History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 26

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454

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Morgan L. Bacon

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

born August 20, 1841. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. From 1862 to 1874 he practiced in Sinnamahoning, Pennsylvania. In 1875 he located in Knoxville, where he has since practiced his profession.

Dr. Hugh L. Davis was born at Summit Hill, Carbon county, Pennsylvania, December 10, 1851, and came to Charleston township, Tioga county, with his parenta in 1852. In 1870 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Nelson Packer, of Wellsboro, and in March, 1875, graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia. After practicing a short time each in Knoxville, Arnot, and West Hampton, Massachusetts, he located in Wellsboro in 1879. Here he soon built up a large practice and became one of the best known physicians in the county. He died from cerebral hemorrhage, December 19, 1895. Dr. Augustus Niles, a native of Tioga township, graduated from Bennett Medical College, January 21, 18:5. He prac- ticed until 1878 in Nelson, and for fifteen years thereafter in Keeneyville. In 1893 he removed to Wellsboro, where he has built up a large practice. Dr. Walter R. Francia, a native of Wellsboro, graduated from the University of Buffalo, February 23, 1876, and practiced in Knoxville from 1878 to 1891. Dr. Emery G. Drake, a native of Granville, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, was graduated from Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, June 25, 1874, and practiced for a number of years at Blossburg, Fall Brook, Morris Run and Antrim. Dr. Nathan W. Mastin, a native of Cayuga county, New York, graduated from the medical department of the University of the City of New York, February 12, 1879. He began the practice of his profession in East ('harleston, where he continued until 1888, when he removed to Wellsboro, where he has since been one of the resident physicians.

Dr. Wentworth D. Vedder, a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Maryland, located in Mansfield in 1880, where he has continued in practice until the present time, being recognized as a skillful and successful physi- cian. Dr. Clarence W. Webb, a son of Dr. Wellington W. Webb, was born in Liberty township, September 14, 1855. He received his medical education in the University of Vermont and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, graduating from the latter in 1879. He has since practiced in Wellaboro and is recognized as a successful and skillful physician. Dr. Henry E. Caldwell graduated from the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, in the spring of 1829. He practiced in Cincinnati until the summer of 1880, when he located at Morris Run, as physician for the Morris Run Coal Company. Ile is still in practice there. Dr. Wilmot G. Humphrey, a native of Elkland, graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, in 1880, and immediately began practice at Osceola. In 1890 he removed to Elk- land, where he has since continued to practice. Dr. Thomas A. Bair, a native of Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, graduated from Jefferson Medical College, March 12, 1879. Since 1880 he has been a resident physician of Sabinaville. Dr. Benjamin J. Fulkerson, a graduate of the University of the City of New York, practiced in Little Marsh from 1880 to 1895, when he removed to Tyrone, Pennsylvania. Dr. Theodore F. Woester, a native of Leroy, Bradford county. Penn- sylvania, and a graduate of Buchanan College, Philadelphia, has practiced at Ogdens- burg since 1880. Dr. Charles Clarence Winsor was born in Ellery, Chautauqua county, New York, December 3, 1859. Ile graduated from Buffalo Medical College, February 21, 1881, and soon after began the practice of his profession at Arnot, re-

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

maining four years. He then removed to Blossburg, where he continued to practice until his death, August 3, 1889. Dr. J. B. McCloskey, a native of Clinton county, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, March 12, 1874, and practiced at Morris from 1882 to 1890. Dr. Charles H. Bosworth, son of Dr. Henry C. Bosworth, and a native of Deerfield township, graduated from the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, Baltimore, March 1, 1882, and has since practiced his profession at Osceola. Dr. O. S. Nye, a native of Schuyler county, New York, graduated from Columbus Medical College, March 6, 1881. In 1882 he located in Roseville, where he is still a resident physician. Dr. Charles W. Hazlett, a native of Addison, New York, grad- uated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, March 1, 1882. He is at present a resident physician of East Charleston. Dr. Asaph T. Kunkle, a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, in 1883, and has since practiced his profession in Westfield. Dr. Calvin S. Baxter, a native of Nelson, graduated from the same college, March 1, 1882, and since 1887 has practiced in Nelson. Dr. John M. Gentry, a native of Vir- ginia, also graduated from the same college, March 4, 1884, and has since practiced at Stony Fork. Dr. Charles N. Williams, a native of Wellsboro, and a son of Hon. H. W. Williams, graduated from Jefferson Medical College, March 29, 1884, and has for several years been a resident physician of Wellsboro. Dr. John B. Smith, a grad- uate of the University of Buffalo, has practiced medicine in Lawrenceville since 1885. Dr. Charles S. Logan, a graduate of the University of Buffalo, has practiced in Arnot since 1885. Dr. Philemon Rumsey, a native of Sullivan township, graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, March 15, 1885, and has for several years been a resident physician of Covington. Dr. William R. Thomas grad- uated from the University of Buffalo in 1886, and practiced five years in Lawrence township, ill health causing him to abandon his profession. Dr. Z. Ellis Kimble, a native of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, graduated in 1886, and has since practiced in Liberty. Dr. T. N. Rockwell located in Elkland in 1887 and continued to practice until his death, January 30, 1896. Dr. Joseph N. Smith, a native of Sullivan town- ship, and a graduate from the Homeopathic Hospital College, Cleveland, practiced in Wellsboro from 1887 to 1895. He is now located in Pittsburg. Dr. S. P. Hakes, a graduate of the medical department of the University of New York, has practiced in Tioga since 1888, and is recognized as one of the successful young physicians of the county. Dr. R. F. Robinson, a native of Lycoming county, graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1888. He practiced in Leetonia until 1891, when he removed to Morris, where he pursues his profession and carries on'a drug store. Dr. F. G. Elliott, a son of Nathaniel A. Elliott, of Mansfield, graduated from the University of Vermont, July 16, 1889, and has since practiced as a resident physician at Mansfield. Dr. James L. Beers, a native of Danby, Tompkins county, New York, graduated from University Medical College of New York, March 8, 1882, and has practiced at Holidaytown since 1889. Dr. Edward M.Haley, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, and a graduate of the medical department of the University of New York, has been a resident physician in Blossburg since 1890. Henry Matthews, the "Indian Doctor," who practiced under the name of James McCorhaway, located at Blackwells in 1890, and pursued his profession there until his death in 1895.

Dr. Alonzo Kibbe, a native of Potter county, Pennsylvania, graduated from the

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, March 13, 1885. In 1891 he located in Knoxville where he has since practiced his profession. Dr. Willard G. Lent, a native of Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, has practiced in Wellsboro since 1891. Dr. William B. Stevens graduated from the same college in April, 1891, and immediately began practice in Nelson. where he is still a resident physician. Dr. Herbert P. Haskin, a native of Lansingville, New York, graduated from Jefferson Medical College April 15, 1891, and practiced in Gaines from 1892 to 1897. Dr. Frank G. Masten, a son of Dr. James Masten, of Westfield, graduated from the University of Buffalo, March 24, 1891, and has since practiced in Westfield with his father. Dr. Leon C. Brown, a native of Smithfield, Pennsylvania, graduated from the LIomeopathic College, Chicago, in March, 1891, and is now a resident physician of Tioga. Dr. John I. VanWert, a native of Sullivan county, New York, graduated from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, March 4, 1887. Ile is the physician of the Fall Brook Coal Company at Antrim. Dr. Luther N. Cloos is a native of Middlebury township. le gradu- ated from the Baltimore Medical College March 30, 1893, since which time he has practiced his profession at Keeneyville. Dr. Clarence C. Gentry, a native of Green county, Virginia, graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, March 1, 1893, and since 1891 has been a resident physician of Morris. Dr. Edwin E. ('lark, a native of Steuben county, New York, graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, April 19. 1893, and has since practiced his profession in Osceola. Dr. Frank L. Kiley, a native of Mansfield, graduated from Jefferson Medical College, May 2, 1893, and has since been a resident physician at Morris Run. Dr. Shuman Voorhees, a son of Dr. Charles Voorhees, and a native of Jackson township, graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Balti- more, April 24, 1893, and has since practiced at Daggett', Mills. Dr. Sullivan A. Gaskill, a native of Covington, graduated from Baltimore Medical College, March 1, 1893, and is a resident physician of Covington. Dr. Arthur M. Greenfield, a native of Kentucky, graduated from the Baltimore Medieal College, March 23, 1892, and has since practiced at Sabinsville. Dr. Francis A. Birrilo, a native of Dunkirk, New York, graduated from Jefferson Medical College, May 2, 1893, and practiced in Blossburg until his removal to Trenton, New Jersey. Dr. John P. Longwell, a native of Greycourt, New York, graduated from the Chiengo Hahnemann Medieal College in 1893, and in October, 1895, he located in Wellsboro. Dr. Frederick Green Wood, a native of Sullivan township, graduated from Jefferson Medical College May 15, 1895, and since September 1,1895, has practiced in Mansfield. Dr. John Cross Seeor, a graduate of the University of Vermont, located in Cherry Flats in December, 1895. Dr. Henry C. Harkness graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic College March 17, 1896, and in June located in Mainesburg. Dr. Daniel Stratton graduated from the University of New York, May 2. 1895, and is a resident physician of Blossburg. Dr. George A. Trieman graduated from the Medical Chirurgical College. Philadel- phia, May 4, 1893, and in September, 1896, located in Lettonia. Dr. J. Irving Bentley, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, located in Gaines in January, 1897, as the successor of Dr. I. P. Haskin. Dr. Charles Trexler opened an office in Knoxville the same month.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

THE FIRST DRUG STORE.

The first regular drug store in Wellsboro was opened in 1848 by Dr. Robert Roy, in a frame building which then stood on that portion of the site of the present Coles House, next to the residence of the late Judge Robert G. White. Dr. Roy was born May 13, 1824, in Warwick, Orange county, New York, and was a descendant of sturdy Scotch ancestry. When he was but four years of age his parents removed to New- town, now Elmira, New York. The desire of his youth was to educate himself for the Christian ministry, but a severe cold, followed by inflammatory rheumatism, inter- rupted his studies and changed the whole course of his life. After measurably recov- ering his health, he entered the drug store of William Ogden, of Elmira, and learned the drug business. In 1848 he removed to Wellsboro, and opened the first store devoted exclusively to the sale of drugs in Tioga county. For about two years he occupied the frame building already referred to, and then removed to a little wooden structure just below the Bower block. A few years later he purchased half of the block on the southeast side of Main street, bounded by Water and Crafton streets, and built thereon the large three-story building that was burned in 1874. While this work was in progress Dr. Roy was prostrated by an accidental burning and was con- fined to his house about a year. The result of this misfortune was to so cripple his resources that for many years he was greatly hampered in business.

In 1850 Dr. Roy married Miss Irene M. Dartt, a daughter of Cyrus Dartt, of Charleston township. Three children were born to this union, two of whom died in infancy. Arthur M., the only living child, is now one of the proprietors and editors of the Wellsboro Agitator. Dr. Roy, save for a period of about four years, continued in the drug business up to his death, which took place November 30, 1881. His widow is a resident of Wellsboro. Dr. Roy's domestic life was very happy. He was a devout member of the Presbyterian church, and for several years before his death was a member of the session. For many years his health was poor and his eyesight bad, yet he maintained a cheerful disposition to the last. The sincerity of his religious convictions, his upright life and his spotless integrity, won for him the esteem and respect of the entire community. His influence, quietly but constantly exerted, was always for good, and he was regarded as one of the most upright and exemplary citizens of the borough.

While yet quite a young man and before coming to Wellsboro, Dr. Roy traveled and lectured on the Bible, the lecture being illustrated with stereopticon views. His assistant was a boy about fourteen or fifteen years of age, named Mark M. Pomeroy, afterwards famous as "Brick" Pomeroy, editor of the LaCrosse Demo- crat. Some years ago "Brick" being in reminiscent mood, wrote the following ac- count of his experience as a clerk in Dr. Roy's drug store in Wellsboro:

Out of this expedition [a panorama with a lecture thrown in] Uncle Robert cleared three, four or five hundred dollars; enough to start him quite handsomely in the drug business at Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. After he had accumulated this amount of capital, which was considered very large for those times in that country, he purchased an old stock of drugs from a broken down druggist in Elmira, and had them conveyed by wagon across the hills to Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, where he started the first drug store in that place, and lived to become one of its most prosperous business men, but who has since experienced his ups and downs. His son, Arthur Roy, is now at the head of a Republican newspaper in that town.

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

When our trip was ended, late in the spring, I was allowed to go with Uncle Robert to Wellsboro, and to the duty and responsibility in his store of chief clerk, with the understanding that I could have a few shelves in the corner of the store on which to dis- play a stock of candy. I had saved about nine dollars from my winter's work. I should have had more, but ia Towanda, where we stopped one cold night. I stood with my back to a red-hot coal stove, to warm myself as I came in, and unfortunately burned the back out of my overcoat. To purchase a new one cost seven dollars-seven weeks' work. But the lesson was a good one, as it taught me never to turn my back to a warm friend.

The idea of becoming a candy merchant was novel and promising. So I made a few shallow boxes, in the fronts of which I could slip panes of eight-by-ten glass, and then bought a few jars in which to place for display a whole nine dollars' worth of assorted candies, which I purchased of a candy merchant in Elmira, New York, whose name was Elmore. In May I left home with my venture of sweetmeats, and journeyed by wagon, in which were conveyed some of Uncle Robert's goods, across the hills to Wells- boro, where I helped open and arrange the drug store in a small room not so large as my present sanctum or parlor. Here I applied myself patiently and industriously to the study of chemistry and the history and the principles of drugs and medicines. For a year and a half I made my home in Wellsboro, engaged in this business, having as a compensation the profit inade from the stock of candy I had purchased and started in with. Unfortunately for my prosperity in this line, there were a number of very pretty little girls in Wellsboro, likewise a number of boys who had a taste for sweetmeats and who promised faithfully to pay pennies and sixpences la the future, but who, somehow or other, never had the money when it was wanted. Anxious to secure trade, I adopted the plan of giving candy to all the girls who came, and trusting the boys who wished credit, so that at the end of the year not only my candy boxes but my pockets were quite empty. I found myself not half so popular as when I had sweet things to give out to all who would come for them, But I had lots of fun ia Wellsboro for all that.

THE TIOGA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

This association was organized June 20, 1860, at the office of the late Nelson Packer, M. D., in Wellsboro, the original members being Drs. Nelson Packer, R. II. Archer, C. V. Elliott, W. W. Webb, Daniel Bacon and Otis W. Gibson, a son of Dr. Otis L. Gibson, one of the early physicians. The membership did not increase rapidly and the meetings were held irregularly. The meeting at Mansfield, De- cember 19, 1860, was the last until September 9, 1868, when a meeting was held at Tioga and the society revived. The long lapse was due to the excitement attendant upon the Civil War. Those who attended this meeting were W. W. Webb, Daniel Bacon, Robert M. Christy, Robert B. Smith, T. R. Warren, H. A. Phillips and Lewis Darling, Jr. New life was infused into the society, and there followed an increase of membership and interest. Meetings were held every three months, papers read and questions discussed pertaining to diseases and their treatment. These meetings were regularly maintained until 1882, when the society again went into decline and prae- tically ceased to exist. During the twenty-two years between its organization and suspension of activity, the following named physicians served as president: R. H. Archer, 1860; Daniel Bacon, 1868-69; Nelson Packer, 18:0; James Masten. 18:1; W. W. Webb, 1822; C. K. Thompson, 1823; W. T. Humphrey. 15;4; Robert B. Smith, 1875; Lewis Darling. Jr., 1826; M. L. Bacon, 18;2; E. G. Drake. 1828; George D. Maine, 18:9; A. M. Loop, 1880; C. K. Thompson, 1881, and W. D. Vedder, 1882.

After a lapse of fourteen years the association was again organized, at a meeting held January 24, 1896, in Lawrenceville, at which the following officers were elected

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

to serve until the annual meeting: Wentworth D. Vedder, of Mansfield, president; A. L. Bottum, of Westfield, vice-president; Lewis Darling, Jr., of Lawrenceville, sec- retary, and C. W. Webb, of Wellsboro, treasurer. The annual meeting was held June 19, 1896, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: A. L. Bottum, of Westfield, president; Luther N. Cloos, of Keeneyville, vice-president; Lewis Darling, Jr., of Lawrenceville, secretary, and C. W. Webb, of Wellsboro, treasurer. The association now numbers twenty-seven physicians in its membership; its meetings are held quarterly and the interest taken in them indicates that the as- sociation is at last permanently organized.

CHAPTER XIV. EARLY MILITARY HISTORY.

INTRODUCTION-EARLY SETTLERS WHO WERE REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS-THEY LED THE WAY INTO THE WILDERNESS-PETER SHUMWAY'S DISCHARGE-A PRICE- LESS RELIC-THE WAR OF 1812-SETTLERS OF TIOGA WHO SERVED IN THAT STRUGGLE-OLD TIME MILITIA SYSTEM-THE MEXICAN WAR.

D URING the Revolutionary War that portion of Pennsylvania now embraced within the limits of Tioga county was a savage-peopled wilderness. No white man was living within its borders, and none had penetrated its forest depths, save an occasional hunter, trapper, spy, scout, or, perhaps, a Catholic or Moravian missionary. While that memorable struggle was in progress, marauding bands of savages, from the tribes farther north, frequently followed the trails leading south up the valleys of the Tioga river and Crooked creek, and down those of Babb's and Pine creeks, and . harrassed the settlers along the Susquehanna. So far as known, however, no conflict between the two races ever took place on its soil, its early settlers being happily spared the horrors of frontier warfare, with which those of other counties were but too familiar.

This was due to the fact that before settlement began the land was acquired from the Indians by the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, in 1784, and was thereby open to peace- able and unmolested occupation. Its pioneers had nothing to fear, unless, in the event of an Indian war. Fortunately they were called upon to undergo no such ex- periences, and were permitted to clear away the forests and cultivate their fields in peace.

Although Tioga county, owing to its wilderness condition, and its distance from the scene of active operations, is not embraced within the historic ground of the Revolution, it afterwards became the home and is to-day the resting place of a num- ber of the patriotic soldiers of that memorable struggle. The first settlers at Law-

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EARLY MILITARY HISTORY.

renceville, Tioga and in the Cowanesque valley were Revolutionary soldiers, who endured the privations of pioneer life in their wilderness homes with the same heroic courage and patient fortitude that they displayed while contending against British tyranny for the independence so nobly won by Washington and his patriotic army.

It is a matter for sincere regret that the names of all of these heroes of that great struggle cannot be ascertained. A patient inquiry, however, has resulted in securing the names which follow and the dates and places of their settlement. The list is be- lieved, by those familiar with the early history of the different townships, to be practically complete, and to embrace the names of all or nearly all of the Revolu- tionary soldiers who became permanent settlers and residents of the county.

It was not until 1787, four years after the colonies had achieved their indepen- dence, that Hon. Samuel Baker, the first white settler, came and reared a home for himself and family within the confines of Tioga county. This herald of an advanc- ing civilization was a Revolutionary soldier. In 1122, being then a boy of fourteen years of age, while he and a younger brother were picking berries near their home, at White Creek, Washington county, New York, he was captured by Indians and taken to the camp of Burgoyne, where he was redeemed by a British officer, who paid twelve dollars for him, and made him a waiter at army headquarters. After Burgoyne's surrender, an American officer gave young Baker two dollars and told him to go home. This he did, remaining until 1281, when he enlisted in Col. Marius Willett's regiment and took part in the skirmish of Canada Creek, in which ('apt. Walter Butler, a noted tory leader, was killed. Four years after the war closed Baker turned his face toward the west, selected a site for a home near the junction of the Tioga and Cowanesque rivers, where Lawrenceville now stands, and thus became the first white settler of Tioga county.

Within a few months after his coming Mr. Baker was joined by Amos Stone, who was a captain in the Connecticut Line during the Revolutionary War, but who afterwards became an active participant in Shay's Rebellion. Shay was defeated January 25, 1787, and his adherents were forced to seek refuge from the Federal authorities wherever they could.

Adam and George Hart, natives of Germany, and pioneer settlers in Lawrence township, served seven years each in the Revolutionary army. Adam removed to Mansfield in 1823 and George became an early settler in Liberty township, where his descendants still reside.

Andrew Holiday, a native of Ireland, came to America before the Revolution, and finally settled at Stroudsburg. Monroe county, Pennsylvania. He served in the Continental army and wns a good soldier. In 1:99 or 1800 he came to Tioga county and located at Lawrenceville. A few years later he removed to Tronpsburg, New York, but soon afterward returned to Tioga county. and settled near Elkland. where he died early in the present century.

Rouben Cook, Sr., the pioneer settler of the Cowanesque, west of Lawrenceville, was a Revolutionary soldier. He settled in what afterward became Nelson township, in 1992 or 1793. It is not known in what command he served, but he was granted a pension of $10 a year during life by the legislature of Pennsylvania in 1823. For a fuller account of hita the reader is referred to the chapter devoted to Nelson borough.

Ebenezer Seelve, a native of Connecticut, settled immediately east of Academy

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 26

Author: Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1454

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454