242 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

CHAPTER III.*

HISTORY OF THE PROFESSTONS—THE BENCH AND BAR UNDER THE OLD AND NEW CONSTITU-
TIONS—MEMBERS OF THE MEDINA COUNTY BAD—THE MEDICAL FRATER-
NITY—EARLY EPIDEMICS—MEDICAL SOCIETY—
MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION.

THE history of the bench and bar of Medina County is probably not materially different from that of other rural counties in this part of the State, except in the names of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and of the lawyers practicing in the courts. The names of all the Judges and lawyers practicing at the bar of this county, with a full biography of each, would occupy more space than can properly be devoted to that subject, and would be more than the author of this brief " History of the Bench and Bar of Medina County " is capable of giving, for want of the necessary information.</P>

It has been said by those capable of judging, that the bar of Medina County would compare favorably with that of any county in this part of the State, and we certainly have had as able and upright Judges as any other county. The writer came to this county to live on the 10th day of June, 1834, and has lived here ever since, and from personal observation, and from information of others of the names and characters of those before his time, he has no doubt of the truth of the above statement.

The people of this county have, in the main, been peaceable and quiet, and there has probably been less litigation here than in most counties

Contributed by Judge Samuel Humphreville and Dr. E. G.

of its size and population. Land titles have as a general thing. been indisputably good consequently there have been few " land cases,” and, as the people have been honest and law-abiding. there have been comparatively few criminal cases in the courts.

Under the Constitution of 1802, the Judges of all the courts were elected by the General Assembly for seven years each, and the Judges of the Supreme Court, four in number, were, as a general rule, selected from the best men in the State for that important position. For the Supreme Court in the several counties. holden by two Judges, the State was divided into two circuits or divisions, two Judges taking each circuit.

The first Supreme Court in Medina County was held in September, 1820, by the Hon. Calvin Pease and the Hon. Peter Hitchcock, who appear to have been among the earliest Judges in the State. Judge Hitchcock was a very able and upright Judge, always at the place of duty, which duty he discharged to the general satisfaction.

The first case tried to a jury in the Supreme Court of Medina was that of Daniel Bronson against Justus Warner, Moses Deming, Aaron Warner and Truman Walker, in an action on the case for a conspiracy. This case had been tried in the Court of Common Pleas, and the

PAGE 243 - PICTURE OF A. MUNSEN

PAGE 244 - BLANK

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY. - 245

plaintiff had recovered a judgment for $800, but the defendants appealed to the Supreme Court, and there the plaintiff was defeated with costs. The Judges who attended the Supreme Court in Medina were Calvin Pease, Peter Hitchcock, John McLane, Jacob Burnet, Charles R. Sherman, Joshua Collett, Henry Brush, Ebenezer Lane, John C. Wright, Reuben Wood, Matthew Birchard. Edward Avery and perhaps others. This court held but one term in the year. usually in September.

The business of the court generally progressed in the usual humdrum manner of most courts, but occasionally an incident would occur worth relating. The Hon. Judge Collett was an honest, simple-minded, incorruptible Judge. At one term of the court when he was on the bench, a case was called for trial, wherein the surnames of plaintiff and defendant were alike. George W. Willey, an eccentric, waggish attorney, represented the plaintiff. When the case was called, Judge Collett said : "Mr. Willey, what relation do these parties bear to each other ? " Mr. Willey replied, " Your honor they bear the relation of plaintiff and defendant." The Judge then said, "Do they bear any other relation to each other? " Mr. Willey, who could no longer evade the question, replied, that the plaintiff was a son of the defendant." The Judge straightened him-self up in his chair, apparently in great surprise and said, " What, a son sue his father! I never heard of such a thing." After waiting awhile, he turned to Mr. Willey, and, in a peculiar tone, said : " Well, Mr. Willey, you may go on, if you think best." But Mr. Willey, under the circumstances, did not think best "to go on," and discontinued his action, to the great amusement of the bar and the spectators in court.

The Supreme Court, as thus constituted, continued to be holden until the adoption of the constitution of 1851, when it was superseded by the " District Court" as provided forby that constitution. The constitution of 1851 provides that the District Court of the several counties shall be holden by one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the district, any three of whom shall constitute a quorum. At the election for Supreme Judges in 1831, the Judges elected were William B. Caldwell, Thomas W. Bartley, John A. Corwin, Allen G. Thurman and Rufus P. Ranney.

The first District Court for Medina County was holden in 1852, the Hon. Thomas W. Bartley, Supreme Judge, presiding, and Lucius B. Otis, Samuel Starkweather and Samuel Humphreville, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in the several subdivisions of the Fourth Judicial District. At the election in 1851, Hon. Lucius B. Otis was elected Common Pleas Judge in the First Subdivision, Samuel Humphreville in the Second, and Samuel Stark-weather, in the Third Subdivision. The Fourth District contains nine counties. The counties of Lucas, Sandusky, Ottawa, Erie and Huron, constitute the First ; the counties of Lorain, Medina and Summit, the Second, and the county of Cuyahoga, the Third Subdivision of the Fourth Judicial District. At the first election, under the present constitution, only one Judge was elected in and for each subdivision of the district, but now the business of the courts has increased to such an extent that it has been necessary to increase their number, so that there are in the First Subdivision, five Judges, in the Second, two, and in the Third, six Judges, making in all, thirteen Judges to do the business which, in 1852, was easily done by three.

The business of the District Court continued for several years to be done by one Supreme Judge, and three Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, until the business of the Supreme Court became so great that the General Assembly passed a law to relieve the Supreme Judges from Circuit or District Court duty, since which time the District Court has been holden by the

246 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas in the district.

This court has not given general satisfaction, and there is great anxiety for some reform in our judiciary system, so as to relieve the business of the county from the incubus of the " District Court." The Judges are usually away from home and are so anxious to get through with the business of the court, that they seldom take sufficient time to give the cases submitted to them that thorough examination and consideration which their merits, and frequently their intricacy, requires. Their decisions are frequently reversed by the Supreme Court, and often the decision of the District Court is reversed. and that of Common Pleas in the same ease, affirmed. All this is calculated to bring the District Court into merited disrepute, and it puts litigants to great and often unnecessary delay and expense. It is believed the District Court in and for Medina County is not, in these respects, materially different from that of other counties in the State. judging from the reports of the Supreme Court.

The first Court of Common Pleas held in Medina County was on the 8th day of April, 1S18 ; present as Judges, Frederick Brown, Senior Associate Judge, Isaac Welton and Joseph Harris, Associates. This court was held for the purpose of organization and appointment of a Clerk. John Freese was appointed Clerk, pro tern., and also Recorder for the county. Some other business was trans-acted not directly connected with the law business of the court. On the 7th clay of July. another term of this court was held by the same Judges, and Luther Blodget was appointed Prosecuting Attorney, and John Freese was re-appointed Clerk pro tem. At this term. two civil actions were commenced. The first was Daniel Bronson against Alpheus Warner, and the second was the same Daniel Bronson against Justus Warner, Moses Deming, Aaron Warner and Truman Walker, for a conspiracy. In each of these cases, Isaac B. Lee was attorney for the plaintiff; and Luther Blodget for the defendants.

The Judges of this court, from the organization of the county, in 1818, up to the time of the adoption of the present constitution, in 1851, were as follows : When the county was organized, in 181S. Hon. George Tod was President Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, his office expiring in 1823. when he was re-elected by the General Assembly for seven years. He served in that capacity until 1830. when Reuben Wood was elected in his place for seven years, but Judge Wood was elected Supreme Judge, and, in 1833, Matthew Birchard was elected President Judge for the Third Circuit. He presided in the court until 1834, when the General Assembly detached Medina County from the Third Circuit and attached it to the Eleventh Circuit, and elected Ezra Dean President Judge, who served until 1841, when Jacob Parker was elected in his place, who served until 1848. when Levi Cox was elected. He served until 1852, when the then new constitution legislated him out of office.

The Associate Judges under the constitution of 1802 were as follows : The Judges first elected for Medina County were Frederick Brown, Senior Associate Judge, and Isaac Welton and Joseph Harris, Associates. They all served until 1823, when Noah 31. Bronson was elected in place of Joseph Harris. In 1825, John Freeze was elected Judge in place of Isaac Welton. In 1830, Reuben Smith was elected Judge. In 1832, Allen Pardee was elected Judge in place of Frederick Brown, who, it seems, served for fourteen years. In 1832, John Newton was elected Judge in place of Noah M. Bronson. In 1835, Orson M. Oviatt was elected Judge in place of John New-ton. In 1836, Benjamin Lindsley was appointed Judge to fill out the unexpired term of Reuben Smith, but the General Assembly in

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.- 247

1837 elected Philo Welton Judge, so that Judge Lindsley was only present at two terms of court. In 1839, Stephen N. Sargent was elected Judge in place of Allen Pardee. In 1840, Allen Pardee was re-elected, and also William Eyles was elected Judge. These were elected in place of Isaac Welton and Orson 31. Oviatt. who both lived in the township of Richfield. which was set off in 1840 to the county of Summit, a new county, thereby leaving two vacancies on the bench. In 1847, Henry Hosmer and Josiah Piper were elected Judges. In 1848. Charles Castle was elected Judge. These last served until February 9 1852. when they went out of office by virtue of the provisions of the constitution of 1851.

All the Judges who were elected by the General Assembly were men of high standing in the communities in which they lived ; were learned in the law, or, at least, the Supreme and President Judges of the Court of Common Pleas ; were men of fine talents and ability, and they discharged their duties to the general satisfaction of the bar and of the people of the county. It might be invidious for me to single out any one whose merits might excel. The first Associate Judges of Medina County were Frederick Brown, of Wadsworth. He was a farmer, and stood high as a citizen. Isaac Welton was a farmer of Richfield, one of the early settlers. and a more respected citizen. Joseph Harris was the first settler in Harrisville, having moved there. re in 1811 with his family. He was a man of great energy, and accumulated a large fortune. At the February term. 1823, George Tod had been re-elected President Judge. Noah 31. Bronson was elected Associate in place of Judge Harris, who resigned. Judge Bronson was a wealthy farmer, one of the early settlers of Medina Town-ship. February term, 1825. John Freese was Associate Judge in place of Isaac Welton, whose term had expired. At this term. Charles Walcott was appointed Prosecuting Attorney,with a salary of $50, with an addition of $25 if he had any business in the Supreme Court. March term, 1832, Allen Pardee, of Wads-worth, was elected Associate in place of Judge Brown, who had served fourteen years, or two terms, with honor. Judge Pardee was a successful merchant. He was born about 1791, in Skaneateles, Onondaga Co., N. Y. He settled in Wadsworth in 1818 or 1819, where he has ever since lived, and is now an honored and respected citizen of that place. In 1830, Reuben Smith, a merchant of Medina, was elected Judge in place of John Freese. He served acceptably for seven years, after which he re-moved to Wisconsin, where he died a few years ago, in a good old age, highly respected.

In 1835, Orson M. Oviatt was elected Judge in place of John Newton. Judge Oviatt was a wealthy farmer and merchant of Richfield, who served until 1840, when Richfield was set off to Summit County. In 1836, Benj. Lindsley served by appointment of the Governor for two terms only, when Philo Welton, a farmer of Montville, and afterward of Wadsworth, was elected in his place. In 1839. Stephen N. Sargent was elected Judge, in place of Allen Pardee. Judge Sargent was born in Massachusetts and came to Medina in 1818. He was a successful merchant, and in 1858, he removed to Iowa, where he died in 1860. In 1840, Allen Pardee was re-elected Judge, and at the same time, William Eyles, a farmer of Wadsworth, was elected one of the Associate Judges. Judge Eyles was a man of sterling integrity, of undoubted ability, and discharged the duties of Judge to the entire satisfaction of all. In 1846, Charles Castle, a lawyer of Medina, was elected an Associate Judge, and after his election he frequently presided in court, in the absence of the President Judge, and always gave good satisfaction. In 1847, Henry Hosmer, a farmer of Guilford, was elected Judge in place of Allen Pardee, and Josiah Piper. a farmer of Hinckley, was elected Judge in place of Will-

248 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

iam Eyles. These last Judges all served until February 9, 1852, when by the provisions of the constitution of 1851, they ceased to be Judges.

The first election under the new constitution was held at the October election in 1851, when Samuel Humphreville, a lawyer of Medina, was elected Judge in and for the counties of Lorain, Medina and Summit. composing the Second Subdivision of the Fourth Judicial District. He served for five years, holding most of the courts in the three counties, besides sitting in the District Courts once a year, in the nine counties composing the Fourth District. In October 1856. James S. Carpenter. a lawyer of Akron. Summit County, was elected Judge. He served five years, when Stevenson Burke. a lawyer of Elyria. Lorain County, was elected in his place. In 1S66, Judge Burke was re-elected Judge, and he served until 1868. when he resigned. and Washington W. Boynton was appointed Judge until the next election, when he was elected Judge by the people. In 1876, Judge Boynton was elected Supreme Judge, and John C. Hale, a lawyer of Elyria, was elected Judge, and he is still on the bench.

In 1859, the General Assembly provided for an additional Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the Second Subdivision. and William H. Canfield, a lawyer of Medina, was elected to fill the place. He served five years until 1864, when the office of extra Judge was abolished. In 1872, the General Assembly again provided for another additional Judge for the Second Subdivision, and Samuel W. McClure, a lawyer of Akron, was elected to the judgeship. He served for five years, when he was succeeded by Newell D. Tibbals, a lawyer of Akron, who served five years, and was re-elected in 1880 for another five years.

The scenes in court were sometimes amusing and occasionally laughable, especially under the administration of Judge Dean. He often took the "bit in his teeth," and ran the machine tosuit himself. Atone time a witness was called to the stand, who had an infirmity, which, al-though it did not affect his mind or memory, yet made him appear as if intoxicated. Judge Dean, although the matter was explained to him, refused to let him testify and ordered him to leave the stand. At another time a larceny had baen committed in Medina, and Joseph Reno. a colored man, had ferreted out the thief and arrested him, and, fearing he might not be allowed to testify on account of his color, so induced the criminal to confess in the presence of a white witness as t effect his conviction. Reno was offered as a witness, and the State offered to show that he was more than half white, but Judge Dean would not hear any such proof and decided that. by " inspection." Reno was a "negro.' and refused to allow him to testify. At that time, by the laws of Ohio, "negroes and mulattoes" were not competent witnesses where a white man was a party. On another occasion, a small boy had been convicted of petit larceny, and, as the court-room was crowded, especially within the bar, the lad was made to stand on a chair to receive ad-monition and sentence, so he could be seen by the Judge. Judge Dean began to talk to the bey about the heinousness of his offense, and to suggest measures of reform. Among other. things, he said : "It would be for your interest to put you on a man-of-war, or to send you on a whaling voyage." Sherlock J. Andrews, a waggish lawyer from Cleveland, immediately spoke up so as to be heard by all present and said: "Yes, I think a whaling would do him good." Judge Dean gruffly cried out, "Silence in the Court !" which caused considerable merriment all over the court-room.</P>

The law business of the county, in the early years of the practice, was chiefly clone by foreign attorneys, that is, by lawyers residing out of the county. The attorneys who first settled in Medina were Booz M. Atherton and Charles Olcott. The exact date when they

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY. - 249

came, or which came first, is not now known. They were both here in 1820 or 1821. Atherton stayed here but a few years, when he re-moved to Illinois, where he was living at our latest information. Charles Olcott was a genius. He was born in Connecticut on the 3d day of April, 1793, and was educated there. He was a graduate of Yale College, and was probably the best-learned man in the profession in the county. He was well learned in the law, but he seemed to lack judgment to apply his knowledge to the successful practice of the law. He was a consistent Abolitionist, and wrote several tracts against the evil, and especially a book which he called " A Blow at Slavery," which had a wide circulation. He was several times elected Prosecuting Attorney of the county and discharged his duties well. He was undoubtedly the inventor of " iron ships." He actually made the invention while in college, but he (lid not at that time so perfect it as to procure a patent. In 1835. he went to Washington with his models and specifications and procured a patent for the invention. He endeavored to have the Government adopt his plan of ship-building, and to that end he wrote to the Naval Board," consisting of three retired naval officers, at the head of which board was old Commodore Barron. They wrote to Olcott that they had taken his application under consideration, and had come to the deliberate conclusion that iron ships were entirely impracticable. In a year or two the Government was building iron ships on Olcott's plan. He could never get any allowance from the Government for the use of his invention. He was never very successful in making money. He was stricken with paralysis and finally died in the County Infirmary, several years ago.

William H. Canfield came to Medina about the year 1830, from Trumbull County. He studied law with Whittlesey & Newton, and was admitted to the bar about 1829 or 1830 ; he held the office of County Auditor for many years, in connection with the practice of the law. He was supposed to be a good lawyer; and either alone or in connection with his partners he had an extensive practice. In 1850, he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for five years, soon after which he re-moved to Kansas, where he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in which capacity he served until his death in or about 1862 or 1863.</P>

Samuel Humphreville was born in Berkshire County, Mass., February 7, 1808, where he received an academic education, and where he studied law with George N. Briggs, then a member of Congress and afterward Governor of the State. He came to Ohio in 1832, and studied with Humphrey & Hall, in Hudson, until October, 1833, when he was admitted to the bar in Zanesville. He came to Medina June 10, 1834, and commenced the practice of the law. He has resided in Medina ever since. He has held several offices by election of the people. In 1849, he was elected a delegate to the convention that framed the present constitution. In 1851, he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, which office he held for five years. He was a member of the Senate of the State in 1863. 1864 and 1865, during the most trying scenes of the war of the rebel-lion. In 1873, he was elected as a member of the third constitutional convention of the State of Ohio, which after great labor in 1871. submitted a constitution to the people of the State, which they rejected by a large majority. Since that time. he has retired from public life, and almost entirely from the practice of the law.

Hiram W. Floyd came to Medina in August, 1834, and engaged in the practice of the law and he is still in active practice.

Israel Camp was born in Sharon, Conn., and came to Medina the latter part of 1834, and went into partnership with William H. Canfield in the practice of the law. He was a good lawyer and an honest man and had the confidence<

250 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

and good will of all who knew him. He died of consumption about 1840 or 1841.

Eugene Pardee was born in Wadsworth about 1813. He studied law with Humphrey & Hall, in Hudson, and was admitted to the bar in 1834. He practiced law in Wadsworth a few years, when he went to Wooster, Wayne Co., where he practiced law for many years. He held the office of Prosecuting Attorney for several years. He afterward went to Madison, Wis., where he stayed some years. About two or three years ago he returned to Ohio, and is now again in Wooster.

Aaron Pardee was born in Skaneateles, Onondaga Co., N. V. He came to Ohio in 1824, and settled in Wadsworth. He was admitted to the bar in I838 and has practiced law ever since, and is now one of the active practitioners in the county. He has held some important offices, among which was that of Senator in the State General Assembly.

George K. Pardee, a son of Aaron Pardee, was admitted to the bar in 1866. He soon went to Akron, where he is now in full practice.

Don A. Pardee, also a son of Aaron Pardee, was admitted to the bar about 1866 or 1867, and practiced in Medina until the war of the rebellion broke out, when he entered the service of the Union as Lieutenant Colonel of the Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served with distinction, rising in rank to that of Brigadier General. At the close of the war, he settled in New Orleans, where, after practicing law for a few years, he was elected a Judge of the District Court, which office he now holds.

Pulaski C. Hard was born in Medina County about 1827 or 1828. He was admitted to the bar about 1859, and practiced law in Wads-worth until the rebellion broke out, when he went into the service of the Union as Captain in the Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the close of the war, he resumed the practice of the law in Wadsworth, where he still is, one of the principal lawyers in the county.

Henry C. Pardee, another son of Aaron Pardee, was admitted to the bar and soon went West, where he remained several years, when he returned to Medina County. He settled in Wadsworth, where he held the office of Post-master until about 1870, when he was elected Auditor of Medina County, which office he discharged acceptably for two terms, when he resumed the active practice of the law.

James C. Johnson was born in Guilford, and was admitted to the bar in 1840. He has been several times elected a Representative in the General Assembly, and has been a candidate for several other offices. He has always made Seville his home, where he has his law office and where he i's now in the full. practice of his profession.

George W. Chapman, about 1840, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Medina a few years. when he went West and the last heard of him he was in Milwaukee, Wis.

Charles Lum was admitted to the bar in 1838, and practiced in Medina a few years. H served one term as County Auditor. He re-moved to Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming, and where he has held several important offices, among them County Clerk of Dane County and Representative in the Legislature.

Chester T. Hills was admitted to the bar in 1838 or 1839. He was several times elected Prosecuting attorney of the county, and he was a very successful lawyer. He was an honest man and it high-minded, influential citizen. He died in 1870. aged sixty-two years, lamented by all who knew him.

Harrison G. Blake was a successful merchant, but he studied law and was admitted to the bar about 1847 or 1848. He was an impetuous, off-hand lawyer, very successful in his practice, always fair and obliging to his opponents. He was honored and respected by all. He was several times elected to the General Assembly ; was Speaker of the Senate under the old constitution. He was several times

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY. - 251

elected to Congress, and took high rank among the members. He died in May, 1876, full of honors, and universally lamented.

;William S. 31. Abbott was admitted to the bar in 1844, and practiced in Medina a few years, when he went West, and is now in Minneapolis, Minn.

Abraham Morton was admitted to the bar in 1840; and practiced in Medina several years. He was elected Treasurer of the county, and served one term. He moved to Wisconsin, where he has been ever since and now is.

Calvin B. Prentiss came to Medina from Massachusetts. He was elected Probate Judge in 1851, and served one term. He was admitted to the bar in 1855, and was a very successful lawyer. He died about 1868.

Herman Canfield was a practicing lawyer in Medina when the war of the rebellion broke out, and he entered the service in 1861 as Lieutenant Colonel of the Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served with distinction, and was killed at the battle of Pittsburg Landing on the first day of that memorable fight. He had held the office of Clerk of the Courts in Medina, and other important trusts.

Moses Wright was one of the early lawyers in Medina, but he ran away about 1830 or 1831, and has not been heard of since.

John B. Young was born June 20, 1828, in Bloomsburg, Columbia Co., Penn. He came to Ohio with his father in 1831. He was elected Clerk of the Courts in 1851, and served one term of three years. He was admitted to the bar in September, 1856, and is still in practice of the law in Medina.

Charles G. Codding was born in Granger, Medina Co., Ohio, in 1829. He was admitted to the bar in 1860. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1865, and served two terms. In 1872, he was elected Probate Judge, and served two terms. He is now in full practice )f the law in Medina.

Joseph Andrew, while at college, enlisted in the Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry (Garfield's regiment), in 1861. In a battle in the rear of Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, he lost his right arm, in consequence of which he was discharged from the service. In 1865, he was elected Treasurer of the County of Medina, in which capacity he served two terms. In 1870, he was elected Clerk of the Courts, and served two terms. He was admitted to the bar in 1871, and is now in full practice in Medina.

Stephen B. Woodward was born in Northampton, now in Summit County, in 1820. He was admitted to the bar in 1859. He has frequently been elected Prosecuting Attorney, and now holds that office. He is now in full practice in Medina.

Nathaniel H. Bostwick was born in Bloom-field, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 20, 1828. He was admitted to the bar in 1852, and is now here in full practice.

Samuel G. Barnard was born in 182S, and was admitted to the bar in 1852, and is in practice in Medina. He held the office of Probate Judge two terms.

William F. Moore and Robert English practiced law to some extent. English is dead, and Moore went West some years ago, where he is supposed to be now living.

Isaac R. Henry practiced law many years ago. He left here years ago, and it is not known where he is at this time.

Judson D. Benedict also practiced here some time. He went to the State of New York, where he was at last accounts.

William W. Pancoast was admitted to the bar and had some practice. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney and served one term, and finally ran away about 1874, and his whereabouts is not known.

Roswell C. Curtis was born in this county in 1837. He was admitted to the bar in 1865, and is now in practice here.

Alvan D. Licey, a resident of Guilford, has

252 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

been admitted to the bar, and is now in practice. He is now a Representative in the General Assembly.</P>

John T. Graves was admitted six or seven years ago. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1876, and served two terms with credit. He is now in full practice in Seville, in this county.

Albert Munson was admitted to the bar in 1873, but, before he had entered upon the practice, he was elected Probate Judge, which office he now holds.

Frank Heath was admitted in 1880, and is now in practice here.

George A. Richard was admitted to the bar in 1879, and has hung out his shingle for business here.

George W. Lewis entered the service of his country in 1862, as a Captain in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He lost his left arm at the battle of Nashville, December 22, 1864. He was promoted to Major for bravery on the battlefield. He continued in the service, notwitnstanding the loss of his arm, and was afterward commissioned as Lieu-tenant Colonel of the same regiment. He came to Medina in October, 1865, and was elected Judge of Probate in 1866, and served two terms. He was admitted to the bar January 30, 1872, and has ever since been in practice in Medina.

Charles J. Mesmer, Fremont O. Phillips and others have been admitted lately, but as yet have not entered into practice.

Whitman Mead came to Medina in 1834, as a merchant, and studied law, and was admitted to the bar about 1843. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and served one term. He finally left the practice and went to farming. He died several years since, leaving three sons, all in the ministry.

The foreign lawyers who have practiced here are legion, but, as they belong to other counties, no account of them is given here.

MEDICAI. PROFESSION.

Three-fourths of a century ago, the foot of the white man had scarcely fallen upon the soil within the limits of the county whereof we write. The wild animals of the forests and the scarcely less wild red man held undisturbed dominion. Then the sun's rays but seldom penetrated the unbroken forest shade, while the moon's silver beams and the bright shining stars struggled in vain to light up the gloom of night. The song of birds, the hum of bees, the rippling of the waters, the wild cry of beasts of prey, and stealthy footfall of the Indian hunter. year succeeding year, aye ! for centuries and ages, fell upon no appreciative ear. The wild winds sported for ' ages among the forest trees, and the music of the rustling leaves sang responsive to the music of the stars, but no heart was there to be made glad ; nature in her beauty and symmetry was here waiting the onward tread of the white man, when he should step in and partake of the rich treasures garnered in her bosom for his coming. Civiiization education, the arts and sciences, follow follow I in his pathway, and the wilderness is made to blossom as the rose. The sound of the as and of the anvil are harbingers of schools and churches, temples of architecture and the thundering of the railway train ; but alas for human hopes and happiness ! sickness and death follow in the train. a sad comment upon the superiority of civilized life. The need of the physician is made manifest, and must keep pace with the first advance of civilization. The sup-ply table of the pioneer emigrant would be sadly defective without a list of well-known household remedies from which to draw for help, should there be " no physician there."

The earliest mention of medical administration in Medina County is of Aunt Chloe, wife of Judge Brown, of Wadsworth, in 1816, she having a small chest of remedies, which, it is said, were of great value to the early pioneers When any of them were taken sick " Aunt

HISTORY OF MADINA COUNTY. - 253

Chloe " would he sent for, and would deal out such remedies as her ripened judgment might direct. She, perhaps, was the first practitioner of the county.

It is said that Eve in the Garden of Eden, through transgression. entailed upon posterity the seeds of disease and death "and all our woe." But " Aunt Chloe," in the wilderness of America, with sympathetic heart and extended hand, afforded relief to many a suffering mortal, as if, in part, to atone for the stain upon her sex through the " fall."

This county has been remarkably exempt from diseases of local character or origin, malarious diseases being to a great degree confined to the locality of Chippewa Lake, and the stream of same. name flowing through the town of Seville. Very little of ague or intermittent fever has originated outside of these influences in the county, and within its present limits. Bilious remittents have had a wider range, and no portions have been exempt, especially in the earlier periods, and, while the lands were being newly cultivated, continued fevers and the typhus of earlier days have been here from its earliest history, and later the typhoid fever of the French schools has been a constant visitor in all localities. The early practitioners were doubtless much at fault in treating typhus and typhoid fevers, as the lancet and heroic treatment generally. has—through some sad experience—been abandoned for an opposite, and it is hoped a better line, of medication.

In 1833-34, a few cases of Asiatic cholera occurred at Medina Village. Among the deaths reported are David Barnhart and a Mr. Fuller, a stage driver in 1833, also a daughter of Dr. Hanson in 1834. Rufus Ferris, Sr.. died of cholera in 1833. at a place near Wooster. He had been to Columbus with a cholera specific, and volunteered his services to treat cholera, then prevailing among the penitentiary convicts ; not being retained there, he returned homeward, dying, as before stated, and was brought home to Medinain a Pennsylvania covered wagon. No other deaths are reported as having occurred from cholera in the county.

About 1839-40, dysentery prevailed in various sections of the county of a malignant type and with great fatality, and again in 1833-54, and occasionally in later years in some certain locality. Since 1860, but little dysentery has been observed. In the year 1832, an outbreak of small-pox occurred in Sharon Township, at which time perhaps fifty cases of that and varioloid occurred in the practice of Drs. Hard & Willey. One young lady—a school-teacher died during this outbreak. In 1855, Mr. Frank Kimball, while stumping the State with William Gibson, contracted varioloid and returned home to Medina, where some ten or twelve cases of that and small-pox broke in upon the monotony of the town for a season.

During the winter of 1843-44, and the succeeding spring and summer, occurred at Wadsworth and vicinity the great epidemic of malignant erysipelas. very severe in its character and at-tended with great fatality, its victims being usually of adult age and mostly females. During this epidemic, about twenty-five cases proved fatal. Again, in 1848, the disease re-appeared, but spreading through Montville and Guilford and Wadsworth, with an increased mortality. Since 1848, it has not appeared in an epidemic form.

About the year 1859, diphtheria first appeared in an epidemic and malignant form. Up to this time, it had hardly been recognized as a disease sui geueris, and its advent was an occansion of sorrow and mourning to many a household. Being little understood by the profession, it held almost undisputed sway, and bid defiance to medical skill. It prevailed through-out the county, with favorite localities, in which to exhibit its malignant enmity toward the human race. It delighted in laying waste the little ones of the family circle, and was at times insatiable, until all had been laid in the grave.

254 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

It vied with scarlatina in its work of destruction. and often called to its aid the latter, as if to make the fatal blow more effective. Thus for a series of years, it fed on death, when, seemingly exhausted with rioting, it became less malignant and less fatal, and for several years last past, it has afforded but little anxiety comparatively with former periods.

Cerebrospinal meningitis, in the winter of 1863-64, appeared in the village of Medina. and, having seized upon two persons for its victims, as suddenly disappeared, when the people hoped it had gone forever, but in the succeeding winter, 1864-85. it returned at Poe, in the family of Mr. Frank Hunter; two of the three attacked. died. Cases then occurred in other parts of Montville and in Medina Village. Nearly all proved fatal. It had no favorite locality, but would suddenly attack an individual at a distance from others, to appear again unexpectedly somewhere else. Children and adults were alike susceptible. Since 1865. it has occasionally been observed sporadically, as a single case, perhaps, in one township, and then, after months, found in an adjoining town, etc. These cases almost invariably prove fatal. It is yet unsettled how to treat it best.

The Medina County Medical Lyceum was organized October 9, 1833. Oa motion, Elijah DeWitt was called to the chair, and Henry Ormsby appointed Secretary. A draft of a constitution, prepared by Drs. DeWitt and George W. Howe, was read by the Secretary and adopted:

By-laws read and adopted. Balloting for officers to serve until the annual meeting in February. 1834, resulted as follows : For President. Bela B. Clark ; Vice President, George K. Pardee; Corresponding Secretary, Elijah DeWitt : Recording Secretary, 0. S. St John ; Treasurer, Jesse C. Mills. Censors—E. DeWitt, George K. Pardee and O. S. St John.

On motion. Thomas Rowe was appointed to wait upon the Commissioners, and obtain if possible, a remittance of the tax assessed against the physicians of the county.

Henry Ormsby, T. Rowe and George W. Howe were appointed a Committee to petition the Legislature for an act of incorporation.

On motion, the Corresponding Secretary was instructed to notify each member of the late Nineteenth Medical District, residing in Medina County, of the proceeding, of this meeting.

February 8, 1834, the Lyceum convened at the Mansion House of William R. Chidester, and organized under an act of incorporation by the Legislature. It being the annual meeting, the foregoing officers were re-elected for the year. Dr. Mills read an essay on " Congestion," and George W. Howe was appointed to reply at next meeting. On motion,

Resolved, That no person shall be admitted to this society, who is in the habitual use of intoxicating spirits.

Henry Ormsby was fined $2 for non-attendance.

Resolved. That the proceeding's of this meeting be published in the Ohio Free Press.

The following clauses appear in the Constitution :

12th—Admission fee—S1, and annual tax of $1.

15th—Penalty for non-attendance—S1. 16th—Penalty for failing to deliver dissertation when appointed-S3.

17th—The price of this society for granting diplomas shall be $5.

At the second annual meeting, in 1835, Drs. Bela B. Clark and E. DeWitt were appointed delegates to the W. R. Medical Convention, at Cleveland, in May, to consider the establishing of a medical college on the Reserve.

The society at this time numbered ten members, viz., Bela B. Clark. T. Rowe, George K. Pardee. Elijah DeWitt, George W. Howe, J. C. Mills, S. Rawson, J. S. Ross, Lorenzo Warner and William S. H. Welton. In 1836, Dr. J. G. Morse became a member and was appointed

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY. - 255

Secretary. In 1837, Drs. J. Sawtell and J. Goodwin were received into membership ; in 1839, Drs. Eastman, I. B. Beach and L. D. Tolman, also Amos Witter and Abel A. Clark. The following was discussed : " Is tartrate of antimony admissible as a remedy in general practice ; " Drs. L. Warner, A. Witter, N. East-man and J. G. Morse, disputants. A case of operation for inguinal hernia, by Dr. Morse, re-ported, patient recovered. In 1840, P. E. Munger, Drs. Hopkins and Rockwell became members. Cases reported :

1—Case of fistula in ano, with operation, by Dr. L. Warner, recovery.

2—Scarlet fever, by Dr. Rowe, with treatment.

3—Pneumonia, by Dr. L. Warner, recovery.

4—Amputation of arm, by Dr. Warner, recovery.

5—Dropsy, ascites, operation by Dr. Ormsby, death.

6—Inflammation of kidneys, by Dr. Clark, death.

7—Injury, by Dr. Tolman, recovery.

Valedictory address, Dr. B. B. Clark.

August 6, 1840—Society met in court house, Essays—1. Dr. B. B. Clark, on" Medical Jurisprudence." 2. "Fever," by P. E. Munger. 3. On the "Effects of Quinine," Ormsby and Warner. Cases reported—Puerperal Convulsions, Dr. Rowe; Diabetes, Dr. Eastman; Hydro-thorax, Dr. Clark ; Ascites, Dr. Tolman.

November 5, 1840—Samuel Humphreville read a paper on " Medical Evidence ; " Dr. Welton on "Blood Letting ; '" Dr. Warner on "Habit; " Dr. Clark on "Puerperal Fever."

February, 1841—Dr. Munger read a paper on " Mercury ; " Dr. Tolman on " Diseases of the Liver." Several cases reported ; one of malignant fever, by Dr. L. Warner.

August 1841—Prof. H. A. Ackley addressed the society on " Diseases of the Mucous Membranes ; " Dr. Ormsby read a paper on " Tea and Tobacco ; " Hon. Charles Alcott addressed the society. A premium was offered for thebest dissertation on the pathology and treatment of dysentery. The society voted its sup-port to the Willoughby Medical College.

This brief sketch includes the period of time in which the older members officiated, and to follow up in detail would require more space and time than the plan of this work will permit. it being only desired in this article to briefly mention the original members, and a little of the old regime, as being of special interest.

This society has continued in existence up to 1872, with intervals of decline and periods of activity. It has numbered on its list of members the best and a great majority of the physicians who have practiced in the county. Most of the early members are gone hence, never to to return. A few survive. Dr. Ormsby now lives in Medina Village ; Dr. DeWitt at Elyria, eighty years of age ; Dr. O. S. St. John, at Lincoln, Nebraska.

In mentioning those who have been members of the medical fraternity of this county, reference has been had somewhat to chronological order. Among the earliest practitioners in the county was Dr. Amos Warner.

He came to Ohio and Wadsworth with his father from Fairfield, Vt., in ,1815, and entered Dr. Fisher's office in 1837, as a student of medicine. He was a careful, earnest student, and made haste slowly with his books, choosing rather to learn little day by day, and learn that little well. He graduated in Medina, after attending two courses of lectures at Willoughby in the year 1840, and entered into partnership with his preceptor, becoming a successful physician and a useful man in society. About the year 1848, he removed to Garnavillo, Clayton Co., Iowa, where he enjoyed the full confidence of the people and had an extensive ride. Returning from a visit among the sick, his horses ran away, and he was thrown from the carriage and killed.

Dr. Harlow Hard, son of Lysander Hard, came with his father to Ohio in 1816, then about

256 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

ten years of age. He went to school at the first schoolhouse built in Wadsworth Township, one mile east of the present village. His father was an unsettled sojourner among men, and devoted his energies to preaching the Gospel, and inherited all the poverty that an unsuccessful Methodist preacher is entitled to possess. He wandered up and down, into Pennsylvania and New York and Eastern Ohio, and finally returned to Wadsworth, about 1840. Mean-while, Harlow had managed. by streaks of luck, to get an education, and study medicine and attend lectures. Settling in Trumbull County about 1835, he came to Wadsworth, where he practiced for several years. He then moved to Plymouth, Ind. Remained at Plymouth some ten years, and went to Illinois, where he died.

Dr. John Smith was the first physician who located in Wadsworth, and perhaps the first in the county. He came from the State of New York in 1817, and boarded with Moody Weeks for a time. Here it was that occurred the incident mentioned by N. B. Northrop in his history, of giving so many pills to a sick man, when Mrs. Weeks discovered the pills to be black pepper, unground, rolled in flour. August. 1-818, the doctor was called in attendance at the birth of Dr. M. K. Hard, now of Wooster. Ohio. Abram Hard, Jr., was the messenger on the occasion. and, riding along by night through the woods. his hat was brushed off by a hanging limb, and he was compelled to go on bareheaded, it being so dark he could not find the hat. That fall the doctor moved to the west part of the town, and lived with Luther Heminway until he put up a log house, afterward owned by Heman Hanchett. Here the doctor had an extensive ride, through Wadsworth into Chippewa. and through Guilford and Montville. In 1820. he was elected Justice of the Peace, having six votes, all others three. Northrop says of him : " He was in the habit of sending his boy to A. & J: Pardee's store for whisky." The followingis an exact copy of twenty or more orders sent by him all exactly alike.

Messrs. A. &. J. Pardee.

Gents : Give the boy two jugs of whisky. Stop the jugs tight. Help the boy on the horse.

John` SMITH, Physician.

Dr. Smith was an ardent admirer of Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, and was often heard ex-tolling the skill and worth of that eminent physician, and named one of his boys " Rush," after him. He returned to New York about 1828 or 1830.

Dr. William Barnes came to Lodi in 1817, and was the first physician there. But little is learned of him professionally. He built the first grist-mill in the township, and probably the first in the county. He was also a preacher of the Gospel. preaching the first funeral sermon in Harrisville, in 1817. it being at the burial of a child of George Burr.

Dr. Seth Blood came to Brunswick in 1817 ; built a log house one-eighth of a mile south of the center. Dr. Blood was a Surgeon of the war of 1812, and was appointed Surgeon of an Ohio regiment of State militia in 1822. He would appear on parade at general muster with the uniform, holsters and pistols which he wore during the war, and would soon get filled with military ardor, and be liable to feel insulted if addressed improperly, sometimes flourishing his pistols with much prowess when offended. He was somewhat given to the fatal bowl, and died early in life, in the year 1826.

Dr. Stacey Hills, of Granger, was born in Bristol. Ontario Co., N. Y., October 19, 1S14. With his parents and family of ten children, he, the youngest, came into Granger the fall of 1818. He commenced very young going to school. attending diligently the short terms of 1 those early wilderness times. When old enough to render a boy's help at home, his school days were limited to the inevitable three months' winter school. He read medicine under the instruction of Dr. John Cleveland, then of

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY - 257

Granger, and graduated at Willoughby Medical College, February. 1843. To the study and practice of medicine, he gave his utmost energies, until obliged to succumb, through the breaking-up of a remarkably vigorous mental and physical constitution. He practiced first at Bristol, Wayne Co., two years, then at Cop-ley, in company with Dr. Chapman, and for the greater part of his life at Grangerburgh, this county.

Dr. Bela B. Clark came to Medina County with his father in April, 1818. from Waterbury, Conn., and commenced the practice of medicine immediately at Medina Village. The first call on record for him professionally, was to the victims of that famous first session of the Court of Common Pleas at the barn " of Squire Ferris, who had so fondly imbibed of the good old-fashioned whisky—as old settlers call it. Dr. Clark. it is said. prescribed homeopathically; that is, the hair of the dog to cure the bite. Dr. Clark was one of the eight members of the Medina County Medical Lyceum at its organization in 1833, and previously was one of the censors appointed by act of Legislature for the medical district. He also was the first President of the Medina Medical Lyceum. and was one of the committee of three to consider the establishing of a medical college on the Re-serve. In those days, the doctor of a neighborhood was generally characterized and known by the saddle-bags thrown across the saddle on which he rode, and the leggings about his legs to keep off the mud, and brass spurs on his boots. A buggy or carriage of any kind was unknown. After many years, a sulky or gig was instituted. Dr. Clark rode a little pony, a hardy and courageous little fellow as ever was known. But one night as the Doctor was riding homeward. along the bridle-path through ;he woods, a fearful scream of a wild animal bust upon his ears, and the pony, with instinct-ye fear, started at break-neck speed to the Doctor's great satisfaction, for the animal, sup-posed to have been a panther, came bounding after, its screams " making the night air hideous," and filling horse and rider with alarm.

But, alas for them both, a tree-top had fallen into the path, and into this plunged horse and rider, pell-mell into confusion and darkness, and then one unearthly yell from the Doctor's throat broke in upon that tragic scene. It penetrated the deep recesses of the forest shade. It reverberated from earth to cloud, and, as it died away in the distance, a painful silence ensued, broken only by the night bird's plaintive song. That panther never got there, and the Doctor, leisurely gathering himself up, extricated the horse, and, picking up his pill bags, re-mounted and jogged homeward. At another time he was wending his way home, carrying some fresh meat which a patron had presented him, this being tied behind him on the horse ; riding through the woods, and doubtless contemplating a sumptuous meal from the bundle at his back, suddenly a pack of hungry wolves, having snuffed the savory delicacy afar, came rushing on his pathway ; again the little horse cut loose, and the fun began. He had not thought of danger, but in a moment the blood was curdling in each vein. His fiery little courser sped away like an arrow from the bended bow; but in vain ! the yells of the demons on his track grew nearer and more near, when his horse jumped a log, across the path, and the package was lost off by the sudden motion. This diverted the wolves from further pursuit, and the Doctor escaped, minus that supper of venison he so fondly anticipated.

In early days the Doctor wore a suit of linseywoolsey, with buckskin patches on the knees and seat of pants made by his mother, and was heard to say that the day he put them on was among the happiest in his life. Dr. Clark was a member of the Medina Medical Lyceum up to August, 1841, and his name appears there no more. He was an active, thorough and

258 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

honorable physician, one of the first in the profession. Every brother ofthe profession was ready to pay him homage ; friend or friend or foe alike had respect for his talent; an ornament in society and leader in every enterprise for the elevation of mankind, and the advance of education and the profession or for the growth of the new country. Dr. Clark moved to Weymouth in 1826, anticipating the removal of the county seat to that place. thence to Rich-field in 1829, thence to Strongsville, again to Brunswick, thence to Columbus and finally to Ashland. where he died.

Dr. Jeremiah Clark. a younger brother of Dr. Bela B. Clark, attended lectures in Cincinnati, and located in Hamilton Township, Franklin Co.. Ohio, about 1835.

Dr. Abel A. Clark came to Ohio in. 1818 with his father ; was brother of Dr. Bela B. Clark. He read medicine with Dr. Wilson at Weymouth about 1830 ; attended medical lectures at Cincinnati ; located in practice at Grovesport. on Ohio Canal, near Columbus ; moved to Medina, in 1839, for his wife's health ; joined the Medina County Medical Society in August, 1839 ; practiced medicine about one year and returned to Grovesport; subsequently moved to Xenia, where he died, having his old preceptor, Dr. Wilson, for his medical attend-ant.

Dr. C. N. Lyman is a native of Wadsworth, born in 1819 ; son of Capt. George Lyman, of pioneer memory. He was in the office of Dr. E. Kendrick one and a half years, when he came under the instruction of Dr. George K. Pardee in 1840 ; attended two courses of lectures and graduated at Transylvania University in Louisville, Ky., spring of 1843. Formed a partnership with Dr. Pardee same year, which continued until Dr. Pardee's death. In 1853, moved to Medina Village. going into the drug store with A. Armstrong. Dr. Lyman joined the Medina County Medical Society Aug. 3, 1843. Aug. 1, 1844, Dr. Lyman read a paper before thesociety, on " Epidemic Erysipelas," with reports of cases and mode of treatment; elected President in 1848, of society ; chosen President of Northeastern Ohio Union Medical Association 1878—thirty years after having presided in the Medina County Society. Dr. Lyman is at this time the oldest practitioner of the county, and has performed more labor, professionally, than any physician in the county since its organization, and yet, by virtue of the strictest habits in every respect. his physical powers show but little of the decay which usually succeeds a life of toil, and his mental faculties exhibit no traces of the increase of years.

Dr. Henry Spillman, was the son of James Spillman and Nancy O'Brien, who came from Ireland and settled in Wadsworth about 1820. Dr. Spillman studied medicine in the office of Dr. A. Fisher at Western Star ; attended medical lectures at Willoughby, and graduated in 1840. He subsequently attended a course of lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. Before commencing the practice of medicine he read law and was admitted to the bar, but did not practice to any extent. Practiced medicine at Streetsboro and at Bristol, Wayne County, also at Decatur, Ind. Located at Medina about 1850. Here he had an extended practice, and for several years was thus actively engaged. About 1858, he went into the drug trade at Medina and gave up riding, and prescribing except from his store, until the spring of 1862, when he accepted an appointment as Surgeon of the Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with date of rank March 18, 1862. He was commissioned April 4. 1862 ; was with the regiment on the advance from Pittsburg Landing to Corinth, but was taken sick before the evacuation and started for home. Got up the river to Evansville, Ind., where, finding he could go no further, he was taken ashore and found friends among the brotherhood of Masons, who did everything possible for him ; but he soon sank and died in May, 1862, having been on duty with

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY. - 259

the regiment but a few weeks. His body was sent home and buried in the churchyard at Medina. Dr. Spillman was a man of fine intellectual endowment and culture, and possessed a remark-able memory. While a student of medicine. he would take his books and go out under a shade tree and read for two or three hours, and come in and recite the whole. page after page. almost verbatim. His mind was well stored with useful information, and he was generally prepared to answer inquiries pertaining to science, literature, law or theology. It is with feelings of sadness that we contemplate the death of Dr. Spillman. Away from the home he had so recently left in the vigor of health and man-hood, with only the hand of strangers to minis-ter unto him in his last painful, hopeless struggles for life, even then in the icy embrace of death, no wonder his mind wandered, in fevered dreams, or in death's hallucinations, back to his home and fireside, calling upon friends and familiar faces to lift him up from the pit of despair, or save him from the approaching tempest. Hastening homeward, anxious and longing—life to him in the balance—his frail bark strands on the shore, and alas! home for him shall be home no more.

Dr. Nathaniel Eastman was the first physician at the center of Wadsworth and came from Olean, N. Y.. in 1820. During the war of 1812, he went from Erie. Penn., to Put-in Bay to assist in the care of the wounded at Perry's Victory. Dr. Eastman built a log house one-half mile north of the center of Wadsworth, and afterward built one on the northeast corner lot at the center. Practiced there until 1826, when he removed to Seville and opened up a hotel, which for many years was in his charge, while also attending to his professional calls. He joined the Medical Society May 7. 1839, and continued an active member until November, 1849. The Doctor continued his professional labors while his health permitted, but in the later years was afflicted with diabetes, and was at last obliged to retire from practice and live with one of his children, out of town, where he died at an advanced age.

Dr. Samuel Austin came to Western Star in 1823. He was a graduate of the Medical Department of Yale College ; was a man of fine education and good address ; a skillful physiclan with a promising future spread out before him. But a habit formed before coming to Ohio he failed to shake off, and drank the fatal cup to its very dregs. He escaped death by a falling tree which killed the horse he had just been riding, and from which he alighted as the tree was falling, only to meet a worse fate soon after.

Basworth's distillery, in Copley, was his favorite resort, and from a final visit there he never returned.

There he drank, was taken sick and died in sight of the murderous still, in the year 1828. ' Dr. John Harris came to Seville from Steuben County, N. Y., in 1822. He was the first physician in Seville. Remained there until about 1836, and went to Kentucky.

Dr. Chapin A. Harris came a year after his brother John. He soon left and went to Baltimore, where he became noted for his dental operations and for a valuable treatise written and published by him on the art of dentistry, it being a text-book in universal use among the profession.

Dr. DeVoe came to Seville from Middlebury in 1822, and returned in about one year.

Dr. Elijah DeWitt. The following is, by re-quest, from Dr. DeWitt, Elyria, Ohio, December 3, 1880: Dear Sir—I was born in May, 1800, in Westminster, Vt. ; studied medicine mostly at Keene and Hanover, N. H. ; attended two courses of medical lectures at Hanover, and did most of the dissections for the Professor of Anatomy both terms ; was examined and recommended for a diploma, but failed to get it be-cause of the judicial decision at Washington against the university before the then next com-

260 -HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

mencement ; afterward received diploma from the medical society. I came to Harrisville, Medina Co., Ohio, in December, 1824, where I peddled pills until July, 1833, when I came to Elyria." Dr. DeWitt was Chairman of the first meeting of the Medina County Medical Lyceum, at its organization October 29. 1833, and at this meeting elected Corresponding Secretary for the year. Re-elected in February. 1834. In February, 1835, was chosen delegate to Western Reserve Medical Convention, with the view to the consideration of establishing a medical college on the Reserve.

Dr. George K. Pardee was born in Skaneateles, Onondaga Co., N. Y., September 23, 1806. Read medicine in his native town with Dr. Evelyn Porter. Having attended lectures at Fairfield. N. Y., and been admitted to practice as a physician, he came to Wadsworth in 1826, where he entered upon the duties of his profession, in which he ever afterward held an advanced position. He was one of the eight who organized the Medina County Medical Lyceum, October 29, 1833, and its first Vice President. He was also appointed one of the censors, whose duties were to examine candidates to be admitted to practice and grant diplomas. In the year 1843, he read a dissertation on the use of calomel, having about that time in some degree changed his views as to its effects in large doses. etc. Dr. Pardee was an ardent student through life, and was especially noted for his persistent anatomical research, and for the more than ordinary opportunities afforded to students in his office for studying this branch of the science at the dissecting table. This often brought him in conflict with the prejudices of the people, but did not deter him from his purpose in this respect ; and the proper material was obtained as needed. He delivered lectures on chemistry and on temperance, with charts of the drunkard's stomach, and gave public demonstrations of anatomy at the dissecting table. In the fall of 1839, he went

South for his health, stopping at Lexington, Ky., where he attended medical lectures, re-turning in the spring to resume his labors with renewed ambition. Incipient consumption was marking him for its own, and he was attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs. which was brought on by overdoing and exposure on the 4th day of July. 1849, at Medina. From this attack he ' but feebly rallied, and with its recurrence sank down and died October 3. 1849.

The following is a list of physicians who were under his instruction at various intervals :

Dr. Ebenezer Campbell. died in Indiana in 1838.

Dr. John Brown, died at Haw Patch. Ind., 1845.

Dr. C. N. Lyman. living now at Wadsworth. Dr. Henry Warner, died at Spencer in 1877. Dr. Lucius A. Clark. died near Medina in 1850.

Dr. Samuel Wolf. now in Stark County.

Dr. Isaac C. Isbell, went to California in 1848. Dr. William Johnston. died in Indiana. Dr. Samuel E. Beach, died in the army in 1864.

Dr. Donahue, died at Clinton.

Dr. Hanson Hard, now in Philadelphia. Dr. A. G. Willey. now in Spencer.

Dr. Robert Gala. now in Fredericksburg. Dr. Fred Wright. in California.

Dr. William W. Beach, in Illinois.

Sylvanus Butler, died while a student.

Dr. Kirby Chamberlain came to Wadsworth in 1826. He practiced in company with Dr. Pardee ; remained in Wadsworth a few years, when he went to Pennsylvania and attended lectures, and afterward settled in Cincinnati.

Dr. Secretary Rawson came to Medina County about 1827, and settled at Richfield, then in Medina County. He joined the medical society in 1834. Practiced there a number of years and moved to Findlay, Hancock Co., where he now resides.

Dr. Uriel H. Peak came from Herkimer

HISTORY OF MEDINA. COUNTY. - 263

County. N. Y., to Medina, 1828 ; practiced medicine for several years ; entered into merchandise, in 1833. in company with James Sargeant. He was Postmaster under Jackson and Van Buren up to 1839, when he resigned in favor of Dr. Henry Ormsby. Moved to Green Bay, Wis., in 1849. where he resided until his death, in 1877.

Dr. E. G. Hard was born in Middlebury. Summit Co.. Ohio, in 1826. His mother. Lydia Hart, came to Middlebury, with her father. in 1807—a time when the Indians would gather around to see the pale-faces." and the wolf and bear would prowl about the cabin door by night. His father, Cyrus Hard, came to Middlebury in 1815, from Vermont, then nineteen years of age. They married in 1818—their ages fifteen and twenty-two years. Ia 1828, they moved to Wadsworth, Medina Co.—Dr. E. G., the third son, aged two years. Then comes the oft-repeated story of log houses and roughing it in a new country, up to the date of John McGregor's advent into Wadsworth. under whose tuition the subject of this sketch imbibed the little education, and the only, which it was his fortune to obtain. Studying grammar, arithmetic. philosophy, chemistry, algebra and surveying, with a mixture of French for one term only. At intervals working on the farm, or carding wool in the factory. and assisting in dressing cloth, or attending engine in the factory, or grist-mill, carried on by his father at Wadsworth. In the spring of 1847, he entered the office of Drs. Fisher &. Warner, and began the study of medicine, paying for his board at Dr. Fisher's by taking care of the barn and office, and sleeping in the office. In the fall of 1848, he began his first course of medical lectures at Cleveland, and again in the winter of 1849-50, and graduated in the spring of 1850. Married Miss Frances F. Willey, the same spring, and, with her father's family, moved to Iowa the following autumn. The winter of 1S50-51, he taught school at Big Grove, Johnson Co., Iowa, ten miles north of Iowa City. There the big boys would bring whisky in a jug and hide it in the hazel bushes, and sometimes get so "full " they could not tell when their book was wrong side up. In the spring of 1851, he returned to Inland, Cedar County, and the season following assisted to break prairie with ox-teams, and other farm work, and occasionally attending a professional call. But people were scarce, and sick calls far between, and in the fall he returned to Ohio and located at Sharon, Medina County, in company with Dr. Willey; moved to Seville in the fall of 1832. Stayed there until 1858, when he moved again to Iowa, stopping at Inland. Here he found a fair field opening up for practice ; but, in the spring of 1859, the Pike's Peak gold fever "struck in" with him, and he joined the in-numerable disappointed throng that " marched up the hill and then "marched down again." In July, 1859, he joined his family of wife and three children at his father's house at Wads-worth, Ohio, and August 17 located in Medina in company with Dr. A. C. Smith. Here he has continued the practice, with little interruption, until the present time. Dr. Hard was commissioned Ohio State Surgeon in the spring of 1862, and assigned to duty on a hospital boat, going from Cincinnati to Pittsburg Landing. On the way back from the latter place with a boat-load of sick and wounded, from the field of Shiloh, he was taken sick, and was compelled to resign, and came home to undergo a course of typhoid fever. In 1863, he accepted a commission as Assistant Surgeon of the First Ohio Heavy Artillery, his rank dating August 12, 1S63, and his commission dating September 18, 1863 ; resigned by reason of disability, August 18, 1864. While with the regiment, he was stationed at Covington, Ky., and at Point Burnside, on the Cumberland River. In February, 1864, he marched to Knoxville, Tenn. In May, he was sent with a portion of the regiment to Loudon, Tenn. He was taken

264 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY

sick here with camp dysentery, and went to hospital at Knoxville, after which he was unable to join the regiment for duty. but came home on leave of absence, and resigned. as above stated.

Dr. Wilson settled in Weymouth in 1829 ; lived in the house built by Dr, Bela B, Clark, He was there a number of years, and moved to Xenia, where he now resides,

Dr, Rufus Pomeroy settled in Granger, in 1829, being the first physician there, He came from Suffolk Conn.; remained there until the year 1840, when he removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, He is well spoken of by those who knew him in the early days, as a man and physician,

Dr, Amos C, Smith, studied medicine with Dr, L. D, Tolman ; attended two courses of lectures in Cleveland, and graduated in the spring of 1850. The same spring, he went to La Fayette to practice, hut, in August. went to Litchfield in company with Dr, Carpenter, Removed to Medina Village in 1851, where he remained until his death, His medical education was equal to others of the ordinary opportunities, but his judgment and perceptive faculties were of a high order. He seen to read a ease intuitively. His mind would strip a case for diagnosis of all extraneous surroundings, and leave the real think unmasked before his vision, August 18, 1859, he formed a partnership with Dr, E, G. Hard, That clay they visited patients together, and that night he was taken sick and was confined to his bed for two weeks, Soon after getting around, he began to vomit food, and evidences of stricture of the stomach became alarmingly manifest, so that in a few months he was a hopeless invalid. The remainder of his clays were spent in caring for his health,

Dr. Whitehill practiced medicine in Litchfield and York in 1848 and 1849,

Dr, Thomas Rowe, Jr,, was born at Windsor, Vt., A. D, 1795 ; graduated in medicine at Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, in 1822 ; diploma signed by Dr, R, D. Mussey, Professor of Surgery and Obstetrics ; Dr, Daniel Freeman, Professor of Theory and Practice ; Dr, Jacob Freeman Dana, Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy ; Dr, Usher Parsons, Professor of Anatomy and Physiology ; Dr, Bennett Tyler, President ; Matthias Spalding and Asa Crawford, Censors,

Dr, Rowe was appointed on thc 12th day of August, 1820, by Gov, David Morrill, of New Hampshire, Surgeon's Mate of the Sixth Regiment of State Militia, countersigned by Richard Bartlett, Secretary of State, He married Miss Emily E, Chapman in 1826 ; moved to Medina Co,, Ohio, in October, 1830, and practiced medicine at Medina Court House, Here he experienced the many privations and difficulties incident to a new country—growing up. as it were, with its growth, and strengthening with its strength, Oftentimes his visits to the sick were made through the pathless forests. guided by "blaze" marks on the trees, and carrying torches at night, to aid in finding the way and to keep off the attacks of wild animals.

As will be discovered, he was well prepared by education for his profession, and possessed tact and judgment in making out a diagnosis of disease and prescribing for his patients, rendering him a useful member of the profession. He was gentle in his manners, of a quiet demeanor. careful to give no offense, a lover of good order in society, and happiest at his own fireside, He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and always to be seen in his pew on the Sabbath Day, when able to attend divine service,

He was one of the eight charter members of the Medina County Medical Lyceum, and one of the committee appointed by said society on October 9, 1833, to petition the Legislature of Ohio for an act of incorporation ; was an actire member up to 1843,In the year 1838, he sold his home in Medina

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY - 265

Village to Dr. Ross, and moved on the farm now owned by Mr. Fred Smith. Here he ultimately gave up his practice and paid attention to farming, and by prudence, care and honesty, he secured a competency of this world's goods, and lived to see much of the growth and improvement in the county of the present day. He died April 11, 1868.

Dr. Samuel E. Beach was born in Lenox, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, February 22, 1822, and, with his father, came to Wadsworth in 1830, growing up a farmer boy. He was a pupil under John McGregor, and studied medicine under Dr. George K. Pardee at Wadsworth. He at-tended medical lectures at Cleveland, term of 1846-47, and practiced two years at Sharon, in company with Dr. I. B. Beach ; attended medical lectures and graduated at Cleveland, the term of 1848--49, and, the same year, re-moved to Appleton, Wis. Here he practiced medicine until the year 1856, when he went to Kansas. During the war of the rebellion, he was appointed Surgeon of a Kansas regiment, and was in the Department of Tennessee. He was taken prisoner with his regiment, and himself compelled to serve as surgeon to the rebel sick and wounded. He was overtasked, and fell sick with pneumonia. The rebel officers then passed him through the Union lines, and he was taken to Nashville, where he died in the hospital, as nearly as can now be learned, about the beginning of the year 1864.

Erasmus 31. Beach, brother of Dr. S. E. Beach, studied medicine with his brother; at-tended one course of lectures at Cleveland, in 1818—49 ; went to Appleton, Wis., and died of fever at Dr. S. E. Beach's, in May, 1830.

Dr. John Emory came to Wadsworth in 1830, from Geauga County. Practiced there four or five years and moved to the Maumee Swamp. He had a .tolerable practice in Wadsworth.

Dr. George Emory was the first physician in Spencer, and brother of Dr. John Emory. He lived in Spencer, about 1835, where he remained several years, moving later to Illinois, where he now resides.

Dr. John Cleveland came to Granger about the year 1834, and practiced until about 1841 or 1842. He was preceptor of Dr. Stacey Hills.

Dr. George W. Howe was born at Williamstown, Vt., December 21, 1809. Diploma issued by Washington Medical College, Baltimore, Md. He came to Medina in the fall of 1831, and remained until 1837. Has practiced more or less ever since. Resides now at North Bloomfield, Trumbull Co., Ohio. Dr. Howe was one of the original members of the Medina County Medical Lyceum. At its primary meeting he was appointed one of the Committee on Claims, also to draft petition to Legislature, for act of incorporation, Oct. 29, 1833 ; also elected Re-cording Secretary, serving until 1836. Was one of the committee appointed to consider the establishing a medical college on the Western Reserve. Dr. Howe has for many years been in the ministry, and not fully identified in the medical fraternity.

Dr. 0. S. St. John was born at Buffalo, N. Y., May 28, 1'10. Attended schools and academy at Buffalo ; studied medicine with Drs. Marshall & Trowbridge of that city ; commenced in spring of 1827 ; attended medical lectures at Fairfield, N. Y., three winter courses, and graduated in February, 1831, the Faculty not knowing that he was not twenty-one years of age at the time. He practiced one year in Buffalo, and came to Ohio in summer of 1832. Journeyed from Cleveland through Brecksville, Richfield to Medina, and back to Cleveland via Brunswick, by stage. Returned to Brunswick soon after, and put up his sign; resided there about one and one-half years; practiced into Hinckley, Strongsville, Grafton and Weymouth Village. Moved back to Cleveland in November, 1833, and read law in the office of E. H. Thompson, Esq., Hon. H. B. Payne being a fellow-student. He attended law school at Cincinnati, in the winter of 1833-34 ; had John Ewing, of Cleveland, and Judge Jede-

266 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

diah Hoffman, of Youngstown, for room-mates and fellow-students while there. Was in due time admitted to the bar, but never had a brief. The winter of 1837–38. he reviewed medicine at Pennsylvania University and Jefferson Medical College, Penn. Moved to Willoughby, Lake County, in October, 1839. and practiced medicine a short time. In the winter of 1840-41, delivered a course of lectures at the Willoughby University of Lake Erie, on " Materia Medica and Medical Jurisprudence," when the school was removed to Cleveland. The Doctor in a let-ter. says : " As the great game of life is to die rich and leave your gains as best you can, to a wise man or a fool—generally a fool—and as my professions were too slow channels for the ac-cumulation of property, I soon abandoned them except when called as counsel, at the urgent re-quest of physicians or friends, and then without charge. Outside of professions, I got along better, and have, by much economy and brain labor, and night vigils, got enough to die on, and perhaps to curse my children." Dr. St. John was one of the eight to organize the Medina County Medical Lyceum, October 29, 1833, and was appointed Recording Secretary and Censor. His home and address Dec. 10, 1880. was Lincoln, Neb.

Dr. Lorenzo Warner was born in Waterbury, Conn., in August, 1807. In early years, he worked at the carpenter's trade, but his parents sought to educate him for the ministry, and, after coming to Ohio. they moved to Gambier, where he attended college for a short time. The rules and regulations of the school and church there not suiting his more liberal views, he with-drew and attended the " Western Reserve" College, aided by some "home missionary" work. But, just before completing the literary course, be entered the office of Dr. Town, of Hudson, Ohio, and commenced the study of medicine. Subsequently. he attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, in Cincinnati, a beneficiary under an act of the Legislature, from the Nineteenth Medical District. Dr. Warner came to the county of Medina about the year 1882 ; locating at Brunswick, he continued in active practice until about 1843, when he entered the ministry in the M. E. Church. Dr. Warner joined the Medina County Medical Society in February. 1835. and was a very active. influential member, until he left the profession in 1843. He was elected Representative to the Fortieth General Assembly of Ohio (session of 1841–42). serving one term. About the year 1844, he left the counts and joined the Methodist Episcopal Conference. being from that time identified with divine work, serving as Minister or Elder until his death.

Dr. Jesse C. Mills came from Congress Town-ship. Wayne Co., Ohio, to Seville, in 1832. He taught school there in 1833, in Judge Homer's front chamber. Hon. H. G. Blake was one of his pupils at this time ; also Miss Mary Ann Bell, whom the Doctor married in 1834. Dr. Mills was also one of the eight who organized the Medina County Medical Society. and the first Treasurer, and one of the first Censors; delivered the first dissertation before the society. being in February, 1834, on " Congestion." He held the office of Censor until May, 1839, when he resigned, and soon after left the State, going to Wisconsin. He died at Neenah, In that State.

Dr. Henry Ormsby was born at Fairlee, Orange Co., Vt., in 1805. He came to Ohio in 1817, stopping at Middlebury, Summit County. He commenced reading medicine with Dr. Town, of Hudson, in 1828. He attended one course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, as beneficiary from the Nineteenth Medical District, under the act of the Legislature. He commenced practice at Brook-field. Portage County, in 1832, but came to Medina in the same year. Dr. Ormsby was one of the eight charter members of the Medina County Medical Lyceum, and was chosen Secretary of the primary meeting to organize

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY - 267

said society, and was appointed on the committee to draft a petition to the Legislature for an act of incorporation. In 1834, Dr. Ormsby went to Copley, then in Medina County, and soon moved to Dover, in Wayne County. Ile came back to Medina in 1837, and continued the practice of his profession until 1845. when he sold his residence to Dr. L. D. Tolman. and retired from the further duties of this high calling. After returning from Dover to Medina, the Doctor again affiliated with the Medical Society, and was an active member until he retired from practice. Among other papers read by him, was one on the use of tea and tobacco—but especially tobacco—in 1841, and one in 1843, on Animal Magnetism." He was appointed Postmaster by Martin Van Buren, just before the expiration of his term, which position he held through Harrison's and Tyler's official terms, and until the coming in of James K. Polk's administration.

Dr Nathan Branch, Jr., was born in Worthington, Hampshire Co., Mass., in the year 1776. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. Peter Bryant, father of the poet, William Cullen Bryant, in Cummington, Hampshire Co., Mass. Having prepared himself for the practice of his profession, he emigrated to New York, and settled at Groton, now Delaware County, about the year 1800. There he practiced medicine for nearly thirty-four years. He came to York, in Medina County, in the year 1834, from Groton, N. Y. Here a large circle of relatives and friends gathered around, and aided largely in the settlement and growth of the township of York. The Doctor practiced his profession in York until about 1832, when his years numbered nearly fourscore, and he went to Michigan to live with a daughter, Mrs. Averhill. He died there about the year 1836.

Dr. Howard Alden came to Medina County in 1834, from Suffield, Conn.. and located at Seville, in company with Dr. Mills. From Seville, he moved to Orange, Ashland County, in company with Dr. William Deming. He came back to Westfield in 1840. His father was a physician, with whom he obtained his medical education. He joined the County Medical Society November 2, 1843 ; May 1, 1845, he was chosen President of the society ; again in 1846 ; again in 1849 ; and served until 1855. He was chosen again in 1836, and served as such until 1867, when age and feeble health prevented him from active duties. He died at his home in West-field about the year 1875.

Dr. Alexander Fisher came from the East" to Ohio in 1834. He was a single man, and located at Western Star. He subsequently married, and immediately took front rank as physician and surgeon, his ride extending widely throughout Medina, Summit and Wayne Counties. He was universally respected by all who formed his acquaintance, not only for his superiority as physician, but for his generosity, urbanity, integrity and unassuming deportment. His highest ambition was to be able to treat diseases successfully, and he made this the prime object of life. He was careful in selecting remedies to avoid harsh or irritating substances, and was among the first to institute the expect-ant and supporting treatment in the typhoid fevers of the locality. He moved to Akron in 1830, and thence to Chicago in 1856. As a surgeon, he performed some important operations, such as amputating the superior maxillary bone and tying the external iliac artery. He now resides in Chicago, Ill., aged seventy-seven years, and is still on duty in the line of his profession.

Dr. J. S. Ross came to Medina in 1834, joined the Medical Society February 5, 1835, was elected Treasurer same year, and served until 1839. He bought Dr. Rowe's place in town in 1836, and practiced medicine until he left in 1839.

Dr. J. G. Morse, came to Medina in 1835, and formed copartnership with Dr. Rowe. Joined the Medical Society in 1836. Left this section

268 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

cf. country in 1839, under disapproval of the Medical Society ; vide resolution, February 5, 1840.

Dr. Amos Witter located in Seville as physician about 1837. He read medicine with Dr. DeWitt at Lodi. and attended lectures in Cincinnati. Dr. Witter joined the Medina County Medical Society May 7, 1839 ; elected President of same May 2, 1 844 ; served one year ; appointed Censor May 1, 1845. Moved to Linn County. Iowa. about 1846. During the war of the rebellion, was commissioned Surgeon of a regiment from Iowa. and died from exposure while in the service.

Dr. William S. H. Welton, son of Judge Philo Welton, one of the early settlers of Montville Township : studied medicine with Dr. George K. Pardee. and was admitted to membership in the Medina County Medical Society, and granted diploma Feb. 5. 1835. He located at Medina, and practiced for about thirty years with slight interruptions, taking a trip to California about 1854. and at one time practiced at Wadsworth. His health for a number of years was very poor, and he was deprived thereby of many advantages which more fortunate competitors enjoyed. About 1865, he went West, and visited relatives in Wisconsin and Iowa. There he submitted to amputation of the leg. for chronic ulceration, and his health since has been so much improved that he has taken up the cue " and sought to prolong the lives of the " black Republicans " of that State.

Dr. William Converse, the first physician in Litchfield. studied medicine with Dr. E. DeWitt, at Lodi, being a brother-in-law. While a student, Converse, Witter, and a tall student, whose name is unknown, went to Milton to resurrect a body for dissection. They took up coffin and all. A big dog came upon them while at work. and the tall fellow struck at him with the spade, but missed the dog and knocked Witter down. When they came to open the coffin, they found nothing but old bones in it. They hadrobbed the wrong grave. Dr. Converse left Litchfield in 1839, going to Lodi, where he practiced until 1844, when he sold to Dr. Hoag. and went to Princeton, Ill., and thence to Chicago, having become wealthy and retired from business. and educating a son in the profession.

Dr. A. M. Armstrong, born 1S08, in Chatham, Columbia Co.. N. Y. Studied medicine first at Chatham; in 1828, subsequently at Kinderhook. Attended lectures at Fairfield Medical College, New York, and graduated in 1832. Practiced medicine at Oswego, N. Y., until 1835. Located at Sharon, Medina County, same year. and moved ! to Doylestown in 1837. where he has since remained. subject to the labors, hardships and vexations incident to a country doctor's life. Dr. Armstrong was elected, on the Democratic ticket, to the Legislature of Ohio, in the fall of 1879, from Wayne Co., Ohio.

Dr. Israel B. Beach. a native of Maine, came to Sharon in the year 1837 ; remained there in active practice until 1850, when he sold to Dr. Willey. He joined the Medina County Medical Society May 7, 1839, and attended a course of medical lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, in Pennsylvania, term of 1849-50, in company with Dr. A. Fisher ; moved to Cleveland in 1830. He subsequently went to the State of New York, and again returned to Cleveland, and died there December 10, 1860.

Dr. Elijah Kendrick came to Wadsworth from Middlebury in 1838, and occupied Dr. Pardee's office for one and one-half years. He practiced at Wadsworth about five. years, and went to Cincinnati. He was there during the cholera of 1848 ; was appointed Superintendent of the Insane Asylum at Columbus about 1850 ; served as such a number of years, and moved to East Cleveland. He finally went to Brighton, Penn., where he died in 1877.

Dr. Wilcox settled in Hinckley about 1838, and practiced there some thirty years, and then went West to grow up with the country. He taught school at Cuyahoga Falls in 1827.

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY. - 269

Dr. P. E. Munger came to the county in 1838 ; settled in Weymouth ; subsequently moved to Medina ; joined the medical society in 1840 ; was chosen Secretary and Treasurer in 1843 and 1844.

Dr. Munger was an educated man and well posted in the medical literature of his day.

Dr. Foster located in Granger about the year 1838. He practiced there until 1845 or 1846, and moved to Bennett's Corners ; was there several years, and moved to Royalton. Kept hotel in Royalton until he died.

Dr. Rockwell was a physician at Lodi in 1839. October 28, 1841, he was admitted to membership in the Medina County Medical Society.

Dr. Lewis Damon Tolman came to Ohio from Onondaga Co., State of New York, about 1835. He studied medicine with Dr. Bela B. Clark at Brunswick ; attended first course of lectures at Willoughby in 1838—39 ; received diploma from the Medina County Medical Lyceum May 7, 1839, and paid $5, the usual fee for a diploma, becoming a member thereby. February 5, 1840, he was elected Recording Secretary and Treasurer, and served as such until February 2, 1843, not having been absent from any meeting during the four years, and taking an active part in all the proceedings.

He located at Litchfield in 1839. where he commenced to practice his profession ; practiced there six years and, in 1845, came to Medina Village. In the winter of 1845—46, he attended lectures at Cleveland, and graduated in the spring of 1846. Returning to Medina, he continued the practice with much success, and found friends gathering thickly around him. May 3, 1849, he was again elected Secretary of the Medical Society, and served uninterruptedly until 1855, his membership continuing until his death in 1859.

Dr. James H. Carpenter came to Ohio in 1838 ; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1818. He commenced reading medicine with Dr. Tolman in 1839, at Litchfield ; attended medical lectures at Willoughby, session of 1839—40 ; commenced practice with Dr. Tolman in the spring of 1840. Dr. Tolman, in hiving a swarm of bees, was stung by them, and obliged to keep the house. An important call arriving, Carpenter was asked to respond, and he performed the service so well that Dr. Tolman got a pair of pill-bags and put him at work. This was the beginning of his medical career. The copartnership continued until 1845, when Tolman went to Medina ; meanwhile, Dr. Carpenter's father had died, and the support of the mother and family fell upon him. This and professional cares deprived him of further advantages in attending medical lectures, and yet few practitioners have exercised better judgment and adaptation to the ever-changing requirements of professional life.

In 1867, Dr. Carpenter moved to Michigan ; but the fickle goddess " that allured him thither lavished her charms upon that other man," and he returned to Litchfield in 1877, where he now resides.

Dr. A. E. Ewing was born October 25, 1816, near Cobourg, Upper Canada, on the north shore of Lake Ontario. His father was from Massachusetts, and his mother from Vermont. He entered medical school at Castleton, Vt., early in 1836 ; afterward attended the Medical Department of Dartmouth College, at Hanover, N. H., and graduated in October, 1839. He came to Ohio in 1840, and practiced medicine in G ranger and Sharon three years, then at Medina two years. Iii 1847, he went to Hills-dale, Mich., and edited a Whig newspaper during the Cass and Taylor campaign, and subsequently came back to Richfield in 1850. Went to Wisconsin in 1856, and came back to Richfield in 1863. Lives now at the last-named place. Dr. Ewing joined the Medina County Medical Lyceum February 1, 1844, and served as Censor one year and as Secretary and Treasurer until he moved, in 1847.

270 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

Dr. Hopkins came to Seville in 1840, and practiced in company with Dr. A. Witter. About 1848, he went to Sharon, and in 1852, went to State of New York. He became a great invalid subsequently, and went to the Medical Springs at St. Louis, Michigan, having rheumatism so as to be confined to crutches, etc. He was a member of the Medina .'Medical Society, October 28, 1841. May 3, 1842, chosen one of the Censors of the society, and again in 1843.

Dr. Henry Warner was born in Sheldon, Genesee Co.. N. Y., June 17, 1817. Dr. Warner attended school in Sharon and read medicine with Dr. Pardee, and afterward attended medical lectures at Geneva, N. Y., in 1840-41. He located at Bristol, Wayne County, but in the fall of 1841, he came to Spencer, where he followed his profession until his death, except when serving in the capacity of Judge of the Probate Court at Medina, to which office he was elected, commencing in 1855. and serving six years. He was attacked with pneumonia, which terminated in death about 1872.

Dr. J. C. Preston, born in Talmadge. Ohio, December 8, 1819. Read medicine with Dr, Amos Wright of said town; attended a course of medical lectures at Willoughby, the winter of 1841–42. Practiced with Dr. Jew itt, at Mogadore, Summit County, one year; went to Bruns-wick, Medina County, September, 1843 ; at-tended course of lectures, and graduated at Cleveland Medical College, winter of 1862–63; moved to Cleveland, in November, 1869. Dr. Preston was appointed Assistant Surgeon,. Seventy-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Date of rank. March 19, 1863. Date of commission, March 30, 1863 ; was promoted to Surgeon, February 1, 1865. Date of commission February 5, 1865. Mustered out with regiment July 20, 1865.

Dr. Preston was the only physician at Brunswick for almost twenty years, and enjoyed the full confidence of the people within the range of his practice.

Dr. Melancthon Hoag came to Lodi in 1844; bought out Dr. Converse; was from Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio; remained there until his death in 1874. Dr. A. Rawson was brother-in-law of Dr. Hoag ; came to the county in 1844 ; located at La Fayette ; left there in 1847.

Dr. William Clark, son of Dr. Bela B. Clark, and born in Medina County, read with his father and attended medical lectures at Willoughby about 1841 and 1842. He located at Litchfield for practice in 1844, and in 1845, went West, locating at Bucyrus. Ohio.

Dr. Edwin H. Sibley was born in Concord, Erie Co., N. Y., October 4, 1816 ; came to Harrisville about 1844. He was elected to the Legislature of Ohio as Representative from Medina County, session commencing January, 1854; served one term. He attended lectures at the University of Buffalo, graduating about 1843. He joined the Medical Society of the county, May 3, 1855, and was chosen as one of the board of censors same day. August 1855, read an essay on " Medical Ethics." May 1, 1856, Dr. Sibley presented the following, which was adopted by the society : Re-solved, "That the act, entitled an act to pro-vide for the registration of marriages, births and deaths in Ohio, is one that the members of this society will repudiate, and use negative means to render nugatory, for the reason that it enjoins, and with a penalty, making obligatory duties upon the medical profession, with-out an equivalent, and that in the face. of the rule in this State against any special legislation favorable to the profession." Drs. Sibley and Spillman were chosen delegates to the National Medical Association to be held at Detroit, Mich., May 6, 1856. He died at Lodi, March 7, 1864, of typhoid pneumonia.

Dr. L. W. McIntosh came to Litchfield in 1845 ; bought out Dr. Tolman ; left about 1849.

Dr. John J. McAlmont practiced medicine in Weymouth from 1846 to 1850 ; attended medical lectures at Cleveland, session 1848-49, and

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY - 271

graduated at the close of the session. About 1850 he went to Little Rock; Ark.

Dr. Hickox came to La Fayette in 1847 ; his health failing. sold to Dr. S. Hudson. in 1851, and died soon after with consumption.

Dr. Albertson—Eclectic—located at Wilson's Corners about the year 1848. remained a short time and moved to Remson Corners. in the township of Granger. where he still resides and continues practice.

Dr. A. G. Willey entered the office of Dr. George K. Pardee in 1843. He attended the first coarse of lectures at the Medical Department of the Western Reserve College at Cleve-land in the winter of 1846. He went to Spencer the same spring and practiced in company with Dr. Henry Warner. In the spring of 1848. he went to La Fayette and the following fall moved his family to Cleveland and attended lectures throughout the term of 1845-49. and graduated at the close. Again he moved to Spencer and went into company with Pr. Warner ; stayed there until June. 1850, when he went to Sharon Center. December 1, 1854, he moved back to Syencer and still re-mains there.

Dr. S. Hudson began reading medicine in 1842. with Dr. Jewett, of Mogadore. Ohio, and in 1845 attended a course of lectures at Willoughby. He came to River Styx in the fall of 1848, and practiced there until the fall of 1831, when he went to LaFayette. He continued in practice there until the fall of 1861, when he went to Columbus and attended a course of medical lectures at Starling Medical College. and received his diploma at the close of the term. Soon after he was appointed, by Gov. Tod, Assistant Surgeon of the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Date of rank, July 11. 1862 ; date of commission, July 23, 1862 ; resigned October 1, 1862. In 1863, he was appointed Post Surgeon at Louisville, Ky., remaining there until the spring of 1864, when he resigned and returned to La Fayette, soon afterward moving to Medina, where he has continued to practice up to the present time.

Dr. Elder came to Litchfield in 1848; practiced there about three years and moved to Huntington, Ohio, thence to Indiana.

Dr. Aurelius H. Agard commenced the study of medicine by attending lectures at Cleveland, Ohio, in the winter of 1846-47, having, the year previous, occupied the office of Drs. Fisher and Warner, engaging in preliminary studies. He pursued the study of medicine henceforth uninterruptedly, attending a second course at Cleveland, and a third at Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and graduating in the spring of 1849. Returning to Western Star, he formed a copartnership with Dr. Fisher. In 1850, Dr. Agard bought Dr. Fisher's residence, and retained the practice at the Star " until 1856. when he went to Sandusky City. He is now in California.

Dr. William Painter was practicing medicine at Peninsula, Summit Co., Ohio, up to 1849. He attended medical, lectures at the Cleveland Session of 1849-50. and graduated in the spring of 1830. He came to Weymouth and remained five or six years, when he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has continued to follow in the work from that time until the present.

Dr. Henry Tiffany commenced the practice of medicine at Weymouth ; attended a course of medical lectures at Cleveland, Ohio, session of 1848-49, and settled in York about 1850. He remained there in active practice until 1861, when he moved to Medina Village and at the death of Dr. Spillman, with his son H. B. Tiffany, bought the drug store formerly owned by Dr. Spillman. He died of inflammation of the bowels in 1864.

Dr. Wesley Pope settled in Hinckley about 1830. Practiced in Hinckley until about 1870.

Dr. E. R. McKensie commenced the practice of medicine in Litchfield about 1850, and still continues in the path of duty.

272 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

Dr. John Hill read medicine in the office of Dr. A. Fisher at Western Star ; attended the first course of lectures at Cleveland, session 1849–50. In the spring of 1850, he went to California; thence to Australia in search of gold; returned by way of England, his mother country, in 1855. He attended medical lectures in Philadelphia in 1855–56, and graduated at the Jefferson Medical College in 1856. He located at Sharon in the same year, and soon after moved to Norton, Summit Co., where he has since lived on the farm.

Dr. H. J. Grismer came to Wadsworth from Pennsylvania in 1853. He bought Dr. L3-man's place, and in 1856 sold it back again and went to Western Star ; stayed there two years and moved to Indiana. He is now living in Illinois.

Dr. James C. Bradford came to Medina in 1855, and entered into copartnership with Dr. Spillman. He remained about one year and then received appointment as Assistant Physician to Northern Ohio Insane Asylum, where he died in a short time of consumption. His previous history cannot be ascertained for this work.

Dr. H. E. Warner, son of Rev. Lorenzo Warner, M. D., was born in Brunswick, on the "old farm," in 1834. Studied medicine with Dr. Hills at Columbus; while a student, was drug-gist at the Lunatic Asylum one year, Dr. Hills being Superintendent of the same. He was druggist, also, at the Ohio Penitentiary one year, while his father was Chaplain of the same. He attended lectures at the Starling Medical College one term, 1857–58. He located at Weymouth in the fall of 1838, and practiced until the fall of 1860, when he attended lectures again at the above-named college, and graduated in the spring of 1861. Returned to Weymouth and continued to practice, when he was commissioned Assistant Surgeon of the Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, December 17, 1863. He was detached on special duty at Camp Chase, having charge of the rebelprisoners there confined. He was promoted to Surgeon, March 21, 1865, . and remained at Camp Chase until the close of the war, in 1865. Soon after returning home, he began to fail in health, and consumption found in him a victim. He finally yielded himself up to death May 25, 1873.

Dr. A. P. Beach commenced practice in Seville, about 1859, having read medicine with Dr. More, of Congress Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, and attended medical lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio. He has attended lectures at Cleveland, recently, for two or three terms, and received a diploma from the Medical Department of the University of Wooster.

Dr. George F. Peckham read medicine with Dr. McIntosh at Litchfield, about 1846 ; at-tended medical lectures, first coarse at Columbus, Ohio ; graduated at Geneva, N. Y., and located in Pennsylvania. Came to Litchfield in 1860. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Date of rank and commission. March 25, 1864. Was mustered out with the regiment, in July, 1865. Afterward settled at Rawsonville. Lives now in Elyria.

Dr. John L. Firestone was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1829. Studied medicine with Dr. Leander Firestone, 1830 to 1853. Attended one course of lectures in Cleveland, and one at Castleton, Vt., graduating there in 1854. Attended the New York Medical College in 1855, graduating there. Served two years as Assistant Physician in the Northern Ohio Lunatic Asylum. Practiced at Apple Creek, Wayne County, one year, and then took charge of a drug store at Salem, because of ill health ; stayed two years, then came to Medina in spring of 1860. Practiced until August 1862, when he was appointed Surgeon of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in that and the First Ohio Heavy Artillery, until the. close of the war. Mustered out August 1, 1865. The following

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY - 273

winter was spent in the schools and hospitals of New York City, and in the spring formed a partnership with Dr. Abel Carey, a leading physician and surgeon of Eastern Ohio. Dr. Carey died in 1872, and soon Dr. Firestone's health began to fail ; so much so, that he has been compelled to seek relief in traveling abroad, visiting England, Germany, Prussia, Austria, France and the West Indies, and is still compelled to see himself becoming a confirmed in-valid, and able to do but little professional business.

Dr. Canfield located at La Fayette about 1860. He practiced a short time, when he was taken with hemorrhage of the lungs, and died with quick consumption.

Dr. William Brigham located in Seville, about 1861. having been pursuing medical studies at Ann Arbor Medical College, Mich. He has continued professional labors at the above-named place, up the present time, except when absent on military duty as Captain of a company in the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers.

Dr. E. H. Greenman located in Granger in 1861. Stayed there two and a half years and went West. Last heard from in Oregon.

Dr. David Palmer was among the early practitioners of Chatham. remaining up to about 1865. when he went to West Salem, thence to Ridgeville and back to Medina Village. Now residing at Lodi. this county.

Dr. M. L Hawkins came to Brunswick about 1862, and has held the practice in that and parts of adjoining towns.

Dr. L. B. Parker is an old resident and physician of Liverpool; perhaps the oldest practitioner of the county. He has grown gray in the service, and holds the confidence of the people wherever known.

Dr. William T. Ridenour came to Wadsworth in the spring of 1863, originally from Maryland ; studied medicine at Smithville, Wayne Co., Ohio ; practiced three years in Wadsworth ;went to Oberlin in 1869. thence to Toledo. and is now professor in the Toledo Medical School. Dr. Ridenour was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Date of rank, November 9, 1851 date of commission. November 12, 1861 ; promoted to Surgeon, date of rank and commission, May 1, 1862 ; resigned December 28, 1862.

Dr. J. N. Robinson read medicine about 1850, in Chatham, Medina County, and also with Drs. Harley and Snodgrass in Wayne County. He attended medical lectures in Cleveland during the session of 1852-53, and 1853-54, graduating in February, 1834, and located for practice at Lockbourne, Franklin County ; remained there eight years ; came to Medina Village about 1863.

H. A. Hoyt, M. D., graduated at Yale Medical College January 10, 1861 ; enlisted as a private in First Connecticut Heavy Artillery May 10, 1861 ; promoted to Hospital Steward about May 24, 1861. Appointed Assistant Surgeon, same regiment, January 17, 1863. Received discharge at his request December 8, 1863 ; settled in Doylestown. Ohio, March 16, 1864. July 23, same year, he accepted the position of Acting Assistant Surgeon United States Army, Second Division, Third Army Corps. By his request, contract was annulled November 20, 1864 returned to Doylestown. Ohio; received commission from Gov. Buckingham, Assistant Surgeon of the Sixth Connecticut Infantry, and had charge of the regiment until mustered out August 31, 1865 ; moved to La Fayette, Medina Co., Ohio, December 15, 1865 ; had medical charge of County Infirmary ; practiced his profession until he removed to Hoytville, April 15, 1867 ; practiced -medicine there three years, and went into mercantile business there.

Dr. Henry Schuhmaker practiced medicine in Liverpool Township, near Abbeyville, a number of years. He was educated in Germany, his native country, and was a man of fine mold

274 - HISTORY OF MEDIAN COUNTY.

and active perceptive faculties. He died of typhoid fever and congestive fever about 1871, while but a young and promising man.

Dr. J. C. Miller practiced Medicine at Lodi, about 1865; and for several years thereafter.

Dr. John Slutz located and practiced medicine at La Fayette, about 1865 ; was there three or four years, and for a short time also at Seville. He is now engaged as agent for the Ohio Farmers' Insurance Company.

Dr. S. B. Frazelle came to Sharon about 1865, was a graduate of Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. He practiced in Sharon three or four years, when his health failed and he was obliged to retire, and died of consumption about 1870.

Dr. Parker located in La Fayette about 1865. He was a graduate of Cleveland Medical College, and a member of the Northeastern Ohio Medical Society ; was also physician to the County Infirmary for several years ; moved out of the county in 1880.

Dr. A. O. Huntley studied medicine with Dr. Stacey Hills, and practiced in Granger in the years 1866-67.

Dr. N. S. Everhard, son of Jacob Everhard, was born in Chippewa January 8, 1841. He studied medicine with his brother, Dr. Aaron Everhard. at Ripon, Wis.; graduated at Cleveland Medical College, and located in Wads-worth in 1868. Dr. Everhard has continued to practice at Wadsworth until the present time, and holds a high position in the ranks of the fraternity.

Dr. L. S. Murray studied medicine with Dr. L. Firestone, of Wooster, beginning in 1864 ; graduated at the Medical Department of Wooster University in the spring of 1868, and practiced in Wooster until the fall of 1868, when he came to Medina, Ohio, where he has since followed his profession.

Dr. G. S. Gillett studied medicine in the office of Drs. W. H. H. Sykes and J. A. Tucker, at Plymouth, Ohio ; attended medical lectures atthe Western Reserve Medical College, in Cleveland, sessions, of 1864-65 and 1866-67, and, graduating February, 1867 ; came to Hinckley 1868, and is practicing there at this date.

Dr. James H. Cassady has been engaged in the practice of medicine in Sharon Township since about 1870.

Dr. Porter located in Granger about ten years ago, and continues to practice there.

Dr. Singer came to York about 1 871 ; stayed about two years, and quit.

Dr. II. H. Doane commenced in Litchfield in 1872.

Dr. Frank Young commenced studying medicine with Dr. Barley, of Cleveland. in 1869. He attended two full courses of lectures in the old Cleveland College, and graduated in the spring of 1872 ; he located in Weymouth the same year, and continues to occupy that field.

Dr. Wallace Briggs studied with Dr. Lyman at Wadsworth. and graduated at Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1869. He located at River Styx in same year, but moved to Wadsworth in 1873, and in 187 7 moved to California.

Dr. Hahn located in Spencer about the year 1874, occupying the office left by Dr. Warner at his death. He continues to reside and practice there.

Dr. Frank S. Jones began his medical career as druggists clerk in 1863, in Medina, afterward in Cleveland, and subsequently in New York City. While in New York, he attended the New York College of Pharmacy for three sea-sons, and graduated in the spring of 1872. In the fall of 1872, he went to Chicago, and atended medical lectures at the Rush Medical College of that city, graduating at that institution in the spring of 1876. During a portion of the time of attending lectures, he was resident physician of one of the hospitals of Chicago. He came to Medina in the spring of 1876, and began practice, since which time he has continued in the line of professional duty.

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY. - 275

Dr. Newberry came to York about 1876, and stayed about one year.

Dr. P. E. Bench, a graduate of Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, commenced the practice of medicine at Seville, in company with his father about 1877, since which time he has been building up a practice.

Dr. Thomas Hunter came to this country from the Emerald Isle, bringing with him the medical education acquired through the opportunities afforded him in that historic land. He stopped off at Seville, and planted himself with-out introductory ceremonies, and no artifice or opposition could ever " rattle " him in the least.

Dr. Brown came to York about 1878, and stayed about one year.

Dr. E. E. Britton is a native of Medina County, and read medicine with Dr. Garver, of Homer. Graduated at Cincinnati in 1878, andcame to Lake Station in June of the same year, and practiced there until October, when he moved to Spencer, where he now resides.

Dr. John Cowan came to Lodi from Ashland County in 1879, and has a drug store in connection with his practice. Read medicine with his brother, J. P. Cowan. Commenced in 1851, and graduated at Columbus in 1854.

Dr. J. Wall was raised in the township of York, and read medicine with Dr. Gamble. of Liverpool, graduating at Cleveland, Ohio. He located at Sharon for a short time, but since 1879, has been practicing at York.

Dr. C. G. Hollis came to Wadsworth in the spring of 1880, from Richfield. Summit County.

Dr. George H. Wachter studied medicine under Dr. Lyman, at Wadsworth. Attended three full courses of lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Pennsylvania, and graduated in the spring of 1880. He is now at River Styx.