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438 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY CHAPTER X. MEDICAL HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY. LITTLE is known of the early history of the medical profession of Jefferson county. There are no records of any early medical organization, if indeed such organization ever existed. The names of many of the earlier practitioners have passed into oblivion, with death of the pioneer residents upon whom they practiced the healing art. A few of those who were more conspicuous are remembered by the descendants of the first settlers. The present century has wrought many wonderful changes in the practice of medecine, in both the treatment of disease and the quality of drugs used. The best educated and more scientific of the profession have long since discarded the theory that cure depends upon the quantity of drugs administered. The diseases prevalent in the early settlement of the upper Ohio valley differ but little from those most common at this time. The rough, hilly and rugged surface of the country prevented the malaria which was so common in many sections of the country and proved such a terror to all new corners. As to who was the first to offer his service and professional skill to the people of Steubenville and vicinity, there is a diversity of opinion; and as the memory is at best uncertain, it would not be safe to accord that honor without more authentic and trustworthy information on the subject. At the time of the coming of Dr. William Stanton, 1832, now probably the oldest in practice in the county, Dr. Benjamin Mairs, who had come from north Ireland, was engaged in the practice. He was, however, preceded by others, among whom was Dr. Stanton, the father of the great war secretary, Hon. Edwin M. Stanton. He is reputed to have been a man of great natural ability and very successful in the practice. Contemporaneous with Dr. B. Stanton was Dr. Mason. He located in Steubenville early in the century, and practiced there for many years. Dr. Benjamin Dickson came perhaps as early as 1808, and deserves to be classed among the pioneers. Drs. Hammond and McGinty were here at an early date, the latter went to St. Louis. Dr. Thomas Johnson came in 1834, and the brother of Edwin M. Stanton began the practice early, but after a few years went to West Virginia, where he died many years ago. Perhaps, the most conspicuous of JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO - 439 those who may be classed among the early physicians, was Benjamin Tappan, the son of the once famous senator by the same name, of whom mention is made elsewhere. Dr. Tappan was in both literary and professional training far in advance of the physicians of his day. After attending some of the best schools of his native country, he went to Europe, and in Paris he spent much of his time in the study of his profession, besides devoting much attention to the study of the languages, in which he became proficient. Drs. Shane, Hamilton, Lester and Scott were also here, but later than the foregoing: As above mentioned Dr. William Stanton is perhaps longer in the practice than any one in Jefferson county. He was born, reared and received his literary training in the north of Ireland. He finished his medical education, so far as collegiate instructions go toward its accomplishment, at Edinburg, Scotland, after which he emigrated to America, and began the practice in Clark county, Ohio, in 1833. After remaining one year he became discouraged, and started to return, but at Steubenville he met an old friend who induced him to remain. The doctor is now in his seventy-sixth year, and is practically retired from the practice. Dr. Enoch Pearce, although still active in the practice, may be classed as one of the connecting links between the past and present history of the profession. In the towns along the Ohio river that have in the last two decades become flourishing business centers, there were no physicians in the early days, the people then depending upon the physicians of Steubenville or Wellsburg. At Mt. Pleasant, which was one of the early settled portions of the county, Drs. William Hamilton and Isaac Parker; the former moved to Steubenville. At Smithfield, Dr. William Burrell was practicing perhaps as early as 1806 or 1807. William and Anderson Judkins were also there at an early day; the former moved to Steubenville and the latter to Bloomfield. William Leslie and his son John deserved to be mentioned among the early physicians of Smithfield. Drs. Harrison, Riddle, Vorhees and Johnson were at Bloomfield, and Anderson Judkins moved from Smithfield to Richmond, and was perhaps the first to minister to the wants of the sick of that community. Medical Society. A number of the leading medical men of the county recognizing the necessity of annual, semi-annual and quarterly meeting for the discussion of better methods and the inter-change of thoughts, whereby each might have the benefit of the experience and observation of all the others, met at Steubenville in 1858 and organized the Jefferson County Medical society, by electing Dr. Benjamin Tappan president. The charter members of that society were: Drs. William Hamilton, of Mt. Pleasant; A. T. Markle, Wintersville; W. S. Bates, of Smithfield; Thomas Johnson, Benjamin Tappan, Joseph Mitchell, E. Brugh and Enoch Pearce, of Steubenville, all of whom are now dead except the last named. The present officers are: president, Dr. M. D. Hill; H. W. Nelson, vice president; A. A. Elliott, secretary. Mention of many of the later physicians will be found elsewhere in this work. |