Medical Organizations-The Medical
Society of the County of Oswego-Its Members and Principal Officers-Homeopathic
Medical Society-Eclectic Medical Society-Early Physicians-Biographical
Sketches.
Frank L.
Low, MD
|
B. E. Bowen
|
The pioneers to any locality
have always been closely followed by “the Good Physician.” This is
one of the unpleasant necessities of human experience. In the early
years of the present century the State of New York, unlike Pennsylvania
and the New England States, had done very little to encourage science,
and there was no school of medicine worthy of the name nearer than Boston
and Philadelphia. Few young men could then afford to go so far to
qualify themselves for a profession, whatever the inducements offered by
the future. This led to the prevailing custom among young aspirants
for medical practice to enter the office of a neighboring physician, study
his books two or three years, at the same time accompanying him on professional
visits. At the end of such a term the young doctor felt qualified
to begin his professional career.
Laws then governing the admission
and practice of physicians were substantially worthless; but in 1806 the
Legislature passed an act repealing former laws applying to this profession,
and authorizing a general State Medical Society and County Societies.
Under the provisions of this act the Medical Society of the County of Oswego
was organized June 9, 1821, at the school-house in Oswego village, with
Benjamin Coe in the chair, and Luther Cowan, secretary. The early
records of this society were twice destroyed by fire, rendering it impossible
to present more than a mere reminiscence of the early proceedings of what
is now one of the oldest organizations in this county. Among its
original members were Anson Fay and Luther Cowan, of Volney; Allen Andrews,
of Pulaski; Stephen F. Kinney, of New Haven; Sardius Brewster, of Mexico;
Benjamin Coe, of Oswego; J. Gurnsey, Dr. Gridley and possible others.
The first officers of the
society were Benjamin Coe, president; Stephen F. Kinney, vice president;
Luther Cowan, secretary; Anson Fay, treasurer; J. Gurnsey, Luther Cowan,
and Anson Fay, censors. The second meeting was held at the house
of Ezra May on the first Tuesday in June, 1822. The following is
a complete list of physicians and surgeons who have joined the society
from its organization to the present time:
1821--Anson Fay, Volney; S.
F. Kinney, New Haven; Allen Andrews, Pulaksi; ------ Gridley, Sardius Brewster,
Mexico; Benjamin Coe, Oswego; L. Cowan, Volney.
1822--S. Dunlop, Samuel Torbutt,
Williamstown; H. G. Torbutt, Williamstown; Samuel Freeman, Williamstown.
1823--D. W. Coe, Oswego; H.
Smith, Constantia; Deodatus Clarke, Scriba; John A. Paine, Lyman Huntley,
Ransom Howard, Volney; Al. Frederick Smith, Mexico.
1824--P. H. Hard, Oswego;
Samuel Hart, Oswego; Silas Meacham, Pulaski; W. Steward, New Haven.
1825--Bushnell B. Carey, H.
Dewey, Scriba.
1826--A. S. Bradley, Fulton;
D. Robinson, Mexico; A. Howland, Oswego; John M. Watson, Pulaski.
1827--Elisha Moore, Mexico;
D. G. Ayer, Sandy Creek; H. F. Noyes, Pulaski; Justin Morgan, Richland.
1828--H. Perkins, A. L. Cooper,
----- Owen, Isaac Whittemore, Pulaski; J. Douglas, Scriba; L. Root, Lucius
Van Schaik, Oswego; H. P. Van Valkenburg, Volney; J. H. Richmond, Parish;
Arden Allen, Hannibal; Egbert S. Barrows, Oswego; Samuel K. Lee, J. Hewett,
Oswego; J. K. Thurber, Oswego; John G. Ayre, Sandy Creek; ----Hough, N.
Tift.
1829--William G. Adkins, Oswego;
Timothy Goodwin, R. B. Root, Mexico.
1830--E. Palmer, Mexico; A.
F. Kent, Hannibal; David L. Hardy, Granby; N. F. Bruce, Oswego; N. W. Lathrop.
1831--M. L. Lee, Fulton; J.
Steele, Mexico; A. Steele, Volney; T. S. Gilbert, Orwell; Dolson Morton,
Orwell; Abiathar Gardiner, Mexico; ----- Webster, Hastings; E. G. Mygatt,
A. White, Parish.
1832--P. Sprague, Hannibal;
J. P. Rosa, Albion.
1833--A. Goodwin, Mexico;
Caleb Burge, Sandy Creek; A. K. Beckwith, Palermo; S. O. Thompson, Sandy
Creek.
1834--L. Wellington, Williamstown;
M. Ostrander, Mexico; Chas. W. Mitchell, Oswego.
1835--Wm. M. Baker, Scriba;
Daniel P. Stryker, Hannibal; Wm. James Goulding, Oswego; O. W. Randall,
Schroeppel; A. E. Noble, Palermo; Benjamin E. Bowen, Mexico; Stephen Pardee,
Fulton.
1836--Wm. S. Randall, Benj.
A. Rosseau, Scriba.
1837--Joseph H. Bagg, Oswego;
Lucien M. Haynes.
1838--Lewis M. Yale, Scriba;
Richard M. Clark, Hannibal; J. H. Skinner, Hannibal.
1839--T. Secor, Volney; H.
Murdoch, Richland; E. A. Potter, Oswego; James A. Thompson, Sandy Creek;
Alex M. Charles, Eleab M. Joslin, New Haven; Uri Lee, Amboy.
1841--A. W. Robinson, New
Haven; Joseph R. Brown, Schroeppel.
1842--D. Conger, Phoenix;
A. Whaley, Mexico; S. G. Place, Southwest Oswego; H. A. Skinner, C. G.
Bacon, Fulton; Lyman Osborne, Hannibal; M. Tuttle, Hannibal.
1843--Wm. J. Acker, Hannibal;
Alfred Rice, Hannibal; Gilson A. Dayton, Mexico.
1844--James V. Kendall, Pulaski;
A. Van Dyck, Oswego; Justin B. Colwell, Oswego.
1845--Joseph H. Allen, Oswego;
J. Marble, Hastings; A. B. Coe, Oswego.
1846--A. Reed, Oswego; A.
C. Livingston, Fulton; Wm. C. Coy, Schroeppel.
1847--S. Inman, Williamstown.
1848--N. Williams, Phoenix;
A. B. Howe, Orwell; S. Avery, Phoenix.
1849--A. M. Dunton, Oswego;
George W. Snyder, Scriba; C. Porter, Fulton.
1850--Daniel Neugent, Wm.
H. Rice, Phoenix.
1851--M. Bradbury, Mexico;
M. R. Holbrook, Fulton.
1852--Wm. M. Skinner, Orwell;
Robt. Scott, Oswego; R. C. Baldwin, Volney; T.J. Green, Parish.
1852--John Hart, Oswego.
1855--A. S. Coe, Oswego; N.
B. Rice, Fulton; J. C. Rhodes, Oswego; C. Ford, Parish; A. P. Williams,
Phoenix.
1856--Lucius Stevens, Constantia;
Franklin Evarts, Oswego; S. W. Austin, Oswego; J.B. Murdoch, Oswego; D.
B. Van Slyke, Central Square.
1857--D. Pardee, Fulton; S.
D. Andrews, Oswego Falls; C. S. Waters, Fulton.
1858--C. C. P. Clark, Oswego;
F. S. Low, Pulaski; Wm. H. Rulison, Parish.
1861--Geo. W. Earle, Hastings;
S. P. Johnson, New Haven; C. Mudge, Fulton; F. A. Sherman, Sand Bank.
1862--E. A. Huntington, Mexico.
1863--Charles M. Lee, Fulton.
1864--Ira L. Jones, Minetto.
1865--Chas. G. Bacon, Fulton
; Byron De Witt, Oswego ; George Seymour, Pulaski ; L. O. Huntington, Palermo
; D. D. Becker, Parish.
1866--Geo. G. Whittaker, New
Haven; Isaac Morrell, Fulton; D. T. Whyborn, Cleveland; J. Lyman Bulkley,
Sandy Creek; Joseph Gardiner, Williamstown; Carpenter Macfarlane, Oswego;
D. D. Drake, Central Square; Nelson W. Bates, Central Square.
1867--L. C. Mitchell, Sand
Banks; Ed. M. Curtiss, Oswego; S. P. Kingston, Oswego; Joseph Pero, West
Amboy.
1868--George P. Johnson, Mexico.
1869--A. B. Bowen, Mexico;
S. J. Crockett, Oswego; Dillon Acker, Hannibal.
1870--A. A. Desauliners, Oswego;
D. A. Lawton, Pulaski.
1871--J. K. Stockwell, Oswego;
F. C. Durant, Oswego.
1872--R. N. Cooley, Hannibal
Centre.
1873--George W. Nelson, Orwell.
1874--Mary K. Hutchins, Oswego;
J. W. Eddy, Oswego; A. S. Low, Pulaski; A. S. Rockwell, New Haven; E. F.
Kelley, Albion; J. A. Griffen, Constantia; J. J. Taylor, Parish; A. L.
Thompson, Sandy Creek; H. D. C. Phelps, Palermo.
1875--J. N. Mease, Oswego;
A. P. Hamill, Phoenix; Cyrus Haven, Hannibal.
1876--H. E. Balcom, Oswego;
R. M. O’Reilly, United States Army; J. B. Todd, Parish,; H. H. Philbrick,
Sandy Creek; H. W. Caldwell, Pulaski; George E. Carpenter, Sand Bank.
1877--George H. Whitcomb,
Phoenix; E. A. Mattoon, Oswego; Chas. E. Heaton, Mexico; J. W. Huntington,
Mexico; Ella M. Whittaker, New Haven.
1878--De Witt J. Phillips,
Oswego; Elvira Rainier, Oswego; Charles R. Lee, Fulton; William A. Hall,
Fulton.
1879--M. W. Frary, Redfield;
George Gardner, Williamstown; A. F. Groves, P. M. Dowd, Eggleston Burrows,
Oswego; J. E. Hamill, Phoenix; Emory J. Drury, Phoenix.
1880--Charles F. Wright, Sand
Bank; Warren A. Loomis, Vermilion; William M. Wells, Oswego Falls.
1881--W. T. Towsley, Holmesville.
1882--F. F. Potter, Cleveland;
A. M. Tully, J. B. Low, Oswego.
1883--W. J. Bulger, Oswego;
R. J. Dimon, Hastings.
1884--S. M. Bennett, Mexico;
Albert W. Green, Palermo; V. G. Hamill, Phoenix; C. M. Coe, Lycoming.
1885--Frank L. Harter, Parish.
1886--E. F. Marsh, N. F. Hall,
Fulton.
1887--F. B. Foote, Mexico
(now of Parish); D. C. Highrighter, New Haven (now of Fulton).
1887--J. L. More, South Richland;
W. C. Todt, C. H. Butler, Oswego.
1888--F. L. Cooley, Oswego; J. C.
Curtiss, Fulton.
1890--C. A. Sheridan, John T. Langan,
Oswego.
1891--M. J. Lawler, Oswego; H. P.
Wilcox, Central Square.
1892--James S. Howard, Willis G.
Babcock.
1893--Leroy F. Hollis, Minetto;
Homer P. Marsh, Fulton.
1894--Melzer B. Veeder, Central
Square; Will O. Scott, Parish; W. H. Conterman, Cleveland; J. J. Tillapaugh,
Sand Bank; S. A. Russell, Fulton.
Chas. W. Shaver, Constantia, and
F. R. Coe, Sand Bank, without dates.
Following is a list
of the presidents of this society as far as known;
Allen Andrews, 1823; Anson
Fay, 1827; S. F. Kinney, 1830; E. S. Barrows, 1831; P. H. Hard, 1832;
H. F. Noyes, 1835; B. E. Bowen, 1836; S. Brewster, 1837; R.Howard, 1838;
A. Gardner, 1839; S. Hart, 1841; J. M. Watson, 1842; A. K. Beckwith, 1843;
H. Murdoch, 1844; S. Brewster, 1845; P. H. Hard, 1846; S. Pardee, 1847;
A. Van Dyck, 1848; C. G. Bacon, 1849; B. E. Bowen, 1850; A. White, 1851;
A. Williams, 1852; A. B. Coe, 1853; T. J. Green, 1854; J. P. Rosa, 1855;
G. A. Dayton, 1856; M. R. Holbrook, 1857; John Hart, 1858; S. G. Place,
1859; Franklin Everts, 1860; A. S. Coe, 1861; D. Pardee, 1862; C. C. P.
Clark, 1863; J. B. Murdoch, 1864-5; M. Bradbury, 1866; F. S. Low, 1867;
C. M. Lee, 1868; G. A. Dayton, 1869; William H. Rice, 1870; L. L. Stevens,
1871; Carrington Macfarlane, 1872; J. L. Bulkley, 1873; D. T. Whyborn,
1874; A. S. Coe, 1875; D. D. Drake, 1876; R. N. Cooley, 1877; Ira L. Jones,
1878; G. G. Whittaker, 1879; Byron Dewitt, 1880; Charles J. Bacon, 1881;
J. K. Stockwell, 1882; G. P. Johnson, 1883; A. P. Hamill, 1884; W. A. Hall,
1885; W. H. Loomis, 1886; J. B. Todd, 1887; J. W. Eddy, 1888; E. Frank
Marsh, 1889; P. M. Dowd, 1890; C. G. Bacon, 1891; H. W. Caldwell, 1892;
Charles R. Lee, 1893; J. E. Hamill, 1894.
The following
are officers of the society for 1894: President, J. E. Hamill; vice
president, J. L. Moore; secretary, H. P. Wilcox; treasurer, Charles G.
Bacon; censors, C. R. Lee, F. S. Low, Ira L. Jones; delegates to New York
State Association, W. O. Scott, P. M. Dowd, G. M. Nelson; delegates to
the American Medical Association, J. W. Eddy, W. H. Caldwell, N. W. Bates;
delegates to the Central New York Medical Association, Leroy Hollis, A.
W. Green, R. J. Dimon; delegate to the State Society, M. W. Dawley.
This society now has about
sixty active members. Annual and semi-annual meetings are regularly
held, the former on the second Tuesday in May, and the latter on the second
Tuesday in November, alternating between Oswego, Pulaski and Central Square.
At these meetings many able and valuable papers have been read and measures
adopted to elevate the dignity of the profession.
The Homeopathic Medical Society
of Oswego county was organized on January 23, 1861, with the following
officers: E. A. Potter, president; A. F. Rockwell, vice-president;
F. W. Potter, secretary and treasurer; F. W. Potter, T. D. Stowe and W.
L. Woodbury, censors. The original members of the society were E.
A. Potter, W .L. Woodbury, A. F. Rockwell, F. W. Potter, Augustus Pool,
T. Dwight Stow and William W. Rundell. The successive presidents
have been:
E. A. Potter in 1861-62; Augustus
Pool in 1863; W. W. Rundell, 1864; Augustus Pool 1865-67; G. D. McManus,
1868-69; T. Dwight Stowe 1870-72; L. B. Waldo, 1873; W. W. Rundell, 1874;
W. L. Woodbury, 1875-76; Augustus Pool, 1877; Harriet Rundell, 1878; C.
W. Radway, 1879; G. D. McManus, 1880-81; C. W. Radway, 1882; G. D. McManus,
1883-87; C. W. Radway, 1888; J. H. Keeney, 1889-90; W. L. Woodbury, 1891;
C. W. Radway, 1892; J.H. Keeney 1893-93.
Following is a list of the members
of the society with the years in which they joined:
1861--E. A. Potter, * W. L. Woodbury,
F. W. Potter, T. Dwight Stow, * Augustus Pool, * William W. Rundell.
1863--David J. Chaffee, George D.
McManus.
1866--Catherine Townsend, * Harriet
Rundell.
1869--L. B. Waldo, DeWitt C. Fowler,
Gerritt Smith, G. S. Farmer.
1874--M. R. Woodruff.
1877--N. H. Haviland, C. W. Radway.
1880--George H. Fulford.
1882--W. H. Dewing, N. S. Hopkins,
E. B. Hopkins.
1885--J. H. Keeney.
1888--L. B. Richards, G. F. Adams.
1890--D. F.Young.
1891--E. L. Hinman.
The society has always held regular
meetings, at which many interesting and valuable papers have been read
and discussed. Dr. McManus was secretary many years, and was succeeded
in June, 1893, by Dr. Richards. Following are the officers for 1894:
J. H. Keeney, president; G. D. McManus, vice-president; L. B. Richards,
secretary and treasurer; G. D. McManus, N. H. Haviland and E. L. Hinman,
censors.
The Eclectic Medical Society of
the county of Oswego was organized at the office of Dr. C. D. Snell in
Mexico, on September 20, 1865, in pursuance of a call for a meeting which
was circulated by Dr. A. C. Taylor, of New Haven. The first officers
chosen were: Jesse Watson, Fulton, president; C. D. Snell, Mexico,
vice-president; James N. Betts, Pulaski, recording secretary; A. C. Taylor,
New Haven, corresponding secretary; John Wiltsie, Hannibal, treasurer;
C. T. Greenleaf, Brewerton, John Wiltsie, Hannibal, and S. Douglas, Sandy
Creek, censors; H. L. Baker, West Amboy, J. B. Chapman, South Richland,
and C. D. Snell, Mexico, delegates to the State Eclectic Medical Society.
On
* Deceased
June 2, 1874, under a general act
passed by the Legislature in May of that year the society was reorganized
for the purpose of more fully carrying out the new law. At one period
the membership numbered forty-five. In May, 1891, the society ceased
to exist, and was merged with the Central New York Eclectic Medical Society,
with which the
eclectic practitioners of Oswego
county continue to meet.
The presidents of the society
after 1874 were as follows:
Jesse Watson, 1874; James N. Betts,
1875-76; A. C. Taylor, 1877; H. W. Leonard, 1878-79; J. U. Manwarren, 1880;
D. E. Lake, 1881-82; E. J. Marsh, 1883; A. C. Taylor, 1884; D. E. Lake,
1885-86; A. C. Taylor, 1887-88.
The last meeting convened at the
Hamilton House in Oswego, June 7, 1888 and the last officers, who were
first elected June 7, 1887, and twice regularly re-elected were:
President, A. C. Taylor; vice-president, Jennie M. Lake; secretary and
treasurer, M. W. Dawley; censors, H. L. Lake, J. N. Betts, J. U. Manwarren.
The members of the society were Jesse
Watson, Fulton; C. D. Farlin, Ira Killborn, Oswego; W. H. Cox, Sand Bank;
J. U. Manwarren, C. E. Heaton, Mexico; Samuel Cox, Williamstown; D. E.
Lake, Fulton; E. J. Marsh, Oswego town; A. C. Taylor, Scriba; Van R. Rich,
Albion; J. N. Betts, Pulaski; J. B. Chapman, South Richland. The
foregoing, with these practitioners outside the county, were charter members;
the following joined afterward: O. C. Knight, C. S. Marsh, S. W.
Miller, Oswego; W. B. Forsyth, Vermilion; E. M. Manwarren, Mexico; Jennie
M. Lake, Fulton; H .L. Drury, Holmesville; H. L. Lake, Fulton; George W.
Manwarren, Amboy Center; M. W. Dawley, New Haven.
The medical profession of Oswego
county has always had among its members physicians who were an honor to
their calling. Some of these not only attained distinction in the
profession, but took an active interest in public affairs and were chosen
to fill various stations of trust. Biographical materials of the
early physicians of the county who have passed away are very meager and
only brief notes have been attainable.
Of the early physicians of Oswego
village, little can now be learned. Dr. Deodatus Clarke was the first.
A Dr. Caldwell was here almost with the first permanent settlers, and taught
school in connection with his profession. He was succeeded by Dr.
Benjamin Coe, and a little later by Dr. Walter Colton, both of whom were
among the leading citizens of the place. Dr. L. M. Yale, who died
August 20, 1840, was a popular and skillful physician. Dr. Robert
Scott was a native of Sterling, Cayuga county, born June 13, 1814, graduated
in 1846 from Rush Medical College, Chicago, and settled in Oswego.
He was an excellent physician, was warden of Christ church and lived a
blameless life. He died April 5, 1882. Dr. Lawrence Reynolds
came to Oswego in 1851, and soon gained a large practice, particularly
among the Irish, who were his countrymen. He was a fine classical
scholar and possessed high qualities; was assistant surgeon of the 24th
Regiment, and later surgeon of the 63rd Regiment, N.Y.V. He was subsequently
appointed surgeon of Meagher’s Brigade. He died April 25, 1887.
Dr. Coe was the first physician
in Union Village (now Fruit Valley), in the town of Oswego. Dr. James
Milne, was was killed at his mill in Union village December 8, 1886, settled
in Oswego in 1869; he was successful as a surgeon; traveled in Europe;
was a Mason of high rank and a public spirited citizen. Dr. Samuel
Hart practiced here some years; was a graduate of Harvard College, and
was a leading physician. He died in Brooklyn September 3, 1878.
Dr. Augustus Pool, a homeopathic physician, born in 1819, settled in Oswego
in 1837, and obtained a large practice. He died in 1884. Dr.
Stephen P. Johnson, who died in New Haven October 13, 1889, was a graduate
of Albany Medical College (1859), and settled in Oswego in 1866.
He was a native of Palermo.
Of the very early physicians of
the old town of Mexico, there were Dr. Tennant, whose first name has passed
out of memory, and who settled in Colosse in 1806, and was succeeded by
Dr. Brewster. Dr. A. Smith, a native of Connecticut, came to Mexico
with his parents in 1806. Dr. Lyman Huntley was another early doctor
in that village. Dr. Benjamin E. Bowen, a native of Rhode Island,
born January 15, 1801, attended Berkshire Medical Institute and located
at Holland Patent in 1828, and about 1835 removed to Mexico village, where
he became a very successful physician and a prominent citizen; was president
of the Oswego Medical Society in 1837 and 1851; was postmaster of the village
under President Polk; was member of assembly in 1863, and held many minor
positions. He died March 12, 1878. Dr. C.D. Snell, born in
Paris, N.Y., August 8, 1808, was reared on a farm and studied medicine
with Dr. Bissell at Clinton, N.Y., and settled in Mexico; he was supervisor
of the town in 1839, a Republican, and prominent citizen and good physician.
He died December 9, 1867. Franklin Everts, who died in Mexico February
12, 1864, studied with Dr. Alexander Whaley and later Dr. Benjamin Coe,
of Oswego, graduated from the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons;
was house surgeon at Bellevue Hospital; surgeon for a time on an ocean
steamer; pursued his studies in Europe and subsequently located in Oswego
city. He was chosen surgeon of the 1st New York Artillery, and in
later years lived in Mexico village and died there, as stated. Dr.
Gilson A. Dayton began practice in Colosse in 1842, and about 1850 formed
a partnership with Dr. Benjamin E. Bowen and removed to Mexico village.
He was chairman of the Democratic County and State Committees; was clerk
of the Board of Supervisors; canal auditor, 1871-74; and died in Brooklyn
in August, 1889. Other physicians of the town of Mexico were Dr.
James U. Manwarren, who was born in the town March 18, 1824, and is deceased;
Dr. Matthew Bradbury, born April 23, 1826, settled in Mexico in 1854.
The first physician in the town
of Richland was a Dr. Porter, who came from Vermont in 1806. The
first physician to settle in Pulaski village was Dr. Isaac Whitmore, of
Madison county, N.Y., who settled there in 1810, on the south side of the
river. Dr. Allen Andrews came soon afterward. Dr. Gridley came
to the village about 1815 and lived on the site of Don A. King’s house.
Dr. H. F. Noyes came a little later and lived in the same house, and Dr.
A. F. Low was there a little later. In 1844, Drs. Hiram Murdock,
John M. Watson, and J. V. Kendall were in practice in Pulaski. Dr.
James N. Betts, born in Chenango county, N.Y., April 2, 1822, studied medicine
in the Worcester (Mass.) Medical College and later graduated from Syracuse
Medical College; settled in Pulaski in 1855, where he took a leading position
in his profession and in public affairs; was a member of the Board of Education;
built the Betts Opera House block. He died March 19, 1892, and is
succeeded by his son, Dr. G. W. Betts.
The first physician in the town
of Sandy Creek was Dr. James A. Thompson, who settled there in 1815, and
practiced until his death forty years later. He was succeeded buy
his son, Dr. Allen L. Thompson, who recently died at Troy. Other
early physicians of this town were Dr. Douglas, and his son Dr. Solomon
J. Douglas, both of whom died in the town; and Dr. John G. Ayer.
In Cleveland village, Constantia,
Dr. John A. Yates settled in 1840. He was born in near Fonda, N.Y.,
April 7, 1811, and died December 14, 1868. He had a partner for a
time in Dr. V.A. Allen. Dr. D. F. Whyborn was also a physician and
druggist there for a time. Dr. Lucius Stevens located in Constantia
prior to1856, and Dr. J. A. Griffen some time afterward.
Of the early physicians of Hannibal
there are mentioned Drs. Ure and Moore, who settled there probably before
1820. About 1822 Dr. Arden Allen located in the town, and was soon
followed by Drs. E. H. Boyd, F. Acker and his father, Alfred Rice, and
Dr. Dillon.
Of the physicians of Fulton and
Volney Dr. Bissell was the first. He came to what is now Fulton village
in 1807 and in 1810 was succeeded by Dr. Anson Fay. The first practitioners
in Volney outside of Fulton were Drs. Cowan and Payne, who located at Volney
Center, and who were followed by Dr. Ransom Howard. Dr. Howard was
born in Windsor, Mass., March 7, 1793, and came from Oneida county to Volney
Center about 1820. He spent the remainder of this life there, except
six years in Gilbert’s Mills and died in 1864. Dr. Stephen Pardee
came to Volney Center in 1831 and in 1851 removed to Fulton, being succeeded
by Dr. Reuben C. Baldwin. Dr. Bradley also practiced at Volney Center a
short time about 1830.
Dr. Moses Lindley Lee, who died
in Virginia April 19, 1876, settled in Fulton while young and married a
daughter of Jonathan Case. He was a very successful physician, made
profitable investments and became wealthy. He was a man of affairs;
held the office of postmaster; was member of assembly in 1846 and re-elected;
was elected to the State Senate in 1855; and in 1858 was elected to Congress.
He subsequently gave up practice twenty years prior to his death.
Dr. C. M. Lee, now of Fulton, is a nephew of Moses L. Lee.
Dr. Charles G. Bacon, born in Trenton,
N.Y., October 20, 1814, came to Fulton in 1841, and subsequently held several
positions of honor. He married a daughter of James Whittaker, an
early and prominent merchant in that village. Dr. Bacon is still
living in Fulton.
The first physician in the town
of New Haven was Dr. Eliphalet Colt, who remained until about 1830.
Dr. Stephen F. Kinne was the second and practiced there until 1839.
Dr. Samuel Stewart came about 1827, Dr. Lee in 1828, Dr. John G. Ayer in
1833, Dr. E. M. Joslin in 1838, Dr. John Ash about 1840, Dr. A. W. Robinson
in 1842, Dr. Amos Austin in 1847, Dr. S.P. Johnson in 1854, Dr. James Austin
(who opened the first drug store in town) about 1862, Dr. James Manwaren
in 1862, Dr. A. S. Rockwell, Dr. George G. Whitaker, Dr. Harvey L. Jewell,
Dr. William Titus, and others.
In Phoenix and the town of
Schroeppel Dr. Joseph R. Brown became a medical practitioner in 1834 and
remained until 1848. Dr. Otis W. Randall came in 1837 and Dr. Nathan
Williams and Davis Conger in 1841. Dr. Ransom Howard practiced at
Gilbert’s Mills for six years following 1838. Dr. Conger and Dr.
C. M. Lee opened the first drug store in Phoenix village. Subsequent
physicians there have been Drs. M. M. Carter, Samuel Avery, John and John
E. Hamill, William B. Coy, Andrew P. Hamill, T. D. Whyborn, G. H. Whitcomb,
William H. Rice, Garrett Smith, and others.
In Scriba Dr. Deodatus Clark,
from Onondonga county, was the first physician to acquire any considerable
practice. He settled in what is now the east part of Oswego city.
Dr. George W. Snyder was born in Ellisburg, N.Y., March 25, 1820, graduated
from the Vermont Medical College in 1848, and the same year settled in
Scriba, where he had previously taught school, and where he resided until
his death June 16, 1892. Dr. A. C. Taylor was also for a long time
a prominent physician there.
Dr. Chester Smedley, from
Connecticut, was without a doubt the first settled physician in the town
of Hastings. He located near Fort Brewerton in 1826 and practiced
in the neighborhood until his death in 1862, aged eighty-one. At
Central Square Dr. Nelson W. Bates, still living, has practiced for many
years. Dr. D. B. Van Slyke and Dr. D. D. Drake were formerly physicians
there.
Dr. David L. Hardy became
a physician in Granby prior to 1830, and remained in town several years.
Dr. S. D. Andrews took up his practice in Oswego Falls some years later.
The medical practice here has been largely attended to by physicians residing
in Fulton or Hannibal.
In Palermo Dr. A.K. Beckwith
located as a resident physician before 1833 and Dr. A.E. Noble soon afterward.
Dr. T.S. Gilbert was one of
the earliest physicians in Orwell, locating there prior to 1833, about
which time Dr. Dolson Morton also became a resident medical practitioner.
Dr. A.B. Howe followed a few years later and soon after him came Dr. William
M. Skinner, and still later Dr. George W. Nelson arrived.
Dr. J.P Rosa settled in Albion
before 1833 and followed his profession there several years. Dr.
L.C. Mitchell was a more recent practitioner in Sand Bank and a still later
arrival in town was Dr. E.F. Kelley. Other physicians in Sand Bank
have been Drs. F.A. Sherman, George E. Carpenter, C.R. Cramer, John M.
Brown, and Van R. Rich.
Dr. Uri Lee became a resident
physician of Amboy in the thirties and was probably the first one in town.
Dr. Joseph Pero has practiced at West Amboy for many years.
The first physician in Redfield
was Dr. Enoch Alden, who came from Rome about 1801, in which year his infant
son Franklin was buried at Center Square, which was the second burial in
that town. About five years later Dr. Alden returned to Rome.
In 1813 Dr. David Dickerson came in and remained in active practice many
years.
Drs. Samuel and H.G. Torbutt
and Samuel Freeman became physicians in Williamstown as early as 1822,
for in that year they joined the County Medical Society. Dr. L. Wellington
settled there a few years afterward, and later still Dr. S. Inman located
in the village. Drs. Joseph Gardiner and George Gardner are more
recent practitioners.
Dr. J.H. Richmond located
in Parish in the twenties, and soon after Drs. E.G. Mygatt and Austin White
came in. Dr. White was born in Albany county, was graduated from
the Fairfield Medical College, and practiced in town until his death in
1876. Dr. Tobias J. Green settled in Parish in 1847 and a few years
ago removed to Mexico, where he now resides. Other physicians have
been Drs. Judson J. Taylor, now of Syracuse; Cornelius S. House, deceased;
William H. Rulison, John B. Todd, and D.D. Becker.
The foregoing physicians are
only a few of the more prominent practitioners who have pursued their professions
in the several towns of the county. Nearly all of them as well as
many others who have at one time or another occupied eminent positions
in the medical fraternity are mentioned in the lists of members of the
various societies. A number of these and of the present practitioners
are noticed biographically in Part III of this volume.