Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 13: The Medical Profession, 1914

The Pioneer Doctor - His General Character and Method op Treating Disease - His Standing in the Community - Balzac's Tribute to the Country Doctor - Sketches op Early Madison County Physicl\ns - Medical Societies - Their History - Physi¬ cians in the Army - Pension Examiners - List op Registered Physicians.

One of the most useful individuals in a new settlement is the physi¬ cian, though the life of the pioneer doctor is not all sunshine and roses. About the only inducement to a young physician to locate in a frontier community, was the hope that he might "grow up with the country." When the first physicians came to Madison county the region was sparsely settled, no roads were opened and calls had to be made on horseback, through the woods, the doctor frequently riding long distances to visit his patients, who were scattered over a wide expanse of territory. Money was rare in the frontier settlements and the doctor often received his fee in fresh pork or cordwnod. Some¬ times he received no fee at all, but this condition of affairs did not deter him from doing his duty and ministering to the sick. Viewed in the light of modern medical progress, the old-time doctor might be consid¬ ered a 11 back number. ' ' There were no drug stores to fill prescriptions, so he carried his stock of medicines about with him in a pair of pillbags - a contrivance composed of two leather boxes, with compartments for a number of vials; these boxes were connected with a broad strap that was thrown over the rear of the saddle. Many times the early doc¬ tor was not a graduate of a medical college, having acquired his pro¬ fessional training by "reading" with some other physician. No X-ray machine, or other costly or elaborate apparatus, graced his office. His principal surgical instruments were the lancet, for letting blood, and the turnkey, for extracting teeth, for the doctor was dentist as well as physician. In his stock of drugs calomel, quinine and Dover's powders were standard remedies, and every doctor knew the formula for making "Cook's pills." He had a wholesome contempt for germs and microbes and frequently went about his business without considering whether he was in an antiseptic condition or not. There was generally one redeem¬ ing feature about the early physician. He did not assume to know it all and as his business prospered he attempted to keep pace with the times by attending a medical college somewhere, the better to qualify himself for his chosen calling. His patrons looked upon him as a friend, as well as a professional adviser, and on the occasion of his visits to their homes the best piece of fried chicken or the largest piece of pie found its way to his plate.

In his travels about the settlement he heard all the latest gossip, knew what was passing in the minds of the citizens, and this gave him an opportunity to serve his neighbors in some public capacity. A list of county officers shows that the doctor has often been called upon to dis¬ charge the duties of some local official, to represent his constituents in the state legislature, or even in the halls of congress. It is quite prob¬ able that as many male children in the United States hhve been named for the family physician as for the country's great warriors or states¬ men. The great French novelist, Honore de Balzac, pays a tribute to the country doctor when he says: ' 4 It is not without reason that people speak collectively of the priest, the lawyer and the doctor as 'men of the black robe' - so the saying goes. The first heals the wounds of the soul, the second those of the purse, and the third those of the body. They represent the three principal elements necessary to the existence of society - conscience, property and health."

The first physician to locate in Madison county, of whom any definite information can be obtained, was Dr. Lewis Bordwell, who established himself at Pendleton about the time the county was organized. He remained there'but two or three years, when he removed to Iowa, where he practiced his profession until his death. Dr. Bordwell has been described as a genial gentleman of pleasing personality. He had the failing of "looking upon the wine when it was red," and sometimes, when under the "influence," was wont to boast of his success as a physician, declaring that he had never lost a patient.

He was succeeded by Drs. John L. and Corydon Richmond. Dr. John L. Richmond was bom in Massachusetts in 1785, studied medicine and began practice at Newton, Ohio, where he performed what was probably the first recorded Cesarean operation in the United States. About 1832 he located at Pendleton, where he was also pastor of a .Baptist church. A few years later he removed to Indianapolis and prac¬ ticed there until 1842. In that year he received a paralytic stroke, when he retired from practice and removed to Covington, Indiana, where he died.

Corydon Richmond was a son of the above and was bora in New York state in 1808. At the age of twenty-four he graduated at the Ohio Medical College and began practice in Pendleton. Later he practiced in Indianapolis for a few years and in 1844 located in Howard county, Indiana. In 1863 he became assistant surgeon in a military hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, but at the close of the war returned to Howard county, where he passed the remainder of his life.

In 1833 Dr. Madison G. Walker located in Pendleton, where he prac¬ ticed for nearly thirty years. He was a native of what is now West Virginia. In 1862 he retired from practice and about twelve years later removed to Missouri. When Frederick Douglass was assailed by a mob in 1843, Dr. Walker rescued him, in which he was assisted by Dr. Edwin B. Fussell, who had settled in Pendleton a few years before. A

Dr. John H. Cook was a graduate of the medical department of the University of Louisville and was one of the early specialists in diseases of the eye and ear. In the treatment of cases of this character he was frequently called to some of the larger cities. He loved debate, was a fluent speaker, and in 1836 was elected to represent Madison county in the legislature.

Dr. Ward Cook made the journey from Tennessee on horseback. He had previously studied medicine in his native state and soon after com¬ ing to Pendleton w r as examined and licensed to practice in Indiana, his license bearing date of October 20, 1832. Three years later he went to Red Sulphur Springs, Virginia, where he practiced until 1849. In the meantime he attended the Cincinnati College of Medicine where he was graduated in 1839. In the spring of 1849 he returned to Pendleton, and there resided until his death. He was actively engaged in the practice of his profession for over sixty years and was a contributor to some of the leading medical journals.

The first physician to locate in Anderson was a Doctor Burt. Little can be learned concerning him, but it is supposed that he was Dr. Dickin¬ son Burt, who was the first physician in Delaware county, locating there about the time that county w as organized. He came to Anderson about 1826 or 1827 and is said to have been also a school teacher.

In 1828 a Doctor Pegg located in Anderson and practiced there for about two years, when he was succeeded by Doctor Ruddell, who remained there for about seven years, when he removed to Marion county. Neither of these physicians have left much of their records in the county, and little is known of them except what is here stated.

Dr. Henry Wyman, a native of New York state, began practice in Anderson in 1831 and soon came to be recognized as a leader in his pro¬ fession. His practice extended to all parts of the county and even to adjoining counties. In connection with his professional work he was also editor of a local newspaper. In 1864 he removed to Blissfield, Michi¬ gan, where he died in 1892. In 1837 and 1838 he was elected to the legis¬ lature from Madison county.

Other early physicians in Anderson were Dr. E. R. Roe, Dr. Andrew Robb and a Dr. Carmean, but little can be learned concerning them or their work.

Dr. Townsend Ryan was born at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1813. Upon arriving at his majority he went to Hamilton, Ohio, and embarked in mercantile pursuit and was also interested in canal transportation between that city and Cincinnati. The panic of 1837 left him practically stranded. He then entered Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, and upon receiving his degree from that institution he located at Lewis¬ ville, Henry county, Indiana. In 1842 he came to Anderson, where he continued in practice for a quarter of a century. He represented Madi¬ son county in the legislature in 1848, was one of the first vice-presidents of the Indiana State Medical Society when it was organized in 1849, and was lieutenant-colonel and colonel of the Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry in the Civil war. After the war he engaged in railroad build-

Dr. John Hunt, a native of Wayne county, Indiana, began the prac¬ tice of medicine in Huntsville in 1839. Some years later he removed to Anderson and still later to a farm in Lafayette township. He had a large practice in each of these localities and became a power in politics. It has been said that he could dictate the nominations made by the DenuH cratic party for all the offices in Madison county. He served as state senator for Madison and Hancock counties in 1851-53 and in 1860 was elected county treasurer. He died at Springdale, Arkansas, July 23, 1895.

His brother, William A. Hunt, was also a physician of prominence in the county in his day. He was a small boy when the family settled at Huntsville. He attended Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, and began practice on a farm about four miles north of Anderson. In 1868 he removed to Anderson, where he first engaged in the drug busi¬ ness, but soon resumed practice, in which he continued until within a few days of his death. He was president of the old county medical society during the entire period of its existence and was a writer on mis¬ cellaneous subjects of more than ordinary ability.

Dr. John W. Westerfield was born in Preble county, Ohio, June 1, 1816, and came with his parents to Fayette county, Indiana, in 1828. He studied medicine in Rushville and in 1839 settled in Madison county. He owned the first drug store ever established in Anderson and practiced his profession there for many years. His death occurred on September 29, 1895. In early life he was a Methodist, but later espoused the cause of the Spiritualists, and at the time of his death was president of the state association, a position he had held from the time the association was first organized.

Dr. W. P. Brickley was one of the early physicians of the county. He first settled in Fall Creek township, where he practiced for several years. Then attracted by the inducements offered in the West, he went to Iowa. A few years later he returned to Madison county and opened an office in Anderson, where his son, Eugene T. Brickley, is now engaged in the drug business. Doctor Brickley is remembered by old-timers as a popular and successful physician.

Dr. Thomas N. Jones located in Anderson a few years before the beginning of the Civil war, having previously practiced in Hancock county and at Pendleton. He served as assistant surgeon of the Second Indiana Cavalry and later as surgeon of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry in the Civil war. He was a successful physician, always man¬ aged to secure the confidence of his patients, and stood high in the esteem of his brother practitioners. He was twice elected to the state legislature - in 1872 and 1874. He died in 1875.

Contemporary with Dr. Jones was Dr. George F. Chittenden, who began practice in Anderson in 1858, as a partner of Dr. John Hunt. In the spring of 1861 he entered the army as assistant surgeon of the Sixteenth Indiana Infantry and upon the reorganization of the regi¬ ment a year later was made surgeon. Subsequently he served as brigade surgeon, medical director of the Fourth Division, Thirteenth Army

Corps, and at the siege of Vicksburg was inspector and director of that corps. In 1868 he was elected to the legislature for the district composed of the counties of Madison and Henry, and in 1873 was appointed one of the directors of the Central Insane Asylum, a position he held for eight years.

Other Anderson physicians of prominence in days gone by were Noah L. Wickersham, Benjamin F. Spann, Chauncey S. Burr, D. M. Carter, Oscar Ardery, Zimri Hockett, William J. Fairfield, Jesse P. Cramp ton, Dewitt Jordan, Luther B. Terrill, E. H. Menefee, L. P. Ballenger, William Suman, Thomas J. McClenahan and Joseph F. Bran¬ don. The last named practiced for several years at Perkinsville and after removing to Anderson engaged in the drug business. Dr. Wickersham practiced for thirty-five years in Anderson and was a poet of considerable ability. Dr. Spann was a native of Jefferson county, Indiana, located at Anderson in the fall of 1860 and continued in prac¬ tice there for thirty-four years. He was a member of the state, county and American medical associations. Dr. Burr was born in Middletown, Indiana, in 1840, graduated in medicine in 1865 and practiped for fif¬ teen years in Anderson, ten years in Mitchell, South Dakota, and four¬ teen years in Chicago, where he died in 1905. Dr. Carter was a mem¬ ber of the first Madison County Medical Society and was for a time its treasurer. After several years successful practice in Anderson he went to Randolph county and died there. Little is known of Drs. Ardery, Ballenger and Jordan. Dr. Hockett was one of the most emi¬ nent and successful physicians in the county in his day and enjoyed a large practice. His son is now a practicing physician of Anderson. Dr. McClenahan, a promising young physician, died at an early age, before he had an opportunity to establish his reputation. Dr. Fairfield practiced twenty years in Anderson. He was a finely educated man, a graduate of Bellevue Medical College of New York, and was a 4 'chalk talk" lecturer - a talent he often employed in addressing medical socie¬ ties. In 1907 he removed to Delta, Colorado. Dr. Crampton was a native of Ohio. s He located at Anderson in 1852 and practiced there for fourteen years, being part of the time engaged in the drug business. Dr. Terrill was bora in Missouri, graduated at the Medical College of Ohio, practiced for a while in Cincinnati, located in Anderson in 1895 and died in 1910. He was a skilful surgeon and while in Anderson was surgeon for the American Steel and Wire Company. Dr. Menefee came to Anderson about 1860 and was secretary of the old medical society from 1862 to 1867. He was a native of Virginia. Dr. Suman was a native of Madison county and practiced there for thirty-eight years, twenty-two of which he was located in Anderson and the other sixteen in Frankton.

As early as 1828 a Dr. Henry located at Chesterfield and not long after a Dr. Kynett also settled there. Drs. Balingall and Preston, of Middletown, also made visits to the settlers about Chesterfield, though neither of them were ever located in Madison county. Early in the '30s Dr. George W. Godwin began practice at Chesterfield, but a little later removed to Yorktown, Delaware county. Dr. David Dunham settled on a farm a short distance northwest of Chesterfield in 1834 and in 1847

One of the first physicians in the county was Dr. William Goodell, who located in Jackson township, on the site of the present village of Halford, in 1825. He did not remain long and little is known of his career as a physician. Absalom Paris also practiced in that neighbor¬ hood at an early date. He died in 1870.

In the old village of Prosperity was Dr. William Paris, who came to Madison county in 1825. He was both physician and preacher. He was succeeded at Prosperity by Dr. Joseph Saunders, who practiced in the county for twenty-five years, and who was the first president of the Madison County Farmers' Insurance Company.

At Huntsville the first physician was a Dr. McCain, who was also a merchant. Following him came Dr. John Hunt, previously mentioned, and Dr. Joseph Weeks, who began his professional career there but later removed to Mechanicsburg, Henry county.

In 1840 a number of physicians came to the county. Dr. John Horn located at New Columbus (Ovid) and was the first physician in that village; two brothers, Drs. James and John Barrett, settled at Fishersburg; later in the year Dr. William Kynett also located there; Dr. Thomas Douglass located at Perkinsville, and Dr. Robert Douglass where the city of Elwood now stands. About this time a Dr. McNear located at the old village of Moonville, in Richland township. Doctor Horn remained at Ovid but a short time, going to Middletown and later to Yorktown. He was succeeded by Dr. Hildreth in 1842, Dr. W. B. Bair in 1844, and during the next few years Drs. Clark, Smiley and Barry all located there.

Dr. W. F. Spence established himself in practice at Alexandria in 1839 - the first physician in that town. In 1842 Dr. John W. Perry came and for a time was in partnership with Dr. Spence. Dr. Spence later removed to Jonesboro, Grant county, where he died. Another early physician in Alexandria was Dr. Cyrus Westerfield and not long after¬ ward came Dr. David Perry. A few years later Drs. S. B. and Leonard Harriman located in Alexandria. The former afterward removed to Richmond, Indiana, and the later to Sterling, Kansas. Both are now deceased.

Dr. Robert Douglass was the first man to practice medicine in what is now the city of Elwood, having located there twelve years before the town was laid out. Sometime in the '40s Dr. J. M. Dehority located in that vicinity and engaged in the general practice of medicine. He accumulated a fortune and during the last fifteen years of his life was engaged in the banking business. Dr. John Beck and his son Thomas were also practicing physicians of Elwood. Dr. Beniah T. Callaway first began practice in Alexandria in 1849, but a year later removed to Elwood, where he practiced for thirty-nine years. He was also inter¬ ested in banking operations.

The first physician at Frankton was Dr. John M. Laughlin, who , located there in 1854. He died not long afterward and his widow mar¬ ried Dr. Philip Patterson. Other early physicians here were Dr. Reuben Harvey, Dr. W. M. Sharp and a Dr. Young. Since their day a number of physicians have practiced in Frankton.

Dr. Thomas Benton Forkner, son of Micajah and Elizabeth Allen Forkner, was born in Liberty township, Henry county, Indiana, in 1840. He studied medicine with the late Dr. Magann, of Hagerstown, who served as surgeon of an Indiana regiment in the Civil war, and in 1862 graduated at the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati. The following spring he began practice at Clark's Station (now Florida), in Madison county, where he continued until 1865, when he removed to Anderson and practiced there until his death, which occurred in October, 1869.

Dr. Cyrus Graul located at Summitville in 1867, about the time the town was laid out, and three years later Dr. C. V. Garrell located there. Other physicians who practiced at Summitville during the latter part of the last century were Samuel Brunt, John Wright, W. Y. McMahan, M. L. Cranfill and T. J. Clark. Dr. William J. Morgan practiced at Gilman from 1870 to 1880. He was a charter member of the present Madison County Medical Society. He died on October 13, 1896.

Dr. Stanley W. Edwins, who has practiced his profession at various places in the county, is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was born in 1836, of Huguenot ancestry. After graduating in medicine he practiced in the South until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he came to Indiana and located first in Randolph county. In 1865 he came to Madison county. He was one of the first trustees of Frankton when that town was incorporated, but later removed to Elwood, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice. He is a member of the board of United State pension examiners and is one of the best known physicians in the county. In 1878 he was elected to represent Madison county in the legislature.

The first medical society ill the county had its beginning in a meeting held on November 1, 1862, in Anderson. Physicians present were Town¬ send Ryan, William A. Hunt, N. L. Wickersham, Henry Wyman, B. F. Spann, William Suman, J. F. Brandon, E. H. Menefee, Philip Patter¬ son, D. M. Carter and W. B. Bair. Dr. Wyman was elected to preside and Dr. Menefee was chosen secretary. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and the name of Madison County Medical Association was given the new organization. At one time this association numbered twentyeight members. The last meeting of which there is any record, was held on April 29, 1867. Dr. William A. Hunt served as president and Dr. E. H. Menefee as secretary during the entire history of the association. Dr. W. B. Bair was elected treasurer at the organization meeting, but died six months later and Dr. D. M. Carter was elected to the vacancy.

Harden's History of Madison County mentions a medical society, which was organized at Pendleton in October, 1873. At the first meet¬ ing Drs. Ward Cook, 0. W. Brownback, T. G. Mitchell, J. H. Harter and W. H. Lewis \v r ere present. Dr. Cook was chosen temporary president and Dr. Lewis temporary secretary. Invitations were sent to all regular physicians in the county to meet at Pendleton on Thursday, November 13, 1873. At that meeting the society completed its organization with thirteen members, viz.: Drs. Ward Cook, 0. W. Brownback, T. G.

Mitchell and J. H. Harter, Pendleton; B. L. Fussell and W. P. Harter, Markleville; Hiram Duncan, Simeon Yancey, S. A. Troy, J. M. Jones and T. K. Saunders, Fortville; J. M. Fisher, H. G. Fisher and Daniel Cook, Fishersburg; W. H. Lewis, Huntsville; and D. H. Myers, New Columbus. Dr. Hiram Duncan was elected president; W. H. Lewis, secretary; J. II. Harter, treasurer; Ward Cook, 0. W. Brownback and Simeon Yancey, censors. The constitution provided for semi-annual meetings - on the Tuesday after the second Monday in May and Novem¬ ber. A few members were added at subsequent meetings, but in time the interest waned and the society died of inanition.

On the last day of August, 1875, the following physicians met at the office of Dr. Chauncey S. Burr, in Anderson, and organized the present county medical society: John W. Perry, B. F. Spann, Jonas Stewart,

In many respects the secretary is a more important officer than the president, as upon him devolves the duty of keeping the records and notifying the members of any important measure to come before the society. It is therefore deemed appropriate to include a list of the secre¬ taries. In this list the names occur in the order in which the secretaries served: E. H. Menefee (secretary of the old society), Jonas Stewart, Horace E. Jones, Charles E. Diven, William M. Garretson, W. N. Horn, William Suman, Fred J. Hodges, John B. Fattic, E. W. Chittenden, W. W. Kneale, G. A. Whitledge, A. W. Collins, O. E. McWilliams, Lee Hunt, M. A. Austin, Thomas M. Jones, B. H. Cook, S. C. Newlin, Etta Charles.

The officers of the society for the year 1913 were: M. A. Austin, president; S. C. Newlin, vice-president; Etta Charles, secretary and treasurer; 0. W. Brownback, L. F. Schmaus, F. F. Mendenhall, censors.

The following named physicians of Madison county served in the Civil war, 1861-65, though at the time of their service some of them were not residents of the county: George F. Chittenden, surgeon Six¬ teenth Indiana Infantry and afterward inspector and director of the Thirteenth Army Corps; John C. Cullen, assistant surgeon, Sixteenth Indiana Infantry, promoted to surgeon; Thomas N. Jones, assistant surgeon Second Indiana Cavalry and surgeon One Hundred and Thir¬ tieth Indiana Infantry; Townsend Ryan, surgeon Fifty-fourth Indiana infantry and colonel of the Thirty-fourth; C. S. Burr, surgeon of a regiment of colored troops; Simeon B. Harriman, assistant surgeon Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry; Tecumseh Kilgore, assistant surgeon Eighty-fourth Indiana Infantry and surgeon Thirteenth Cavalry; Stan¬ ley W. Edwins, assistant surgeon One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry; Benjamin II. Perce, in the ranks and as hospital steward; Horace E. Jones, in the ranks and later a lieutenant in the United States navy; Jacob H. Harter, in the ranks; Jonas Stewart, in the ranks and as corporal in the Eighth Ohio Cavalry.

At different times the following physicians of the county have been called to serve ppon the board of United States examining surgeons for pensions: George F. Chittenden, John C. Cullen, Jonas Stewart, Charles N. Branch, John B. Fattic and Benjamin H. Perce, of Anderson; Stan¬ ley W. Edwins, of Ehvood; and F. G. Keller, of Alexandria. The pro¬ fession has also been well represented in the matter of holding county offices or serving as members of the state legislature.

The subjoined list of Madison county physicians is taken from the last report of the Indiana State Board of Medical Registration, for the year ending on September 30, 1912:

Miscellaneous - Paul Armstrong and Amos B. Ballard, Gilman; Eilan Y. Boram, Benjamin L. Petro and Charles M. Smethers, Markleville; Charles E. Conway, William M. Garretson and Virgil G. McDonald, Perkinsville; Joel Cook, Or.estes; John W. Covertson, W. J. French and J. L. W. Peck, Frankton; John T. Newhouse, Chesterfield; John I. Rinne and Thomas J. Stephenson, Lapel; William F. Scott, Linwood.