Volume 1 — BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF DECEASED PHYSICIANS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

BY EBENEZER ALDEN, M. D.

(Continued from page 64.)

IV.—DR. HENRY WELLS OF MONTAGUE.

Few physicians have enjoyed a more enviable reputation than the subject of this Notice. He was the personal friend of Professor Nathan Smith of Dartmouth College, who was accustomed to speak of him in terms of the highest respect, and not unfrequently to allude, in his lectures, to his medical opinions and modes of practice.

Although Dr. Wells was in the habit of keeping a record of his more important cases, and of his views on medical subjects, he published but little, and his papers having become by an unfortunate accident a prey to the devouring element, materials are wanting from which to prepare a notice adapted to do full justice to his merits.

Soon after his death, Rev. Samuel Willard, D. D., of Deerfield, published in the Franklin Herald a brief but very just obituary notice of him; and more recently Dr. Williams has prepared a memoir, which has been transferred to his Medical Biography, from his address before the Massachusetts Medical Society.

From these sources principally, the following facts have been obtained.

Dr. Wells was born in New York, in 1742; studied medicine partly under the direction of Dr. Hull at Lebanon, Ct., and completed his medical studies in New York, having made himself well acquainted with medical science.

At the age of twenty-one, he commenced the practice of his profession in New York, and according to the custom of that day, had under his charge an apothecary's shop. After a short residence there, he removed to Brattleborough, Vt., where he continued eighteen years, and acquired an extensive practice and high reputation.

In the year 1782 he removed to Montague, with a view of obtaining a more central situation as to his business, and, perhaps, to diminish somewhat his labors in advancing life.

In 1785 he was elected a Fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society; and Dr. Williams states, that in 1806 he received the honorary degree of M. D. from Dartmouth College, which may be a mistake, as his name does not appear in the Triennial Catalogue.

In his profession, Dr. Wells attained the most distinguished rank. His natural powers were good; his medical reading extensive and judicious; his application methodical and patient. His eminent skill, however, in the management of disease, was derived chiefly from his own observation and experience. Possessing a clear and discriminating mind and an accurate judgment, his practical deductions were remarkably just. In difficult cases, his advice was much sought and highly appreciated. Punctual in his professional engagements, courteous in his manners, modest and unassuming in his intercourse with his medical brethren, he was highly respected by the profession and the public.

As a man, he was much beloved. He professed a firm belief in the gospel, and was much attached to the moral and religious institutions of his country. He was a pattern of temperance; his general influence was salutary; and his example such as might be safely imitated.

He was a kind husband and father. He was not exempt from domestic affliction, three of his children being deaf mutes.

In the latter years of his life, he suffered much from disease, which he bore with exemplary resignation, and, having passed the allotted period of human life, died August 24, 1814, at the age of 72; leaving behind him that good name which is better than precious ointment.

V.—DR. GRIDLEY THAXTER OF ABINGTON.

He was a native of Hingham; born in 1756; studied medicine with his brother, Dr. Thomas Thaxter of Hingham; and was a surgeon on board some armed vessels during the Revolutionary war.

About the year 1780, he settled in Abington, and as a physician for more than half a century enjoyed a very extensive practice. He probably rode more miles, and visited more patients, than any other physician who ever resided in the county of Plymouth.

He retained his faculties in very vigorous exercise until within a few years of his death, when he became superannuated, and suffered under alienation of mind, probably in consequence of bodily injury occasioned by a fall.

He was remarkable for his iron constitution and power of endurance. He rarely used a carriage in making his professional visits, preferring to ride on horseback as long as he was able to attend to business.

In his habits he was frugal and temperate, never using distilled liquors, not merely from choice, but from necessity, they being extremely offensive and odious to him.

He was much beloved by his patients; was an estimable citizen, and worthy man. His professional charges were moderate, especially for attendance on persons in straitened circumstances.

He was a pleasant companion; a kind father, and fast friend.

His first wife was the daughter of Gen. Benjamin Lincoln of Hingham, by whom he had a numerous family.

Ezekiel Thaxter, M. D., (H. C., 1812,) now resident in Abington, is his son.

He died Feb. 10, 1845, aged 89.

VI.—DR. EZEKIEL DODGE CUSHING, OF HANOVER.

Dr. Cushing, a classmate and personal friend of the writer, was descended from

1. Mathew Cushing, a son of Peter Cushing of Norfolk, Eng., who was born in 1588, and in 1638 came to Boston, in the ship Diligent, with his wife and five children; namely, Daniel, Jeremiah, Matthew, Deborah, and John². They settled at Hingham in the autumn of that year. Matthew Cushing died at Hingham in 1660; his widow survived to 1681, aged 96.

2. John Cushing² was born in England, in 1627, married Sarah, daughter of Nicholas Jacob, and settled in Scituate. He was many years a deputy in the Colony Court, and Representative to the Court at Boston after the Colonies were united, in 1692 and several succeeding years. He died 1708, and his wife in 1678.

3. John Cushing³, son of the above, was born 1662, and died 1737. He was Chief-Justice of the Inferior Court of Plymouth, from 1710 to 1728; and Judge of the Supreme Court, from 1728 to the time of his decease. John Cotton says, "he was the life and soul of the Court." He married Deborah Loring of Hull, in 1687, who died 1713. Their children were Sarah, Deborah, John, Elijah⁴, Mary, Nazareth, Benjamin, Nathaniel.

4. Elijah Cushing⁴, settled in Pembroke, and married Elisabeth Barker, 1724. They had sons, Elijah, Nathaniel⁵, Joseph, (H. C., 1752,) and daughters, Mary, wife of Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, Deborah, wife of Rev. Dr. Shute, and Elisabeth, wife of Major Cushing, all of Hingham.

5. Nathaniel Cushing⁵ had sons, Nathaniel⁶, Benjamin, and Charles.

6. Nathaniel Cushing⁶, Esq., father of the subject of this Notice, resided at Pembroke, now Hanson; married Mary, daughter of Rev. Ezekiel Dodge of Abington, who graduated at H. C., 1749, and died 1770, aged 48. Their children were Ezekiel Dodge⁷, Mehetabel, Lucy, George, and Elijah.

7. Ezekiel Dodge Cushing⁷, was born in 1790; graduated at Harvard University, in 1808; commenced the study of medicine under the tuition of Dr. Gad Hitchcock, of his native town; and after one year, became a pupil of Dr. Nathan Smith, Professor in the Medical School of Dartmouth College, where he received the degree of Bachelor in Medicine, in 1811.

His education was extended by attendance on the Hospitals and Lectures in Philadelphia. He then visited London and Paris; in the former city, acting as a dresser in St. Thomas' Hospital, while attending the Lectures of Abernethy, Sir Astley Cooper, and others; and in the latter, was present when it was occupied by the allies, witnessing daily in the crowded hospitals a most extensive surgical practice.

Thus furnished for the practical duties of his profession, he returned to his native country and settled in Boston, where he acquired the reputation of an able and successful physician, and obtained a respectable circle of business.

After a few years, perhaps being too impatient "to bide his time," and desirous of pursuing a more active life, he removed to Hanover, where his services were much sought, and highly appreciated in a widely extended circle. He was frequently called to advise with his professional brethren in cases of difficulty, and to them as well as to his employers, his opinions gave great satisfaction. It could not well be otherwise, for he possessed eminent skill and tact in his profession, and with it that urbanity and kindness of manner, which secured the confidence of all with whom he had intercourse.

Just as his reputation had become established, and when his prospects for long life and extended usefulness appeared most fair, he was smitten with disease, appearing first in the form of an epileptic affection, and then of partial paralysis, which issued in an entire loss of tone in the digestive organs, and ultimately terminated in his death, on the fifth of April, 1828, at the age of 38.

Thus died an amiable man and accomplished physician. Possessing naturally a vigorous constitution, he probably in early life exposed himself to unnecessary dangers; and when disease fastened upon him its iron grasp, relying too much on his former experience, he failed to exercise that care in his own case, which he would have recommended to others in like circumstances. His memory will be cherished by all who knew him, and his virtues may well be emulated by every aspirant to honest fame, in the profession of which he was an ornament.

He married Delia Sawyer, daughter of Capt.—— Sawyer of Boston, and left seven children; all of whom, except two who died young, with their widowed mother survive to mourn his early death.

The following lines of his Epitaph, written by one who knew him well, are remarkably just.

See History of Scituate, and a Dissertation of George C. Shattuck, M. D., in the Communications of the Massachusetts Medical Society, Vol. IV.