History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 38

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438

USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 38
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 38
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 38

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J. HAWLEY OLMSTEAD was born in Bethany January, 1823, and was the son of Deacon Os- born Olmstead. In his youth he is remem- bered as a bright, witty, intelligent, athletic boy, the admiration of his fellows. From 1832 to 1844 lie had the advantages of an education afforded by the Beech Woods Academy, of his native borough, under such instructors as Ed- mund L. Reed, Benjamin Dimock, Rev. H. C. Nash, Morley, Wood et al., and completed his literary studies at the High School of Rev. Wil- lard Richardson, commencing the study of med- icine at the end of this year in the office of Dr. Edwin Graves. He had early in life acquired a musical education, both vocal and instru- mental, and up to this time such was his social connection in his native place that at all such gatherings his presence was necessary.

In the autumn of 1846 he matriculated at the Medical Department of the University of the City of New York, attended two full courses of medical lectures there, and received the degree of M.D. in March, 1848. He com- menced practice immediately with his former preceptor in Honesdale, and married Miss Mary, daughter of E. Patmor, Esq., in 1852.

In 1856 he was appointed post surgeon in the United States Army ; was stationed in Texas three years, and upon being relieved, entered into co-partnership with his brother, Dr. J. C. Olm- stead, of Dundaff, Pa. His health failing, he returned to the old family homestead at Bethany, where he died of consumption in June, 1861. His wife survived him but one year. Their only child and daughter, Mary, married James Babson.

DR. GEORGE B. CURTIS was born in Beth- any February 4, 1835, and died in Hawley June 9, 1884. He was the son of Rev. H. Cur- tis, a clergyman of the Baptist Church of that place, and had three brothers and two sisters. On arriving at proper age he was sent to the schools of the different grades in his native vil- lage, completing his literary course at the Uni- versity of Northern Pennsylvania.

Having decided to become a medical man, he commenced his studies with Dr. King, of Honesdale, and after complying with the requi- sitions of the University of Pennsylvania, at

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Philadelphia, gradnated at that institution in March, 1858. The same year he formed a partnership with an old and respectable practi- tioner of Hawley, Dr. H. L. Stearns, with whom he practiced three years, then followed his profession alone until the time of his death.

Dr. Curtis in 1862 married Miss Augusta Cook, daughter of John A. Cook, of Ledge- dale. They had three sons and four daughters, viz .: John H., Augustus C., Eugene, Nellie, Harriet, Margaret, Julia. The eldest, Dr. John H., is a graduate of the New York City Uni- versity, and promises to become a worthy suc- cessor of his father.

Dr. Curtis was truly one of the respectable of the profession. His religions faith was that of his esteemed father, and of his character, vir- tue was the foundation and ethics the test. Guilty of no vicious habit, he was always relia- ble, always fonnd in the same place, gradually rising in the estimation of his professional con- frères, the respect of his patients and confidence of the people. In the practice of medicine he was faithful, and in the department of surgery he performed some of the capital operations successfully. When nnemployed he was eco- nomical of his time, his leisure hours being spent in the pernsal of medical journals, and he often furnished articles for them. He was a respected member of the " Tri-States Medical Society," of Port Jervis, N. Y., and at his death that body selected Dr. Dingman, of Haw- ley, his colleague and fellow-townsman to deliver a memorial address, in which Dr. Curtis is de- scribed as " considerably above the medinm height, of rather a large frame, light features, light hair and a fair complexion. His connte- nance wore a serious and thonghtful expression, but was often lighted up with smiles during social and friendly intercourse. His manner was composed and qniet, but always courteous, and his whole deportment that of a refined gen- tleman."

district school, but later was a close student at the Deckertown Academy, N. J. Inclining to the profession of medicine rather than a busi- ness life, in 1862 he borrowed some medical works from Dr. Gratton, of Monroe County, and during his leisure hours from other duties ap- plied himself to study and reading, which he continued more or less without a tutor for over two years.

In 1865 he began reading medicine in the office of Dr. P. F. Fnlmer, of Dingman's Ferry, took two regular courses of lectures at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and was gradnated at that institution in the class of 1867. In Au- gust following, Dr. Dingman settled at Hawley, Wayne Connty, where his success in the diag- nosis and treatment of disease was soon fully es- tablished, and where his field of practice rap- idly widened. He has continued the duties of his profession at Hawley since, a period of nearly twenty years, and enjoys the confidence of a large circle of the most intelligent and thoughtful peo- ple in the community. He established a drug-store at Hawley upon settling there, which he has conducted in connection with his other business and general practice of medicine. He has been a member of the board of pension examiners for Wayne County since July, 1885, and of the Tri-States Medical Society, of which he was a charter member, since 1872.

Since his residence at Hawley Dr. Dingman has taken a zealous interest in all local matters tending to the growth and proper development of the place, in its educational work and civil government. For several years he has been an influential factor in the political field of Wayne; held the office of treasurer of Palmyra township in 1881 and 1882, and was elected burgess of Hawley in February, 1885. He married, in 1876, Josephine, daughter of Joseph A. Dow, a locomotive engineer, and Mary (Homans) Dow, of Windsor, Broome County, N. Y. They have one child, Nellie Dingman, and Mrs. Ding - man has an only sister, Annie Dow. Her pa- ternal grandfather was Rev. Joseph Dow, who settled at Mount Pleasant, Wayne County, from New England, and who died in Susquehanna County, Pa. Her maternal grandfather was

ABRAM COOLBAUGH DINGMAN, M.D., was born at Dingman's Ferry, on the Delaware, in Pike County, Pa., September 18, 1843. His early life was spent on the home farm, where he had the usual opportunity of attending the | John Homans, a Jumberman, of Windsor, and

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her great-grandfather was the progenitor of the family in this country from Holland.

Andrew Dingman, the progenitor of the Ding- mans in Pike County, was born at Kinderhook, on the Hudson, in 1711, and came to " Ding- man's choice" in 1735, where he was the pioneer settler. His son Andrew resided on the Jersey side of the Delaware, but subsequent- ly removed to Dingman's Ferry, where his father had made a beginning. He was captain

man (1775-1862), only son of Andrew, inherited his father's estate at the " Ferry," and carried on the lumber business and merchandising there during a large part of his active life. He was a leading and influential man socially and politically, and a Democrat of the Andrew Jackson type.

He was the first elected sheriff of Wayne County, in 1801, and the second holding the office, and served in the State Legislature from

A. S . Dingman-

of a company and served in the struggle for the ( 1808 to 1814, during which time Pike County independence of the colonies, and after living to see the country again engaged in a war with England in 1812, he survived many years thereafter, and died in 1839, at the age of eigh- ty-three years.

His wife was Jane Westbrook, who bore lim two children,-Daniel W. Dingman and Cor- nelia, who became the wife of Daniel Van Et- ten, who resided at Connasliaw, where the Van Etten family homestead was. Daniel W. Ding-

was taken from Wayne, and he gave the new county its name, from General Pike, a liero of the War of 1812, and he also gave Dingman township its name. He was associate judge of Pike Conuty for twenty-six years in succes- sion, and was chosen one of the electors in the election of President Monroe.

His wife, Mary Westbrook (1777-1852), a daughter of Benjamin Westbrook, of Sussex County, N. J., bore him children as follows:

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Martin W .; Andrew ; Daniel W., Jr., the first Whig prothonotary of Pike County, appointed by Governor Joseph Ritner ; Cornelia, wife of Garret Brodhead, of Dingman's Ferry ; Mar- garet, wife of Abram Coolbaugh, of Shawnee, Monroe County ; and Jane, wife of Franklin Brodhead. Of these children, only Andrew and Margaret survive in 1886, the latter being eighty-five years of age. Andrew, son of Daniel W. Dingman, was born on the homestead, on Christmas day, 1804, where he has followed farming and lumbering most of his active life. He now, at the age of eighty-one years, is hale and hearty, and his correct habits through life, his even temperament and quiet ways, together with his integrity in all the relations of life's work, have gained the esteem of all who know him.

His wife, Caroline (1804-85), was

a daughter of Jedediah Sayre, a large real estate owner of Deckertown, N. J., and her mother was Elizabeth Reifsnyder, of the same place. Their children are : Mary, wife of John W. Kilsby, a farmer at Dingman's Ferry ; Susan, 'vife of John W. McInnis, of Columbus, Ohio; E. Sayre, of Scranton ; Jane resides with her brother at Hawley ; Margaret, wife of John Lattimore, of Dingman's Ferry ; Daniel W., of Flatbrookville, Sussex County, N. J .; Alfred S., of Milford ; William H., of Columbus, Ohio; Dr. A. C., subject of this sketch ; and Isaac, of Dingman's Ferry.

ROBERT W. BRADY, M.D., physician and surgeon, was born in New York City, May 30, 1842. He obtained his early education from books in the schools at Honesdale, and at the Bethany Academy. Preparatory to the study of medicine, at the age of fifteen, he entered the drug store of Reed Brothers, at Honesdale, as a clerk, where he remained one year, and after a short residence in Scranton, to which place his parents removed, he returned and served as a drug clerk for one year more in the same store, with the firm of Gilbert, Palmer & Reed. At about the age of nineteen he began the study of medicine with the late eminent physician, Dr. Adonijah Strong, of Honesdale, attended two courses of lectures at the Albany Medical College, from which institution he was gradu-

ated in the spring of 1863. The late Civil War being then in progress, and the necessities of the hospitals and field service requiring all the medical aid at the command of the government, Dr. Brady accepted the appointment of assistant surgeon One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regi- ment New York Volunteers, Eighteenth Army Corps, under General Smith, and at once re- ported to Fortress Monroe for duty.

He followed the fortunes of war as a field surgeon with his army corps until May, 1864, when he was taken prisoner at Drury's Bluff, at the time General Butler was making an at- tempt to capture Richmond.

As a prisoner he served at Castle Thunder, a rebel prison at Richmond for Yankee pris- oners, for a few weeks, and was transferred to the famous " Libby Prison," where he remain- ed, in common with others enduring everything incident to that horribly and inhumanly kept rebel prison, for three months. Fortunately for him, he was exchanged at Aiken's Land- ing, went to Annapolis, and was given a fur- lough of twenty days, which he spent at home in recruiting his strength and with his friends. He returned to duty with his old regiment, in September, in front of Petersburg, Va., where he remained all winter, and until the surrender of General Lee and the fall of Richmond, and he recites marching into the latter city on the morning of April 3, 1865, when a part of the city and its three bridges crossing the James River were all on fire. After the fall of Rich- mond, General Gibbons assigned Dr. Brady to duty on his staff as medical purveyor of the Twenty-fourth Army Corps, which had been formed from the depleted troops of the Eigh- teenth and Tenth Army Corps. After a short service in this position he was mustered out of his regiment, and commissioned a surgeon of the Ninety-sixth Regiment New York Volun- teers, with the rank of major, and served the regiment in this capacity, doing provost duty through Virginia and Tennessee, until Febru- ary 1866, when he was mustered out of the ser- vice and returned to Honesdale. In January, prior to the close of his services, Dr. Brady had obtained a furlough, and at Honesdale married Miss Esther, a daughter of William (1815-

Dr. R. M Brady.

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78), and Amelia (1802-83) (Schoonover) Coon, of Honesdale. His large and varied ex- perience in the army in surgery had given Dr. Brady valuable practical ideas of that branch of his profession, as well as having made him skilled in the diagnosis and proper treatment of disease, and for several years after his return he gave special attention to surgery. In con- nection with his professional duties he has car- ried on a drug business in Honesdale, to which he gave considerable attention, until his disposal of it to his brother, John Brady, in 1885.

Dr. Brady, for the purpose of further prose- cuting his medical education, and of visiting the country of his ancestors, in 1878 visited the Paris Exposition, and extended his tour to Vienna, where he attended the lectures for sev- eral months of the eminent physicians Bill- roth, Hebra and Sigismund, at the " All- gemeine Krankenhaus," said to be the largest universal sick-house in the world. He lends his aid to the various local institutions of the vicinity needing support, and, still loyal to the " boys in blue," and the cause for which they fought, is a member and Past Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 198.

In 1868, Dr. Brady bought the north one- half of the R. F. Lord property on Main Street, Honesdale, opposite the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company's office, upon which, after the destruction by fire of the buildings thereon, a few years later, he, in 1872, erected a three-story brick block, " Brady's Block," for the accom- modation of three stores.

Mrs. Brady's mother, Amelia, was one of the seventeen children of William Schoonover (1764-1828), whose wife, Susannah (1772- 1844), was a daughter of Thomas Spangenberg, Esq., who settled at Bethany in 1798. William Schoonover came from New Jersey and settled on the creek just out of Honesdale, a notice of which is given elsewhere in this history. Julia, widow of the late William Sherwood, of Clinton township, is the youngest of these children, who grew to mature years, and is the only one living.

Mrs. Brady's only sister, Susan (1842- 82), was the wife of J. O. Terrel, a merchant of Honesdale.

Dr. Brady's father, William Brady, was born

in Tyrol, Austria, November 12, 1811, came to New York about 1838, and married Elizabeth Krähling, (1817-82) of that city. They re- moved to Cochecton about 1846, and the year after settled in Honesdale, where he has con- tinuously followed his profession as a music- teacher and pianist, with the exception of a short residence in Scranton. The other chil- dren of William and Elizabeth Brady are Andrew, died at the age of twelve; William, died at the age of eighteen ; Charles R. Brady, D.D.S., studied dental surgery with Dr. Otis Avery, of Honesdale, was graduated at the Philadelphia Dental College, and is practicing his profession successfully at Honesdale ; George, is a hotel-keeper in Oregon ; and John Brady, succeeded to the drug business herein men- tioned ; and a daughter died in infancy.

DR. REED BURNS was born in Clifford town- ship, Susquehanna County, Pa., November 11, 1845. Both his paternal and maternal grand- fathers werc early settlers in that county and identified with its pioneer history and develop- ment. His parents were Jonathan (1809-81) and Eliza (Reed) Rurns (1811-79), the former an industrious and successful farmer. The children were Alsina, who became the wife of Henry Hadsall, of Clifford ; Byington T., who resides in the same township ; Granville A., who lives at Towanda, Pa .; Reed ; Jayman A., residing near Montrose, Susquehanna County ; and Edwin W., engaged in farming the old homestead.

Reed Burns was reared upon the paternal farm in Clifford, and experienced the usual in- cidents of hard work and limited educational opportunities peculiar to the life of a farmer's son. At the age of sixteen he commenced teaching school near Carbondale, Lackawanna County, and engaged in that vocation, at inter- vals, for three years. In the mean time he spent a term in attendance at Lyman Richardson's school in Harford, Susquehanna County. At the age of nineteen he entered upon the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Anthony Din- mick, at Audenreid, Carbon County, near which place he had been teaching, and remained with him during the greater part of the three follow- ing years. During the winters of 1865 and

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'66 and 1866 and '67 he attended two courses of lectures in the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and in the summer of 1867 located in the practice of his profession at Bethany, Wayne County, Pa. After six years of successful practice at that place lie removed to Honesdale, the county-seat, where he has since enjoyed a large and remun- crative professional career.

Doctor Burns has aimed to keep himself thoroughly informed upon the changes and dis-

to know what is the disease that affects a patient before applying the necessary therapeutic treat- ment. Aside from his large and successful prac- tice lie finds leisure to further continue his per- sonal education, aiming to supply by later industry and study the deficiency in early op- portunities and early means. He has recently acquired a speaking knowledge of the German language by private study and practice and is directing his attention to the acquisition of other useful forms of knowledge.

Reed Burns

coveries which are constantly occurring in his profession, and familiar with the various thera- peutic and curative agencies that are being in- troduced. He has devoted special study in New York to several important distinctive branches of medical science, including the treat- ment of the eye and ear, in which he has met with peculiar success. He is considered by liis professional associates to be especially apt in diagnosing the pathology of a case, which may be termed the most important feature of med- ical practice, inasmuch as it is highly necessary

He is held in general respect in the commu- nity in which he dwells, is a member of the School Board of Honesdale and lately officiated as chief burgess of that borough. He is also one of the three examiners of applicants for pensions in behalf of the government in Wayne County. He married, March 31, 1869, Mary E., daughter of Rev. Elias O. Ward, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Bethany, and has had three children, namely : Edward W., Emma and Alice Reed Burns.

DR. SANFORD A. KELLY was born at Her-

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rick, Susquehanna County, Pa., June 14, 1854. His parents are Thomas and Susan (Berry) Kelly, the former a practicing physician at Dunning, Lackawanna County. His maternal grandfather, Dr. Berry, practiced his profession at South Point, New York and Carbondale, Pa., for over forty years. His four brothers are also members of the medical profession, and engaged in active practice,-Leonard at Oly- phant, Pa., Darwin at Mill City, Pa., William

and 1876, and 1876 and 1877, he attended two courses of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Baltimore, Md., and in 1876 located in the practice of his profession at Riley- ville, Wayne County, Pa., and in the spring of 1877 located at West Nicholson, Wyoming County, where he remained for two years. He then moved to Hot Bottom, Susquehanna Coun- ty, where he practiced until 1880, when he again established himself at Rileyville and has

W. Kelly ·

at Deposit, New York, and Carl at Lake Como, Wayne County, Pa.

The early life of Dr. Sanford A. Kelly was passed chiefly at Olyphant, Lackawanna Coun- ty, where he obtained an excellent education at the graded school of that place. At the early age of fourteen years he began the study of medicine in the office of his brother Leonard, at Olyphant, and also assisted him in the drug store which he owned at that place. In 1875 23

since pursued the practice of his profession there. He erected his substantial store and residence at Rileyville in 1883. .

Dr. Kelly enjoys a large and extensive prac- tice in the northern part of Wayne County, and his ride covers a large area of country. Coming from a family of physicians on both sides, as he docs, he has inherited a certain genius and aptitude for his profession which few possess. This, supplemented by a thorough training, and

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

the facility that follows from constant practice, make him thoroughly qualified to cope with the problems of disease successfully. He has paid special attention to the diseases of women, and has been compelled, in order to accommo- date his patients, to receive many of them as in- mates of his hospitable home. In addition to his other professional qualifications it may be stated that he is a regnlar graduate of the Col- lege of Pharmacy, Philadelphia.

He married, April 4, 1878, Ada Shibley, daughter of Jerome and Amanda Shibley, of Wyoming County, and has two children, viz .: Carroll and Clyde Kelly.

DR. J. M. BATES, who was a son of J. M. Bates, studied medicine with Dr. Strong in 1868, and shortly thereafter graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York. Subsequently he located in South Ca- naan, where he entered upon the practice of his profession. From there he removed to Way- mart, and thence, in 1878, to Wauseon, Ohio, where he died in the summer of 1882.

DR. DANIEL W. PERHAM, who was a na- tive of Mount Pleasant, a son of Sylvius G. and Lucinda H. Perham, immediate descendants of very early settlers, practiced in that place for a short time. He was born in 1852, began the study of medicine in the office of his uncle, Dr. Warren Schoonover, of New York City, in the spring of 1874, entered Bellevue Medical Col- lege in the autumn of the same year and grad- uated in the spring of 1877. On receiving his degree he returned to his native place and fol- lowed the practice of medicine for a few months, but returned to New York, and in June, 1877, was appointed district physician in the Northeastern Dispensary. August, 1878, he be- came associated with Dr. Alexander Hadden, of New York City, as assistant in general practice, a position which he held at the time of his death, in April, 1882. He was a man of character and a physician of marked ability-altogether one of the most promising of the many young men who have gone out into the world from Wayne County, and he doubtless would have achieved high position had his life been spared.

DENTISTRY.

Probably no profession in the world has made such rapid strides during the last half-century as has that of dentistry. Prior to that period the study and care of the teeth was limited to those who made the study of anatomy and phys- iology a specialty, and to the members of the medical profession, very much as blood-letting and tooth-drawing were once included among the functions of a barber. Many persons are still living who can distinctly remember when the scalpel and forceps were as necessary instruments in a barber-shop as a pair of shears or a razor. The first dental college in the world was established at Baltimore in the year 1839. Since that time the science of dentistry has de- veloped until it now ranks among the most use- ful and artistic of the professions, and includes among its representatives men of education, cul- ture and high social standing. The develop- ment of the science has been rapid, and a pro- fession that is the offspring of the nineteenth century has not proven tenacious of old ideas nor unfitted itself for growth and improvement by a blind devotion to the errors of the past, so that the science of dentistry as it exists to-day is the exact antipodes of that which received the attention of its professors but a few years ago. The most rapid improvement has been made in operative dentistry, in which there has been al- most an entire revolution. The highest point at first attainable was to fill such teeth as were slightly decayed, whereas, by the aid of the va- rious improved dental instruments, together with medicinal treatment of the teeth, the profession is not only enabled to preserve teeth slightly decayed, but to restore and preserve them for many years. The early practice advocated smooth-pointed instruments for introducing the filling, and non-cohesive gold, whereas serrated instruments and cohesive gold are now recog- nized as the proper thing.

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 38

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 1438

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438