Chapter XXIX
The Medical Profession* 

From the date of the first settlement made at the confluence of Mill Creek and Sandy Lick, in territory afterwards a part of Jefferson county, until 1817, there is no record of the location of any physician within the boundaries of the county, as ordained by the act of Assembly, dated March 26, 1804. Many years before the Barnetts migrated to this section of the State a band of Moravians had passed through the southern portion of the county, and were detained, on account of sickness among them, from which some died. Andrew Barnett, one of the original pioneers, died in the autumn of 1795, from what his companion, Scott, supposed to be an attack of cholera morbus. Scott was the only white man who witnessed the event, and, with the assistance of some friendly Indians, he buried him on the north bank of the mouth of Mill Creek. Andrew Barnett was one of the three who first set foot on Jefferson county soil with the intention of making a permanent settlement, and the first to die.

In 1810, Jefferson county only numbered 161 inhabitants. The atmosphere, balsamic from the exhalations of the pines, and hemlocks; the water, pure freestone, with all else conducing to health, it proved no tempting location for a physician, and, consequently, it was not until some time during the year 1817 that one is found permanently located for the practice of his profession within its confines. In this year a Dr. Newton settled on land now embracing the present site Summerville. Whence he came, or whither he went when he left the county some years after, is not known. It is supposed, however, that he came from the State of New York, or, possibly, from one of the New England States, as he was known among the early settlers as the "Yankee doctor". He distilled his own spirits of turpentine and essential oils, which, with spirits, now procurable at the distillery of Ludwig Long, were transformed into embrocations for bruises and sprains so incident to pioneer life. For other remedies he seems to have depended wholly on the indigenous materia medica, and through his skillful prescription and compounding of these, gained quite an enviable reputation as a physician Dr. Newton performed the first capital surgical operation ever performed in the county, in the amputation of Moses Knapp’s thigh, in 1819; and as this is the first operation of any kind that there is any record of, it demands a more extensive notice, even if this should somewhat detract from the reputation of Drs. Newton and Rankin, for the former was assisted by the latter, who then was located near the present site of Rimersburgh, Clarion county.

Knapp was Samuel Scott’s adopted son, and came to Port Barnett with his foster-father and Joseph Barnett when they returned in 1796. He was a millwright, and in taking out the timber for a mill he intended to build near the present site of Baxter station, his foot, or leg, was crushed by a falling tree. Dr. Newton was called to dress it, but on discovering the serious nature of the injury had a messenger dispatched after Dr. Rankin. On Rankin’s arrival, after consultation, an amputation was decided upon, but as neither of them had instruments a neighbor of Knapp’s was sent to Kittanning, to procure them. But as no instruments were to be had there, another messenger was sent to Indiana, on the same errand. This also proving a failure. the doctors proceeded to business with such as they could improvise. With what instrument the soft tissues were separated, is not known, but it is presumed with a hunting-knife, as, according to the testimony of eye witnesses, there were no flaps or other provisions for covering the bone, but, in their own language, "cut square off." They divided the bone with a carpenter’s saw, and, as it was ever afterwards exposed, Knapp always had a tender stump.

In 1819 Dr. John W. Jenks removed from Bucks county to the present site of Punxsutawney where, in company with others, he had built a cabin and commenced improvements the year before. Dr. Phineas Jenks was his preceptor, and he graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1816. He had about completed arrangements to go to Europe, for the purpose of prosecuting his medical studies in one of the universities there, but was dissuaded by his brother-in-law, Rev. David Barclay, who induced him to become one of a little colony of pioneers who intended settling in the wilds of Jefferson county, of which number himself was one.

As the taxable inhabitants only numbered 161 in 1821, two years after the doctor’s location in the county, and these, for the most part, widely separated, he could not depend on the practice of medicine for support, but was compelled to do as others, clear land, or turn his attention to other business, as the necessities of the settlers required. In 1824, in connection with Rev. David Barclay, he erected a grist-mill on Elk Run, a short distance above Punxsutawney, and in the fall of the same year was elected one of the first board of commissioners for the county; and in 1830, when full rights, powers, and privileges were bestowed upon the citizens of the county, Dr. Jenks was appointed by Governor Wolf to fill the position of associate judge, an office he continued to fill for the most part of the balance of his life.

Dr. Jenks married Mary Barclay, daughter of Rev. David Barclay; and Phineas W., David Barclay, Hon. William P., Mrs. Mary Gordon, wife of Hon. I.G. Gordon, now chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Captain James D., and Hon. George A., solicitor general of the United States, now residing at Washington City, D.C., were born of this marriage. He continued to practice medicine until his health failed. He died in 1850.

Sometime prior to the year 1825 Dr. R.K. Scott settled on land located about three miles west of Brookville, on the S. and W. turnpike, but being of a migrating disposition it is impossible to follow him in his different locations with any degree of certainty. He resided for a time in Brookville, also in Summerville, in Corsica, in Armagh, Indiana county, and somewhere in Ohio. Nothing is now known of his skill as a physician; but as he did not enjoy any considerable reputation, it is presumed not to have been great. Justice, however, may not have been done him, from the fact that when has cases began to assume a very serious phase, Dr. James Stewart, of Indiana, who had an extensive and well merited reputation, was sent for, and the consequence always seems to have been that Dr. Scott was discharged, his medicines pitched out of the house, followed by fierce denunciations and a torrent of expletives of such a character as to cause the very atmosphere to smell sulphurous for days afterwards. In 1847 or ‘48 Dr. Scott was living in Brookville, where his wife died, but where he died or at what age, is not known.

The site for the county seat was selected, by the commissioners appointed for that purpose, in the spring of 1830, at the confluence of the North Fork and Sandy Lick Creeks, and named Brookville; and in the following June lots were sold at auction, but not for more than a year after this did any physician locate in the place.

About September 1, 1831, Dr. Alvah Evans came to the place and opened an office for the practice of his profession. He is described as having been a young, handsome, portly man, riding what was considered a fast horse, in those days, of which he was very proud. It was he who induced Major William Rodgers to purchase a small stock of drugs, and keep them for sale with his other merchandise; but it was a stock, the major says, he was compelled in time to close out, as he had no custom for drugs outside the doctors, and they bought on credit and never paid their bills.

On examination of the account of Dr. Evans, in the day book of Major Rodgers, kept at the time, are found some items of interest in regard to the price of medicines then, such as, for example: November 16, 1831, To 1 lb. Dover’s powder, $1.50; 3 boxes Hooper’s pills, 56 1/4 cents; 4 oz. mercurial ointment, 43 ¾ cents; 1 pint of wine, 25 cents; 1 pint of brandy, 50 cents. Whisky retailed at 12 ½ cents per quart and was purchased at 16 cents per gallon, per bbl. He was also charged with a bottle of quinine (quantity not stated), 25 cents. It would be a matter of deeper interest to know how, and in what cases, he used it, as this alkaloid had only been discovered by Pelletier and Caventou, of France, in 1820, and in 1831 its physiological action was but little understood. It was probably administered as a simple tonic.

Dr. Evans only remained in Brookville four or five months, and from what State he came or whither he went on leaving Brookville, none seem to have known.

In the spring of 1832, about the 1st of May, Dr. C. G. M. Prime came to’ Brookville to practice law, but ‘as no reciprocity existed between the State from which he came and Pennsylvania, he could not be admitted to the bar for a year; therefore he resumed the practice of medicine. After a residence of one’ year he was admitted to the bar, but as long as he remained in the place he continued to practice medicine in connection with law; and, judging from the number of prosecutions instituted for Sabbath breaking, blaspheming, etc., in those days, his l~w practice was fully as remunerative as his medical.

Dr. Prime amputated the arm of Henry Vasbinder, whose hand had become gangrenous from the inflammation, caused by his thumb having been bitten by Isaac Mills, in a fight. In this operation he was assisted by another physician, but by whom can not now be ascertained. During his residence in. Brookville he married a Miss Wagley. He left the place on the night of April 3, 1835, going, it is said, to Mississippi, where he became a plantation physician, and was afterwards shot and killed at a card-table. He is described as a tall, spare man, of sandy complexion, and possessed of a reckless disposition.

Nearly two years before. Dr. Prime left, viz.: in June, 1833, Dr. George Darling came from Smethport, McKean county, and located in Brookville. He was born in the State of Vermont, and acquired his medical education there, but his first location as a physician was in some part of the State of New York; thence he removed to Smethport, and afterward to Brookville. How long he remained in any of these places is not known. His wife died in Smethport, and of his family he only’ brought his younger son, Paul, to Brookville; his eldest child, a daughter, became the wife of Dr. McCoy, of Smethport, and the elder son, Jedediah, afterwards made medicine his profession and practiced it many years in the same place. Two other children were born of this marriage, both dying in childhood. On July 31, 1835, Dr. Darling married Julia Clark, by whom he had three children, two dying in infancy, and Mary, the youngest of the three, afterwards became the wife of Henry Gray, of Brookville.

In July or August, 1843, Dr. Darling left Brookville and located somewhere in Beaver county, on the Ohio river, and afterwards in the State of Ohio; but how long he remained in either place is not known. After some years he returned to Smethport, where he continued to practice until the infirmities of age prohibited his further attention to the duties of his profession. After his retirement he again removed to Jefferson county, and lived on a farm four miles east of Brookville. His home, for the last few years of his life, was with his brother-in-law, Enoch Hall, but he spent the last few months of his life in the home of his daughter, Mrs. W.H. Gray, where he died November 16, 1869, aged eighty-three years.

Dr. Darling was a small man, of rather dark, sallow complexion, with a peculiarly calm, peaceful expression of countenance, polished in manner, fastidious in taste, always smelling strongly of medicines, and, as a physician, sustained a very fair reputation.

On the 23d day of June, 1835, Rev. Gara Bishop, M.D., removed, to Brookville from Clearfield, for the purpose of locating in the place as a physician, and also to act as a supply to the Presbyterian congregations of Brookville and Beech Woods, occasionally, also, preaching at Corsica, or rather, where Corsica is now situated.

On the 3d of April, 1838, the congregation at Brookville requested one-half of his time and Beech Woods one-fourth, thus making it necessary to preach two sermons per Sabbath for three Sabbaths out of four. He continued to act as supply for these congregations until the spring of 1840, when he was relieved of the Brookville congregation by their calling Rev. David Polk as regular pastor; but Dr. Bishop continued to act as supply to the congregation in Beech Woods, for some time after, and, when released from his duties as supply to the latter congregation, never again accepted a call as pastor, nor acted as supply, but turned his entire attention to the practice of medicine, only preaching when invited to fill the pulpit of another minister or to assist on communion seasons. Dr. Bishop continued to practice medicine until stricken with paralysis a few months before his death, and although he partially recovered was never able to resume the duties of his profession, dying October 17, 1852.

Dr. Gara Bishop was a large man, six feet or over in height, weighing not less than two hundred pounds, of fair complexion and commanding presence, dignified in manner, as became a divine, and of a genial, social disposition, enjoying a very fair reputation as a physician among the people of his time. He is said to have read medicine while in Philadelphia during the time not occupied by his ministerial duties, as the science was always interesting to him, never intending to make it a profession until after his removal to Clearfleld county. He married in Philadelphia, and from this union were born, William, who afterwards read medicine with his father and practiced for many years in Emlenton, Venango county, now deceased; Sarah, now wife of Edmund English; Samuel B., for many years a member of the Brookville bar, now dead; Jacob Janeway Jones, who also read medicine with his father, and afterwards practiced in Millville, Clarion county, Plumville, Indiana county, and Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, now dead; Emma, who married John Henderson; Ezra Stiles Ely, a member of the Brookville bar, killed’ accidentally, and Louisa, now the wife of J.H. Gates.

Sometime during the year 1836, Dr. Asaph M. Clark (eclectic), located in Brockwayville. He was the son of Philetus and Penelope Clark née Godard, born in the town of Granby, Hartford county, Conn., on the 22d day of March, 1808, and in the fall of the same year his parents removed to Russell, St. Lawrence county, N.Y., where they remained until the year 1819, when they emigrated to Pennsylvania, settling on the Little Toby, about four miles from Brockwayville, in Clearfield county then, but now in Elk. They were the first settlers in that section of the State, and Philetus was the first postmaster in all that region. Dr. Clark’s early educational advantages were limited, but being of an active, inquiring mind, he eagerly embraced those thrown in his way. On this subject he himself wrote in 1878: "My earliest instructions I received from my mother, of course. I cannot remember when I learned to read, but I can remember the old books to which I had access,— Noah Webster’s spelling book, the Bible, the English Reader, the Columbian Orator and the American Preceptor. Afterwards I read Foster’s Essays, Dodridge’s Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, Adams’s Arithmetic, and Locke on the Human Understanding. Still later, the New Edinburgh Encyclopedia, a voluminous and very scientific work, came into my hands. This opened up a new world of thought to me, and my hunger for learning was partly appeased, though not satisfied. It has always been a pursuit under difficulties; matches had not been invented, the flint, steel and spunk were the only means of getting fire; kerosene lamps were unknown; candles were costly, and money to buy them out of the question, but the pitch pine which grew on the mountain sides, some of which had fallen and rotted on the ground, left a supply of pitchy knots which, being split in pieces, would burn better than candles, give a greater light and cost nothing."

He was married, March 6, 1831, to Miss R.M. Nichols, and commenced shortly afterwards to read medicine under his father-in-law, Dr. Jonathan Nichols, who was also a Baptist minister.

Dr. Clark graduated from the Eclectic Institute, Cincinnati, O., February 25, 1851. About January 1, 1858, he removed to Brookville, where he acquired an extensive practice, but returned to Brockwayville in the fall of 1863, continuing the practice of medicine till within a few days of his death, which occurred in 1884.

Dr. Clark was a man of very fair ability, well versed in the literature of the eclectic system of medicine, which he practiced, as, also in general literature; of great kindness of heart, so great, indeed, that his sympathies sometimes interfered with his duties as a physician, and almost precluded him entirely from the practice of surgery.

Dr. James Dowling was born in Mercer county, Pa., October 19, 1806, and read medicine under the tuition of Dr. Crosett, of Kinsman, Ohio; married Catherine Calvin, of Mercer county, October 10, 1831. He removed to Jefferson county in 1841, and located at New Prospect, afterwards known as Dowlingville, now Baxter, where he married Sarah Lucas, of Clover township, December 7, 1842, his first wife having died some years before his removal to Jefferson. In 1843 he removed to Brookville, and was elected to the Legislature in 1844, and was granted a diploma from the Pennsylvania Medical College March 4, 1845.

By the first marriage he had five children— Maggie, Mary, John C., Mathew, and James— and with the exception of Mathew, who is now living in Kentucky, all are dead. Captain John C., of Company B, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, was killed at Fair Oaks, and Sergeant James, of the same company and regiment, at the battle of the Wilderness. Mary married Dr. J.G. Simons, and died in Mercer county. By the second marriage there were born four sons and two daughters, all of whom are dead except William L., now residing in Corsica.

For many years Dr. James Dowling’s practice was very extensive, and probably no physician who ever located in the county enjoyed so great a reputation as he, at one time. His manner was social and agreeable; careful in his dress and personal appearance; attentive to his patients, and kind to the poor. In the fall of 1860 he started on a tour through the counties of Elk, Clearfield, and several places in the eastern part of the State, and had arrived at Luthersburg, Clearfield county, on his return, when he was taken seriously sick. A messenger was dispatched to Brookville for his brother, Dr. Hugh Dowling, but before his arrival Dr. Dowling had ceased to breath. His death occurred on December 24, 1860.

Dr. Hugh A. Calvin, son of John and Nancy Calvin, was born in Crawford county, Pa., September 24, 1814; read medicine with Dr. James Dowling, who was then practicing in Jamestown, Crawford county, and after finishing his course, located in Hartstown, same county. The date of his removal to Jefferson is not exactly known, but it was probably in 1841 or 1842, for he entered into a partnership with Dr. Dowling, whose brother-in-law he was, while Dowling was practicing in Dowlingville. Dr. Calvin remained ih Dowlingville but a short time, returning to Hartstown, where he resumed his practice, and continued in it for several years, when he again removed to Jefferson county, and located in Brookville. The date of this, his second location in the .county, cannot be definitely determined, but it is supposed to have been in 1850 or 1851. He married Susan Lucas, who bore him five children, all of whom are dead. He died March 11, 1853.

Dr. Calvin’s reputation as a physician was fair. He was a man of medium height, delicate physique, and in manner quiet and unobtrusive.

Dr. Stewart H. Whitehill located in Summerville in 1845. He was the third son of Stewart H. Whitehill, of Fayette county, Pa., a farmer and stock holder in the Monongahela Navigation Company. His mother was a daughter of Judge Boyd, of the same county. He was born in 1821, near Connellsville, Fayette county; was educated in Uniontown, and read medicine with Dr. James Gaston, who gave him a certificate dated May 8, 1841, after which he practiced in Westmoreland county until 1845, when he came to Troy (Summerville). On December 30, he married Lavina J., eldest daughter of Darius Carrier, from which union were born W.W. Whitehill, now of Youngsville, Warren county, and Stewart H. Whitehill, esq., of Brookville, Pa. Dr. Whitehill left the county in 1850, and is now dead, but the date of his decease, with after history, is not known. Nothing reliable can be gotten concerning his ability as a physician, personal; appearance, etc.

Dr. Hugh Dowling was born in Jamestown, Mercer county, Pa., January 17, 1819; came to Brookville in 1844 to read medicine under the supervision of his brother, Dr. James, and after taking a course of lectures at Cleveland Medical College, commenced the practice of medicine with his brother in 1847. He married Sarah Kinsman, of Trumbull county, Ohio, August 12, 1848, but from this union no children were born. Dr. Hugh Dowling was engaged continuously in the practice of medicine from the year 1847 until within a few months of his death, when his health became so seriously impaired as to preclude its further pursuit. He died from dropsy, dependent on a valvular lesion of the heart, on the 26th day of December, 1875.

Probably no physician ever practiced medicine within the confines of the county so much misunderstood and so little appreciated as was Dr. Hugh Dowling. He was a man of singularly clear judgment and unquestionable skill, yet frequently inattentive to his patients; kind and gentle with persons he loved; taciturn, or harsh and irritable with those he disliked; cautious and conservative almost to a fault when in council, yet, once having expressed an opinion, he maintained it to the verge of obstinacy. In personal appearance he was about five feet ten inches in height, fair complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, with a rather pleasing expression of countenance, with a strong tendency to gravity.

Dr. Mark Rodgers came to Corsica in 1847, from Henry county, Mo., where he had been engaged in the practice of medicine from 1844. He attended a course of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania during the winter of 1856—7. Before this Dr. Rodgers had engaged extensively in other business, such as mercantile, droving, etc., but continued to practice until 1863, when he removed to Brookville. He did not resume the practice of medicine after his removal, but turned his entire attention to merchandising, in which he was very successful, until within a few weeks of his death, which occurred August 10, 1883.

Dr. Rodgers was born in Kittanning, Armstrong county, Pa., and was a hatter by trade, having worked several years with his father before reading medicine. He was a man of medium height, heavy, in proportion, black hair, inclined to curl; hazel eyes; apparently very grave yet social in his manner, and abounding in genuine humor; kind, patient, and of remarkably even temper, but few persons ever having seen him show any manifestation of anger. For many years before his death he had been an elder of the Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Charles Wood (irregular) was born at Rattlesnake Tavern, in Centre county, Pa., in 1815; came to Punxsutawney about 1837; studied medicine awhile with Dr. Young, and commenced to practice in Punxsutawney about 1845. In 1850 he went to California; returned the next year and continued to practice until his death, which occurred August 30, 1865.

Rev. Charles P. Cummins, M.D., was the son of John and Mary Cummins née Cooper, and was born near Strausburgh, Franklin county, Pa., in 1803. He was educated at Cannonsburgh; read medicine with Dr. Hunter, of Strausburgh, and attended medical lectures at Jefferson College, Philadelphia. He located at Fayetteville, Franklin county, where he practiced several years. During his residence in Fayetteville he was converted, and felt it his duty to preach the gospel. After passing the usual theological course, he was ordained and preached for eight or ten years to the congregation of Dickinson Church, near Carlisle, Pa. This was his first charge, and during the time, he continued the practice of medicine. He was then called to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he remained as a pastor for two years; thence he returned to Pennsylvania to take charge of a congregation at Waynesboro, but remained only one year, as he received a call from the Presbyterian congregations of Brookville and Corsica, which he accepted February 26, 1847. In September, 1850, he, in connection with K.L. Blood, purchased the drug store of David Deering; but as business increased, the congregations became dissatisfied, thinking that secular affairs too much distracted his mind from his duties as pastor, and consequently the partnership was dissolved in 1854.

On Thanksgiving day, November, 1856, Dr. Cummins amputated Judge Joseph Henderson’s leg above the knee, which operation was performed in presence of Drs. James Ross, of Clarion, James Dowling, Hugh Dowling, George Watt, A.P. Heichhold, J.G. Simons, and David Elliott, of Brookville, and A.M. Clark, of Brockwayville. Dr. Cummins severed his pastoral relations with the church in Brookville, September, 1861, and removed to Beaver, Beaver county, where he again engaged in the practice of medicine as a profession, in connection with the drug business. He did not remain long in Beaver, removing to Allegheny City, where he continued the practice of medicine and also his drug business. The active duties of a busy practitioner proved too arduous, his health failed, and he died March 23, 1865.

While residing in Brookville, although not making medicine a profession, he was considered a man of excellent judgment, and very frequently called as counsel by other physicians. He was a man of very fine social qualities, whose Christian character was not questioned, and, who filled the position of pastor very acceptably for many years.

Dr. Cummins was a man of medium size, light hair, blue eyes and rather sallow complexion, of pleasing expression, and when amused his face beamed with genuine good humor.

In the year 1848, Dr. Henry Wadsworth located in Brookville. He was born in county Meath, Ireland, but it is thought came here from Canada. In 1851 he married Rebecca McGrew, and left Brookville to locate in Philadelphia, on Master street, afterwards removing to 1753 Frankford avenue. He was connected with a hospital in the city during the War of the Rebellion, and went to Paris in 1885. It is not known if he yet lives. He sustained an excellent reputation as a physician; a small, slight man of dark complexion, very dark hair, large dark eyes, and quick in movement.

Dr. Andrew Jackson Johnson, was born in Bellefonte, Centre county, September 23, 1820. He studied medicine, for at least part of his course, with Dr. McCoy, of Bellefonte, and was for a while assistant to Dr. Harris, in a drug store in the same place; probably finishing his course of reading with him. He then went to Lock Haven, where he entered a drug store as a partner of a Mr. Wagoner, and during the winter of 1847 and 1848 attended one of the medical colleges in Philadelphia. Some time after the close of the session, in the year 1848, he located in Punxsutawney, where he continued to practice medicine in connection with the sale of drugs until his death, July 17, 1863.

Dr. William Altman was born in Indiana, Indiana county, October 20, 1825; read medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. James M. Stewart, of Indiana. First located at Armagh, Indiana county, where he remained from October, 1847, to July, 1848, when he removed to Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, and continued the practice there until July 1, 1857, when he removed to

Oskaloosa, Mahaska county, Iowa, and remained there till June 1, 1858, when he returned to Punxsutawney, and continued to practice until December, 1862. On December 17, 1862, he was commissioned assistant surgeon, and was in charge of the Twenty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, until May, 1863, when he received a commission as surgeon of same regiment, remaining as such until the close of the war in 1865. He was elected associate judge for Jefferson county and served in that position from 1870 till 1875. He was elected to serve in the State Legislature for the years 1885 and 1886, and reelected for the years 1887 and 1888. He is medical examiner for several life insurance companies, and has also held a number of municipal offices in Punxsutawney. Dr. Altman is a graduate from Jefferson Medical College, class of 1853.

About the same year, 1848, Dr. James Watt located in Brookville. He was born nearly opposite Tarentun, on the Allegheny River, in Westmoreland county. Nothing is now known of the date of his birth, parentage, nor where, when, nor with whom he studied. Neither is it known whether he had practiced before his location here or not. He was in Brookville only four or five years, as his health failed him, and he returned to the place of his nativity, where he died sometime afterwards of consumption. He was a tall, spare man, of delicate physique and sallow complexion, a man of fine moral character, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was considered a good physician.

About a year after the location of Dr. James Watt in Brookville, Dr. George, his brother came to the place. He had been lumbering on a tract of land the brothers owned in partnership, near Reynoldsville, but came to the county from Philadelphia, where he had previously been engaged in the practice of medicine. He came to Brookville to assist his brother James in some emergency, and as he was a man of unquestionable skill, especially in surgery, and liked the place, he never returned to his lumber camp, but continued to practice; the delicate condition of his brother’s health rendering this course the more imperative. He read medicine in Pittsburgh, but with whom is not now known. He was never married, and the last few years of his life in Brookville, was deplorable. He contracted debts, judgments were entered against him, and to satisfy these his library, instruments, horse, and everything he possessed were sold. He became very dissipated; his health failed, and for the last few months he became an object of charity. His condition coming to the knowledge of his friends, he was taken to the place of his nativity, where he died in the fall or early winter of 1858. Dr. George Watt was a large man, fully six feet in height, and weighing two hundred pounds or more; of ruddy complexion, large gray eyes which, when surprised, assumed a peculiar stare; polite in is demeanor, affable and agreeable in manner, of fine literary attainments and great skill.

Dr. Thomas Jefferson Bennett (Thompsonian), was born in Livingston county, N.Y.; studied with his father, who had acquired considerable reputation in the practice of the Thompsonian system, especially in the treatment of dysentery, and as that disease prevailed extensively in the county during the summer and early autumn of the year 1850, "Old Dr. Bennett," as he was called, came to Brookville to treat it. He came in August, and as the disease had proved very fatal, on the onset of the epidemic, he soon had more business than he could attend to a considerable part of his time being taken up with the pulverization of his roots and herbs. To assist him, he sent for his son, T. Jefferson, who was then at Richardsville, and when he left in October, his son remained to take charge of some patients not fully recovered. Dr. T.J. Bennett has engaged continuously in the practice of medicine since 1850, and is, consequently, the oldest practitioner in Brookville. He has been twice married; in 1854, to a daughter of William Richards, of Richardsville, and in 1862, to Mrs. James Moore, of Brookville.

Dr. H.R. Bryant located in Summerville in 1850 and continued to practice until 1868 or 1869, when he returned to the State of New York. He was postmaster for several years at Summerville.

Dr. William C. Niver (eclectic), is the son of William and Caziah Niver, nee Utter, and was born in Friendship, Allegany county, N.Y., July 10, 1823. He read medicine with Dr. E.H. Williard. Finishing his course in 1849 he came to Ridgway, Elk county, where he taught school and practiced until May 23, 1852, when he came to Jefferson county, locating in Brockwayville. He was married August 10, 1854, to Semiramis M. Brown, who bore him six children. Dr. Niver has been engaged in the continuous practice from 1852 to the present time.

On the 8th day of April, 1852, Dr. Reed Bracken Brown located in Summerville. He was the son of John and Mary Brown, and born at Glade Mill, Butler county, November 26, 1828; read medicine with Drs. McQuaide and Donnell, at Etna, Pa., and practiced a year there prior to his removal to Jefferson county; graduated from Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, March 11, 1852; married Susan Lavely, May 25, 1854; was elected to Legislature to represent the county for the years 1875 and 1876; appointed surgeon of the Low Grade Division A.V. Railroad in May, 1873, which position he has held ever since; appointed one of the board of pension examining surgeons August, 1884, and is now president of the board. Dr. R.B. Brown has engaged continuously in the practice of medicine, the term in Legislature excepted, since the spring of 1852. He was elected treasurer of Jefferson County Medical Society in October, 1877, and re-elected annually since; was one of the first delegates to represent the County Medical Society in that of the State in 1878; was also delegate from the Medical Society of Pennsylvania to the American Medical Association, and has consequently been a member of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania since 1878, and of the American Medical Association since 1880.

Dr. David McClay was born in Union county, and came to Brookville to locate as a physician in 1852 or ‘53. He remained only a year or two on account of failing health, and left Brookville with the intention of locating in one of the southern States— it is thought Texas. Of Dr. McClay nothing further can be learned.

Dr. Benjamin Franklin Miller was born at Stone Valley, Huntingdon county, April 16, 1830; received his literary education at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg; read medicine with his brother, Dr. Mathew Miller, at McAlavey’s Fort; graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, March 9, 1853; located in Brookville in May, 1853; married Jane Clark December 19, 1854, and immediately after removed to Fairmount, Marion county, Va., to take the practice of Dr. Stewart, his cousin. A few weeks after his arrival in Fairmount he was attacked with typhoid fever, which was then prevalent there, and died January 29, 1855. Of Dr. Miller’s ability as a physician, nothing can be learned. He was not long enough in the county to establish much of a reputation, had he been even very skillful, but he is remembered as a tall, handsome, quiet, well clad man of easy, graceful manner.

Dr. Alexander Peter Heichhold was the son of John and Susan Heichhold and born at Myerstown, Lebanon county, November 10, 1825. His ancestors in either parent’s family were among the earliest German settlers in the Tulpehocken Valley, their settlement there dating back long before the Revolutionary War. His educational advantages were limited, being confined to those of a "subscription school," which he attended between the ages of seven and twelve years, and nine months at the Myerstown Academy after he was seventeen years old. In 1841 he was apprenticed to a harness maker, but became dissatisfied and was released at the expiration of eighteen months’ service.

In 1845 he came to Kittanning and accepted a position as a clerk in a dry goods store owned by his brother. In 1846 he entered the office of Dr. George Goodhart, of Rural Valley, as a student, and during the following winter attended a course of lectures at the medical department of the Western Reserve University Cleveland, O., and on returning to Kittanning became a student of Dr. Josiah E. Stevenson, with whom he remained until April, 1848, when he returned to Cleveland, and taking a summer and winter course, graduated from that college on February 21, 1849. On his return to Kittanning he was offered, and accepted a partnership with his preceptor, Dr. Stevenson.

On the 13th day of June, 1850, he married Rachel Yocome, but her predisposition to pulmonary disease caused the doctor to leave Kittanning in 1852, and locate in Ringgold, Jefferson county, he being of the opinion that a pine region might prove beneficial to her. He remained in Ringgold until late in 1854, when he removed to Brookville and entered into partnership with Dr. Hugh Dowling. Having taken a very active part in the enlistment of volunteers to fill the call of the president for 75,000 men for three months service, and also for men for Captain A.A. McKnight’s regiment, which he was recruiting after the expiration of his three months service, in October, 1861, he appeared at Harrisburg for examination to enter the medical staff of the army, and was one of thirty out of two hundred and fifty who passed. He was immediately appointed surgeon with the rank of major, and assigned to the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, of which Captain McKnight had become colonel. He served in that regiment during the winter of 1861 and ‘62, and participated in the Peninsular Campaign under McClellan, and when his army reached Harrison’s Landing Dr. Heichhold was the only surgeon in the brigade, some having deserted, while others were sick. For his conduct in this campaign honorable mention was made of him by Colonel McKnight and Colonel Alexander Hays in their reports. At Fair Oaks he helped to organize about fifteen hundred stragglers, and led one wing of them into the fight. He was also in the Bull Run campaign under Pope. In September, 1862, in consequence of a misunderstanding with General Robinson, who commanded the brigade, concerning the location of the regimental hospital he resigned. After remaining at home for three months he again entered the army as assistant surgeon of the United States army and was stationed at Presbyterian Church hospital, Georgetown, D.C., and at Lincoln hospital, Washington, D.C., for several months, and then was ordered to Camp Convalescent, where, at the request of the entire delegation in Congress from Pennsylvania, he was assigned to the Pennsylvania Division. He remained here nine months, receiving the highest praise from the commandant of the camp and the surgeon-in- chief.

The doctor was an ultra Republican, and an early advocate for the enlistment of colored troops. It is not singular, therefore, that a commission was sent him by Secretary Stanton, at Camp Convalescent, as surgeon of the Eighth Regiment, United States Colored Troops, with orders to report at Camp William Penn, near Philadelphia. In January, 1864, he accompanied this regiment to Hilton Head, S.C., and thence to Florida, where he remained till August, when he came with his regiment to Bermuda Hundred, Va., and was assigned to the Third Division of the Tenth Army Corps, being made the chief medical officer of the brigade, and when the Twenty-fifth Army Corps was organized he became the surgeon-in-chief on the staff of General William Birney, who commanded the Second Division of that corps. He held this position until mustered out at Brownsville, Tex., November 10, 1865.

Dr. Heichhold served through all the operations of the army against Richmond, and was present at the surrender of Lee. After the surrender he accompanied his division— then commanded by General C.R.H. Jackson, who had superseded General Birney— to the Rio Grande, where the entire Twenty-fifth Corps had been ordered to enforce the Monroe doctrine against Maximillian, in Mexico.

After the close of his military service, he resumed the practice of medicine in Brookville, in which he continued until July, 1869, when he was appointed by Secretary Boutwell, a special agent of the U.S. Treasury Department, and remained connected with that department until the close of President Arthur’s administration, a period of nearly sixteen years, after which he again resumed the practice of medicine, and located at Reynoldsville. He was also appointed postmaster at Brookville, by President Lincoln, in the spring of 1861.

Dr. Samuel G. Miller removed from Armstrong or Indiana county, to Ringgold, in the autumn of 1854. He read medicine with Dr. Ferguson, at Dayton, Armstrong county. He remained two or three years, and then located somewhere in Cambria county. The last information had of him was, that he had entered the ministry of the M.E. Church, and was preaching the Gospel.

In the spring of 1855 Dr. David Elliott located in Brookville. He was a son of David: Elliott, D.D., President of the Western Pennsylvania Theological Seminary. Dr. Elliott remained until 1858, when he received an appointment in the Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. How long he retained this is not known, but probably, during the remainder of Mr. Buchanan’s administration. He was connected with the army in some capacity, not known, during the Rebellion, and returned to Brookville in the fall of 1865 or 1866, where he resumed the practice of his profession. He died of pneumonia, at Brookville, in 1868.

In the spring of 1855, also, came Dr. James A. McFadden, to Brookville, who entered the office of Dr. George Watt as a partner. This partnership existed about one year, when he was employed by K.L. Blood to take charge of his drug store in Brookville. Dr. McFadden married Eliza C. Marlin, in June, 1854. He left Brookville in 1858, and practiced for some time at the mouth of Mahoning, and at Elderton, Armstrong county, after which he located at Buena Vista, Allegheny county, where he was at the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion. He was appointed assistant-surgeon of the Sixty-third Regiment P.V., August I, 1861, and resigned June 17, 1862. Was appointed assistant-surgeon of the Sixty-first Regiment P.V., April 1, 1863, and mustered out at expiration of term, September 7, 1864. He died about 1870.

In March or April, 1856, Dr. J.G. Simons, from Hartstown, Crawford county, located in Brookville, entering into partnership with his father-in-law, Dr. James Dowling. He had married Mary Dowling, February 26, 1856, and remained until 1859 or 1860, when he returned to Hartstown, and died of hemorrhage from the division of the sublingual artery caused by his teeth in a fall. Dr. Simons was considered a man of fair skill.

In 1856 a Dr. Kelley (irregular) located in Corsica, and practiced a year or more and then left, and returned again in 1859, and practiced for a short time. But little is known of him.

About the year 1856 Dr. James N. Beck located at Rockdale Mills, and remained a few years. Nothing is known of him further.

Dr. William James McKnight (electic), was the son of Alexander and Mary McKnight née Thompson. He was born May 6, 1836; studied medicine with Dr. A.M. Clark, of Brockwayville; attended a course of lectures at the Electic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, during the winter of 1856 and 1857. Commenced the practice of medicine in Brookville in the spring of 1857, and continued to practice there until 1859, when he removed to Brockwayville, having prior to his removal married Penelope, a daughter of Dr. A.M. Clark. At Brockwayville he entered into partnership with Dr. William C. Niver, and remained four years, when he returned to Brookville some time during the autumn of 1863, where he has remained since.

In January, 1864, he opened a drug store. He was appointed by Governor Curtin examining surgeon for the county in 1862, and was also examining surgeon for pensions for several years. In 1869 he graduated from the University of Medicine and Surgery at Philadelphia. He was elected to represent Indiana and Jefferson counties in the Pennsylvania Senate in 1850, and renominated in 1884, but defeated by George W. Hood, of Indiana, an independent candidate. In March, 1884, he graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.

Dr. John Calvin Dowling was a son of Dr. James Dowling, and was born in Jamestown, Mercer county, June 7, 1835, and came to Jefferson county in early childhood, when his father removed from Jamestown to New Prospect (now Baxter), Jefferson county, in 1841. Having received a common school education, he was a student for one year or more at the Brookville Academy, and, also at Annapolis, Md., one year, where he had been appointed a cadet at the U.S. Naval Academy. He did not remain at the latter school longer, as he had resolved to follow his father’s profession in consequence of which, he entered his father’s office in 1854, and in 1857 entered into partnership with Dr. James Stewart, Greenville, Clarion county, where he continued to practice until April, 1861, when he returned to Brookville, and rendered very material service to Captains McKnight and Wise, in recruiting volunteers for three months military service to fill the first call of President Lincoln for volunteers to crush the Rebellion that had been inaugurated by the attack on Fort Sumter. On the organization of Company B, Eighth Regiment, he was chosen first lieutenant, and afterwards, when Captain Wise was appointed to the Regular Army, Lieutenant Dowling had charge of the company until the expiration of its term of service.

On his return from the three months service, he entered with increased energy into the enlistment of volunteers for the regiment being recruited by Captain A.A. McKnight, for three years service. On the organization of the regiment— the famous One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers— he was chosen captain of Company B. The military history of Dr. John Dowling has already been given in the history of his regiment in the preceding chapter of this volume.

When the sad intelligence reached his home of the death of this gallant officer and those who fell with him on that fatal field, and who were Brookville’s first offerings to the cause of freedom, the flags were draped in mourning, and suspended at half mast, and gloom and sorrow pervaded the entire community. Dr. John C. Dowling was a young man of very agreeable manner, of very fair education, and fine social qualities. He was loved and respected by those who knew him, but his professional life was too short to acquire a reputation as a physician.

Dr. Charles M. Matson was the son of James C. and Harriet Matson née Potter; born July 22, 1833; read medicine with Drs. Dowling and Heichhold; married Alice Johnson, only child of David S. and Naamah Johnson, September 3, 1857; attended lectures at Cleveland Medical College; located in Corsica April 1, 1858, as a partner of Dr. Mark Rodgers, and remained until April I, 1859, when he engaged in other business till December, 1862, when he entered the office of Dr. John Mechling, of Brookville, as his assistant. In February, 1863, he entered into an equal partnership with Dr. Mechling, and in March, same year, bought the doctor out but continued the partnership until Dr. M. could find a location suiting him better. They continued together until May 1, 1863, when Dr. Mechling left to report to Colonel H.S. Campbell, at his headquarters, Waterford, Erie county, he having been appointed surgeon of the board of enrollment for the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania, April 21, 1863. Dr. Matson continued the practice established by Dr. Mechling’s energy and skill till May 1, 1864, when he was ordered to report for duty, having been appointed surgeon to succeed Dr. Mechling, who resigned, to take effect April 21, 1864. This position he held until June 15, 1865, when he was honorably discharged by Edwin M. Stanton, secretary of war. During this period of the war the duties of medical examiner were very arduous, and the number of physical examinations made by Dr. Matson— volunteers, substitutes, drafted men, and of those seeking to be stricken from the enrollment list on account of physical disability to bear arms, was nearly fifteen thousand; probably about three thousand of these were re-examinations.

On October 27, 1864, he married Amanda Truby, his wife having died May 2, 1863. After his discharge Dr. Matson resumed the practice of medicine in Brookville, in which he has been engaged since.

He was instrumental in the organization of the Jefferson County Medical Society in 1877, and was elected its first president; was one of the first three delegates to the State Medical Society, and the first delegate to the American Medical Association in 1878.

Dr. John Mechling was born near New Washington, Butler county, Pa., in 1832; received a liberal education, and for some time before reading medicine was principal of an academy in the State of Indiana; read, medicine with Dr. McJunkin, of Butler, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in March, 1859, locating in Brookville in April of same year. During the first year of his residence in Brookville he acquired a very extensive practice, which he continued to maintain until May 1, 1863, when he left the place to assume the duties of examining surgeon at the provost marshal’s headquarters, Waterford, he having been appointed to that position on the 21st day of the previous month. He continued in this office until April 21, 1864, when he resigned. After his resignation he went to Denver, Col., and remained until the next fall, when the threatening attitude of the Indians caused many of the inhabitants of Denver to leave for other places of greater safety. He arrived at Salt Lake City and opened an office there, where he remained until the next spring, when he returned via San Francisco and Panama to Brookville. He then entered the office of Andrews & Conrad, attorneys at law, as a student; attended the Law Department of the University of Albany, graduating in the spring of 1868. He then returned to Denver to engage in the practice of law, but in time returned to the practice of medicine. He married Mary H. Jenks, daughter of the late D.B. Jenks, esq., in November, 1864, and died in Gunnison, Col., about 1880.

Taking in consideration the short time Dr. Mechling remained in Brookville, he had acquired a wonderfully extensive practice. He was prompt, energetic, agreeable, and skillful; six feet two inches in height, slender, with dark hair, and beard covering his breast; gray eyes, well dressed, gentle, kind, yet somewhat brusque. He was very popular with the masses, and held in high esteem by the professional fraternity.

Dr. William H. Reynolds (eclectic) was born in Franklin county, New York; read medicine with Dr. A.M. Clark, at Brockwayville; located in Reynoldsville in 1859, where, in connection with other business, he has been engaged in the practice of medicine ever since.

Dr. John McConnell Jones, son of Isaac and Jane Jones, née Wilson, was born near Strattanville, Clarion county, May 22, 1833. Isaac Jones was one of the first settlers of Jefferson county, having come with his parents from Centre county, in 1802. John McC. attended Elder’s Ridge Academy for two years, and was a student for some time at Washington College; read medicine under Dr. James Ross, of Clarion; attended medical lectures at Jefferson College, Philadelphia; commenced the practice of medicine in Perrysville, where he remained about one year, and in the year 1859 removed to Corsica; married a daughter of Samuel Frampton, late of Clarion county, and continued to practice until November, 1863, when he was attacked by typhoid fever, and died on the 24th of that month in Corsica.

During the decade ending with the year 1859 several other doctors were engaged in the practice of medicine in the county, of whom no reliable data can be procured. Dr. Joseph Shields, it is thought, located in Perrysville about 1852, where he practiced many years, and then removed to Punxsutawney, where he yet resides engaged in the practice of medicine, in connection with the sale of drugs and general merchandise. Dr. J.J.J. Bishop, a son of Dr. Gara Bishop, with whom he read, also located in the county, and practiced for a few years at Punxsutawney.

Dr. Joseph Woods Sharp was born December 28, 1836, at Shelocta, Indiana county; read medicine with Dr. Joseph Shields, of Perrysville, Jefferson county; entered into partnership with his preceptor in 1861, whose interest he afterward purchased; continued the practice until 1869, when he removed to Dayton, Armstrong county, where he now resides. He married Mary Ann Walker, December 28, 1859.

Rev. Dr. Robert Smith Hunt (homeopathist), son of George and Mary Hunt, née Cooper, was born June 10, 1828, at New Alexandria, Westmoreland county; received a liberal education, commencing with that afforded by the common school, supplementing it by a course at Elder’s Academy, near Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland county, and nearly three years in Allegheny College, Meadville.

He entered the ministry of the Baptist denomination and had charge of a congregation for some time in Armstrong county. He read medicine with Dr. Simkins, of Slate Lick, same county, and attended a course of lectures at the Western Homoeopathic College, Cleveland, O., in the winter of 1856—7; commenced to practice at Richardsville, Jefferson county, in 1860, where he practiced medicine and preached to the Baptist congregation there until the spring of 1863, when he removed to Brookville. In 1859 he married Louisiana M. Blood, who died in 1881. He graduated from the Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery (eclectic) February 15, 1868; also received certificates from the electropathic institution at Philadelphia, and Dr. Horatio R. Storer, of Boston. He was for several years a member of the Board of Pension Examiners for Jefferson county. A few years ago Dr. Hunt married Mrs. Rachel Steck, née McCreight.

Dr. John M. Cummins, the son of Rev. C.P. Cummins, M.D., and Margaret Cummins, was born at Dickinson, Cumberland county, Pa.; read medicine with his father, and graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College in the spring of 1862; entered into a partnership with Dr. John Mechling same spring, which was mutually dissolved the following autumn to permit Dr. Cummins to go to assist his father in his practice in Beaver. He remained in Beaver but a short time, as he was appointed surgeon to a volunteer regiment in the field, and continued as such till 1864, when he returned and located in Allegheny City, where he continues in the practice of medicine.

Dr. Samuel C. Allison was born December 30, 1830, near Greenville, Clarion county; read medicine with Dr. John Mechling, at Brookville; attended a course of lectures during the winter of 1860—61; located in Clarion, in December, 1861; removed to Punxsutawney in February, 1863; about the same time married Jane Craig, a daughter of Samuel Craig, of Brookville; removed to Marchand, Indiana county, October, 1865; attended a second course of lectures at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, during the winter of 1866—7; graduated 1867; removed to Brookville in the fall of 1869, and returned to Punxsutawney in the fall of 1870, where he has been continuously engaged in the practice of medicine ever since.

Dr. John Thompson, the son of Jonathan and Catharine Thompson, née King, was born at Tyrone Forge, now Tyrone, Huntingdon county, January 1, 1835. His father removed to Clarion county when the subject of this sketch was ten years of age, settling near Strattanville. Here he attended school until his sixteenth year, when he worked for about a year for his father and brother Jesse, who were millwrights. When eighteen years old he was employed as clerk for Isaac Jones & Sons, Greenville, Clarion county, and afterwards by Reynolds & Evans, with whom he continued for three years, applying himself assiduously, during his leisure hours, to the acquisition of knowledge through every channel presenting itself. At the end of the time specified he gave up his position with Reynolds & Evans and went to St. Louis, Mo., where he had a brother residing, for the purpose of reading medicine under Professor E.H. Gregory, visiting physician to Charity Hospital and demonstrator of anatomy in the St. Louis Medical College. During the period of his student life he was Dr. Gregory’s daily attendant in his hospital visits, and graduated from this college in the spring of 1860, after which he was appointed assistant physician to the City Hospital by the Board of Health of St. Louis, where he remained six months, the last of which he had entire control of the hospital on account of the absence of Dr. Corning, who was brigade surgeon, and left with the brigade during the border troubles between Kansas and Missouri. At the end of a month Dr. Corning, with a part of the State troops, returned, and Dr. Thompson was appointed surgeon to those remaining as guards of the border. He held this position till the outbreak of the Rebellion, when the governor of Missouri ordered the return of the State troops to Camp Jackson, St. Louis, where Dr. Thompson, with the rebel troops to the number of about five thousand, were captured by General Lyon and paroled at the St. Louis Arsenal. After his parole the doctor returned home to Greenville, Clarion county, where he entered into partnership in the practice of medicine with Dr. James Stewart, of that place, which continued for two and a half years. He married Mary A. Rifenberic, of Greenville, July 30, 1861, and located in Corsica, Jefferson county, January 5, 1864, where he has continued in the practice of his profession ever since.

Dr. Barnabas Sweeny was the son of Barnabas and Margaret Sweeny, born January 8, 1826, near Tarentum, Allegheny county; read medicine first year with Dr. James L. Taylor, and the two succeeding years with Dr. James Stewart, both of Indiana; married Lena Ann Armstrong, daughter of Colonel Thomas Armstrong, of Elderton, Armstrong county, October 1, 1850, who lived but six months. Some time after the death of his first wife he married Elizabeth W. Robinson. He located first by taking charge of Dr. Thomas Allison’s practice, in Middletown, now Elderton, from September 9, 1849, to May 20, 1850. He then located in Smicksburgh, Indiana county, in partnership with Dr. Sims, which partnership lasted about one year, after which he continued to practice there until October, 1864, when he removed to Brookville, where he continued to practice until April 1, 1883, when he removed to Du Bois, Clearfield county, where he has been engaged in the practice of medicine since.

Some time during the year 1864 Dr. William Meredeth Bruce Gibson 1ocated in Reynoldsville. He was born in Clarion county, and read medicine with Dr. R.B. Brown, of Summerville. After practicing a few years in Reynoldsville he removed to Rockdale Mills, where he remained a few years, returning to Reynoldsville in 1871 or 1872, where he has continued to practice medicine since. Dr. Gibson has been one of the surgeons of the L.G. Division A.V.R.R. for many years, and is also a member of the Jefferson County and Pennsylvania Medical Societies.

In 1865 or 1866 Dr. George W. Barnett located in Ringgold. He was born in Young township, Jefferson county, and is said to have read medicine with Dr. Joseph Shields. He remained in Ringgold about eleven years, when he removed to Mt. Tabor, Armstrong county, where he practiced for about three years, and then went to Nebraska, since which nothing is known of him.

Dr. Perry McElvain was born in Butler county, near North Washington; read medicine with Dr. C.M. Matson, Brookville,; attended a course of lectures at Ann Arbor during the winter of 1864—65 ; located at McLeansboro, Ill., in the autumn of 1866, but afterwards removed to Alto Pass, in the southern part of Illinois, where he now is practicing medicine.

Dr. John Calvin King was the son of Jacob and Sarah A. King, née Corbett; born in Clarion county in 1841; read medicine with Dr. R.B. Brown, Summerville; attended lectures at the University of New York, and located for the practice of medicine at Rockdale Mills, Jefferson county, in the spring of 1867, remaining there until the fall of 1868, when he removed to Reynoldsville, where he has remained in the continuous practice since. He married Miss E.A. Coleman, September 23, 1869.

Dr. Samuel McCartney Bleakney was born in Armstrong county; attended a course of lectures at the Buffalo University during the winter of 1865—66; located in Worthville, Jefferson county, in the year 1866 or 1867, where he has continued to practice since.

About 1868 Dr. Charles Calvin Baker located at Sigel, Jefferson county. He was born in Smethport, McKean county, and attended a course of lectures at the Cleveland Medical College. He had practiced many years at Clarington, Forest county, prior to his removal to Sigel.

August 20, 1870, Dr. James Albert Miller located in Perrysville, Jefferson county. He is the son of Samuel G. and Mary Ann Miller née Keener, and was born near Saltsburgh, Indiana county, August 23, 1844; read medicine with Dr. William Jack, of Jacksonville, Indiana county, and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, Cincinnati, O., July 13, 1870; married Laura A. Hamilton, daughter of Robert Hamilton, of Perrysville, November 26, 1872, and has continued in the practice of his profession from 1870 to the present time.

Sometime during the month of October, 1870, Dr. Robert Morse Boyles removed from Rimersburg, Clarion county, and located in Reynoldsville, Jefferson county. He is the son of H. and Eleanor Boyles, and was born April 26, 1840, near Curllsville, Clarion county; received his education at Glade Run Academy, Armstrong county, and read medicine with Dr. James N. Beck at Rockdale Mills, Jefferson county; attended a course of medical lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., during the winter of 1860 and ‘61, and entered the practice of medicine at Goheenville, Armstrong county, in May, 1862, and removed to Rimersburg, Clarion county, in February, 1865. He graduated at the Cleveland Medical College in February, 1867; admitted to membership in the Clarion County Medical Society in June, 1868, and continued in the practice of medicine at Rimersburg until his removal to Reynoldsville. He married Margaret A. Bollman, of Goheenville, July 4, 1864, who died August 7, 1876, at Reynoldsville; was a private in Company E, Fifty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was in service while that regiment was on duty; was appointed hospital steward and temporarily assistant post surgeon at New Creek, Va., while the regiment was on duty there. He became a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, at its organization; is also a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association. He removed to Du Bois, Clearfield county, July 28, 1884, where he continues the practice of his profession.

It is thought that Dr. James William Hoey located in Brockwayville sometime in 1871. He was born in Delaware county, in or near Media. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College March 8, 1856. Names of places, with length of time in each, prior to his location in Brockwayville, is not known.

Dr. George Hines Hilliard located in Richardsville in 1872 or ‘73. He was born in Clarion county, and graduated from the Jefferson Medical College March 9, 1872. He remained in Richardsville until 1885 or ‘86, when he returned to Clarion county, where he is now engaged in the practice of medicine.

Dr. John Wesley Foust came to Reynoldsville from Port Matilda, Centre county, in April, 1873. He was born in Shirleysburg, Huntingdon county, August 25, 1844; read medicine with Dr. G.W. Thompson at Mill Creek, Huntingdon county; attended a full course of lectures at Jefferson Medical College during the winter of 1866 and ‘67, and commenced the practice of medicine at Port Matilda, Centre county, in April, 1868; was elected associate judge for Jefferson county, in 1885; has practiced medicine continuously since 1868.

Dr. Daniel G. Allinder is the son of William and Mary Allinder, and was born and educated in Pittsburgh. He graduated from one of the regular colleges in Philadelphia, and practiced medicine a short time in Pittsburgh, prior to May, 1873, when he located in Brookville and remained the greater part of a year, when he returned to Pittsburgh, locating on Butler street, near Forty-Fifth, where he is yet engaged in the practice of medicine.

Dr. Marcus Alexis Masson located in Brookville in January, 1873. He was the son of Joseph Masson, a native of the province of Tours, France. His mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Pheugh, was born in Mercer, Mercer county, where also was born her son Marcus A., May 17, 1848. He read medicine with Dr. E.R. Palmer of the University of Louisville, Ky., and graduated from that university March 6, 1872, located in Foxburg, Clarion county, in March of same year, and remained until January, 1874, when he removed to Brookville. He married Charlotte Cowling, sister of the late Prof. Cowling of the University of Louisville, Ky., December 17, 1872. He remained in Brookville only one year, as he removed to Reynoldsville and located there January 11, 1875. In November, 1876, he removed to Petrolia, Butler county. He practiced medicine in Petrolia until February 14, 1878, when he was taken sick, from which sickness he died at his mother’s residence, Foxburg, Clarion county, November 14, of same year. Dr. Masson was a man of very fine personal appearance, agreeable and social in manner, possessed of a strong personal magnetism, and withal a man of much more than ordinary ability in the practice of his profession, which lost, by his early death, one, who in after years, would have been considered one of its most brilliant members.

Dr. Jeremiah Hare Wick removed from Armstrong county, to Brookville, in 1873, where he remained eighteen months; thence he went to Corsica, where he remained a year, when he removed from the county, and his present residence is not known.

About 1874 Dr. William Abram Baker located at Sigel, Jefferson county, and remained some time, afterwards removing, it is said, to Ohio. He is the son of Dr. C.C. Baker, and was born in Clarington, Forest county, and attended lectures at the Cleveland Medical College. It is thought that it was sometime during this year that Dr. William Burchfield Alexander located in Reynoldsville. He was born in Clearfield, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, March 7, 1868. Dr. Alexender is also engaged in banking at Reynoldsville.

Dr. Michael M. Rankin is the son of Hugh R. and Margaret Rankin née Cooper; was born in Indiana county, May 11, 1851; read medicine with Dr. H.B. Pittman, of Gettysburg, Indiana county, and graduated from the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, March 2, 1876. He located at Rockdale Mills, March 22, 1875; removed to Brockwayville in the spring of 1881, where he has been in continuous practice since. He is a member of Jefferson County Medical Society and also the Medical Society of Pennsylvania. He was married to Miss N.J. Getty in September, 1871.

Dr. Abraham Fisher Balmer is the son of Daniel and Harriet Balmer, née .Fisher, and was born at Elizabethtown, Lancaster county, September 15, 1849; read medicine under the supervision of Dr. A.C. Treichler, of Elizabethtown; graduated from Jefferson Medical College March 11, 1875, and commenced to practice medicine in Brookville February 7, 1876, where he practices medicine at present. Dr. Balmer is a member of the County, State, and National Medical Societies.

Dr. William Ferguson Matson is the son James C. and Harriet Matson, née Potter; was born September 19, 1855, near Brookville; read medicine with Dr. C.M. Matson; graduated from the Cleveland Medical College February 21, 1887; received adeundem degree of M.D. from Adelbert University, Cleveland, O., March 15, 1882; has been for several years a surgeon on Low

Grade Division A.V. Railroad, and is a member of the County, State, and American Medical Socities. He married Fannie Z. Shields, daughter of Dr. Joseph Shields, of Punxsutawney, in August, 1886.

Dr. William Wilson Woods is the son of John and Mariah Woods, and was born at Potter’s Mills, Centre county, July 21, 1842; read medicine with Dr. F.H. Van Valzah, who was then located at Potter’s Mills, now Spring Mills, Centre county, married Henrietta Cadwalader, of Potter’s Mills, March 27, 1866; graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, March 10, 1877, and located at Belleview (Stanton p.o.), Jefferson county, in October, 1877. During the year 1876, and until June, 1877, he was connected with Charity Hospital, Philadelphia. He is a member of the County, State, and National Medical Associations.

Pursuant to a previous cal1 the following physicians met September 11, 1877, at the office of Drs. C.M. and W.F. Matson, for the purpose of organizing the Jefferson County Medical Society, viz.: Drs. John Thompson, J.W. Foust, J.C. King, W.M.B. Gibson, W.F. Matson, A.F. Balmer, and C.M. Matson.

Dr. C.M. Matson was elected president, and Dr. A.F. Balmer secretary.

Drs. R.B. Brown, John Thompson, W.F. Matson, and A.F. Balmer were appointed a committee on constitution and by-laws, and the meeting adjourned to meet in the same place September 25, 1877.

At the meeting of September 25, the report of the committee on constitution and by-laws was adopted, and officers nominated to be elected at the next meeting, to be held on the 9th of October, 1877, at which Dr. C.M. Matson was elected president, Dr. John Thompson, vice-president; Dr. A.F. Balrner, recording secretary; Dr. W.F. Matson, corresponding secretary; Dr. R.B. Brown, treasurer, and Dr. J.W. Foust, censor for three years, Dr. M.M. Rankin, censor for two years, and Dr. J.C. King, censor for one year.

The meetings of the society from its organization have, for the most part, been very interesting. Every meeting of the society was made a general clinic day, and all cases brought before the society that day received the benefit of a general consultation free. Papers on various subjects were read and discussed; cases of importance were related by members and freely commented upon, and everything done to attain the object of its organization. The society was chartered in May, 1887.

The officers of the society have been as follows: Presidents, Drs. C.M. Matson, John Thompson, W.M.B. Gibson, G.H. Hilliard, W.W Woods, M.M. Rankin, and T.C. Lawson. With the exception of Dr. C.M. Matson these gentlemen have been the vice-presidents. Dr. S.S. Hamilton fills that office at present. Dr. A.F. Balmer has been re-elected annually as recording secretary, also Dr. W.F. Matson, as corresponding secretary, and Dr. R.B. Brown, as treasurer. After the first election one censor is elected annually to serve for the period of three years. The members with the exception of three or four who have removed from the county, are as follows: Drs. R.B. Brown, John Thompson, A.F. Balmer, T.C. Lawson, W.M.B. Gibson, J.W. Foust, C.M. Matson, W.F. Matson, M.M. Ramkin., J.C. King, R.M. Boyles, W.F. Beyer, S.C. Johnson, W.W. Woods, S.S. Hamilton, J.A. McKibbon, D.L. Paine, G.H. Hilliard, J.A. Henry. W.B. Alexander, A.P. Cox.

No laws were enacted by the Legislature of Pennsylvania relating to, and controlling the practice of medicine in the State prior to the act of March 24, 1877, which was supplemented by that of June 8, 1881, the provisions of which areas follows:

Sec. I. The standard qualifications of a practitioner of medicine, surgery or obstetrics, shall be and consist of the following, namely: A good moral character, a thorough elementary education, a comprehensive knowledge of human anatomy, human physiology, pathology, chemestry, materia medica, obstetrics, and practice of medicine and surgery and public hygiene.

Sec. 2. It shall be unlawful, after the passage of this act, for any person to announce himself or herself as a practitioner of medicine, surgery or obstetrics, or to practice the same, who has not received, in a regular manner, a diploma from a chartered medical school, duly authorized to confer upon its alumni the degree of doctor of medicine: Provided, That this act shall not apply to any resident practitioner of medicine, surgery or obstetrics who has been in such continuous practice in this Commonwealth for a period of not less than five years previous to the passage of this act.

Sec. 3. Before any person shall engage in the practice of medicine, surgery or obstetrics, in this Commonwealth, or who has not a diploma as provided for in section second of this act, such persons shall make affidavit, under oath or affirmation, before the prothonotary of the county where such person intends practicing, setting forth the time of continuous practice, and the place or places where such practice was pursued in this Commonwealth; thereupon, the prothonotary shall enter the same of record in a book specially provided therefor, to be kept in his office, and open to the inspection of the public; and for such services he shall receive the sum of two dollars, to be paid by affiant, one-half for the use of the prothonotary, the other for the use of the county.

Sec. 4. Any person who shall attempt to practice medicine or surgery for a valuable consideration, by opening a transient office within the Commonwealth, or who shall, by handbill or other form of written or printed advertisement, assign such transient office, or other place, to persons seeking medical or surgical advice or prescription, or who shall itinerate from place to place, or from house to house, and shall, propose to cure any person, sick or afflicted, by the use of any medicine, means or agency whatsoever, for a valuable consideration, shall before being allowed to practice in this manner, appear before the clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the county wherein such person desires to practice, and shall furnish satisfactory evidence to such clerk that the provisions of this act have been complied with; and shall, in addition, take out a license for one year, and pay into the county treasury, for the use of the county, the sum of fifty dollars therefor; whereupon, it shall be the duty of such clerk, to issue to such applicant a proper certificate of license, on payment of the fee of five dollars for his services.

Sec. 5. Any person who shall violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; and on conviction before any court, shall he sentenced to pay a fine of not less than two hundred dollars, nor more than four hundred dollars, for each and every offense, for the use of the county wherein such misdemeanor was committed.

Sec. 6. The prothonotary of each county shall purchase a book of suitable size, to be known as the medical register of the county (if such book has not been purchased already), and shall set apart one full page for the registration of each practitioner, and when any practitioner shall depart this life, or remove from the county, he shall make a note of the same at the bottom of the page, and shall perform such other duties as are required by this act.

Sec. 7. Every person who shall practice medicine or surgery, or any of the branches of medicine or surgery, for gain, or shall receive or accept for his or her services, as a practitioner of medicine or surgery, any fee or rewards, directly or indirectly, shall be a graduate of a legally chartered medica1 college or university, having authority to confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine (except as provided for in section five of this act), and such person shall present to the prothonotary of the county in which he or she resides or sojourns, his or her medical diploma, as well as a true copy of the same, including any endorsements thereon, and shall make affidavit before him, that the diploma and endorsement are genuine; thereupon the prothonotary shall enter the following in the register, to wit: the name in full of the practitioner, his or her place of nativity, his or her place of residence, the name of the college or university that has conferred the degree of doctor of medicine, the year when such degree was conferred, and in like manner any other degree or degrees that the practitioner may desire to place on record, to all of which the practitioner shall make affidavit before the prothonotary; and the prothonotary shall place the copy of such diploma, including the endorsements on file in his office, for inspection by the public.

Sec. 8. Any person whose medical diploma has been destroyed or lost, shall present to the prothonotary of the county in which he or she resides or sojourns, a duly certified copy of his or her diploma, but if the same is not obtainable, a statement of this fact, together with the names of the professors whose lectures he or she attended, and the branches of study upon which each professor lectured, to all of which the practitioner shall make affidavit before the prothonotary; after which the practitioner shall be allowed to register, in manner and form as indicated in section two of this act; and the prothonotary shall place such certified statement on file in his office, for inspection by the public.

Sec. 9. Any person who may desire to commence the practice of medicine or surgery in this State, after the passage of this act, having a medical diploma issued or purporting to have been issued by any college, university, society or association in another State or foreign country, shall lay the same before the faculty of one of the medical colleges or universities of this Commonwealth for inspection, and the faculty, being satisfied as to the qualifications of the applicant, and the genuineness of the diploma, shall direct the dean of the faculty to endorse the same, after which such person shall be allowed to register, as required by section two of this act.

Sec. 10. Any person who has been in the continuous practice of medicine or surgery in this Commonwealth since 1871, without the degree of doctor of medicine, shall be allowed to continue such practice; but such person shall nevertheless appear before the prothonotary of the county in which he or she resides, and shall present to him a written statement of facts, to which the practitioner shall make affidavit. Thereupon the prothonotary shall enter the following in the register, to wit: The name in full of the practitioner, his or her place of nativity, his or her place of residence, the time of continuous practice in this Commonwealth, and the placer or places where such practice was pursued, to all of which the practioner shall likewise make affidavit; and the prothonotary shall place the certified statement on file in his office for inspection by the public.

Sec.11. Every practitioner who shall be admitted to registration shall pay to the prothonotary one dollar, which shall be in compensation in full for registration, and the prothonotary shall give a receipt for the same.

Sec. 12. Any practitioner who shall present to the faculty of an institution for indorsement, or to any prothonotary, a diploma which has been obtained fradulently, or is in whole or in part a forgery, or shall make affidavit to any false statement to be filed or registered, or shall practice medicine or surgery without conforming to the requirements of this act, or otherwise violate or neglect to comply with any of the provisions of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction, shall be punished for each and every offence by a fine of one hundred dollars, one half to be paid to the prosecutor, and the other half to be paid to the county, or be imprisoned in the county jail of the proper county for a term not exceeding one year, or both or either, at the discretion of the court.

Sec. 13. Nothing in this act shall be so construed as to prevent any physician or surgeon, legally qualified, to practice medicine or surgery in the State in which he or she resides, from practicing in this Commonwealth; but any person or persons opening an office or appointing any place where he or she may meet patients or receive calls, shall be deemed a sojourner, and shall conform to the requirements of this act.

The act approved March 24, 1877, is included in the first five sections; the supplemental act approved June 8, 1881, concerning registration, etc., commencing with section 6 and concluding with section 13.

The enforcement of this law in Jefferson county, with one or two exceptions, has never been attempted. Physicians legally entitled to practice medicine, have, it is believed, all registered, so, also, have many who are clearly attempting to practice in violation of the provisions of the act of March 24, 1877. Some names, therefore, which are on the prothonotary’s register, for this reason, have been omitted in this list, with date of registration:

In 1881, Dr. S.C. Allison registered July 21; Dr. C.C. Hindman, July 25; Dr. C.C. Baker, July 27; Dr. W.A. Baker, July 27; Dr. W.F. Matson, July 28; Dr. T.C. Lawson, August 2; Dr. J.W. Foust, August 2; Dr. W.M.B. Gibson, August 2; Dr. A.F. Balmer, August 3; Dr. S. Mc. Bleakney, August 4, Dr. T.J. Bennett, August 6; Dr. John Thompson, August 8; Dr. G.H. Hilliard, August 12; Dr. A.P. Cox, August; Dr. A.M. Clark, August 23; Dr. J.C. King, August 24; Dr. J.W. Hoey, August 25; Dr. C.M. Matson, August 26; Dr. Joseph Shields, September 13; Dr. A.D. McComb, September 13;. Dr. S.S. Hamilton, September 13; Dr. W.F. Beyer, September 13; Dr. M.M. Rankin, September 13; Dr. William Altman, September 13; Dr. W.W. Woods, September 13; Dr. J.A. Miller, September 20; Dr. W.C. Niver, September 21; Dr. Samuel Reynolds, September 22; Dr. R.B. Brown, September 26; Dr. W.B. Alexander, September 28; Dr. R.S. Hunt, October 10; Dr. W.J. McKnight, October 13; Dr. J.S. McCoy, October 24; Dr. R.M. Boyles, November 8; Dr. J.H. Wick, November 8; Dr. W.H. Reynolds, November 15. In 1882, Dr. C.A. Wilson registered January 31 ; Dr. Stephen Fugate, April 27; Dr. T.R. Williams, December 12. In 1883, Dr. E.Q. McHenry registered January 12; Dr. G.A. Blose, April 17; Dr. J.H. Hoffman, May 26; Dr. F.P. Segworth, June 15; Dr. Julius Scheffer, July 24; Dr. H.S. Barrett, August 13; Dr. D.G. Hubbard, December 11. In 1884, Dr. C.G. Ernst registered April 7; Dr. J.M. Fisher, April 15; Dr. S.W. McDowell, June 5; Dr. J.K. Brown, June 16; Dr. J.C. Wilson, June 23; Dr. D.D. Fisher, June 28; Dr. J.E. Hall, November 19 Dr. D.L. Paine, December 31. In 1885, Dr. O.S. Sharp registered April 7; Dr. A.P. Heichhold, April 8; Dr. J.B. Neale, April 27. In 1886, Dr. R.J. Hillis registered May 8; Dr. H.P. Holt, June 30. In 1887, Dr. J.C. Stahlman registered April 9.

The law governing the practice of medicine, surgery, etc., the short notice of the County Medical Society, and the registration of the physicians have been given here, because they belong to the decade ending with the year 1880. It is true that the act of Assembly, making it obligatory on physicians to register, was approved in June, 1881, but it was merely supplementary to the act of 1877, and therefore a part of it.

Dr. Andrew Pierce Cox located at 5ig Run, sometime during the summer of 1877. He was born in Allegheny county, and graduated from Cincinnati Medical College June 21, 1877.

Dr. Sylvester Sutton Hamilton located in Punxsutawney, in the spring of 1878. He was born in Indiana county, and graduated from the Columbus Medical College, Columbus, O., February 17, 1878.

Dr. Glenn Alvin Emery, son of Jacob and Mary Emery, was born in Philadelphia, and read medicine with Dr. C.M. Matson; married Olive Nicholson, daughter of the late Hon. R.J. Nicholson, in 1868; graduated from Columbus Medical College in the spring of 1879, and soon afterwards located in Crestline, O., where he remained about a year when he removed to Rendville, O., where he at present is engaged in the practice of his profession.

Dr. William Feltwell Beyer is the son of Samuel and Caroline Beyer née Feltwell. He was born near Smicksburg, Indiana county, May 5, 1851; read medicine with Dr. Christopher McEwen, of Plumville, Indiana county; graduated from Jefferson Medical College, March 12, 1879, and located in Punxsutawney in the spring of the same year, where he has been in continuous practice since. In 1880 he married Maggie A. Mitchell.

Dr. Samuel Reynolds removed from St. Mary’s, Elk county, to Reynoldsville, in May, 1879. He is the son of J.B. and Jane Reynolds née Harr, and was born October 29, 1843, at Lockport, Westmoreland county. His preceptor was Dr. R. Armstrong, of Lock Haven, and he graduated from the Jefferson Medical College March 10, 1865. He located at Renova, May 1, 1865, where he remained until his removal to Reynoldsville. On November 24, 1869, he married Imogen Hyatt.

Dr. Thomas Chalmers Lawson located in Brookville, May 10, 1880. He is the son of James B. and Lavinia Lawson née Orr, and was born near Lawsonham, Clarion county, July 26, 1843. He read medicine with Dr. John P. Norman, of Rimersburg, Clarion county, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College March 13, 1871, and located at Greenville, Clarion county, in the following June, where he remained until some time in the spring of 1879, when he discontinued practice for a year, spending the winter of ‘79 and ‘80 attending lectures at Philadelphia and New York. He married Alice E. Patton, daughter of the late Thomas Patton of Greenville, Clarion county, December 4, 1874. Dr. Lawson is a member of the County and State Medical Societies.

Dr. Charles Crawford Hindman is the son of Crawford Hindman; was born near Corsica, Jefferson county; read medicine with Dr. John Thompson, of Corsica, and graduated at Jefferson Medical College March 11, 1876. He located sometime during the spring of ‘76 at Shannondale, Clarion county, but how long he remained there is not known. After leaving Shannondale he located at Scotch Hill, in the same county, but the length of time he practiced there is not known. He located in Corsica, Jefferson county, it is thought, sometime in 1880, or, possibly, in 1881. He married Flora Taylor, daughter of the late John Taylor, of this county. He is now located at Du Bois, Clearfield county.

Dr. Charles Augustus Wilson is the son of Dr. George and Anna Wilson née Hover, and was born January 20, 1858; read medicine with his father, Dr. George Wilson, and graduated from the Kentucky School of Medicine and Surgery, Louisville, June 29, 1881; married Alice M. Tyson in 1879, and located at Big Run, Jefferson county, soon after his graduation. He was appointed postmaster of that place in 1885, and is also engaged in the general drug business.

Dr. Alonzo Dexter McComb located in Perrysville, Jefferson county, it is thought, in 1881. He was born in Dayton, Armstrong county, and attended lectures at Cleveland, O.

Dr. James Glass McCoy located in Corsica, it is thought, in 1881. He was born in Florence, Washington county, and graduated from the medical department of the university of Wooster, O., February 27, 1873.

Dr. Reid C. Matthews, son of John Matthews, was born in Knox township, Jefferson county, December 23, 1858; read medicine with Drs. C.M. and W.F. Matson, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in June, 1881. Dr. Matthews located in Columbus, O., where he is at present engaged in the practice of medicine.

Dr. Stephen Fugate located in Reynoldsville in the spring of 1881. He was born in Centre county, and graduated from the University of Michigan March 28, 1877. He also took a post-graduate course in 1880. He removed to Clearfield county where he now practices.

Dr. Erastus Quay McHenry located at Rockdale Mills, November 7, 1882. His parents were Robert and Isabel McHenry, and he was born in White township, Indiana county, March 4, 1846. He read medicine with his brother, Dr. G.J. McHenry, and attended two full courses of lectures at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He commenced to practice medicine in the spring of 1870, at Westover, Clearfield county, where he remained until August, 1874, when he removed to Du Bois, same county, where he continued in practice until November 7, 1882, when he purchased the property and practice of Dr. M.M. Rankin, at Rockdale Mills, where he has been engaged in active practice ever since.

Dr. Thornton Riggs Williams was born near Ithaca, Dark county, O. His maternal ancestors being early pioneers of that State, having settled near Cincinnati as early as 1802, and his paternal ancestors were early pioneers of Washington county, Pa. His early training was received on the farm and his elementary education was obtained from the common district school under the usual disadvantages. Early in his "teens" he attended the national normal school at Lebanon, O., where he fitted himself for teaching, which occupation he followed only for a short time when he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, O., where he remained five years, graduating with the class of ‘78. Subsequently he graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., his diploma being dated March 1, 1882. His first location was in Brockwayville, in December, ‘82, where he remained until August, 1883, when he removed to Beech Tree, and continues to practice there.

Dr. George Alvin Blose was born in Perry township, Jefferson county, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College, April 2, 1883; located at Perrysville, Jefferson county.

Dr. Joseph Henry Hoffman was born in Rose township, near Brookville, November 8, 1858. He is the son of Jacob and Mary Josephine Hoffman née Reuter; read medicine with Dr. A.F. Balmer, of Brookville, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, April 2, 1883; registered in Jefferson county, but located in St. Mary’s, Elk county, on the 18th of June, 1883, where he has continued to practice since; married Josephine Baxter, January 26, 1886.

Dr. Franklin Pierce Segworth was born in Fryburgh, Clarion county; graduated from College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., March 1, 1883, and located in Ringgold soon afterwards, remaining but a short time. Present residence unknown.

Dr. Julius Scheffer was born in Getmold, Germany, November 26, 1843; graduated from medical department University of Herford, Germany, in 1865, and attended a course of lectures at the medical department University of Pennsylvania during the winter of 1867—68, soon after which he located in Pittsburgh, where he remained until 1872, when he removed to Petrolia, Butler county, where he continued the practice of medicine until 1880, when he removed to Bradford, McKean county. He practiced in Bradford until 1882, when he removed to Warren, Warren county. He remained in Warren one year, and then located in Punxsutawney, Jefferson county. How long he practiced in Punxsutawney, or where he is at present located, is not known.

Dr. Eugene Gustav Matson, son of Dr. C.M. and Alice Matson, née Johnson, was born at Corsica, Jefferson county, December 26, 1858; entered Syracuse University as a student in October, 1873, and graduated in June, 1879, receiving the degree of Ph. B.; entered his father’s office as a medical student in the spring of 1880, and attended three full courses of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating on the 20th of April, 1883; was chosen resident physician at Blockley Hospital, Philadelphia, September 1, 1883, for one year; went to Europe in October, 1884, and attended a course of lectures at the University of Berlin, Prussia, delivered by Bergman on surgery, Schröder on gynecology, Henoch on diseases of children, and others on other branches of medicine. After completing this course he spent some time in Europe, visiting places of interest in Germany, Italy, France, and England. On the 1st of October, 1886, he located in Pittsburgh, and about the same time was elected assistant demonstrator of anatomy at the Western Pennsylvania Medical College. On April 1, 1887, he removed from Oakland, Fifth Avenue, to No. 951 Pennsylvania Avenue. He is now demonstrator of anatomy at Western Pennsylvania College in conjunction with Dr. Joseph Dickson.

Dr. Henry Samuel Barrett was born in Smicksburgh, Indiana county, and graduated from Toledo Medical College, Ohio, July 13, 1883; located in Punxsutawney.

Dr. Dwight Gustavus Hubbard was born on the 10th of March, 1846, at Centreville, Allegany county, N.Y. His parents were Asa Carter and Frances Adeline Hubbard. He read medicine with Dr. Conrad Diehl in Buffalo, N.Y., and graduated from the University of Buffalo in the spring of 1869; first located at Farmersville, Cattaraugus county, N.Y., and remained there from the spring of 1869 to the spring of 1873. He then located at Carbon Run, Bradford county, as surgeon for the Schraeder Coal and Iron Company, which position he continued to hold until November, 1883, when he removed to Punxsutawney. He was married in 1871 to Hattie C. Hall, of Wethersfield, Wyoming county, N.Y. Has been in the continuous practice of medicine since his graduation.

Dr. James Alloysius McKibbon, the son of Henry and Mary McKibbon, née Lochiel, was born March 11, 1854, at Cresson Springs, Cambria county, and read medicine with Dr. R.B. Brown at Summerville. He married Ella Brown, daughter of Dr. R.B. Brown, February 8, 1879, and graduated from Bellevue Medical College, New York, March 1, 1880. He located in Allegheny City in June, 1881, and remained till August, 1883, when he removed to Reynoldsville, Jefferson county, where, in connection with the practice of medicine, he carries on a general drug business. .

Dr. Charles Gustav Ernst, was born in Punxsutawney, August 18, 1859, and is the son of Henry and Catherine Ernst, née Speis; read medicine with Dr. Joseph Shields, and graduated from Bellevue Hospital Medical College March 13, 1884; located immediately after in Punxsutawney, where he continues the practice of medicine.

Dr. Samuel Wesley McDowell is the son of James C. and Anna McDowell, née Mahl, and was born at Clinton Furnace, Clarion county, July 24, 1854. His medical preceptor was Dr. James A. Miller, of Perrysville, Jefferson county; was married May 28, 1879, to Sarah Agnes, the youngest daughter of the late James Mitchell, of Indiana; graduated from Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, March 29, 1884, and in the following May located in Ringgold, Jefferson county, where he still remains.

Dr. John Monroe Fisher, son of B.K. and Sarah L. Fisher, née Liven good, was born in Lebanon county, June 23, 1858; read medicine with Dr. J.W. Foust, of Reynoldsville, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College March 29, 1884. He is at present located in Philadelphia and connected with Jefferson College Hospital.

Dr. John Knox Brown is the son of Dr. R.B. and Susan L. Brown, née Lavley, and was born April 29, 1859; read medicine with his father at Summerville, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College March 29, 1884, and located in Summerville, in partnership with his father, immediately after. He married Mattie J., daughter of Robert Hamilton, of Perrysville, Jefferson county, January 15, 1885.

Dr. Joseph Clinton Wilson, son of Dr. George and Anna Wilson, née Hoover, was born at Luthersburg, Clearfield county, March 12, 1854. His preceptors in the study of medicine were his father and brother, Dr. C.A. Wilson. He graduated from the University of Maryland, at Baltimore, March 14, 1884, and located in Sigel, Jefferson county, June 10, 1884.

Dr. David Fisher was born in Vergennes, Vt.; graduated from the University of Vermont, July 6, 1882, and located in Brockwayville, Jefferson county, sometime in the spring of 1884, but how long he remained or whither he went is not known.

Dr. Otis Shields Sharp, son of Dr. J.W. and Mary A. Sharp née Walker, was born in Perrsyville, Jefferson county, March 24, 1861; read medicine with Dr. W.B. Walker and his father— Dr.

J.W. Sharp; graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, in the spring of 1884, and located in Knoxdale, June 20, 1884. Married Emma L. Gilhousen, June 27, 1886.

Dr. David Lemuel Paine, son of Alexander and Mary B. Paine née McClain, was born at Corbett’s Mills, Clarion county, July 11, 1846. He engaged in merchandising when of sufficient age, in which he continued until he read medicine. Married Elizabeth A. Matson, September 19, 1868; read medicine with Drs. C.M. and W.F. Matson, and graduated from Columbus Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, February 28, 1878; located in Shippenville, Clarion county, in March, 1878, where he remained nine months. He then removed to Scotch Hill, but after three years removed to New Bethlehem, remaining about three years. On the 29th of June, 1884, he located in Brookville, where he now resides, engaged in the drug business connected with the practice of his profession.

Dr. Joseph Everett Hall, son of Enoch and Martha Hail née Clark, was born in Brookville, April 12, 1842. Enlisted as a private in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in August, 1862, and was mustered out as adjutant of the One Hundred and Eighty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, July 13, 1865. Entered the office of Dr.

C.M. Matson as a medical student in the autumn of 1865, attended two full courses of lectures at the Medical Department University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College, March 12, 1869. He located in Parker City, June 10, 1869; married Frances Irene, daughter of Hon. W.P. Jenks, September 12, 1872. In June, 1882, he located in Emlenton, Venango county, but continued his office in Parker City; took a post-graduate course of lectures in January, 1885, and located in Brookville in the following March. He is a member of the board of Pension Examiners for Jefferson county, and a member of the State Medical Society.

Dr. James Buchanan Neale was born at Perrysville, Jefferson county; read medicine with Dr. W.M.B. Gibson, at Reynoldsville, and graduated from Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, February 26, 1885, and located soon after in Reynoldsville, where he is at present engaged in the practice of his profession.

Dr. Robert James Hillis was born in Winslow township, Jefferson county; read medicine with Dr. B. Sweeny; graduated from College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., March 15, 1886. Dr. Hillis is now acting as assisting surgeon for the Dagus Coal Company.

Dr. James Beyer Mitchell was born in Westmoreland county, but with whom he read medicine, or at what institution he attended lectures, is not known. He located in Punxsutawney some time previously to June 16, 1886.

Dr. Henry Pilgrim Holt was born in Beaver township, Jefferson county, and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., March 15, 1886. He is now located at Tionesta, Forest county.

Dr. Joseph Calvin Stahlman, was born in Redbank township, Armstrong county, September 20, 1858. He is the son of Solomon and Catharine Stahlman; was married to Mary Elizabeth McElhose, March 10, 1882; read medicine with A.D. McComb, of West Millville, Clarion county, and graduated from the Medical Department Western Reserve University, Cleveland, O., March 9, 1887. Located at Richardsville, April 5, 1887, where he remains at present.

Dr. Elmer Brown Borland, son of William and Martha Borland, was born in Knox township, near Belleview, Jefferson county, September 29, 1861; read medicine with Dr. W.W. Woods, at Belleview, and graduated, taking first prize on examination, from West Pennsylvania Medical College, Pittsburgh, March 27, 1887. He is at present located in Pittsburgh.

The history of the medical profession from 1817, to August 1887, including a period of seventy years, is as complete and comprehensive as it is possible now to make it. Dates, in a few instances, which had to be determined by circumstances, or cotemporary events, or, where they have been taken from the recollections of old settlers may not be perfectly correct, but they are as nearly so as possible at the present time to make them. The sketches have been arranged in chronological order, as being preferable to an attempt at a separate history of the profession in each borough or township, or an alphabetical one, either of which might have a tendency to confuse the mind of the reader as to the period in which these men lived and practiced in the county.

The medical profession of Jefferson county is not behind that of any county in the State; they keep thoroughly up with the advance of medical science; many of their libraries are very extensive; the better class of medical literature is largely patronized, and the profession of Jefferson county numbers among its members as large a proportion of careful, thoughtful observers, skillful operators and successful practitioners, as are to be found anywhere.

* Prepared by Dr. C.M. Matson, of Brookville.

Source:  Page(s) 366-400, History of Jefferson County by Kate M. Scott. Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co., 1888.

Contributed by Nathan Zipfel for use by the Jefferson County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/jefferson/)

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