USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Wallingford > People of Wallingford, a compilation > Part 12
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The contents of the bags are described by Dr. Buffum as fol- lows:
"There are several brown-paper-wrapped packages of herbs, a package of salts and two bottles. I will list below the herbs that are labeled and give their principal uses, as far as I can determine the same.
Snake Root-Cimicifuga, a supposed antidote to the bite of a rattle snake. Large doses produce marked nervous depres- sion. Used in Dropsy, Hysteria and Rheumatism.
Cascara-(Rhamnus Frangula) (Rhamnus Purshiana) Bark. Calisaya-Chinchona Bark. There are several varieties known
generally as Peruvian Bark, and used as tonic antiperiodic, also empirically in intermittent fever.
Pickra-Picra. The power of aloes with canella, formerly offic- inal, employed as a cathartic.
Sulphate of Zinc-Emetic, Tonic, Astringent and Caustic.
Capsicum-Tonic, and used in indigestion for flatulence, also externally as a rubefacient.
Orris Root-Cathartic, Emetic and Diuretic.
Santonin-Used as an anthelmintic. Salts-Cathartic.
(Statements as to uses of drugs largely summarized from the 15th edition of The Dispensatory of the United States of America, Published in 1885.)"
Dr. Emelie M. Perkins makes the following comments:
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THE FOX FAMILY
"The contents of the old saddlebags are interesting, as showing the armamentarium of the physician of an earlier day. We feel that nowadays we use fewer drugs than the earlier physicians used, but if the saddlebags contained his whole stock, his variety was much less than ours, although perhaps he used the individual drugs more. The lack of vaccines and serums, unknown at that time, is noticeable. Also it is interesting to note the absence of the proprietary drugs and combinations which are so much used now.
"Among his drugs are cascara, santonin and salts, which are all still stand-bys in the medical profession. No cathartic has re- placed cascara or salts in the various forms. Santonin is still much used in the treatment of intestinal worms.
"Of the other drugs found in the saddlebags, some are not used at all now, as far as I know, and some are used to a certain extent, but probably not as commonly as formerly. Cimicifuga, 'Snake Root,' was used for a number of conditions. It was supposed to be an antidote for the bite of the rattlesnake. As far as I know, we have no need of it for that condition now. It was also used in the treatment of chorea, rheumatism, neuralgia, headache, and for some diseases of women.
"Chinchona Bark, 'Calisaya,' is used now in the form of qui- nine. It is the standard treatment for malaria, which fortunately is very rare' in Vermont. It is also used in combination with other drugs in the treatment of colds.
"Picra, the powder of aloes with canella, is not used in that form now, I think, but aloes is a common ingredient of proprie- tary cathartics.
"Zinc sulphate, which I believe was formerly used a good deal as an emetic and tonic astringent, is now found principally in eye washes.
"Capsicum is still used in plasters, but is not ordinarily em- ployed internally, as the owner of the saddlebags probably did use it.
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"The nine drugs listed are all still included in the United States Pharmacopeia, and with the exception of cimicifuga and orris root, are still in fairly common use medicinally. Cascara, salts and santonin are probably used much as the owner of the saddlebags used them, but the other drugs are used in different forms, and probably in a more limited way than formerly."
The two bags with their contents weigh two and three quarters pounds. They are about seven inches high, eight inches wide and three inches thick, joined together by a leather web on which they hung across the saddle, the web now nearly torn apart, due to deterioration of the leather, but in other respects in good condi- tion. Each bag is closed by a leather flap, secured by a buckle.
With a practice that extended over a considerable portion of Rutland County, Dr. Fox found time to represent Wallingford in the legislature for three successive years, 1822, 1823 and 1824. After an interval of fourteen years he again represented the town in 1838; and for three more terms in 1840, 1841 and 1842. He was county senator for the years 1846, 1847 and 1848. The sessions were held in the fall and lasted about a month.
A doctor has more intimate contact with the people of the com- munity he serves than any other man, not excepting the minister and the lawyer. Adding to Dr. Fox's professional contacts an ex- perience of ten years in the legislature, we must conclude that he attained a high position in the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. His force of character is apparent in the accompanying portrait.
On March 20, 1811, four years after he married, Dr. John Fox purchased of Neri Cramton a house and lot located on the east side of Main Street, adjoining and south of the school house [chapel] lot, having an area of one and one-half acres, with a frontage on Main Street of one hundred ninety-eight feet. In 1825 he sold a portion of this lot, containing one quarter of an acre with ninety-five feet frontage on Main Street, to William
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RESIDENCE OF DR. JOHN FOX, SOMEWHAT ALTERED
DR. WILLIAM C. FOX, 1811-1880
THE FOX FAMILY
Hall and Howard Harris. This land was originally a part of the Lent Ives farm, and the house was standing when Lent sold it to John Robbins, June 16, 1795. It must have been a simple frame house, built at such an early date. Probably Dr. Fox pulled down the frame house when he built the large brick house shown facing page 148, which we see standing today, in its day one of the finest houses in town. It was his home to the end of his life and was occupied by his wife and by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Martindale, until the end of their lives.
Again quoting from the Fox Genealogy: "Mrs. Mary (Crary) Fox survived her husband many years. Her long and useful life demands something more than a passing notice. She was the daughter of Captain Elias Crary, commonly called 'Lefttenant' Crary, a name he bore from the time he held that office in the militia. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War and one of the earlier settlers of the country. Mary, or as she was often called, Polly, at the age of nineteen married Dr. John Fox, a young phy- sician who had just finished his studies. For nearly half a century she shared with him the labors and enjoyed the benefits that came from his successful career. It is said that he never returned home at any hour of either the day or night without receiving a warm welcome and finding everything in readiness for his comfort. At times when there was a great amount of sickness and the doctor, nearly worn out, would declare he could not go out again, she, with a few quiet words and a careful wrapping up, would send him forth upon his errand of mercy. She was a devoted Christian and for fifty years was an honored and influential member of the Congregational Church. She had an extensive acquaintance far and near; was respected and beloved by all who knew her. After the death of her husband in 1853 she resided with her daughter, Mrs. Edwin Martindale, until she was called to rest after a short but painful sickness, which she bore with meek submission and Christian fortitude."
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An inventory of Dr. John Fox's estate included: house and lot, $2,500; other real estate, $1,565; intangibles, $3,746.84; a total of $7,811.84. After deducting claims and expenses there was left for distribution to the heirs, $4,624.59.
The children of Dr. John and Mary Fox were:
Harriet, born October 3, 1809; died May 16, 1824.
William C., born July 4, 1811; died May 25, 1880.
Elizabeth, born November 11, 1813; died September 22, 1896. Mary M., born May 28, 1817; died September 8, 1838.
John M., born April 22, 1825; died-1901.
George H., born March 22, 1830; died July 28, 1911.
William Fox, Jr., brother of Dr. John Fox, lived the first part of his life in Wallingford and is, therefore, entitled to a place in this chapter. In early life William worked on his father's farm. At the age of twenty he was a clerk in a store at Wallingford. He soon became a proprietor and for a number of years carried on a business, part of the time in partnership with Joel Hill. The firm of Fox and Hill manufactured potash, built and carried on a distillery, and owned and operated a brewery.
A mortgage is recorded and dated December 14, 1820, given by Joel Hill to John Fox, of a quarter of an acre of land lying on the east side of Main Street, where the Button house now stands, just north of True Temper Inn, with a store standing thereon. It is quite possible that William Fox, Jr., was a partner of Joel Hill in the business carried on in this store. The same mortgage includes also one half of a piece of land that Joel Hill and William Fox, Jr. bought of David Meachum, lying on the north side of Elm Street, containing one forth of an acre, together with a brewery, malt house and dwelling house standing thereon.
In the "History of Rutland County, 1886," we read: "The dis- tillery of Dr. Fox stood on the ground now covered by the house of Mrs. Wood. At a much earlier day James Sabin ran a distillery
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which was owned by William Fox, near the site of Arnold Hill's present residence. [On School Street opposite the school house.] It was burned about 1816."
Fox and Hill had been very successful during the first years of their partnership, but change of times, the burning of the dis- tillery with a large stock of liquors, and other reverses, nearly swept away the earnings they had accumulated. These losses fell principally upon Fox, as Hill had furnished but a small part of the capital. After dissolving partnership and satisfying all claims, Fox found there was little left except his western lands: military lands given to soldiers of the war of 1812, of which he bought quite an amount, and, as they were unsalable, it was necessary to begin the world anew. During this time of uncertainty as to what his future course should be, he made two trips to Illinois, and would undoubtedly have moved to that state had not the parents and friends of his wife protested strongly against a separation so distant. As there was little inducement to remain in Vermont, he finally decided that he would remove to western New York. In the fall of 1827 he removed to that part of the country and in the spring of the year following settled on a farm of one hundred acres in Orleans County.
William Fox, Jr. was a man of great energy and industry. He was enterprising but the misfortunes of early life had made him cautious and prudent. He was not one who made a display of the affection he felt for his family but was ever mindful of their wel- fare, and by prudence and industry was able to make a fair pro- vision for each of them. He was a man of more than usual intelli- gence. The lack of educational advantages in early life had been supplied by careful reading, traveling and mingling with dif- ferent classes of society. His memory readily recalled the scenes of his long and eventful life. A keen sense of humor and flashes of wit gave point and interest to these narratives. He was well informed on all questions of the day, and few could reason
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better on political movements that agitated the country. He was just and conscientious in his dealings with all men. The church with which he was connected received his liberal support, and in offices connected with its financial affairs he gave efficient aid. Family devotions were maintained in his household till the last year of his life.
William Fox, Jr. married Sarah Ives of Wallingford, August 27, 1806. They had five children.
In 1830, only a year after a degree was awarded to Dr. John Fox by the Vermont Academy of Medicine at Castleton, the same degree was awarded to his oldest son, Dr. William C. Fox, who had studied in his father's office and attended lectures at Castleton. After practicing medicine in Danby a short time the son returned to Wallingford where he continued to practice nearly fifty years. On May 8, 1834, he married Sophrona Spar- hawk of Walpole, New Hampshire. They had been married but five years when she died June 29, 1839, leaving a daughter, Har- riet S., two years of age. Eleven years after the death of his first wife Dr. Fox married Helen M. Sherman. There were two chil- dren by this second marriage but both died in childhood.
In 1860 Dr. Fox purchased of Franklin Post a tract of land lying on the east side of Main Street and the north side of Hull Avenue, where he established his home. The house is still stand- ing, a large attractive building shown facing page 156. His office occupied the south wing. The writer clearly remembers seeing him sitting at his desk which stood against the north wall, a corpulent, jovial man, with a keen sense of humor, and a hearty laugh. The office was well stocked with drugs contained in bot- tles standing in orderly rows on shelves, giving the place an odor that is ordinarily associated with an apothecary's shop.
These recollections are not confined to Dr. Fox's office for he was our family physician. His "chalk" powders left a lasting im-
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pression on my youthful mind, for the attempt to conceal their bitter taste by covering them with currant jelly was not wholly successful. They created an abhorrence of currant jelly that lasted for years. He was always called "Dr. Bill," and preferred that name. I do not remember ever having seen him walking. He drove about the countryside visiting his patients in a "buckboard" vehi- cle; not the type having boards that stretched from the front to the rear axletree, but in place of boards leaf-springs, supporting a seat in the middle ; a more elegant type of buckboard, and a type that gave comfort to the rider in driving over rough country roads. "Dr. Bill" was a large man who deflected the springs of his carriage severely and who occupied the greater part of the seat that may have been designed for two persons. Dr. Bill's father made his rounds on horseback, with medicines in saddlebags, but the country roads were so far improved that the son was able to visit his patients in a more comfortable conveyance.
When "Dr. Bill" was a young physician he had a case that baffled him. Seneca Townsend, son of Dyer Townsend, whose house stood on the north side of the old Tinmouth road just west of his father's residence, had been to the city and was taken ill soon after his return. "Dr. Bill" was called. After he had made his second visit he said to Dr. John Fox, "Father, Seneca Town- send is pretty sick and I don't know what is the matter with him. I wish you would go down there with me." In those days a sick person's room had about all the light and air carefully excluded. Dr. Fox entered the room before his son. He took one sniff of the stuffy air and turned about, saying, "Why, confound it, Bill, it is the small pox!" His diagnosis was correct.
One day when "Dr. Bill" was called to see a sick man, whom he had cured of many an ailment, the patient said to him, "Doc- tor, do you think that you can bring me out of this?" "Dr. Bill" paused thoughtfully for a moment and then said, "Yes, if it is not your last sickness."
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"Dr. Bill" was very much esteemed by his professional breth- ren; his courtesy and professional honor were proverbial, but it was in the circle of his patients that he reigned supreme. He car- ried with him into the sick chamber a cheery confidence and an air of faithfulness and intelligence that was inspiring, and gave ef- ficiency to his remedies. He rarely was succeeded by any other practitioner in any family; when once they employed him they ever after called him their physician and friend.
In the busy activity of his chosen profession he found little time for political pursuits, yet he held several town offices and represented the town in the legislature for the years 1852 and 1853. He was captain of a company of old militia and afterwards was the originator and commander of an independent rifle com- pany that long existed in town.
He may be said to have died "in harness" for some of his pre- scriptions were not over ten days old when he passed away, May 25, 1880. During the last week he seemed impressed with the idea that it was his last sickness.
Dr. Bill's daughter Harriet married Dr. Cephas K. Martindale, September 3, 1856, and they made their home in La Crosse, Wis- consin. He died in 1870 and then she returned with her four children to Wallingford, making their home with her father. The children were Mary, Fred, Belle and Hattie; all most attrac- tive. The afternoon "mixed" train-a long freight train with a single passenger car at the rear end-came in from Rutland. I was interested in noticing that a boy about my own age dropped off the rear steps of the train. I was told that his name was Fred Martindale, and that he had come with his mother and sisters to live in Wallingford. The children entered the public school and the family took a prominent part in the social life of the commu- nity. In 1878 Mrs. Martindale married Philip H. Emerson, who was a justice of the Federal court of Utah and the family there-
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THE FOX FAMILY
after made their home in Ogden. This left "Dr. Bill" alone once more.
Dr. John Fox's daughter, Elizabeth, married Edwin Martindale who came to Wallingford in 1832. Mr. Martindale was a mer- chant with a "general" store on the southeast corner of Main and School Streets. He served as Town Clerk from 1869 to 1880 and Town Treasurer for twenty years. He represented the town in the legislature for the years 1855 and 1856. He was a trustee of the Rutland Savings Bank, director in the National Bank of Rutland and in the Merchants National Bank of the same place. He died in 1892.
Mrs. Martindale was an invalid for a long time and was con- fined to the house for nearly two years before her death. She was born in Wallingford November 1, 1813, and passed her entire life here, having lived in the house built by her father. She be- came a member of the Congregational Church in 1831 and at the time of her death was the oldest member. Mrs. Martindale was of a benevolent disposition and was always active in the welfare of the church.
The Fox Family has been well represented in the medical pro- fession. Dr. George H. Fox, son of Dr. John Fox and younger brother of Dr. William C. Fox, after attending the schools of Wallingford, continued a college preparatory course in Troy Conference Academy, at Poultney, Vermont, in 1846, and at Castleton Academy in 1847. On account of poor health, he left the academy in 1848 and commenced the study of medicine in his father's office in Wallingford. After attending two courses of medical lectures, he was graduated in 1851 from the Vermont Academy of Medicine, Castleton. The following winter he pur- sued his studies in Philadelphia, and in 1853 in New York at the New York Medical College. He then returned to Wallingford and entered upon the practice of medicine, remaining until the
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fall of 1863, when he removed to Rutland, a larger field. On ac- count of poor health he gave up practice temporarily in 1865, but upon regaining his health in 1868 he resumed practice. Al- though not possessed of a vigorous constitution, he was a hard worker in the profession for nearly forty years.
He was a member of the Vermont State Medical Society; of the American Medical Association; was one of the founders of the Rutland Medical Club, and two years its president; was a member of the Medical Board of Pension Examiners when organized at Rutland during President Arthur's administration, was made its secretary, and so continued nearly four years,-until President Cleveland's first administration.
Dr. Fox was married, January 12, 1859, to Parmelia Harris, a daughter of Howard Harris of Wallingford.
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سيست عبي
RESIDENCE OF DR. WILLIAM C. FOX
سبة
DR. GEORGE FOX, 1830-1911
VII. THE MUNSON FAMILY
A N observant person driving through Wallingford will notice a number of substantial, handsome farmhouses along the high- way for two or three miles south of the village. When approach- ing the village from the south the first house to attract attention is of red brick; rather narrow and deep without ornamentation; standing on the left, high above the road, with marble steps lead- ing up to the front door; the style suggesting the colonial period, shown facing page 165. The land in rear of the house rises ab- ruptly, providing a verdant background. Just south of the house there is a grove of tall elms, and strewn among them are huge blocks of marble that once were white but now are overgrown with grass and weeds. These came from an old quarry near by.
About a mile further north stands another similar red brick house but in an open location, on more level ground with a row of maple trees between it and the highway, shown facing page 161. The two houses are much alike, except in size, and must have been designed by the same architect or builder.
The next adjoining farm is owned by Mr. Arthur Davison. It is made conspicuous by a group of fine buildings, including a white frame house in colonial style, with a handsome doorway. The house stands on sloping ground above the road with a group of maple trees in front, shown facing page 171.
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A road branches from the highway in front of Mr. Davison's house, leading eastward across the Creek to a group of farm buildings on a slight elevation, affording an extensive view of the surrounding country. Here is another large colonial brick house, the present home of Mrs. A. A. Danolds.
The Goodell farm is the second north of Mr. Davison's on the highway with a white frame house, shown facing page 176, the finest of all that are here mentioned. It too is colonial in style, with an attractive front doorway and side porch, the floors of which are white marble. The porch columns are square and sub- stantial. Four symmetrical chimneys pierce the slated roof. The main part of the house is covered with pine sheathing, tongued and grooved together, making a smooth surface. In the front hall are to be found a handsome mahogany newel post and stair- rail. The large barn on the opposite side of the road is framed with hewn timbers, some of which are seventy feet long.
Another brick house, painted white, adorns another farm, the last before entering the village, the home of Donald Leach, shown facing page 177. It was originally of simple colonial ar- chitecture but, fifty years or more ago the occupants thought to improve it by adding three bay windows and a front porch with jig-saw brackets.
A stranger in these parts might wonder that the fertile fields along the Creek, flowing down this charming valley, had pro- duced the wealth necessary to build these substantial and beauti- ful homes; and he might be so impressed with the uniformity of their architecture as to inquire how it came about. The answer is simple. They were all the product of the Munson family with resources beyond the land on which they stand, as we shall pro- ceed to explain.
The Munsons on this continent are numerous and a few have distinguished themselves. There is the Munson Steamship Line and the Munson Building on Wall Street, New York City, but we
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THE MUNSON FAMILY
cannot say how closely they are related to the Munson family that came to Vermont, if at all.
Isaac Munson was born in New Haven, Connecticut, April 5, 1771. He was a descendant of Captain Thomas Munson, a pioneer who came to America in 1637. He married Sarah Bradley, a descendant of Deacon Abraham Bradley, the owner of a grist- mill on Beaver Pond brook, which was a recognized institution in 1704. They resided in New Haven until 1814 when they re- moved to Wallingford, Vermont. The family included ten chil- dren, all of whom were born in New Haven except the youngest.
Isaac was a blacksmith and owned numerous pieces of real estate. He inherited from his father's estate property amounting to $1,725 which comprised "The blacksmith shop and coal house, and seven pieces of land." He was chosen March 9, 1807, to fill out his father's unfinished term as sealer of weights and meas- ures, and he was annually reelected while he remained in New Haven. His residence was the long house on the west side of College street, between Wall and Grove streets. In appearance he is described by those who remember him as rather stocky and of somewhat swarthy complexion. His wife Sarah was a member of the North Church, having been admitted in 1798.
The children were:
Sarah, born August 23, 1795; died September 24, 1851. Elizur, born December 22, 1797; died November 2, 1854. Caroline, born July 21, 1802 ; unmarried; died January 26, 1824. Mary Ann, born July 11, 1804; died May 1, 1880.
Isaac Bradley, born May 1, 1806; died December 2, 1876. Israel, born March 18, 1808; died February 13, 1887.
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