History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 11

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1036

USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 11

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Eugene F. Warner was born in Coventry, R. I., October 9th, 1853. He was educated at Allen's School, West Newton, Mass., and at Brown University, where he graduated in 1875. He studied law with J. H. Parsons and J. E. Spink, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. He opened an office in Providence soon after, and still main- tains it. He was a member of the Rhode Island house of representa- tives in 1876, and was elected clerk of the Rhode Island senate in 1877, and by successive elections has retained the position till the present time. He was a delegate to the Chicago republican conven- tion of 1884, and secretary of the R. I. state central committee from 1884 to 18SS. He was elected judge of the Fourth district court of R. I., in 1886, and in 1889 for another term of three years. He has never been married.

Albert A. Baker was born September 26th, 1862, in Providence, the home of his parents. Albert O. and Anna M. (Stone) Baker. He was graduated from Brown University in the class of 1884, and became the assistant editor of the Attleborough Chronicle in 1884-5. He after- ward studied law with Colwell & Barney, in Providence, and was

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

admitted to the Rhode Island bar in August, 1888. He has an office at 4 Westminster street; was clerk of the judiciary committee in the R. I. house of representatives, 1887-8; secretary of the joint special committee of the state legislature on revenue of the state: and is a member of the republican city committee from the Ninth ward.

Harmon Seeley Babcock was born April 11th, 1849, at Lebanon Springs, Columbia county, N. Y. His parents were George H. and Sarah G. (Merrills) Babcock. He removed with the family to Lee, Mass .. in 1853, and remained there until 1861, when they removed to Lenox, Mass., and again returning to Lee, in 1870. He passed through the various degrees of boyhood and youth with that assurance of future success which generally characterizes the American boy, and after thorough preparation at Brookside Seminary, Stockbridge, and at the Lenox High School, under Augustus Linfield, he entered Brown University and was graduated therefrom in 1874, with the highest honors, delivering the valedictory address and receiving the degree of A.B. In 1877 he was further honored by being made an A.M. After graduation he taught for two years as assistant in the University Grammar School of Providence, prosecuting legal studies in the meantime. He was admitted to the bar in 1877. He taught also in the evening schools for a number of years as principal, and also as an instructor in logic in Brown University, for a short time in 1883. Since 1877 he has been practicing law continuously in the city of Providence. He filled the office of superintendent of public schools in East Providence from 1879 to 1882, and was solicitor for that town from 1882 to 1886. His literary abilities were recognized early in life, and the fact that he wrote the poem for the centennial celebra- tion of the town of Lee, Mass., in September, 1887, is evidence of his reputation in that direction. The R. I. Horticultural Society chose him for secretary in 1878, and about that time he was treasurer of Franklin Lyceum for three years. He has taken a prominent part in poultry affairs, having been president of the R. I. Poultry Associa- tion in 1888, and at different times written much on the subject. Among his many literary works of excellence was the poem delivered at the annual convention of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Cincin- nati, Ohio, in 1883, and also the poem delivered before the alumni of Brown University in 1888. He was married June 11th, 1879, at Lenox, Mass., to Eva S. Belden. Two children have been born of this mar- riage, the elder and survivor being a son, Samuel Belden Babcock, born June 9th, 1880.

Benjamin W. Smith was born in Warwick, R. I., June 21st, 1856, being the son of Charles W. and Elizabeth R. (Le Valley) Smith. He was educated in the public schools of Rhode Island and Iowa; pre- pared for college in Providence High School; entered Brown Univer- sity and was graduated in the class of 1876. He studied law in the office of Tillinghast & Ely, in Providence, and was admitted to the

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

bar in Rhode Island in 1878, and to practice in the U. S. circuit court in 1881. He has practiced law in Providence since his admission. He is still unmarried.

Rathbone Gardner was born in Providence, February 18th, 1856. His parents were Henry W. and Mary R. (Rathbone) Gardner. His education was pursued in Mowry & Goff's School, in Providence, and Brown University, where he was graduated in the class of 1877. His legal education was pursued in the office of Browne & Van Slyck, and at the Boston Law School. He was admitted to the bar July 19th, 1879, and has ever since practiced in Providence. He was elected to the city council in 1884, and was president of that body in 1885 and 1SS6. He was appointed U. S. attorney for the R. I. District, by President Harrison, February 19th, 1889, and still holds that office. He was married to Sophie L., daughter of the late John A. Gardner, in Providence, January 1st, 1880, and has two children -- Henry W. and Marianna Gardner.

James Wilmarth Williams was born in Providence, August 23d, 1859. He was the son of James F. and Phebe A. (Wilmarth) Wil- liams. He attended the public schools and the high school of the city of his nativity, and Columbia College, where he was gradu- ated from the law school in 18S2. He then studied law with Hon. Dexter B. Potter, of Providence, taught school for a brief period, and was admitted to the R. I. bar July 19th, 1884. , He was mar- ried March 25th, 1886, to Flora B. Tillinghast, of Providence. They have one child, Hope Tillinghast Williams. Mr. Williams is promi- nently identified with the prohibition movement in Rhode Island, and is a member of the national prohibition committee for Rhode Island. He took a prominent part in framing the laws enacted under the pro- hibition amendment of 1886-1889, and was for a time counsel for the chief of police of the state during that period. He is a direct de- scendant of Roger Williams, one of the few descendants bearing the family name of the original founder. He was a speaker at the re- union of descendants in June, 1886, on the occasion of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the settlement.

Benjamin L. Dennis was born in Providence, February 6th, 1853. His parents were Benjamin C. and Lydia A. Dennis. He was edu- cated in the public schools of the city until 12 years of age, when his parents removed to Webster, Mass., and he there received in part a grammar and high school education. At the age of 15 he entered Woodstock Academy, at Woodstock, Conn., and remained two years. At the age of 17 he commenced teaching school at West Woodstock, and during the next three years taught winter terms in different dis- tricts of Connecticut. In 1873, being then 20 years of age, he entered the R. I. State Normal School, and was graduated in June, 1875. He then taught school in North Smithfield until 1878, when he com- menced the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1881, and

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE, COUNTY.

has since practiced in Providence. Mr. Dennis may be classed among the self-made men of our time, having worked his way up to his pres- ent position by his own efforts, almost unaided. He was married December 22d. 1885. to Alice J. Arnold, who had been a teacher in the public schools of Providence. They have one son, Robert L. Dennis. Mr. Dennis resides at Valley Falls, six miles from Providence, but has an office in Butler Exchange in the city.

Frederick Rueckert was born in Providence, November 21st, 1855, being the son of Christian and Theresa Rueckert. He received his early education in the public schools of Providence, graduating from the High School in 1873. Entering Brown University in the fall of that year, he was graduated in 1877, and studied law for two years following. He was admitted to the bar of the state in February, 1880, and has since then been admitted to practice in the U. S. circuit court here. His practice is mainly confined to civil cases. He was married November 21st, 1886, to Ella L. Senft, of Providence.

Christopher E. Champlin was born in New Shoreham, Newport county, R. I., September 24th, 1860, being the son of John P. and Lydia M. Champlin. He spent his early years in his native town, and taught school there two years, in 1879 and 1880. His advanced edu- cation was received at East Greenwich Academy and Brown Univer- sity, after which he pursued legal studies at the Boston Law School, and was graduated in 1884. He was admitted to the bar of Suffolk county, Mass., July 8th, 1884, and to the Rhode Island bar in Febru- ary following. He has since practiced law in Providence. He was a representative from New Shoreham to the general assembly from 1887 to 1889. He was secretary of the democratic state central com- mittee. for Grover Cleveland, during the campaign of 1888. He is yet unmarried. His two brothers living are John C. and William R. Champlin.

Walter Hammond Barney, of Providence, was born in Providence September 20th, 1855, and was graduated from Brown University in 1876. He was elected representative to the general assembly in 1888.

Edwin C. Pierce was born in Providence in 1853, and was edtt- cated in the public schools. He has been a member of the school committee and was elected representative to the general assembly in 1888.

CHAPTER IV.

THE PROFESSION OF MEDICINE.

Early practitioners .- First Licensed Doctor of Medicine .- Medical Societies formed .- The Rhode Island Medical Society .- The Providence Medical Association .- The Rhode Island Homeopathic Society .- The Hahnemann Society of Rhode Island .- The Providence Clinical Club .- The Rhode Island Dental Society .- Physicians of Providence Fifty Years ago .- Some Physicians of an Earlier Period .- Former Physicians of Scituate .- Old-time Physicians of Woonsocket .- The Thompsonian Interest .- Introduction of Homeopathy .- Later physicians of Providence County.

T HE practice of medicine as a distinct profession was hardly to be looked for in the chaotic years of society in the new colony of Providence Plantations. But at an early date the legislative authorities imposed such restrictions upon it as they thought neces- sary for the protection of the people against irresponsible quacks. The general assembly granted occasionally, to such as were consid- ered competent, the privilege to practice medicine in the colony. One of the earliest of such licenses is the following, which we give in the language of the record. It was passed at the sitting of the general assembly at Newport, March 1st, 1664. new style.

" Wheras the Court have taken notice of the great blessing of God on the good endevers of Captayne John Cranston of Newport. both in phissicke and chirurgery, to the great comfort of such as have had occation to improve his skill and practice, &c. The Court doe therefore unanimously enacte and declare that the said Captayne John Cranston is lycenced and commistioned to adminester phissicke, and practice chirurgery throughout this whole Collony, and is by this Court styled and recorded Doctor of phissick and chirrurgery, by the athority of this the Generall Assembly of this Collony."

Going still further back we are told that the first regular medical practitioner in Providence county was John Greene, who remained here but a short time, and in 1641 removed to Warwick. In cases of emergency the people here had recourse to him there. Leading men in the early colony doubtless kept on hand small supplies of a few important drugs, and physicians in the neighboring colonies were in extreme cases called to attend patients. The first settled physician in Providence of whom we have later notice was Doctor John Jones, who was here in the early part of the 18th century. Doctor Jabez Bowen also came here and settled soon after. His descendants

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

formed a line of physicians for several generations. In the middle of the last century Doctors Vandelight and Gibbs were conspicuous for their abilities and services rendered to their townsmen. In the revo- lutionary period Doctor Stephen Randall and Doctor Hewes were conspicuous members of the profession.

Several medical societies have been formed, with Providence for their center or field of operations. The oldest of these is the Rhode Island Medical Society, which was organized in 1812, and has its place of meeting at 54 North Main street. Here it maintains a library of some 6,000 volumes and 2,000 pamphlets. The society has received into its membership since its organization about 500 members. Its present membership numbers about 200. Its annual meeting is held in Providence, in June, and quarterly meetings are held in Septem- ber, December and March. The society possesses a valuable fund established by the late Doctor Caleb Fiske, one of its former presi- dents. The fund was founded in 1834, and by it the trustees are en- abled to offer two premiums annually, of $100 each, for dissertations on medical subjects. By this means a large number of essays have been printed and distributed among the medical fraternity and the principal public libraries.

The society has been active in procuring important legislation in matters pertaining to public health. The law regulating the regis- tration of births, marriages and deaths, was secured in 1852, by the efforts of a committee of this society, and the annual registration re- ports for the first 25 years were prepared under its supervision. The original movement for the examination and registration of druggists, out of which grew the State Board of Pharmacy; the successful peti- tion for a law awarding suitable compensation for expert testimony in the courts of this state; the recent reform in the coroner system; and the effort to increase the efficiency of the state board of health. are achievements of this society.

Among those who have been promoted to the office of president or of vice-president of this society from this county during the last half century have been: Doctors Joseph Mauran, David King. S. Au- gustus Arnold, Hiram Allen, William A. Shaw, Ariel Ballou, Hiram Cleveland, Sylvanus Clapp, Charles W. Parsons, Isaac Ray, Jarvis J. Smith, J. W. C. Ely, George C. Collins, Lloyd Morton, Fenner H. Peckham, George W. Jenckes, Edwin M. Snow, Charles H. Fisher, Edward T. Caswell, George P. Baker, Charles O'Leary, Job Kenyon, O. C. Wiggin, H. G. Miller, J. W. Sawyer, Albert Potter, J. W. Mitchell and W. H. Palmer. The officers at the present time are: Al- bert Potter, president; J. W. Mitchell and W. H. Palmer, vice-presi- dents; W. R. White, recording secretary; George L. Collins, treas- urer.

The Providence Medical Association was instituted in 1848. It holds meetings on the first Monday in each month, and an annual

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

meeting in March, its headquarters being at 54 North Main street. Its membership numbers about 80. The following physicians have been presidents of the association at some time since its starting: J. W. C. Ely, Hervey Armington, George L. Collins, C. W. Fabyan, Richard Brownell, George P. Baker, F. H. Peckham, W. O. Brown, George Capron. Edwin M. Snow, George A. Pierce, H. W. King, John W. Sawyer. Clarence T. Gardner, H. G. Miller, S. S. Keene, W. E. Anthony, O. C. Wiggin, E. M. Harris, Albert E. Ham, William J. Burge, Edward T. Caswell, C. H. Leonard, John W. Mitchell and Robert F. Noyes. The present officers are: C. H. Leonard, president; R. F. Noyes, vice-president; S. A. Welch, secretary; Herbert Terry, treasurer.

The Rhode Island Homeopathic Society was organized about 1849. It was incorporated May 15th. 1850. Among its founders were: A. H. Okie, G. S. Stevens, Henry C. Preston, Ira Barrows, J. J. De Wolf, D. H. Green, C. G. McKnight, Washington Hoppin, and others. Regular meetings are held on the second Friday in January, April, July and October. The society numbers about 50 members. The following have been among the incumbents of presidential positions since its organization: A. H. Okie, H. C. Preston, Charles G. McKnight, Charles P. Manchester, John J. De Wolf, Peleg Clarke, George Bar- rows, Elijah U. Jones, Grenville S. Stevens, James L. Wheaton, Wil- liam Von Gottschalck, I. W. Sawin, George D. Wilcox, J. C. Budlong, Robert Hall, George B. Peck, E. B. Knight, Charles A. Barnard and Charles Hayes. Its present officers are: Charles Hayes, president; Charles A. Barnard, vice-president; W. H. Stone, secretary; H. A. Whitmarsh, treasurer: and Charles L. Greene, Robert Hall and George B. Peck. Jr., censors.

The Hahnemann Society of Rhode Island was organized about 1857. It existed for about 20 years. During that time Doctors Charles G. Mcknight, A. P. King, Washington Hoppin and Ira Bar- rows were among its leading members, and successively occupied the position of president. With the revival of the Homeopathic Society about 1876, this fell into obscurity.

The Providence Clinical Club was organized in 1884, and holds fortnightly meetings at the houses of its members, from October to June, for the discussion of professional subjects. Its prominent mem- bers are F. P. Capron, R. H. Carver, C. V. Chapin, F. B. Fuller, C. M. Godding, G. D. Hersey, G. F. Keene, W. J. McCaw, R. F. Noyes, H. J. Pomroy, G. W. Porter, G. T. Swarts, H. Terry, W. R. White and B. Whitford.

The Rhode Island Dental Society was organized in July, 1878, and now has about 35 members. Its annual meeting is held on the first Tuesday in July, and a semi-annual meeting on the first Tuesday in January. It has a fine library, containing several hundred volumes. The following practitioners have served it as president: C. A. Brack-

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

ett, 1880; William Barker, 1881; W. P. Church, 1882; W. H. Thornton, 1883; S. E. Greene, 1884; J. W. Smith, 1885; F. G. Eddy, 1886-87; A. W. Buckland, 1888; J. F. Lennon, 1889.

It may be interesting to the reader to know that the following physicians were practicing in Providence in 1841, their locations being also given: William H. Allen, 155 North Main; Hervey Armington, 16 Wickenden: Augustus S. Arnold, 1253 Westminster; Lloyd B. Brayton, 69 North Main; Richmond Brownell, 8 & 10 Westminster; George Capron. 3 President: Thomas Cleveland, warden of state prison; Francis Colwell, 93 High; Jeremiah Cole, Olneyville; Thomas L. H. Creighton, Prospect: E. Darling, 113 Friendship; George Fa- byan, 46 Broad; Charles W. Fabyan, 77 South Main; Joseph Fearing, 135 & 137 Broad; P. W. Ferris, 60 George; Joseph B. F. Fuller, 67 Broad; L. Girardin, 132 North Main (Franklin House); William Gros- venor, 56 Westminster; Isaac Hartshorn, City Hotel; C. F. Manches- ter, 105 and 114 Westminster; Joseph Mauran, 48 South Main; J. Leland Miller, 181 North Main; Lewis L. Miller, 49 Broad; Lewis P. Parlin, 12 Carpenter: Usher Parsons, President: Joseph Pettes, East street, opposite Tockwotton House; John W. Richmond, 92 South Main; H. W. Rivers, Eye and Ear Infirmary, 135 North Main; Josiah W. Robinson, cor. Westminster and Pleasant; David B. Slack, 124 North Main; George H. Tillinghast, 91 Westminster; Samuel Boyd Tobey, 32 South Main: John A. Wadsworth, 45 North Main; Levi Wheaton, 73 Benefit; Hercules Whitney, Paw- tuxet; Leander Utley, 25 Richmond. The following were botanic phy- sicians: John A. Brown, 57 & 59 South Main; John C. Davis, 71 Wey- bosset; A. Farwell, 57 & 59 South Main; John Richards, 90 Pine; Elias Smith, 27 Washington; Samuel Stowe, Atwell's Avenue. The follow- ing dentists were then practicing here: N. Augustus Fisher, 38 West- minster; J. F. B. Flagg, President; A. C. Hawes, 91 Westminster; Mar- shall B. Mead, 9 Westminster; T. J. Prescott, 191 Iligh; Samuel Trow- bridge, 90 Westminster (medical electrician); Nathaniel P. Tyler, 38 Westminster; J. F. Young, 109 Westminster.

We turn now to notice some of the individual members of the pro- fession. In Providence in generations past Stephen Randall was a physician of prominence, living in the early part of the present cen- tury. He owned property and lived near the junction of North Main and Randall streets, and the name was given to the latter street in his honor. Doctor Williams Thayer was an active and prominent citizen of Providence about the time of the last war with Great Brit- ain. His name was given to Thayer street. Doctor Amos Throop about three quarters of a century ago occupied the mansion house afterward owned by Zachariah Allen, at 97 North Main street. He gave name to Throop alley. Doctor Throop was a descendant of the old Throop family, one of honorable distinction, of Bristol, Mass. He was born in 1735. His father, Amos, was a minister of Woodstock,

IHISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

Conn., having been elected to take charge of the town church in De- cember, 1726, and died in 1735. Doctor Amos was born at Woodstock, the same year. He spent his childhood and youth with Doctor Jabez Bowen, of Providence. He afterward studied with Doctor Bowen and Doctor Gibbs, having previously spent some time in study at Bristol. He succeeded to the practice of his two instructors at Prov- idence about 1770, and was the first male accoucher in the Planta- tions. He was married, November 13th, 1768, to Mary Bernon Craw- ford, a granddaughter of Gabriel Bernon, a French refugee from religious persecution and who had been a resident of Newport and Providence. Doctor Throop was prominent in town affairs. He was in the state legislature in 1788, where he used his influence in favor of the adoption of the constitution of the United States. Politically he was a federalist. He was one of the incorporators of the Benefi- cent Congregational church, but later became a member of St. John's Episcopal church. He was a member of the state legislatures of 1805, 1806 and 1807. In medical circles he was prominent and active. He was also prominent in social and financial circles, being the first pres- ident of the Exchange Bank, holding that position from the start until his death, some 13 years. He died, universally respected, April 13th, 1814, leaving no descendants. His portrait was painted by Ralph Earl, and is a good representation of him at about 60 years of age.

Doctor Benjamin Dyer was a man of great enterprise and public spirit, who practiced here in the early years of the present century. He projected and successfully accomplished the filling out of what was then called the new land, embracing about 27 acres, from Eddy's point to Weybosset street. The work was commenced in 1815 and completed in 1817. Dyer street was named in respect to his memory.

A writer of half a century ago in speaking of a former period said: "Doctors Joseph Hewes, Ephraim Bowen, and Jonathan Arnold, all at the same time, were our most eminent physicians. Arnold, at the commencement of the revolutionary war, took charge of the hospital, and there continued until the peace in 1783. He afterward went as a member of congress. He finally made a settlement in Vermont, and there died."

Doctor Ephraim Bowen, of Providence, used to ride extensively in the surrounding towns before the conflict of the revolution. He died about 60 years ago, at an advanced age, being past 90 years. Contemporary with him was Doctor Benjamin Slack, who lived in the extreme northeast part of Scituate. He came from Massachusetts about 1750. The oldest record of him in Scituate is the birth of his daughter Mary, September 28th, 1753. His first wife, Phebe, died July 8th, 1762. Doctor Slack was much esteemed, and his practice was extensive in Glocester, Smithfield, Scituate and other towns. He also owned a large farm, of good land. His second wife was Miss

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

Hannah Harris, of Johnston, whom he married March 5th, 1767. Doctor John Barden lived in the northwest part of Scituate three or four miles west of Doctor Slack, during and after the war of the revo- lution. He had considerable reputation as a doctor, and used to take long rides into Massachusetts, where he had many friends and much practice. Doctor John Wilkinson, a medical practitioner of high estimation in Scituate, was also a distinguished surgeon in the revo- lutionary war. Doctor Caleb Fiske was a man of much distinction in Scituate, living on Bald hill, at the southeast part of the town. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Fiske, early settlers in the place, and was born February 24th, 1753. He was president of the Rhode Island Medical Society, acquired much property, and left to the soci- ety $2,000, and most of the balance of his property to his grandson, Caleb F. Rea. Doctor Owen Battey was in medical practice for many years, but retired in later life. He was president of the Exchange Bank at Greenville in Smithfield, and held the office of postmaster in South Scituate for a long time, through many party changes. He was a gentleman of the old school, and was highly esteemed. He was the son of Joshua Battey, and the grandson, through his mother. of Oliver Arnold. His great-grandfather, Owen Arnold, was a British officer who came to this country and engaged in the French war, and died July 24th, 1762, in his 90th year.

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History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 11

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed Publication date: 1891 Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1036