Medicine
in Shelby County, Indiana
Major Hospital
Hord Sanitarium
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THE SHELBYVILLE NEWS
May 16, 1975
-----------
Old-fashioned drugstore gives
way to modern super pharmacy
By JOAN REHME
[This is a wonderful historical article, including a picture of Russell M. Fleming and some of his pharmaceutical "equipment". Many Shelby Co names are mentioned: Leefers, Robins, Faivre, Bishop, Means, Hoop, Schroeder. Mrs. Rehme obviously researched the subject, beginning her coverage with data from 1856. Copies available through the Shelbyville-Shelby Co Library.
This is not "my" Fleming family, but I do have some information.-pmf]
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CHAPTER XIV.
The Medical Profession of Shelby County.
(By Charles A. Tindall, M.D.)
In the preparation of
this chapter I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to former county histories,
Forest Hill Cemetery and other records, a number of older citizens who
have kindly given their assistance to the present physicians of Shelby county
and to the tombstones, which have silently their records. That which is
given as authentic can be relied on as being fairly accurate, but in many
instances no definite or accurate information could be obtained, especially
about those who have been dead for many years, and those who have removed from
this county and whose present location is not known.
An effort has been made
to give some account of each physician who ever lived and practiced medicine in
Shelby county for any considerable length of time, but the County Clerk's
register gives the names and locations of a number of physicians who were
located in various parts of the county for a short time at many different
periods since 1881, and doubtless there were many before that time, of whom no
record is here given. Most of them, however, did not practice in the
county long enough to become thoroughly identified with the medical profession
of the county, but some may have been missed who were more prominent, as the
task of collecting the data has been difficult on account of there having been
no early or continuous organization of the profession in the county and
consequently no early records have been kept.
The statue requiring all
physicians to register with the County Clerk became operative in 1881 and the
statute requiring a license in 1885. No record of physicians prior to that
time can be found in the Clerk's office, and it is presumable that none has been
kept. No careful and systematic records of births and deaths has ever been
kept, excepting for a few recent years. The older records, if they were
ever kept, have been destroyed or misplaced. In fact, it is doubtful if
all births are now reported, although under the present system all deaths are
probably reported.
In looking into the
history of the men who were the pioneer physicians of Shelby county one is
impressed with the character of many of them. They were intelligent,
resourceful, study men, made powerful by the hardships they endured. They
were active in the development of the country and influential in their
respective communities. Many of them were well educated, not only in
medicine, but in the sciences and literature and it was not uncommon for a
physician of the earlier period to be able to preach a good sermon as well as
practice medicine successfully.
The relation between
physician and patient was then much closer than it now is. The
physician was not only the medical adviser, but frequently the general adviser
and family friend, and when he once became the fmaly physician he generally
continued in that capacity for many years or until the death of one or the other
and frequently the patient was an inheritance to a son who had taken up his
father's practice. Dr. Weelum MacLure, of Ian McLaren's creation was not
an uncommon figure and even Jess, his old white mare, that he rode in all kinds
of weather for so many years, could be associated in duplicate with many of
Shelby county's pioneer physicians of the early days.
The practice of medicine
with the pioneer physician was difficult work' the roads were frequently all but
impassable and the only mode of travel was either on foot or horse-back.
There were no bridges and it was often necessary to force the horse to swim the
swollen streams. During the sickly season (and malaria was present almost
the year around) many of the physicians were in the saddle, with but little
rest, both day and night, going from one patient to another over the thinly
settle country. Many times the people were poor and had but little with
which to pay for medical services, although as a general rule, there were honest
and paid what they could, if not in money, in horse feed, food and other
articles necessary to the physician's existence.
My earliest recollection
of a physician is that of a benevolent-looking, closely-shaven, elderly
gentleman coming down the road driving a horse to a high two-wheeled
sulky. After hitching the horse he came into the house and made an
examination of my father, who was sick. He then asked for a basin, and
when it was brought ordered it held under my father's arm, around which he had
previously tied a band and with a spring lancet opened the vein and permitted
about a quart of blood to escape into the basin. This was some thirty-five
or thirty-seven years ago, and the only time I ever witnessed a
"bleeding." This procedure has been almost entirely
discarded. The same may be said of the administration of mercury and
antimony in large doses, and in fact of the entire depletive system of
medicine. A milder and more rational practice has taken the place of the
earlier systems and the prevention of disease occupies a much more prominent
place in the physician's duties than in the early days.
Drainage of the soil has
done more to prevent malaria (formerly call ague or chills and fever) than all
of the quinine or other remedies ever given. whether or not vaccination
lessens the dangers of small-pox is a debatable question, but no one who has
studied the disease will doubt but that cleanliness, ventilation and proper
sanitation have very materially reduced the morality in this once dreaded
disease. Cholera almost disappears where a high order of sanitation
prevails. Typhoid fever is generally traceable to impure water or other
impure foods and the poison is sometimes transmitted from one patient to
another. This disease can also be prevented by the removal of the cause,
which is done by giving the proper care to foods, water and sanitary conditions.
It is now generally
conceded by the medical profession that pure air, proper food, proper exercise,
and in fact, correct modes of living, together with symptomatic treatment of
functional disorders gives the only hope of cure in consumption and that much
can be done along these lines to prevent it. One might go on
particularizing in all diseases and the same principle prevails.
Much experimenting along
the lines of preventing diseases has been done and much good accomplished, but
much yet remains to be accomplished and a more thorough study of sanitation,
ventilation, foods, and of all of the laws of nature must be given; for the
great white plague (consumption) claims its victims each year in appalling
numbers. Regardless of almost universal vaccination, small-pox continues
to exist and frequently causes death, regardless of the use of anti-toxin
diphtheria claims its scores of victims each year and the same may be said of
tetanus and many other diseases which are treated by the serum theraphy[sic].
And yet so much has been accomplished in the science of healing in the past that
the future gives a great promise of still greater progress.
The progress in surgery
during the last quarter of a century has been rapid. The discovery of
anesthesia in 1847 had removed from it many of its horrors, and the discovery of
antiseptics a few years later, many of its dangers. Some wonderful results
have been obtained and yet much has been done in the enthusiasm of success that
had better been left undone. A lesson has been learned and a more
conservative surgery is now practiced than a few years ago. It has been
said that a certain surgeon acknowledged that he had removed a plateful of
practically healthy ovaries, a confession that could probably be duplicated by
some others.
Superstitions among a
certain class of the laity have not all disappeared. I have been told by
credulous persons that a tea made from the bark of a peach tree when the bark
had been scraped up would cure diarrhea, and that a tea made from the same bark
when the bark had been scraped down would cure vomiting. I have seen a
child to which the parents had given fishing worm tea, and it is perhaps
needless to say that the child died. Even now parents of good intelligence
frequently have their babies "measured" for "flesh-decay"
(inanition). This is a process in which the baby is measured with a string
and the child then put through a loop made of the string and some words or
prayer recited. The "measuring" is done by some woman who
imparted it shortly before death and it can be imparted to but one person by the
same individual. The physician often comes in contact with other equally
ridiculous things and scarcely takes the time to remonstrate.
The patent medicine habit
is one of the evils to which the gullible afflicted is addicted. It is
claimed that each year, in the United States alone, more than seventy-five
millions of dollars are spent for patent medicines. Most of these
medicines belong to two classes, one containing a large amount of alcohol or
opium, or other habit-forming narcotics, or acetanilid or other dangerous heart
depressants; the other class is inert or harmless, and designed only to get the
money from its users. There may be, and doubtless are, some meritorious
remedies of this class, but the deleterious or inert are very largely in the
majority.
While all of the
physicians of Shelby county have not been of the highest order, as would be
found in any community, the large majority of them have been well educated,
intelligent, gentlemanly physicians, well up to their times in literary,
scientific and medical attainments. This has been true of the physicians
of the county from the beginning and is no less true now, for no better
treatment for any disease either acute or chronic, no better surgery in either
minor or major operations can be secured than from Shelby county physicians.
During the first years of
the history of the county the mode of travel by the physician was either on foot
or on horse-back, and if the roads were now no better than they then were the
same methods would yet be necessary, but the county is now traversed by
excellent gravel pikes. A little later during the dry season the
two-wheeled sulky was frequently used and as the roads became better improved
the buggy displaced the sulky. At the present time the largest number of
physicians use the horse and buggy, but is seems that they are rapidly being
displaced by the automobile.
PHYSICIANS OF THE FIRST DECADE IN SHELBY
COUNTY'S HISTORY.
Dr. Jame Kipper
is said to be the first physician who ever came to Shelby county. He
probably came as early as, or prior to, 1820. He was siad to have been a
man of very ordinary ability and very little professional knowledge although
fairly successful in the treatment of the diseases prevalent at that time.
Sylvan B. Morris,
M.D., was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, November 24, 1795, and
came to Shelby county and opened an office in the house of Alexander
Vanpelt, at the mouth of Conn's Creek, in 1821, or nearly two years before
Shelbyville was laid out, in July of 1822. He then immediately moved to
the new town of Shelbyville, where he continued to make his home until the time
of his death, September 6, 1843. During his twenty-two years' residence in
Shelbyv county Doctor Morris practiced medicine and was active in all of the
affairs of the community. He was a real pioneer of the county and the one
pioneer physician of Shelby county, of whom we have the earliest reliable
record. He was a son of David and Sarah Morris, native
of Pennsylvania, of Welsh descent, who moved to Warren county, Ohio, when Sylvan
B. was a small boy. Here he grew to maturity and received his education in
the public schools and the Lebanon Academy and Jefferson Medical College, of
Philadelphia, from which he graduated. Immediately after graduating from
Jefferson Medical College he opened an office at Lebanon, Ohio, where he
continued in the practice of his profession until he came to Shelby county in
1821.
He was married to Catherine
Knox, in Lebanon, Ohio, May 25, 1825; she was born in Londonderry, Ireland,
in 1801, and they were the parents of three children, Martha H., John
K., and Sylvan B., the latter still being a
resident and retired merchant of this city.
Doctor Morris was an
Assessor and Land Appraiser in Shelby county, and in 1828 and 1831 he was
elected to represent the county in the State Legislature. In 1829 he was
elected Clerk of Shelby county, and continued to serve the county in that
capacity until February, 1843, when he resigned, only a few months before this
death.
For that early day Doctor
Morris' education, both in literature and medicine, was far in advance of the
time and he naturally took a prominent place among the citizens of the new
county and town, and was prominent figure in all of the affairs of the community
until the time of his death. His death was deplored and his loss keenly
felt by all of the citizens.
Dr. James Wray
was born in Buncombe county, North Carolina, in 1793. He came to Indiana
and located in Shelby county, near where the Wray churches now stand in the
early twenties. For a number of years he did considerable practice in the
community where he resided and also did some practice among the Indians.
He was also a preacher
and frequently preached in the neighborhood and at different locations, near
where he resided.
For a number of years
before he died he occupied his time in managing a large farm which he had
secured in an early day. He died at the old home in Shelby county in 1869.
Dr. David Tracy
was one of the very early pioneer physicians of Shelby county. He located
at the Muths Crossroads, one and one-half miles west of Morristown in the early
part of the twenties. This time is well established from the fact that he
organized the first Masonic lodge ever organized in Shelby county. This
lodge, which was known as Lafayette Lodge, No. 28, Free and Accepted Masons, was
organized October 5, 1825, and as no suitable hall for the meetings could be
found in that locality the sessions were held in the second story of Doctor
Tracy's house. He was the first worshipful master. The lodge
continued with considerable prosperity for about three years, when it disbanded
and later became Shelby Lodge, No. 28, Free and Accepted Masons.
Here the doctor and his
family lived in a two-story log house for many years. He endured the
hardships of the early pioneer physician and aside from his professional duties
he was prominent in all of the affairs of the new county which he had selected
for his home. He died about 1840 or 1845, at the old home. He had a
wife, two daughters -- Sophronia and Mrs. Sophia Gordon,
and one son, Isaac.
Dr. Archibald Smith
came from Brookville, Indiana, in 1826, but nothing more is now known about him.
Dr. Edward Beall
probably came to Shelbyville about 1827, and while nothing further is known
positively of him an epitaph on an old tomb-stone in the oldest part of the city
cemetery probably refers to him. It is as follows: "Sacred to
the memory of Edmund J. Beall, who departed this life March 16,
1837. Age thirty-one years, nine months and five days." If this
surmise is correct he was twenty-one years of age when he came here.
John Y. Kennedy, M.D.,
was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1792. He received his
early education in the public schools of his native county, and later attended
the Lewisburg Academy, from which he graduated. He first studied medicine
under Doctor Priestly, of Sunberry, Pennsylvania, who was the discoverer
of oxygen, and was one of the original investigators of that day. He then
studied for a time under Dr. John Syng Dorsey, of Philadelphia. Doctor
Dorsey was one among the most celebrated surgeons of America at that time.
After his preliminary study in medicine, he entered a medical college in
Philadelphia, and after completing the prescribed course, graduated. He
was a surgeon in the War of 1812, and after the close of the war returned to
Pennsylvania, where he practiced medicine and surgery for several years.
He first came to Shelby county in 1828, and located on a farm near Noah (Marion)
and son after moved to Noah, where he practiced his profession for a time.
He then moved to Shelbyville, where he opened an office and continued in the
practice until a few years before his death, when he retired from practice and
moved to Acton, Indiana, where he lived unil he was almost ninety years old.
Doctor Kennedy was a man
of uncommon vigor of intellect, a good physician and excellent surgeon for that
early day, and an influential citizen. He was married to Mary
McKinney, also a nativeof Pennsylvania, about the close of the War of 1812,
and they were the parents of a large family of children. He died at Acton,
Indiana, July 10, 1882.
Dr. Samuel Randolph
was one of the pioneer physicians and preachers of Jackson township. He
located there probably about theyear 1829 or 1830, and remained there until
about 1855. He was preacher in the Separate Baptist chrch, and practiced
medicine in the community where he resided. He left Jackson township about
1855 and finally located at Bloomington, whree he died. He was the
grandfather of Dr. Daniel F. Randolph, who is now located at
Waldron. He had a wife and a large family of perhaps ten or twelve
children. He claimed to be able to cure the then prevailing malady known
as milk-sickness. He was among the first settlers of Jackson township, and
took an active part in everything pertaining to its welfare.
Dr. William Silcox
was born in Scotland and emigrated to this country at an early day. He
graduated from a medical college in Baltimore. He came to Shelby county
and located at Freeport about 1830, and continued in the practice of medicine
there from that time until his death about 1845. About 1838 he was married
to Miss Lucena Burtch, who survived him, and a few years after his
death was married to Morris Pierson, father of Dr. W. M.
Pierson, now of Morristown. He was prominent in all of the enterprises
of the community, and largely instrumental in the building of the mill at
Freeport in an early day.
DECEASED PHYSICIANS WHO PRACTICED
MEDICINE IN
SHELBY COUNTY FROM 1830 TO THE PRESENT
TIME.
Dr.
James M. Adams was born in Scott county, Kentucky, January 15,
1820. He was the eldest in a family of eleven children born to Isaac
and Nancy (Polk) Adams. They came to Indiana in 1825 and located
in what is now Hancock county, where they continued to live until 1838,when they
moved to Shelby county. He moved with his parents to Rush county in 1841,
where they remained for three years, when they again moved to Shelby
county. He received his education in the public schools and by study at
home until he was able to teach. In 1841 he was married to Miss
Phoebe J. Johnson, of Rush county, and from then until 1850 he followed
farming. In 1850 he commenced the study of medicine under Dr.
Hiram Comstock, and continued under him until 1853, when he entered the Ohio
Medical College, where he took a course of lectures. He then located at
Pleasant View, where he practiced for a few months, when he moved to Freeport,
where he continued in the practice for fourteen years. In 1867 he moved to
Wabash county and practiced for seven years, when he returned to Shelby county
and located at Marion (Noah), where he continued in the practiced until his
death, September 16, 1894.
Mrs. Adams died June 18,
1864, and the following December he was married to Miss Belinda Johnson.
He was the father of thirteen children, eight by his first wife and five by the
last. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for more than
fifty years, and a licensed exhorter in that church for more than thirty
years. He was always active in the Sunday school and paid especial
attention to the music.
David Hunter Adams
was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1830, and graduated from the Ohio Medical
Collee about 1866. He practiced medicine prior to his graduation at
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for for or five years, and came to Shelbyville where he
practiced until the war broke out, when he enlisted as surgeon in the army and
remained three years. He came to Shelbyville in 1856, and after returning
from the army located at Fairland, where he practiced for several years.
He then moved to Edinburg where he practiced until a few years before his death,
which occurred there June 7, 1895. He was married March 11, 1858, to
Miss Allie J. Morris, and to their union six children were born.
Two live here, Miss Kate and Frank.
Dr. Joseph Ardere
was located near the Copeland Mills on Flatrock for a few years about
1848. He boarded at Copeland's until he was married to Miss
Wooley, when they moved to Hartsville, where he died some years later.
Walter K. Baylor, M.D.,
came from Decatur county, Indiana, where he had a large practice, to Shelby
county, about 1880. He immediately located on a farm in Noble township,
where he continued in a small practice until his death about twenty-five years
later. Although of rough exterior he had a kind disposition, and was
considered by many to be a good physician.
He was married in early
life and his wife died six months later, and after her death he always lived
alone.
Dr. John W. Belk
was born November 28, 1818, and died at Marietta, Shelby county, Indiana, July
14, 1853. He located at Marietta during the latter part of the thirties,
and continued in the active practice there until the time of his death. He
married Miss Martha Miller, who survived him. His remains
were buried in the old city cemetery, of Shelbyville, and these dates were taken
from the tomb-stone.
Lovell M. Bruce
was born in New Castle, Kentucky, January 8, 1808. He graduated from an
Eclectic Medical College either at Cincinnati, or Louisville, about 1839.
He practiced medicine for
a time at New Castle, Bedford, Louisville, and Mount Sterling, Kentucky, and
about 1860 came to Shelby county and located at Mount Auburn in Jackson
township, where he continued in an extensive practice until the spring of 1872,
when he, with his family moved to Shelbyville. He left Mount Auburn and
came to Shelbyville on account of poor health, and never had an extensive
practice in Shelbyville. He continued to live here, however, until the
time of his death, October 6, 1873. His death was caused by a severe cold
taken while making a midnight ride to see a charity patient in Jackson township
during the winter of 1872. From this time he went into a decline and never
again regained his health. He was the son of Andrew J. Bruce,
a Kentucky slave owner. Doctor Bruce, however, was a strong Union man, and
this was the principal reason he left his native state and came to Indiana, when
the war cloud was hanging heavily over the country. He was married July
29, 1847, to Miss Eliza J. McHenry, of Vevay, Indiana, who died in
Shelbyville, Indiana, November 25, 1896. To their union four children were
born: Mrs. Georgia Rinehart, who is the wife of City
Councilman John Rinehart; Mrs. Ada Deitzer, who was
the wife of County Clerk J. H. Deitzer, now deceased; Clarence
R. Bruce, and the late Don C. Bruce, ex-City Marshal.
Dr. Harvey Benham
practiced medicine at Flatrock, Shelby county, for a number of years along about
1860. After the death of Doctor Treon he purchased the
old Treon homestead and moved there, where he continued in the practice for some
years. He finally moved to Richmond, where he died some years later.
He was married to the widow of Martin Warner.
Daniel Booher, M.D.,
was born in Shelby county, Indian, August 24, 1869. He received his
literary education in the public schools of the county. He was raised on a
farm and employed himsellf at that occupation until he was twenty years of age,
when he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, where he graduated in
1894. He then located at Marion (Noah), having purchased the office
of Doctor Bowlby and practiced medicine in that vicinity
until about 1900, when he was compelled to change climate on account of failing
health. He then went to Colorado and practiced medicine until his death,
which occurred December 20, 1905. His death was caused by lung
trouble. His remains were brought back home and buried in Forest Hill
cemetery. He was married to Miss Maggie Peters September
13, 1893. They had no children. He was an enthusiastic member of
Chillon Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and was buried under the auspices of that
lodge.
Joseph Bowlby, M.D.,
was born in Rush county, Indiana, February 17, 1854. He was the youngest
in a fmily of eight children born to Dennis and Eliza A. (Cregar)
Bowlby, who were natives of New Jersy. They moved to Rush county at an
early day and removed to Shelby county in 1869, where they resided until their
death. He worked on a farm in the summer and attended the public schools
in the winter until he was enough advanced in his studies to teach school, which
he did in Rush county for six terms, devoting his time to farming during the
intervening summers.
He commenced the study of
medicine with Dr. Lot Green, of Rushville, in 1880, and continued
to study with him and at the Ohio Medical College until he graduate in
1883. After graduating he located at Marion (Noah), Shelby county, where
he continued in the active practice until 1894, when he moved to Shelbyville and
opened an office where he continued in practice until his death, June 28, 1906.
He was a member of the
Presbyterian church, of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics he was a
Republican, and in all of them he was actice. April 28, 1885, he was
married to Miss Mary E. Yearling. He left besides his widow
two daughters, Bertha and Bernice.
Dr. E. T. Bussell
came here to practice medicine about 1845 and continued in the practice for a
number of years. He was here during the cholera epidemic of 1850, and
treated many patients during this epidemic. He was quite a musician and an
inventor of no mean ability. He had a number of patents, some of which
were manufactured rather extensively. He had large family of children.
Frank Gillespie
Campbell, M.D., who was the son of Thomas and Bridgett
(Gillespie) Campbell, both natives of Ireland, was born in Johnson
county, Indiana, February 27, 1869. He received his education in the
public schools and in Franklin College, where he attended four years. He
then spent three years in the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, where he
graduated in 1894. After graduating he immediately located at Shelbyville
for the practice of medicine, and continued until the time of his death, October
2, 1908. He was an active member of the Eagles and Elks lodges. He
was never married, but resided with his mother.
Dr. G. M. Collins
practiced medicine at Noah (Marion), Shelby county, for a number of years along
about 1870. He finally left there and went to the northern part of the
state, where he died some years later.
Hiram Comstock, M.D.,
was born in Madison county, Ohio, March 17, 1820. His father, James
Comstock, was a native of Vermont, and his mother, Chloe (Bull) Comstock,
was a native of Connecticut. They came to Ohio at an early day and lived
first in Madison county, then moved to Hamilton county, where Hiram grew to
manhood and finally moved to Montgomery county. It was here that Hiram
commenced the study of medicine under the instructions of his father, who was a
physician, and continued his studies until he was qualified to practice.
He commenced the practice of his profession at Greenfield, Indiana, in 1843, and
continued there until 1846, when he first came to Shelby county and located at
Freeport. After practicing at Freeport for a year or two he entered the
Ohio Medical College and continued his studies there until he graduated in
March, 1849. After graduating he resumed his practice at Freeport, and
continued to practice there until 1855, when he removed to Marietta, this
county. Here he enjoyed a large practice for many years and in this
neighborhood he continued to live until the time of his death, March 11, 1888.
He was a member of the
Methodist church and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics a
Republican. He was married three times, first to Rebecca J. Mills
in 1843, who died in 1851; then to Nancy E. Morgan in
1852. His second wife died in 1856, and in 1857 he wa again married, this
time to Lucy A. McCrea, who survived him two weeks. He was
the father of six children, three each by his first and last wife.
Doctor Crew came here from Ohio, and was in
partnership for a few years with Dr. J. C. Slocum. After the dissolution of the partnership he went back to Ohio and died there some years later.
E. E. Crippen, M.D., was born in New York, July 23, 1833. He graduated from the University of the City of New York in 1857. He located at Blue Ridge (Cynthiana) for the practice of medicine in 1885, and remained there for about three years, when he removed to Milroy, Rush county, where he died a short time after.
Dr. Culbertson practiced medicine here for a few years along about 1860.
Dr. Cull is mentioned by a former Shelby county
history, but nothing more could be learned of him.
Dr. Richard Cummins was another of the physicians
who practiced medicine in Shelby county during the thirties. He came here, probably about 1830, and died here some
time near 1840, while yet in the prime of life. He was married to a daughter of John Walker, his wife being
a sister to the wife of Doctor Teal and Doctor McCoy. He lived on the southwest
corner of Harrison
and Pennsylvania streets. He had no children. In politics he voted with the Whigs. He was one of the leading
physicians of that day, and had a fair share of the practice and stood well in his community.
Samuel Davis Day, M.D., who was prominent in
the medical profession in Shelby county for almost a half century, was born in Dalton, Massachusetts, March 2,
1811, of sturdy New England Puritan stock. His parents were Amasa and Hannah Day, who were natives of Connecticut,
but who in early life settled near Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Of
these parents Samuel D. was the third in a family of five children, three sons and two daughters. During
the winter months he attended the district schools of his neighborhood, which were generally taught by the students
of Williams College, who were fine classical scholars, thus giving advantage to the pupils of the district schools.
During the summer months he attended the Pittsfield Academy until he arrived at the age of fourteen. By this time
he had become proficient in the different branches of the English language as well as a good Latin scholar. In
1824 he entered the office of his brother, Dr. Jonathan Day, of Syracuse, New York, where he remained until
1830, when he entered Berkshire Medical College, from which he graduated in December, 1831. Early in 1832 an effort
was made to prevent the spread of cholera in New York, and Doctor Day was appointed quarantine physician and located at French Creek on the St. Lawrence river, where he remained until August of that year, when his brother, Doctor Jonathan, died of cholera. He then returned to Syracuse to settle his brother's estate and remained until 1834. The next two years he spent in Ohio as a traveling salesman, selling surgical instruments. In 1836 he came to St. Omer, Decatur county, but soon moved to Milroy, Rush county. He remained there but a short time, when he moved to Wilmington, Dearborn county, where he remained until his 1838. He located in Shelbyville in 1838, where he remained until his death July 23, 1893. He continued active in the practice of medicine in Shelbyville for forty years, or until 1878, when he retired from active practice on account of failing health. Doctor Day always enjoyed an extensive practice and took an active interest in all public affairs. Although the fees received for medical services at that time were never large, he accumulated considerable property and lived in comfort during his declining years. He was an enthusiastic Democrat and active in politics, although a strong Union Supporter during the war. On October 28, 1847, he was married to Miss Jane Thompson, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who was a cousin of ex-Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks. No children were ever born to them. They were active members of the Presbyterian church.
Doctor Davidson is mentioned as having been
located in Shelbyville in the practice of medicine along about the thirties, by a former Shelby county history,
but as nothing can be learned about him it is probable that he was not here long.
Dr. Richard Depew lived in St. Paul, but did
a large practice in the southeast corner of Shelby county for many years. He left there about 1888, and went to
Indianapolis, where he died some years later.
David S. McGaughey, M.D., was born in Hamilton
county, Indiana, October 24, 1809. [based solely on the date, it is more likely to
have been Hamilton Co, OH-pmf.] He was the son of David and Mary (Lytle) McGaughey, the father being
a native of Ireland, and the mother of New Jersey. He received his literary education in the public schools and
at the age of twenty-four began the study of medicine with Doctor Guett, of Montgomery, Ohio, and later
graduated from the Ohio Medical College. He commenced the practice of medicine at Morristown, Shelby county, Indiana,
in 1835, and continued in the active practice there for almost half a century, or until shortly prior to his death,
which occurred at Morristown, March 17, 1884. During the war he was detailed by Governor Morton as hospital physician,
and acted in that capacity at the battle of Shiloh. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, a member of the
Masonic fraternity, and in politics voted the Republican ticket. He was the organizer of a class of singers known
as the Old Missouri Harmony Singers, which began about 1840, and continued singing at frequent intervals for many
years, and at annual meetings until the doctor's death. After his death the annual meetings have continued, being
led by Dr. James M. Adams until his death, and since that time by others. These meetings have always
been occasions of much importance in Morristown and vicinity. He was married twice, first in 1838 to Miss Amelia
Handy, who died in 1874, and then in 1876 to Miss Martha Jane Handy, a sister of his former wife,
who survived the doctor. He had four children, all born to his first wife. There were two sons and two daughters,
the sons both having been educated for the medical profession. Doctor McGaughey was one of the real pioneer physicians
of Shelby county, and held a position of much influence in his community for years. He enjoyed a large practice
and was a successful physician and at the time a successful business man and owned much valuable property.
Dr. William W. McCoy also practiced medicine
in Shelby county during the thirties. He probably came during the early thirties and left some time during the
forties. An old history of the First Presbyterian church of Shelbyville shows that he was a member of the board
of trustees of that church in 1839, when the first church of that denomination in Shelbyville was built. He also
married a daughter of John Walker, she being a sister to the wife of Doctor Cummins and Doctor Teal.
He lived on the northwest corner of Mechanic and Tompkins streets. He had a good practice and was one of the leading
physicians of that day. He left here and died some years later.
William Gaston McFadden, M.D., was born in Centre
county, Pennsylvania, on April 22, 1834. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, and came with his parents, Hugh and
Isabelle McFadden, to Shelby county when he was four years of age, and here he made his home until his death,
which occurred at Jacksonville, Florida, where he had gone to spend the winter, on April 20, 1907. He received
his preliminary education in the public schools of Shelby county, and then spent three years in Franklin College,
after which he completed his literary education in Hanover College. He commenced his medical education by spending
two years in the Meical Department of the University of Michigan, and then attended the Jefferson Medical College
from which institution he graduated in 1870. He began practice, however, in Shelby county, near Boggstown, in 1856,
and moved to Shelbyville in 1875, where he continued in the active practice until he retired, a few years before
his death. For more that forty years he enjoyed a large practice, and at the time of his death he was in possession
of much valuable property. Soon after the war of the Rebellion broke out he was commissioned surgeon, and entered
the field in that command. During the second day of the battle of Chickamauga, he, together with his nurses, was
captured by the enemy. He was permitted to care for his wounded for ten days, after which he was sent to Libby
prison where he was kept in close confinement for three months. He was then released and again immediately joined
his regiment and remained the service until the close of the war. Soon after moving to Shelbyville he was married
to Miss Martha Sullivan, a native of Miami county, Ohio, and to this union two children were born. Dr. Walter C. McFadden, of Shelbyville, and Mrs. Edna Smith, of Rushville.
George McGaughey, M.D., was born in Morristown,
Indiana, August 11, 1840. He was a son of Dr. David S. McGaughey, who settled at Morristown, in 1835. He
graduated from the Ohio Medical College about 1862, and from that time until his death he practiced medicine at
Morristown, excepting about three years, when he was located elsewhere. He was married in 1866 to Miss
Sarah Elizabeth Wolf, who is now living at Morristown. They became the parents of two children. Doctor McGaughey
died at Morristown, June 6, 1880.
Isaac Neal Tindall, M.D., was born in Shelby county, Indiana, on a farm four miles south of Shelbyville,
August 25, 1854. He attended the public schools of the county during the winter months, and worked on his father's
farm during the summer until he completed the course of instruction given in the common schools and then entered
the high school of Shelbyville, where he remained until he graduated in 1876. Immediately after graduating from
the high school, he entered the office of Dr. John W. Parrish, M.D., at Shelbyville, and commenced
the study of medicine. The following winter he entered the Eclectic Medical institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, where
he continued his studies until he graduated in 1879. After graduating from the medical college he opened an office
for the practice of his profession in Shelbyville, Indiana, where he continued until his death February 2, 1882.
Although his professional career was short, he had already built up a large practice and gave promise of
becoming one of the leading physicians of Shelbyville. His father and mother, George A. and Sallie A. (McCann)
Tindall, were native of Kentucky, and came to Shelby county early in the history of the county.
Doctor Toliver practiced medicine at Copeland's Mill in Noble township for several years some time during the fifties.
Dr. Andrew J. Treon, was another of the pioneer
physicians who practiced medicine in Jackson township, Shelby county, Indiana, in an early day, proably from 1841
to 1860. He was talented and a good physician, and had many warm friends. He was clear-headed and a good thinker,
and influential member of the St. George Lutheran church. He died at the old homestead on the farm where he had
lived for many years, and was buried at Sang Hill cemetery.
Martin Van Buren Updegraff was born in Shelby
county, Indiana, in 1842. He received his early education in the public schools and later attended lectures at
the Ohio Medical College, where he graduated about 1862. He then entered the army as assistant surgeon. After the
close of the war he located at Waldron, Indiana, for the practice of medicine and continued there until his death,
February 25, 1880. He was married to a Miss Miller, of New Albany, Indiana. They had no children.
In politics he was a Republican.
Robert Russell Washburn, M.D., was born near
Laurel, Indiana, March 12, 1833. His father and mother, who were native of Kentucky, were moving from Kentucky
to Rush county, Indiana, and it was while on this trip en route to their new home that Robert Russell first saw
the light of day, having been born in a covered wagon which they were using as a means of conveyance. During the
years of his youth he worked on a farm and commenced to learn the carpenter's trade under his father. He had no
school advantages, having attended school in a little log school-house in Rush county for about thirty days, but
by studying at home he received all the literary education he ever had. He commenced the study of medicine in the
office of Doctor Mauzy, at Rushville, in 1850, where he remained until 1853, when he located at Blue Ridge,
Shelby county, Indiana. He remained in practice here for three or four years when he removed to Waldron, where
he continued in the practice of medicine until the time of his death, November 10, 1900. During nearly all of the
time of his residence at Waldron he also conducted a drug store. During the winters of 1883-84 and 1884-85 he attended
lectures at the Indiana Medical College, where he graduated in the spring of 1885. For almost a half century Doctor
Washburn practiced in Shelby county and saw many marvelous changed take place, not only in the practice of medicine,
but in improvements in the county in every respect. In 1853 he was married to Miss Sarah E. Shultz,
of Rushville, and to this union seven children, three boys and four girls were born.
Dr. Albert G. Webb, who was a son-in-law of
Major John Hendricks, began the practice of medicine in Shelbyville, along about 1840. He was well educated
and a successful physician. He was active in the affairs of the city and soon built up a good practice. Although
yet a young man his useful career was cut short by his death from cholera, in 1850. The death of such a popular
physician from that dreaded disease was so much ofa shock to the then little city of Shelbyville that on the following
day many of the inhabitants left the city to remain away until the danger was passed.
William M. Pierson, M.D. Born in
Greenfield, Indiana, August 10, 1850. Graduated from the Indiana Medical College 1874, and the Medical Department
of Butler University 1876. Practiced at Fountaintown until 1903. Since then at Morristown. Married
June 6, 1878, to Etoile B. Mutz. They have three daughters and one son.
Daniel F. Randolph, M.D., was born March 27,
1854, in Owen county, Indiana. He graduated from the Indiana Medical College in 1888. Practiced at
Indianapolis and Newbern, Indiana, until 1890. Practiced at Waldron since 1890. He was married December 26,
1883, to Miss Alice M. Conover. One child.
J. H. S. Riley, M.D. Born in Decatur county,
Indiana, April 11, 1878. Graduated at Medical College of Indiana, 1904. Practiced in Decatur county
from 1904 to 1908. Practiced at Bengal, Shelby county, since 1908.
Thomas R. Rubush, M.D. Born October 2,
1863, at Indianapolis, Indiana. Graduated at Indiana Medical College September 29, 1879. Practiced
at London, Shelby county, since 1879. Married September 29, 1880, to Miss Emma Hahn. Eight children,
five living.
William Austin Schooley, M.D. Born March
9, 1865, in Dearborn county, Indiana. Graduated from the Ohio Medical College in 1888. Practiced at
Sulphur Hill, Shelby county, Indiana, since. Married June 18, 1890, to Miss Frances True. Six
children.
W. T. Shrout, M.D. Born May 15, 1845,
in Nichols county, Kentucky. He first graduated from an Eclectic College in Richmond, Virginia, and in 1894
from the Eclectic College of Physicians and Surgeons of Indianapolis. Practiced in Shelby county since about 1880.
Now at Waldron. Married August 22, 1867, to Miss Virginia Neal. They have five children living
and two dead. One son a physician.
John W. Snider, M.D. Born April 26, 1845, in
Shelby county, Indiana. Graduated from Rush Medical College of Chicago 1870. Practiced at Fairland
thirty-two years. Married August 24, 1875, to Miss Mary Laws. Three children.
Stephen Lewis Strickler, M.D. Born in
Shelby county, Indiana, August 22, 1853. Attended Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1878 and
1879. Graduated Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, 1883. Practiced at Boggstown since 1879.
J. F. Taylor, M.D., was born December 8, 1844, in Jefferson
county, Indiana. Graduated from Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, 1878. Married April 21, 1885, to
Miss Hannah V. Henry, who died April 18, 1887.
M. M. Wells, M.D. Born in Orange county, Indiana,
February 25, 1871. Graduated at Indiana Medical College 1901. Practiced at Fairland since graduation,
excepting eighteen months as interne in hospital. Married March 2, 1904, to Zella [really Della (Kitty) -- see Bob Gordon's note below*] Gordon. One son [Gordon -- BG], deceased.
Edward Wertz, M.D., was born July 19, 1876,
in Shelby county, Indiana. He graduated from the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1900. Practiced
at Shelbyville, Indiana, a short time, and since at Flatrock. Married July 22, 1897, to Miss Lulu Ford.
Two children.
R. A. Wiltshire,
M.D. Born in Ohio. Graduated from Cincinnati College in 1896.
Practiced at Gwynneville since. Married March 30, 1900, to Alice
Buell. Two children.
PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE PRACTICED MEDICINE IN SHELBY COUNTY,
BUT NOW RESIDE IN OTHER LOCATIONS.
Emil Carl Aurin, M.D., graduated from the
Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1897. He located at Marietta in 1898, and remained about
one year. He is now practicing in Cedar Rapids, Michigan.
Dr. Marcellus M. Adams, who was born in 1836,
practiced medicine at Freeport for a few years along about the sixties. He now resides in Greenfield.
Ella Blackburn, M.D., was born in Ohio. Graduated
from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1898. Practiced at Shelbyville from 1900 to 1904. Now physician
in a sanitarium at Palmyra, Wisconsin.
Frank B. Black, M.D., who is a graduate of
the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, of the class of 1886, came from the southern part of the State
of Bengal, Shelby county, in 1889, and remained in the active practice there until 1904. He is now located
in Ohio.
Dr. J. E. Curtis, a graduate of the Kentucky
School of Medicine, practiced at Waldron for a short time about 1890. He is now located at Greensburg.
James A. Comstock, M.D., was born in Hancock
county, January 8, 1844. Graduated from Rush Medical College in 1865, from the Ohio Medical College in 1867.
Practiced at Marietta from 1867 to 1889. Moved to Greenfield in 1889, where he now resides. He
was married September 19, 1872, to Miss Mary Anderson, and they have had three children.
Dr. J. W. Clubb practiced medicine at Fairland
for several years previous to 1900, when he removed to Kentucky, where he is now practicing.
Dr. J. W. Carney practiced medicine at Ray's
Crossing for several years along about 1900. He is now located in Bartholomew county.
Dr. Charles J. Cook practiced medicine at Gwynneville
from about 1894 to 1904. He is now in the active practice at Indianapolis.
John H. Dearman, M.D., was born and raised in
the northern part of the county. He graduated from the Cincinati [sic] College of Medicine about 1887.
He then located at Brookfield, where he continued in the practice of medicine until about 1900, when he moved to
Action, where he yet resides.
--------------------
* Dr. Milton Wells was married to my grandfather's sister; her name was Della (Kitty) Gordon, not Zella Gordon. I can provide a photo of Kitty and their son Gordon Wells (who died), as well as a photo of Dr. Wells. I think I even have one of Dr. Wells in his WWI uniform. -- Bob Gordon
** [continued below]
Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana by Edward H. Chadwick, B.A., assisted by
well known local talent, B.F. Bowen & Co, Pub: Indianapolis, IN, 1909, pp 208-9; 220-1; 228-9; 236-237.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PHYSICIANS WHO ARE AT THE PRESENT TIME
PRACTICING MEDICINE IN SHELBYVILLE.
Dr. O. L. Adams, M.D., born April 8, 1871, graduated
at Indiana Medical College in 1894; Manhattan School of Optics in 1908. He practiced in Shelbyville from 1894 to 1896, then he was in the drug business until 1907. His practice is limited eye, ear, nose and throat. Practiced specialty since 1908. Married October 17, 1894, to Miss Edith
Gordon.
Dr. Adam Quincy Baird, born January 8, 1836, in Wabash County, Illinois. Attended Miami Medical College in 1874-75. Practiced in Illinois from 1875 to 1896. Located at Smithland, Shelby County, 1896, and at Shelbyville in 1897. At Shelbyville since. Married twice, first in 1866, then in 1875 to Amanda Wallace. Two children by first wife, six by second.
Dr. Laura Carter, M.D., born February 22, 1867, near Versailles, Indiana. Graduated from the Laura Memorial Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1902. Practiced in Shelbyville, Indiana, since 1904.
Robert E. Clark, M.D., born in Switzerland County, Indiana, October 9, 1853. Graduated from Ohio Medical College in 1891. Practiced at several locations before coming to Shelbyville. Located at Shelbyville in 1901. Practiced here since. Married in January 1874, to Miss Eva Phillip. Six children.
Henry M. Connelly, M.D., born September 20, 1850, in Coles County, Illinois. Graduated from Hartsville College in 1873. Graduated from Indiana Medical College in 1882. Practiced at Flat Rock until 1903, since then at Shelbyville. Married December 22, 1874 to Sarah J. Powell. One son and one daughter.
Morris Drake, M.D., born March 5, 1856, in Putnam County, Indiana. Graduated from Ohio Medical College in 1881. Practiced in Shelbyville since. Married in 1889 to Miss Minnie Hanley, now deceased. Five children, three of who are living. Married to Miss Rose Zoble in 1907.
Charles E. Dunn, M.D., was born in Brown County, Ohio, May 2, 1862. Attended Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1894. Married twice. Present wife was Miss Sarah DeBaun. Practiced in Marietta until 1896, and in Shelbyville since 1897. He has two children.
George W. Fleming, M.D., was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1843. He graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1865, Medical Department University of Michigan in 1867, Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1868. He was married May 28, 1879 to Mrs. Laura Gorges Wilson, who died September 31, 1908. He has practiced in Shelbyville since 1868.
R. M. Floyd, M.D., was born May 7, 1846. Graduated from Ohio Medical College in 1869. Practiced a year before coming to Shelbyville. Practiced in Shelbyville from 1878 to 1880, and since that time has been in the drug business. Married August 11, 1868 to Miss Maggie Lytle. He has had three children, all of whom are dead.
J. R. Garner, M.D., was born April 25, 1852, in England. Graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, Illinois, in 1890. Practiced since March 1909, in Shelbyville, Indiana. Married in 1886 to Minerva C. Martin, now deceased. One child living.
Thomas G. Green, M.D. was born in Arlington, Rush County, Indiana, April 6, 1865. He graduated from Louisville Medical College of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1889, and has practiced in Shelbyville, Indiana, since. Married June 7, 1899, to Rhoda Gary.
J. R. Jenkins, M.D., was born in Switzerland County, Indiana, February 9, 1842. Graduated at Miami Medical College in 1879. Practiced at Waldron, Indiana, fourteen years, then at several other locations. Again located at Shelbyville in 1906, and has practiced here since. Married to Miss Mariah Penn in 1872. They have had four children.
Thomas C. Kennedy, M.D., was born June 8, 1862, at Shelbyville, Indiana. Graduated from Kentucky School of Medicine in 1883, since then has practiced in Shelbyville. He was married May 25, 1885 to Miss Bell M. Coffin, of Henry County, Indiana. They have had two children. One dead. France M. still living. Does general surgery.
Samuel Kennedy, M.D., was born in Shelbyville, Indiana, March 16, 1867. Graduated at Indiana Medical College in 1891. Married to Miss Katherine Leefers, April 20, 1908.
William H. Kennedy, M.D., was born in Shelbyville, Indiana, February 15, 1877. Graduated at Indiana Medical College in 1903, and since then has practiced at Shelbyville. Married April 14, 1906 to Miss Effie E. Burnham of Chicago. One son.
B. G. Keeney, M.D., was born at Patriot, Indiana, August 23, 1876. Graduated from Ohio Medical College in 1902 and since then has practiced in Shelbyville, Indiana. Married to Ethel Adams June 1, 1905. They have one child, Edmund L.
J. N. Lucas, M.D., was born at Butler County, Ohio, March 1, 1846. Graduated Antioch College in 1869. Graduated at Pulte Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1873. Practiced at Shelbyville three years, then at Cambridge City seven years. Located at Shelbyville again in 1883, where he has practiced ever since. Married to Miss Margaret Powell in 1880. They have three sons: Horace, Orton E. and Frank P.
Walter C. McFadden, M.D., was born in Shelbyville, Indiana, December 14, 1878. Graduated from the Indiana Medical College in 1902, and since then has practiced in Shelbyville, Indiana. Married to Margaret Schroeder, October 9, 1902. They have two daughters, Marion and Alice.
Dr. R. B. Minnis was born at Buffalo, New York, February 18, 1871. Graduated from the Still College of Osteopathy, of Des Moines, Iowa in 1904. Practiced at Terre Haute for a short time, and since at Shelbyville, Indiana. Married February 18, 1891 to Mary J. Bane. They have one daughter, Helen.
James Willard, M.D., was born in Shelbyville, Indiana, December 16, 1859. Graduated at Central Normal College, Danville, Indiana, 1884. Indiana Medical College in 1896. Practiced at Fenns, Shelby County, Indiana, from 1896 to 1904. Practice at Shelbyville since 1904.
Henry E. Phares, M.D., was born in Shelby County, Indiana, July 1, 1870. Graduated at Hospital College of Medicine at Louisville, 1897. Practiced at Morristown from 1897 until 1901, and since then at Shelbyville. Married April 26, 1899 to Miss Gertrude Carney. They have one daughter, Frances.
Frank E. Ray, M.D., was born in Brandywine Township, Shelby County, Indiana, October 16, 1865. Graduated from the Indiana Medical College in 1890. Member medical staff at Central Insane Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana for six years. Following that time he practiced at Fairland, Indiana for four years and since that time at Shelbyville, Indiana. Married Allie Davis in 1897.
[Note from Bob Gordon: I have a photo of Dr. Ray at Fairland; he delivered my grandfather in 1884. The photo is a really neat picture of Dr. Ray in a Top Hat.]
L. C. Sammons, M.D., was born at Vandalia, Michigan, December 1, 1876. Graduated from Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri, at St. Louis, in 1899, and since then has practiced at Shelbyville, Indiana. Married July 25, 1899 to Satie C. Lilly. One child, deceased.
J. B. Stewart, M.D., was born in Switzerland County, Indiana, March 8, 1843. Graduated at Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1866. Practiced in Dearborn County, Indiana until 1878, from then to 1900 at Marietta, Shelby County, and since then at Shelbyville. Now spends part of his time at Indianapolis. Married twice. Two children.
Charles A. Tindall, M.D., was born in Shelby County, Indiana, August 8, 1867. Graduated from Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1887. Practice in Shelbyville since 1887. Married November 17, 1887 to Miss Bertha J. Michelson. Two sons: Paul R., age twenty, who is a medical student in Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, and Carl A., age fifteen.
W. W. Tindall, M.D., was born in Shelby County,
Indiana, September 9, 1876. Graduated
from Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1903. Practiced at Carthage, Indiana, for three
years following, and since that time at Shelbyville, Indiana. Married in 1903 to Carrie F. Phares. One child, William R.
Dr. G. G. Winter was born in Germany, August 22,
1841. Educated in Germany. Located at Shelbyville, Indiana, December
1869. Married June 25, 1873 to Rosa Theobald. Three sons, Carl, Paul, and Emil, and one child dead. He has practiced in Shelbyville more or less
since 1869.
PHYSICIANS WHO ARE AT PRESENT TIME PRACTICING MEDICINE
IN SHELBY COUNTY, OUTSIDE OF SHELBYVILLE:
Frank E. Bass, M.D. Born July 26, 1881, in Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated from Medical College of Indiana, 1903. Practiced at Morristown since. Married May 24, 1904 to Miss Bertha Moore. They have one child.
W. R. Bentley, M.D. Born July 20, 1851, in Decatur County, Indiana. Attended Pulte Homeopathic Medical College of Cincinnati in 1883 two terms. Graduated from Chicago Homeopathic College, 1886. Practiced at Morristown, Indiana, continually since 1886.
Byron H. Boone, M.D. Born May 29, 1865. Graduated at Kentucky School of Medicine,
Louisville, Kentucky, 1894. Practiced
at Boggstown since. Married to Miss
Alice Hanly. Two children.
W. H. Cohee, M.D. Born April 29, 1867, in Bartholomew County, Indiana. Graduated from the Indiana Medical College
in 1898. Practiced at Marietta
since. Married November 11, 1900 to
Grace L. Griffith.
Walter M. Ford, M.D. Born Indiana, November 16, 1862, in Kentucky. Graduated from the University of Louisville
in 1877. Practiced at Mt. Auburn
since. Married March 21, 1878 to Miss
Katherine Emrick. They have four
children living and two dead.
George Isham Inlow, M.D. Born in Blue Ridge, Shelby County, Indiana, August 9, 1874. Graduated from the Kentucky School of
Medicine, 1897. Practiced at Ray's
Crossing from 1897 to 1900. Since 1900
at Blue Ridge in partnership with his father, I. W. Inlow. Married March 18, 1897 to Miss Alice
McDuffy. One child, Lois Nell.
Dr. Isaac Watson Inlow was born at Manilla, Rush
County, Indiana, November 10, 1839. Studied medicine three years with Dr. J. J. Inlow, of
Manilla. Practiced at Blue Ridge,
Shelby County since 1869. Was married
May 4, 1861 to Miss Mary Callahan, of Rush County, Indiana. Four children were born, Dr. George I., John C., Fannie R. and Mary M.
James E. Keeling, M.D. Born October 20, 1865, in Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated from Indiana Medical College
1891. Practiced at Geneva, Shelby
County, from 1891 to 1903. Practiced at
Waldron since 1903. Married first to
Lizzie Benjimen, who died February 9, 1895; then to Mary J. Mitchell on April
29, 1896. One child by first wife. Three children by last wife.
George F. Lewis, M.D. Born April 28, 1860, in Putnam County, Indiana. Graduated at Indiana Medical College 1898. Practice in Clay County, Indiana until January 1909, and at Blue Ridge since. Married June 10, 1883. Two sons and two daughters.
Elbert Carson Linville, M.D. Born September 5, 1871, in Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated at Indiana Medical College of
Indianapolis, Indiana 1904. Practiced
in Union Township since 1904. Married
June 23, 1907 to Mrs. Elsie (Young) Rash.
John Lowden, M.D. Born February 14, 1849, Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated at Eclectic Medical Institute,
1878. Practiced in Van Buren Township
since 1878. Married October 2,
1879. Four children.
T. J. McCain, M.D. Born September 5, 1845, in Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated from the Medical College of
Indiana in 1880. Practiced at Waldron
since. His last marriage was in
November 1905 to Mrs. Belle (Ensminger) Eck. The doctor has two children living and one dead.
Robert S. McCray, M.D. Born February 17, 1854, in Hancock County, Indiana. Graduated from the Indiana Medical College
in 1883. Practiced medicine at
Morristown since. Married March 24,
1883, to Miss Nina Hardy. They have
three children.
Oral Holmes McDonald, M.D. Born January 14, 1880, in Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated at Indiana Medical College
1904. Practiced at London, Shelby
County, since 1904. Married December
20, 1906, to Miss Emma May Hasher. One
child.
E. V. Miller, M.D., was born November 30, 1865, in
Hancock County, Indiana. He graduated
from the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1896, and from the
Medical College of Indiana in 1897. Has
practiced at Fountaintown since 1897. He married May 2, 1902, to Miss Bertha H. Logean. Two children living and one dead.
Harry E. Nave, M.D. Born November 21, 1877, in Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated at Eclectic Medical College of
Indiana, 1905. Practiced at Arlington,
Rush County, eighteen months. At
Fountaintown, Shelby County, since 1906. Married September 29, 1906 to Miss Maud Shank. One son.
V. C. Patten, M.D. Born December 12, 1870, in Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated from Indiana Medical College
1897. Practiced at Morristown since
graduation. Married January 11, 1905,
to Miss Julia A. Gordon. One child.
David A. Pettigrew, M.D. Born March 1, 1851, in Decatur County, Indiana. Graduated from Medical College of Indiana
1881. Practiced at Flat Rock, Shelby
County, since. Married October 5, 1875
to Miss Tilda Schafer. They have six
children.
Charles H. Perry, M.D. Born March 10, 1875, at Campbellsville, Kentucky. Graduated at Hospital College of Medicine at
Louisville, Kentucky, 1896. Practiced
at Lewis Creek, Shelby County, Indiana, since 1896. Married in 1897 to Emma K. White, who died August 13, 1906. Married June 1, 1908, to Laura M.
Trimble. One child.
William M. Pierson, M.D. Born in Greenfield, Indiana, August 10, 1850. Graduated from the Indiana Medical College
1874, and the Medical Department of Butler University 1876. Practiced at Foutaintown until 1903. Since then, at Morristown. Married June 6, 1878 to Etoile B. Mutz. They have three daughter and one son.
Daniel F. Randolph, M.D., was born March 27, 1854, in
Owen County, Indiana. He graduated from
the Indiana Medical College in 1888. Practiced at Indianapolis and Newbern, Indiana until 1890. Practiced at Waldron since 1890. He was married December 26, 1883 to Miss
Alice M. Conover. One child.
J. H. S. Riley, M.D. Born in Decatur County, Indiana, April 11, 1878. Graduated at Medical College in 1888. Practiced at Decatur County from 1904 to
1908. Practiced at Bengal, Shelby
County, since 1908.
Thomas R. Rubush, M.D. Born October 2, 1863, at Indianapolis, Indiana. Graduated at Indiana Medical College
September 29, 1879. Practiced at
London, Shelby County, since 1879. Married September 29, 1880, to Miss Emma Hahn. Eight children, five living.
William Austin Schooley, M.D. Born March 9, 1865, in Dearborn County, Indiana. Graduated from the Ohio Medical College in
1888. Practiced at Sulphur Hill, Shelby
County, Indiana since. Married June 18,
1890 to Miss Frances True. Six
children.
W. T. Shrout, M.D. Born May 15, 1845, in Nichols County, Kentucky. He first graduated from an Eclectic College
in Richmond, Virginia, and in 1894 from the Eclectic College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Indianapolis. Practiced in
Shelby County since about 1880. Now, at
Waldron. Married August 22, 1867 to
Miss Virginia Neal. They have five
children living and two dead. One son,
a physician.
John W. Snider, M.D. Born April 26, 1845, in Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated from Rush Medical College of
Chicago 1870. Practiced at Fairland
thirty-two years. Married August 24,
1875 to Miss Mary Laws. Three children.
Stephen Lewis Strickler, M.D. Born in Shelby County, Indiana, August 22, 1853. Attended Eclectic Medical Institute,
Cincinnati, Ohio, 1878 and 1879. Graduated Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, 1883. Practiced at Boggstown since 1879.
J. F. Taylor, M.D., was born December 8, 1844, in
Jefferson County, Indiana. Graduated
from Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, 1878. Married April 21, 1885 to Miss Hannah V. Henry, who died April 18, 1887.
M. M. Wells, M.D. Born in Orange County, Indiana, February 25, 1871. Graduated at Indiana Medical College
1901. Practiced at Fairland since
graduation, excepting eighteen months as intern in hospital. Married March 2, 1904 to Zella Gordon. One son, deceased.
Edward Wertz, M.D., was born July 19, 1876, in Shelby
County, Indiana. He graduated from the
Central College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1900. Practiced at Shelbyville, Indiana, a short time and since at
Flatrock. Married July 22, 1897 to Miss
Lulu Ford. Two children.
R. A. Wiltshire, M.D. Born in Ohio. Graduated from
a Cincinnati College in 1896. Practiced
at Gwynneville since. Married March 30,
1900 to Miss Alice Buell. Two children.
PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE PRACTICED MEDICINE IN SHELBY COUNTY,
BUT NOW RESIDE IN OTHER LOCATIONS.
** [continued from above]
Dr. W. C. Furney came to Morristown and began the
practice of Medicine about 1891, and remained until 1897. He then removed from Morristown to Kokomo.
William F. Green, M.D., was born April 6, 1865, in
Rush County, Indiana. Graduated from
Louisville Medical College in 1889. Practiced at Freeport from 1889 to 1892. At Shelbyville from 1892 to 1903. Now practicing at Indianapolis.
Dr. E. D. Jewett located at Blue Ridge in 1895, and
remained there in the practice for two or three years.
Dr. John Y. Kennedy, Jr., practiced medicine in
Shelbyville and in other parts of the county for several years during the
nineties.
Samuel A. Kennedy, M.D., was born in Crawford County,
Pennsylvania, August 6, 1832, and was son of John Y. Kennedy. He graduated from the Ohio Medical College
in 1857. Practiced at Shelbyville, then
Marion, and then at Norristown. He
moved from Norristown to Indianapolis, where he now resides, about 1890. Married February 28, 1855 to Almira Goodrich,
who died in 1861. Married September
1861, to Phoebe J. Goodrich. He had
nine children.
Dr. W. T. Knapp, a graduate of a homeopathic medical
college, practiced medicine in Shelbyville for a number of years, and left here
about 1895. He is now located at
Vincennes, Indiana. He was married to
Miss Thralls, of this city.
William W. Keeling, M.D., was born October 10, 1830,
in Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated
from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1864. Practiced in Geneva, Shelby County, Indiana from
1865 to 1891, and at Nemaha, Nebraska since 1891. Married twice, second time to Miss Mary R. Spiers in 1858. Celebrated golden wedding anniversary at
Nemaha, Nebraska last year. Five
children, all living.
Dr. William Loder practiced medicine at Shelbyville
for a short time, then at Marietta for a year or two, and then at Lewis Creek
for time during the nineties.
J. B. Lytle, M.D., was born May 17, 1835. Attended Starling Medical College of
Columbus, Ohio. Graduated from the
Indiana Medical College in 1870. Practiced
at Flatrock, Shelby County, Indiana from 1865 to 1870. Then entered drug business in
Shelbyville. Now living in Shelbyville,
retired.
Dr. Charles M. Mutz, who was a son of the late Jacob
Mutz, of Jackson Township, practiced medicine at Waldron for about two
years during the eighties. He moved
from Waldron to St. Louis, Missouri, and from there to Wichita, Kansas, where
he now resides. He was a graduate of a
St. Louis college.
Dr. John F. Maddox began the practice of medicine at
Fenns, Shelby County, about 1872, and in a short time moved to the Cave, where
he practiced until about 1878, when he moved to Shelbyville. He remained at Shelbyville until 1891, when
he removed to Orlando, Florida, where he now resides. He graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati,
Ohio, in 1877. He was married twice;
the first time to Miss Coleman, and they had three daughters and one son.
Dr. H. C. Morrow came to Shelbyville for the practice
of medicine in 1876, and remained three years. Married Fannie D. Dixon. Moved
to Texas, where he still resides. His
wife died many years ago.
Samuel P. McCrea, M.D., was born February 2, 1845, in
Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated from
Rush Medical College of Chicago in 1868. Was in partnership with Dr. William F. Green
in the practice of medicine
in Shelbyville during 1868 and 1869. Went in the drug business in Shelbyville in 1870 and continued until
1892. Now president of Farmers'
National Bank. Married November 21,
1878 to Miss Phoebe Robinson. One
daughter living and one dead.
Dr. T. J. Norton practiced medicine at Marietta for
several years during the nineties. He
moved to Bartholomew County.
Dr. Piatte practiced medicine at Marietta about the
time of the war. Then entered the army
as second assistant surgeon. After the
war, settled at Fairland and practiced for several years. Then went west and is now in Kansas.
Dr. Rufus Roup practiced medicine near the Cave in
Shelby County, for several years along about 1870. He had three daughters and one son. He now resides in Indianapolis.
Jesse W. Rucker, M.D., was born February 5, 1864, at
Greensburg, Indiana. Graduated from the
Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1887. Practiced medicine in Shelbyville from 1887 to 1895. Moved to Greensburg in 1895 and is now
editing a paper there. Married din 1887
to Stella D. Green. They have five
children.
James W. Shrout, M.D., attended lectures at the
Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, and later graduated from the Bennett
Medical College of Chicago. He
practiced medicine at Blue Ridge and Prescott for about ten years from about
1895 to 1905. He is now located at
Shirley, Indiana.
James F. Scherfee, M.D., located at Fairland in 1898,
and continued in the practice of medicine there for about five years. He is now in California.
Dr. James A. Sims came from the southern part of the
state and located at Bengal, where he practiced from 1904 to 1908. He is now located at Pine Villa, Fountain
County, Indiana.
William A. Smith, M.D., was born in Shelby County,
Indiana, June 11, 1868. Graduated from
Central College of Physicians and Surgeons of Indianapolis in 1898. Practiced at Shelbyville a few months, then
at Flatrock one and a half years. Now
practicing at St. Louis Crossing, Bartholomew County, Indiana.
Dr. Urbine Stackhouse was a son of a Methodist
minister, who at one time had charge of the seminary at Morristown. While living at Morristown, he graduated in
medicine and practiced there for about five years, during the latter part of
the eighties. Then he removed to
Randolph County, Indiana.
Irwin W. Treese, M.D., was born January 19, 1851, in
Shelby County, Indiana. Attended Ohio
Medical College in 1873 –74. Graduated
from Indiana Medical College in 1880. Located at Smithland in 1874, and continued there until about 1890. Now resides at Indianapolis. Married Miss Lena E. Miller in 1875.
F. L. Tilton practiced medicine at Marietta for
several years along about 1900.
Harry M. Toner, M.D., was born in Shelby County,
Indiana, March 4, 1865. He attended the
Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York, and graduated from a Medical
College in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1894. He then located at Shelbyville where he practiced for about ten years,
when he retired on account of failing health. He is now residing in Arizona.
Edward F. Wells, M.D., was born May 14, 1853, in
Miami County, Ohio. Graduated from Ohio
Medical College in 1873. Practiced
medicine in Shelbyville from 1886 to 1890. Now practicing in Chicago, and lectures in Rush Medical College.
Frank Whetzel, M.D., was born and reared in
Morristown. He received his education
in the public schools of that place, and later graduated from a medical
college. He practiced medicine in
Morristown for several years, during the latter part of the eighties, and the
early part of the nineties, then left Morristown and went to Chicago.
Emma (Coleman) Williams, M.D., was born May 23, 1855,
in Shelby County, Indiana. Graduated
from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1884. Practiced in Shelbyville from 1884 to 1894. Now retired and living at the Cave.
Besides those who have been mentioned elsewhere in this
chapter there are seventy-eight physicians who have been licensed to practice
medicine in Shelby County since 1885. Some of them reside in adjoining counties, some were traveling
advertising doctors, and nothing can be learned about many of them.
Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana by Edward H. Chadwick, B.A., assisted by
well known local talent, B.F. Bowen & Co, Pub: Indianapolis, IN, 1909.
Copied by Melinda Moore Weaver
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
THE SHELBYVILLE DAILY DEMOCRAT
Tuesday, March 26, 1889
page 1
------------------
There are but sixteen female doctors in Paris, it is said.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming
THE SHELBY DEMOCRAT
Thursday September 24, 1885
---------------
PHYSICIANS
Licensed To Practice in Shelby County
---------------
A Long List of the Men Licensed And The Name of the
Colleges Where Those Who Have Diplomas Graduated
William T. Knapp
Starling Medical College Columbus, Ohio
Thomas C. Kennedy
Kentucky School of Medicine Louisville, Kentucky
June 26th, 1883
Morris Drake
Ohio Medical College
March lst, 1881
William G. McFadden
Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia, Pa.
March 2nd, 1870
James E. Inlow
License issued under ten years clause
Stephen L. Strickler
Eclectic Medical College
February 6th, 1879
William M. Pierson
Indiana Medical College
February 27, 1874
George W. Fleming
Bellevue Hospital Medical College
March 1st, 1868
Robert R. Washburn
License issued under ten year clause
William W. Keeling
Eclectic Medical Institute Cincinnati, Ohio
February 18th, 1864
William B. Gordon
Ohio Medical College
License issued under three years' clause
William F. Green
Rush Medical College
February 20, 1856
John W. Snyder
Rush Medical College
February 2, 1870
John F. Maddox
Eclectic Medical Institute Cincinnati, Ohio
May 15, 1877
J. R. Jenkins
Miami Medical College
License issued under ten year clause
Frederick Dickmann
License issued under ten year clause
I.H. Drake
Hudson Medical College Cleveland, Ohio
March 2, 1853
Thomas J. McCain
Medical College of Indiana
February 27, 1880
Edward H. Crippen
license issued under ten year clause
Isaac W. Inlow
License issued under ten year clause
James M. Adams
License issued under ten year clause
John Louden
Eclectic Medical Institute Cincinnati, Ohio
January 22, 1878
Samuel Salisbury
license issued under ten year clause
Samuel A. Kennedy, of Shelbyville
Ohio Medical College
March 1, 1857
John Perry
Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery
June, 1859
James A. Comstock
Rush Medical College, of Illinois
January 24, 1886
Hiram Comstock
The Medical College of Ohio
March 3, 1849
Samuel A. Kennedy
Ohio Medical College
license issued under three year clause
W. M. Ford
University of Louisville, Kentucky
March 1, 1877
I. W. Trees
Medical College of Indiana
February 27, 1880
James K. Stewart
Ohio Medical College
1882
John W. Parrish
Eclectic Medical College Cincinnati, Ohio
1858
Hardy Wray
license issued under ten year clause
Hezekiah Smith
license issued under ten year clause
Joseph Bowlby
Ohio Medical College
March 8th, 1883
R. M. Floyd
license issued under ten year clause
Thomas R. Rubush
Medical College of Indiana
February 28th, 1879
Walker K. Baylor
American Medical College, of Cincinnati
May 18th, 1856
J. N. Lucas
Pulte Medical College of Cincinnati
February 13th, 1873
Moses R. Gilmore
The University of Michigan
June 27th, 1860
The Central College of Physicians and Surgeons
of Indianapolis
March 1884
James P. Robins
Ohio Medical College
March 1875
Jacob G. Wolf
Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia
March 7, 18(paper torn)
Gustave G. Winter
License issued under ten year clause
R. D. Raynes
license issued under ten year clause
James W. Green
Rush Medical College
February 20, 1856
John E. McGaughey
Bellevue Hospital Medical College 1873
And Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati 1859
J. M. Larimore
Medical Department of State University of Iowa
February 19, 1869
Henry M. Connelly
Medical College of Indiana
March 1, 1882
N. P. Howard, Sr.
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Indiana
February 22, 1878
And Indiana Medical College
February 28, 1879
Thomas S. Jones
University of Pennsylvania
March 13, 1868
Frank F. Whetzel
Indiana Medical College
J. H. Alexander
Ohio Medical College
N. P. Howard, Jr.
Indiana Medical College
February 28, 1879
Francis M. Howard
Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery
February 14, 1864
J. W. Howard
Medical College of Indiana
License issued under three year clause
Ira C. Fisher
Medical College of Indiana
February 28, 1884
D. J. Ballard
Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery
February 17, 1885
George S. Crawford
Medical College of Indiana
March 1, 1882
James W. Spicer
Cincinnati College of Medicine & Surgery
February 28, 1878
John F. Taylor
Ohio Medical College
February 23, 1879
Samuel Pagin
Bennett Medical College of Chicago
May 26, 1870
-----------
Clause--Have practiced medicine in the State for three/ten years immediately preceding July 18, 1885.
Submitted by Barb Huff
THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER
SHELBYVILLE, INDIANA
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
April 13, 1854
Carter's Spanish Mixture was advertised to purify the blood.......Also
Dr. W.B. Farrell's Arabian Liniment...
Abstracted by Maurice Holmes, in his book Shelbyville, Indiana, Newspaper Excerpts: 1853-1859.
Submitted by Sherry Badgley Ryan, with permission from the author.
THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER
SHELBYVILLE, INDIANA
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
February 9, 1854
Dr. Adams of New York had taken rooms at the Sprague House and could be consulted for all diseases of a chronic and inflammatory nature, including female complaints..... Also treated were diseases of a private nature such as syphilis and gonorrhea.
Abstracted by Maurice Holmes, in his book Shelbyville, Indiana, Newspaper Excerpts: 1853-1859.
Submitted by Sherry Badgley Ryan, with permission from the author.
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