Crawford County, Ohio - Chapter 30: Medical, 1912

The Pioneer Doctor - Empirical Treatment in Early Days - The "Regular" Treatment Often Inefficient - Various "isms" - Credulity of the Laity - Hardships Endured by the Pioneer Doctors - Their Devotion - Fever and Ague - Physicians of Bucyrus, Galion, Crestline and Other Towns in Crazvford Cotmty Since Early Days.

Perhaps no type of pioneer followed his avocation under greater discouragements, or with scantier rewards, than did the pioneer physician, particularly if he were a man having a reasonably good knowledge of his profession. No doctor, of course, could make a living at the time of the earliest settlements. The country was too thinly populated and the inhabitants too widely scattered and isolated from each other by natural obstacles in the way of forest and stream and swamp, with lack of roads or bridges, with occasional dangers in the shape of drunken Indians, to make the doctor's calling an easy or remunerative one. The lonely trails through the forest were almost impassable during the greater part of the year, being covered with mud and water, and, in any event, led merely from one lonely cabin to another. In some places, particularly in the region south of Bucyrus, the plains were thickly covered with monstrous grasses which attained a height of from six to eight feet and through which the pioneer doctor, traveling on some errand of mercy or urgent need, had to force his way on horseback, his clothes being drenched with the copious dews and moisture from the rank vegetation. His patrons, also, had little or no money - never enough to provide for themselves such ordinary comforts as would nowadays be regarded as absolute necessities, and hence, when medical aid was unavoidably sought, the ministering physician had in most cases to be content with the promise of future payment - a promise that in many cases was never fulfilled. Under such discouraging circumstances, therefore, the pioneer doctor pursued his calling, and it is not to be wondered at that few of those who came first to this region remained long in the community, most of them leaving to locate in the larger settlements. If any remained they usually found it necessary to unite some other vocation to that of medicine.

Some of the early doctors were mere empirics. Not having gone to the expense or taken the trotible to acquire such knowledge of their profession as was then obtainable in the eastern cities, or in Europe, they adopted some peculiar system of treatment, which they applied in general to all cases which came before them and which was not only useless but absurd; yet, owing to the general credulity of mankind with respect to matters of which they are the most ignorant, and also in large part, to the self-assertive impudence of the practitioner, the latter was often able to usurp the functions of the more reputable doctor and reap the greater financial reward.

Perhaps the members of the regular school were to blame, to some extent, for this state of things, through their own lack of progressiveness, their reliance on such old time methods of treatment as bleeding and blisters, ap- plied in cases where they often proved useless and sometimes injurious to the patient, and the dependence on such drugs as mercury, antimony, arsenic, opium, and others, which the modern physician uses with great caution, if at all, but which were then given almost indiscriminately. Their frequent inefficacy, and the injurious effects they often produced, led to much general distrust of the old school treatment and paved the way for the introduction of homeopathy, hydropathy, physiopathy, Thomsonianism, chrothermalism, and many other "pathies" and "isms," some of which, by virtue of whatever good they may contain, are in more or less use today, together with others of later birth.

The general credulity of the uneducated layman was also manifested in the support given to that class of practitioners, known as "Indian doctors," the red man being supposed to have some wonderful secret knowledge of the mysterious virtues of various roots and herbs far superior to that gained by study and experiment in the laboratories of civilization, or by the Caucasian mind under any circumstances, except when derived from Indian sources. This superstition has not yet died out, as may be seen from the medical advertisements in the daily journals and in the names of some of the best advertised patent medicines.

It would be tedious to describe all the various forms of quackery which flourished at one time or another owing to the various causes referred to, or which, under the same or other names are in vogue to some extent today. Most of them were based upon an utter lack of anything like scientific knowledge, while others were doubtless simply deliberate attempts on the part of unscrupulous men to fleece a gullible public. A brief reference to the Thomsonian system may suffice. This so- - called system of medicine was actually patented in 1823 by Dr. Samuel Thomson 'and was based on the simple proposition that "heat is life and cold is death." Consequently whatever agencies were capable of producirig heat in the patient . were supposed to constitute an efficacious mode of treatment, in almost any form of disease. Such vegetable substances as lobelia, cayenne pepper, bayberry root bark, etc., Avere among the medicines most m use by this school, while sometimes steam was resorted to in order to keep up the patient's temperature. The "doctor" and his confreres published a book of 24mo, 168 pages of texts, with a supplement of 28 more, "which was supposed to contain all that it was necessary to know in the departments of anatomy, physiology, materia medica, practice, surgery, midwifery and chemistry." It appears that students of this system were sometimes graduated within six weeks, and there seems to be no particular reason why they should not have been graduated within as many days. It may be said with respect to all such systems and also with respect to many cases in which "regular" treatment was employed in those days, that if the patient recovered it was entirely owing to the strength of his own constitution or the comparatively innocuous nature of the disease by which he was attacked.

As soon as some little hamlet advanced to a dozen or more log houses a physician could be expected in that locality. And they were men who took a personal interest in their patients, and in the town to which they had come to make their home. There was little or no money to be had, but to them it mattered not ; they took the long and lonely rides day after day and night after night through the tangled woods, and over the swampy grounds, in answer to the call of those in distress. Their mission was to heal the sick, and among all the pioneers in every community none are entitled to more credit than these faithful doctors who endured every hardship to give relief to the suffering. The swampy, marshy nature of the ground made the fever and ague one of the serious complaints, and from this but few escaped, even if they did take 40 grains of calomel twice a day.

Owing to the swampy lands, everybod)' was annually afflicted with the dread ague. As it existed then, it is thus described by one of the pioneers : "One of the greatest obstacles to the early settlement and prosperity of the West, was the ague, 'fever and ague,' or 'chills and fever' as it was variously termed. In the fall almost everybody was afflicted with it. It was no respecter of persons. Everybody looked pale and sallow, as though he were frost-bitten. It was not contagious, but was derived from impure water and malaria, such as is abun- dant in a new country. The impurities from them, combined with those which come from bad dietetics, engorged the Hver and deranged the whole vital machinery. By and by, the shock would come, and come in the fonn of a 'shake,' followed by a fever. These would be regular on certain hours every alternate day, sometimes every day, or every third day. When you had the chill you couldn't get warm, . and when you had the fever you couldn't get cool. It was exceedingly awkward in this respect, indeed it was ! Nor would it stop for any sort of contingency; not even a wedding in the family would stop it. It was tyrannical. When the appointed time came around, everything else had to be stopped to attend to its demands. It didn't have any Sundays or holidays."

The first physician to locate in Bucyrus was in all probability a Dr. Rhodes, who came here in the latter part of the year 1822, a few months after the laying out of the village. He remained, however, but a short time. After him, in the following year, 1823, came Dr. McComb, an experienced and well read man, who was much liked, though in his latter years he showed too great a partiality for liquor. His death, which took place about 1836, was due to a fall from a horse. In 1824 or 1825 came Dr. Hobbs, who remained until about 1832, when he went to Indiana. At a later period he returned to Ohio, settling in Mt. Vernon, where he died in the late seventies, at the age of 82 or 83 years. His wife was one of the earliest school teachers in Bucyrus.

About 1822, Samuel Norton went to his old home in the east and on his return he was accompanied by his wife's mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Bucklin, who understood medicine, and prescribed for some of the neighbors. She died in 1824.

Dr. Pierce, a widower with two children, came here from the state of New York about 1825. Soon after his arrival he married Miss Mary Gary. In addition to practicing medicine, he kept a tavern. After a residence here of seven or eight years he went West.

Dr. Willis Merriman, born in Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1801, came to Ohio in 1817. He studied medicine in Norwalk, Ohio, before coming to Bucyrus in 1827. He continued practice here until the death of his first wife in 1834. In the following year he entered into mercantile business, which he continued until 1853. He was for several years one of the directors of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad Company and was its first president. In January, 1855, on the consolidation of the several companies operating between Pittsburg and Chicago into the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad Company, he resigned as president and became one of the directors of the new organization, holding that position until 1868. He was a man of vigorous mental powers, well educated, kind of heart and in all things a thorough gentleman. He died in Bucyrus, August 30, 1873.

Dr. Sinclair, who practiced in Bucyrus from 1830 to 1836; and Dr. Douglas, 1835 to 1850, were also successful and popular physicians, the latter being especially noted for his refined and gentlemanly manners.

Dr. Andrew Hetich, who came from Chambersburg. Pa., first located in Bucyrus in 1835, but returned to Chambersburg after a short residence here. In 1839 he settled again in Bucyrus and practiced his profession here until a short time before his death in i860. He was a man of good attainments and popular as a physician.

Dr. A. M. Jones, a native of Massachusetts, settled with his parents in Lorain county, Ohio, in 18 1 7. He came to Bucyrus in 1835 and practiced medicine here for about ten years, after which he engaged in the woolen manufacturing business with Samuel Clapper, and later in the real estate business, giving up his medical practice.

Dr. Frederick Swingley, a native of Maryland, came to Bucyrus from Chesterville, Ohio, in 1844, and practiced medicine and surgery here for many years. He served several years as surgeon during the Civil War.

Dr. Cochran Fulton, born in Westmoreland county. Pa., in 1819, came to Ohio when a young man and began practice in Bucyrus in 1845. In 1S4S he graduated at the Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati and practiced his profession here for many years subsequently. In 1 86 1 he opened a drug and book store, which became one of the best known mercantile establishments in the county.

Dr. Francis Meyer came to Bucyrus in 185 1 and practiced medicine here until about 1875, when he gave up his profession on account of ill health. He was a native of Frankfort, Germany and a very cultured man, having studied in the universities of Tubingen, Heidelberg and Halle. He was highly esteemed, both by his professional brethren and by the citizens generally of Bucyrus and the vicinity.

Dr. M. C. Cuykendall, a native of Cayuga county, N. Y., read medicine in Plymouth, Ohio, and subsequently began practice in Ganges, this state. He came to Bucyrus in 1857 and practiced here until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he entered the military service as surgeon, and before the close of the war reached the position of medical director. After the war he gave his attention largely to the practice of surgery, in which department of the profession he attained quite a reputation. He was one of the first presidents of the Northwestern Ohio INIedical Association. For several years in the late seventies he was professor of gynecology in the IMedical College of Columbus, being obliged to give up general practice about this time owing to failing health, the result of hardships experienced during the war.

Dr. John A. Chesney studied medicine with Drs. Cuykendall and Carson, and first entered into practice with Dr. J. B. Richie of Oceola. Later he returned to Bucyrus, and succeeded Dr. Cuykendall as the surgeon of the city, and at the time of his death in Aug. 31 of this year was the recognized head of his profession, and one of the prominent physicians of northern Ohio.

Dr. J. S. Fitzsimmons was a soldier in the war of the rebellion and after he was discharged from the service, graduated in medicine, and began practicing in Bucyrus in 1871 and for forty years was one of the leading physicians of the city.

Dr. Jacob Augustein read medicine with Dr. Boehler, and when that gentleman left succeeded to his practice. Besides his medical work he took an active hand in the affairs of the village, and about 1862 went to Napoleon, Ohio.

Df. Robert L. Sweney came with his father to Whetstone township in 1828. He read medicine w ith Drs. Douglas and Swingley at Bucyrus, and practiced here from 1849 to 1851, when he went to Marion.

Dr. George Keller commenced the study of medicine in 1846, graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College in 1853, and located at West Liberty, where he remained until 1861, when he came to Bucyrus, and built up an extensive practice. He was a wonderfully wellread man on every conceivable subject, and was a recognized authority on practically everything. He was admitted to the bar in 1876, but never practiced at that profession.

Dr. Georgia Merriman, the first lady physician, commenced the practice of medicine in Bucyrus in 1879, but after a dozen years removed to Columbus.

Dr. Jerome Bland began the practice of medicine at Benton in 1868, where he built up an extensive practice, when he removed to Bucyrus. Some years ago he retired from active business on account of the breaking down of his system, and is now living in retirement at his home on East Mansfield street.

The first homeopathist to come to Bucyrus was Dr. Barsham in 1850 but he only remained two years. He was followed by Dr. E. P. Penfield of the same school in 1871, who built up an extensive practice and later _ moved to Spokane, Wash.

Dr. Price, who was a botanic physician, located south of Bucyrus, fn 1837, and practiced there about fifteen years when he removed to IlHnois.

Those now engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Buc)tus are as follows : P. R. Brubaker, W. C. Gates, F. W. Kehrer, Lucia Kemp, C. H. King, W. A. Koch, J. B. Lewis, Claude A. Lingenfelter, A. H. McCrory, J. J. Martin, E. R. Schoolfield, Howard H. Smith, Charles A. Ulmer and W. L. Yeomans, and L. J. Dellinger, osteopath. Dr. Ulmer is the present coroner and Dr. Kemp is the only lady physician in the city.

One of the first physicians in Gallon was a Dr. Johnson, who came sometime in the thirties and remained a few years. His wife, assisted by Mrs. Jacob Ruhl, was instrumental in establishing the first Sundayschool in Galion. Shortly after he came, Dr. Bleymeyer arrived, and in 1838 he sold out to Dr. Reisinger. The latter resided in Galion for nearly thirty years, and perhaps it may not be too much to say that the town never had a citizen more highly or more deservedly esteemed. It has been said of him that he practiced his profession more "for the sake of suffering humanity than for the money he might obtain for his services." During the building of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad, when many of the workmen were stricken down with cholera, he attended them during their sickness, freely risking his own life, and, as they were poorly supplied with comforts or necessaries, he personally supplied their wants so far as he was able, and, at their death, dug their graves and buried them. In 1866, learning that his son, a student of medicine at Cincinnati, had been attacked with cholera, he hastened there to care for him, and on his arrival was himself attacked by the disease and died eight hours before his son. Their bodies were brought to Galion and interred in the village cemetery.

Among the early physicians of Galion were Dr. John Atwood in 1849, J. Stiefel who came in 1852, N. E. Hackedorn, who came in 1854 and ran a drug store for thirty years, and was one of the active business men of Galion, H. S.

Barbour in 1864, C. L. Coyle in 1865, H. M. and Frank Duff in 1858, H. R. Kelly in 1868, J. C. Campbell in 1872, J. C. McUvaine in 1878, who wrote the history of Galion thirty years ago; H. and F. Mannhart, Brown, Chase, Griffin, J. Webb Kelly and Ridgeway.

Those now practicing in Galion are T. L. Brown, D. W. Brickley, H. H. Hartman, E. D. Helfrich, O. L. Huffman, C. C. Mandeville, J. G. Mannhardt, Guy C. Marsh, C. D. Morgan, L. H. Neville, Katheryn Rayl, A. A. Starner and Herbert W. Todd and B. R. Mansfield, osteopath, Katheryn Rayl being the only lady physician.

One of the earliest physicians in Crestline was Dr. W. P. Carnyham, who located here in 1852 and practiced until his death, which took place about ten years later. Dr. Wm. Pope came to Crestline in 1855 and practiced until about 1870, when he became connected with the Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Works, and removed to Bucyrus. Among those who came later were the following, the dates indicating the year of their arrival : Drs. Edward Booth, i860; Alex Jenner, 1854; P. B. Young, 1865 ; John McKean, 1867; Charles W. Jenner, about 1870; still later, Drs. Gibson, G. A. Emery, James Booth, Z. P. Harris, J. T. Robinson, and Dr. Bennett, a homeopathist. The physicians and surgeons now located here are J. A. Agriew, T. H. B. Clutter, R. R. Harris, D. D. McCallum, C. A. Marquardt, J. B. Moses and Charles E. Trimble

Several physicians settled at an early day in Sulphur Springs, or Annapolis, but most of them remained but a short time. Dr. George Zeigler, who settled there in 1840, remained until his death in 1872. He was a hard worker and established a large practice, but the circumstance of his patients being widely scattered obliged him to make long professional rides. He finally died in the harness, bemg overtaken by a severe attack of lung disease when about two miles from home. Compelled to stop at the nearest farm-house, he remained there until his death two or three days later. Another hard-working physician at this place was Dr. John B. Squiers, who began the study of his profession under Dr. Zeigler and commenced practice with him in 1848, subsequently graduating from a medical college in Cincinnati in 1853. He was largely self-educated, but was a hard student and won the coiilidence of the people. He also has long since passed away. There was also a Dr. Turley who practiced in Annapolis in the forties, but he was not popular. Dr. H. S. Bevington commenced practice at Sulphur Springs in 1872, coming here from DeKalb. Dr. M. M. Carrothers came the same. year.

Dr. J. N. Richie read medicine with Dr. Leonard Firestone of Wayne county, Ohio, and Dr. Henry Houtz of Canal Fulton, Stark county; graduated at Willoughby Medical College and began the practice of medicine at Oceola in 1847 continuing in active practice for many years. He was a gentleman pleasant in address, affable at all times and to all persons, familiar with the details of his profession, energetic in business, and obtained and retained the confidence and esteem of persons of Oceola and for miles around that village.

During his practice of medicine in this field many physicians, at different times, located there, but soon finding the field unprofitable sought locations elsewhere. In the spring of 1874 he entered into a partnership with Dr. William O. Hanby, a young man of great promise, but the partnership was broken by the untimely death of Dr. Hanby in October, 1879. A year later he formed a partnership with Dr. John A. Chesney, a physician who afterward became one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the state. After he had practiced with Dr. Richie for two years Dr. Chesney resumed his studies and later located at Bucyrus, where his practice was extensive and where he died August 31, 1912.

Dr. Richie received a kick from a horse about 1880 which caused the loss of one eye, and which otherwise much affected his health, so that toward the end of his active life he was unable to gi\e his practice the attention he desired, suffering from fatigue in the rounds of his country practice.

Dr. Hahn, later of Three Locusts, began practicing medicine at Oceola in 1852, but remained only eight months, going then to New \\'inchester, where he remained until 1867.

Oceola was always a good field for a physician since that portion of the county west of it \yas settled, many years after the other portion, on account of its being a part of the Wyandot Reservation.

The first physician to locate in Chatfield was Dr. A. B. Fairbanks, about 1847; he was postmaster for two years from 1848 to 1850; he remaifted about ten years. He was succeeded by D. J. Pitezel who came in 1858 and was also postmaster; he left about 1863 for Missouri, where he died in the seventies. He was succeeded by Dr. Urias Tubbs, who died there in 1873. He was succeeded by Dr. Zeigler. The present physician is C. D. McLeod.

At West Liberty, Dr. Wood was the first physician, commencing there about 1843 and he died of typhoid fever about 1847. He was succeeded by Thomas C. Aiken, who remained until the summer of 185 1. That year Dr. Keller located at West Liberty where he practiced until his removal to Bucyrus in 1861, and after his departure few physicians located there but only remained a few months, and for fifty years there has been no physician at West Liberty.

Dr. Carleton came to DeKalb in 1831 or 1832, and remained for several years. In addition to practicing medicine he sold dry goods in a log building standing on the lot afterward occupied by David Anderson and others, at the junction of the Plymouth road and the one running north through Vernon township. Early settlers spoke of him as a man of considerable ability.

Dr. R. A. N. Be was born in the state of Rhode Island about the year 1798. He received a tolerably liberal education, and graduated at one of the Philadelphia medical colleges. He came west about 1830 and at first located in southeastern Indiana, but, not being satisfied with the country, came back to Ohio and located at DeKalb in the year 1836. He continued to practice here until 1854, when he went to Van Wert county, Ohio, and remained there about ten years, coming back to DeKalb in 1864. In December, 1865, he had an apoplectic attack, which very considerably impaired his mental powers and he resided with

Dr. Keller from February, 1866, to July, 1867, when he visited his brother at Galesburg, 111., dying there the following December. Although quite eccentric in many particulars, and particularly reticent in everything pertaining to his early life, he was a man of much more than ordinary ability and attainments.

He devoted his time, when not professionally engaged, to reading, both professionally and otherwise, and in his office there might always be found rare medical works not usually found in the office of a country practitioner, with the best serial medical and other literature. He was a good practitioner, a reliable friend and a strictly honest man. The following points connected with his early history, not known during his life at DeKalb, will explain many things in his private life, which were regarded, generally, as eccentricities. When reading medicine he was thrown from a horse, fracturing his skull and otherwise injuring him, the result of which was the impairment of his intellectual faculties to a considerable extent and for some length of time. While in this state he was sent by his preceptor to visit a patient. The mother was highly incensed at the doctor for sending a crazy man (as she expressed herself) to visit her daughter, and so informed the young man. The doctor, on hearing himself thus spoken of, determined to leave the country at once, go west, change his name, and forever cut loose from his then friends and relatives, arguing that if he kept up any correspondence with them that his history would soon follow him wherever he would go, and destroy his future prospects. He accordingly went to Indiana, as we have stated, changed his name from Roman Babcock to Rom A. N. Be, by which name he was known until his death. During the long weary years from 1830 to 1866, he never once communicated directly or indirectly with mother, brothers, sisters, or other relatives - completely dead to every friend and associate of his youthful days. His many surviving friends at his death understood why he was always so reticent in reference to his early life and family.*

Dr. R. Cahill, from Wayne county, Ohio, practiced here from April, 1846 to April, 1848, after which he returned to his old home and * Dr. George Keller.

Dr. H. S. Bevington practiced at DeKalb from 1855 to 1 86 1 and was very successful, and later he entered the army and fought through the war, and after it was over moved to Sulphur Springs where he practiced up to the time of his death.

Soon after the village of Leesville was started. Dr. John McKean located there, about 1834. The town was on the old Portland Road from Columbus to Sandusky. Dr. Mc- Kean had the field to himself until about 1847, when Dr. Peter Rupp commenced practice there, and remained about six years when he went into the drug business at South Bend, Ind. Dr. Adrian came in 1853 and remained about a year. In 1857 Dr. McNutt practiced at Leesville for two years, from there he went to New Washington, and later was a surgeon in the army, and has now retired from jiractice and is living at Bucyrus. In 1872 Dr. T. H. B. Clutter located there and after remaining a number of years removed to Crestline. Leesville has no physician at the present time.

The first physician was perhaps Dr. J. Pitezel, who located at Benton about 1844, and remained until he removed to Chatfield in 1858. Dr. Bissell also practiced there about the same time. Dr. J. Atwood came in 1846 remained about three years and then went to Gallon. About that time Dr. Yates and Dr. D. Alvord located there, the latter removing to Bloomville in 1873. Between i860 and 1870 were Drs. Jones, Porter, Beiler and Jacob. In 1868 Dr. Jerome Bland located in Benton, where he remained for twenty years and then moved to Bucyrus. Dr. Schwan came in 1877 remaining several years. One of the last physicians was Dr. M. O. Wirt, who was there a dozen years, but retired from practice several years ago. One or two physicians have located there since, but only remained a short time, and there is today no physician at Benton.

Dr. Andrews located at New Washington in 1840, the village then having but a few houses. During his first year two of his children died, and he became discouraged and returned to his eastern home. In 1842 Dr. Main located there and remained two years, and he too, left. Following him was Dr. Stoutenour, who came in 1845 and remained for six years. Dr. Wandt was the next physician, but shortly after his arrival he committed suicide.

Dr. A. B. Hashizer came in 1855 and remained for two years. In 1867 Dr. John S. Heshizer located at New Washington, and was there for more than a quarter of a century, having a very extensive practice.