113
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
CHAPTER
XI.
AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY-MEDICAL SOCIETY.
AN agricultural society, at an early day, was formed in this
County, and continued an annual fair for several years; but soon declined for
want of legislative encouragement.
The
legislature in 1843, passed an act to give encouragement for forming agricultural
associations. This act authorizes the formation of agricultural societies in each
County, which, when organized, become legal corporations with the usual powers
necessary to accomplish their design, and the object of them is declared to be
"to encourage and promote agriculture, domestic manufactures and the mechanic
arts." The treasurer of the State is authorized to pay annually to each society
a share of two thousand dollars, appropriated for the whole State, in proportion
to the population of the County, in which it is established, provided that as
large a sum shall have been otherwise raised.
Under
this act, a society was formed by a convention held at Middlebury, on the 22d
of January 1844, by the name of "The Addison County Agricultural Society." By
the constitution adopted on that occasion, its object is declared to be "the improvement
of agricultural productions, useful domestic animals, domestic manufactures and
the mechanic arts, so far as they concern the interest of agriculture." The payment
of one dollar is made the condition of annual membership, and the payment of fifteen
dollars, the condition of life membership. The officers of the society, are to
be a president, two vice presidents, secretary and treasurer. A board of managers
is constituted, consisting of the above officers, and one member from each town,
where ten members reside; who are authorized "to have a general supervision of
the affairs of the society,
114
HISTORY
OF ADDISON COUNTY.
fix upon such productions, experiments, discoveries or attainments in agriculture
and horticulture, and upon such articles of manufacture, as shall come in competition
for premiums at the agricultural fairs, also upon the number and amount of premiums,
and the time and place of holding fairs." The officers are to be chosen at an
annual meeting, to be held at Middlebury, on the first Wednesday of January,
which was afterwards altered to the fourth Wednesday of that month. The first
meeting was held on the same day the society was organized, and Hon. Silas H.
Jenison was elected president, and Harvey Bell, Esq., secretary.
The
first fair was held at the court house and adjoining grounds in Middlebury, October
1st 1844, and an address was delivered by Hon. Silas H. Jenison, which was printed,
and from which we have already largely quoted. The fairs in 1845 and 1847, were
held at Vergennes; at the former of which an eloquent and interesting address
was made by Rev. Dr. Wheeler, President of the University of Vermont. Addresses
have also been made at other fairs; of which we have not now sufficient information
to give a correct statement. The fair in 1849 was held in Shoreham. All the others
have been held in Middlebury. At the annual meeting in January 1852, the constitution
was so altered as to authorize the managers to fix on a permanent location for
the annual exhibitions; and they, at a meeting in June of that year, fixed on
Middlebury for that purpose, provided the citizens should provide suitable grounds
and fixtures, and pay one hundred dollars annually toward the expenses. Since
that time the fairs have been held on grounds leased from Gen. Nash, in the north
part of the village, where temporary fixtures were erected. These grounds have
now been sold and appropriated to another use.
Several
gentlemen in the County have recently purchased a tract of twenty-two acres, south
of the court house which formerly belonged to Jonathan Wainwright, including the
barns and extensive sheds, erected for keeping and preparing for market his horses,
when he was largely engaged in that traffic. Here they design to erect permanent
fixtures upon a large scale for the accommodation of the annual exhibitions. Arrangements
are in progress to raise
115
HISTORY
OF ADDISON COUNTY.
the requisite
funds to transfer the title to the corporation; but, until this is accomplished
the society will pay rent to the proprietors.
Hitherto
the fairs have fully met the expectations of the most sanguine. Many of them have
been interesting and extensive, and, we think, have produced a favorable effect
in stimulating efforts for improvement, and securing advancement in all the departments
within the province of the society. There have been exhibited an extensive variety
of the products of agriculture, horticulture, and of domestic and other manufactures;
and very often of numerous and fine specimens of painting, drawing and various
kinds of ornamental work by native artists. After what we have said of the stock
department of agriculture, none will be disappointed when we say, that the exhibitions
have been large and splendid in cattle; horses and sheep. Whatever others may
say, the citizens of Addison County will not shrink from a comparison with the
exhibitions of stock of any other County in the State, or perhaps of any other
State.
The
following have been the presidents and secretaries of the society.
|
FROM
|
PRESIDENT.
|
TO
|
FROM
|
SECTRETARIES.
|
TO
|
|
1844
|
Silas H. Jenison,
|
1848.
|
1844
|
Harvey Bell,
|
1847.
|
|
1848
|
Elias Bottum,
|
1850.
|
1847
|
E.W. Blaisdell,
Jr.
|
1850.
|
|
1850
|
Charles L.
Smith,
|
1852.
|
1850
|
Joseph H. Barrett,
|
1857.
|
|
1852
|
Harvey Munsill,
|
1754.
|
1857
|
Justus Cobb,
|
still in
office
|
|
1854
|
Edwin Hammond,
|
1857.
|
|
|
|
|
1857
|
William R.
Sanford,
|
still in
office
|
|
|
|
ADDISON
COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The legislature,
at their session in 1813, passed an act authorizing several physicians in each
county by name, to form themselves into County Medical Societies, by the name
of the Medical Society of the County in which they should be formed. And the
societies were severally to be corporations with the usual powers, necessary
for the purposes, for which they were designed; and were authorized to adopt
and alter a corporate seal. They were to have power to assess taxes on the members,
"for the purpose of procuring a library and suitable apparatus, and for other
uses," provided the
116
HISTORY
OF ADDISON COUNTY.
tax shall not exceed three dollars. The officers authorized by the law are a
president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, librarian and three or more
censors to hold their offices for one year, or until others are chosen. The
several societies were required to "hold semi-annual meetings in the shire town
in each county, at the time of the sitting of the County Court, for the purpose
of establishing and regulating the libraries of said society, receiving and
communicating medical information, examining students," and any other proper
business. The act requires that students examined and approved by the censors
"possess a good moral character," and "have pursued the studies of physic or
surgery at least three years;" and, being approved, shall receive a diploma
from the president, which shall entitle him to all the privileges of a member
of the society. The same act authorizes the formation of a State Society, to
consist of three delegates from each County Society.
The
physicians named in the act for this County are William Bass, Edward Tudor, Ebenezer
Huntington, Asher Nichols, John Wilson, Nicanor Needham, Frederic Ford Jr., John
Lyman, Frederic Ford, William Guile, John Willard, Luther E. Hall, James Day,
Dan Stone, Levi Warner, David McCollister, Martin Gay, Zenas Shaw, Josiah W. Hale.
In
pursuance of this act the physicians named met at Middlebury on the 15th of December,
1813, and organized the Addison County Medical Society, and elected the following
officers; Ebenezer Huntington, of Vergennes, President, William Bass, of Middlebury,
Vice President, Luther E. Hall, Vergennes, Secretary, Frederic Ford, Cornwall,
Treasurer, William Bass, Librarian, Dan Stone, Edward Tudor, Frederic Ford, Jr.,
John Lyman and David McCollister, Censors. Luther E. Hall and Dan Stone were appointed
a Committee to report a code of by-laws. It was further voted, that future meetings
shall be held at Dr. William Bass's, in Middlebury, and that the President deliver
an inaugural address, before the society, at their next meeting. This meeting
was adjourned to the 19th of January, 1814. At this meeting the President delivered
his inaugural address, and a code of by-laws, reported by the committee, was adopted.
William Bass and Luther E.
117
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
Hall and Dan Stone were also appointed a committee, to "present to the Society
a device for a seal and form of diploma." At the first meeting a tax of one
dollar was assessed, which at the next was increased to one dollar and fifty
cents; and at both these meetings, candidates were examined and licensed.
The
society thus organized continued in full life and vigor until about the year 1824.
Dissertations and addresses on medical subjects, under appointment for that purpose,
were read; difficult and uncommon cases of disease and their treatment reported
by the members; new members admitted, candidates examined and approved by the
censors received diplomas, taxes were assessed, a library collected and delegates
regularly elected to the State Society. In 1822, the State Society commenced a
series of resolutions proposing measures for the regulation of the County Societies.
One requiring the County Societies to make an annual report of the "diseases prevalent
in the County during the year," "under a penalty of five dollars fine on failure;"
one prescribing new qualifications for the admission of candidates for license;
and another affixing a penalty of five dollars for a neglect of the County Society
to "send their proceedings to the State Society, annually, as required by law;"
also a regulation respecting the dismission or withdrawing of members from the
County Societies.
These
proceedings were not received with much favor by this County Society; and at the
annual meeting in December, 1824, a committee was appointed to take into consideration
the proceedings of the State Society, and "report some plan of management for
our Library:" At an adjourned meeting the committee reported, recommending a dissolution
of their connection with the State Society; and another committee was appointed
to confer with the other County Societies on the subject. At a meeting in June,
1825, a resolution was passed instructing the delegates to request the
State Society to "petition the Legislature so to alter the act of incorporation
as to render the County Societies independent of the State Society."
The
result of the proceedings, so far as appears of record, was that, at a meeting
in May 1826, a resolution was adapted to "put
118
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
up our library at auction to the members of this Society;" and the sale took
place in June following. In the meantime, several members had withdrawn with
the consent of the Society, few attended the meetings, and the measure above
mentioned was adopted, we suppose, to close the existence of the Society. The
last meeting of which there is any record, was in October 1826; when the whole
business related to closing the financial affairs of the Society. The organization
of subsequent societies seem to have been regarded as a revival of this society,
formed under the act of 1813, although at each of these organizations, new constitutions
were adopted.
Dr.
Ebenezer Huntington, the first president, was continued in that office until 1823,
when Dr. Luther E. Hall was appointed, and continued president until 1826, when
Dr. William Bass was appointed the last president. Dr. Luther E. Hall was secretary
from 1813 to 1820, when. Dr. Thomas P. Matthews was appointed and continued to
the close.
On the 24th of December, 1835, a County Medical Society was organized and adopted
a Constitution, and on the same day held its first meeting. Dr. Jonathan A. Allen
was chosen President, Dan C. Stone and E.D. Warner, Vice Presidents, Ralph Gowdey,
Secretary, and Atherton Hall, Treasurer. About six months after, in June, 1836,
another meeting was held, and this closes its written history.
"The
Addison County Medical Society" was re-organized by a convention held at Vergennes
on the 30th day of June 1842, adjourned from a preliminary meeting, held at Middlebury
two weeks before. A new Constitution was then formed, by which the object of the
organization is declared to be, "to promote a knowledge of medical and surgical
science, and a friendly intercourse among the members of the faculty." The officers
of the Society are "a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian,
and three Censors, together with the President and Vice President; who shall be
ex-officio Censors,'' and they are elected annually. "Any regular practitioner
of medicine, a graduate of any legally authorized medical institution, who resides
within the State, and shall sign the constitution and by-laws, and conform to
the objects designed, may be a member of the society; and any person, who sustains
119
HISTORY
OF ADDISON COUNTY.
a good moral character may become a member, who shall have studied the science
of medicine and surgery three years under the direction of a regular practitioner,
and attended at least one course of medical lectures, in some legally established
institution, and has passed an examination by the censors, and by them recommended."
Any person having passed such satisfactory examination "may become a member
by signing the constitution and by-laws, and receive, if he wish, a diploma
by paying five dollars." According to the by-laws, meetings are to be held "at
Middlebury semi-annually, on Thursday of the first week of the County Court."
The first meeting was held on the day on which the Constitution was adopted,
and Dr. J. A. Allen of Middlebury was chosen President, Dr. Dan C. Stone of
Vergennes, Vice President, and Dr. David C. Goodale of Addison, Secretary.
Since
the last organization in 1842, the society has been in efficient and successful
operation. The meetings have generally been regularly held and attended; and we
judge many of them most interesting and profitable. A member at one meeting was
often appointed to make an address or read an essay on some important subject
at the next, and at all the meetings it was made the duty of each member to report
such interesting and difficult cases of disease as had occurred in his practice,
and each case was discussed by the other members of the society. It was one of
the rules of the society that each person appointed president should make an address
at the close of the term for which he was elected. At the annual meeting in June,
1847, Dr. Jonathan A. Allen, having officiated as President the previous year,
read an address which was published. From this we make a quotation, principally
to show how he regarded the influence of the organization. He says, "It is now
five years since the Addison County society was organized in its present form.
During this period twenty meetings have been held, generally well sustained by
the attendance of the members. Many facts, highly interesting to the profession,
and consequently useful to the public, have been presented. Much valuable information
has been elicited by our discussions, and we have every reason to believe that
not a member has failed of adding
120
HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
to his general stock of practical knowledge. In addition to these advantages,
valuable acquaintances have been formed, generous, elevated and kind professional
feeling promoted. Many of these endearments will reciprocally remain among our
members until the closing period of their existence. Jealousy, suspicion and
want of confidence have been almost entirely removed from our ranks. Our members
meet as friends. Consultations now, in lieu of being objects of bickering, are
generally desired, and usually, by the mutual and kind expression of opinion,
result beneficially to the sick." The whole community would feel safer if such
an influence should prevail generally among the doctors.
At
a subsequent meeting in February, 1848, the death of Dr. Allen was announced by
Dr. Russel, who stated that "the principal object of the meeting was to adopt
measures suitable to the occasion" of his death. "The President, Dr. Bradford
of Vergennes, read a short but expressive paper concerning his life and death"
and appropriate and commendatory resolutions were adopted. The Society also appointed
Dr. S. P. Lathrop, of Middlebury, to prepare a biographical sketch, which was
afterwards ordered to be published in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.
The
following have been the Presidents and Secretaries of the Society.
|
FROM
|
PRESIDENT
|
TO
|
FROM
|
SECRETARIES.
|
TO
|
|
1842
|
Jona'n A. Allen,
Middlebury,
|
1844.
|
1842.
|
David Goodale,
Addison,
|
1844.
|
|
1844
|
Joel Rice,
Bridport,
|
1845.
|
1844.
|
S. Pearl Lathrop,
Middlebury,
|
1846.
|
|
1845
|
Dan C. Stone,
Vergennes,
|
1846.
|
1846.
|
W.P. Russel,
Middlebury,
|
1847.
|
|
1846
|
Jonathan
A. Allen,
|
1847.
|
1847.
|
Charles L.
Allen,
|
still in
office.
|
|
1847
|
A.
Bradford, Vergennes,
|
1848.
|
|
Dr. Allen is
also Treasurer and Librarian.
|
|
|
1848
|
E.
D. Warner, New Haven,
|
1850.
|
|
|
|
|
1850
|
Earl
Cushman, Orwell,
|
1856.
|
|
|
|
|
1856
|
E.
D. Warner,
|
still
in office.
|
|
|
|