HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY - 311

CHAPTER VII.

PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY.

So early as 1822, while yet the county was only tenanted by a few hundred white people, the first physician arrived. The succeeding year more adventurous spirits pushed further westward, and thenceforward physicians came here to reside or visit. In 1852 the medical profession was so numerously and ably represented in the county, it was deemed desirable to organize a society. This was accomplished the same year, when a number of physicians assembled in the office of Dr. Dresbach, adopted a constitution, and elected Dr. J. A. McFarland president, with Dr. George Sprague secretary. There is no record extant of the proceedings of this society. Of its members, however, the newspaper press has kept a record, and from those old records much if not all, relating to them in the following pages, has been obtained. To the courtesy of Dr. Gibbon, secretary of the present society, the writer is indebted for being enabled to give the names of the physicians of the county in our own times. Dr. Stephenson, of Huron County, was the visiting physician in 181--20. Dr. Brainard, of Sandusky, practiced medicine from that point to Tymochtee, and attended the Seneca Indians previous to 1821.

Selden Graves, the first resident physician of Seneca County, settled in Eden Township, March 6, 1822. In 1831 he was elected associate judge. Ely Dresbach, born in Northumberland County, Penn., in 1802, settled with his parents, David and Catherine Dresbach, in Pickaway County, Ohio, and came


312 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

to Fort Ball February 23, 1823, having previously studied medicine at Circleville, under Dr. Luckey. For over thirty years he labored in Seneca County, and died at Tiffin April 14, 1853 (vide History of Tiffin).

Henry Kuhn, born in Frederick County, Md,, in 1802, graduated from the medical school of the University of Maryland in 1825. In 1829 he came with his family to Tiffin, and was among the men who cleared the forest on Market Street, between Washington and Monroe Streets, that year. His office was on East Market Street, and in recent years stood in rear of the new jail. Miss Catherine Baltzell, of Woodsboro, Md., to whom he was married in 1826, died at Tiffin in 1843. His second wife, Miss Maria Pennington, of Tiffin, survived her husband, who died October 16, 1878.

Robert C. J. Carey, a native of Maryland, born in November, 1800, settled at Fort Ball in 1823, and was a partner of Dr. Dresbach. His death took place November 9, 1836, when he was buried in the old cemetery.

James Fisher, the founder of Elizabethtown, was born in Frederick County, Md., January 1, 1801, settled at Tiffin in 1832. In July, 1829, he married Elizabeth M., daughter of Dr. Thomas Boyer, and was accompanied by his father-in-law to Tiffin in 1832. Mrs. Fisher died September 19, 1878. Dr. Fisher was appointed postmaster at Tiffin shortly after his settlement here, many years prior to his departure for Springfield, Mo.

Thomas Boyer, of Uniontown, Md., whose daughters were married, Elizabeth to Dr. James Fisher, and Mary M. to Lloyd Morris, in July, 1829, settled at Tiffin in 1832, and died here in 1835. Mrs. Boyer died in 1847.

J. A. McFarland, the first president of the old Seneca County Medical Society, settled at Tiffin in 1837; died June 1, 1883. He was delegate to the great convention of physicians, held at San Francisco, Cal., in 1871, and one of the most estimable citizens of the county.

E. J. McCollum, born in Richland County, Ohio, in June, 1825; graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in March, 1853, and settled at Tiffin about same time. He was at McCutchenville in 1849.

J. N. Heckerman, born at Chambersburg, Penn., November 22, 1825, completed his medical course at the Columbian School of Medicine, Washington, D. C., in 1846, and came to Tiffin in 1849.



E. W. Sullivan, born at Tiffin, March 22, 1856, graduated from the Wooster Medical College in 1878.

Dr. C. L. Jones, the pioneer physician of Attica, is still in practice.

H. B. Gibbon. born at Big Prairie, Wayne County, Ohio, March 12, 1852, graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in June, 1877, and located at Tiffin in 1880. He practiced for a short time at Kansas and Bettsville, in this county.

J. B. Bland, born in Muskingum County, Ohio, July 22, 1840, is a graduate of Starling (Columbus) Medical College. In, 1869 he entered on the practice of medicine at Benton, Crawford County, Ohio.

L. E. Robinson, a graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1873, located at Republic in 1876.

Benjamin S. Stover, born at Brooklyn, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, June 13, 1856, a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, located at Republic in 1878.

H. B. Martin, born at Chillicothe, Ohio, November 15, 1823, graduated from Charity Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1850; came from Melmore to Tiffin about 1866-67; died March 1, 1884.

F. W. Schwan, born at Lancaster, Penn., March 3, 1843, is a graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, of the class of 1867.

W. H. Paul, born in Richland County, Ohio, April 14, 1848, graduated


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from the Miami Medical College, Ohio, in 1872, and opened his office at Adrian, Big Spring Township, in 1876.

Miss Julia Rumsey, a female physician of Tiffin, was lost in the wreck of the Pewabie.

Ariel B. Hovey, born in Orleans County, Vt., February 9, 1829, entered Oberlin College in 1843, where he studied until 1849 and also read medicine in Dr. Johnson's office there. In 1850 he continued his medical studies under Prof. Ackley, of Cleveland, graduated in March, 1852, and the same year settled at Tiffin. His, death occurred October 2, 1884.

Maurice Leahy, born in Kerry County, Ireland, March 14, 1853, graduated from Wooster University, in February, 1878, and entered on the practice of his profession at Tiffin, in July, that year; he studied under Dr. McCollum.

John D. O'Connor was born at W Woodsfield, Ohio, September 24, 1822; studied medicine under Dr. Dillon; graduated from Miami Medical College in 1858; was elected senator in 1861, re-elected in 1863; settled at Tiffin in 1866, and died while attending an adjourned session of the constitutional convention, at Cincinnati, February 21, 1874. In 1845 he was married to Miss Ruth C. Neff, of Clarington, Ohio.

C. A. Henry, born in Wood County, Ohio, January 5, 1844, located at Fostoria in 1871, as a partner of Dr. A. S. W Williams.

Park L. Myers, born at Fostoria, May 28, 1860, graduated from the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati in 1879, and began the practice of medicine in Fostoria in 1880.

F. J. Schaufelberger graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia in 1884, and commenced practice in Fostoria same year. From 1873 to 1882 he was engaged in the drug trade here.



John H. Norris has practiced medicine at Fostoria since 1881. Previous to this time he was a physician of Wood County.

Amos S. Williams has practiced at Fostoria since 1867.

John H. Williams, a graduate of Wooster, commenced practice at Fostoria in 1877.

Dr. William C. Cole moved to Republic in 1841, thence to Tiffin.

Dr. Pennington, who died January 23, 1862, studied medicine at Tiffin, under Dr. Kuhn. He practiced some years at Delphos, Allen Co., Ohio.

Dr. Williams, born January, 1812, in Genessee County, N. Y., settled at Reedtown in 1835, as a physician; died about three years ago.

Dr. Henry Wertz was a physician in Hopewell Township in 1852.

Dr Minard Obermiller, an old resident of Tiffn, died at Toledo, September 28, 1884.

Dr. I. T. Gilbert, who died at Bryan, Ohio, in recent times, was one of the early physicians of Reed Township.

Dr. Robert R. McMeens, born in Pennsylvania, February 26, 1820, settled at Tiffin in 1841, married Miss Ann C. Pettinger, in 1843; moved to Sandusky in 1846; died at Perryville, Ky., October 30 1862.

Dr. W. H. Heckerman, who graduated from Heidelberg College in 1878, studied medicine and practiced in this county; he died in January, 1885.

Dr. George W. Beigh, who was engaged in practice at Plymouth, Md., died April 14, 1882, and his remains were brought to Republic for interment.

Dr. A. S. Uberroth, of New Riegel, met his death at Stoner Wood, on the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad, February 16, 1883. On the evening of February 16 he sent a dispatch to his wife stating that he would be at Berwick on the night express, and requesting her to send his hired man to meet him. The hired man was at the depot at Berwick, and as Mr. Uberroth


316 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY,

did not arrive he made inquiry of the conductor, who informed him that a man answering the description of the Doctor was put off the train just south of Tiffin because he refused to pay his fare and claimed that he bought a ticket and lost it. The hired man returned to New Riegel, and Mrs. Uberroth immediately sent friends in search of her husband. They followed the railroad track from Berwick toward Tiffin, and found the body at the place above stated.

Dr. Usher Parsons joined Gen. Harrison's army at Camp Seneca, and subsequently was with Perry on the lakes. In later years he made his home at Cincinnati.

Dr. A. H. Christy died September 19, 1884.

Dr. J. F. E. Fanning, a son of one of the pioneers of the county, born in Tiffin in 1844 is president of the Medical Association of Seneca County.

Dr. John Montgomery died at Adrian January 29, 1885, aged sixty-three years. He was for many years a resident of that part of the county.

Dr. Joseph Boehler located at Tiffin prior to 1845.



Dr. G. W. Sampson was one of the witnesses to the treaty of McCutcheonville January 19, 1832, and was an old physician of the district.

Dr. John Kerr, a Thompsonian practitioner, resided at Rome in 1847.

Dr. E. B. Hubbard, born at Chester, Mass., December 28, 1840, came to Tiffin in January, 1874, and with Dr. Hershiser, established the Hubbard Drug Store, southwest corner of Market and Washington Streets. He never practiced in this county.

Dr. Hudson who practiced in specialties in his day, died in 1869.

Dr. Simon Bricker, one of the pioneer physicians of the western part of Seneca County, and an old resident of Fostoria, died in 1856. His was the first burial in the Fostoria City Cemetery.

Dr. T. S. Lang located at Springville in May, 1836.

Dr. Isaac Young, a resident of this county for a number of years, was sent to the Seneca County Infirmary in August, 1885. He was at one time quite a prominent citizen. He was freight and express agent on the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad at Berwick in the "sixties," and was also a very successful physician. He moved from Berwick to Melmore, and thence to Fostoria. His appetite for strong drink was his worst enemy, and it seemed impossible for him to overcome the habit. While at Fostoria he, for a long period, abstained from drink and did a good business at his profession.

Dr. F. Jaeck died April 16, 1856, aged thirty-nine years.

Dr. A. Metz, of Fostoria, was a practicing physician and druggist there prior to 1849.

Dr. Asa Brayton, born in Wyandot County in 1831, studied under Dr. Metz of Fostoria, in 1849, and entered on practice at McCutcheonville.

Dr. E. W. Dubois, son-in-law of Mrs. Ditto, died July 2, 1873.

Dr. A. A. Freyman, born August 16, 1833, died October 6, 1874.

Dr. F. W. Entriken, of Findlay, also practiced in Seneca County before the war.

Dr. J. Snyder was proprietor of the Tiffin Eye Infirmary (Houck's Block) in April, 1860.

Dr. J. R. Buckingham is an old resident physician, having practiced at Attica for years prior to 1864, when he moved to Bloomville, returning in 1872.

Dr. H. G. Blaine, a member of the faculty of the Toledo Medical College; a member of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association, and of the Board of Censors of the Indiana Medical College, was a member of the Northwestern Ohio Eclectic Medical Association, and came to Attica in 1861.

William J. Culver, noticed among the pioneers of Scipio, was the first


HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. - 317

physician at Republic. Drs. H. K. Spooner, J. A. Maguire, J. Roop and Dr

Storer have been for years identified with the profession in this division of the county.

Henry Kegg Hershiser, born in Bedford County, Penn., in 1831 graduated from Columbus Medical College. Was in professional capacity during the war, and subsequently engaged in the drug business for .nine years, then resumed practice of medicine.



Charles Sandmeister, born in Germany in 1831, came to Thompson Township in 1853, where he commenced the practice of his profession. He graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, in 1864.

Dr. S. D. Jones opened an office at Attica in 1847.

Dr. Stephen Fowler, the pioneer physician of the territory, now known as Wyandot County, also practiced throughout Seneca County. He came to the Sandusky Plains in 1827, and died at Upper Sandusky December 26, 1847.

Dr. M. H. Mills, now a resident of Attica, has practiced in the county for about nine years.

Dr. Pagin was a visiting hydropathic doctor in 1860-61.

Dr. Gibson, of Bloom Township, was commissioned surgeon of the Seneca County militia in 1835.

Dr. Spicer was a pioneer physician as well as a pioneer preacher. His medical and religious methods were particularly peculiar, and sometimes led to trouble in the locality in which he resided.

Dr. A. W. Knight settled at Attica in the spring of 1884.

Dr. Seymour came to Attica Station in July or August, 1885.

Dr. George Rubard is a native of Thompson Township, born in 1847; graduated from Cincinnati Eclectic College in 1871, and commenced practice at Flat Rock.

Other physicians, past and present, referred to in the history of the townships, are named as follows:

Drs. D. Peters and G. H. Scoles, Springville (in 1847); George Sprague and Hon. J. A. Norton, Tin; S. T. Finch and Thomas Cochran, Green Spring; Alonzo Lockwood, Simon Bricker and George Patterson, Rome; A. Metz, R. C. Caples and Marcus Dana, Risdon; Robert P. Frazer, Reed; Bellville and Peter J. Smyth, Bloom; F. M. Bell, Fort Seneca; Daniel M. Bate, Melmore: I. Breidinger, W. G. and G. P. Williard, Tiffin; Pierce, William L. Hamilton, F. S. Kendall, J. S. Sparks and John Ball, Republic; Joseph Myers and Henry L. Harris, Thompson; William Crawford, Tiffin; Charles Beilhartz, dentist (1842), J. R. Huss and Wells, Tiffin; Barber and J. C. Myers, Venice (the former gone to Iowa; the latter died January 18 1884); F. H. Lang, Tiffin; A. M. Magers, Alvada; H. C. Wells and Leon McCollum, Tiffin; J. W. Hoy, Bloomville; M. Nighswander and Chancellor Martin, Fort Seneca; F. M. White, New Riegel; H. Ladd, J. W. Holmes and Steele, Melmore; A. M. Martin, Bloomville; Marshall Brothers, C. R. Walker, Skeggs, L. H. Sprague, I. W. Moliere, F. W. Entrikin, A. R. McKellar, David P. Campbell, L. E. Robinson, J. L. Brown, and Thomas Cochran, Green Spring; W. P. Buckingham, Bettsville; C. L. Jones, A. Force, C. A. Force, Attipa; D. E. Bowman, Kansas; Watson, I. H. Norris, Myers, W. M. Cake, John Bricker and P. E. Ballou, Fostoria; Charles T. Benner, Homer J. Bricker, S. W. Bricker, A. M. Campbell, Lovi Corfman, Fred Scheil and Henry C. Wells, T. J. West and T. E. Wells, Tiffin; C. A. Henry, L. G. Williams, Fostoria; A. D. Orwig, Reed; M. H. Mills, D. J. Deck, Venice; R. M. Sproul, Adams; W. H. Focht, Big Spring; T. J. Foster, Bloom; O. B. Whittecar, C. M. Comer, Hopewell.

The physicians of this county, who served as army surgeons or assistant surgeons during the war of the Rebellion are named as follows:


318 - HISTORY OH' SENECA COUNTY.

Drs. Leopold Zander, Robert W. Thrift, W. H. Park, H. B. Lung, S. A. Smith, S. H. Spencer, J. Kling, Joseph Hobble, Henry K. Spooner, J. L. Morris, James C. Myers, Thomas M. Cook, George S. Yingling, Walter Caswell, Henry F. Lacey, H. H. Russell, O. Ferris, W. B. Hyatt, J. H. Williams, N. B. Brisbani, R. R. McMeens, George Weeks and Gibson, of Bloom, (latter surgeon of Seneca Militia, during Toledo war).

The practicing physicians on the southern borders of the county, residents of Wyandot County, previous to 1845, were:

Joseph Mason and David Watson, of Crane; Noah Wilson, of Ridge; David Adams of Richland; William Cope of Jackson; Westbrook (1835), Hall, Chisney and Ferris, of Marseilles; Clark and Foster, of Crawford; Bingham, Free, Letson, Ranger, G. W. Sampson (1828) and Dunn, of Tymochtee; A. W. Munson, of Antrim; J. H. Drumm, of Pitt, and Stephen Fowler (1827) and J. B. McGill, of the same township ; McConnell, of Upper Sandusky. Dr. Fowler was well known to the first settlers of Seneca, while Dr. Sampson settled in this county before taking up his residence south of the county line. Dr. E. J. McCollum settled at McCutcheonville in 1849, and practiced there for two years.

MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS.

Fostoria Medical Society.-The Fostoria Medical Society was organized April 18, 1876 with J. W. Bricker, F. J. Bricker (removed), R. W. Hale, R. C. Caples, G. L. Hoege, W. M. Cake (in Michigan) A. S. Williams, C. A. Henry, L. Williams, A. J. Longfellow, G. N. Lewis (Michigan), A. G. Owen, E. D. Powers (druggist, removed), and A. E. Watson. Shortly after the organization of the County Medical Society, the senior members of the profession at Fostoria joined the new association.

Seneca County Medical Society.-September 13, 1878, a number of physicians met at Dr. McFarland's office at Tiffin, and issued an invitation to the physicians of the county to meet on September 25th for the purpose of organizing a society. On the day named there were present: Dry. J. A. McFarland, A. B. Hovey, E. J. McCollum, J. F. E. Fanning, G. P. Williard, B. F. Hittle, Maurice Leahy, E. W. Sullivan, A. L. Waugaman, H. B. Martin, Simon Bricker, J. W. Heckerman, J. T. Livers, of Tiffin; T. J. West, of Melmore; Barber, of Attica; Nighswander, of Fort Seneca; A. S. Martin, of Bettsville; Whittaker, of Bascom; G. L. Hoege, of Fostoria; W. H. Paul, of Adrian; A. S. Uberoth, of New Riegel, and H. B. Gibbon, of Kansas (now of Tiffin). A resolution to organize a medical society was carried, when A. B. Hovey was elected president, J. A. McFarland, vice-president, A. L. Waugaman, secretary, and H. K. Spooner, treasurer. Drs. Martin, of Bettsville, Nighswander, of Fort Seneca, and Waugaman presented a form of constitution, which was adopted.

J. B. Bland, of Benton; Henderson, of Green Spring, and Patterson, of McCutcheonville, were admitted to membership October 23, 1878. Dr. Benner was a member prior to this date. February 26, 1879, F. W. Schwan, of Benton; Wert, of Mexico; Ray R. Mitchell, Bellevue; Hoy, of Bloomville; B. S. Stover, of Republic; W. R. Martin, of Melmore, and Chancellor Martin, of Fort Seneca, were received as members. June 25, 1879, G. W. Sampson, of McCutcheonville, L. G. Williams, R. W. Hale, A. S. Williams, R. C. Caples, A. J. Longfellow, W. M. Cake, John Bricker and C. A. Henry, of the Fostoria Medical Association, were admitted to membership; Dr. Martin, of Bloomville, was admitted January 28, 1880, and L. E. Robinson April 28, that year. Drs. Wenner, Foucht, Keller, McKellar, J. P. Kinnaman, J. S. Yingling and W. H. Hershiser have been admitted since 1880.

Dr. Waugaman was elected delegate to the American Microscopic Association convention at Buffalo, which was held August, 1879.


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May 28, 1879, Drs. Williard, Bland and Fanning were elected delegates to the Ohio State Medical Society, to be held June 3, 1879, with C. Martin, Spooner and Hovey, alternates.

Dr. Norton received the thanks of the society May 28, 1879, for his efforts in having the anatomy act passed by the Legislature.

In September, 1879, officers were elected as follows: J. A. McFarland, president; A. S. Martin, vice-president; A. Waugaman, secretary; E. W. Sullivan, assistant secretary; E. J. McCollum, treasurer.

In September, 1880, H. K. Spooner was elected president; E. W. Sullivan, secretary; J. F. E. Fanning, treasurer; M. Leahy, assistant secretary. Those officers held over until the close of 1882, owing to there being no election in 1881.

The election of September, 1882, resulted as follows: President, Dr. J. U. Heckerman; vice-president, Dr. G. P. Williard; treasurer, Dr. H. B. Gibbon; secretary, Dr. E. W. Sullivan. Executive committee: Drs. McFarland, Hovey and McCollum. Finance Committee: Drs. Williard, Leahy and Benner. Medical ethics: Drs. Spooner, Gibbon and Fanning. Committee on admissions: Drs. Hovey, Williard and Sullivan. In 1883 there were elected: E. J. McCollum, president; J. F. E. Fanning, vice-president; E. W. Sullivan, secretary; H. B. Gibbon, treasurer. On Dr. Sullivan's removal from the county his position as secretary devolved on Dr. H. B. Gibbon, the present secretary of the society, and Dr. West was appointed treasurer.

The election of 1884 resulted in the choice of Dr. J. F. E. Fanning, president; Dr. F. J. Livers, vice-president; Dr. H. B. Gibbon, secretary; Dr. West, treasurer. Dr. Wenner, of Tiffin, was elected a member of the society and Dr. Steel, of Melmore, was also admitted a member.

Northwestern Ohio Eclectic Medical Association.-This is not a local association, but owing to its social connection with Tiffin, where many of its meetings have been held, it claims a brief notice. The last meeting of the association was hold at Tiffin, October 16 1884, when Dr. Breidinger, the president, delivered an address entitled "Medical Truth." Dr. DeCrow, of Galion, read an essay on "Laceration of the Perinaeum," and Dr. Sandmeister, of Bellevue, on "Pathology and Treatment of Typhoid." The officers elected were Dr. H. DeCrow, of Galion, president; J. A. Grove, of Mt. Blanchard, Ohio, vice-president; H. Thomas, of Ada, Ohio, second vice-president; W. N. Mundy, of Forest, Ohio, secretary; J. M. Crismore, of Helena, Ohio, corresponding secretary; Charles Sandmeister, of Bellevue, Ohio, treasurer.


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