History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 29

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829-
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania > Part 29

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Several doctors are mentioned in Fithian's journal of 1775. At Warrior run was "Doctor Sprigg, a gentleman in the practice who is settling in this neighborhood," and at Northumberland he met Doctors Kearsley and Fran- cis Allison. The latter was subsequently surgeon to the Twelfth Pennsylva- nia regiment.

Benjamin F. Young was one of the first physicians at Northumberland after the Revolution. He resided there as early as 1794, and died on the 23d of March, 1803, in the thirty-fourth year of his age. "In life universally beloved-in death universally lamented. The suavity of his temper, the urbanity of his manners, the perfection of his professional skill, and the liber- ality of his professional assistance have insured to him (what few can aspire to) the lasting regret of all who knew him."-Kennedy's Gazette.

Dr. William Kent Lathey probably succeeded Young, or may have been contemporaneous with him. He died on the 28th of July, 1809, and is bur-

266

HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

ied in the old Presbyterian cemetery; the inscription on his tombstone states that he was born at Exeter, England, January 29, 1772.

Samuel Jackson and M. Aristide Rodrigue were among the leading phy- sicians at a later date. Doctor Jackson built the brick house at the north- west corner of Market square now owned by Henry L. Cake; he afterward removed to Philadelphia, where he became prominent in the profession. Doctor Rodrigue resided in a brick house on North Way between Queen and Market; on the 4th of February, 1835, he married Ann Caroline, daughter of Hugh Bellas, and afterward located for a time at Sunbury.

Joseph Priestley was born in Point township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1819; he was a great-grandson of the Rev. Joseph Priestley, the eminent philosopher and theologian. After receiving suitable preparatory education under the Rev. David Kirkpatrick at Milton, he read medicine with Dr. James Dougal of that place and entered the med- ical department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating from that institution in March, 1844. He immediately located at Northumberland, where he continued in active practice until his death, March 10, 1883. He served as president of the county medical society, and was a member of the State and national medical associations. In politics he was an ardent Republican from the organization of that party until his death. In the community where his professional work of nearly forty years was done he was universally respected and beloved.

James Teas was a son of Samuel Teas, a prominent resident of Milton. He married Jane, daughter of Ellis Walton, the second prothonotary of Lyco- ming county; she was a niece of Justice Charles Huston, of the Supreme court of Pennsylvania. Doctor Teas was in active practice at Northumberland at the time of his death.

William S. Bright was born at Sunbury in 1812, son of Jacob Bright, and read medicine with Doctor Rush, of Philadelphia, graduating from Jefferson Medical College in 1842. He began the practice of medicine at Northumber- land, where he remained until 1849; he was then successively located at Phila- delphia, at Jackson, Mississippi, at New Orleans, and at Galveston, Texas, where he died, August 2, 1890.

James Faulkner, the first resident physician at Milton, was from New Jer- sey. He began his practice at Milton in 1794, and, it is said, afterward removed to Erie, Pennsylvania.

James Dougal, the first physician who located permanently at Milton, was born at Londonderry, Ireland, June 4, 1769. He first came to America to look after the landed interests of his father in Pennsylvania, but his ship was wrecked on the coast of New Jersey, and after spending some time as tutor in a private family, he returned to Ireland. His literary and professional educa- tion was obtained at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland; he began the practice of medicine at Coxtown, Ireland, but became prominent in the patriotic

267

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

uprising of 1798 under Robert Emmet, the leader of the United Irishmen, and again came to America, locating at Milton, where he built the substantial stone residence at the corner of Front and Mahoning streets in 1803. His practice extended over a large part of the territory now embraced in Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Lycoming, Union, and Clinton counties. He died on the 18th of July, 1818, from injuries sustained by a fall from his horse.

James S. Dougal was born at Coxtown, Ireland, October 7, 1794, son of James Dougal. He was educated at the schools of Milton and under the private tuition of the Rev. Thomas Hood, read medicine with his father, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1817. He at once located at Milton, where he succeeded to the extensive practice of his father, and continued in the active discharge of professional duties until his death, May 23, 1878. Two sons, James S. and Charles H., also became doctors; the former died at Milton, February 20, 1847, and the latter is now a lead- ing physician of that borough.

William McCleery was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1803. He was educated at Washington College, Washington, Pennsylvania, and at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating from the latter in 1827. His preceptor was Dr. James S. Dougal, of Milton, with whom he was associated several years after graduation. He continued in active and successful practice until his retirement in 1857, and died on the 4th of December, 1867. His son, Dr. J. P. McCleery, is one of the leading physi- cians of Milton.

John Meckly was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1807. He received the degree of M. D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and about the year 1835 located at Milton, where he was in continuous practice until his death, April 3, 1871.

David Waldron was born in Turbut. township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1820. He ranked high in his profession and enjoyed a large practice, although somewhat erratic. He was a Democrat in politics, and served as sheriff from 1860 to 1863. He resided at Milton from the commencement of his practice until within a few years of his death, and died in Turbut township, April 22, 1885.

U. Q. Davis was born at Limestoneville, Montour county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1821, read medicine with Doctor Ludwig of that place, and grad- uated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1848. His practice was begun at Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, whence, in 1856, he removed to Milton, where he resided until his death, October 5, 1887. During the civil war he served as surgeon to the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. His son, Sidney Davis, has succeeded to the practice of his father.

Tobias Piper was born near Philadelphia and located in Lewis township in 1820. He resided at Turbutville and upon a farm in the vicinity until

268 .

HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

1856, when he located at McEwensville, and continued the practice of his profession until his retirement in 1867. His death occurred on the 20th of February, 1873.

Joseph C. Robins, the first physician to locate permanently at Elysburg, was born at Sunbury, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1806. He attended the common schools of his native town and the academy at Northumberland, then in charge of Robert C. Grier, read medicine with his brother, Dr. William Robins, of Sunbury, and completed his professional studies at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1828 he began the practice of medicine at Sunbury, whence he removed to Elysburg in the following year, and was actively engaged in professional work at that place forty-two years. His practice extended over the entire eastern part of Northumberland county and into the adjoining portions of Montour, Columbia, and Schuylkill. Three of his sons became physicians: Galen S., who practiced at Elysburg one year and at Shamokin four years, dying in 1856 at the age of twenty-six; Edwin S., who read medicine with his father, graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1854, and has been in continuous practice at Shamokin longer than any other of its present physicians; and Lorenzo D., who began practice with his father at Elysburg, served as surgeon during the civil war, returned to Elys- burg at its close, and resided there until his death in 1875. The senior Doc- tor Robins is still living at an advanced age, and is the last survivor of the profession in Northumberland county at the time his practice began.

Robert Phillips was the first doctor at Shamokin. He resided "at the Gap" about the time the town was laid out, but was employed in a business rather than a professional capacity. Nothing has been learned regarding his personal history.

John K. Robins, the first resident physician at Shamokin after that place had assumed the proportions of a village, was born at Sunbury, Pennsyl- vania, April 14, 1820. At the age of twenty years he began the study of medicine, graduating from Jefferson Medical College in 1842, and in April of the same year began his professional career at Shamokin; there he re- mained nearly four years, removing to Catawissa, Columbia county, Penn- sylvania, in January, 1846. There he has since resided, and is one of the oldest physicians of his adopted county.

Galen S. Robins was born on the 4th of October, 1830, son of Dr. Joseph C. Robins. He read medicine with his father, attended the Pennsyl- vania College of Medicine and graduated from that institution, practiced at Elysburg one year, and located at Shamokin in 1852. Here he was in active and successful practice until his death, October 9, 1856. Dr. J. J. John was associated with him in practice for a time, and afterward Dr. E. S. Rob- ins, his brother, who is now the senior member of the profession at Shamokin.

269

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

Pursuant to a call, a number of the physicians of Northumberland county met in Sunbury, July 10, 1869, for the purpose of forming a medical association. A temporary organization was effected by the election of Dr. Joseph Priestley, of Northumberland, president, and Dr. John S. Angle, of Sunbury, secretary. After the object of the meeting had been fully stated and discussed, Dr. D. W. Shindel, of Sunbury, moved the appointment of a committee for the purpose of drafting a constitution and by-laws, which reso- lution was unanimously adopted. The committee was constituted as follows: Dr. D. W. Shindel, chairman; Dr. J. B. Newbaker, of Trevorton; Dr. J. P. McCleery, of Milton; Doctor McCay, of Northumberland; Doctors Robins and Weaver, of Shamokin; Doctor Hunter, of Watsontown; Dr. W. W. Rob- ins, of Hickory Corners; Doctors Haupt and Angle, of Sunbury; and on . motion Doctor Priestley was added to this number. The committee was re- quested to meet at Sunbury on the first Monday in August, and to appoint a time for the next meeting of the association. After an interchange of pro- fessional views and experiences, formal and informal, the meeting adjourned. How long this association existed has not been ascertained.

The Northumberland County Medical Society was organized at North- umberland, April 18, 1876, with Joseph Priestley, president; U. Q. Davis and Jacob Rhoads, vice-presidents; J. J. Leiser, recording secretary; E. H. Horner, corresponding secretary; F. L. Haupt, treasurer, and a board of censors composed of Doctors Robins, Newbaker, Priestley, Miles, and Life. The society sustained an intermittent existence of about five years. It was reorganized at Milton, July 12, 1886, with A. S. Cummings, president; J. Hun- ter Miles, secretary; Hiram Long and E. H. Horner, vice-presidents; F. L. Haupt, J. W. Sheetz, and G. W. Furey, censors, but again disbanded after some two years of active existence.

The Sunbury Medical Association was organized, October 18, 1888, with Hiram Long, president, P. H. Renn, secretary, and A. C. Clark, treas- urer. Doctors at Sunbury and Northumberland are included in its member- ship.

The Northumberland County Medical Society was organized at the court house in Sunbury on the 2d of December, 1890, with the following officers: President, C. W. Weaver, of Shamokin; vice-president, Charles M. Martin, of Sunbury; recording secretary, G. W. Furey, of Sunbury; corresponding secretary, J. M. Maurer, of Shamokin; treasurer, E. H. Horner, of Turbut- ville; censors: Hiram Long, of Sunbury, F. L. Haupt, of Sunbury, and R. A. Kennedy, of Shamokin, elected for one, two, and three years, respectively.

ROSTER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

The following is a list of physicians who registered in the office of the prothonotary of Northumberland county in compliance with the law from

270

HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

June, 1881, to February, 1891 (the names are given in the order of registra- tation): George W. Furey, William P. Smith, Joseph Eyster, John H. Har- ley, Alfred C. Clark, Elijah F. Orser, Jacob Ritter, Frederick L. Haupt, John F. McClure, Henry Life, Joseph Priestley, Edwin S. Robins, Charles W. Weaver, Robert A. Kennedy, Hiram Long, Frank B. Masser, Frank A. Clark, Oscar M. Robins, William W. Moody, Samuel G. Mengle, Henry M. Emerick, Charles M. Martin, Philip H. Renn, Rufus Thayer, Jacob S. Hol- lenback, Albert S. Cummings, Frank B. Richtstine, Albert D. Thomas, Will- iam B. Stoner, Walter Van Fleet, Richard L. Wright, Marcus H. Harpel, George W. Winterstein, Shepherd L. Van Valzah, Robert H. Awl, Ralph W. Montelius, Edmund W. Samuel, William J. Haas, Daniel W. Shindel, John F. Bigler, Howard M. Essick, John W. Bealor, David S. Hollenback, John B. Newbaker, Joseph Hunter, Benjamin L. Kerchner, Nathaniel C. Purdy, Abraham T. Dewitt, Charles Schneider, Reuben H. Muth, Henry M. Raker, John H. Heinsling, Uriah Q. Davis, Joseph Haas, George Treon, Nathaniel C. Giddings, John A. Elliott, Charles H. Dougal, James P. McCleery, James A. Osborn, John Walsh, Sanderson Lazarus, Thomas J. Ritter, J. Hunter Miles, Hiram H. Malick, Horace W. Burg, Thomas R. Hull, David F. Engle, William T. Williams, Richard R. Breisch, Andrew Tenbrook, Edward H. Horner, Edwin M. Emerick, Samuel F. Gilbert, William G. Marsh, Jacob Rhoads, James A. Hoffman, John S. Follmer, Horatio T. Seas- holtz, David G. Schive, Isaac Huff, Henry B. Woodside, James F. Adams, Rufus Thayer, Frederick D. Raker, Jeremiah K. Bowers, John W. Fritz, Daniel H. Dornsife, Joel Whary, Irvin Seitz, Henry P. Lorman, William H. Follmer, Nelson M. Smith, David J. Reese, Daniel McDonnell, John R. Duffield, Joseph E. Robins, Frank W. Johnson, Albert Russell, Annis H. Crawford, Lewis Wolverton, B. P. Backus, Samuel L. Schreiber, Henry J. Smith, William M. Robins, James L. Lowrie, Michael B. Garman, John W. Sheets, Monroe D. Lehr, Evan J. Longshore, Joel G. Ressler, Charles H. Lane, Wladyslauw Dangielawicz, Fuller S. Derr, Kimber C. Mc Williams, Sherman E. Ayars, Jacob S. Krebs, Jacob K. Bricker, James M. Peebles, Robert G. Van Valzah, Peter N. K. Schwenk, Simon Hub- ler, Joseph L. Bauer, William J. McDowell, Peter S. Wykoff, David T. Krebs, Philip R. Palm, Frederick M. Strouse, William Darman, Edwin Heiser, Oscar L. Muffly, Francis E. Drumheller, Joseph B. Morris, Tobias Campbell, E. H. S. Hutchinson, Hugh G. Turley, George W. Dreher, Lewis W. Hensyl, Robert H. Blakslee, Mary A. McCay, Benjamin F. Bartho, Henry R. Hummel, James M. Maurer, Samuel A. Gibson, Robert A. Simpson, Abraham K. Ackerman, William H. Purman, George W. McNamara, Joseph G. Church, Charles M. Blakeslee, Augustus A. Bancroft, Marks P. Hine, William S. Ruch, George W. Harpel, John S. Mengel, Charles D. Shum- way, Calvin L. Johnstonbaugh, Sidney Davis, Tolbert W. Blakeslee, Martin L. Emrick, Wilson S. Groninger, Alfred G. Shissler, David D. Davis, Will-

R. H, AwL. M. D.

273

THE PRESS.

iam H. Lewis, Henry S. George, David H. Coover, John N. Lenker, John J. Keller, Emanuel A. Alleman, William D. Karterman, J. C. Reifsnyder.

In this chapter biographical mention has been appropriately made of those physicians only whom death, retirement, or other circumstance has removed from the active duties of the profession. Sketches of many of the present doctors of the county appear in the biographical department of this work.

CHAPTER VII.

THE PRESS.

JOURNALISM AT NORTHUMBERLAND-SUNBURY PAPERS-THE PRESS OF MILTON -- SHAMOKIN NEWSPAPERS-JOURNALS OF MT. CARMEL-MCEWENSVILLE AND LOCUST GAP PAPERS.

THE newspapers of Philadelphia were the first to circulate in central Pennsylvania; and, although a score of years elapsed after the organ- ization of Northumberland county before a paper was published within its limits, this first journalistic effort was one of the earliest in the interior of the State. Nearly a century has since passed away, and during this period the public press has been an important agency in the social, political, and material development of the county.

JOURNALISM AT NORTHUMBERLAND.

The Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette, the pioneer newspaper of Northumberland county, was established in 1792 by Andrew Kennedy. The earliest issue examined by the writer is that of Wednesday, October 9, 1793, (Volume II, No. 71). This number is a three-column folio, eighteen inches long and eleven inches wide; the contents consist principally of foreign news, including advices from London, Brussels, Turin, Florence, and Metz, and , intelligence from New England and the South. Editorials and local matter are confined to a column, the only item of special interest being an account of a " fiery ball " which appeared in the heavens to the west of Northumber- land on the night of September 22, 1792. The publisher of the Gazette in 1801 was John Schusler; at that date it was a four-column paper, several inches longer and wider than in 1793, and was printed " at the moderate price of two dollars per annum." Andrew Kennedy resumed control of the establishment on the 20th of June, 1801, and about that time the title became "Kennedy's Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette." The publishers in 1805 were Andrew and James Kennedy; James was the nephew of Andrew,

274

HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

but the length of time they continued in partnership is not known. In 1813 the paper, of which the full title was "The Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette and Republican Advertiser," was published by Andrew Kennedy and G. Sweney, as evidenced by the issue of Tuesday, February 9, 1813 (Volume XXI, No. 30), a folio seventeen and one half inches long and eleven inches wide. The office of publication in 1793 is described as "opposite Messrs. Hepburn & Cowden's store, Northumberland-Town;" in the issue of June 26, 1802, it is given for the first time as "Franklin's Head, Queen street," but whether this implies a change in the location can not be definitely ascer- tained. Local tradition asserts that Kennedy resided at a frame house still standing on Duke street near its intersection with Front in the borough of Northumberland, and that the Gazette was conducted at the corner of Front and Queen in the building now occupied by Wenck's pharmacy. A notice in the issue of April 30, 1794, requesting delinquent subscribers to make pay- ment, states that the second year of the Gazette would close on the 28th of May, 1794, from which it is evident that the paper was established, May 28, 1792. The date of its final discontinuance can not be so satisfactorily deter- mined. Kennedy was an ardent Federalist, and was obliged to suspend temporarily during the war of 1812; but he was engaged in the printing business at Northumberland as late as 1816, when Simon Cameron was in- dentured to him as an apprentice. The original article is in the possession of John B. Packer, of Sunbury, and reads as follows :-

This indenture witnesseth that Simon Cameron, the son of Charles Cameron, de- ceased, of Pennsylvania, (by and with the advice and consent of his guardian, Colin Cameron, testified by his signing as a witness hereto,) hath bound and put himself, and by these presents doth bind and put himself, apprentice to Andrew Kennedy, printer, of the town of Northumberland, after the manner of an apprentice, to dwell with and serve the said Andrew Kennedy, his executors, administrators, and assigns, from the day of the date hereof, for and during and until the full end and term of three years and ten months thence next ensning, and fully to be complete and ended; during all which term the said apprentice his said master faithfully shall serve, and that honestly and obediently in all things, as a dutiful apprentice ought to do: and the said Andrew Kennedy, his executors, administrators, or assigns, shall teach, or cause to be taught and instructed, the said apprentice in the art, trade, and mystery of a printer; and shall . find and provide for the said apprentice sufficient meat, drink, washing, and lodging during the said term; and at the expiration of every year shall and will give his said apprentice twenty dollars to provide said apprentice with clothing.

SIMON CAMERON, Seal.

COLIN CAMERON,

Seal.

ANDREW KENNEDY, Seal.

Bound before me, one of the justices for the county of Northumberland. May 14, 1816.

JNO. LEIGHIOU.

275

THE PRESS.

Republican Argus was the title of the second paper at Northumberland. It was founded by. John Binns, who was born at Dublin, Ireland, December 22, 1772, and, after experiencing confinement in the Tower of London, came to America to escape further undesirable consequences of his connection with political disturbances. In his autobiography (pp. 176-177) he gives the following interesting account of the inception of the Argus :-

On the 4th of July, 1802, a number of the inhabitants of Northumberland agreed to dine together in the large room over the market house. At the request of a com- mittee of that company I agreed to deliver, and did deliver, an oration. That was the first time I addressed a public meeting in the United States. The room was crowded, and I had the gratification to hear the discourse favorably spoken of by many whose good opinion was valued and valuable. The only newspaper at that time published in the county of Northumberland was called the Northumberland Gazette; of that paper Mr. Andrew Kennedy was the proprietor and publisher. At his request I wrote occa- sional articles for it. Political parties were then and long after known as Republicans and Federalists. The politics of the Gazette were those of the Federal party, of which party there were many bitter partisans in the towns of Sunbury and Northumberland and throughout the country. He (Mr. Kennedy) called on me, and said that if I would occasionally write for his paper my contributions should be published without any alteration. I did as he requested; and on this same 4th of July, 1802, a long and what I thought an appropriate address for the birthday of Independence was written by me and published in the Gazette. In the next week's Gazette were published some angry animadversions on my article, to which, in the next Gazette, I made answer. This controversy continued for some weeks, when the editor of the Gazette told me that what I had written had given offense to his political friends, and that he could not publish any more of my writings on politics. I thought this unfair and unjust, and soon after issued proposals to print in Northumberland a weekly paper under the title of the Republican Argus with the motto, "Equal and exact justice to all men of what- ever sect or persuasion, religious or political." The proposals were circulated and the establishment of the paper advocated by the most influential Republicans in the county. The subscription and general patronage extended to the Argus were beyond my expectation. I soon got types and printing material, and issued the first number of the paper early in 1803 .* In a short time I acquired the confidence of the Repub- lican party, not only of Northumberland, but of the neighboring counties.

Binns also states in his autobiography that the paper upon which the Argus was printed was obtained at Beaver Dam, Pennsylvania, and in order- ing his supplies he was obliged to make a journey of sixty miles. In 1807 he removed to Philadelphia, and on the 27th of March in that year estab- lished The Democratic Press, for many years the leading organ of its party in the city and State. The word "Democratic" as applied to a political party first appeared in the title of this paper, and it has been claimed with some plausibility that one of the great political organizations of the nation received its name in this manner. In 1822 Binns was appointed an alderman of Phil- adelphia by Governor Hiester, and was the incumbent of this position some years. He wrote a book popularly known as "Binn's Justice," widely used

*This date is not strictly accurate, as the first issue of the Argus appeared on the 15th of Decem- ber, 1802. This part of Binns's autobiography was evidently based entirely upon his recollection, which was doubtless correct as to the general current of events.

276

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 29

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829- Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829-
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1424