History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 13

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 13

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

88c

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

Colonel Gooding, U. S. A., commanding, and thus participated in the battles of Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill, Marksville Plain, Kane River, Yellow Bayou, and numerous lesser affrays. Doctor Budlong remained with the army until November 29th. 1865, when he was mustered out.

Once more a free man, he returned to his native state, and entered into partnership with his late preceptor, Doctor Sawin, at Centredale. In 1868 the senior member of the firm removed to Providence, leaving the entire field to his associate, who succeeded in building up a large practice. Finding his duties were beginning to impair his health, Doctor Budlong attempted to secure a competent and worthy associate, and was rewarded in associating with Charles A. Barnard, M. D. In 1883 he transferred to Doctor Barnard his business at Centredale and removed to Providence, where he has since resided and practiced his profession.

On June 7th, 1866, Doctor Budlong married Martha Alexander, daughter of the late Doctor and Professor Walter and Matilda (Massey) Williamson of Philadelphia. To them have been born seven sons and one daughter.

Doctor Budlong was baptized into the fellowship of the Allendale (R. I.) Baptist church by the Reverend Francis Smith in 1857, but in 1863 he united with Grace (P. E.) church of Philadelphia. He subse- quently served as vestryman in the parish of St. Thomas, at Green- ville, R. I., and St. Peter's at Manton. Despite the fundamental an- tagonism of the respective creeds of these denominations, we find a gentleman professing successively the tenets of both, without im- periling in the least his Christian reputation, while not a few belong- ing to one only, find the utmost difficulty in maintaining even the pretense of piety.

On July 16th. 1863, Doctor Budlong was commissioned surgeon of the Pawtucket Light Guard Battalion; May 11th, 1874, brigade surgeon of the Second Brigade of the Rhode Island Militia, and March 8th, 1875, by vote of the general assembly, over all competitors, surgeon general of the state, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Howard King, M. D. He was reelected to the position without formal oppo- sition in 1879, 1884 and 1889, when but one vote was thrown against him in the entire Grand Committee.

Doctor Budlong represented the Rhode Island Homeopathic Soci- ety at the World's Convention, held in 1876, and about that time en- rolled himself in the American Institute of Homeopathy, of which or- ganization he is still a prominent member. In 1880 he was elected treasurer of the Rhode Island Homeopathic Medical Society, and the following year was chosen president of the same. He has been fur- ther complimented by election as honorary member of the New York

88d

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

State Homeopathic Medical Society in 1881, and of the Massachusetts Society in 1886.

The New Jersey Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company made him medical examiner in 1867, and the Hahnemann in 1869. He has also examined for the Phoenix Life, Worcester Mutual Life, the Prov- ident of New York, and others. The Rhode Island Homeopathic Hospital has profited by his services as visiting surgeon since its opening in March, 1886. Recently he has been placed on its board of trustees. Among other positions he has held the office of chair- man of the school committee. Doctor Budlong is also interested in Masonic affairs, being a member of What Cheer Lodge. the Calvary Commandery, and of the Rhode Island Sovereign Consistory 32 Scottish Rite, all of Providence. Moreover, he is enrolled in Prescott Post, No. 1, G. A. R., in the Rhode Island Soldiers and Sailors' His- torical Society, and in the Massachusetts Commandery of the Mili- tary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

Briefly, Doctor Budlong is of commanding presence, dignified bear- ing, modest and retiring, as well as forbearing disposition, kind man- ner and genial companionship; in harmonious relations not only with every member of the state society, but with the entire state profession as well: esteemed by all who know him, most by those who know him best.

Robert Ilall, M. D., of Providence city, is distinctively a profes- sional man, and one who has but little time for other than strictly professional work. As a physician, he belongs to a class who lead the profession, and to whom the world is indebted, especially during these latter years, for the great progress made in the science of the healing art. Doctor Hall was born in the town of West Greenwich, R. I., May 18th, 1830. His parents, Robert and Zilpha ( Weaver) Hall, gave their son the work allotted to all farmers' boys, and such educational advantages as the country district school afforded. When 17 years of age, he went to the academy at Worcester, Mass., and subse- quently attended the seminary at East Greenwich, R. I. When 20 years of age he began teaching school, and the year after commenced his inedical studies under Doctor George D. Wilcox, now of Provi- dence. In the spring of 1856 he received his degree of M. D., from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city, and in 1857 located, in the practice of his profession, at Centreville, R. I., where he remained 14 years.

August 20th, 1861. he was married to Susan Wood Randall, daugh- ter of Stephen and Adaline Randall of Warwick, R. I. Her father was a manufacturer. He was also the inventor of a machine for cot- tonizing flax, which was in general use for several years. After the war, he went South, and was engaged for some time in the erection of cotton mills. In 1871 Doctor Hall removed to Providence and

Robert Hall

88e

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

formed a partnership with Doctor A. B. Foster, with whom he re- mained 11 years. In 1883 he purchased the handsome home where he now resides. Doctor Hall practices homeopathy, although a grad- uate of the old school, being convinced that the system of home- opathy is superior to that of allopathy. After his graduation in medi- cine, he attended other hospitals and colleges that he might the more thoroughly prepare himself for his chosen field of labor. He attended lectures at the Bellevue Hospital, at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and at Blackwell's Island Hospitals, and afterward completed his post-graduate course by spending five months in the hospital at Vienna, Austria. He is a member of the Rhode Island Homeopathic Society, and of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Doctor Hall's practice is general in its character, but he has had marked suc- cess in gynecology, and in the treatment of fever. During the epi- demic commencing in the fall of 1883 and ending in the spring of 1884 he treated 65 cases of typhoid fever without losing a case. Dur- ing the epidemic influenza, of the winter of 1889-90, he treated a large number of cases-over seven hundred in two months' time-without the loss of a single patient. He is decidedly a successful practitioner of medicine, and has had a very extensive business for many years.

Among the physicians of the town of Glocester of former times the following may be mentioned. Doctor Samuel Mowry, who prac- ticed in Chepachet for over 40 years, was educated at Dudley and Amherst academies, and attended medical lectures in Boston in 1825 and 1826. He was admitted a member of the Rhode Island Medical Society in 1838. He died at Providence. Doctor Reuben Mason practiced for a great many years in Glocester. He was a surgeon in General William West's brigade in the revolution. Doctor Allen Potter settled in the western part of Glocester in 1825 and practiced medicine there until overcome by the infirmities of age. He studied medicine with his father in Massachusetts three years, and two years with Doctor Hubbard in Pomfret, Conn. Doctor Jervis J. Smith was the son of Rufus Smith of Burrillville. He studied medicine with his uncle, W. Smith, M. D., and was admitted a member of the Rhode Island Medical Society in 1833. He settled in Chepachet and had a large practice in the vicinity. He was a prominent Mason. He died in 1864, and was buried at Swan Point Cemetery, Providence.

George Henry Kenyon, A. M., M. D., was born in the city of Providence on the first day of April, 1845. He is the eldest son of George Amos and Isabella Greene (Brown) Kenyon. His ancestors on his father's side came from England, and were among the early settlers of that portion of Rhode Island known as the "South County." locating somewhere in either North or South Kingstown. His mater- nal ancestors came originally from Wales, and located in the vicinity of Wickford, R. I. The place first occupied by the first of the family,

88f

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

Beriah Brown, has ever since been, and is now occupied by his descend- ants. He came in the year 1640 and 20 years later built the house which now stands there and which is still occupied by his direct de- scendants.

Doctor Kenyon received his early education in the public schools of the state, and then spent two and a half years in study at the Friends' Boarding School in Providence. There he prepared for col- lege and entered Brown University, where he graduated, receiving the degree of A. B. Subsequently the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by the same institution. Early in life he had acquired a strong desire to study medicine and during the last two years in col- lege devoted much of his time to that end, taking a course in practical chemistry in the laboratory at Brown. He entered the office of Doc- tors Capron & Perry as a student, and from there went to the medical department of the University of Vermont, where he graduated as Doctor of Medicine in June, 1866. Returning to Providence, he joined the Rhode Island Medical Society at the annual meeting in June, 1866, and commenced at once upon the practice of his chosen profession. Soon after he became a member of the Providence Medical Associa- tion, which association he has served both as secretary and president. He was also for a time the treasurer of the Rhode Island Medical Society. He is also a member of the American Medical Associa- tion.

During an active and busy life he has also found time to pay some attention to matters other than medicine. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the Tenth Regiment of Rhode Island Volunteers, serving in the Army of the Potomac during the term of enlistment. Some years later he became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, joining Prescott Post, No. 1, of Providence, in which he held the posi- tion of post surgeon for two or three years, and is at present the medical director of the Department of Rhode Island, G. A. R. Uniting with the militia of the state he was for a number of years surgeon of the United Train of Artillery, which position he resigned in 1883 to accept the appointment on the governor's staff of assistant surgeon general of the state, which position he still occupies.

He has given some attention as well to fraternal societies, more particularly to Freemasonry. He is a member of Rising Sun Lodge, No.30, A. F. & A. M., having passed through the various offices in that body, Calvary Commandery, K. T., the Rhode Island Sovereign Con- sistory Scottish Rite, and has also held various offices in the Grand Lodge and is at this time serving his second year as grand master of Masons in Rhode Island. To this order he has devoted much time and attention. making steady progress in advancement, until crowned with the 33d degree.

Stanistas A. Bouvier, M. D., was born in St. Marcel, in the province of Quebec, May 5th, 1864. He attended St. Aime Academy, and

I Menyen mas

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

graduated from Victoria College, Montreal, in 1888. He then joined his family at Marlboro, Mass., and soon after commenced the practice of medicine at Manville, where he has continued until the present time.

Hiram Bucklin, M.D., was born in Seekonk, Mass. (now East Providence, R. I.), in 1803. He studied medicine under Doctor Artemus W. Johnson, and graduated from Brown University. He prac- ticed medicine at Valley Falls for 20 years, and died there, April 17th, 1845.

Frank George Burnett, M.D., was born in Dudley, Mass., May 30th, 1860. He was fitted for college at Nicholas Academy, in that place, and after taking a course of lectures at the University of Burlington, Vt., and at the Long Island Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y., he received the degree of M.D. from the University of New York, in 1885. He commenced practice in Windsor, Conn., in the same year, but in the winter of 18SS he removed to Pawtucket, where he now practices. He is a member of the Hartford County Medical Association, and of the Connecticut and Rhode Island medical societies.

John J. Baxter, M.D., son of Charles and Elizabeth (McQueeney) Baxter, was educated at Christian Brothers' High School in Provi- dence, and graduated at the University Medical College of New York, in 1SS5. During the same year he began the practice of medicine in Woonsocket, where he still continues. He married Jennie C., daugh- ter of Thomas Furlong, of Providence, in 1886. He is a member of the hospital staff, and also a member of the Rhode Island Medical Society.

Doctor Charles A. Barnard, of Graniteville, is a native of Macon, Ga., where he was born August 16th, 1843. When he was quite young his father removed to Providence, where he received a liberal educa- tion. He afterward graduated at the New York Medical College, in 1878. He studied medicine, preparatory to his lecture course, under Doctors Wilcox and Barrows of Providence. Doctor Barnard is health officer for the town of Johnston, and is also medical examiner for the district.

Doctor Sanford S. Burton, son of John and Harriet T. Burton, na- tives of England, was born at Providence, August 4th, 1862. He was educated in the city schools, and in the medical department of the University of Vermont, and in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, graduating thence in 1883. He was a student of Doc- tor Timothy Newell of Providence. Upon his graduating he imme- diately began the practice of his profession in Providence. He was surgical externe of the Rhode Island Hospital from 1883 to 1886, and physician of the Providence Dispensary in 1883 and 1884. He was also medical examiner for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1884 and 1885. He was married April 21st, 1886, to Antoinette W., daughter of Orrin T. and Mary J. Angell, of North Providence. They

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

have two children: Maud A., born August 26th, 1886, and Sanford S., Jr., born October 30th, 1887.

Doctor Israel Bowen, born January 27th, 1812, in Coventry, R. I., was a son of John and Sally Bowen. He attended the common schools of his native town, and the Castleton Seminary of Vermont. He studied medicine with Doctor Carpenter of Foster, and afterward graduated at the Vermont Medical School in 1837. He came the same year and commenced the practice of medicine in Johnston. He was married in 1839, to Ruth M. Waterman of Coventry, daughter of Stephen and Eliza Waterman. He practiced until his death, which occurred May 27th, 1879. He left three children: John E., Abbie M. and Annie S.

William James Burge, M.D., was born April 12th, 1831, being the son of Reverend Lemuel Burge, whose wife was Elizabeth Ellery Shaw, daughter of William Gorham Shaw. Doctor Burge was edu- cated at home, at the Washington Academy in Wickford (his native place), at the Greenwich Academy, and under the tuition of Reverend Doctor Crane, by whom he was fitted to enter as a sophomore at col- lege. At this point, however, he changed his course, and commenced at once the study of medicine, under the care of Doctor James H. Eldredge, of East Greenwich. He was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City, March 11th, 1853. He located for six months in New York, and occupied a chair at the Cen- tral Dispensary, and filled the office of an attaché of the New York Lying-in Asylum. He removed to Salisbury, Conn., where he prac- ticed for a year, and then associated himself with his brother, Doctor J. H. H. Burge, in Brooklyn, N. Y. After three years spent there he spent three years in Taunton, Mass., when the war broke out, and he entered the navy as a surgeon and served four years. At the close of the war he located in Atchison, Kansas, where he practiced for eight years. He then returned to Rhode Island, and since then has practiced here, being located at Pawtuxet, in the town of Cranston. He has been twice married; first to a step-daughter of Bishop Vail of Kansas, by whom two daughters are living-Mrs. Jeter of Bethlehem, and Miss Bessie Vail Burge; and second to Mrs. M. D. Arnold, daugh- ter of Hon. James R. Doolittle, of Racine, Wis., by whom he has two daughters-Dorotha Brenton and Sara Doolittle.

Elwood Adfer Ballou, M.D., was born in the town of Burrillville, on the 24th of September, 1858. There he resided until 1864, when his mother died and he was placed under the care of a farmer in Smithfield, Mr. T. E. Phetteplace, with whom he lived about 20 years. He attended the common schools during the early years, afterward the State Normal School and Mt. Pleasant Academy. In 1884 he en- tered the office of Doctor E. B. Smith, in Providence, and studied medicine with him one year. He then attended lectures at the Uni- versity Medical College in New York, and at Dartmouth Medical Col-

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

lege, where he graduated November 23d, 1887. He commenced the practice of medicine at Greenville the next year, and has remained there to the present time. He was married March 1st, 1882, to Harriet M. Conant, at Northbridge, Mass., and they have a son, Thurston P., six years of age, and a daughter, Elnora E., four years of age.

Albert F. Barry was born in Nashua, N. H., in the year 1866. His boyhood was spent under favorable circumstances, he attending the public schools, and later receiving the instruction of a private tutor and a college course, graduating at the University of New York City. He began practice in that city, but came to Providence in February, 1889.

George Leonard Barnes, M.D., son of George L. and Eliza G. Barnes, was born in Smithfield, March 9th, 1839. He was brought up in that town, where he received his early education. After taking a partial course at Brown University he attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1865. He then opened an office in New York city, in the fall of that year. In May, 1866, he estab- lished himself in practice at Hudson, N. Y., and after remaining there two years he settled in Providence, where he was very successful in his practice. He was married to Nettie Carr, April 3d, 1866. Four children have been born to them: Frederick A., Bradbury J., Carrie L. and Bradbury L. The first and last are living, the other two died young. About the beginning of 1884 his mind began to fail, and he gradually became incapacitated for his work. The disease grew upon him, and December 29th, 1885, he was taken to Butler Hospital, and is still an inmate of that institution. He was one of the founders of the Homeopathic Dispensary and the Homeopathic Hospital, both of Providence, and was a prominent member of the Rhode Island Homeopathic Society. His father had been a successful lawyer in Providence, and at his wish the son had adopted the profession of medicine. On the death of the father a large property had fallen to the son, and the subsequent loss of this was the occasion, if not the cause, of the development of the mental disease which retired him from active duties at an early age.

R. Frank Cooke Browne, M.D., was born at Warren, R. I., October 6th, 1855. He was the son of S. Carter Browne, D.D, and his wife, Maria Russell Browne. He was educated privately until able to com- plete his studies at grammar and high school. He then entered the employ of Albert L. Calder, in the drug business, and in 1873 he be- came a student with E. T. Caswell, M.D., then surgeon to the Rhode Island Hospital. In May, 1874, he entered the medical department of Boston University, remaining there until the spring of 1876. In September of that year he entered the office of Doctors Schneider & Boynton, of Cleveland, Ohio, where he could have unusual advant- ages in the study of surgery in the hospital practice of his instruc- tors. He was among the surgeons on the relief train from Cleveland

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

to the scene of the terrible disaster at Ashtabula in the winter of 1876-77. He completed his studies at the Cleveland Medical College in the spring of 1877, but remained in the employ of Doctors Schnei- der & Boynton till the following July. In September he was married to May Logan, daughter of William Logan, of Cleveland, and soon after removed to Warren, R. I., where he commenced practice, and soon saw a very prosperous business accumulating on his hands. In the midst of it, in November, 1882, he was prostrated by a stroke of paralysis, having already been prostrated by one stroke while at Cleveland. On September 20th, 1883, his wife died, and he now de- termined to abandon his practice for the time being. He spent the winter in study in the hospitals of New York city, and sailed for Europe in the spring of 1884. After visiting the hospitals of London, Paris and Vienna, he returned to Rhode Island, resuming practice in the city of Providence. He soon after formed a partnership with William Caldwell, M.D., but failing health obliged him to retire from the excessive work of a city practice, and he located at Riverside, in East Providence, where he still resides, practicing his profession, and contributing to professional and general publications of the time. He is actively interested in the political affairs of the state, and gives his allegiance to the democratic party. In religious matters he is a churchman, having been a vestryman of St. Mark's church, and is a member of several of the secret societies of the state.

Asa W. Brown, M.D., is of Puritan stock, being of the ninth gen- eration from the " Mayflower," and was born in Sterling, Conn., Sep- tember 28th, 1813. His father was Daniel Brown. a farmer in moderate circumstances. The family lived in Sterling until our subject was three years old, when they removed to Killingly. Our subject attended the common schools of the time, and at the age of 18 began teaching school, and after his 21st year received an academ- ical education, for which he paid out of the small earnings of his school teaching. Having a fixed desire to enter the medical profes- sion he labored against unfavorable circumstances for many years, but finally graduated from the Homeopathic College of Cleveland, Ohio, in the spring of 1853. He soon after commenced practice in Centreville, R. I., but his health being poor he removed to Mystic Bridge, in the hope that the change might benefit him. There he re- mained until 1872, when he was obliged to give himself rest for a time on account of his health. In 1874 he located in Providence and soon had a large practice, and is still engaged in that field, enjoying good health and actively attending to business, at the age of 76 years. He has been three times married; first, at the age of 24, to Lucy M. Pray, by whom he had one daughter; second, to Maria Kies, by whom he had one son; third to Mrs. Lucy A. Brigs, when he was 69 years old. She is still living. Mr. Brown tried several other pursuits in early life, previous to entering the medical profession, but in none

HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

found his congenial or successful calling until he found it in this, but here he has been uniformly successful.

Miss Lucy H. A. Brown, M.D., daughter of Doctor Asa W. Brown by his first wife, was born in Killingly, Conn., June 8th, 1841. Her mother died when Lucy was but two months old, but just before her death she had given her babe to her sister, who afterward proved to be a kind mother to her infant charge. On reaching years of help- fulness to herself Miss Brown learned telegraphy. and followed the art for two years, and afterward engaged as book-keeper and as cashier in business houses in Providence. In 1877, at the suggestion of a phrenologist, and in the face of discouragement of her friends, she determined to study medicine. After studying with Doctor Jewell, of Catskill, N. Y., for one year, she entered the Homeopathic Hospital College of Cleveland, Ohio, in the fall of 1880, and gradu- ated from that institution with an honorable record of standing (over 90 per cent.), March 8th, 1882. She then came to Providence, and May 9th opened an office on Chestnut street. With health somewhat depleted by close application to her studies, the work of her practice soon began to wear upon her health, and after two years she was so far broken down that a change was necessary. She left this field and located at Normal Park, Ill., where she procured a license and prac- ticed. In about two years her health was restored, and she returned to Providence, at first occupying the office with her father. Her practice soon grew so large that she opened an office by herself, at 336 Willard avenue, where she is now located, in the enjoyment of a good practice.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 13

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