The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-11-20

He Civeth His 5sioved Sleep"
Henry Brubaker M %, the well-knovn
/ physician and eminent citizen, died at his
residences in Somerset on Tuesday evening
last. He was the youngest child Of Major
John Brukaker, and was born In Berlin,
March 81. lszz He vas ed,lcafed By private
tutors and At Allegheny College. MeadviIle
Pa In ls4s be began the study Of medicine
under Dr. J. II Reidf. Of Berlin, and sub
sequenfly be attended the Jefferson Medical
College. at Pbilaielphia. and On March 3.
1881. received his degree Of N. D. from that
Institution. He FIRST began to practice in
New Lexington where be remained about IS
months. Then he located in Berlin for a
brief period. OF until 1856. when he removed
! 10 Somerset
For more than thirty years DR.. Brabaker
has been prominent IN Somerset County and
bic Ame has far outgrown lis limits. In
ability and attsinmenis be lowered high
above bis local contemporaries, while his
counsel snd advice was eagerly sought By
them. The Docfor's ambition wss limited,
insofar AZ be declined tempting Offers ofpseu-
mary gain and broader fields for the exercise
Of his skill lie repeatedly remarked to his
friends, who, recognizing his pre- eminent
ability, wondered thst he should conine
himself 10 ,hs sphere OF country Doc
tor" II love the people Of Somerset.
For thirty years I have shared their joys and
sorrows, and among them want to die
Not, however. afer have become fncapaci-
ated by some bodily or mental affection.
but when in the midst Of practice and in the
full enjoyment OF all my faculties viii
welcome the end
How happy in his death. How true to
his calling that entailed countless hsrdships
and vicissitudes.
The Doctor was as fearless Of disease IS be
was Of death itself. and was always ready
when duty called. Who among the people
of this neighborhood can ever forget the
unaeifish heroism he displayed few years
since when q poor, miserable family resid-
ing short distance north of town, was
stricken with smallpox. The whole coun-
try side was thrown into a paroxysm Of ter
ror at the mere thought of that loaihsome
pestilence breaking out in their midst. and
all feared to venture near the dreaded spot.
Not 50 with the brave physician who attend
ed 10 their wants with untiring devotion,
not only slleviAting the pains of the body
but furnishing them with subsistence, and
when death finally came to their relief, with
christian fortitude and with bis own hands
prepared the bodies for burial, made the
rough boxes in which they were encased,
dug the graves, and after tenderly laying the
diseased bodies to rest. with uncovered head
in the bleak winter air said prayer for the
repose Of their souls before covering them
over with earth and erecting rude slab to
marx their last resting place. All this was
done without the hope Of remuneration
other than satisfied consciousness of duty
performed
DR.. Brubsker loved his profession with a
devotion that challenges comparison. No
thought Of gain ever penetrated his mind,
BAT how to relieve pain and eradicate dis
ease wss always Predominant. For this
purpose he surrounded himself With vast
library filed with the best and loftiest
thoughts Of the master minds in his pro6es-
sion. and every moment that could be spar
ed from his practice Wis occupied in storing
his trained memory with the approved
modes Of treatment as science suggested
them. He was frequent contributor to the
leading medical journals OF the country and
bis articles were widely read and discuss
ed By the profession.
Outside Of bis profession Dr. Brubaker was
anquestionably the most cultured man in
the county HIS tastes were entirely liter
airy and scientific, and the extent OF his re-
search and reading was without bounds. |
His library comprising hundreds Of care
fully selected volumes was the joy Of his |
LIE.
A practice of more than thirty years had
brought him into contact with almost every /
family in the community, and none knew |
him but to love. He was truly the good |
physician whose very presence was as a
ray Of sunshine in the sick-room and 1
brought trust and hope, and healing to the |
afflicted
His was an elevated standard Of profes- |
sional duty and he fell q martyr to it.
Worn in body and weary of mind he went !
from household to household ministsring to |
the suffering and bringing relief TO the af- 4
ficted.-" was sick and ye visited me-
oyertaIed nature could 10 longer bear the
strain, and with evident knowledge that the /
end was near. he calmly arranged his bust
ness affairs and laid down for the longed for
rest that knows no ending. Rest and peace
came to him as to q weary child, and be met
death with the CHEEKY, benignant smile with 4
which he bad always entered the sick-room
Of his patients. The unexpected announce
ment Of bis death was shock to the entire
community Mourners went about the
streets and sorrow sat prone at every hearth
stone
-Life'E race well run.
LIES work well done.
After that, rest
Death nearly always deals an irreme-