Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-01-28
DOCTORS Of THE OLDEN
TINE AND DOCTORS We
\ HAVE KNOWN. u
[By Wallace McGeorge, NJ. p.N
Read Before the Gloucester County
Historical Society, ON Tuesday,
January IL, 1909.


the sunlight of publicity. Born in
Philadelphia December 10, 1902, he
graduated from the University OF
Pennsylvania in 1928, and few years
later he settled in Camden, where he
practiced his profession till 1884
when he devoted his time mostly to
literary pursuits.
During his life he wrote large
numer of books, most of them novels
and fiction, but some of them of a
scientific and historical nature. He
also wrote a few books of poems, and
contributed largely in prose and verse
to several magazines, and was the
editor of Leaflets of Memory"
He devoted much time to politics,
and helped to found the Native Amer
lean party in 1887, and at its first Nat
ional Convention in Philadelphia, in
1874, he wrote its platform. In 1852
Da mel Webster was his party's can
didate for President; Dr. r.Reynell Coats
was named for Vice President. Web
ster died during the campaign, and
the party being left without a head,
did not carry single state. In Feb
ruary, 1860, as the leader of the Ma
tive American party, he united with
the Wings in calling a convention to
meet at Trenton for the organization
of a Constitutional Union party in
this State, and to elect delegates to
the Constitutional Union Convention,
which on May 9Th, nominated John
Bell for President and Edward Ev-
erett for Vice President. CHI.
In 1867 he resumed the practice of
his profession. aand became mem
Der of the Camden City Medical So
ciety, and was elected its President
in 1872 In 1870 he contributed large
ly to bring about a better water sup
ply for the city of Camden, and tie
same year he assisted in organizing
the Camden Literary and Library As
sociation, and is said to have stood
in the front rank of polite literature.
He died in Camden in 1886, in his
{ eighty fourth year. CHI.
Y Doctor Benjamin Paschall Howell,
son of Joshua L. and Anna Blackwood
Howell. was born at Fancy Hill, now
Washington Park, November 26, 1908.
He studied at the Woodbury. Academy,
in a high school at Philadelphia, later
at Princeton and Rutgers College,
from which he graduated. He then
took up the study of medicine with
his older brother, Samuel L. Howell,
NJ D., who was Professor of Anatomy
and Physiology at Princeton College,
and graduated at the University of
Philadelphia in 1881. He was ap-
pointed resident physician at Block
ley Hospital the same year, and treat
ed many patients during the cholera
epidemic.
In 1885 he married Miss Rachel
Lewis, of Philadelphia, whom many
of us remember for her unfailing codr-
tesy and womanly virtues. After his
marriage he continued to practice in
Philadelphia until 1S43, when he
moved to "Candor Hall' farm-now
the Shiyers farm, half way between
Woodbury. and Fancy Hill, where lie
practiced his profession, conducted
farming operations and managed the
fisheries In 1846 he was one of the
five doctors that reorganized the Glou
cester County Medical Society. In
1855, after his mothers death, he NOV
ed to Fancy Hill, staying there two
years.
In 1857 he moved to Woodbury.,
where he practiced his profession for
a quarter of century While in this
city he lived in the Keasbey house on
the West side of Broad street, and
later he moved to the French house
on the East side of Broad street, a
few doors below his neighbor, DR.
C. F. Clark. In 1874, he purchased
the brick mansion now known as No.
South Broad street, where he lived
till he died, October 10, 1882, in his
seventy-fourth year.
In 1868 he was appointed Assistant
Surgeon for Gloucester county under
the Board Of Enrolment Act. In 1870
he was appointed Commissioner of
Fisheries by Governor Randolph,
which Office he held, without compen-
sation, until his death. The people
of our county and State were fortu-
nate in having such a well-informed
practical man to accept and perform
the duties of this Office. And Dir.
Howell never looked so happy as when
talking to interested listeners on the
proper management of shad fisheries.
DR.. Howell was a member of ne
Presbyterian Church of Woodbury.
until his decease, and the records of
that church show how useful he was
as a member and trustee. When
there was any important work to be
done,o or any service requiring courtesy
and tact, Dr. Howell was selected to
perform it. One OF his FELLOW pnySl-
clans has written of him: Truly a
gentleman of the old school, always
dignified, courteous, and scrupuloIsly
polite in all his intercourse. Anyone
passing him on the street would in
stinctively turn round after passing
and take prolonged look at him. :
NV estimate of this upright, courteous
physician is that he was a good, clean
man, a skillful doctor, Christian
gentleman. In his life he was low
ing husband, a kind, considerate par
ent, and a neighbor to his fellow
men. His body rests in Eglington
cemetery, and many of his former
patients visit his grave whenever they
20 to the cemetery
+ Dr. Joseph G. Weatherby was born
in Clarksboro october 1882, his par
ents 81 being Edmund and Ann Weather
bv. After attending the common
school g and the preparatory school at
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