History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 74

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013

USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 74

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BoBeutcox , FELIX), M. D., was the first child been th the way of Sale Ble, die event occurring the 15b . mary, 1751. He was the sixth see of Gen. A ! . man who emigrated from North Car Fax. and De. was one of the founders of this city. After a very . ducat, w e bet he could, he went to Philadelphia. ! 4 and in !- 06 ! ! see of Doctor of M. Heine very . Poursylvania. Returning Home d upa a vod pia ties, which he retair ! ? . H. belonged to the old schon !; I Give the fox at sunrise, and hence uma te years and ten. Previous to

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of trustees of its univerny ate He was to a friend of Gen. Jackson. He descended to &e grave in 1. are 8d of Ja's. 1865, leaving a blessed means, to those who had so long revered and loved him.

SHELBY (JOHN ), M.D., was born in Satumer Co., Tonn., 2 !th of Ma,, 1786; did 15th of My. 1-59, in Nashville. At his denise resolutions were adopted is the profes ion of our city ext ressive of the loss sustained of one so hon red. He received a good education, and gradaat: d in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1813 he joined the army as surgeon, and served under Gen. Jackson in what is known as the Creek ( Indian ) war. He receiv . d so severe a wound during the campaign that he lost an eye. He was at one time the pasttoaster of this city. Shelby Matural College was named for him.

WHARTON . WILLIAM H., M.D., was born in Allic- made Co., Va., July 6, 17.9; d: - ) in Nashville. 1 mm., May 1, 1-72. He was a graduate in medicine in the Jer- forson Medical College, Philadelphia, and commenced the practice in North Alabama, at Tusciabia. Removed to Nashville in 1843, he continued in active practice to his election of State Marian for Tennessee. Dr. Wharton was an excellent practitioner, a nein of int grity, and an active Christian gentleman.

WILSON (JOHN ROBERTSON), M.D., was born in South Carolina, April 4. 1799 ; died in Davidson Co .. Tonn., An.s. 8. 1851. He work, d. ha d to educate bims Af and boerne a thorough clussted . Solar. He studied under the chter Yandell. and then attended lectures at Transylvania Cui- ve. i.y; he commenced the practice at MoMinnville. Tonn., what he made the money for his second curry of lectures, at , aleained the diploma in 1-21 On his return home he practiced with Dr. Massey in Murfrombor. He pr. moved to the Y-zw commiry, Mississippi. He also st : part of the year on a farm near Nashville. He unfor- tun ately became irregolar in his habits, but was i-de trious, carpetic, and had staunch friends.

Wwire, doctor, lawyer, divine. Dr. Felix Roi rtson believed he was the first of the profession who son' d in Nashville, and came here in 1741. We bad salad divin- ity, law, and medicine, and was therefore well educated, last exhilated many eccentricities ; would even get on Freakon spices, and then became very of mive. He was time first delegate sent to Congress from this district. On hi way to Washington he met a young girl in North var ). Boa and married bor. Their son was Edward D. White, of Louisiana, Governor, and seustor to Congress from that State. Dr. White lived to a good old age.

YANDELL ( WILSON), M.D. ( honorary, Que of the most remarkable and successful physicians of Tennessee. He was the sense of all bearing his name in the profession, and was a self-made man ; was born in Mecklenburg Co., N. C., 17th of December, 1774 ; died in Haberford Co., Bern, Lotof October, 1827. He left North Carolina when nineteen years old. came to Dr. Doak's school in Best Ton- hessce. where:, by alternating in study and manual labor, he soypied wen a classical educitim. He had studied medi- cine tine years before he began to practice. The Univer- it's of Maryland conferred on him the honorary degree of . M.D. without his ever having heard a lecture. For many

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CITY OF NASHVILLE.

sity, at Lexington, Ky. He delivered only one course of lectures, was transferred to the chair of practice, but re- signed, and came to Nashville, Tenn. He not long after retired from the profession, became a large planter South, and died 23d September, 1865, near this city.

PORTER (ROBERT MASSINGILL), A.M., M.D., profes- sor, graduate in all of the learned professions in law at Cambridge, Mass. ; in theology, at Princeton, N. J .; and in medicine, at the University of Pennsylvania ; each of these being the leading schools of their respective de- partments in the United States. Dr. Porter next visited Europe, where he remained two years, to better qualify him to practice his profession. Notwithstanding these special advantages, added to good native ability, yet he was ever known as the most unpretentious of men ; ever meek in his own estimation, but which endeared him the more to all classes of the community. A Protestant by profession, even an ordained minister, yet were the Catholics his best friends. On the organization of the Medical Department, University of Nashville, he was unanimously elected the professor of anatomy, and such was his devotion to duty that he fell a victim to his zeal in professional teaching ; for while lecturing to a small class, by the imbibition of poi- son, he became ill, and died July 1, 1856, in his thirty- eighth year, having been born in this city April 12, 1818.

ROANE (JAMES), M.D., was for many years the beloved physician of Nashville; his temper and manners won all hearts, and secured him the first position in the profession. He was the son of Governor Roane, and was born in Jeffer- Bon Co., Tenn., May, 1790. He acquired a classical edu- cation in East Tennessee College. After studying medicine he secured a diploma in New York City. He now estab- lished himself in Nashville, and succeeded to the reputation and lucrative practice of his eccentric preceptor, Dr. New- nan. Dr. Roane was the first president of this society, having been elected at its organization in 1830, and his ad- dress for the occasion was solicited for publication, but which he declined to have done. He was unfortunately cut off in the midst of his usefulness by cholera in 1833, falling then a victim to his professional zeal 27th of February, having been engaged night and day before this for a week.

ROBERTSON (FELIX), M.D., was the first child born in the city of Nashville, this event occurring the 11th of January, 1781. He was the sixth son of Gen. James Robertson, who emigrated from North Carolina, and be- came one of the founders of this city. After acquiring what education as best he could, he went to Philadelphia, and received in 1806 the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of . Pennsylvania. Returning home he entered upon a good practice, which he retained for more than forty years. He belonged to the old school ; slept at night, would chase the fox at sunrise, and hence lived beyond the threescore years and ten. Previous to his death he had retired somewhat from the onerous duties of his calling, though by no means was he indifferent to the interests of medical science. His principal business was treating the diseases of children, who became much attached to the old gentleman. He was also a public-spir- ited citizen like his father, took a deep interest in passing events; was twice mayor of this city, president of the board

of trustees of its university, etc. He was also a friend of Gen. Jackson. He descended to the grave in peace 8th of July, 1865, leaving a blessed memory to those who had so long revered and loved him.

SHELBY (JOHN), M.D., was born in Sumner Co., Tenn., 24th of May, 1786; died 15th of May, 1859, in Nashville. At his demise resolutions were adopted by the profession of our city expressive of the loss sustained of one so honored. He received a good education, and graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1813 he joined the army as surgeon, and served under Gen. Jackson in what is known as the Creek (Indian) war. He received so severe a wound during the campaign that he lost an eye. He was at one time the postmaster of this city. Shelby Medical College was named for him.

WHARTON (WILLIAM H.), M.D., was born in Albe- marle Co., Va., July 6, 1790; died in Nashville, Tenn., May 4, 1872. He was a graduate in medicine in the Jef- ferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and commenced the practice in North Alabama, at Tuscumbia. Removed to Nashville in 1843, he continued in active practice to his election of State librarian for Tennessee. Dr. Wharton was an excellent practitioner, a man of integrity, and an active Christian gentleman.

WILSON (JOHN ROBERTSON), M.D., was born in South Carolina, April 4, 1799 ; died in Davidson Co., Tenn., Aug. 8, 1854. He worked hard to educate himself, and became a thorough classical scholar. . He studied under the elder Yandell, and then attended lectures at Transylvania Uni- versity ; he commenced the practice at McMinnville, Tenn., where he made the money for his second course of lectures, and obtained the diploma in 1824. On his return home he practiced with Dr. Maney in Murfreesboro'. He re- moved to the Yazoo country, Mississippi. He also spent part of the year on a farm near Nashville. He unfor- tunately became irregular in his habits, but was industrious, energetic, and had staunch friends.

WHITE, doctor, lawyer, divine. Dr. Felix Robertson believed he was the first of the profession who settled in Nashville, and came here in 1784. He had studied divin- ity, law, and medicine, and was therefore well educated, but exhibited many eccentricities; would even get on drunken sprees, and then became very offensive. He was the first delegate sent to Congress from this district. On his way to Washington he met a young girl in North Caro- lina and married her. Their son was Edward D. White, of Louisiana, Governor, and senator to Congress from that State. Dr. White lived to a good old age.

YANDELL (WILSON), M.D. (bonorary), one of the most remarkable and successful physicians of Tennessee. He was the senior of all bearing his name in the profession, and was a self-made man; was born in Mecklenburg Co., N. C., 17th of December, 1774; died in Rutherford Co., Tenn., 1st of October, 1827. He left North Carolina when nineteen years old, came to Dr. Doak's school in East Ten- nessee, where, by alternating in study and manual labor, he acquired even a classical education. He had studied medi- cine nine years before he began to practice. The Univer- sity of Maryland conferred on him the honorary degree of M.D. without his ever having heard a lecture. For many

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years he was the leading practitioner of his section. He was the father and grandfather of those bearing his name so honorably in Louisville, Ky., and was the preceptor of several noted physicians of this county and State. Dr. Yandell was neither a calomel, lancet, nor opium doctor, and was remarkably benevolent and beloved by all. Though a good composer and fond of writing, yet never published anything on medicine. He educated, too, several good physicians. He left the savor of an unblemished Chris- tian character, as having been one of the best and most charitable of men.

DENTAL ASSOCIATION.

The Nashville Dental Association was organized on the 10th of October, 1865, mainly through the instrumentality of John Fouché, D.D.S., then residing in this city, but now of Knoxville, Tenn. The following were the officers chosen : W. H. Morgan, M.D., D.D.S.,* President; J. C. Ross, D.D.S., Secretary.

At the second election, held Nov. 1, 1867, officers were elected as follows: W. H. Morgan, M.D., D.D.S., Presi- dent ; J. C. Ross, D.D.S., Secretary.

Up to this date the association had kept in good work- ing order, but during this year, and until May 9, 1869, but little was done. At the date last mentioned a meeting of the association was held, and the following officers elected : J. C. Ross, D.D.S., President; R. R. Freeman, D.D.S., Secretary.

From this date till Dec. 10, 1872, the association held eighteen meetings, and did a large amount of profitable work. The officers elected Dec. 10, 1872, were R. C. Freeman, D.D.S., President ; L. G. Noel, M.D., D.D.S., Secretary.

During the ensuing year the association continued to meet regularly ; but soon after, meetings ceased and were discontinued till quite a recent date, when officers were elected, to wit : J. Y. Crawford, D.D.S., President; A. S. Kline, D.D.S., Secretary. These gentlemen are the present officers of the society.

HOMEOPATHY IN DAVIDSON COUNTY. Its Introduction and Practitioners.

The first practice of the new school of medicine in Davidson County was by Philip Harsch, M.D., a native of Germany, thoroughly educated at the University of Giessen. He became acquainted with homoeopathy at Cincinnati, under the guidance of Dr. Pulte, and removed to Nashville in the year 1844. He was long known as " the Dutch Doctor," and some amusing stories were told at his expense. His success in the treatment of the Asiatic cholera drew much attention from the people, and led his competitors of the old school to account for his losing no cases with that disease upon the theory that, " while he. always cured the cholera, his patients would sometimes die mit der weakness."

The latter years of his life were devoted to agricultural and mercantile pursuits. He died, at an advanced age, in the year 1870, from injuries received by the overturning of his buggy.

The next homeopathic practitioner was George Kellogg, M.D., of New York, who came to Nashville in 1853. Though quite successful and much esteemed, he remained less than two years, leaving on account of impaired health.

In 1855, Henry Sheffield, M.D., a native of Connecticut and a graduate of the Cleveland Homoeopathic College, in the class of 1852, located in Nashville. Gradually over- coming the obstacles usual to new systems, especially in medicine, he gained an honorable standing among medical men. An active and prominent Mason, he has become well and widely known in the State. He is still in active medical practice.

R. M. Lytle, M.D., a native of Tennessee, a graduate of the Jefferson College, Philadelphia, and an efficient surgeon in the Confederate service, converted to the new medical faith, soon after the close of the war located in Edgefield, where he enjoyed a large patronage for a number of years. He was eminent in the ready diagnosis of disease, and always bright and cheering among the sick. He died suddenly of heart-disease in the year 1876.

Dr. P. A. Westervelt, a man of long experience in the medical uses of electricity, came to Nashville from Illinois in 1860, and here made use of homoeopathic medicines in connection with electrical baths. After a period of retire- ment in the country, he is again at work in the city.

J. P. Dake, M.D., a sketch of whose biography appears on another page, came to Nashville in 1869. His experi- ence as a practitioner and reputation as a teacher and writer in the new school gave a fresh and strong impulse to ho- moopathy in Davidson County.

William C. Dake, M.D., son of Dr. J. P. Dake, a gradu- ate of the Nashville High School and of the Medical De- partment of the University of Nashville, and educated in homoeopathy at the New York College, began practice in Nashville early in the year 1873. His success as a practi- tioner has been remarkable, placing him already among the leading physicians of the State.

Herman Falk, M.D., a native of Germany, a graduate of the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, in the class of 1877, came to Nashville several years ago. He was first known in connection with an institution for the cure of consumptives with the vapor of salt water, and in the employment of the Lebenswicker. He afterwards tried the oxygen treatment. Since his graduation at Chicago he has followed the homoeopathic method more strictly.

Thomas E. Enloe, M.D., t a native of West Tennessee, and a graduate of the Medical Department of the University of Nashville, located in Edgefield in the year 1874. Taking the first prize in surgery at his final examination, he has been very successful in that line of practice. A brother of our talented young journalist and statesman, Hon. B. A. Enloe, of West Tennessee, the doctor has been advancing to the front rank of medical men.

Walter M. Dake, M.D., second son of Dr. J. P. Dake, graduated at the Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, in the spring of 1877, and soon after became associated with his father and brother in Nashville.

Clara C. Plimpton, M.D., a graduate from the New York

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DR. WILLIAM H. MORGAN.

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Homeopathic College, located in Nashville in 1878. She is the pioneer of well-educated female practitioners of medi- cine in Davidson County, and seems likely to demonstrate here both the right and the ability of her sex to hold a place in the medical profession.

R. A. Baker, M.D., a graduate of the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Nashville, in the class of 1873, and a recent convert to the new school, has lately located in Edgefield for the practice of his profession. In the avowal of his change of faith the doctor says, "When I compare the statistics and the general success of practice in the two schools, I have been compelled to acknowledge that there is truth, and a good deal of it, in homoeopathy, or that there is nothing at all in medicine."

Its Organizations.

The first association of homeopathic physicians was or- ganized in 1870, under the name " The Davidson County Homoeopathic Medical Society," with Dr. Henry Sheffield president, and Dr. J. P. Dake secretary.

The same organization was afterwards enlarged into " The Homoeopathic Medical Society of Middle Tennessee." The officers of this society have been as follows :

1875 .- Dr. J. P. Dake, President ; Dr. E. R. Smith, Secretary.

1876 .- Dr. E. R. Smith, President ; Dr. William C. Dake, Secretary.

1877 .- Dr. T. E. Enloe, President; Dr. W. M. Biddle, Secretary.

1878 .- William C. Dake, President ; Dr. A. R. Barrett, Secretary.

1879 .- William C. Dake, President ; Dr. Walter M. Dake, Secretary.

This society, at its regular meetings, besides a special subject presented and discussed, has reports regarding pre- vailing diseases, their treatment, and also upon sanitary affairs.

Papers have thus been presented and discussed upon the character, prevention, and treatment of yellow fever ; upon diphtheria, public hygiene, etc.

The founding of a public dispensary for the poor desiring homoeopathic remedies has been under serious considera- tion.

The society is every year increasing its membership and extending its domain.

Its Literature.

The first publication relating to homoeopathy made at Nashville was a pamphlet explaining the principles of the system and advantages of the practice, in answer to the question, " What is Homoeopathy ?" by Dr. George Kel- logg, in 1853. No copies are extant.

In 1869, Dr. J. P. Dake issued a pamphlet of twenty pages, entitled "The Remedies We Use," in which an ar- gument was made for a more thorough investigation of the properties and powers of medicinal substances.

In 1870 the same writer issued from the press of the Southern Methodist Publishing House a second edition of his work on " Acute Diseases," the first having appeared in 1860.

In 1874, Dr. T. E. Enloe published a pamphlet entitled " Honorable Medicine and Homoeopathy," in vindication of his right of secession from the old school and acceptance of homoeopathy, against the Nashville Journal of Medi- cine and Surgery.

In 1875, Dr. E. R. Smith issued a pamphlet entitled " Homeopathy in Tennessee," in which was sketched the rise and progress of the new school in this State.

In the same year Dr. J. P. Dake published a pamphlet entitled "State Medicine and a Medical Institution," for the enlightenment of the General Assembly of the State, which had before it several bills for the regulation of medi- cal men, especially the prevention of medical charlatanism.

In 1877, Dr. William C. Dake published a work on " Diphtheria, its Pathology and Treatment," which has had a very wide circulation among medical men, and very favorable notices from the medical press in England as well as in America.

In 1878, Dr. J. P. Dake* published a work entitled, "The Science of Therapeutics in Outline," presenting a complete system of principles to be regarded by men of healing.

The practitioners of the new school in Davidson County are generally men of education, acquainted with both sys- tems, interested in public as well as personal hygiene, liberal in spirit, and progressive in habit.

MEDICAL COLLEGES.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NASHVILLE AND VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY.

A medical college or department connected with the University of Nashville was part of the original plan of its founders. Dr. Philip Lindsley,* who was president of the university from 1824 to 1850, began early to develop his comprehensive scheme of a great university at Nash- ville which should include all the departments and appli- ances of the best institutions of the kind both in Europe and America. In his baccalaureate address, delivered in 1829, Dr. Lindsley said,-

" In casting my eye over the map of Tennessee, it struck me from the first that this was precisely the place destined by Providence for a great university, if ever such an insti- tution were to exist in the State. And in this opinion I am fully confirmed by several years' observation and expe- rience. I am entirely satisfied that it is physically impos- sible to maintain a university (I am not now speaking of an ordinary college) in any other town in the State, and for this single good reason, were there no other,-namely, a medical school, which may be regarded as an essential and as the most important part of a real university, can never be sustained except in a large town or city, and the larger the better. Nashville is the only place where a medical school would even be thought of, and physicians know full well that such is the fact."

In many other speeches and addresses delivered from time to time during his presidency Dr. Lindsley fore- shadowed his grand scheme of education, as embraced under the general name of the University of Nashville.

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

Of course, a scheme so comprehensive and complete in all its arrangements and details could not be carried into prac- tical realization in a short time. Such institutions are usually the growth of centuries rather than of decades, and although Dr. Lindsley labored with a genius for his work, and with a zeal and devotion rarely equaled, it is not to be wondered at that he did not live to see his great plans fully realized.

With regard to a medical department, Dr. Lindsley dif- fered quite widely in his views from the opinions of those who were finally instrumental in establishing the school, although he lived to take an active part in its organization and to rejoice in its great success. Being a thorough uni- versity man, he believed that the medical college should be strictly a subordinate part of the university, and entirely under the control of its board of trustees. The views of Dr. Lindsley will appear as we proceed with this history, in a series of resolutions introduced by himself on an occasion of one of the many unsuccessful attempts to organize a medical college.

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 74

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1013

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013