Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 9: The Doctors and Lawyers, 1924

In all this story of Attleboro town and city, the physician has had a prominent part both in his profession and as counsellor in town and city affairs; and his wisdom and experience have counted in the course and progression of the community. History has recorded his rallying to the fore upon occasions of service for national and international wars, and his devotion and self-sacrifice at times of epidemic, his leadership being an inspiration to others.

Among the doctors of the past whose memory remains in the part they bore in their day and generation, are these: Dr. Bezaleel Mann, a skillful physician and a townsman of influence here during the Revolution. He served with the Committee of Correspondence and Safety, and as a superior judge to determine controversies. A descendant of Rev. Samuel Mann, first minister of Wrentham, he made a study of his profession with Dr. Hewes of Foxboro, and began practice here about the year 1750. He married a daughter of Ezekiel Carpenter, and they had three sons who became doctors, namely, Dr. Preston Mann, of Newport, Rhode Island; Dr. John Milton Mann, of Hudson, New York; and Dr. Herbert Mann, a surgeon who was lost with the privateer "General Arnold," December 26, 1778.

Dr. Comfort Capron, of this town, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Other physicians of that period and shortly afterwards were: Doctors Joseph Hewes, Abijah Everett, Joseph Bacon, Comfort Fuller, Thomas Stanley, S. B. Parris, Lemuel Fuller, Seba Carpenter, James W. Foster. Phineas Savery was the "beloved physician" of his day, and for many years was the only doctor in the east part of the town. He was born in Wrentham, April 5, 1800, a graduate of Brown and of Harvard colleges, and lived the most of his life in Attleboro. Thaddeus Phelps was for a long period the only physician in the north part of the town, and many years the oldest practitioner. He was born in Windsor, Vermont, July 21, 1809, and graduate of Dartmouth College. He came here in 1838; but during the Civil War he was surgeon at the Portsmouth Grove Hospital, Rhode Island. He received a severe accident in 1865, but recovered, and courageously resumed practice, though painfully disabled. He died May 30, 1879. Dr. James W. Foster was an active practitioner in the north part of the town for thirty years. Of the homceopathic school, he had the confidence and esteem of hosts of friends throughout the town. He was born in Southbridge, this State, November 15, 1813, and was a graduate of the Vermont Medical College and the Berkshire Medical School. He started practice in Foxboro, and came here in 1854. He died in September, 1885.

Among the doctors of more recent years, Charles S. Holden came here in 1883 from Harvard Medical School and was medical examiner here thirty years. He was one of the original trustees of the Public Library, and has been prominent as a citizen and a physician. He was a member of the selective service board. He is a representative to the Legislature. Dr. Edward Sanford, a native of Raynham, received his education at Bristol Academy in Taunton, and settled at East Attleboro in 1852. He was of the homceopathic school. Dr. John R. Bronson was a native of Middleborough, Connecticut, and he settled at East Attleboro in 1856. He was a surgeon in the Union army in 1862, and had charge of hospitals at Williamsburg and Fortress Monroe. Dr. James Solomon, known as the "Indian Doctor," had a large practice in East Attleboro. Dr. Laura V. G. Mackie was one of the first women doctors here. She married Dr. George Mackie, she having been Dr. Laura Gustin. Dr. Mackie established a private sanitarium. Dr. Mary Wolfenden, a native of Attleboro, married Dr. J. W. Batthershall, both being practitioners. Dr. William O. Hewitt was chairman of the Medical Advisory Board during the World War.

Doctors in the World War. - The doctors answered the call to service during the World War, and upon all occasions the Attleboro physicians rallied for duty. For example, Dr. W. E. Milot spent twenty months in the service in France, where for special work he was decorated by the French government. His first commission was as lieutenant, on June 27, 1917, and he was eventually appointed a captain in the medical corps. He performed excellent service in camps in this country, notably at Fort Benjamin Harrison before going abroad.

Dr. Joshua W. Clarke was commissioned captain, M. R. C., U. S. A, on June 21, 1918. He was on active duty at the medical officers' training camp, Camp Greenleaf, Georgia, August 1, 1918, to 27, 1918; from there to Camp Lee, Petersburg, Virginia, until December 15, 1918, as sanitary officer to the Veterinary Training School, and remount division. December 15, 1918, he was assigned to duty at the Embarkation Hospital, Camp Stuart, Newport News, Va., and was on duty there in charge of the division of diseases of the thorax, until discharged from the service on April 7, 1919. In June, 1919, he was commissioned major M. C. U. S. A., and made designated examiner of the U. S. Veterans' Bureau for Bristol county. In June, 1922, he was assigned to the Eleventh Corps, Eleventh Trains Organized Reserves, which post he still holds. He served in the U. S. Navy through the Spanish-American hostilities, being assigned to duty on the hospital ship "Solace," in 1898.

Dr. H. G. Vaughan, vice-president of the Attleboro Doctors' Club, although he was not a resident of Attleboro at the time of the World War, was a captain in the Medical Corps, and served sixteen months at Spartansburg, Kentucky, and various southern camps.

Dr. John A. Reese entered active service on June 1, 1917, as first lieutenant of the Medical Corps, at medical officers' training camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, from June 1, 1917, to July 15, 1917. From there he joined a separate brigade, Coast Artillery, Fort Adams, Newport, Rhode Island. He was assigned to the Sixth Regiment, C. A. C., as battalion medical officer, and sailed with the regiment from New York, August

12, 1917. In company with several other medical officers he established Camp Hospital No. 13, A. E. F. in France in November, 1917, and was promoted to captain in February, 1918. He was on duty at Camp Hospital No. 13 until January 1, 1919, in the capacity of chief of surgical service. The next few months he was commanding officer of the hospital. He went from Mailly to Camp Valdahon to take command of Camp Hospital No. 12, and was promoted to major in February, 1919. He returned to the United States the latter part of April, and was discharged from service at Camp Dix, on May 3, 1919.

Societies - The Attleboro Medical Society had been in existence seventeen years to 1923. On Wednesday, February 7, 1906, at a meeting of the physicians of Attleboro, it was voted to organize a local medical society, and Dr. W. O. Hewitt and Dr. George E. McPherson were appointed a committee to draft a model constitution to be presented at a subsequent meeting. Thereupon, the doctors were organized February 13 at a meeting at the residence of Dr. J. W. Battershall. Drs. Hewitt and Clark were appointed a nominating committee, and the following-named were elected the first officers of the society: President, Joseph W. Battershall; vicepresident, Dr. Charles S$. Holden; secretary and treasurer, Dr. George IL. McPherson; meetings committee: Drs. George H. Roberts, Fred U. Murphy, George E. McPherson; ethics committee: Drs. Laura V. G. Mackie and William O. Hewitt. The officers in 1923: President, Dr. Allan MacKnight; vice-president, Dr. H. G. Vaughan; secretary and treasurer, Dr. Edith Kerkhoff.

The Attleboro Dental Association is composed of the leading dentists of this city, with Dr. W. L. Elliott as president, and Dr. Henry Robinson as secretary. During the course of the World War, all the dentists took care of the teeth of the drafted men, and a number of the dentists went into the service at various camps. For example, Dr. E. M. Webb was with the 41st in France, and at Camp Hospital No. 26 was first lieutenant and commanding officer at the dental infirmary. Dr. Robert J. Allen went to Camp Oglethorpe and was first lieutenant in the dental corps up to the time of the armistice.

The Lawyers. - The Bar Association of the Fourth Bristol District had its inception May 16, 1908, when a number of the members of the bar here organized under this name. Among the promoters of the project was Frank I. Babcock, one of the oldest lawyers here, former town clerk and present city clerk. The association was incorporated August 14, 1917, with the following-named as the officers: President, Judge Frederick B. Byram; vice-president, Judge Philip E. Brady; secretary and treasurer, Edwin F. Thayer. 'The rules committee consisted of Frank I. Babcock, Judge Philip E. Brady and James H. Leedham, Jr. The present (1923) officers are: President, Judge Philip E. Brady; vice-president, Judge Ralph C. Estes; secretary and treasurer, Edwin F. Thayer.

It is believed that Everett Bolckom was the first lawyer in this town. opening an office here about the year 1820. Ezra Bassett was here at about that time. John Daggett, author of the "History of Attleboro," was a practicing lawyer here for a half century.

Probation Officer John H. Nerney has a very wide acquaintance with lawyers throughout this county. He recalls John Daggett both as thorough historian and lawyer. He used naively to remark: "Well, if we can get the jury to see this case as you do, we doubtless shall have a good case.' George A. Adams was considered one of the best of lawyers. He took great interest in Company I; was also a good hunter - and fisherman. Frank I. Babcock, last town clerk and present city clerk and treasurer. was a good counsellor while practicing law, and was very careful in looking up points of law. Judge Philip E. Brady, first associate justice here, is a native of Attleboro, was city solicitor, and was mayor two terms. He is a naturalist and takes much interest in farming, in flowers and bees. Harry E. Carpenter was an attorney here a number of years. He was assessor, and lived on the old Hamilton place. A son of a Civil War veteran, he is treasurer of the Co-operative Bank. Judge Ralph C. Estes was in partnership with George A. Adams. He is a leading member of the Country Club, and is an associate justice of the district court. Walter A. Briggs, six feet five, is a lawyer "all look up to,' and a man who fights hard for his clients. He is secretary and treasurer of the Woodlawn Ceme: tery Association. H. H. Robinson came here trom Fitchburg; his hobby is hunting. Michael J. Maguire, who came from Boston, has a good practice. Joseph G. Gaynor, a native of Attleboro, is a successful lawyer.