The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-08-24
DIR. LEWIS SLUSSER,
A HIGHLY INTERESTING SKETCH OF THE
LIFE OF A STARK COUNTY
PIONEER

OF Stark held their last reunion, one of
our most active workers and beloved az.
sociates has passed away. That man
was DR.. Lewis Slusser; he was born on q
farm that is known 70 many as the Smith
fsrln on the Fulton road, now within the
city limits OF Canton, on January 21st,
1920, and died December %, 1892. He
was therefore nearly 20 years old at the
time Of his death. His father, John Slus-
ser, died some years ago many of tue old
citizens will remember his having store
on the northeast corner OF Tuscarawas
and Piedmont streets, and tannery on
Saxton street, directly opposite the pres.
ent Cleveland and Canton passenger de.
pot. DR.. Slusser's mother was sister of
our venerable Daniel Dewalt, who was
buried on the 18th inst, having lived to be
over "a years old, probably the oldest
Pennsylvania In the county.
DR.. Slusser attended school for several
years at the old Academy that stood
where our present high school stands on
West Tuscarawss street. His principle in.
structor was Barak Michener, who in
those times was far In advance
of the teaching Of that day. Mr.. Miche-
ner after that time began the practice Of
medicine In Massillon, where he was
quite successful for years, and then moved
to Adel, Iowa, where he died few years
ago at an advanced age. After DR.,
Slusser left his home school he entered
Jefferson College, at CannonsburR, Pa.,
where he closely applied himself to study
for three and half years, when failing
health compelled him to seek q more
congenial climate. He thereupon went
TO the State Of Georgia and after his
health was restored he opened an acade-
my there, In which he taught flye years.
He began his medical studies with DR.,
Ramsey of Wilkes County, Co., and
after that took his frat course OF medical
lectures at the National Medical College
Of Washington, d. c. While In Georgia
he became very much attached to the
Southern people; he often spoke Of their
kindness of heart and hospitality and
because of his love for the people of that
State he named his Oldest daughter
Georgia.
AFTER HIS RESIDENCE IN GEORGIA
he returned TO Canton and practiced two
years under instructions, After this he
entered the Ohio Medical College of Gin
cinnaH and In 1849 he located In Canal
Fulton and was quite succesEful as q ply
sicinn, to which he gave strict attention
until the breaking out of the rebellion In
1861. The close application to his chosen
profession was slightly interrupted by his
being elected n member of tho Ohio Leg.
islature In 1858, which he held for two
| nnFinu W mi ha IL
chairman Of the committee on Beneyo-
lent Institutions, which had an oversight
of the blind, deaf and dumb, imbecile and
insane asylumns, and also of reformatory
institutions for boys and girls. Hts in
terest in all benevolent institutions was
quite intense to the day OF his death. His
record in the legislature was Tor the good
OF his constituents, his faithfulness as a
public servant made him many friends
both at home and abroad.
Shortly after the outbreak OF the war in
1851, DR.. Slusser was appointed Surgeon
OF the 69lh Ohio Inf sntry, which service
he entered later he was promoted to
Medical Director of Brigade, and subse-
| quently of Division. After mis- regim emit
was mustered out he accepted a commis>
sion in the 4th Army Corps as Surgeon of
| the 26th Ohio Infantry, then In New ORE
leans, and later sent to the Mexican Dor,
der, where he remained until Nov. 1865
discharge.
DR.. Slusser then returned to his native
city and resumed the practice of his proN
fesBion and continued until 1874 when be
was elected Medical Superintendent of
the Northern Ohio Asylum for insane at
Cleveland, which position he held until
1877 when he resigned and returned to
Canton and resumed the practice of medi-
cine until 1873, when q .paralytic stroke
disabled him for some time, and though
after that time was measureRbly i'm q
proved In health, he was never able fully
to resume his former devotion TO his prac-
tlce. He was much attached to his relatives
and old acquAintances, and spent much
OF his time in collecting "reminiscences of
Stark county, and writing for the press,
and occasions like this upon which. we
| are assembled today. His long residence
and extensive acquaintance eminently
fitted him for this kind of work.
DIR. Slusser had a happy faculty Of in
terviewing pioneers and old settlers, read
lily gaining their confidence, and making
them feel at home In his presence, and
they were soon again living in the olden
time while talking with him, and in o
most interesting way relating the story of
their early adventures and hardships, and
also their early frolics and pleasures,
which he was not slow to take down 1t
had always been his purpose to gather
these early "reminiscences into D volume,
| and publish, but before he was permitted
/ to complete this cherished work, he was
| called to his eternal home.
II 10 quite probable they will In the near
| future, be collected and the few towns
| ships not completed be supplied by an
other. His papers bave been carefully
preserved and are being arranged with y
view to such uee.
He was an enthusiastic sanitarian and
was a member of the State Sanitary As
ISOLATION, and frequently wrote for their
l journals and read articles at their meet
irgs. He was also quite enthusiastic on
the subject of lcremation, and In COM
pliance with his most positive orders, his
l remains were taken to PittEburR for creI
| nation, and his ashes now rest In West'
lawn cemetery of our city.
He was one of the founders of the Hun
name Society and very active in promot-
ing Its objects land purposes. Our public
| library in Canton was also an object of
much interest to him. He was trustee
| of the same from its opening until his
| death. He spent much time to increase
| the funds and usefulness of this excellent
institution, and his place will be hard to
| MI.
He was the frat man to do efficient work
and help organize the Canton Board of
Health, and to him the city 10 greatly In
| debted for the organization az Il now ex-
lists He was also an active member OF
the Stark County Horticultural society and
/ on several occasions he prepared and
| read important documents at the meet.
ings OF said society. He took lively In
terest In their work. That society speak
very highly Of the Doctor'A efforts in their
behalf.
He was for three years member of the
Board of County visitors for Charitable
and Correctional Institutes. Was also
one OF tho first to organize an Old Set.