USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 6
USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 6
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 6
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 6
USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 6
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DR. JOHN PARSHALL was practicing in the county as early as 1815.
DR. JAMES M. CONNELL came to Lewis- town about 1816, commenced the practice of medicine, in which he continued until 1845, when he removed to Ohio, and there died in 188-1.
DR. ALEXANDER JOHNSON practiced in the county in 1817.
DR. FRANK SWARTZ, a German, came to Lewistown prior to 1821,-probably about 1818. Ile practiced in the place for many years, and remained an inhabitant of Lewis- town to the time of his death. His son, DR. J. A. SWARTZ, practiced for many years in Mc Veytown.
DR. ANDREW P. LINN came to Mc Veytown in 1819 from Chambersburg, and practiced until 1830, when he was sneceeded by Dr. Abraham Rothrock.
DR. LEWIS HORNING began practice in Lewistown in 1821, but remained only a few years, moving away in 1824.
DR. LEWIS HOOVER, a native of Dry Val- ley, born in Derry township, resided in Lewis- town, and practiced for a number of years. He died in 1851.
SAMUEL SMITH appears as one of the physi- cians of Mifflin Comty in the year 1823.
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MIFFLIN COUNTY.
DR. J. CROMWELL REYNOLDS was born in 1810. After studying medicine, he enlisted in the Seminole War as a surgeon. From 1843 to 1846 he was located and practiced his pro- fession at Me Veytown. He served in the Mexican War, and on his return settled at Harrisburg. He died February 20, 1849, and is buried in St. Mark's Cemetery, Lewistown.
ALEXANDER MCLEOD, CHRISTIAN SWARTZ, II. C. WAMPLER, WILLIAM JONES and JACOB KREIDER were practitioners in 1833.
class of Dickinson College, at Carlisle, and was graduated from that institution in 1824. De- ciding upon medicine as his profession, and esti- mating it at its just importance, he determined to prepare himself thoroughly before under- taking its varions responsibilities. He began his studies under the preceptorship of Dr. Adam Hays, of Carlisle, and was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Penn- sylvania on the 6th of April, 1827. After a period spent in travel, Dr. Culbertson, in 1828,
·
Lanny Culbertson
JAMES CULBERTSON, M.D., was born on the | chose Lewistown as the scene of his professional 12th of March, 1803, near Carlisle, in Cumber- land County, Pa., and having been when a child deprived of the tender care of his parents, became a member of the family of his guardian, Thomas Urie, who resided on the adjoining farm. With him he remained until twelve years of age, when his' preparatory collegiate course was begin at Hopewell Academy, in Shippensburg, Pa. He entered the sophomore
labors, and continued actively employed until his death, on the 30th of March, 1854, being for three years associated with Dr. Edmund Patterson, after which he established an inde- peudent practice. The doctor was a constant reader, possessed a remarkably retentive mem- ory, and made himself thoroughly familiar with the best professional literature of the day. His field of labor was extended and his prae-
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
tice successful. While well versed in the de- partment of surgery, and skillful in the treat- ment of disease, he was especially happy as a diagnostician, and possessed a mind peculiarly fitted to analyze the nature and tendeney of dis- case. Ile loved his calling, and was in hearty sympathy with every effort having for its ob- jeet the promotion of the cause of medical science and the higher interests of the profes- sion. Personally, he was remarkable for his genial temperament, which quickly endeared him to those with whom he was thrown profes- sionally in contact. This fact, together with his abilities, rendered his presence mich de- sired in consultation. Dr. Culbertson, aside from his medical studies, gave much time and thoughit to the sciences of geology and miner- alogy, and was a constant contributor to the medical and scientific journals of the day. He was a member of the Geological Society of Pennsylvania, and of the Mifflin County Med- ical Society, of which he was president at the time of his death.
The latter society on that occasion passed the following resolutions :
" Resolved, That in the decease of our late friend and fellow citizen, Dr. James Culbertson, the profes- sion has lost an able practioner; his medical asso- ciates, a judicious adviser; the sick and afflicted, an attentive physician and sympathizing friend, and society, generally, an exemplary member, whose ur- banity and gentlemanly deportment had endeared him to a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
" Resolved, That we sincerely sympathize with his bereaved family in their irreparable loss.
" Resolved, That members of this society attend his funeral April 2d at two o'clock P.M.
" Resolved, That members of the society, as a mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.
" Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the local country papers, and a copy pre- sented to the family of deceased."
Dr. Culbertson was a Whig in his political convictions, and, although decided on questions of public policy, never aspired to office. His religious belief was in harmony with the creed of the Presbyterian Church, of which he later in life became a member. He was identified with the interests of Lewistown, and filled, among other offices, those of trustee of the Lew-
istown Academy and the Lewistown Bank. Dr. Culbertson was, on the Bd of July, 1839, mar- ried' to Mary, daughter of Robert Steel, a na- tive of Lewistown, associated by carly family history with the State of Delaware. Their children are William A., born May 29, 18:40, died October 4, 1843, and Horace J., born May 25, 18.12, an attorney in Lewistown, who pursued his preparatory studies at the Lewis- town Academy, entered the sophomore class of Lafayette College in September, 1859, and began the study of law in 1864. He was ad- mitted to the bar in April, 1866, and filled the office of district attorney of Mifflin County from November, 1871, to Jannary, 1875.
The grandfather of Dr. Culbertson, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, was William Culbert- son, who resided in Cumberland County, Pa., where he became, in 1771, the purchaser of six hundred acres of land, a portion of which is still held by his great-grandson. Among his children was Samuel, a native of Cumberland County, where he was a prosperous farmer, a member of the Supreme Executive Council, an exemplary citizen, an elder in the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church and a man of large influ- ence and usefulness. His death occurred in 1807. His two sons were William and James, the latter the subject of this biography.
DR. L. G. SNOWDEN practiced in 1835. He came to Me Veytown, located as a physician and remained until 1848.
DR. CHARLES BOWER, a native of Union County (now Snyder), settled at Newton Ham- ilton in 1838 and practiced until the Mexican War, when he enlisted as a lieutenant. After the war he returned to the place and resumed practice. He continued in active practice until the War of the Rebellion, when he again entered the service as assistant surgeou. In this last service he remained until the close of the war, advancing to the position of medical director of corps. After the war he settled at Harris- burg, and died about 1870. Prior to 1850 Mr. Bower was a member of the State Legis- Jature.
DR. PETER AHLE practiced in the county in 1811. DR. JAMES FORSTER also practiced at this period.
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MIFFLIN COUNTY.
THOMAS VAN VALZAR, M.D., was born December 23, 1793, at Buffalo Cross-Roads, Union County, Pa. He received his classical education from the Rev. Thomas Hood, who instructed students from the neighborhood. llis preparatory course in medicine was ob- tained under the immediate direction of his father, a successful physician of extensive practice. Dr. Van Valzah was a surgeon in the army in the War of 1812, at the carly age of
well fitted for his profession. He had a charm and kindliness of manner that inspired the pa- tient with confidence and sympathy, and his presence in the sick-room was often of itself a medicine and restorative to the invalid. He never waived the call of the poor and his ser- vices were freely bestowed to needy sufferers. HIe was an able physician, and, aside from his local practice, was often called abroad for con- sultation, prescription and surgery. He kept
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twenty years, and afterwards graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1818. He en- tered on the practice of his profession in Lewis- burgh, near the place of his birth, and steadily advanced in a career of success. In 1837 he moved to Freeport, Ill., and returned to Penn- sylvania in 1842, and resumed his professional labors at Lewistown, where he remained until his death, having been in the active exereise of his profession for fifty-eight years.
Dr. Van Valzah was by nature and edneation
himself well read in medical works and was always abreast of the progress of medical science. He excelled as a surgeon, was a rapid and skillfal operator. The first case of Caesarian operation in this country was performed by Drs. Dougal and Van Valzah in 1827, in Northumberland County, Pa., and is reported in the American Journal of Medical Sciences, 1835, page 343.
The first high operation for lithotomy in America was performed by Dr. Gibson, of
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Philadelphia; the second by Dr. Carpenter, of Lancaster ; and the third by Dr. Van Valzah, of Lewisburgh. Gibson's Surgery, vol. ii., page 244, edition of 1819, refers to the successful operations of these eminent physicians.
The second successful high operation in America for lithotomy was performed by Dr. Van Valzah.
The doctor delighted to dispense hospitality, and at his house his friends loved to congregate to receive a welcome and enjoy generous enter- tainment. He was kind, dignified and consid- erate of the rights and feelings of others. His long white beard, bright eyes and cheerful countenance gave him an attractive and patri- archal appearance.
Dr. Van Valzah was married, February 3, 1820, to Harriet Howard, of Union County, Pa. They had eight children. A daughter died in infancy, a son in his youth, and two sons, Robert and John, in manhood, in Free- port, Ill., both physicians, the latter from dis- case contracted at the siege of Vicksburg, while surgeon in the army. His wife died January 25, 1870. Two sons, two daughters and three grandchildren survived him,-David, a captain in the army; Thomas Howard, a practicing physician in Lewistown, residing with his sister; Mary E. Jacob and her daughter; and Jennie 11. Parker and two daughters, of Mifflintown, Pa.
Dr. Van Valzah died May 6, 1870, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, at his home, in full possession of his faculties, of pleuro-pueu- monia, contracted during a visit to Washington. His death was much lamented, and at the time of his funeral all places of business were closed as a public testimonial of respect to his memory.
except one year, from April, 1871, to April, 1872, during which time the doctor and his family lived in Virginia.
SAMUEL MACLAY, M.D., JR., a son of Sam- uel Maclay, a cousin of Samuel Maclay, M.D., Sr., read medicine with Joseph Henderson, M.D., and graduated at the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania, and came to Milroy in 1839, and attended to San- nel Maelay, Sr.'s, practice during his visit iu foreign countries. Samuel Maclay, Jr., left Milroy in 1843 and went to the Western States; he died in Cincinnati in 1851.
GEORGE VANCE MITCHELL, M.D., was born in Oliver township, Mifflin County, Pa., on the 10th day of April, 1811. During his infancy his mother died, and in a few years afterward his father died also. He was theu cared for by his unele and guardian, Judge Criswell, who gave direction to his literary and scientific pursuits. He commenced the study of medieine in 1830, in the office of Dr. O. Friel, a young physician who had acquired a high reputation as an oculist. In the year 1831 he entered the office of A. Rothrock, M.D., for the purpose of pursuing his studies of medicine. During his time in that office he manifested more than ordinary aptitude in acquiring correct ideas in the various departments of medicine. He attended lectures in Jefferson College in Philadelphia, and in the year 1834 he gradu- ated. Soon afterward he commenced the prac- tice of medicine in Belleville, in Mifflin County, Pa., and remained at that place until 1841, when he removed a few miles eastward to Kishacoquillas, in a new and well-arranged house, with office attached, built expressly for him by his father-in-law. He was married, the 24th day of October, 1837, to Miss Elizabeth R. Taylor, a daughter of a wealthy and highly- respected farmer. By this marriage they raised two sons and three daughters. During his pro- T'essional life he lived in the beautiful and fertile valley of Kishacoquillas, which is peopled with wealthy and industrious farmers. Being located in the country made his field of labor a hard one.
SAMUEL MACLAY, M.D., a son of Wm. P. Maclay, was born in Union township, Mifflin County, Pa., on the 5th day of October, 1803. He graduated from Dickinson College, Carlisle, July 6, 1825. He read medicine with Joseph Henderson, M.D., in 1825 to 1828. Ile graduat- ed in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania March 21, 1829; practiced med- icive in Lewistown from 1829 to 1833, at which time he moved to Milroy, and has continued As a practitioner he was eminently successful there ever since in the practice of his profession, | in all the departments of the healing art. Ile
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MIFFLIN COUNTY.
was a studious reader, keeping fully abreast with all the discoveries or improvements as re- ported in the periodical journals or new medi- cal books. During his professional labors he was often called upon to meet with his profes- sioual brethren to join in consultation npon im- portant or obscure cases. In his deportment there was such a caste of refinement that on his cutering the sick-chamber his manner and sym- pathy for his suffering patient made him always a welcome visitor. During the War of the Re- bellion he tendered his services to the United States government, and on the 26th day of No- vember, 1862, he was appointed assistant sur- geon, which position he accepted, and in one month afterward he was promoted to surgeon in the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Reg- iment Pennsylvania Infantry, where his services were highly appreciated by the soldiers as well as by the medical staff under whom he served. He was a consistent and influential member of the Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed a life of un- usual good health until within a few months of his death, when general debility made inroads upon his constitution and he became admonished by failing strength to seek relief by rest and appropriate remedies. A few weeks before his death he was suddenly stricken down with an attack of softening of the brain, from which time he began to sink, until the 20th day of July, 1876, when he departed in peace.
THOMAS A. WORRALL, M.D., was born in the borough of Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pa., from which he removed to Philadelphia and subsequently to Baltimore. His education was principally obtained in the latter cities, an academic course having been pursued in Phil- adelphia and concluded in Baltimore. He carly chose the law as a profession, and began his studies with one of the eminent members of the bar of that day, but eventually abandoned it for a medical course, which he pursued at the Jef- ferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and fin- ished in 1837 at the Washington Medical College, Baltimore, from which he was gradu- ated. During this course of study he had charge of the City Small-pox Hospital, and won many commendations from the faculty for his assidu- ons devotion to duty. Possessing a cultivated
literary taste and wielding a ready pen, he began to write at the age of sixteen, and meanwhile contributed frequently to the magazines of the day, being from the to time the editor of sev- eral papers. During the whole of his active life he devoted much time to literary pursuits, and left, on his death, the manuscript copy of the following poems: " Alzarah," " Malek " and " Gomer, the Reborn of the Nineteenth Con- tury," which will, at nodistant date, be published by his family. Dr. Worrall in 1838 removed to Lewistown and opened an office in the old stone building located on the corner of Brown and Market Streets, since demolished. From that date until a short time prior to his death he continned in active practice of a general character. Ilis skill as a surgeon and correct judgment as a diagnostician at once gave him a leading place among the physicians of the connty, and made his counsel in adjacent counties much sought after. Having made diseases of the eye a special study, he also obtained an en- viable reputation as an oculist. In 1852 the doctor married Miss Lizzie Ker, only daughter of Rev. Joshma Moore, of Norristown, Pa. Their children are a son, Clarence Augustus, who married Ada C. Worrall, of Philadelphia, and a daughter, Florence Garnet, who died in yonth. Dr. Worrall offered his services to the government during the late war, was appointed brigade surgeon by President Lincoln on the 26th of December, 1861, commissioned by Gov- ernor Curtin May 6, 1862, and was placed in charge of the hospital at Alexandria, Va. In the spring of 1863 he was ordered to the De- partment of the Army of the Tennessee, and assigned to duty at Vicksburg under General Grant. He was then ordered to report at Grand Gulf, La., where his duties were exceedingly arduous, and later at Vicksburg and Nashville, Tenn. He was afterward stationed at Alton, Ill., and in the fall of 1864 he was assigned to hospital service in Maryland, from whence he assumed charge of the hospital at Riker's Island, N. Y., containing five thousand patients. His resignation was accepted in the spring of 1865. Dr. Worrall possessed strong political convic- tions, and was among the earliest advocates of the doctrine of Abolition, which received from
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
him practical aid as one of the leaders of the party in the county. He afterward allied him- self to the Whig and Republican parties, and although at one time chief burgess of the bor- ough of Lewistown, usually declined all political honors. His religions views were in harmony with those of the Society of Friends, of which he was a member, and his ready pen was fre- quently devoted to religious themes. The death of Dr. Worrall occurred on the 30th of October, 1877.
The ancestors of Dr. Thomas Augustus Wor- rall are traced back to 1066 in a direct line to Sir Hubert de Worrall, a chieftain and knight who, with several sons and grandsons, accom- panied William, Duke of Normandy, from France, and was engaged in the battle of IIast- ings, in which sanguinary fight three of the sons were slain. One grandson saved the life of Richard Cour de Lion, and only for the pru- denee and conrage of young Worrall the King would have perished in an ambuscade artfully prepared for him by the infidels. Sir Hubert was ennobled by William and erected, by permis- sion, a stately palace in Northumberland, four miles from Morpeth. Large estates were given him in Northumberland, and the ruins of the old castle, or homestead, are still to be seen there. Richard Coeur de Lion, highly appreciating Sir Hubert's conduet on this occasion, conferred ad- ditional honors upon the family. Their arms were, "Three lions en passant," and the motto, " Fortitudine et Prudentia." A branch of the family went to Ireland, under Henry II., and again a certain Sir William Worrall took estates in Ireland under Charles I., and this branch of the family has its living representatives in the children of John, the son of John, the son of John, who was the son of James Worrall. The main branch of the family remained in England, but their title passed or decayed, and they mixed with the commonalty.
A Margaret Worrall was the grand-aunt of Dean Swift and also of the poet Dryden, the former having lived several years prior to his death with Dr. Worrall, of Dublin. The grand- father of Sheridan was a near neighbor and associate of these two. Two immense fortimes have been lost by its carelessness of records-
one reverted to Trinity College, Dublin, the other escheated to the crown.
Hon. Septimus Worrall now holds a place about the courts of Queen Victoria. John, great-grandfather of our subject, was a lineal descendant of Sir Hubert de Worrall, and was known as " John Worrall, of Wales." He emi- grated from Wales with William Penn, having married Sarah Goodwin, of London. Upon ar- riving in Philadelphia he took up a tract of land where Market Street now is, and an estate in New Jersey of two thousand acres. He final- ly settled in Middletown, Delaware County, Pa., and took up an estate of five hundred aeres. The Middletown Quaker Meeting-house and school-house are located on this tract. His wife died while on a visit to Ireland with other men- bers of the Society of Friends' Meeting, and was buried there. This John had three sons, -Peter, John and Thomas, -and Thomas had a son George, who was born in 1769 at the family stone mansion, Middletown, and married Jane, daughter of Joseph and Mary Dawson Sermon, of Philadelphia, by whom he had seven sons and three daughters,-George, Isaac, Charles, Rich- ard, Joseph, Horatio, Dr. Thomas AAugustus, Matilda, Jane and Mary. His death occurred at Lewistown, Pa., March 27, 1845. All the children lived to have families. Five of the sons studied medicine, four of whom graduated. Isaac and Thomas Angustus were very success- ful practitioners, and three of these brothers also served with credit in the late Rebellion. Dr. Thomas Augustus is the subject of this sketch, and took his name from his grandfather.
The writer is indebted to Miss Mamie Bailey, adopted daughter of Dr. Worrall, for the facts herein noted.
BENJAMIN BERRY, M.D., practiced medi- cine in Milroy in August, 1830 ; was there about two years. Nothing is learned of his his- tory as to education or medical school from which he graduated. From Milroy he moved to Centre County, near Centre Furnace, and remained there till his death.
JOHN MORRISON, M. D., graduated in one of the Philadelphia medical schools, probably the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced medicine in Milroy from 1832 to 1834, at
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MIFFLIN COUNTY.
which time he left that place and went to Bucks County, where he died several years afterward.
The first doctor in Belleville was a Dr. Cook ; after him came Dr. Westhoven, and about 1830 came Dr. Eliphaz Bigelow, who remained till about 1858, when his nephew, Dr. William G. Bigelow, came, who remained until 1871, after which came Dr. Jacob K. Metz, who remained about two years.
John, Lewis, who died in youth, and one daughter. John Metz was born about the year 1785 in Lancaster County, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Huntingdon, and subsequently to Petersburg. He entered the office of Dr. Beard, of Manheim, Lancaster County, as a student of medicine, and, ou com- pleting his studies, engaged for a short time in practice at that point. After a residence of seven years in Petersburg he removed to Brady
1927668
JACOB K. Merz is of German parentage. Ilis grandfather, whose name was, so far as is known, John Metz, emigrated from the Father- land and settled in Lancaster County, from whence he removed to Huntingdon, Pa., and became the popular landlord of the place. His residence was again changed to Petersburg, in the same county, where he was both a saddler and farmer, and finally Ohio became his home, where his death ovenrred. His children were
township, Huntingdon County, which continued for a period of sixty years to be his home. His death occurred in 1874 in Petersburg. He was married to Fanny Keyser, whose children are John K., Maria (wife of Jacob Shaffner), Henry K., Samuel K., Jonathan K., Elizabeth (wife of John Bamu), Jacob K. and Frances (wife of George P. Wakefield).
Jacob K., the subject of this biographical sketch, was born on the 16th of August, 1825,
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
in Brady township,: Huntingdon County, Pa. He was carly taught the value of labor, and many demands were made upon his time and strength in the work of the farm. Having, however, a higher purpose in view, he resolved to master a profession, and at the age of twenty- two began the study of medicine with his father, conehiding his course at the Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated March 7, 1852. At once entering into copartnership with his father, he speedily became interested in a large and successful practice. He was, on the 7th of May, 1857, married to Ann, daughter of John Carver, of Huntingdon County. Their children are Frances (wife of Howard Cunningham), Jane E. (deceased), Mary K., Harry W. and Maggie G. (twins) and John P. Mrs. Metz died July 16, 1876, and he was again married, June 9, 1881, to Barbara A. King, daughter of David M. Zook, of Menno township, where he still resides. Dr. Metz, though still a practitioner, after years of severe labor, when the largest share of the practice of the locality fell to his lot, has relinquished the arduous work of the profession. A Democrat in his political senti- ments, he is not an active worker in the field of polities, and cares nothing for the honors of office.
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