USA > Wyoming > Pioneer physicians of Wyoming Valley [1711-1825] : an address before the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society > Part 5
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He had eleven children. The family left Wilkes-Barré about 1817, 1818 or 1819. Mention is made of him in the Historical Record, volume 3, page 96.
DR. WALLIS.
There was an early Dr. Wallis here for a time.
DR. BENJAMIN SMITH.
Dr. Benjamin Smith, also called Capt. Smith, practiced in Kingston. He died there January 19, 1816, aged 57 years. (See John Smith, his son.)
DR. SCHOTT.
There was a Dr. Schott practicing in Kingston soon after 1800. He was a son of Capt. John Paul Schott.
DR. ELISHA NOYES SILL.
Dr. Elisha Noyes Sill, born in Connecticut in 1761, came with his parents to Wyoming, enlisted in Capt. Durkee's company at the age of 15. Subsequently he returned to Con- necticut and became a distinguished physician. (Miner, Appendix, page 50.)
59
PIONEER PHYSICIANS OF WYOMING VALLEY.
DR. THOMAS SWEET.
There was a Dr. Thomas Sweet in Carbondale as early as 1823.
DR. GEORGE W. TROTT.
As early as 1810 Dr. George W. Trott was practicing med- icine in Wilkes-Barré. In September of that year he mar- ried Lydia Chapman, a sister of Isaac A. Chapman, the first historian of Wyoming. Their daughter, Sarah Eliza- beth, born June 21, 1810, died June 25, 1869, married George W. Woodward, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Trott was a native of Norwich, Conn. He was licensed to practice in 1802 by the Connecticut Medical So- ciety, certificate signed by James Potter, president, by Avery Downer and John O. Miner, committee for the county of New London.
He studied four years with Dr. Philander Tracy of Nor- wich, who gave him, under date of Noevmber 3, 1803, the following: "This may certify that Doct. Geo. W. Trott has resided with myself nearly 4 years as a student in physic, etc. His opportunity has been good, both as to theoretic improvement and observation in practice. I think he may safely be confided in as a young man of skill in his profession and of unexceptionable moral character."
In a biographical sketch by the late Judge E. L. Dana, it is stated :
"Dr. Trott was a skillful physician and had acquired a large practice ; but in that early day, ere the mineral wealth of the valley was known, or its agricultural resources devel- oped, amidst a people impoverished by the exhaustive strug- gle between Connecticut and Pennsylvania, from which they had recently emerged, he had acquired little more than a rep- utation, a practice and a long list of uncollectible accounts. His death occurred in 1815, when a daughter, then 5 years old, and her widowed mother were left dependent upon their
60
PIONEER PHYSICIANS OF WYOMING VALLEY.
own exertions for support. Mrs. Trott, a lady of culture, then devoted herself to teaching. The daughter in 1832 married Geo. W. Woodward."
The following reminiscence of Lydia Chapman, when she was a young woman of 26, and eight years prior to her marriage to Mr. Trott, is taken from a local paper
"Our grandmothers were just as fond of finery as we are, if not fonder, for what Wilkes-Barre woman now would be so eager for a new bonnet as to spend two days and two nights on a stage trip over villainous mountain roads in search of a milliner. An enthusiastic young woman, whose account of such a trip is appended, was Lydia Chapman, sister of Isaac A. Chapman, one of the historians of Wyom- ing, and mother of the late Chief Justice George W. Wood- ward. She was 26 years of age at the time and it was not until eight years later that she married."
"An entertaining journal of a stage trip from Wilkes-Barré to Easton, made by her in 1802, states that,
She set out from Wilkes-Barre with Mr. and Mrs. A. Colt, on a frosty November morning before sunrise, a sip of hot sling at Ike's proving very acceptable. Stopped at Sock's at noon and proceeded in a pouring rain, finding shelter over night in an humble wayside abode. The next day they got an early start over the barren Pocono, had refreshments at Merwin's, brandy at Bushkirk's and put up for the night at Miller's at the Wind Gap. They reached Easton on the morning of the third day. Here she hunted up a milliner and bought a straw bonnet and did other shopping. Took tea with Mrs. Arndt, received calls from Dr. Covell and George Schotts, and breakfasted next morning with Mr. and Mrs. Dick, also taking dinner there and drinking several glasses of wine. Admired the beautiful home of Mr. Sit- graves. Only one church in town-a German one. The journal breaks off very abruptly, leaving the reader disap- pointed at its not being continued.
61
PIONEER PHYSICIANS OF WYOMING VALLEY.
The charming writer of this quaint old diary has been at rest for many years. Not long ago I saw her tombstone and it reads thus
"Mrs. Lydia Trott widow of Dr. George W. Trott born at Norwich Conn Mar 16, 1776 died at Philadelphia. Oct 6. 1857."
DR. ASA C. WHITNEY.
I was informed by Col. Charles Dorrance that Dr. Asa C. Whitney was a New England man and that he came from Bradford County to Wyoming Valley from 1810 to 1815. He followed Dr. Baldwin. He was a son of Elisha Whit- ney, who moved to Wyoming Valley from 1810 to 1816, when he removed to Wysox, Bradford County. Elisha was a native of Spencer, Mass., where he was born in 1747. He married Esther Clark of that place and they had ten chil- dren. Dr. Asa Whitney was a justice of the peace in the Wysox region in 1810. In 1820 he was elected Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds in Luzerne County. His first wife was Betsey, daughter of Lieut. Col. George Dorrance, whom he married February 21, 1809. They had two sons and a daughter. His second wife was Susan, a daughter of Col. Edward Inman, and their daughter was Mrs. Angelo Jackson, mother of E. V. Jackson, Esq. His sister Elizabeth was the mother of Victor E. Piollet of Bradford County. Dr. Whitney lived in Kingston, where now stands the for- mer residence of Samuel Hoyt, but sold to Dr. Atkins and bought the Sinton, later the McCarragher, property in Wilkes-Barre, at corner of Hazle Avenue and Park Avenue. He practiced there during the rest of his life, his death oc- curring in 1824, at the age of 39.
62
PIONEER PHYSICIANS OF WYOMING VALLEY.
Dr. Whitney was regarded as one of the most skillful men in the Valley. A daring surgeon, with rough exterior, but competent and successful.
These epitaphs can be seen in Forty Fort Cemetery :
In memory of Dr. Asa. C. Whitney,
Who departed this life Dec. 10, 1824,
Aged 39 years.
In memory of Elizabeth, wife of
Dr. Asa C. Whitney,
Who departed this life April 20, 1820. Aged 41 years.
[Extracts from H. L. Fisher's "Olden Times."]
When the ever-famous healing art was in its infancy,
It often happened on the score of sheer conveniency, That the family doctor also doctored, family, horse and cow, For doctors were much rarer then that the rarest of them now.
They always rode on horseback, and gen'rally the gallop, With saddle-bags and pockets full of calomel and jalap, And Epsom salts and senna too, and hellebore and borax, And herbs and teas for stomach-aches, the bowels and the thorax ; And aloes for cathartics mild and ipecac-emetics,
Peruvian bark in Holland gin for gentle diuretics.
If the case was chills and fever, or of trouble in the head, The first thing to relieve it was to have the patient bled ; And next to have him blistered, just for counter-irritation, Then twenty grains of mercury for final salivation.
The blacksmith and the tailor and Saint Crispin's cobbling snob, By turns each took his turn to do a little healing job;
To let, or check, or stop the blood, or break the spell of witch, While each one had the only salve that would surely cure the itch.
There were hundreds of home-remedies for all kinds of com- plaints ---
All better than the best faith-cure or the prayers of the saints; If the children had the measels or the matter was in doubt, They had to drink sheep-saffron tea to drive the rascals out.
And if a child was liver-grown, or seemed to have a spell, Three times put through a horse-collar would always make it well;
The blooming youths who freckels had, went on the first of May, And with the early virgin-dew they washed them all away.
INDEX.
Names of Pioneer Physicians are printed in Capitals.
BACON, DR. ETHEL B. . 31
BALDWIN, DR. SAMUEL.
. 30
BENNETT, DR. ALDEN I. 31
BEDFORD, DR. ANDREW
.31
BIGELOW, DR. OLIVER
31
ATKINS, DR.
. 29
Anti-Masonic Excitement
57
Bennett, Rufus
17
Bennett, Thomas
. 31
Beach, Nathan
. 35
Beaumont, Andrew
51
Bishop, Rev. W'm.
46
Blackman, Elisha .
. 44
Blackman, Elisha, Accounts
9,28
Blanchard. Jeremiah
. 10
Bowman, Ebenezer
30, 51
British Settlement .
. 54
Butler, Steuben .
35
Butler, Lydia, dead .
5
Butler, Zebulon
5,7,8
CALKINS, DR. JOHN
27
CAREY, DR. FRANCIS
32
CHAMBERLAIN, DR. EBENEZER
.32
CHRISTEL, DR. C. F. J.
37
COVELL, DR. MATTHEW
33
COVELL. DR. EDWARD . 33
CORKINS, (see CALKINS)
. 27
COLLINS, DR. LEWIS
.32
COOK, DR. SAMUEL .
. 33
CRARY, DR. MASON
34
CRISSEY, DR. FRANKLIN
. 33
Carey, Henry
. 27
Catlin, Martha L.
34
Cady, Henry
37
Chapman, Isaac A.
. 59
Chapman, Eunice .
1I
Collins, Oristus
32, 38, 57
Collins, Philena
32, 38
Colt, A. .
. 60
Coshutunk (Cochecton)
8, 15, 27
Colchester, Conn.
II
Connecticut Money, Value of
9
Crary's Medical Advertisements
.35
Currency Values
9
DARBEE, DR. SHADRACH
38
DAVIS, DR. JOSEPH
40
DIBOLL, DR. VIRGIL .
38
DIMOCK, DR. (REV.) DAVIS
· 39
Davis, Sarah
. 41
Davison, Douglas .
.10
Dana, Anderson
27, 47,48
Denison, George
30
Denison, Nathan
8
Denison Lazarns
14
Dibel, Dibell, Dibble, see Diboll .
Dimon, Jonathan
52
Diseases, Early
4
Doctors Paid Settling Rights
6
Dorrance, George
61
Drake, Elder Jacob
39, 40
Dudley, Joseph
19
Fever and Ague
4
Fell, Jesse, coal discovery
17
Fell, Jesse and Nancy .
51
Fitch, Mrs. Jonathan
15
Fish, Jabez .
27
Finn, Rev. James
46
Fisher, H. L., Poem
62
First Medical Man
6
Friedenshutten
9
Fuller, Stephen .
7
GAYLORD, DR. CHARLES E.
. 42
GIDDINGS, DR. NATHANIEL.
44
GREEN, DR. HENRY
42
GUSTIN, DR. LEMUEL
21, 20
Gardner, Peregrine .
8
Gaylord, Asher
42
Geer, Rezin .
8
Giddings, Capt. Nathaniel
46
Gore, Obadiah
17
Green, Norvin
42
Gustin Genealogy
23
Gustin, George W.
23, 26
HAMLIN, DR. ORLO .
47
Harding, Stephen .
. 31
Hardings, slain .
.39
Hitchcock, Elisha and Ruth
41
Hollenback, Matthias
7
Hoyt, Rev. Ard.
31
Hoyt, Capt. Daniel
31
Huntington, Oliver
32
Hunlock, Jonathan
. 47
Inoculation
4
Indians in Wyoming Valley .
8
Indians feared small-pox
5
Inherited Extra Finger
. 52
Inman, Edward .
. 61
64
INDEX.
JAMESON DR. SAMUEL . 47
JOHNSON, DR. C. B. 53
JONES, DR. LATHAN . 36, 48
Jameson, John . 47
Jackson, Angelo
50
Jenkins, Mehitable
57
Jenkins, Benj.
39
Jenkins, John 30, 39. 57
Jesuit Bark
5
Johnson, Wesley 14
Johnson, Jacob
8,46
Knapp, Benj. and Betsey . 41
Laning, A. C. . 37
Lackawanna . 7, 10
Lewis, S. D. 57
Luzerne County created
3
MINER, DR. THOMAS W . 50
MINARD, DR. GEORGE 49
McMILLAN, DR. JOHN 49
MONTROSS, DR. REUBEN . 50
MORELAND, DR.
. 49
MORSE, DR. ANNA
.49
Mason, Capt. John
36
Marsh, Rev. William .
46
Miner, Asher and Mary .
. 50
Miner, Charles
. 50
Miner, William P.
. 50
Miner, Lieut. Thomas
55
Mill Creek
7
NICHOLS, DR. WM. R. N. 52
Nescopeck Creek
3
Old Forge established
18, 41
Osterhout, Isaac, S ..
20
Otto, Dr., Visit of, 1755
6
PARKER, DR. ELEAZER . 52
PICKERING, DR. ISAAC . 51
Parker, Rebecca 22
Pennsylvania Money, Value of 9
Phillips, Hosea and Lavina 41
Pickering, Timothy .19
Plumb, H. B. 28
Poughkeepsie
6, 7
Pulmonic Fever .
. 55
Putrid Fever
5
ROBINSON, DR. SILAS B. 54
ROSE DR. ROBERT H. .
52
Robinson, Thomas, dead
8
Ross, Gen. Wm.
17,34
Rogers, Joel .
. 40
Rush, Dr. Benj.
. 19
SCHOTT, DR. . . 58
SILL, DR. ELISHA N. 58
SMITH, DR. BENJAMIN 55, 58
SMITH, DR. JOHN . . 55
SMITH, DR. WM. HOOKER 5. 15,52
SPRAGUE DR. JOSEPH . 6
SWEET, DR. THOMAS. 59
Schott, John Paul . 58
Settling rights in township 6
Shikellimus, Small-pox . 4 Shoemaker, Mrs. Betsey 14
Slocum, Ebenezer . . 41
Slocum, Frances, stolen 41
Smith, Dr. W. H., curious will 20 Smith, Dr. W. H., Second Wife. . 42 Smith, Dr. W. H., Philosopher's Stone . 20 Smith, Wm., epitaph 19
Smith, Wm. and Margery 43
Smith, Rev. John 15 Smith, Timothy . 7
Smith, Sarah and Susanna 31
Small-pox 4,5
Snowden, Rev. N. R. 21, 22
Snowden, Isaac
22
Sprague, Granny, practices midwifery . 13 Sprague, Granny, dead (1814) 13 Sprague, Granny, Sketch by W Johnson . 14 Spring Brook . 10
Spofford, Darins II
Sperry, Obedience
41
Stookey, Elizabeth 37
Stookey, Benjamin 37
Stockade at Mill Creek 7
Sutton's Exeter Mill 15
Sutton, Deborah 32
Surgery Case
18
Sutton, Janies
15, 18, 20, 32
TROTT, DR. GEORGE W.
. 59
Typhus Fever
. 5, 55
VON SICK, DR. JOSEPH
58
WALLIS, DR. .
58
WHITNEY, DR. ASA C. . 61
Whitney, Elisha
61
Williams, Thomas
.17
Williams, Mary
46
Woodward, George W.
59
Wurtz, Dr. Geo.,
56
Wysox
. 19
Young, Lazarus, drowned
8
Young, Phoebe
14
York, James
55
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