History of Newport County, Rhode Island. From the year 1638 to the year 1887, including the settlement of its towns, and their subsequent progress, Part 10

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York, L. E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1324

USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > History of Newport County, Rhode Island. From the year 1638 to the year 1887, including the settlement of its towns, and their subsequent progress > Part 10

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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.

October, 1790, Sarah, widow of Captain Daniel Gardner, and daughter of his uncle, Hon. George Hazard. Doctor Hazard attended medical lectures in Philadelphia, and settled in his native town after a period of practice in Newport, and practised there until he died in September, 1828. His second wife was Jane Maria, a daughter of Edward Hull, Esq., of Jamestown and New Shoreham. Their children were Doctor William Henry Hazard, of Wakefield, R. I., and Hon. Edward H. Hazard, one of the lights of the Rhode Island bar. Doctor Hazard was a lifelong friend of Doctor William Turner, of New- port.

Doctor William Henry Hazard, son of Doctor George and Jane M. (Hull) Hazard, of Sonth Kingstown, was born February 12th, 1808, the eldest of eight children. In 1824 he entered the office of Doctor William Turner, at Newport, as a medical student, and lived in his family for three years, and afterward attended lectures in Boston. He commenced practice in South Kingstown in 1828, and still practises there, although in his eightieth year. He married Louisa Lyman, eldest child of the late Governor Lemuel H. Arnold, of Rhode Island, March 15th, 1841, but has no children.

Doctor Thomas Arnold Hazard, son of Arnold Hazard, of Jamestown, came to Newport in 1832, studied medicine in the office of Doctor Alexander P. Moore, and graduated in medicine in March, 1835, at the University of Pennsylvania. He settled at Kingston, R. I., where Doctor D. Watson, who came to Newport, had previously practised, and remained there until he died, December 8th, 1886, aged 73 years. He had never married. Doctor Hazard took high rank as a physician, and had a large and successful practice, and had very great influence as a man of affairs, and enjoyed the entire confidence of the community surrounding him.

Doctor Henry Hooper was a son of Doctor Richard, of Water- town, Mass., who died at Watertown in 1765, very old. Doctor Henry was born at Watertown in 1687, died at Newport February 17th, 1757. His wife, Deborah, died May 2d, 1750, aged 65 years.

Doctor Henry Hooper, Jr., son of Doetor Henry and Deborah Hooper, was born in Newport in 1716, and died in Newport October 15th, 1745, aged 29 years. Nothing further can be traced, by record or tradition, relative to this family.

Doctor William Hunter. The latter half of the eighteenth

HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.

century may be properly accounted the golden age of medicine in Newport. She had been uncommonly prosperous, and had a community of merchants who had accumulated large estates, for the period. She was then, as now, a favorite resort for people of wealth and leisure. She had a large aristocratie element, such as success always engenders, and was an acknowledged center of literary and artistic taste and of social and mental refinement. The Redwood library, comparatively small as it appears now, was far in advance of any library in the country, in the num- ber. and especially in the character of its books, unless, perhaps, some few of the collegiate institutions might be excepted. The merchants of Newport were noted for their generous hospitality, and for their elegant style of living and their magnificent enter- tainments, Newport then, from 1750 to 1775, presented a field extremely tempting to those aspiring debutantes for success in the medical profession, who for various reasons had found it expedient to emigrate from Europe, and who had had such ad- vantages of education as assured them advancement in a wealthy and exceptionally refined community as that of Newport then was. We find, accordingly, that quite a number of young phy- sicians, who had enjoyed the instruction of the most eminent medical men of the period, and the eclat of degrees from the best schools in Europe, besides the hospital experience of Lon- don, Edinburgh and Leyden, became residents of Newport, and earned the reputation here which their accomplishments deserv- ed. Among those particularly prominent were Hunter, Brett, Moffatt and Haliburton, and others of whom we are able to resone less material for biographical account. Doctor William Hunter, who was of the same family as the celebrated William and John Hunter, of Edinburgh and London, was a native of Scotland, and acquired his medical education at Edinburgh, where the most brilliant luminaries of the medical world were then at the zenith of their glory, and whose school of medicine was, almost without dissent, deemed the center of medical science. Doctor Hunter was born in Scotland in 1731, and died in Newport January 31st. 1777. It has been generally believed that he was a refugee from Scotland, on account of penalties incurred from participation in the rebellion of 1745. This idea seems to be entirely illogical, because if he was born in 1731 he would be, at the time of Culloden (1746) when the revolt col- lapsed, 15 years of age, too young, probably, to engage in such

HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.

an enterprise, and certainly too young to have commenced the prosecution of a medical education, which he could not have done afterward, with penalties as a rebel against the British government hanging over him. He must have received his medical degree as late as 1752. This fond delnsion must, therefore, be dismissed as untenable. Doctor Parsons says Doctor Hunter came to America in 1752, which is probably true, and would be directly after receiving his degree of M. D., although some authors have placed his arrival as early as 1750. However that may be, he seems to have ingratiated himself rapidly into popular estimation, for the general assembly elected him, in March, 1758, physician and surgeon-general to the Rhode Island troops. He served in the unfortunate campaign against the French in Canada, in General Abercrombie's expedition, and probably also in the more propitions one which succeeded under General Amherst. From this time, the war being concluded by the capture of Quebec and Montreal, he pursued the practice of his profession in Newport with great success. In 1756 he de- livered the first course of lectures on a medical subject, viz., Anatomy, ever delivered on this continent, at the state house at Newport. He was married September 13th, 1761, to Deborah, daughter of Godfrey Malbone, Esq., of Newport. The children of this marriage were: Eliza, born July 20th, 1762, died at Paris in 1859; Anne, born April 20th, 1766, married Jolin Fanconnet, died 1859; William, born April 20th, 1768, died November 18th, 1772; Katharine, born June 2d, 1770, died October 1st, 1770 ; Katharine, born February 28th, 1773, married Count de Portalis, died 1860; William, born November 26th, 1774, died December 3d, 1849, in Newport. This last child, and only surviving son, was a lawyer of very great classical and scholastic attainments, and stood very high at the Rhode Island bar, and was celebrated especially for brilliant forensic abilities. He was senator in congress from October, 1811, to March, 1821, from Rhode Island. Later he was appointed, by President Jackson, charge de affairs to the court of Brazil, which position le adorned and dignified for many years. He was a student of Inner Temple, London. Doctor Hunter was active and very positive in his adherence to the canse of the crown in all the troubles preceding the revoln- tion, and was, consequently, very obnoxious to the other party, but he died while the British forces were in possession of New- port, and in the full persnasion of the final triumph of the royal

HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.

canse. He was outspoken in his denunciation of those he was pleased to style the " dommed rubbles."

Doctor Frank Hunter, son of Henry and Rebecca (Eells) Hunter of Newport (who were married in Stonington, Conn., December 9th, 1773), was a student at the University of Edin- burgh, and graduated in the same class in medicine with Doctor William Gibson, former professor of surgery in the University of Pennsylvania, and who, in his old age was a resident of New- port in 1809. It is supposed that Hunter died young and with- out returning home, as nothing more is known of him. He was spoken of by Doctor Gibson as a man of wonderful talent and acquirements, but as of an eccentric and mercurial disposition.

Doctor John Francis Hurley, only son of Patrick and Mary (Donovan) Hurley, was born at Boston January 28th, 1839, mar- ried Anna Louisa Burke September 1st, 1863, at Boston, and died of Phthisis at Newport December 2d, 1885. Doctor Hur- ley took his medical decree at Cambridge in 1863, and was ad- mitted as fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society August 1st, 1863. He practised in Boston for a short time, then he went to Springfield, Mass., where he practised until 1867, when he came to Newport and practised here until his death.

Doctor Robert Jeoffreys. Although not on the roll of those who signed the compact of settlement at Pocasset, Robert Jeof- freys, who may have been the Mr. Jeoffreys admitted August 23d. 1638, with Mr. Dummer's party, appears on the roll of freemen at Newport September 1st, 1639, and he was elected treasurer for one year, and was reelected for 1640 41 and 1642. In 1642 he was elected captain for Newport. That he was the Mr. Jef- fereys who came with Mr. Dommer seems probable from the fact that the name William Jeffreys does not appear until 1655, when the whole roll of the freemen of the colony is engrossed, and the name Robert Jeffreys does not appear. If two Jef- freys had been here the record would have been more explicit. In 1641 this entry in the colonial record appears : "26. It is or- dered, that Mr. Robert Jeoffreys shall be authorized to exercise the function of Chirurgeric." Robert Jeffrey received a part of Rocky farm in the first division of lands in 1641. He is said to have removed in 1646. As he does not appear later on the rec- ord, it is probable, as he had previously been quite conspicu- ous.

Doctor Cyrus Johnson, son of Isaiah and Ruth (Leonard)

HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.

Johnson, was born at Falmouth, Mass., October 13th, 1779. His grandfather was Daniel Johnson, many years judge of the court of Plymouth county, Mass. Doctor Johnson married, March 11th, 1804, Hannah (Plaisted) Warren, daughter of David War- ren, Esq .. and Sarah, his wife, of Saco, now state of Maine. She was born April 19th, 1787 and died at Newport June 13th, 1826. They had three sons and two daughters. The youngest daughter was Eliza N., the third wife of James Horswell, Esq. Doctor Johnson had a certificate from his medical instructor. attesting his good character and diligent application as a student, and highly commending his qualifications for the prac- tice of physic. surgery and midwifery, signed by "Jeremiah Barker, M. D., F. M. M. S .. " and dated " Falmonth, May 1. 1803."

lle seems to have settled first in Saco, then in what was called the district (now state) of Maine, where he married, and where his first child, Charles C. P. was born February 3d, 1805. Shortly afterward he was in Portland, his second child, Maria M., being born there July 6th, 1806. In 1810 he came to Newport and remained there until he died, January 17th, 1861, a period of 51 years. He married for his second wife Miss Henrietta B. Lazell, daughter of Isaac and Jane Lazell of Bridgewater. She died August 26th, 1859, aged 62 years. Doctor Johnson had an of- fice and dispensary in his residence on the east side of Thames street, the third house above the Parade, for thirty years and probably more. He was a very mild and unobstrusive man.

Doctor John Melvin Keith, son of a Baptist minister from Scotland, who, nearly sixty years ago taught a school in what was then known as Trinity Church school house. corner School and Mary streets, Newport, and who was reputed a man of learning, was born in 1808. He commenced the study of medi- cine with Doctor William Turner about 1828, and after the con- clusion of his studies he settled in Providence county, R. I. After the death of Doctor Hamlin in 1834, he withdrew from his chosen locality and settled himself in Portsmouth, R. I., and practised there until his death, which occurred July 9th, 1852, a period of eighteen years, he being 44 years of age. His wife was Frances, danghter of Capt. Robinson Potter of Newport, and sister of Mrs. Doctor T. C. Dunn. Doctor Keith was a man of line appearance and attractive manners, and enjoyed the full- est confidence and regard of the community in which he lived.

HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.

He was buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's, Portsmouth. His only child, a son, is still living.

Doctor Thomas Alphonso Kenetick, son of William and Anu (O' Mealley) Kenefick, was born at Lawrence, Mass. Ile studied medicine in the office of Doctors Garland and Chamberlain at Lawrence, Mass., received the degree of M. D. at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York in 1885, when he settled at Newport, where he still practises, occupying the office of the late Doctor S. W. Butler in Pelham street. He has been for two years a member of the active medical staff of the Newport Hospital.

Doctor David King was born in Raynham, Mass., in the year 1774. His ancestry were of Puritan origin, and were distin- guished for their publie spirit, and for their Christian and social virtues. His early life was passed amid influences auspicions to the growth of the best elements of character. He was pre- pared for college at a grammer school, under the direction of the Rev. Peres Forbes, LL. D. In September, 1792, Doctor King entered Rhode Island College as a student under the pres- ideney of Manning, and graduated in 1796, under the presi- dency of Maxcy.

After graduating, choosing medicine for his profession, he, to- gether with his classmate, Shurtleff, became the pupil of Doctor James Thatcher of Plymouth, Mass. Doctor King, by his dili- gence and assidnity in his medical studies, soon acquired the necessary elements of a medical education. Diverted by some accidental circumstance from the navy, which he was inclined to enter as surgeon, he, in the antnun of 1799, songht profes- sional employment in Newport, Rhode Island.

In the early period of his professional career, his attention was drawn to the consideration of the vaccine disease, then first introduced into the United States. Regarding it as an invaln- able discovery, he proceeded, notwithstanding the strong oppo- sition of popular prejudice, to benefit his fellow citizens by the application of the newly discovered principle in his science. In October, 1800, he vaccinated Walter Cornell of Newport, who was the first person vaccinated in the state of Rhode Island.

In thus early adopting the views of the immortal JJenner, and carrying them out in practice, he displayed a decision and inde- pendence of mind which strongly characterized him through life. For several years he held the appointment of surgeon to

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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.

a detachment of United States troops stationed at Fort Wolcott. In 1819, during the prevalence of the yellow fever in this place, his great skill and experience were actively and successfully called into operation in repelling that terrible malady. At that time it was the part of humanity to refute the errors of those who regarded that disease as invariably and certainly propagating itself, and as exposing those who attended upon the sick to almost certain death. Not admitting the contagious character of the disease, he attributed it to a more general and pervading cause ; and by his intrepidity and free personal ex- posure attested his confidence in the truth of his theoretical views. He was one of the earliest promoters of the Rhode Is- land Medical Society, in which he successively held the offices of censor, vice-president and president. He was elected presi- dent in June, 1830, and continued in that office until July, 1834.

In the revival of Redwood library, he was an active co-oper- ator with other public spirited men, and he was long a director and at last president of that institution, until ill health com- pelled him to resign that office. It was his pride to advance those enterprises which might benefit the town in which he lived ; and he regarded it with an attachment which, in general, is appropriated only to the spot of our birth. The uprightness of his character and the strength of his judgment induced many to consult him as a friend, to whom, nothwithstanding the pressing cares of his professional life, he rendered valnable services. The warm sensibilities of his heart ever prompted him to disinterested action, which made him the object of pre- eminent respect while living, and will forever perpetuate his memory in the hearts of his friends. In private life his char- acter was adorned by every quality which constitutes goodness. A perfect faith in God was ever an ennobling presence in his mind. In August, 1834, he suffered an attack of paralysis, brought on from exertions in the discharge of his professional duties. His constitution gradually failed until his death, which occurred November 14th, 1836. Few men have lived more re- spected or died more lamented.

David King. M. D., died in Newport, March 7th, 1882, at the age of 69 years, 9 months and 25 days. He was the second son of Doctor David and Ann (Gordon) King, of Newport, and was born May 12th, 1812. He pursued his preparatory studies at a classical school in Newport, at that time taught by Hon. Joseph

David King

HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.

Joslen, who still survives at a venerable old age. He graduated at Brown University, in 1831, with the second honors of his class. His father and two of his brothers were also educated at the same university. He immediately began the study of medicine under the direction of his father, who was a leading physician of Newport. He also attended lectures at the Jef- ferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, where he received his degree as Doctor of Medicine, in 1834.

He commenced the practice of his profession in his native town, and there continued it to the end of his life. He entered upon his career just as Newport was beginning to assume the position which it has now long occupied, as the leading place of summer resort in the United States. Ilis practice early became extensive, not among his fellow townsmen alone, but also among the visitors of the season, who would naturally compare its methods with those of the eminent physicians of other cities. He prepared himself to meet the conditions thus prescribed, and won the confidence and esteem of families from nearly every part of the country, and even from foreign lands. Thoroughly educated and devoted to his profession, he also possessed in an nnusnal degree the kindly disposition, the varied intelligence and the exalted character which made him not only the trusted physician, but also the valued friend of persons in every condition of life. In 1850 he went abroad for professional improvement, and spent a year and a half largely among the hospitals of London, Paris and Dublin, and in ob- serving the most approved methods of medical practice. Ile also made important additions to his well stored medical hbrary. In 1872 he again visited Europe for a somewhat longer period, with his family, making this visit tributary to still wider pro- fessional observations, not only in Great Britain and France, but also in Italy and Germany. Doctor King became a member of the Rhode Island Medical Society in 1834, and soon began to make special investigations as to medical science and practice. He won prizes offered by the society in 1836, 1837 and in 1839. His prize essays were all published. He also filled in succession nearly every office in the society, has been repeatedly chosen its president, and has three times delivered the address at its annual meetings. He was also one of the founders of the American Medical Association and a frequent attendant at its meetings. On the erection of the state board of health by the

L. of C.

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legislature of Rhode Island in 1877, he was appointed one of its members and filled the office of president tothe end of his life. He felt a warm interest in the objects which this board was designed to promote, and in 1880 went a third time to Europe, and informed himself fully as to sanitary methods and regulations.

Though occupied through life with a large professional prac- tice, he also gave much attention to the study of American his- tory, especially of the history of his native state, with which no man of his time was more familiar. He read numerous papers before the Rhode Island Historical Society, on characters and events in colonial history. He was also the leading founder of the Newport Historical Society, in 1853, and was its presi- dent to the end of his life, and while in England prosecuted important inquiries relating to the local history of the town. He was also a member of the New England Historical and Gen- ealogical Society, and a contributor to its journal. He devoted much time to the Redwood library, in Newport, of which he was long the president, and to which he left a legacy in his will, as he did also to the Newport Historical Society. In the crea- tion and organization of the Island cemetery, in his native city, he took a leading part, and by his judicions counsel and ex- ertions he contributed very largely toward making it the beau- tiful spot it has now become. He was chosen president of its corporation at its organization, in 1848, and continned to hold the office till his death, a period of nearly thirty-four years.

In addition to his medical library he made a large and costly collection of books of general literature, especially of English and American history. Ile was a member of the ancient parish of Trinity church, and did nmuch to promote its prosperity, and to all the higher social and moral interests of his native city he was warmly devoted.

He was much attached to the place of his education, and at the college commencement in 1881, less than a year before his death, he attended the meeting of his class on the fiftieth anni- versary of their graduation, and prepared for that occasion a tonching tribute to the memory of his deceased classmates, and to the honored instructors of his college days. Doctor King, in 1837, married Sarah Gibbs, daughter of the Rev. Salmon Wheaton, D. D., of Newport, who died in the same year. They had three sons and four daughters. One of his sons graduated

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at Brown University in the class of 1850. Another, while en- gaged in his preparatory studies, joined the Ist Rhode Island Regiment that went to the defense of the national capital, and was mortally wounded in the first battle of Manassas Junction, in July, 1861, and taken to Richmond as a prisoner of war. His father was permitted to pass the rebel lines and to bring him away. He was able to travel as far as Philadelphia, where he died of the wound he had received. A third is a well known resident of Newport, and was formerly a merchant in China.

John Brown Ladd was a native of Little Compton, R. I. He studied medicine with Doctor Senter, in Newport. He after- ward went to Charleston, where he was soon after killed in a duel with a Mr. Isaacs. A small volume of his poetical effusions was published by his sister after his death.

Doctor Francis Lucena, from Lisbon, was in Newport in 1764, at his brother James' on the Point.

Doctor Henry Goodwin Mackaye now practises medicine in Newport, and has done so for two years. He is the son of James and Maria (Goodwin) MacKaye, and great-grandson of Hon. Asher Robbins, of Newport, formerly United States sen- ator from Rhode Island, and was born in March, 1856, in the city of New York. He received the degree of A. B. at Har- vard University, in 1878, and his medical degree at Harvard Medical School in 1883. He was married in January, 1887, to Ellen G., daughter of William Bailey, Esq., of Middletown, R. I.

Doctor W. Duncan McKim, resided and practised in New- port in 1882 and 1883. Ile is now a prominent practitioner in New York city.

Doctor Thomas Henry Mann, son of Levi and Lydia Laurana (Ware) Mann, was born at North Wrentham, Mass .. April 8th, 1843, eldest of six children. He was at the high school at Wal- tham, Mass., when Sumter was fired on. On the 20th of May, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, 18th Mass. Volunters, and was in the battles of Yorktown, Hanover Court House, the Seven Days Battles before Richmond, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and at the battles of the Wilderness. He became a prisoner May 5th, 1864, fif- teen days before the expiration of his term of enlistment, and was exchanged ten months afterward, March Ist. 1865. He had been made corporal and sergeant. He studied medicine with his uncle. Doctor H. M. Paine, of Albany. N. Y .. and graduated

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in medicine December 24th, 1870, at the Albany Medical Col- lege. He then commenced practice at Willimantic, Conn., but in the autumn of 1872 removed to Block Island, where he prac- tised for four years, when he removed to Woonsocket, R. I., where he still practises. He was married, March 3d, 1869, to Julia, daughter of Salmon and Caroline (Bnrgevin) Backus, of Ashford, Conn., and has several children.

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History of Newport County, Rhode Island. From the year 1638 to the year 1887, including the settlement of its towns, and their subsequent progress, Part 10

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York, L. E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1324

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York, L. E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1324