USA > Vermont > Orange County > Bradford > A history of Bradford, Vermont : containing some account of the place of its first settlement in 1765, and the principal improvements made, and events which have occurred down to 1874--a period of one hundred and nine years. With various genealogical records, and biographical sketches of families and individuals, some deceased, and others still living > Part 29
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tor's text at his funeral was, " Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." The widow and her children subsequently removed to Summerville, Mass.
DOCTOR WHITING.
Dr. Jeremiah Whiting practiced medicine for a few years in Bradford. He resided in the part of the town called Goshen. He came here from New Bedford, Mass., or its vicinity, about the year 1798. He had a good pre- paratory education, and was well read in his professional studies. He was considered a man of good judgment, and a successful practitioner. He distinguished himself somewhat in the judicious treatment of scarlet fever, which prevailed, of a malignant type, at one time espec- ially during his residence in Bradford. He left this town about the year 1807, and went into practice in the north- ern part of New York. His wife was a daughter of Dea- con Sweet, of Bradford. Of his death we have no ac- count.
DOCTOR WHIPPLE.
Thomas Whipple, M. D., was born in Hanover, N. H., in the year 1785. His father was a Baptist minister. Thomas was thrown almost entirely on his own resourc- es in his efforts to obtain an education, but, possessing a strong mind and resolute determination, he early acquired a good knowledge of English literature, and a valuable acquaintance with the Latin and Greek languages. He became a popular teacher, and for several winters taught the school here in Goshen district, consisting of nearly a hundred scholars, with great success. He attended the Medical Institution at Hanover, N. H., and received from Dartmouth College the degree of M. D., in the year 1814. He commenced medical practice in the part of this town where he had been teaching, but soon after located him- self at Wentworth, N. H., where he rose to distinction as
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a successful practitioner of medicine and surgery. He married Phebe Tabor, of this place, and was sent from the State of New Hampshire to Congress, where by his tal- ents he gained notoriety. But, like many other men of ability and high promise, he gradually fell into habits of intemperance, and thereby did himself great injury. He died in the year 1835, aged fifty years.
DOCTOR PUTNAM.
Dr. Samuel Putnam was born in Salem, Mass., in 1782. While he was young he came with his father and family to Vermont, and resided for some years in Topsham. Samuel made good use of his limited advantages for ac- quiring an education, and studied the medical profession with Dr. Richard Huntley, of Topsham. He commenced practice in the town of Burke, in this State, where he re- mained but a few years, when he located himself in this town, near the south line of Newbury. He practiced about equally in the two towns, until the year 1816, when, his health failing, he moved into Newbury, and died there, of pulmonary consumption, in the summer of 1817, aged thirty-five years. His wife was Betsey Bai- ley, daughter of Colonel John Bailey, of Newbury. They had one son and one daughter, Samuel and Angelina.
DOCTOR COLBY.
Dr. Thomas Colby, a native of this town, was born in 1788. He worked at farming in his youth, and his advantages for acquiring a good education were very limited. Being unable to pursue the business of agriculture, from poor health, he felt strongly inclined to try the medical pro- fession, and after some effort at preparation entered on the study of medicine, and pursued it chiefly with Dr. Wellman, of Piermont, N. H., and Dr. Mckinstry, of New- bury. He commenced practice in this village in the year 1812. In the autumn of 1815 he located himself on
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the Upper Plain, near the cemetery, and there continued in his professional business till near the time of his death, which occurred December 26, 1829. Dr. Colby was by many considered a skillful physician, especially in fevers, and for several years did a fair amount of business. He died at the age of forty-one. His wife was Eliza Kimball, daughter of Daniel Kimball, Esq., of this town. They had two daughters and a son, no one of whom is known to be living now.
DOCTOR POOLE.
As he was long here and extensively known, of him a somewhat more full account may be expected.
Dr. John Poole was born at Plainfield, N. H., February 22, 1792. Blessed with a firm physical constitution and good intellectual powers, he grew up to be an energetic, intelligent, and worthy young man. Having acquired a good academic education, and being inclined to the medi- cal profession, he entered as a student the medical de- partment of Dartmouth college, and having pursued a regular course, under the instruction of such men as Pro- fessors Muzzey, Perkins, and Dana, graduated with honor in 1817.
The next year, 1818, at the age of twenty-six years, he established himself as a physician and surgeon in Brad- ford, Vt., where he continued in the practice of his pro- fession for fifty-one years, or within a few weeks of his decease, which occurred April 14, 1869, when he was a little over seventy-seven years of age. When he came here Dr. Arad Stebbins, who had long been the principal physician in the place, was drawing near to the close of his active life, and Dr. Poole, without any particular agreement or unpleasant collision, gradually became his well-received successor.
During the half century of his practice Dr. Poole per-
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formed a vast amount of professional business in this and the neighboring towns. Possessing firm health, being strictly temperate in all his habits, and wholly devoted to his profession, he was habitually ready to go, when call. ed, whether by day or night, and however uncomfortable the weather or the traveling might be. Whether he was to go with a fair prospect of compensation, or to attend on those who were known to be too ,poor ever to reward him for his services, made no difference in regard to his prompt attendance and persevering visitations. Whatev- er help he could afford the sick and suffering he was happy to render, and was, no doubt, quite as successful in his practice as the generality of physicians are. Many who have been carried by him through trying scenes of phys- ical prostration and distress, still live to remember him with affectionate gratitude during the remnant of their days.
As the Doctor was accustomed to keep himself well-in- formed by the reading of the new publications in the line of his profession, and had acquired much knowledge by experience in the course of his long practice, he, perhaps rather insensibly to himself, became so firmly assured of his own ability and skill as a practitioner as to be rather intolerant of any person or thing that he viewed in the light of rivalry, or interference in any way with his customary business, and consequently was not apt to be on very good terms with other physicians, who thought they had as good a right as he to locate themselves here, and minister to such as might call for their services. The Doctor was particularly disturbed by any departure from the old line of practice, and unsparing in his censures of everything which he denominated quackery. It gave him great dissatisfaction also to have any of his old friends turn away from him and patronize those whom he esteem- ed less worthy of their confidence. Being a man of rath- er excitable temperament, and of strong will, these views
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and feelings caused him much unhappiness, and not un- frequently proved very annoying to others. The fact is, physicians, like other professional and business men, while aiming to make themselves worthy of public confi- dence and encouragement, must-at all events should -be willing that the people, their old employers as well as others, should enjoy the privelege of acting according to their own choice in regard to giving or not giving them their patronage. When one's health and life are at stake he, if competent, and if not competent, his friends, must be left free to employ whatever medical counsel or means of cure they prefer, inasmuch as they are mainly con- cerned in the consequences. True merit will not fail in the long run to maintain its ground and respectability.
Dr. Poole was, not only in his profession but outside of it, a worthy and valuable citizen. Strictly temperate himself, he wished to see the cause of temperance promo- ted, in the use of the wisest and most efficient means. The vulgar use of tobacco, and such like narcotics and ' stimulants, received from him no countenance. With the company of the vicious and profane he had no affinity; you would find him not walking in the way of sinners, or sitting in the seat of the scornful ; but associating with those who were endeavoring to promote the interests of intelligence, morality, good order, and religion in society.
The doctor took a lively interest in the due education of children and young people, and wished to see the schools well conducted and prosperous. For some twen- ty-three years he had been clerk of the school district to which he, during the latter part of his life, belonged; and one dark evening, about two weeks before his decease, when his bed or an easy chair would seem to be the most suitable place for him, came out and attended an annual meeting of this sort, and was reappointed to his clerkship. He had also acted as a Trustee of Bradford Academy for about thirty-six years, and for most of the time in some
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special official capacity. In the affairs of the religious society to which he belonged he was also an efficient member ; and with faithfulness filled some official station for twenty-five years. During a considerable part of this time he performed the somewhat self-denying, but very important, service of collecting his pastor's salary, and thus securing to the people the permanent preaching of the gospel, with its attendant blessings. In these and va- rious other ways he seemed to take real pleasure in doing good. He evidently wished to see the best interests of the community about him promoted, and was ready to do his part.
As it regards the domestic relations of Dr. Poole, it may be remarked that the wife of his youth, his only wife, was Mary Evans, with whom he was united in mar- riage May 27, 1821. She was a lady of pleasing personal appearance, devoted to home duties, but benevolent to- ward all, and a beloved member of the household of faith. With several others, she united with the Congregational church here in the year 1831, and so continued to the close of life. She died away from home, at the house of her youngest daughter, near New York, August 19, 1861, at the age of sixty-five years. Her remains were brought here for interment. Dr. Poole and wife had eight child- ren, of whom three died in infancy. Horace B., a young man who had been engaged in the business of a druggist, died at the house of his father, September 17, 1857, at the ·age of thirty-two years. Three daughters and one son re- main. The eldest of these, Mary L., married A. G. Rich- ardson, of California, and resides there. Her husband died a few months or weeks before her father. Julia S. married Henry C. Bidwell, also of California, and there has her home. Cornelia Frances, the youngest daughter, was the wife of Wm. D. Skidmore, now deceased, and lives at. Mount Vernon, near New York. Charles Carroll, having been preserved through many hardships and perils in the
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service of his country, was the only member of the family who had the privilege of ministering to his father in his last sickness, or of appearing as a mourner at his funeral, Mrs. Poole, his wife, being with him. He is by occupa- tion a house carpenter. They now, 1874, reside in St. Johnsbury.
Dr. Poole became hopefully pious and united with the Congregational Church during the great revival which was here enjoyed in the beginning of the year 1837, and so continued. He was strictly evangelical in his senti- ments ; took a deep interest, especially during the latter years of his life, in the Sabbath School, having charge of a class of intelligent men ; he loved to attend social meet- ings ; and was, not only a dilligent student of the holy Scriptures, but a man of prayer. For months, if not years, before his decease, he seemed to be deeply impress- ed by a conviction that he was a great sinner, who need- ed a great Saviour; and on this theme he dwelt continual- ly, with apparently the utmost seriousness. Hope gener- ally prevailed that through Christ he should find forgive- ness and salvation ; but his hope at times was not without fear and trembling. He said he wanted clearer evidence that he had been really created anew in righteousness and true holiness, and was indeed united to the blessed Sav- iour by a living faith ; that he must at all events cling to Him, and to Him alone, as the Lord his righteousness.
As he drew near to death he expressed good will tow- ards all men, without exception; and deeply regretted that he had ever exhibited or felt any measure of a different spirit.
The Doctor was very tenacious of life. It was unpleas- ant to him to have his friends ever allude to his failing strength ; he did not like to talk about death ; he kept about as long as he possibly could ; but at the time appointed all his powers, both physical and mental, gave way ; and he passed quietly to that land from which no traveler returns.
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We cannot doubt that, notwithstanding all those imper- fections of which he was so painfully sensible, to him death has proved immense and eternal gain, and that he is now most fervently thankful to God who has given him the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.
'Brother thou art gone to rest, Thy cares and toils are o'er ! And sorrow, pain, and suffering now, Shall ne'er distress thee more."
DR. WILLIAM MARTIN.
See the account of the family of Dea. Reuben Martin.
DOCTOR ROGERS.
Dr. John L. Rogers was born in Northfield, N. H., in 1803. He studied his profession with Dr. T. Haynes, of Hardwick, Vt., and commenced the practice of medicine at East Corinth, in May, 1839. In the year 1848 he moved to Bradford Center, where he continued in pro- fessional business for several years. His mode of prac- tice was Eclectic, and he had patients, at different times, in most of the towns in Orange County. He removed from Bradford Center to Canaan, N. H., and at this writ- ing is understood to be in successful business there.
DOCTOR CARTER.
Dr. William H. Carter was a native of Newbury, born May 28, 1801. His father, Dea. William Carter, was a native of Kingston, N. H. He migrated to Topsham, Vt., soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and was the third settler in that town. He subsequently removed to Newbury, and in the year 1806 to Bradford. William H. was the youngest of the family. He worked at farm- ing, with only common school advantages for education, until the age of nineteen. He then attended Bradford Academy for some time, commencing with its first term,
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in the spring of 1821. He there acquired sufficient knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages to enable him to enter with advantage on the study of medicine. Being destitute of pecuniary help, he was obliged to rely on his own earnings to defray his expenses ; obliged, also, to forego many advantages now generally enjoyed by medical students. His professional studies were pursued under the instruction of James Petrie, M. D., of Topsham, and Calvin Jewett, M. D., of Newbury. He attended medical lectures at Dartmouth College, and received there the degree of M. D. In 1827 he located himself in business at West Newbury, where for twenty-six years he had an increasing and successful practice. In 1853 he removed to Bradford village, and thence onward to this date, a period of over twenty years, his professional services have continued to be, and still are, in good de- mand. He has now been in medical practice for nearly forty-seven years. Doctor Carter married Miss Hannah H. Eastman, daughter of David Eastman, Esq., of Tops- ham. The doctor and his wife have for years been mem- bers of the Congregational church in this place. In 1829 they became, by profession, members of the Congrega -. tional church in Newbury. They have two daughters, Susan E., wife of Dr. A. A. Doty, of this village, and Jen- nie A., wife of Dr. Eugene L. Boothby, of Fairlee. Dr. Carter's influence in society has been in all respects de- cidedly salutary.
Mrs. Boothby, daughter of Doctor Carter, died at the house of her father, September 18, 1874.
DOCTOR CUSHING.
Dr. Alvin M. Cushing was born at Burke, Caledonia county, Vt., September 28, 1829. He graduated from the Homopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, March 1, 1856, and located in Bradford directly after, in the
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month of May. He was the first to introduce Homœpa- thy into this town, and the first, as he says, to practice it exclusively in this County of Orange. He came a young man, a stranger to all, and, though strongly opposed by doctors, and many others, on account of this then new way of practice, yet, as Dr. Poole said, "believed in it and stuck to it," and was successful in gaining a large practice. His residence was in the same house which the writer of this now occupies. He married Miss Han- nah Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. John Pearsons, then of Hartford, Vt., but formerly of Bradford. The doctor practiced here for nearly five years. In the autumn of 1866, while riding in the western part of this town, he met with an accident, injuring his spine so seriously that he was obliged to abandon his large practice for a while, and he removed to Lansingburg, N. Y. After about four years there, the failure of his wife's health compelled him to leave his pleasant home and lucrative practice there and seek a residence near the ocean. He finally settled in Lynn, Mass., where he at this date is understood to have an extensive practice. He has written several medical works which have been well received by the pro- fession. Dr. Cushing and wife have three sons, and many reasons to be contented and happy.
DOCTOR CARPENTER ..
Dr. William S. Carpenter was a native of Moretown, Vt., born March 31, 1818. He studied his profession un- der the instruction of Dr. Sanborn, of Lyndon, and grad- uated at Dartmouth College as M. D. in the class of 1842. He commenced medical practice here soon after, and continued with good success for more than ten years. He married Miss Helen Louisa Ladd, a daughter of Mr. Austin Ladd, of Haverhill, N. H., where she was born December 7, 1825. They were married October 1, 1845. They had but two children, both of whom died early.
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The Doctor while here built a nice cottage on Main street, in or near the year 1850, the same which Dr. Car- ter now owns and occupies, and lived there during the remainder of his stay in Bradford. He removed to Chi- cago, and there settled May 1, 1854, with fair prospects. He had, however, but fairly commenced practice there before his very estimable wife was taken dangerously sick, and on the 5th of June died, in the twenty-ninth year of her age. Mrs. Ladd, her good mother, died there soon after, and the Doctor himself died in the same city, August 31, 1855, in the thirty-eight year of his age. His remains, with those of his wife, were brought to Brad- ford for burial, their final resting place in the cemetery being designated by a marble obelisk.
DOCTOR A. A. DOTY AND FAMILY.
A few words first in regard to his parentage. His father, Abner Doty, was a native of Rochester, Mass., and with his parents moved to East Montpelier, Vt., March 15, 18-, he being at that time six year of age. The mode of conveyance was by an ox team, and it took three weeks to perform the journey. Quite a contrast with railroad speed. In early manhood Abner Doty married Betsey Putnam, a direct descendant of General Israel Putnam, of historic renown. After the birth of two children, he moved his family to Elmore, in Lamoille County, then a sparsely settled town. He was promoted to the highest office of the town, for many years, and was kept in the performance of some official duty to the time of his death, which occurred in 1847.
His son, Dr. Abner A. Doty, was born in Elmore, March 15, 1828, and commenced the study of medicine in the Spring of 1851, with William H. Carter, M. D., then of Newbury, Vt., and graduated at Hanover, N. H. Medical College in 1854. He commenced practice in Newbury,
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and continued there for two years, when he went to New York, where he spent some months in attending lectures, and at the hospitals, and then came to Bradford and com- menced medical practice here in 1856; where for eighteen years he has devoted himself closely to his professional business, and found full employment. Although most of the time in delicate health, so entire has been his attention to his home practice that he has never, he remarks, left it for a day, except to visit sick friends abroad, or on ac- count of his own sickness.
Soon after his settlement in Bradford, he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and was chosen one of its Stewards, and has served in that capacity ever since. He has also been for several years Chairman of the Com- mittee of the Graded School in this village, embracing Bradford Academy.
As it regards the domestic relations of Doctor Doty, we remark that at the commencement of his practice he married Miss Susan Carter, daughter of Dr. W. H. Car- ter, a worthy lady, and they have had four children, all daughters, namely :
Jennie Kathrinne, born January 16, 1857.
Minnie, born July 29, 1859. Died November 22, 1872. Susie Isabelle, born March 26, 1866.
Marion Gertrude, born April 24, 1872.
DOCTOR WARDEN AND FAMILY.
Jonathan Warden was a native of Greenock, Scotland, born September 30, 1795. His wife, whose maiden name was Joanna Ferguson, was also a native of the same coun- try, born November 15, 1798. They were united in mar- riage January 15, 1827, and emigrated to this country in 1842, arriving September 1st. They spent their first winter at Ryegate, Vt. They removed thence to Haver- hill, N. H., in the spring of 1843, and there remained until
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the autumn of 1848, when they came to Bradford, Vt., and here remained during the remainder of their abode on earth. Mr. Warden, though not a practicing physi- cian, was universally styled Doctor, as his principal occu- pation consisted in preparing and selling medicines, which by many families and individuals were highly ap- preciated, and somewhat extensively used in this vicinity. Both the doctor and his wife were much esteemed by those who knew them. Mrs. Warden died July 24, 1856, in the fifty-eighth year of her age; and his decease oc- curred June 3, 1869, in his seventy-fourth year. Their remains repose side by side in Bradford cemetery.
They had one daughter and two sons, all natives of Scotland, namely :
1. Joanna, who grew up an amiable and good young lady, and September 28, 1872, became the wife of Mr. Daniel Carpenter, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., with whom she has there a pleasant home.
2. Peter Warden, learned the business of a watch- maker and jeweller, went South, and settled at Tallahas- see, Florida ; married there a Miss Gibson, had two chil- dren ; in 1863 went, in feeble health, to Cuba, and died there November 13th of that year. A very worthy young man he was.
3. Joseph M. Warden, born 1840, November 23, be- came, like his brother, a watchmaker and jeweller, re- mained in Bradford, and has for years been diligently en- gaged in his favorite business ; also as a telegraphic ope- rator ; giving general satisfaction in both employments.
J. M. Warden, April 28, 1861, was united in marriage with Miss Fannie A. Flanders, daughter of Mr. Josiah Flanders, of Vershire. They have a desirable homestead on Pleasant street, in this village. Mr. and Mrs. Ward en are members of the Congregational church here, as was their sister, Mrs. Carpenter, before her removal to St. Johnsbury. 27
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Doctors J. N. Clark and O. H. Stevens, well-known and highly esteemed dentists, in the use of all modern im- provements, are established here, in the successful prac- tice of their professional business.
Of Doctors Barnabas Wright, Hiram Bliss, and Henry Hays, who for years successfully practiced here, but long since removed, and have deceased, we have no particular account to give. Neither have we been able to obtain any from Doctor Julian H. Jones, homœopathist, now in successful practice in this town and vicinity.
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CHAPTER XX.
Rev. Silas McKeen and Family.
REV. SILAS McKEEN AND FAMILY.
Some time ago, at the solicitation of my daughters, I commenced and persevered in writing out a somewhat extended account of our McKeen race, beginning far back in Scotland, and coming down, through. Ireland and the emigration, to Londonderry, N. H., and thence to Ver- mont, with the collateral branches extending East, West, and South. This account, though of interest to us, must be reduced to comparatively narrow limits in such a book as this. I am still in danger of saying too much.
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