Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-08-18

For the Bradford OPINION.]
Doctor Samuel White, as connected with
the EARLY History OF Newbury, Vt.
BY W, II, CARTER, ". d.

Mr.. Editor: In reading the history of
the town of Newbury in Miss Hemen-
ways "Vcrmont Historical Gazetteer"
| find that no mention is made of DR..
Samuel White, the first physician who
settled in that town. AS it was omitted
by those who furnished the material from
which that history of the town was COM
piled; and remembering Dr.. White from
my early childhood; and having had a
continued acquaintance with him during
the last twenty years of his life, | wish
that few lines which l write may find
a place in your paper; Perhaps it may
prevent the name Of q once useful citi-
zen from becoming extinct, or passing
into oblivion. The early history of any
portion of our country is rendered inter-
esting by incidents connected with the
first settlers, and there is something of
mournful pleasure in recording the
part which they acted in the great drama
of life.
DR.. Samuel White was born in Plais-
tow, State of New Hampshire, Nov, 10,
1850. He was the son of Nicholas
White. Esq, a respectable farmer OF
that town. lie received his early edu-
cation at the common school where he
lived, and he also obtained q competent
knowledge of the Latin language to en-
ter upon the study of medicine with fa-
cility. At the early age of seventeen,
he commenced his medical studies, and
continued them four years, under the in
struction of Thomas Brickett, M. D., of
Haverhill, Mass, who was q man Of
learning and skill; having enjoyed the
advantages of the Medical Schools and
Hospitals of Edinburgh in Scotland;
and served as Surgeon in the British ar
my. The long time of study under the
instruction of an eminent physician and
surgeon, was we'll calculated to tasten
| in Ills mind that knowledge which was,
afterward, so much needed by him, when,
tar removed from his professional breth-
rem; and in new country. he was fore
ed to rely upon his own knowledge and
Judgment in many difficult cases COM
mitted to his charge. '~i.
At the expiration Of his pupilage, Pr:
White was we'll recommended by his
Preceptor, and entered upon the duties
of his Profession. He practiced one or
two wears in his native town, with good
acceptance, in families of the best re-
spectablity. But at that time, the tide
Of emigration, was fast setting to the
North. Many families and individuals
from the Southern portion of New Hamp-
shire and from Massachusetts, had locat-
cd themselves upon the fertile meadows
of the Coos County. Noah White, an
elder brother of the doctor, had remov-
ed to Newbury with his family in 1868 !;
and Col. Jacob Kent who married his
sister. Mary White, emigrated with his
family the same year. Some years after
this, Samuel visited his brother and Sis
ter at the Coos" and carried with him
IA Proclamation for day of Thanksgiv-
ing which had been duly observed where
he resided; but was received and used
by Rev Peter Powers and his parishion-
ers, as related in the early history of
Coos" In the spring of l773 Dr. White
concluded to try his fortune with the new
settlers on the hills and valleys of the
wilderness. This, it will be perceived,
was ten years after the first settlement
of Newbury was begun. and two years
before the commencement of the Revo-
lutionary war. At that time there were
some families in Newbury, Haverhill,
Bradford, Oxford and Piermont; and il
was necessary that a physician should
be located among them. Nor was there
any physician between Newbrry and
Canada on the river; so that DR.. White
was the only one to be called upon for a
considerable distance round at the first
commencement of his practice. He
was, sometimes called to the distance OF
many miles through dense forests to WIS.,
it the sick, and these excursions were
sometimes performed on foot and on
snow-shoes; while marked trees were
the only guide which led him to the
place of his destination. The writer Of
this, has heard DR.. White relate many
stories of his nocturnal rambles to visit
Ibis patients, when the darkness was SC
great that he was obliged to feel for the
path to avoid wandering into swamp,
or falling headlong from some abrupt
precipioe. ,o
Roads and bridges were but few: rap.
i'd streams were to be fOrded, and quag-
mires passed through; while the howl
of wolf, or the growl of bear, were
the only evidence given him that the
woods were inhabited. The DR.. would
often tell Of the uncomfortable situation
in which he found his patients; many Of
them in log houses, without chirlneys,
while the only redeeming chance which
they had TO be warm was, to fill the fire.
place with wood, of which they had a
| plenty. He said he had seen little drifts