History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 12

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

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Doctor Jeremiah Cole, who studied medicine with Doctor Anthony, of Foster, resided about a mile and a half west of North Scituate vil- lage. Near the close of his life he removed to Olneyville, where he died suddenly, May 7th, 1843, in his 73d year. He was a man very much esteemed in his practice. Doctor Cyril Carpenter lived in the latter part of the last century in that part of Scituate now included in Foster. Two generations in the healing art have descended from him. These are his son Thomas and grandson Thomas O. Carpen- ter. The latter was a skillful doctor of great promise, who died at an early period in life. Doctor John H. Anthony practiced medicine for many years, residing in North Scituate. His health failing, he removed to Providence, gave up his practice here, and died in the city. Doctor T. K. Newhall, after practicing about 17 years in Scitu- ate, removed to Providence. Doctors James E. Roberts, Charles N. Fisher and William H. Bowen, later physicians of Scituate, long en- joyed the respect and confidence of the citizens of that town.

In the town of Woonsocket, Doctor Jonathan Arnold was a physi- cian of repute, who lived near Woonsocket Hill before the revolution. He took an active part in the scenes and discussions of the time. In 1787 he removed to Vermont. Doctor William Arnold was a practi- tioner in the same locality at a later day, and is said to have been one of the most learned men of his time. His love for study and scien- tific pursuits gave him the name of the "Philosopher." It is said that he was the first man in America to discover an explanation of longi-

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

tude, in compliance with a call from the British government, offering a reward of £10,000 for the first satisfactory solution of the question. He failed to secure the reward, however, being anticipated by an English astronomer who secured the prize by being a few days in advance. Doctor Arnold died about 1820, at the age of 70 years, highly esteemed by all who knew him. Endowed with many charac- teristics of quite a different nature was Doctor Ezekiel Comstock, of the same locality. He was skillful but erratic, and had a genius for adapting himself to all conditions at all times.

Doctor Hiram Allen was one of the first physicians located at Woonsocket. He was born at Franklin, Mass., in 1803, and began practice in 1825. For 30 years he was professionally engaged, but in the latter part of his life devoted himself to other affairs. He died March 14th, 1864. One of his students was the present well known Doctor George W. Jenckes, who rode with him six months in 1853, and who since 1854, the year of his graduation from Harvard Medical College, has been actively engaged at Woonsocket, now ranking as the oldest regular physician in practice in the city. Contemporary with the foregoing was Doctor Ariel Ballou, who was born in Cum- berland, October 25th, 1805, and died July 15th, 1887. In 1830 he be- came a practitioner at Woonsocket, and lived there until 1882, when he removed to Providence. He was not only prominent in his pro- fession, but was also active in every affair of the town which had in view the advancement of society. A distinguished fellow physician of the same period was Doctor Ezekiel Fowler, who died July 20th, 1863, aged 77 years. He was prosperous in his affairs, and provided for the perpetuation of his name in a very commendable way by set- ting aside a fund for the establishment of a hospital at Woonsocket. Doctor Horatio Stockbridge died here in 1864, aged nearly 76 years. After practicing in Maine he came to Woonsocket in 1833, and opened an apothecary shop, which he continued until 1851, after which he

engaged in other business. Doctor Peletiah Metcalf came to Woon- socket in 1834, and remained until his death, October 26th, 1866, at the age of 87 years. Doctor James Helme located in Woonsocket after 1840, and for more than 20 years was engaged in the drug busi- ness. He was a lineal descendant of Gabriel Bernon, the founder of the Huguenot colony at Oxford. His death occurred in December, 1883, while in the 78th year of his age. In this period Doctor Tyler Briggs was in practice at Union Village, and died there in 1860. Doctor Joseph Warren was in active practice from about 1840, in the southern part of the town.

In 1862 Doctor Rodney Moore located at Woonsocket, and prac- ticed medicine there until his death in 1880. Doctor A. M. Paine has been actively engaged in Woonsocket since 1864, ranking now as one of the oldest allopathic physicians here. Doctor Gideon Archambault came to Woonsocket in 1869, and has been in practice since that time.

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

The first French physician to locate here was a Doctor La Ferriere, who removed to Woonsocket before 1868. Doctor Joseph Hils has been in practice since 1872; and other French physicians have been Doctors Joseph A. Gagnon, P. E. Gervais, E. A. La Ferriere and Jo- seph C. Maranda. Contemporaneous allopathic physicians were Daniel M. Edwards, John J. Baxter, Peter H. Madden, William C. Monroe, Henry W. Stillman, George R. Smith and Frank H. Jenckes. Among those who have been in practice but have removed to other fields are remembered Doctors William T. Thurston, Charles A. Bur- ton and Fisher Bosworth. The first regular lady physician to prac- tice in the city of Woonsocket is Miss Mary L. Farnum, daughter of John B. Farnum, an old resident of this place. She was born here April 23d, 1863. After being a student at the Friends' School at Providence, she graduated from the Woman's Medical College at Philadelphia, in March, 1886. After spending a year and a half in the New York Infant Asylum, she studied one year at Vienna, Berlin and Stockholm, and then located for regular practice at Woonsocket in October, 1888. In the period that she has been here she has estab- lished a successful practice, fully demonstrating the capacity of women for this line of work.

In the year 1842 great interest was manifested in the Thompso- nian system of medicine, and several practitioners of that school set- tled at Woonsocket. Among them was Doctor J. M. Aldrich, who also opened an herbarium or medicine store. This was located on Main street, near the Baptist church, and there he also furnished vapor baths. Doctor G. W. Davis was also located here at the same time, and later conducted a Thompsonian Infirmary in the town. Besides being a physician he was a writer of ability, and helped to edit one of the papers of that period. Doctor Thomas Wilbur be- longed to the same school, which lost favor in the course of a few years. In September, 1849, Doctor A. S. Wetherel, a disciple of the eclectic school, located in Woonsocket, and has since been in practice. For less periods of time Doctors Edwin Boulster and John M. Taber have been practicing there, and others have removed after a short residence.

A Doctor Gage was one of the first homeopathic physicians, living at Woonsocket prior to 1849, and removing thence to Medway. Doc- tor R. G. Belt came awhile later and remained a few years. In June, 1858, Doctor Richard Carique, a graduate from the Hahnemann Med- ical College of Philadelphia, began practicing at Woonsocket, con- tinting there until his death, in December, 1866. Contemporary with him was Doctor O. D. Cargill, who gave up his practice here in July, 1867, removing to Boston. Doctor Jerome Harris became his suc- cessor. . He came from Norwich, Conn. About the same time Doctor J. S. Nichols was here in practice, and he was reputed to be an excel- lent physician. Doctor Thomas H. Mann came later, and was suc-

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

ceeded in 1885 by the present Doctor E. N. Kingsbury, who has for a contemporary in this school of medicine, Doctor Robert G. Reed. The latter has been in practice a number of years, locating in Woon- socket when Doctor W. R. McLaren was also a homeopathic physi- cian.

One of the first permanent practitioners of dentistry in Woon- socket was Doctor Ambrose Horton, who was for 30 years engaged in that profession, prior to his death in 1859. Before the last mentioned date Doctors S. B. Bartholemew and M. W. Small were also dentists in that town. Soon after Doctor Amos A. Pevey came, and continued more than 20 years. Since the war Doctors A. W. Buckland and Fred. L. Cleveland have been leading dentists.

Matthias Abel, M.D., was born in Bethlehem, N. J., January 1st, 1836. He was the son of Enoch and Nancy (Smith) Abel. He began the study of medicine with John Blane, M.D., of Perryville, N. J., and afterward graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, in the class of 1857. He joined the Dis. Med. Society of Hunterdon county and the New Jersey State Medical Society the same year, and was licensed to practice medicine and surgery by the latter. He was one of the censors of the state medical society in 1862-4. He filled numerous positions of responsibility in medical, social and educational circles in New Jersey, where he was first located for medical practice at Quakertown, and after a period of about 25 years' practice he sold out, and removed to Providence in 1883. Here he has since been located. He was married to Miss Ellen M. Hires, daughter of Reverend W. D. Hires, a Baptist clergyman, at Quakertown in March, 1864. They have one daughter, Alice M., now the wife of C. J. Parrott of Scranton, Pa.

Thomas E. Allen, M.D., was born at London, Middlesex county, Ontario, March 7th, 1845. He was a graduate of Bailey's Grammar School and Arts College, in 1863, also of the Homeopathic Hospital College of Cleveland, in 1867, and of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1869. He was married to Emma E. Row, of Billeville, Hastings county, Ontario, January 24th, 1881. As yet they have no children. The parentage of Doctor Allen is from Vermont on the paternal side, and from Sutton, Quebec, on the maternal side. Their names were Hugh and Martha Allen. He is an active and enterpris- ing man and a conscientious physician, and having made the study of chronic diseases a specialty, he has recently established a sanita- rium for their treatment at a point just south of the city of Provi- dence, and at the head of Narragansett bay. The locality is conven- ient of access by horse cars, electric cars and other means, and offers a very desirable retreat for invalids who wish quiet and restful sur- roundings.

Oliver H. Arnold, A.M., M.D., was born in Coventry, R. I., June 23d, 1841, his father being of the Arnold family of Warwick, and his

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

mother Elizabeth M. Greene, of the celebrated family whose ancestry came to America in 1636. Through this line Doctor Arnold is the eighth generation in America. His great-grandfather, Jacob Greene, was a brother of General Nathaniel Greene, of revolutionary fame. Another brother of the general was Doctor Jabez Greene, a physician, who received his education in England. On the breaking out of the war for independence these three Greene brothers carried on at their farm the forging of anchors. The remains of the forge were well known to Doctor Arnold in the days of his boyhood. During the revolution a part of the ancestral homestead was used as a hospital, and some of the soldiers were buried on the farm and have since been removed to the family burying ground. Doctor Arnold was born at the homestead, where his mother is still living, she also having been born there. He attended Pierce Academy, Middleborough, Mass., and Lapham Institute at Scituate, R. I., and afterward spent about three years at the University Grammar School in Providence. He afterward passed through Brown University, and graduated with the degree of A.B., in 1865. He pursued medical studies at Harvard Uni- versity, and received the degree of M.D. there in 1867. He began the practice of medicine at Pawtucket, with Doctor Charles F. Manches- ter, with whom he remained about four years, having also been a student of Doctor A. H. Okie, of Providence. He continued the prac- tice of his profession from that time to 1883 alone. In the summer of 1883 he went to Europe, and remained there two years, travelling, and studying in the hospitals of London, Glasgow, Paris and Vienna, most of the time in the last mentioned place. On his return in 1885 he located in Providence, where he still continues. He was married in 1868, to Emma Josephine Ayer, of Providence. He has had a large and successful practice as a physician.

Walter Eugene Anthony, M.D., was born in Providence, Decem- ber 12th, 1847. His father was Lorenzo D., and his mother Mary S. Anthony. His early education was in the public schools of Provi- dence and at Highland Military Academy, of Worcester, Mass. He graduated from Brown University in 1864, and began the study of medicine with Doctor George Capron, in 1863. He also attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, at the University of Vermont, at Harvard Medical College, and at the University of New York, where he graduated in March, 1867. He began practice in Providence in April of the same year. He has been physician to the Children's Nursery, the Home for Aged Women and the Dispensary, also secretary of Rhode Island Medical Society from 1874 to 1880, and president of Providence Medical Association in 1879 and 1880. He was surgeon of the First Light Infantry, 1868 to 1873; assistant surgeon general of Rhode Island, 1873 to 1878; member of American Medical Association, since 1876; one of the incorporators, and the first treasurer of Rhode Island Pharmaceutive Association;

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

one of the founders and the first librarian of the Rhode Island Medical Society Library, and a charter member of Rising Sun Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. He was married to Marie Louise Knowles of the city of Providence, and their adopted daughter is now the wife of Frederick Potter Eddy, of that city.

Joseph H. Akers, M.D., was born on the 11th of November, 1856, at Granby, Mass. His parents were Joseph W. and Lucy A. Akers. After attending the schools of his native town and graduating from the high school at the age of 17, he taught schools, worked in stores at different trades and at farming, saving his earnings with the view of studying medicine. The inspiration to this course had come to him through his intercourse with a physician with whom he lived while attending the high school. One year before entering the medical college he studied in the office of Doctor H. S. Bell, of Granby, Mass. He attended Dartmouth Medical College, graduating in the class of 1884, and for one year previous to graduating was assistant physician in Doctor Ira Russell's "Family Home," at Winchendon, Mass., a private retreat for the treatment of nervous and mental diseases and the alcohol and opium habits. He first located at Fiskdale, Mass .. where he remained one year, after which he took a post graduate course at the Polyclinic School in the city of New York. He then spent another year at Fiskdale. In 1885 he was married to Miss A. L. Sholes of the city of Providence, and in the following year moved to that city and began practice there, where he still continues. Doctor Akers has succeeded in establishing a lucrative practice and bids fair to attain prominence in his chosen profession.

Mowry Paine Arnold, M. D., of Foster Centre, was born in Smith- field (now Lincoln) September 30th, 1801, being the son of Israel and Anna (Chace) Arnold. He was a lineal descendant, in the sixth gen- eration, of William Arnold, one of the 13 original proprietors of Prov- idence. Doctor Arnold was educated in Belchertown, Mass., and at Amherst College, where he acquired Latin and Greek. He studied medicine with Doctors Cutler Gridley, of Amherst, and Potter Allen, of Glocester, R. I., and graduated at Berkshire Medical School in Pittsfield, Mass., in 1827, taking the highest honors of his class. In 1828 he moved to Foster, where he resided, in the practice of medi- cine, till his death. He was thrice married: first to Dorcas Peckham, April 10th, 1828; second to Electa Randall, in 1841; third to Asenath Place, in January, 1847. He has now living three sons and two daugh- ters. The sons, Barnard and Henry, are practicing physicians, and Mowry P. is a well-to-do farmer. He has held various offices in the town. Doctor Arnold was the first superintendent of the first Sab- bath school in Foster Centre, in 1828, and long served as librarian of the Manton Library of Foster. For some years he was postmaster at Foster Centre. In 1848 he was elected state senator, and declined a

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

reelection the following term. He was town treasurer since 1865, and was connected with the schools of the town for more than 50 years, and most of this time was chairman of the committee. In 1832 he united with the Christian Baptist church in Foster, of which he was for some time secretary. He died April 26th, 1890, in the 89th year of his age.

Barnard Arnold, M. D., of Scituate, was born August 9th, 1852, in Fos- ter. R.I. His parents were Doctor Mowry P. Arnold and Asenath (Place) Arnold. Doctor Arnold was given a superior public school education, so that when he reached his twentieth year he had taught three terms of public school. In June, 1876, he graduated at East Greenwich Academy, having pursued and successfully completed other branches of study besides those in the college preparatory course proper. He published an original poem showing some merit, in the New England Journal of Education, March 4th, 1876, and wrote some prose articles that were printed while at school. Thomas W. Bicknell, formerly commissioner of education of the Rhode Island schools, published the Journal at this time.

In March, 1878, he graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, with the degree of M. D. He had studied medi- cine under his father for three years, and had gathered the experience arising from attendance upon the cases brought into the college clinics and the New York hospitals. He began to practice at Foster, R. I., with his father, but tried other fields, at Brooklyn, N. Y., and at Wau- regan, Conn., until 1882, when he located at Chopmist, in Scituate, where he has built up a large and increasing practice. His practice of medicine extends over a large territory, including the villages of Rockland, Ponaganset, Richmond, Clayville, South Scituate and throughout the town into surrounding towns. He has performed many of the most difficult operations in surgery, and the publication of some of them, in newspapers and by other means, has given him considerable reputation. In 1885 he was appointed by the town coun- cil president of the board of vaccination, consisting of the town phy- sicians, to furnish vaccination gratuitously to school children. Since the year 1886 he has been town physician of Scituate, and is a well known correspondent of the state board of health, having been the foremost of his section to report the famous influenza or " la grippe " of 1889 90, and treated between one hundred and two hundred cases without a single death.

He was elected superintendent of public schools for Scituate in 1886, and held that office three years, and he did much to bring the schools up to a higher standard. In 1890 he was elected a member of the Rhode Island State Medical Society, his name being proposed by Doctors Charles H. Fisher and N. B. Kenyon.

Barnard arnold W D.

ARTOTYPE, E, BIERSTADT, N. Y.

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

Doctor Arnold was married November 23d, 1881, to Charlotte Elizabeth Cooke. daughter of Amos W. and Elizabeth (Tourtellot) Cooke, the marriage taking place at the home of the bride in Scituate, Reverend J. M. Brewster of Providence officiating as clergyman. Doctor Arnold's excellent success is largely due to his talented and accomplished wife. She obtained a superior education at the Rhode Island State Normal School, always taking first rank in her classes and is now one of the best teachers in Scituate. Mrs. Arnold is a member of the Rhode Island Woman's Suffrage Association and is a gifted writer for the newspaper press. Since her marriage she has pursued the study of medicine and is now prepared to enter medical college. They have one child, Earle Bernon Arnold, born October 27th. 1886, and named from Gabriel Bernon, a Huguenot ancestor on his mother's side. Doctor Arnold and wife are members of the Frec Baptist church at Chopmist. He is a public spirited citizen and to- gether with his wife has done much for the upbuilding of the church and society in the place where they reside.

John L. Ashton, M. D., of Pawtucket, was born in that place May 3d. 1856. He was the youngest son of John and Hannah (Worsley) Ashton. He graduated at the high school in his native city, and dur- ing the seven years following he was connected with the drug busi- ness there and in Brooklyn, N. Y. He also spent two years as pre- scription clerk in the Rhode Island Hospital. He then studied medicine with Doctor Sylvanus Clapp, in Pawtucket, and in the fall of 1877 he attended a course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He then attended Dartmouth Medical College and graduated from that institution in 1879. Within the same year he began the practice of his profession in Pawtucket, and has continued there ever since. He enjoys a lucrative practice, and is highly esteemed by his professional associates and the community at large.

Frederick W. Bradbury, M. D., of Auburn, town of Cranston. R. I., is a graduate of Brown University, class of 1873. He pursued his medical studies at the New York Homeopathic College, graduating from that institution in the class of 1875. He came to the village of Auburn in 1883, where he is engaged in the practice of his profession and also in the drug trade. Doctor Bradbury is town physician of Cranston and superintendent of health. He enjoys a lucrative busi- ness and is highly respected in the community.

John Clarke Budlong, surgeon general of Rhode Island, was born in Cranston, R. I., August 28th, 1836. According to a genealogical table prepared by Joseph A. Budlong, of Providenee, he is a lineal descendant of Francis Budlong, the first settler of the name in Rhode Island. The ancient record of his marriage reads thus: " Francis

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

Budlong and Rebecca Howard, widow of Joseph Howard, were mar- ried on Friday March 19, 1668-9, in her father's house John Lippitt's." Francis Budlong. his wife and all his family except an infant son, were massacred by the Narragansetts in November, 1675, near the outbreak of King Philip's war. This child, John, was carried away a captive, but was rescued four years later by a maternal relative. He prospered, owning in 1692, 25 acres of land which rapidly increased to several hundred. Such enterprise could not fail of appropriate rec- ompense, and accordingly we find his son, Moses, and his grandson, Samuel, contracting such favorable alliances that in the next genera- tion, Samuel 2d, and still more completely in Samuel 3d, flowed har- moniously commingled, not only the blood of Roger Williams and the Watermans, but of the oldest and best families of the state. The last named, Samuel 3d, enjoyed the life companionship of Rachel Martin. a lineal descendant of Christopher Martin, who came over in the " Mayflower." To them was born the subject of this sketch.

At an early age he attended the public schools of his native town, and later entered the Fruit Hill Classical Institute, where he carried off the first honors of his class. At Smithville Seminary, now Lap- ham Institute, he spent a year or more pursuing special branches pre- paratory to studying medicine. In 1856 he placed himself under the tuition of his brother-in-law, Isaac W. Sawin, of Centredale, R. I. The next year he entered upon his first course of lectures at the Home- opathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, but his second course was deferred until the fall of 1862, that he might secure the wherewithal by teaching school in North Providence. He re- ceived his diploma March 3d, 1863, and opened an office at No. 134 North Twelfth street, which he maintained as long as he remained in the Quaker City. During the time he was attending the customary elini- cal courses at Pennsylvania and Blockley Hospitals, he studied sur- gical anatomy and operative surgery, under Doctor D. Hayes Agnew, who furnished him with a diploma certifying to his proficiency in those branches.

At the beginning of the civil war Doctor Budlong tendered his services to Governor Sprague for the medical staff of volunteers. How- ever, not receiving orders to appear before the examining board until he was advanced in his final lecture course, permission was granted to complete his studies. In July, 1863, he enlisted in the Third Regi- ment of Rhode Island Cavalry, and was immediately appointed assist- ant surgeon of that regiment. November 16th, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of surgeon, and a month later, with the First Battalion, sailed for New Orleans, where they reported to General Banks, January 14th, 1864. During the famous Red River Campaign they were as- signed to the Fifth Brigade Cavalry Division, Department of the Gulf,

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History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 12

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