The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-06
OBITUARY.
DIR. james w. f. Gerrish, the Well-Known
Temperance Advocate.

Temperance Advocate.
Special to the indianapolis journal.
SEYMOUR Aug. 4.-Dr. James ". T. Ger
ish died at his residence in this city at
o'clock this morning, of organic heart dis
ease. The funeral will take place on Mon
day afternoon. The Masonic order will have
charge of the ceremonies.
DIR. James W. F. Gerrish was born in Mon
mouth, Me-, Feb. II, 1881. His father, Ansel
Gerrish, was a general merchant and specu-
lator. The Gerrish family was among the
early settlers Of the New England States,
having emigrated there from England in
1852, and become identified with the welfare
and growth of the East. During the finan-
cial troubles of 1886 and 1887 DR.. Gerrishs
father became deeply involved, and after
spending two years in an unsuccessful en-
deavor to retrieve his fortunes, left his family
and went to Elizabeth, Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania, where he taught school for
two years. He sent for his family, which
consisted of his wife and two children, the
eldest nine years of age, and in the fall of
1910 the family was again united. The
Doctor obtained the rudiments of his
education in the school taught by his
father. While teaching, his father conf leted
the study III medicine which he had begun
in his youth, and a few years later removed
TO Paris, Jennings county, Ind, where he be-
gan practice. In the early part of 1850
James w. +. Gerrish followed his father to
Paris where, in the same year, they opened
a drug store. The son soon after began the
study of medicine, graduating in 1855, and
began practice with his father in Paris, the
partnership continuing with slarge and lucra-
tive practice until the death of DR.. Ansel
Gerrish, which took place Aug. 10, 1885, at
Portland, Me-, while he was travelling for his
health, accompanied by his son. Upon the
breaking out of the civil war DR.. Gerrish
was commissioned assistant surgeon rose to
the rank of surgeon and was assigned to duty
with the Sixty-seventh regiment of Indiana
volunteers. During his army career he held
several important positions, at one time hav-
ing charge of the general hospitals of the
Thirteenth army corps at Vicksburg. In
August, 1864, on account of failing health
he was compelled to resign, and returning
North he settled in Seymour, Ind. Here he
steadily rose in the estimation of the people
until he came to be regarded as one of the
leading physicians of the State. He became
a member of the Indiana State Medical So
ciety and a permanent member of the
American Medical Association. In 1877 he
was chosen first vice-president of the Tri-State
Medical Society of Kentucky. Illinois and
Indiana and was voted an honorary men,
bership in the Southwestern Kentucky Med
ical Society. The Doctor had always been
lover of ancient history and in early life had
his curiosity aroused by the relics found in
the mounds of the Mound builders near Ma
rietta O. He has been adding to his coleo.
lions ever since, until at this time very few
private citizens OF the State have finer arch@-
illogical specimens than he left at his death.
The Doctor was leading spirit in the tenn
perance movement in Indiana, He espoused
the cause in 1877, and was Immediately cho-
sen president of the Red-ribbon club of Sey-
mour. Jackson county owes more to his en-
ergy and liberality for the success of the tenn
perance work in that county than to any
other man. His courtesy, kindness and
wonderful success in the management of the
cause endeared him to thousands In 1879
he was elected president of the Grand Tenn
perance Council of Indiana, delegated from
all the State tenn perance organizations, to a
great extent the ouUgrowth of his own work.
He was married to Miss Maria Robinson, of
Elizabeth, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania,
In September, 1919, and they have had seven
children, four OF whom are now living. The
Doctors mother died on Jan. 7, 1877. Both
his parents were Method;sts, and endeavored
to raise their children according to the teach
ings of that denomination. The Doctor was
not, we believe, a member of any religious
demonstration, but believed in a rational de-
votion, and in the precept of the golden rule.