HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

CHAPTER XXV.

MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROFESSIONS OF LANCASTER.

MEDICAL PROFESSION OF LANCASTER.---Dr. John Shawk was the first physician who came to Lancaster. He arrived from Lexington, Kentucky, in the spring of 1801, over Zane's trace from Limestone (Maysville), at a time when there were less than half a dozen cabins on the entire, route, with the exception of the small settlement at Chillicothe. Lancaster had just been platted and the first lots sold the previous November. It was at that time a patch of woods, with a few small log cabins scattered about. Dr. Shawk purchased two lots fronting on Main street, and after hiring Mr. Gaster to clear off the ground and inclose it with a rail fence, he returned to Lexington. In the spring of 1806 he returned with his family and commenced the practice of medicine at a point exactly where the Hocking canal crosses Main street, and in a building erected by one Doctor Irvin, who seems to have come to the place during his five years absence. In this building Dr. Shawk lived and practiced his profession for a time, and then he removed it to his lots further up Main street, where to this day it constitutes a part of Shawk's row, but so covered in and modernized as not to be seen. The building was removed up the present Main street on rollers, after opening a way for its passage by cutting away the trees and grubbing up the stumps. One half of the original Shawk block is now the property of Dr. Charles Shawk, who resides in it, a happy bachelor of eighty years. He is the second son of Dr. John M. Shawk, and the only living member of the family. Dr. John M. Shawk lived to a venerable old age, and died at his house in Lancaster, in the year 1846. No data can be found to show when other early physicians came to Lancaster, how long they remained, or when they died. And there is not a soul living in the place to-day who could, from recol- lection, tell one word about them, beyond the fact that they lived in Lancaster, and passed away. The very best then that can be done is to write their names, with an approximation to their times. Of the very earliest physicians who are known to have practiced in the place, Dr. Irvin was probably the first, for he was on the ground and built a house between 1801 and 1806. Following him, and up to about 1870, those named below have practiced medicine in Lancaster, nearly in the order in which their names stand. Dr. John M. Shawk, Dr. Carr, Dr. Wilcox, Dr. Florence, Dr. Depee, Dr. Clark, Dr. James White, Dr. Robert McNeill, Dr. Wolffey, Dr. M. Z. Kreider, Dr. John M. Bigelow, Dr. Wilson, Dr. H. H. Wait, Dr. Paul Carpenter, Dr. George Boerstler, Dr. Tom O. Edwards, Dr. Saxe, Dr. George K. Miller, Dr. Goucher, Dr. Brecker, Dr. M. Effinger, Dr. Lynch, Dr. Andrew Davidson, Dr. P. M. Wagenhals, Dr. John W. 175

Lewis, Dr. Turner, Dr. Elmer Jackson, Dr. G. Miese, Dr. George W. Boerstler, Dr. Frampton, Dr. O. E. Davis, Dr. Lawson, Dr. Kinsman, Dr. Goss, Dr. Flowers, Dr. John Nourse, Dr. Harmon, Dr. Myres, Dr. Shrader, Dr. Charles Shawk, Dr. Lorenzo D. Rush, Dr. Joseph Beek, Dr. Tom O. Edwards, Jr., Dr. Willage, Dr. Hershberger, Dr. J. Kells. There have been, from time to time, transient men, who remained too short a time to entitle them to a place in the list of Lancaster's physicians. Of those named, who remain in the practice in the fall of 1881, are Dr. Charles Shawk, Dr. M. Effinger, Dr. G. Mierse, Dr. George W. Boerstler, Dr. J. M. Lewis, Dr. Turner, Dr. Goss. Dr. Flowers, Dr. Kells, Dr. Harmon, and Dr. Hershberger. Those who have moved away. and are known to be living, are Dr. O. E. Davis, Dr. Shrader, Dr. Frampton, Dr. Kinsman, Dr. Tom O. Edwards, Jr. Dr. A. Davidson purchased the drugstore of Geo. Kauffman, on Main street, some years ago, and retired from the active practice. Those who are known to have deceased previous to 1881 are Dr. John M. Shawk, Dr. Irvin, Dr. Carr, Dr. Wilcox, Dr. Florence, Dr. Robert McNeill, Dr. James White, Dr. M. Z. Kreider, Dr. Clark. Dr. H. H. Wait, Dr. Depee, Dr. Wolfley, Dr. John M. Bigelow, Dr. Paul Carpenter, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Saxe, Dr. Goucher, Dr. Brecker, Dr. Geo. W. Boerstler, Dr. Tom O. Edwards, Dr. P. M. Wagenhals, Dr. Geo. K. Miller, Dr. Dawson, Dr. Jacob Myers, Dr. D. D. Rush, Dr. Joseph Beck. About 1839 and 1840, the medical board of Lancaster was one of the most eminent in the State. It then consisted of the following members: Dr. Paul Carpenter, Dr. John M. Bigelow, Dr. James White, Dr. M. Z. Kreider, Dr. H. H. Wait. Dr. George W. Boerstler, Dr. Tom O. Edwards, and Dr. Geo. K. Miller. Of these eight gentlemen, not one lived to see the first day of January, 1881. The profession, practicing in Lancaster at the beginning of 1881, were. Dr. M. Effinger, Dr. F. Flowers, Dr. Harmon, Dr. Turner, Dr. E. Jackson, Dr. Joseph Kells. Dr. J. W. Lewis, Dr. John Nourse, Dr. G. Miese, Dr. Goss, and Dr. Geo. W. Boerstler. Dr. Hide came up from Logan, and practiced in Lancaster one year, perhaps a little more, and then settled in Pleasantville in the early part of 1881. Lancaster has furnished a few men eminent for their surgical skill. Among those who have distinguished themselves in the use of the knife and saw, it is probably right to mention M. Z. Kreider first. He was a bold, fearless, and successful operator, and in his prime performed some operations that would have done credit to Sir Astley Cooper, Dudley, or any cotemporary man. But his fondness for the knife, and skill in its use, were supposed, sometimes, to overrule safe surgical judgments. Among his successful operations may be mentioned the removal of the lower jaw in two cases, for the cure of osteosurcoma, and the excision of the thyroid gland for the cure of bronchocele, or goiter. This operation he performed successfully on a Philadelphia gentleman, after the case had been declined by eminent men of the 176

seaboard cities, and of New Orleans. The operation was performed at the Shaeffer House, in Lancaster, some time previous to 1840. The patient had abandoned all hope, and was on his way home from New Orleans to close up his affairs. Dr. Tom O. Edwards was skillful. and performed some fine operations. His son Tom O. Edwards. Jr. distinguished himself in surgical ability when a very young man. Dr. P. Carpenter was also a successful operator in difficult and complicated cases. There were two Homoeopathic physicians, Drs. Barlow and Babcock, whose names should have been written in the previous lists. These gentlemen practiced their professions in Lancaster during a number of years between 1850 and 1870, but some time after went away. Dr. Silas Hedges was a physician of Lancaster who merits historical mention. He died about 1868. He was in the army as surgeon about two years. Drs. Long, father and son, came to Lancaster about the year 1874 and remained some three years. They had a good share of practice. DENTAL PROFESSION.---Previous to 1841; there was no settled dentist in Lancaster. For many years before, transient operators visited the place, stopping from a few weeks to a few months. Little attention was paid to the care of the teeth during the first forty years of the history of the place, and the science and art of the profession were both in a crude state. In April. 1839, Dr. H. Scott came to Lancaster and remained part of the year. In the summer of 1840, Dr. William Ide, of Boston, came and remained six months. Dr. Scott returned in April, 1841, and made a per- manent settlement, and was the first resident dentist of the town. He practiced his profession continuously about forty years in Lancaster. The next dentist to settle in the place was Dr. Hartupee. He came about 1845, and continued three years. Dr. Switzer had a dental office in Lancaster about one year, between 1845 and 1850. Jacob Feemen opened an office in 1858, and at the end of about two years sold out to Dr. Von Bonhorst. Dr. Hammel removed from Xenia and settled in Lancaster in the spring of 1859, and practiced his profession to within a few months of his death, which occurred in January, 1863. Dr. Frank Carpenter was an operator on the teeth, more or less, from 1842 to about 1845. Dr. H. L. Crider began the practice of dentistry in Lancaster about the year 1850, and still continues to occupy the same rooms in the Giesy block, on Main street. Dr. Von Bonhorst succeeded Dr. Feemen about 1860, and still remains in business. Dr. Palmeter settled in Lancaster in 1872, or about that time, and still continues to practice in the same rooms, on Broadway. Dr. Thomas was a partner with Dr. Crider during some two or three years. In the fall of 1880, he was compelled, from declining health, to abandon the office and retire to the country. During about forty-two years the business of dentistry has grown wonderfully. There are four or five establishments in the city, and four principal operators, all doing well. Of the five dentists of the city, including Dr. Thomas, temporarily retired, two are graduates of dental colleges; Dr. J. C. Scott graduated from the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, in March, 1873, and Dr. David S. Thomas graduated from the Philadelphia College in March, 1876. 177