MEDICAL.

Previous to 1841, no physician had located within time limits of the county and the settlers depended upon what little stock of medicine they chanced to bring with them, upon Indian remedies, as related elsewhere of Buell's family, and upon the indigenous roots and herbs gathered and prepared by the experienced older ladies and administered with generally beneficial results.

Ipecac and boneset were the main specifics in Mr. Buell's medicine chest. Dr. Peck added to the local pharmacopceia pills and ointment, especially blue and red precipitates, which there is a credible tradition the settlers had a "terrible itching" for about that time.

Mr. James Bourne, in his part of the county, turned his attention to surgery as well as medicine, and probably performed the first surgical operation on the human subject after the Indian. medicine man vanished westward. He first relieved Norman Evans, who had received a 

severe gash upon the knee, and afterward cut a rusty fish-gig from the hand of an unknown man and extracted a bean from the nose of a child of Mr. Dierk, then living on Mill Creek. In the spring of 1837, Robert Bourne brought to this section the first assortment of medicine, including 

calomel, jalap, cinchona, wormseed, Sappington's pills, which were dealt out to the settlers in heroic doses, and generally with excellent results, the hardy constitutions of that time enduring drastic remedies in a manner that would now surprise most young physicians. The obstetric department was managed by the wise and experienced matrons, and in the absence of any proof to the contrary must have been well performed.

Prior to 1850, no medical organization existed in the State. In response to an urgent call from the American Medical Association for the formation of State medical societies, one was in June, 1850, organized for Iowa at Burlington. In turn, the State Association urged physicians to form county associations.

The State at that time being very sparsely settled, and medical attainments sufficient to constitute a "doctor" not being very exalted, medical societies were of slow growth. The Clinton County Medical Society was organized in 1857, and being one of the first six in the State, can claim to be one of the pioneer associations. Pursuant to a general call, the initial meeting was held at Camanche June 16, 1857, at the office of Dr. A. B. Ireland, who presided, and with Dr. A. T. Hudson, Vice President, and Drs. Asa Morgan, Secretary, and George H. Noyes, George E. McPherson, and the President as Censors, the Clinton County Medical Society was organized. Measures were adopted to examine all applicants for membership, so that no incompetent physician should be indorsed by the Society.

Besides these and others who entered the service, and whose records will be found in the military department of this book, others, after the awful carnage at Shiloh, where Iowa regiments suffered so greatly, went to the front as volunteer surgeons. Drs. Ennis, McCormick, Lothrop and Ireland went on merciful errands to- Shiloh and other field hospitals, carrying not only the enthusiasm of humanity, but liberal stores of sanitary sup lies and comforts.

The records show that out of sixteen practicing members of the Association, twelve were actively engaged in aiding the Union cause, and not a single disloyal name dims the Association's escutcheon. The first meeting after the war was held at De Witt, January, 1869, and the name "Association" was changed to " Society," and re-organized and incorporated, the articles being signed by Drs. A. B. Ireland, C. H. Lothrop. P. J. Farnsworth. S. J. Hobart, J. S. Farnsworth, G. F. Wetherell, A. Reynolds, A McCormick and O. E. Deeds. At different times thirty—three physicians were connected the the Association, and thirty-eight with the Society.The present officers are : Dr. H. S. Farnsworth, President: Dr. M. G. Sloan, Vice President: Dr. P .J. Farnsworth. Secretary and Treasurer: Drs. Hobart, Morgan, and Langon. Censors: Drs. Dennison, Wallace and P. J. Farnsworth, Ethical Board: Drs. Dennison and Booth. Delegated to the American Medical Association.

Appended are brief biographical notices of many who have practiced or are still practicing their profession in this county, for which acknowledgment is made to Drs. P. J. Farnsworth and Charles H. Lothrop.

The first regularly-educated physician in the county was Dr. William Bassett, who came from Dc Kalb County, Ill., to Camanclie in 1841. From thence, he moved to Lyons in 1844, and practiced there until 1848, when he went across the river to Fulton, Ill., and remained there until he died, in 1867. Born in Hinsdale, Mass., in 1808; educated at Berkshire Medical College, Pittsfield, Mass., and in Woodstock, Vt.

Dr. Zebulon Metcalf came next; located at Dc Witt in 1842, and resided there until his death in 1847. Born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., and educated in some Eastern college. He is said to have been a very successful physician arid a man of fine education.

Dr. C. H. Lothrop, of-Lyons, compiled for the Clinton County Medical Society a Medical History of the county, from which we condense the following in the order of towns:

Dr. J. P. Anthony settled in Camanche in 1850; removed to Sterling, Ill., in 1855, where he now resides. He was Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, arid Surgeon of the Sixty-first Volunteer Infantry until the close of the war. Born in Washington County, N. Y., in 1823; educated at Pittsfield Medical College, Massachu­setts.

Dr. A. B. Ireland came to Camanche in 1852, where he practiced his pro­fession until his death, in 1878. He was born in a small town in East Tennes­see in 1816, and removed with his father to Tremont, Ill. He received his medical education in the Illinois Medical College at Jacksonville, Ill., graduating in 1846. Dr. Ireland had a extensive practice, and was a man very widely known in the county for kindness and sterling integrity. He was elected to the State Senate in 1869 for two years, which position he very acceptably filled. He had held numerous local offices, and was President of the Clinton County Medical Society for six or seven years.

Dr. E. T. Manning came to Camanche in 1850, in the capacity of a Baptist preacher, with which he combined the practice of medicine. He is not a graduate but holds an honorary degree from Bennett Eclectic Medical College, Chicago. When asked why he left preaching for medicine, he said men suffered more from colic than from fear of h-, and would pay better.

C.D. Manning, son of the above, graduated in Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1870, and practices in Camanche. There have been several other physicians located here, but they only remained a short time, except Dr. William McQuigg, who received his medical education at Cleveland Medical College, Ohio, came to Camanche in 1852, practiced his profession there until1866, when he removed to Lyons, where he now resides.

Dr. A. L. Ankeny, well-known in business circles, was born in Jackson County, Ill., and received a medical degree from Rush Medical College in 1850, came to Lyons and practiced medicine until 1855; after that, went into general business and now resides one mile west of Lyons.

Dr. Joseph Beez, a native of Bavaria, located in Lyons in 1867, and practiced until he died in 1864, aged about forty.

Dr. A. 0. Blanning, a native of Massachusetts, a graduate of Medical

Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1848, came to Lyons in 1856 and commenced the practice of homeopathy. In 1862, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Twentieth Iowa Volunteers, promoted to Surgeon and served during the war; returned to Lyons and practiced until 1878, when he removed to Florida.

Dr. George H. Bonney entered into partnership with Dr. Bassett, of Lyons, in 1847, practiced there and at Elk River until 1857, and removed to Indianola; graduated in St. Louis Medical College in 1860.

Dr. Joseph Brown, a graduate of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical School, came to Lyons in 1856 and practiced his profession until 1865, when he removed to Chicago, thence to Aurora, Ill., where he died in 1876, aged about seventy. A man of pleasant address and fine literary attainments.

Dr. G. M. Davis, born in Dayton County, Ohio, in 1819, studied medicine with his brother in 1833; commenced the practice of medicine in Greenville, Ind.; attended medical lectures in the Louisville Medical Institute; came to Clinton in 1855; was elected State Senator in 1858, served two years. He was appointed Postmaster in 1862, and held the position until 1870, when he retired to his farm near Lyons.

Dr. W. R. Downs, born in Franklin County, Vt., in 1823; came West and began the study of medicine, entering a medical school in La Porte, Ind.; becoming too deeply engaged in the resurrection (?) question, he pushed farther West and engaged in the practice of medicine in Camanche in 1847, and removed to Lyons in 1851. He is said to have been a successful practitioner and a keen speculator and his name figures conspicuously among the pioneers of that place. In 1854, he removed to Texas, and is said to have been a medical director in the rebel army.

Dr. A. P. Hudson, born in Oswego, K. Y., in 1818, received his medical education at Albany Medical College in 1847. Located first at Albany, Ill., he removed to Lyons in 1856, where he very successfully practiced his profession, giving considerable attention to surgery. He was appointed Surgeon of the Twenty-sixth Regiment in 1862, and served during the war; he returned to Lyons, where his health became poor; he moved to Stockton City, Cal., where he now resides. He paid considerable attention to the ornithology and botany of the county, leaving a valuable collection to Iowa College, Grinnell.

Dr. C. H. Lothrop, born in Fulton, Mass., in 1831; received his medical education at Albany, N. Y., and at the University of New York, graduating in 1858. He came to Lyons in 1859. He was a very active member of the profession, perfecting several very useful surgical appliances. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the First Iowa Cavalry in 1862, and was pro­moted to place of Surgeon and served during the war. After that, in 1866, he returned to Lyons to active practice. In 1870, he became affected with a spinal disease that disabled him from walking, and since then he has been a very great sufferer, losing the entire use of his lower extremities. He has completed the first and second edition of a medical directory of the State, and other literary labors, and is the present examiner for pensions for that place.

Dr. Freeman Thompson, born in Ohio; attended lectures in Cleveland; settled in Lyons in 1855, and remained there until 1867, and removed to Kansas.

Dr. J. E. Ennis, born in Blair County, Penn.; moved to Lyons and studied medicine; attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1861.Acted as Assistant Surgeon for three months during the war and was for a time engaged as Inspecting Surgeon for the Sanitary Commission. In 1868,he retired from the profession and is now engaged in the nursery business.

Dr. J. J. Mathews, born in Somerset, Ohio, 1837; received his medical education in Cincinnati; graduated at Keokuk Medical School in 1852; entered into practice until 1859, when he was elected to the State Senate for two terms. In 1868, he became Postmaster, and held the office for ten years. He has abandoned the practice of medicine, and entered into other business.

The name of Dr. A. G. Benedict appears as locating in Lyons for two years-1856 to 1858; a graduate of College of Physicians and Surgeons, N. Y., 1855.

Dr. George McPherson, a native of Pennsylvania; educated at Jefferson Medical College, 1855 ; resided in Lyons from 1857 to 1859.

Dr. A. P. Tenny located in Lyons, in 1863, and left in 1867; a graduate of Dartmouth Medical School. He returned to his native State, New Hampshire.

Dr. E. M. Westbrook, born near Buffalo, N. Y., in 1822. He came to the State when it was new ; came to Sabula in 1847; from there removed to Lyons, in 1865, where he is now in active practice.

Dr. George F. Wetherell, a native of New York; educated at Medical Department of the University of New York. He practiced medicine in Mechanicsville, in this State, until 1862, when he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteers. At the close of the war, he settled in Lyons, where he now practices his profession. Several others have resided in Lyons for a few years; several of them are now residents of other places in the county.

Dr. H. McCormack, born near Harrisburg, Penn., 1852; educated in Medical Department of University of Pennsylvania, in 1856; came to Clinton the same year, and went into active practice. In 1862, he was Acting Assistant, or Post Surgeon, for the Twentieth and Twenty-sixth Regiments while in camp at Clinton; now in active practice.

Dr. David Mc Clay, born in Harrisburg, Penn.; educated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia; located in Clinton in 1855, and remained until 1857, when he removed on account of ill-health. Said to be the first settled physician in Clinton.

Dr. R. A. Bowen, born in Howard County, Md., in 1830; attended medical lectures in the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College; located first in Waterloo, in this State, moved to Clinton in 1862, and remained until 1866, when he removed to Elizabeth, N. J.

Dr. P. J. Farnsworth, born in Westford, Vt.; educated in the University of Vermont, graduating in medicine in 1858; also received a degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, in 1860. Came to Lyons in 1862 ; removed to Clinton in 1865. In 1868, was elected to fill the chair of Materia Medica and Diseases of Children in the Medical Department of the State University. Practices medicine during the summer, and delivers lectures during the session of the medical school in the winter. Member of the County Medical Society, and State and American Medical Associations.

Dr. H. S. Farnsworth, a native of Westford, Vt.; received his medical education in the Medical Department of the University of Vermont, graduating in 1860. Located in Lyons in 1864, where he remained until 1872, and removed to Clinton, where he now practices his profession. Member of the County and State Medical Associations.

Dr. A. J. Hobart, born in Yates County, N. Y. ; received his medical edu­cation in the University of Michigan, in 1859 ; has also a degree from Bellevue Medical College, 1873. Came to Clinton from Michigan, in 1866, where he now resides. He served during the war as Assistant Surgeon of the First Michigan Infantry, in 1861; was promoted to Surgeon in 1862; resigned his position in 1864. Author of numerous papers read before the Clinton County Society. Member of the State and American Medical Associations.

Dr. Charles W. Myers, a native of Greenbrier, Knox Co., Ohio; received his medical education at Cleveland Medical College, graduating in 1862 ; entered the army as Acting Assistant Surgeon, and was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Eighty-second Ohio Infantry, in 1863; became Surgeon in the same regiment, and served during the war. He returned to the practice of medicine in Michigan, and removed to Clinton in 1870; now in practice.

Dr. A. Reynolds, born in Grand Isle County, Vt.. in 1837; received his medical education in the University of Vermont, in 1b63; located in Clinton, in 1869; remained here until 1873, when he received the appointment of Superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane at Independence, where he now remains.

Dr. George H. Noyes, native of Nashua, IN. H., 1834; graduated in medicine at Dartmouth, 1856 ; located in Clinton in 1857: in 1862, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the Eighth Iowa Infantry, promoted to Surgeon of the Second Iowa Cavalry ; mustered out in 1865 ; now lives in Nashua, N. H.

Dr. H. Van Deventer, native of Buffalo, N. Y. ; received his degree in medicine from Buffalo Medical School, 1856; came to Clinton in 1866, remained until 1870, and removed to Roslyn, L. I.

Dr. W. C. Paxon. located in Clinton, in 1867 ; now in practice.

Dr. William Howell. a native of Buffalo and a graduate of the Medical School there in 1853 ; located in Clinton in 1856. He is often mentioned by the older residents as a good practitioner, but of very eccentric habits. He left in 1860, and died in Buffalo.

Dr. E. H. King. born in DeWitt County, III., 1841; graduated in the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, 1868; located in Clinton in the same year; still in practice.

Dr. S. Yeomans, born in Herkimer Co.. N. Y., in 1822; graduated in medicine at Rush Medical College, in 1854; and received a degree from Hahnemann Medical College in 1871; appointed Assistant Surgeon for the Seventh Iowa Cavalry; located in Clinton in 1871.

Dr. Clara Yeomans, wife of the above, studied medicine and graduated in Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, in 1870; located in Clinton, in general practice and women's diseases, in 1871; now in practice.

Dr. F. F. Cammuck, a native of England, came to Clinton in 1874; died in 1879.

Dr. Davis, Dr. Freeze and Dr. Phillips' names appear in the records of Clinton as being residents for a short period.

Dr. Marston located in Clinton in 1866; practiced homeopathy until his death in 1869.

in Dr. C. H. Coggswell, a graduate df Hahnemann Medical College; located Clinton in 1870; practiced here until 1878 and removed to Cedar Rapids. 

Mrs. C. H. Coggswell, wife of the above, graduated in the New York Homeopathic Medical College, of New York. in 1874; now in Cedar Rapids.

Dr. John Dennison, born in Hanover, N. Y., in 1818; educated at Albany Medical College in 1846; located in DeWitt in 1867, where lie now practices his profession.

Dr. James Harvey, born in Canada in 1832; graduated in medicine at Castleton, Vt., in 1856, and located the same year in DeWitt; in 1862, he received the appointment of Assistant Surgeon in the Eighteenth Iowa Volunteers; served about a month and resigned, and resumed practice, removing to Romeo.

Dr. J. R. Jones, born in Tippecanoe, Ohio, in 1842; came to De Witt with his parents in 1854; studied medicine and graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Michigan in 1808; practiced his profession until his death in 1874.

Dr. John Kelley, native of Ireland, educated in Dublin, located in De Witt in 1852 for the practice of his profession. In 1861, he entered the army as a private in the First Cavalry. Died from a sunstroke while in rendezvous at Burlington in 1861.

Dr. Daniel Langun, native of the North of Ireland; born in 1837. Received one course of medical lectures in the University of Michigan; graduated in the Keokuk Medical School in 1863. Commenced the practice of medicine in De Witt, where he now remains.

Dr. George A. Meredith, born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1844; came with his parents to De Witt in 1850. Studied medicine and attended lectures in Michigan University in 1868, and commenced the practice of medicine. Graduated in 1872; now resided in Ames, Story County.

Dr. Asa Morgan, born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1826. Came to Davenport, Iowa, in 1846, and commenced the study of medicine, and attended lectures in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Upper Mississippi, located at Davenport. This college was removed to Keokuk in 1852, from which he received his medical degree. He located the same year in De Witt. Went to California in search of gold in 1857; returned to De Witt in 1859; received an appointment as Assistant Surgeon in the Seventh Iowa Regiment in 1861. He resigned his position in 1862. In 1863, he accepted the appointment of Assistant Surgeon in the First Iowa Cavalry, and was promoted to be Surgeon of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and served during the was, and was mustered out at Houston, Texas. he then located in Cedar Bayou in that State, where he now remains in the practice of his profession.

Dr. A. W. Morgan, born in 1840 in Thorntown, m Ind. ; came with his parents to Iowa in 1846. Commenced the study of medicine in Davenport iii 1860; attended one course of lectures at Keokuk in 1863. Entered the service as Acting Assistant Surgeon of time Twelfth Illinois Cavalry ; became Assistant Surgeon and was promoted to be Surgeon of the Thirty-seventh Illinois Cavalry. Was mustered out at the close of' time war, and settled it De Witt. Received his degree in medicine from Keokuk in 1868.

Dr. D. C. McNeil, born in Springfield. Ill., in 1825, received his medical degree from the Pennsylvania Medical College. was appointed Hospital Steward and promoted to Assistant Surgeon in the Mexican war. He practiced in various places, and came to DeWitt in 1858, remaining there until 1862, when he was appointed Assistant Surgeon to the Sixteenth Iowa Regiment: in 1865, was transferred to the Second Regiment United States Volunteers, and was discharged at time close of time war ; now resides in Osceola, Mo.

M. R. Waggoner, born in Canada ; received his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College. Chicago, in 1870; located in De Witt, 1864.

Dr. XV. J. Bonsteel, born in Oswego, N. Y., in 1842; located in Grand Mound in 1875, where he now practices his profession ; one course of medical lectures in time Medical College of Ohio.

Dr. R. J. Hart, born in Indiana in 1843; reared in Camanche, Iowa; received his medical education in the Medical Department of the State University, graduating in 1876; located in Low Moor, where he is in successful practice.

Dr. A. M. Frost, born in Hinsdale, Mass., in 1807; educated in Woodstock Medical College, Vermont, in 1843; located in Wheatland in 1863. He is the oldest graduate in the county.

Dr. Thomas D. Gamble, born in Delaware in 1832; removed to Allegheny County, Penn., in 1836 ; came to Iowa in 1853: studied medicine and graduated at St. Louis Medical College in 1858 ; now in practice in Wheatland.

Dr. M. G. Sloan, born in Lyons in 1849: graduated in Rush Medical Col­lege in 1873 ; located at Charlotte in 1875, where he now resides.

Dr. George XV. Van Zant, born in New Hope, N. T, in 1833 ; graduated in medicine at Rush Medical College, in 1864; located in Charlotte in 1865.

Dr. Charles E. Lee, born in Clinton County, N. Y.; graduated in medicine at the Medical Department of the State University in 1873; located in Calmus, where he now practices his profession.

Dr. 0. E. Deeds, born in Lyons, Iowa, in 1843; received his medical degree from Bellevue Hospital College in 1876 ; located at Delmar in the practice of his profession.

Dr. William Fitzgerald, born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1853 ; received his degree in medicine at the Medical Department of the State University in 1876; located at DeWitt.

Dr. P. F. Ryan, born in Wilmington, Del.; came to Iowa with his parents in 1855; received his medical degree from the Iowa State University in 1877, and located in DeWitt.

Dr. A. Wetmore, born in ------, N. Y.; graduated in the Medical Department of the University of New York in 1848 ; practices his profession in Clinton.

Dr. A. H. Smith, received his medical degree from Chicago Medical College in 1872; entered into partnership with Dr. H. McCormack in 1873; still in practice.

SOURCE: Allen, L. P., History of Clinton County, Iowa, Containing A History of the County, it's Cities, Towns, Etc. and Biographical Sketches of Citizens, War Record of it's Volunteers in the late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Clinton County, Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c, &c., Illustrated. Chicago IL; Western Historical Company, 1879

 

 

 

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