HomeMy WebLinkAboutdoctorsPhysicians and Health 1
Physicians and Health
References:
Selkreg, John H. Landmarks of Tompkins County New York Including History of Cornell
University. D. Mason and Company, Syracuse, NY. 1894.
Find A Grave – findagrave.com
United States Census data – Ancestry.com
Listed in the Proceedings of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives and in the
Town Board minutes of the Town of Enfield, was the Health Board of Enfield1. They met monthly
and the members were Town Board councilpersons, Health Officer (Doctor) and a citizen
member of the Town. William Barber, J.L. Marshall, Charles Burlew, H.D. Bailey, Solon Bagley,
Rev. Theo Havens, Walter Ferguson, William Wright were listed as members during the years
until 1914. Vital Statics were reported to the county by the Town Clerk and appointed Health
Officer of the Town.
In 1880 the "Registration Law" was passed, which required all physicians to personally
register with the county clerk, their name, place of birth, proposed residence in the county, the
institution or society by which they were licensed, and the date of such license or diploma.
•Samuel E. Clark practiced medicine in Ulysses and Enfield 1829. According to the United
States Census he was a registered Physician in 1850. Samuel was born June 14, 1806
in Connecticut He married Wealthy Crampton of Connecticut in 1830. He died in the
Town of Ulysses April 11, 1853. Both Samuel and Wealthy (1804 - 1881) are buried in
Grove Cemetery Trumansburg, New York.
•O.C. (Oliver Cromwell) Comstock2 practiced medicine in Enfield (Ulysses) 1818. He was
born March 1, 1780 in Warwick, Rhode Island. He moved with his parents to
Schenectady, New York, when a child. Studied medicine and practiced in
Trumansburg, N.Y. O.C. was a member of the State assembly 1810-1812; first judge
of common pleas for Seneca County, N.Y., 1812-1815; elected as a Republican to the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Congresses (March 4, 1813-March 3, 1819). First
judge of court of common pleas for Tompkins County in 1817 and 1818; abandoned
the practice of medicine and studied theology; was licensed to preach and ordained to
the Baptist ministry; installed as pastor of the First Baptist Church, Rochester, N.Y.,
and served in that capacity from 1825 to 1834; elected Chaplain of the House of
Representatives on December 20, 1836, and served until March 3, 1837; moved to
Michigan and resumed ministerial duties at Detroit in 1839; was a regent of the
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor 1841-1843; State superintendent of public
instruction 1843-1845; died in Marshall, Calhoun County, Mich., January 11, 1860;
interment in Oakridge Cemetery.
1 Board of Supervisors Proceedings for Tompkins County. Ithaca, New York. 1858 – 1993 on the
Tompkins County Clerk Office, Ithaca, NY website under “Laserfiche”. Enfield Town Board
Minutes on www.townofenfield.org under Town Board Minutes and Archival documents.
2 https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=C000664
Biographical Directory of the United States
Physicians and Health 2
•J.C. Hall practiced medicine in Enfield and Ithaca 1831.
•Charles T. Kelsey - Registered as a physician September 25, 1880, Enfield; born in 1828
in Enfield, New York. He married married Martha Townsend (1835-1898) December 25,
1866. During the United State Civil War (1862 - 1864) he was surgeon in 64th New York
Regiment of Volunteers. They had 3 children. Charles died October 8, 1893. Both
Charles and Martha are buried in Grove Cemetery, Trumansburg, NY. Charles died from
injuries he received during a horse and wagon accident. Grant Curry, who worked in the
D.L. and W. Freight Department in Ithaca, eye witnessed Charles death, along with
Charle’s hired man who was in the wagon with the him. Grant was visiting his father's
farm, Harrison Curry. He was walking along the road when he heard a carriage and
horse behind him. He turned to see who it was. It was Charles, he saw the him reach
out of the carriage and with the butt end of the whip he touched the horse. He was
trying to brush the horseflies off the horse. The horse became frightened and started
running. Charles reached out to get a better hold of the reins when the horse kicked. It
struck the him in the breast knocking the him out of the wagon. The wagon overturned
and smashed. The hired man was unhurt. Charles died before help from Dr. Charles
Vernooy could be brought to him. He suffered 3 broken ribs on one side and 9 on the
other side, plus internal injuries.
•Archibald Stephen Knight was listed in the 1900 United States Census as a physician in
the Town of Enfield. He was on the Enfield Health Board 1898 – 1904. He was born
November 1870 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He married Edith May Chapman (b.
February 1, 1875, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada) in 1898. They are 3 children. He died
June 29, 1939 St. Petersburg, Florida.
•Edmond H. Kyle was born September 27, 1848 in Harrisville, Butler County,
Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, March 13, 1876. He
practiced medicine in Enfield from 1876 to 1881, he then moved to Ithaca. In Ithaca he
became one of the leading physicians of the city. He died June 8, 1914 from cardiac
asthma. He married Ida Alice Rice (1853 - 1891 New York).
•Minor McDaniels was born in Enfield December 13, 1872. He died June 6, 1937 buried
in Trumbulls Corners Cemetery, Newfield. He was a graduate from the University of
Buffalo Medical College in 1904 and returned to Enfield to begin his practice. In 1911 he
opened a medical practice in Ithaca. He was Tompkins County Assemblyman in 1910-
1912. He held the presidency of the Tompkins County Medical Society. During World
War I he was Captain of the Medical Corps for 6 months in France. He married Claire
Hayden Chapman (1893 - 1963) December 5, 1908.
•D.K. (David King) McLallen practiced medicine in Ulysses and Enfield 1833. David was
born July 19, 1803 he died January 10, 1887. He is buried in the Grove Cemetery,
Trumansburg, New York. He married Louisa Hoskins (1811 – 1838) in 1834.
•Edward Meany registered physician June 10, 1890, Ithaca; He was born in Enfield 1865
and died November 21, 1911, Ithaca New York. He is buried in the Calvary Cemetery,
Ithaca, New York. He attended the Medical Department of the University of Buffalo,
March 1, 1887. He married Sarah Ross of St. John, Canada.
•Joshua S. Miller practiced medicine in Enfield 1833-1854. He was born July 29, 1803 in
New York and died March 9, 1864 in New Baltimore, Greene, New York. He married
Amelia Ann Letts (1805 – 1876) daughter of Azariah and Margaret Wortman Letts. They
had 2 children.
Physicians and Health 3
•David Robb was born April 20, 1885 in Battlesea, Canada. He was a native of Kingston,
Ontario. He started general physicians practice in Enfield in 1911 after completing his
education from Queens University, Kingston, and internships at Perry City Hospital in
Ontario and Willard State Hospital. During World War I (1917) he served as Captain
Medical Corpsman. He served as Health Officer for Enfield. He retired as a physician in
1965. He died October 3, 1969 in San Jose, Santa Clara, California. He was married to
Beulah Canoday (1897 – 1980), they had 2 children.
•A.C. (Amaziah Church) Sherwood practiced medicine in Enfield and Newfield 1841. He
was born June 2, 1815 in New York. He died November 5, 1860 in Cayutaville, New York.
He married Lucy Ann Beebe (b. 1822 Connecticut) in 1840 and had 1 child.
•John R. Selover was listed in the 1900 United States Census as a physician in the Town
of Enfield. He was born January 1824.
•Huldah T. Gould Smith, registered August 30, 1880, Ithaca. Born 1833 in Enfield;
graduated Eclectic Medical College, New York, February 3, 1880. She died May 25,
1903 in Rochester, Monroe, New York. She is buried in Grove Cemetery, Trumansburg,
New York. She was married to Charles Monroe Smith (1827 – 1894).
•Charles DePew. Vernooy3, registered physician July 25, 1892, Enfield. He was born
Accord, Ulster county, New York February 16, 1867. Charles graduated Syracuse
University College of Medicine, June 9, 1892. He received his early education in the
public schools. After attending the normal school in 1885 he taught school four years in
Ulster county after which he entered the University Syracuse College of Medicine
conducting his studies there from 1889 to 1892. He graduated with honors in June 1892;
securing second prize in class honors and study. In July 1892 he first located for the
practice of medicine in Enfield. He moved to Cortland in 1898. Nov 3, 1892 he married
Miss Mary L. Anderson (1864 - 1950) of Seneca County. They had three children.
•Lysander T. White, registered physician April 7, 1883, Enfield Centre; born in Newfield,
New York on August 2, 1843. He graduated University of Buffalo, February, 1869. He
was on the Enfield Town Board Health Committee from 1883 to 1892. He moved to
Homer, New York to continue his practice. He died January 16, 1898 in Cortland, New
York. He was married to Cordelia Ford (1848 – 1923). They had 2 children.
•J.P.A. (John Parvis Austin) Williams practiced medicine in Enfield 1821. He was born in
1796 in Herkimer, New York. He died September 8, 1864 and is buried in the Harvey
Cemetery, Hector, New York. He was married to Zilpha Harvey (1798 – 1882). They had
4 children.
•Parvis A. Williams practiced medicine in Ulysses and Enfield 1818.
•Leon A. Beardsley was born September 19, 1902 died November 14, 1967.He served as
physician on the Enfield Health board from1933 – 1937. He served as a physician in
1942 in Wilmington, North Carolina. He married Letha A. Kresge (1907-1967) they had 3
children.
•J. W. Burton was born June 8, 1889 and died September 11, 1951. He was a practicing
physician in Mecklenburg, New York. He served as Enfield’s Health Officer from 1920 –
1933, 1937 – 1947. Her served in the Medical Corps of U.S. Army from 1917 – 1919. He
was married to Harriet A. Haannis (1895 – 1966) and they had 2 children.
3 Grip 's historical souvenir of Cortland. Paperback – January 1, 1899 by Welch. E. L. (Edgar
Luderne). b. 1855. (Author)