USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County, Volume I > Part 53
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Dr. A. W. Gray came from New York in 1858 at the request of Dr. Brown, with whom he was associated for some time. He was a brother of Dr. John Gray of New York city, one of the pioncer home- opathic physicians of the United States. Dr. Gray died in Milwaukee in 1873 and was succeeded by his son, Dr. N. A. Gray, who had been associated with him for some six years prior to his death.
Dr. Ernst Kuemmel, a German disciple of Hahnemann began prac- tice in 1859 on the South Side, where he continued for many years. In 1862 Drs. C. A. Leuthstrom and F. H. Dodge joined the homeopaths in Milwaukee. The former was a Swede, a man of fine ability, who
497
MEDICAL PROFESSION
had commenced his professional career at Columbus, Ohio, in 1848. In 1854 he removed to Waukesha, Wis., and in 1862 to Milwaukee, where he built up a fine practice. In 1879 he retired and passed the rest of his life at his country home in Waukesha county. Dr. Dodge remained in the city only a short time, when he removed to Lake Mills, Wis., where he achieved a marked success as a homeopathic physician. Dr. Richard C. Brown, who had been an army surgeon during the war, located in Milwaukee in 1866. He was for many years surgeon of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, and died in 1894. In the same year that he came to Milwaukee, Dr. F. C. John removed from Sheboygan and through his jolly disposition and great professional skill soon acquired a large practice. His son, Dr. F. F. John, began practice in 1880 and when the father died in 1891 suc- ceeded to the entire business.
Dr. Lewis Sherman, a native of Vermont, graduated with the de- gree of A. M. at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in 1865, and in 1870 he received the degree of M. D. from the medical department of the University of New York. The same year he located in Milwau- kee, where he began the practice of his profession. Two years later he became a convert to the homeopathic ideas and from that time un- til 1875 was associated with Dr. James S. Douglass. He is the author of a work on "Therapeutics and Materia Medica" and Heilkunde and Heilmittelehre," besides various articles contributed to medical jour- nals, and is still engaged in practice.
Dr. Julia Ford, the first female physician of the homeopathic school in this city, came in 1870 and located on the South Side, where she built up a good practice. She died in 1894, and has been described as "a bright and industrious woman, an honor to her sex and an ornament to the profession." Other woman who have practiced medi- cine in Milwaukee according to the tenets of homeopathy were Helen Bingham, Mary E. Hughes, Belle Reynolds, Hannah M. Brown, Evelyn Hoehne and Almah J. Frisby. Dr. Bingham went to Denver, Col., Dr. Reynolds to Santa Barbara, Cal., and some of the others are still engaged in practice in Milwaukee.
Among the homeopaths who came to the city between 1870 and 1880 were O. W. Carlson, C. D. Stanhope, Eugene F. Storke, Joseph Lewis, Jr., Willis Danforth, C. C. Olmsted, Robert Martin, A. J. Hare and G. C. Dermott. Of these Dr. Carlson, who is still in practice, is a nephew of Dr. C. A. Leuthstrom above mentioned. Drs. Stanhope and Storke were in partnership for some time, when the latter removed to Denver, Col., some years ago, since which time Dr. Stanhope has continued alone. Dr. Lewis, a graduate of the Chicago Homeopathic
32
498
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
Medical College, began practice on the South Side, where he is still located. He was president of the Homeopathic State Medical Society in 1895. Dr. Danforth was formerly an allopath ; served as surgeon of an Illinois regiment during the war; located in Milwaukee in 1879, and was subsequently called to the chair of surgery in the Hahne- mann Medical College of Chicago. Dr. Olmsted was a graduate of the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, a native of Vermont, and came from Wheeling, W. Va., to Milwaukee in 1878. In 1886 he re- moved to Kansas City, Mo., being succeeded in Milwaukee by Dr. F. D. Brooks, who came from New York. Dr. Martin is still engaged in practice in Milwaukee. He is a graduate of Starling Medical College of Ohio, and after coming to Milwaukee served as health commissioner for several years. Dr. A. J. Hare was for some time superintendent of the Milwaukee County Insane Asylum. Dr. Dermott came in 1877 and in 1881 removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, to become professor of eye and ear surgery in the Pulte Medical College of that city. He was succeeded in Milwaukee by Dr. E. W. Beebe.
In the work of the charity hospitals, homes, dispensaries, etc., of the city the homeopathic physicians have always shown a willingness to contribute their share of professional work, giving their services gratuitously upon request of the patients.
The Milwaukee Homeopathic Medical Society was organized at an early day by the five or six doctors of that school in the city, and was maintained by them for several years, when it was allowed to pass quietly out of existence. In 1879 the Milwaukee Academy of Medi- cine was organized by the homeopaths with the following officers : Lewis Sherman, president : Oscar W. Carlson, vice-president ; A. Schloemilch, secretary; Joseph Lewis, Jr., treasurer. The main pur- pose of the academy was to conduct experiments to show the action of medicines on the healthy human body. Physicians of other schools became interested in the work and joined the society, though a large majority of the members were always homeopaths. The academy won a wide reputation through the famous "Milwaukee Test" of the limits of drug attenuation in the practice of medicine.
In 1849 Dr. J. S. Douglass founded the Milwaukee Homeopathic Pharmacy. Successively associated with him were Drs. Tracy, Greves. Perrine and Sherman. The objects of the pharmacy are to supply phy- sicians with medicines, books, medical supplies, surgical appliances, medicine cases, etc. For some time it was located at No. 171 Wiscon- sin street, but it is now ( 1908) conducted by Dr. Lewis Sherman at No. 448 Jackson street.
499
MEDICAL PROFESSION
EPIDEMICS.
Small-pox made its appearance in Milwaukee in the spring of 1843, continued through the summer, and as autumn approached the number of cases increased and the disease assumed a more violent form. The authorities finally became aroused to the gravity of the situation ; a board of health, consisting of three members with Dr. T. J. Noyes as chairman, was appointed; a log cabin on Oakland avenue, about half-way between the village and Whitefish Bay, was rented for a pest house and placed in charge of Drs. J. K. Bartlett and W. L. Bean; it was ordered that all cases of small-pox should be removed to the pest house, and that any physician failing to report cases to the board of health was to be subject to a fine. J. B. Selby, a medical student in the office of Bartlett & Bean, took up his residence at the pest house and continued in charge until the worst had passed, having at one time forty patients under his care in that little log cabin. A number of cases were cared for by the Sisters of Charity in their infirmary at the corner of Jackson and Oneida streets, securing the assistance of five doctors to care for the plague stricken patients.
In 1846 the disease again appeared, this time in its most malignant form, and the common council passed an ordinance providing for the appointment of five physicians-one for each ward-to seek out and report all cases of small-pox. All through the fall and winter new cases were reported almost daily, and in March, 1847, the council passed an ordinance requiring every person to be vaccinated. To carry out the provisions of the ordinance the council appropriated $200 and appointed physicians to make a house-to-house canvass and vaccinate everybody. Each of these physicians was authorized to collect a fee of twenty-five cents from each person vaccinated, if such person was able to pay it, but the vaccination was to be done, pay or no pay. This ordinance was supplemented and strengthened by a resolution of the school board denying school privileges to every child who could not show a clean vaccination record, and through these heroic measures the epidemic was stamped out.
In the fall of 1868 the disease again appeared and soon became epidemic. The public schools in the Second, Sixth and Ninth wards were closed by order of the school board, and remained closed until the small-pox was under control. On April 7, 1869, Dr. Johnson, who was at that time health commissioner, stated that the number of cases reported to the health department during the preceding year was 501. which he estimated as being not more than two-thirds of the actual number in the city. He urged the passage of an ordinance requiring
1
500
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
all cases to be reported, with severe penalties for failure to comply. Of the 501 cases reported 419 were among the German population. Dur- ing the 70's there were several small-pox epidemics and again the Ger- man population suffered the most severely. The report of the board of health for 1871 says: "A very noticeable feature of the epidemic is its prevalence among our fellow-citizens of German descent. Of the 774 cases reported, 568 were Germans. This is 206 more than oc- curred among all other nationalities, Americans, Irish, Norwegians, etc., put together. But the German people constitute less than one- third of the whole population. Therefore, if the people of other na- tionalities were equally exposed to the attack, the Germans should have had only 258 cases instead of 568. A comparison between the Germans and Americans gives the most striking results. The cases among the latter number only 63, while the German cases were nine times as numerous. In population the Americans exceed the Germans by about 15,000. The Americans ought, therefore, to have had more than 600 cases instead of 63, unless for some reason the Germans were more in danger than the Americans. What then is the rea- son why this death angel carried desolation into so many homes among the Germans, while he passed over the homes of the Americans, Irish and others, leaving them untouched by the sword? We answer, be- cause the former almost invariably refused vaccination, while the lat- ter almost universally practiced it. This fact demonstrates the pro- tecting power of vaccination and proves the blindness and fatuity of those who neglected it."
There always has been, and probably always will be, a difference of opinion as to the efficacy of vaccination as a prophylactic in small- pox epidemics. Some of the Milwaukee physicians and newspapers opposed it, and it was doubtless due to the influence of these doctors and editors that many of the Germans declined to be vaccinated. Con- cerning this opposition the report above referred to said: "It is an obvious reflection that those physicians and the conductors of news- papers who have denounced vaccination as useless if not dangerous, and have exerted their influence to dissuade the people from using it, have taken on themselves a fearful responsibility. The grave has closed over many of the dupes of their insane counsels ; but they can- not escape the reproaches of surviving victims who will carry for life marks branded on them by these pretended friends and trusted ad- visers."
In 1872 there were 616 cases of small-pox reported. 469 of which were among the Germans. The report for 1873 states that there were II4 deaths from small-pox during the year, but does not give the total
501
MEDICAL PROFESSION
number of cases, and there were a few deaths in 1874. The city then enjoyed a respite for over a year, but in 1876 there were 337 cases re- ported. In 1877 Dr. Johnson retired from the office of health com- missioner and was succeeded by Dr. I. H. Stearns, who had previously been connected with the National Soldiers' Home. In 1878 Dr. Orlando W. Wight was made health commissioner and he held the office for four years. Only one case of small-pox was reported during his incum- bency. The patient was promptly isolated and the house in which the case developed was burned, with all its contents. This was a rather extreme remedy, but it is worthy of note that no spread of the disease followed.
Since then Milwaukee has been comparatively free from small- pox visitations. An epidemic occurred in the summer and fall of 1892 but it was not as virulent as some of the former ones had been, owing to the fact that the disease was less malignant in form and the author- ities promptly took measures to check its ravages. The school board issued an order that every child must show a vaccination certificate be- fore being admitted to the public schools ; a temporary isolation hospi- tal, surrounded by a high board fence, was erected near where Milwau- kee-Downer College now stands, and the rules of the board of health requiring immediate reports in all cases were rigidly enforced. Some excitement occurred among the Polish population, who resented the efforts of the health officers to remove patients to the isolation hospital and to fumigate houses in which cases of small-pox developed. Ambu- lances were stoned and the police were frequently called into requisi- tion to assist the health officers in the prosecution of this work. In proportion to the whole number of cases there were comparatively few deaths, and except for the opposition of the Poles the epidemic passed without disturbing the business or social life of the city.
In recent years the improved sanitary conditions and the prompt- ness of the municipal authorities in dealing with small-pox immediately upon its appearance have kept the dread disease well within bounds and no serious epidemics have occurred.
Cholera made its appearance in some parts of the United States in 1848, but it did not reach Milwaukee until the following year, when, owing to the absence of effectual quarantine regulations, it was brought in by immigrants. The first case was in July, 1849, and within a week six deaths from cholera were reported. Then the authorities under- took to do what they should have done before. The common council passed an ordinance prohibiting persons from landing from the pas- senger boats until after a strict examination into their health, and all physicians were required to report promptly every case of cholera,
502
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
under penalty of a fine of $50 or thirty days in jail. By the middle of August the deaths numbered from five to ten daily, and of the 209 cases reported, 104 resulted in death. Again the Sisters of Charity did a good work, many of those who fell victims to the pestilence being cared for in the infirmary at the corner of Jackson and Oneida streets. In 1850 the city council conferred on the board of health power "to employ physicians, abate nuisances, and take all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of the cholera epidemic."
But all these precautions were unavailing, as the epidemic of 1850 was more general than that of the preceding year, and the disease as- sumed a more malignant form. The first case of this year presented itself on July 4, and the pestilence spread with startling rapidity. Men left their homes in their usual state of health in the morning and before nightfall were cold in death. A number of persons were at- tacked while walking along the streets and died where they fell. From the fact that at that time there was no regularly organized health de- partment, no reliable statistics of the epidemic have been preserved, but it is certain that 300 or more died of cholera this year. Physicians generally remained at their posts of duty, doing all in their power to relieve the sufferers and check the progress of the awful malady. One of the doctors of that day, in describing the situation that prevailed during the scourge, said: "The disease assumed its most terrible as- pect during August and September, when it was difficult to provide for the living or properly bury the dead. At one time there were eighteen bodies awaiting burial at the Catholic cemetery; and in one house seven dead bodies were found. The whole epidemic formed a chapter of horrors."
In 1852 and again in 1853 there were a few cases of cholera, but not enough to occasion alarm. It was more severe in 1854 and ap- proached almost to the epidemic stage. That was its last appearance.
Milwaukee has suffered at divers times from epidemics of minor diseases stich as diptheria, measles, scarlet fever, lagrippe, etc., but none of these has been marked by the mortality that accompanied the cholera and small-pox epidemics above recorded. The board of health has always been persistent in its efforts to bring about improved sani- tary conditions in the way of securing better drinking water, better sewerage, stopping the sale of unwholesome or adulterated food pro- ducts, etc., and it is due to these efforts that Milwaukee today holds the record of being one of the most healthful cities in the country. On this board physicians have been well represented and have always taken the lead in advocating measures for the preservation of the public health. Said one of the leading physicians of the city recently : "Med-
503
MEDICAL PROFESSION
ical progress in the city of Milwaukee during the past quarter of a century cannot be separated from the medical progress of the world. The medical profession in Milwaukee maintains a position abreast of the times ; her surgeons perform successfully the most difficult opera- tions from day to day, her physicians treat in a scientific manner the most difficult and obscure diseases ; those engaged in special work rank among the best in the medical societies. Some of the physicians of Milwaukee are authors of standard medical works, and the writings of many are quoted in the leading medical literature ; and among their numbers are neurologists and alienists who are frequently called to give testimony in the courts in some of the most difficult cases in medico-legal experience. Surgical appliances and inventions, the products of their ingenuity, in special lines of work are recognized throughout the country, and no person need seek advice in distant cities in order to obtain the latest and best that medical science can af- ford. The future of medical science is no doubt very great, and Milwaukee with its two medical colleges, its laboratories, libraries and medical societies is well equipped to join the advance. The high standing and lofty aims of her medical men should stimulate a just pride and confidence in all who believe in true scientific progress, and if education and research mean anything the medical profession of Milwaukee merits consideration."
CHAPTER XVII.
BENCH AND BAR.
FIRST COURTS-WILLIAM C. FRAZER, THE FIRST JUDGE-JUDGE ANDREW G. MILLER-CHANGE IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM-CIRCUIT JUDGES- PROBATE AND COUNTY JUDGES-SUPERIOR COURT-POLICE COURT-DIS- TRICT ATTORNEYS-MEMBERS OF THE BAR.
The establishment of courts of justice and the installation of the necessary officials were naturally the first work attending the organiza- tion of Milwaukee county. As has been stated in a previous chapter the county was created by an act of the Michigan territorial legislature, on Sept. 6, 1834. Its boundaries embraced a considerable part of the present state of Wisconsin, in fact all the territory since organized into the counties of Jefferson, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Rock, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha, the southeast portion of Columbia county, the greater part of Dodge, Washington and Ozaukee counties, and all of Dane county, lying east of a north and south line drawn through the city of Madison. This considerable territory was at that time but sparsely settled, and only at a few points. As the country became more densely populated the other counties now embracing a part of what was originally Milwaukee county were created. For judicial purposes, however, all this vast territory was attached to Brown county un- til after Wisconsin became a separate division, which consumation was realized on July 4, 1836.
The act of Congress creating the territory provided for a supreme court, consisting of three judges, to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the senate, for district courts to be held by the judges of the supreme court, and for probate courts and courts of jus- tices of the peace. The jurisdiction of the several courts so provided for, both appellate and original, was to be prescribed by the legislature of the territory, except that the jurisdiction of justices of the peace was not to be extended to controversies involving the title or boun-
505
BENCH AND BAR
daries of land, or where the debt or sum claimed should exceed fifty dollars. The governor was to nominate and by and with the consent and advice of the legislative council, appoint all judicial officers, jus- tices of the peace, sheriffs and all militia officers, except those of the staff. Clerks of the courts were to be appointed by the judges thercof, but township officers and all other county officers were to be elected by the people in such manner as might be provided by the governor and legislative assembly. The members of the supreme court, appointed by the President and consisting of a chief justice and two associate justices, were to hold their offices during good behavior, and were each to receive an annual salary of $1,800. The territory was to be divided into three judicial districts, and a district court to be held in each by one of the judges of the supreme court at such times and places as might be prescribed by law. Writs of error and appeals in chancery causes were allowed in all cases from the district courts to the supreme court, and from the supreme court to the supreme court of the United States, when the amount in controversy exceeded $1.000. The district courts were to have and exercise the same jurisdiction in all cases arising under the Constitution and laws of the United States as is vested in the circuit and district courts of the United States. An attor- ney and a marshal for the territory were to be appointed, each for the term of four years, subject to removal by the president. The governor, secretary, judges, attorney, and marshal were to be nominated, and by and with the consent of the senate, appointed by the President of the United States. Each was to take an official oath, which was to be filed with the Secretary of the Territory. The organic act also provided that the laws of the Territory of Michigan should be extended over the Ter- ritory of Wisconsin, so far as the same should not be incompatible, subject, however, to alteration, modification, and repeal. And further. the laws of the United States were to be extended over, and be in force in the Territory of Wisconsin so far as they might be applicable. Suitable provision was made for the transfer of pending judicial pro- ceedings from the courts of Michigan to those of Wisconsin.
At the first session of the Wisconsin territorial legislature, held at Belmont in October, 1836, the counties of Brown and Milwaukee- then including virtually the eastern half of the present state of Wis- consin-were constituted one of the three judicial districts, and William C. Frazer, one of the judges of the territory-then lately ap- pointed by President Jackson, was designated to perform judicial duties in that district, and he was required to hold at least two terms of court in each county of the district, annually. Subsequently another act was passed authorizing the judges to appoint clerks of the courts pre-
506
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
vious to the holding of the first term, and Cyrus Hawley was appointed to that position in Milwaukee county.
Judge Frazer was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and he first arrived in the village of Milwaukee upon a pleasant Sunday evening in June, 1837, opening the first term of the district court on June 14. It is said that upon his arrival he put up at the Cottage Inn, kept by Levi Vail, and immediately looked around for something social. He fell in with a party of old Kentucky friends, among whom was Colonel Morton, register of the land office. Another writer is authority for the state- ments that follow : A proposition for a game of poker was eagerly accepted. First small sums of money were staked, then larger, the excitement rose high ; game after game followed; the small hours of Monday morning were rapidly becoming larger. Judge Frazer rose, apologized, remarked that the grand jury met at 10 o'clock a. m., that he had a charge to make, and would have to go. The first territorial judge breakfasted, and opened the court in a way which did not favor- ably impress the members of the Bar. He was finely dressed, very tall, with large head, red face, and a voice rough and unpleasant. It became his duty, as district judge, to read the statute leveled against gambling. And he not read it, but; perhaps, urged on by his luck since he had come to Milwaukee, threw in some remarks to the end that "a gambler is unfit for earth, Heaven or hell," and that "God Almighty would shudder at the sight of one." This was but the com- mencement of a course which aroused all the members of the Bar. A number of cases came before him during this term, the most import- ant one being the trial of the two Indians for the murder of the young man Burnett. The judge assigned Jonathan E. Arnold to defend them, H. N. Wells being prosecuting attorney. When the testimony was all in, Judge Frazer took out his watch, and noting the time, laid it upon the table, thus addressing the counsel. "Now, Mr. Arnold and Mr. Wells, I will give you fifteen minutes each to make your arguments to the jury in this case, and no more." Vainly did they protest against such tyranny. Judge Frazer was an old man-over sixty-and had no patience with young ones. Mr. Arnold had hardly entered into the gist of his argument when time was called, and he naturally lost his case. At other times the judge would seem to be filled with the milk of human kindness toward the defendant in a suit. Witness the following, told by A. F. Pratt, of Waukesha, for the Historical Society: "A suit came up against a man who had no counsel. The judge ordered the crier to call the defendant. Upon appearing, the judge asked him if he had anything to say against judgment being rendered. He replied that he did not know as he had, since it was an honest debt, but that he was
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.