to Philadelphia, in the ship "Friendship," November 2, 1744. He resided in Chester County, Pa., where he was the owner of the Great Valley Flour-Mill and also of a productive farm. Mr. Beaver died while build- ing a furnace at Danville, Pa. He was united continuously engaged in the practice of his profession, first in Philadelphia and later in the counties of Del- aware and Montgomery. He has been president of the Montgomery County Medical Society, several times a delegate from that society to the State Medical Society and to the American Medical Association. He is now an associate member of the Obstetrical Society of Philadelphia, and, in addition to his large private practice, is in charge of the Hospital of the Good | in marriage to Miss Catharine Heister, and had

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

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children, - Heister, Samuel and David. Samuel succeeded his father in the milling and farming busi- ness, and later removed to Norristown, where he embarked in the milling and lumber business. He was married to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John and Rachel Brown, of Chester County, their children being David R., John B., Mary Ella (Mrs. William Craig) and Rachel Anna (Mrs. Aaron Baker).

David R. Beaver was born on the 18th of April, 1842, in Tredyffrin township, Chester Co. and at the age of thirteen removed to Norristown with his parents. He pursued his studies under the direction . American Medical Society. He was married, on the

Early in the spring of 1865 he was relieved from this duty and appointed assistant medical purveyor of the Army of the Potomac, retaining the position until the close of the war. Returning again to civil life, he located in Reading for a brief period, from whence he removed to Norristown, but ultimately chose Con- shohocken as a desirable field of labor, where he has since been actively engaged in his profession and enjoys a large and lucrative practice. The doctor is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, the I'ennsylvania State Medical Society and also of the

Weaver

of Rev. Samuel Aaron, Rev. Joseph Nesbitt and Pro- fessor John W. Loch, finally becoming a student of medicine in the office of Dr. William Corson, of Nor- ristown. He graduated from the University of Penn- sylvania in March, 1864, and at once entered the service of the United States government as assistant surgeon of the Twelfth Regiment Pennsylvania Re- serves. On the mustering out of this regiment Dr. Beaver was reappointed assistant surgeon of the One Hundred aud Ninety-first Regiment Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, from which he was later detached and placed as surgeon in charge of the Fifth Corps Artillery.

17th of November, 1869, to Miss Mary E., daughter of George Patterson, of Norristown. Their children are John Douglas (deceased), Reid (deceased), Eu- gene, Burd P., Mary and Margaret S.

DAVID SCHRACK, M.D., is the grandson of John and Mary Elizabeth Norris Schrack and the son of Charles Norris Schrack. The latter was married, in 1841, to Harriet, youngest daughter of Rev. Sylvanus Haight, and became the father of children,-David, John and Charles, Jr. The eldest of these sons and the subject of this biographical sketch, after a thorough preliminary English course, determined to

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

adopt medicine as a profession, and began his studies with his uncle, Dr. John Schrack. He continned them at a later date at the Jeffersou Medical College, Philadelphia, and graduated with credit in the class of 1865. He at once began practice in his native township, continuing his residence at Norris Hall, but becoming associated with his uncle in his profes- sion. The thorough training of Dr. Schrack, com- bined with more than ordinary natural gifts, enabled him to attain a leading position in the county as a successful practitioner. He possessed much skill as a diagnostician and a correct judgment, combined with great gentleness and delicacy, in the treatment of his

1883, at his father's home.1 His superior profes- sional gifts, his genial nature and consistent Christian life, all combined to inspire attachment, and caused his death to be regarded as a great personal bereave- ment.

GEORGE M. STILES, M.D .- The paternal ancestors of Dr. Stiles were from Kent County, England, and his grandfather, Levi Stiles, was a native of Prince- ton, N. J. Among his children was Joseph H., born in Burlington, N. J., who later removed to Philadel- phia, where his death occurred in August, 1881. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Hankins, whose ancestors were from Virginia, and had children,-

David Schnack Mas.

patients. He was a conspicuous member of the County Medical Society, as also actively identified with the Montgomery County Historical Society. He manifested a true patriotism during the trying events of the late civil war, and at one period at- tached himself to the camp on special duty.

Dr. Schrack was a member of the Centennial Pres- byterian Church of Jeffersonville, in which he filled the office of trustee, and was in 1871 elected a ruling elder. In the prosperity of this church he felt a lively interest, and did much by his efforts to ad- vance its material and spiritual growth. The death of Dr. David Schraek occurred on the 27th of March,

William H., Elmira H. (wife of Benjamin H. Wiley) and George M., besides four who are deceased. George M. was born in Burlington, N. J., on the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1843, and educated at the Burlington public schools, the Pennington Seminary and Princeton College. He began the study of medicine in 1863 with Dr. J. Franklin Gauntt, of Burlington, N. J., and continued with Dr. D. Hayes Agnew, of Phila- delphia, during this time serving in the Beverly Hospital and also in the Catharine Street Hospital,

1 Ilis remains were interred in the family burial-place at " Norris Hall," on the 31st of March, 1883.

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

of the latter city. He then became a student in the Medical Department of the University of l'ennsylva- nia, from which he graduated in 1866. Dr. Stiles settled first at Flourtown, Pa., but finding the field somewhat circumscribed, at the expiration of the year removed to Conshohocken, where he has since resided. Ilere his ability met with speedy recogni- tion, and secured for him a leading place among the physicians of the borough, with a correspondingly ex- tensive practice. Dr. Stiles is a member of the Mont- gomery County Medical Society (of which he was president in 1872) and of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. He is a permanent member of

a case of "Tuberculous Kidney." The doctor was married, in 1872, to Amanda, youngest daughter of Alexander Iluston, one of the oldest families of Chestnut Hill, Pa. A daughter, Elsie, is their only surviving child. Dr. Stiles has been president of the board of school directors of the borough, but aside from this appointment has not been identified with either county or borough in an official capacity. He is descended from Quaker stock, and liberal toward all religious denominations.

HORACE MARTIN BELLOWS, M.D., son of Martin and Maria Keim Bellows, of Philadelphia, Pa., was born in that city June 30, 1839. His early education

the State Medical Society, as also of the American Medical Association. He is a member of the Phila- delphia Pathological Society and of the London Shakespearian Society. A close student of natural history, he derives both instruction and pleasure from its study. In 1877 he was appointed physician to the Hospital of the Good Shepherd, at Radnor, Dela- ware Co., Pa., and served some years in that capacity. Dr. Stiles has contributed at various times valuable papers to the medical literature of the day, notably one in the Philadelphia Medical Times of April 4, 1874, on a case of " Extra-Uterine Pregnancy," and in the same journal of January 5, 1876, an article on

was obtained at the Hancock Grammar School and at. the Philadelphia Central High School, with the idea of eventually becoming a physician, but fearing he would be too long dependent upon his father in car- rying ont that intention, he graduated from the latter institution among the distinguished, with an average of 91.9, on February 12, 1857, having had several distinguished and meritorious certificates awarded him during his attendance there. He then, with a view to mercantile pursuits, passed through a course of stud- ies at Crittenden's Commercial College, Philadelphia, receiving his diploma from that college May 8, 1857. Having thus thoroughly fitted himself for an account-

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

ant, he entered his father's store in Philadelphia as book-keeper. Mercantile pursuits and the counting room, were not suited to his tastes, however, and still having a desire to pursue the more congenial and useful occupation of a physician, he retired from the dull routine of accounts and balance-sheets, and dur- ing the summer of 1858 he again turned his attention to the medical profession as his future field of opera- tion by entering with Professor Joseph Leidy as his preceptor and matriculating in the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania, September 28, 1858, where he pursued his studies till March 14, 1861, when he graduated from that institution. Soon

Broad and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia, and June 28, 1863, his skill as a physician and surgeon was recog- nized by the medical director of the department, Sur- geon John Neill, who placed him in charge of the Broad and Cherry Streets United States Army Gen- eral Hospital during his absence with the troops at Gettysburg. From that time till the close of the war his services were availed of by those in authority at places where they were considered to be most useful. On March 15, 1864, he was placed in charge of the United States Army Post Hospital, at the barracks for recruits, drafted men and substitutes, at Twenty- second and Wood Streets, Philadelphia, and which

Stm Bellows

after his graduation his services as a physician were [ secured for the hospital at the Philadelphia Alms- house, to which institution he was appointed resident physician, and where he remained one year.

During this time the dark clouds of secession had burst forth in thunder tones, necessitating the calling forth of troops in the defense of the nation's life. Hos- pitals for the treatment of the sick and wounded sol- diers were erected, and skillful surgeons appointed in charge of them. Among the large number of surgeons selected by the government was Dr. H. M. Bellows, who, on January 31, 1862, was placed in charge of one of the wards in the United States Army General Hospital,

was soon afterwards transferred to Twenty-third and Filbert Streets, still under his charge.

May 2, 1864, he was transferred, by order of the medical director, to the United States Army General Hospital, South Street, Philadelphia.

May 14, 1864, he was ordered to report to the surgeon generał at Washington, D.C., and on May 16th he was assigned to Harewood United States Army General Hospital, on W.W. Corcorau's place, near Washington. July 12, 1864, he was detailed by the medical director of the Department of the Susquehanna to examine recruits for the " hundred days" Pennsylvania Vol- unteers at Camp Cadwalader, near Philadelphia.

Ld Weaver

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

August 16, 1864, he was detailed to examine re- of whom served in the war of 1812. When a cruits for the Sixth Union League Regiment at Na- tional Guards' Hall, Philadelphia, recruited by General H. G. Sickle for the Reserve Corps, and known as the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Regiment of Penn- sylvania Volunteers.

young man, John Weaver located near Greens- burg, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and became a large land-owner, an extensive dealer in stock and also a merchant, his place of business, known then and now as Weaver's Stand, being a prominent point on March 21, 1865, he was ordered to perform the duties of the surgeon commanding at the Citizens' Volunteer Hospital, at Broad and Prime Streets, Phil- adelphia, during the temporary absence of that offi- cer. the principal road between Pittsburgh and Philadel- phia. In 1842 the doctor's parents moved to Indiana County, Pa., where he received common-school and academic education. In 1858 he entered the sopho- more class in the university at Lewisburg, Union May 9, 1865, he was ordered by the medical direc- tor to the Citizens' Volunteer Hospital for duty. Co., Pa., from which institution he graduated in June, 1861, receiving the degree of A.B. In 1863 the degree July 16, 1865, he was ordered to conduct a number of sick and wounded soldiers from Philadelphia to the United States Army General Hospital at Prairie du Chien, Wis. of A.M. was conferred upon him. He entered at once npon the study of medicine in the office of S. T. Red- dick, M.D., of Saltsburg, Indiana Co., Pa. In August, 1862, a call for troops being made, he entered the August 9, 1865, he was transferred to Mower United States Army General Hospital, and where he was as- signed to the charge of Christian Street United States army as first lieutenant Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, a nine months' regiment, his four brothers being already Army General Hospital, then considered a ward of in the service. The regiment was ordered to Wash- Mower Hospital.

October 8, 1865, his connection with the army ceased at his request, he then having charge still of Christian Street Ward of Mower United States Army General Hospital, the last of the army hospitals re- maining in Philadelphia, and it was closed soon after that date.

During the war Dr. Bellows filled many important and responsible positions in the medical department, aside from those above enumerated, and with the large amount of medical stores distributed through or by means of his requisitions, none were unaccounted for, and upon his final settlement with the govern- ment his accounts were found correct in every par- ticular.

After the close of the war Dr. Bellows commenced the practice of medicine in Philadelphia, where he remained until March, 1870, when he removed to Huntingdon Valley, having purchased the place upon which he resides, and by many alterations and addi- tions to the buildings, as comfort and taste required, made it one of the fine residences of the valley.

Since his location here he has been employed with a large and increasing practice, which he still pursues, besides entering heartily into such undertakings as promised to advance the interests of his locality. He is a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, to which he was elected February 26, 1867, and whilst he lived in the city was a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society.

He was married, May 21, 1863, to Catherine, daugh- ter of George and Susan C. Schober, of Philadelphia. They have one child, a daughter, Susan S.

JOSEPH KERR WEAVER, A.M., M.D., was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., October 31, 1838, being one of a family of ten children. His grandparents were among the early settlers of the county, and his father, John Weaver, one of six brothers, two

ington, D. C., for provost and guard duty, and he was detailed for official duty at the old Capital Prison, where he served for six months. The regiment was then ordered to the front, and became a part of the First Corps, Army of the Potomac, commanded by General Reynolds. After taking part in the Chan- cellorsville campaign, under General Hooker, he was mustered out of service, the time of the regiment having expired.

Dr. Weaver again resumed his medical studies, but in a few months re-entered the service as captain of a company called out for State defense. In July, 1864, he commanded a company in First Battalion (one hundred days') Infantry, and upon the expira- tion of that time accepted the command of a company of mounted infantry re-enlisted from the above- named battalion, and remained in the service until the close of the war.

Soon after, he resumed his studies at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which institu- tion he graduated in the spring of 1867, performing during his last year in college theduties of resident phy- sician in the Charity Hospital. After taking a special course of study in diseases of the throat, lungs, eye and ear, he settled in Norristown, Montgomery Co., Pa., April 30, 1867, and rapidly established himself in the confidence of the people. He is now one of the leading physicians of the county, with a corre- spondingly large practice. For several years he was lecturer upon the subject of physiology and hygiene in the Norristown High School. While engaged in. general practice, he gives special attention to the treatment of diseases of the eye and ear.

On November 27, 1872, Dr. Weaver was married to Amelia R., eldest daughter of Henry Lehman, Esq., one of Norristown's most prominent and respected citizens. The doctor is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations and a Fellow of

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

the American Academy of Medicine, the latter being composed of those only who hold the degree of A.M., and having for its object the promotion of higher medical education.

He is now, and has been since its organization, surgeon of the Sixth Regiment National Guards of Pennsylvania, and is a member and also surgeon of Zook Post, No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member of the Norristown Baptist Church, in which he holds the office of trustee, and is also superintendent of the Sabbath-school of the same church.

Christopher, and the latter a son by the same name, who was the father of George and the grandfather of George K.

The man of whose life we are to give a brief out- line worked as boy and youth upon his father's farm, and had very limited schooling, but what he did learn was supplemented by study at Kulpsville Academy for several quarters after he had grown up. Then he taught school for two years in his native township, and thus prepared the way for two years' attendance at the Treemount Seminary, in Norristown, then, as now, under the principalship of Professor John W.

G. K. MEschter.

GEORGE K. MESCHTER, M.D .- Dr. Meschter, of Loch. He studied there Latin, Greek, philosophy Worcestertownship, residing near Centre Point, one of and chemistry, and secured a good preparation for the study of medicine, which he began in 1864 at Wor- cester, under the preceptorship of Dr. Joel H. Krause. In 1865 he entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he gradu- ated in the spring of 1867. He continued the study for another year and gained practical knowledge of his chosen profession in Blockley Hospital and the Pennsylvania Hospital and University, and then be- gan practice, March 1, 1868, at his present location, Centre Point, succeeding Dr. J. H. Krause. He soon became a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, and has ever since continued to be identified the most successful medical practitioners of the county, was a son of Rev. George Meschter, of Towamencin township, and was born May 2, 1840. His ancestors were among the brave followers of Caspar Schwenk- feld, who, unwilling to abandon the faith for which they were persecuted in Silesia, their native land, immigrated to America. About forty families settled in the southeastern counties of Pennsylvania, of whom three individuals bore the name of Meschter. It is known that the great-grandfather of the subject of this biography arrived in this country September 22, 1734. His name was Melchoir. He had a son,

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

with it, at one time being its president. He was also delphia. On the completion of his course of lectures a delegate to the State Medical Society in 1876. Two ; he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania years ago he took in partnership Josiah K. Gerhard, M.D., who had been his student, and, like himself, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. (Medical Department) in March, 1867. Removing at once to Limerick Centre, he began the practice of his profession, and has never since changed his field of Dr. Meschter married, in the fall of 1867, Miss ; labor. Dr. Dismant soon entered upon a successful Mary Ann, daughter of Charles Y. Krieble, of Frank- linville. They have had six children, of whom three-Cyrus K., Charles K. and Nora-are living. career as a practitioner, his thorough knowledge of the science of medicine having afforded the groundwork of this success. From the nature of his field of oper- BENJAMIN F. DISMANT, M.D .- The Dismant family is traced through a long line of ancestors, the first rep- resentative, named Daniel, having emigrated from Ireland in 1698. Benjamin F. Dismant was the son ation, however, his practice is necessarily general rather than special. The doctor was married, on the 10th of February, 1875, to Mary M., daughter of | Henry S. Walt, of Limerick township, and has chil-

Benjamin Fi Dismant.

of John and Deborah Dismant, and was born on the 27th of February, 1845, in Upper Providence town- ship, Montgomery Co., where his boyhood was spent upon a farm owned by his father. He early displayed a predilection for study, and enjoyed more than the ordinary advantages of education, attending first pub- lic and private schools near his home, and later the Washington Hall Collegiate Institute, at the Trappe, and a similar school in Philadelphia, under the direc- tion of L. Fairchild, Esq. For a brief period he engaged in teaching, and then began the study of medicine with Dr. John A. Jacks, of Berks County, and later with Dr. Hugh Lennox Hodge, of Phila-

dren, -- Lizzie, Nellie, Georgie and John. Dr. Dismant is a member of the Pottstown Medical Society, fre- quently participating in the discussions and reading interesting papers before that body. In politics he is a Democrat, but while earnest in his zeal for the advancement of the party interests, he has no ambition for office.

MARY HENDERSON STINSON was born November 14, 1819, in Norriton township, Montgomery Co., Pa., eldest daughter and fourth child of Robert and Eliza- beth Porter Stinson, of the fourth generation of the progenitors in this country, of whom both paternal and maternal emigrated from Scotland or the north

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

of Ireland before or about the first third of the eigh- teenth century, whose graves are well marked in the burial-grounds attached to the Presbyterian Churches of Neshaminy. Bucks Co., and of Norriton and Lower Providence, Montgomery Co. Their identity is well established by title-deeds recorded in Philadelphia County and by the registration of wills in these three counties.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 150

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