Union County, Ohio - Chapter 11: The Medical Profession, 1915

Chapter 11: The Medical Profession

Ever since tlie days of Galen, medicine has taken a high place in the world's professions. It matters not whether among the enlightened races, or even among the unedncated and savage tribes, from the earliest ages in the world's histoiy the "medicine man" has been sought after when the fevered brow and low state of physical strength has come to mankind. After the time of Galen, the profession took on a dignity before unknown, and with the march of the centuries has advanced with all other sciences. Perhaps, it has made a greater stride within the last seventy-five years than any other science known to the civilized peoples of earth. While some people always seem to delight in disparaging the doctor as long as they possess health, yet, when stricken with disease, they are the first to call the family physician. In his hands they feel that life and health are most secure to them and to their families.

With the settlement of every new country the physician has always been found in the vanguard. He wards off diseases found in undeveloped countries until such times as men have founded their homes, drained the swamps and driven the causes of bodily ailments from the community. What would any new country have done without the doctor and his saddle-bags, when fever and ague were rife in the land. In days of cholera, such as the epidemic in the thirties and fifties in Ohio, what would have been the loss without the physician at the bedside to direct every movement of the stricken patient! He is needful in all communities and has come to be appreciated by all thinking men and women. The pioneer physician usually rode horseback and that not of choice, but because he was better able to reach the bedside of the sick. Streams were unbridged and he could swim his faithful animal where he could not otlierwise have gone. Thus we find him following the trail by blazed trees through the forest land ; many times in the darkness of night did he prove himself as much of a genuine hero as though on the battle field. The present physicians do not have such difficulties, for today their drives are shorter and with the excellent highways and modem means of travel, sucli as the automobile and electric lines, many more patients can be seen. Yet the faithful physician has no easy life even today.

He must needs keep up witli his practice and at the same time must read many hours eacli week on the latest tlieories and practice of me(hcine and surgery. VVliile colleges are numerous and excellent, yet the good physician must keep studying in order to achieve success. The world now demands the hest and nothing less will he received at the hands of the sick man.

Dr. Gideon Hawley was perhaps the first physician in Union C(3unty. He married Rebecca Townsend and subsequently moved west, where he died. His widow later returned to friends in Canada.

Dr. Daniel Bowen, a native of Vermont, settled at Milford about 1815, and was the first doctor of the place. He died December 12, 182 t, aged forty years.

Dr. Spencer Garwood, JNlilford Center, was born in Dogan county, Ohio, 1835. He was reared on a farm until he reached manhood. He had only the common advantages of the country schools of his time. He later entered Farmers' College at Cincinnati and remained three years. In 1861 he enlisted in the Thirteenth Ohio, sen-ing three months. He then re-enlisted in the Eighty-fifth Regiment, and was sent to the front where he saw much hard service and severe fighting. He was promoted to the captaincy of Company K. He was at the battle of Cold Harbor and later guarded rebel prisoners at Camp Chase. Previous to his discharge he entered the Ohio Medical College and in 1864 entered tlie medical department of the Michigan University, from which he graduated. He then practiced two years in Council BlutTs, Iowa. He also opened a drug store between Council Bluf?s and Salt Lake City. He then removed to Columbus, Nebraska, where he was postmaster and conducted a drug store two years. He also practiced at Des Moines, Iowa, and Fort Scott, Kansas, where he li\'Cfl fourteen vears. practicing his profession. In 1880 he went to Washington. D. C. and practiced until the spring of 1882, when he located at Milford Center in this county.

In 1837 there were but fi\e ])hysicians found ])racticing in Union county : John K. Brookins, at Richwood : Winthrop Chandler, in Liberty township: Benjamin Davenport, in l^nion township: Ira \V(j()d. at Marysville : Reuben P. Mann, at Milford.

In 1840 the physicians were paying a license of fifty cents per year. There were ten in number - John P. Brookins, Jeremiah Curl, Benjamin Davenport. Reuben N. Mann, Charles Alorrow. David H. Silver, Stephen Kinney, Marquis Wood, David Welch and Winthrop Chandler.

Dr. G. W. Plimell, of Irwin, was born in Madison county, Ohio, in 1839, a son of John PHmell who settled in this county in 1818. His early years were spent on the farm. In September, 1861, he volunteered in Company A, Fourth Ohio Infantry, participating in many a hard fought battle of the Civil War. At Lookout Mountain he was severely wounded in 1863. In 1865 he began the study of medicine under his brother. Dr. J. T. Plimell. In 1876 he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1877. He immediately located at Irwin, where he built up a line practice.

Among the physicians now recalled as having at one time or another practiced in this county are the following: Dr. S. F. Kinney located at Marysville with his family in 1839, when the county was yet thinly populated. He died May 31, 1872, aged eighty-three years. His good wife died in 1874, aged o\er eighty years. Both were highly esteemed citizens.

Dr. J. Curl, whose office was on Main street, east of the courthouse, and Dr. Sewell Hosford. a "botanical" physician, both located in Marysville in the fall of 1839.

Dr. B. \'. Buffington. physician and surgeon, of Marys\ille. was born near Harper's Ferry. Virginia, in 1838, and his parents later found a home in this county, residing at Mil ford Center, where young Buffington attended the common schools. When twenty-two years old he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Leonard, of Urbana, Ohio. After four years of hard study and faithful application he commenced the practice of his profession. In 1873 lie graduated at the Eclectic College, Cincinnati. He came to Marvs\ille in 1868.

Dr. X. P. Davidson, Marys\ille, was born in Perry county, Ohio, in 1840, li\-ed on a farm until fifteen years of age, when he left home for himself. He worked by the month one \'ear and then went to Clay county, Illinois, where he remained until 1872. He taught school in the winter and worked on a farm by the month for four years. He returned to Ohio in the autumn of 1872 and entered the National Xormal School at Lebanon, and there remained a student two vears. The next three vears he taught in various counties in Ohio, and read medicine under Dr. G. \V. Dawson of Hocking county, three years, finishing his course in 1877. In 1882 he graduated from the Columbus Medical College. In 1877-78 he practiced with his preceptor, and in 1879 began the practice at Oakland, Ohio, where he continued until the fall of iS8i. Tlie fulldwint;- si)ring he estalilished himself at Marysville. He practiced in Hilliard, Ohio, from about 1890 until his death.

Dr. David W. Henderson, Marysville, was a descendant of the famous family of the Stewarts, of Scotch and Irish origin. The Doctor was the s'.n of John and Annie (Jack) Henderson, pioneers of Union county, Ohio, who effected settlement here in 1S37. Doctor ?Ienderson was horn in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1823. He was fitted for college at the Alarysville Academy, and entered Ohio University at Delaware. Me remained until 1847 and then volunteered as a soldier in the war with .Mexico, from which war he returned in 1848. He at once commenced to stud\- medicine under Dr. R. Hillis. of Delaware, Ohio, completing his studies at the Starling ]\Iedical College, from which institution he graduated in 1832. The following spring he came to Marysville where he was in successful medical practice for many years. As a surgeon he was eminent. In the Civil War he was commissioned surgeon of the Xinety-sixth Regiment of Ohio \'olunteers and remained in the service until April. 1863, when ill health compelled him to resign (and resume practice at his home. He was higlilv successful as a physician and accumulated nuich projjerty. He was a member of the Maiysville Library and literary Society and also a member of the board of education and board of health. He died July 23, 1910.

Dr. J. M. Southard, Marys\-ille, \\-as bcjrn in Adaius county, C)hio. in 1823. He was reared on his father's farm in Licking countv. and attended the common schools. He read medicine in the ottice of Drs. Waters and Rowe, of Newark. Ohio, when he entered Starling Medical College. Columbus, from which he graduated in 1834. He then located at Marysville, where he soon grew into a large and lucrative medical practice. He died March 16. 1891.

Dr. ]M. Thompson. Mar\s\ille. was a son of the pioneer family of this name. He was boni in Beaver county. Pennsyhania. in 1828 and receix-ed his education at the Marysville Academy, and in 1832 began the study of medicine. He graduated from Starling Medical College in 1837. and was a resident phvsician of Pharisburg for twehe years. In 186c) he formed a partnership with W. L. .Miller in the erection of the Marysville ]\lills. of which he became sole proprietor in 1872.

Dr. John Beach was the lirst jiracticing phxsician in I'nionxille. He came fresh from medical schools and after practicing a few years removed from the county, being now deceased. His brother. W. Morrow Beach, also deceased, reinained at L'nionville some years in the ])ractice of medicine. Doctors did not seem to remain long here : possibly the business they sought was not very plentiful, as the country was "distressingly" healthy. There were also Drs. I. N. Hamilton, later of Marysville, and Dr. Charles AlcCune, both now deceased.

Dr. T. B. Asbury was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1824, the son of an Englishman, a noted Methodist preacher, and a nephew of that celebrated bishop of the Alethodist church of that name. Dr. Asbury was the only child in his parent's family. He was reared to manhood in Columbus, Ohio, and received his collegiate education at Allegheny College, Pennsylvania. He read medicine with Dr. Edward Ellis, of Meadville, Pennsylvania, graduating from Berkshire Medical College of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in March, 1844. He then entered into his profession at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he practiced five years. He then came to Frankfort (Jerome), Union county, Ohio, remained there till 1861, and then removed to Columbus. In 1872 he went to Worthington, and in 1880 returned to Union county, but is now deceased.

Dr. J. E. Herriott, Jerome, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1849. He received his literary education in the Ohio Wesleyan University, and in 1871 began reading medicine with Dr. James Cutler of Richwood. He attended the Starling Medical College, and later the Medical College of Cincinnati, graduating from the latter in 1873. He at once came to Jerome and entered into the successful practice of his chosen profession. He is now practicing in Trenton, Missouri.

Dr. J. S. Howland, Xew California, was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1843. His boyhood days were passed in Lewis, Pendleton and J^Iason counties, Kentucky. He attended school at the Normal in Lebanon, Ohio. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Seventh Ohio Cavalry, serving with distinction under Generals Burnside, Thomas, Sherman and Gilmore. He returned from the war to Fayette county, Ohio, to which place the family had removed, and there taught school from 1868 to 1875, when he turned his attention to the study of medicine. He read three years with Dr. Richardson, of Somerville, and then took a course in the Miami ]\Iedical College. In February-, 1877, he located at New California, and about 1885 removed to Plain City.

Dr. Thomas P. Shields, of Mill Creek township, was born in Cumberland county, Virginia, of Scotch-Irish parentage. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812. .'\fter attending the common schools. Dr. Shields took a course in Washington College (now \\'^ashington and Lee) in Le.xington, Virginia, and then attended lectures in the University of Virginia and the University of

Pennsylvania. After his graduation he settled on the old family homestead, where his mother lixed, and practiced medicine and surgery. He joined the Confederate forces and was later made a surgeon, doing hospital work mostly. In 1867 he m()\ed tn L'nion county. Ohio, settling with his family in Mill Creek township on a farm belonging to his sister. From that date he became a farmer and stock raiser. In fact, he was never counted a regular practitioner here in Union county, but was a member of the profession and so recognized by the best physicians. He died about 191 1.

Dr. \\'inthrop Chandler, the first physician ever practicing in Liberty township, was a native of Vermont, who emigrated to Ohio and settled in Union township in 181 8. He married and settled in Mill Creek township in 1826, and there practiced medicine successfully. In 1846 he remoxed to Illinois in which state he died. He was a \ery peculiar man. and it is told of him that when e\-er there was any ph}-sical exertion necessary he "was not around." He was known as the laziest man in all the community. He always kept a lot of old liroken-down horses about his stables, which he never groomed or half fed. The result was that fre(iuently these poor beasts would get down and were too p(><ir and weak to get on their feet alone. In order not to lia\e to help lift them u|>, lie arranged a system of pulleys, by which he might the more easily raise the animals. However, he was known as a first rate physician and skillful surgeon. He was a regular graduate anil a scientific phvsician, liut woefully lazy.

Another physician of Lilierty township was Dr. J. O. Southard, of Ravmond. He was reared on bis father's farm and when eighteen years of age commenced teaching school, following this four years. In 1851 he began the study of medicine. He attended a medical college at Cleveland, graduating in March, 1855. He then located at Frazeysburg. and in 1857 established himself at Newton (now Raymond), Ohio, where he practiced medicine for many years with marked success. In 1895 he moved to Marysville, where he died in 1898.

Dr. David \\'elch was well ad\'anced in years when he settled at Essex, Jackson township. He practiced there fifteen years and then retired.

Dr. Samuel E. Williams was born in 1823, in Licking county, Ohio. In 1846, after receiving a good English education, he entered a five months' course at the Cleveland ^Medical College, graduating the ^larch following. He then practiced at Hartford, Licking county, Ohio; practiced at various places, and finally settled in this county at Essex.

Dr. Andrew J- Richardson was born in 1829, in New York. His father was a soldier in the \\'ar of 1812. He came with his family to Summit countv, Ohio, where they lived five years, coming to York township. Union countv, in 1855. He was reared on a farm and obtained a common school education. In 1867 and 1868 he attended Starling Medical College five months, and later took more lectures there. He graduated in 1869. However, five vears before this he had studied and practiced medicine. He located at Somerville. York township, where he soon had a paying and successful practice.

In Claibourne township, Dr. John P. Brookins was one of the leading earlv citizens in Richwood. He was born at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1 80 1, and emigrated to Ohio, first settling at Mount \'ernon for the practice of his profession. He was induced to locate in Richwood, and erected the first cabin in the village. It stood on lot No. 97, at the southwest comer of Franklin and Ottway streets, where Miller's store aftenvards stood. The first sad event in the little village was the Inirning of his little daughter, ]\Iary Jane, a promising child, in August. 1833. \\'hile playing near a burning log heap in the street, her clothes took fire and .she was so badly burned that death ensued the following day. The first birth and first marriage also occurred in the doctor's family. The bride was Jane Coffee, a niece of the doctor.

Doctor Brookins was a very small, spare man, but ven.- jo\-ial. He always had a good story to tell and kept a crowd in an uproar. He was a justice of the peace many years and also postmaster. He was the first physician in Claibourne township and continued until 1847, when he removed to Eaton, Ohio, where he died in 1878.

.About the same date came Doctor Atwood who only stopped a short time. Dr. H. O. S. Heistand removed to Richwood from Mansfield about 1852. and practiced until his death a few years later, .\aron Irwin read

Other doctors in the county luue ])een I. N. Hamilton (died 1893J, Randall, Thomas Mather, Aliller, Harris, and Leach, a homeopath. Dr. R. D. Connell was the first of the last named school to locate in Richwood. He came in 1873 from JMansfield, but in 1879 moved to Columbus, where he died.

Dr. William Breese succeeded Doctor Myers, but only remained a short time. Drs. Gustavius Skidmore, I-juanuel Whittaker. P). A. Martin and George Martin practiced in Byhalia f(ir many years at different times. George Aliller located at Bvhalia in 1875. He was a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Medicine.

In Taylor townshi]). Dr. J. H. Taylor, of Broadway, was l)orn in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1847. His mother died when he was but four X'ears of age and he v.-as thrown out on his own resources at a tender age. He lived with several families until ele\en years old and then worked for his hoard and clothes in a good family. He ran away and enlisted in the Union cause in Civil War as a member of Company G. Eighty-eighth Ohio N'olunteer Infantrv. .\fter the war he went to school one winter wliile residing with his father. He decided to become a doctor and, being without means, he did office work for his tuition. He finally liegan practice in Marion county, Ohio, coming from tliei-e to this county. He graduated in 1881, and made a successful physician. For many years he practiced at Marion, Ohio.

Of the phvsicians in Jerome townshii) may be natned Doctors Converse, Asberry, Holland, John E. Herriott. P. F. Beverly, Henry, Bargar and Kirbev.

At Xew California, the first physician was Dr. Culver. Other physicians here were Mile Lawrence, Thomas J. Haynes, James Cutler, B. F. Mc- Glade, J. S. Rowland. Doctor Merriman and Doctor Vigor, the latter still practicing. Doctor Cutler became a banker and so continued until his death in 1912.

Medical Associations And Societies

In common with other Ohio counties. Union has had its share of medical societies, under one name or another. Tiie first of these was organized at what was once known as Magnet City, now called Magnetic Springs, in July. 1 88 1. There were present in attendance upon that occasion Drs. E. Y. King, S. E. Williams, H. McFadden, G. K. Skidmore, S. S. Skidmore, S. S. Drake, R. A. Gray, P. H. Bauer and Doctor Gerseline, of Radnor. The first president elected for the Union County Medical Association was Dr. E. '\'. King. The other officers were as follows: Treasurer, Dr. S. S. Skidmore; secretary. Dr. P. H. Bauer. Upon motion, the association adopted the code of ethics of the .i\merican Medical Association. The object of the organization was set forth as follows: "The object of the members of this society, both in their individual capacity and their associated efforts as members of this society, shall be the association of the profession for the purposes of mutual recognition and fellowship, and the maintenance of union, harmony and good government among its members : thereby promoting the character, interest, honor and usefulness of the profession, the cultivation and advancement of medical science among its members, and the elevation of the standard of medical education."

Candidates for membership had to present satisfactory evidence of qualification or be submitted to a rigid examination, and were elected to membership by ballot by two-thirds vote of the members present. The present officers are as follows: President, Dr. A. B. Swisher; secretary. Dr. Angus Maclvor ; executive committee, Doctors Mills, Southard and Thompson, the latter of Raymond.

Andrew Sabine, a native of Ohio, graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1856; saw active service in the army during the Civil War; died at Garden City, Kansas, about 1910.

A. T- Pounds, a native of Delaware, graduated at Columlnis Medical College in 1881. After fifteen years at Watkins, he moved to Delaware, Ohio.

Charles McCune, a native of Ohio; graduate of College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Maryland, in 1878; practiced at Unionville Center, and died in 1912.

Dr. Grailv Henderson, son of the pioneer doctor David D. Henderson, now deceased, at the date of the Spanish-American War, not being permitted to enter the service as a soldier on account of a disability, sent the following notice to the mayor of Marysville :

"Mayor F. A. Thompson, Dear sir : Not being able to attend your meeting Tuesday night last, I herewith adopt this mode of notifying you, as president of the committee, that I willingly and gladly offer my services as a physician and surgeon, as well as any strict attention in cases of sickness to all the families whose husbands who have gone at their country's call, and who are the moral and physical support of the same. To these my services are free of charge and as the government did not see fit to to enlist me on account of physical debility, I adopt this plan of doing what little I can for our nation's honor and Old Glory !

Among other physicians of Marysville may be mentioned the following : Dr. A. H. Raudabaugh, who came to Marysville about 1885, practiced in the Keelev Institute of which he was manager. When that institution went to Columbus he and his son George moved there and went into private practice. Both have died in recent years. Dr. ^V. F. White came to Marysville in 1880, practiced in the homeopathic school: died here in 1914. He w-as also connected with the Keelev Institute. Dr. John Wood practiced in [Nlarysville, where he was reared : graduated at Starling Medical College about 1894; died here about 1900. Dr. Klotch practiced in Marysville along in the eighties : moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he still practices. Dr. I.isle came to Marysville with Dr. Raudabaugh and remained only a short time. Dr. W. C. Gates, a celebrated surgeon, was connected with the sanitarium five years and moved to Bucyrus, Ohio, where he is still a surgeon in a hospital. He was the best surgeon this county ever had. Dr. Carpenter was at Marvsville in the eighties, but soon removed. Dr. Hoyt and wife, homeo])atbs, practiced at A'larysvillc in the eighties. Dr. Smith, who was at T^itter^burg many }-ears, died in 1912.