Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/400

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

174

��NEW LONDON CENTENNIAL ADDRESS.

��Daniel E. Colby, Dartmouth Col- lege, 1836.

J. Everett Sargent, Dartmouth Col- lege, 1840.

Robert Colby, Dartmouth College,

1845-

Edward B. Knight, Dartmouth Col- lege, 1 86 1.

Dura P. Morgan, Brown University, 1869.

Carl Knight, Dartmouth College,

1873-

William Knight, Brown University,

1877.

Charles M. Sargent, Bates College, 1879.

PHYSICIANS IN NEW LONDON.

Samuel Flagg was a travelling doc- tor, whose route extended from Pem- broke and Dunbarton to Enfield,through Hopkinton and New London, usually coming this way two or three times a year, but irregularly. He always trav- elled on foot and carried his saddle- bags of medicine over his shoulder. He had no fixed residence, but wandered from place to place ; a man of consider- able skill, but intemperate, and took great delight in making himself a terror to children. He was found dead in a mud hole, into which he was supposed to have fallen in a fit of intoxication.

John Cushing was a resident of New London for many years ; came here before the year 1800; was a skillful physician, and for a time was quite popular here. He was engaged 'to be married to Phebe Messer, the daughter of Samuel Messer. The day was ap- pointed for the wedding ; the friends were invited ; the guests came ; the bride, in expectancy, was attired, and the waiting maids in attendance. The only absent one was the bridegroom that was to be, who did not put in an appearance ; and as there could not be much of a wedding without a bride- groom, the result was that the wedding did not come off according to pro- gramme. This was in 1802 or 1803. But this disappointment proved a bless- ing in disguise to the intended bride, for Cushing, who was then somewhat given to drink, went on from bad to

��worse and became very intemperate, lost his practice and the confidence of the community, and finally moved to Fishersfield and died there in poverty. He always rode on horseback to visit his patients. He never married.

Robert Lane came to New London, from Newport, about the year 1 808, after Cushing had lost his practice and moved from town. He lived here some two or three years, then moved to Sutton, where he was living and in practice in 181 1, and remained there a few years. He then returned to New London, where I find that he was residing in 1 8 14, and he remained in town through 1815 and 1 816, for he was one of the selectmen of the town in these latter years. After this he went to Mobile, Ala., and was absent a year or two, when he returned and stopped a short time at New London, and then took up his permanent residence in Sutton, at the north village, where he ever after- wards lived. He had an extensive practice, became quite distinguished in his profession, was much respected, and died a few years ago at a good old age. You knew him well.

Charles Pinney came to New Lon- don about i8io„when Dr. Lane first went to Sutton. I find that Pinney was here and in full practice in 181 1, when Lane was also in full practice in Sutton. Pinney married a daughter of Mr. Ed- mund Davis.' After Dr. Lane returned to New London they both remained awhile, and then Pinney moved away. He returned to live here again after several years, and remained here, I think, till his death ; at least he is bur- ied in your cemetery. I knew him well after his return, but he was not then in practice as a physician.

Isaac Colby followed Dr. Lane, com- ing soon after he left, in 181 7 or 181 8, and remained till about 1821, when he removed to Hopkinton.

Herbert Foster was here in the year 1822, may have come in 182 1, but did not remain but a year or two.

Jonathan Dearborn came soon after this, perhaps in 1823, or a little later ; was a skilful physician, but left town suddenly in 1829. You that can re-

�� �