The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-05-31

ly connected WIN the IaIullleS OIL ny
gone days are not well preserved.
Anyone, therefore, knowing more of
the history of the early physicians,
will confer favor by giving us in
formation.
Older residents of Skowhegan will
remember Greenleaf A. Wilbur, at one
time one of Names most prominent
physicians and surgeons. The fol-
lowing outline of DR.. Wilbur's life
and work will, without doubt, be in
teresting to many people in this town
and in other places turnout Somerset
County.
1t seems that DR.. Wilbur was a
descendant of Samuel Wildbore, of
High Dutch ancestry, who came to
this country from England not
later than 1893, and settled in
Boston Samuel Wildbore was a
prominent church worker and man
of wealth. and he it was. accompani-
ed by seventeen others, who purchas-
ed from the Indians, the Island of
Aquidnic, now Rhode Island, and
formed colony where the beauti-
full city of Providence now stands.
Since that time, the name has
been changed, emitting the I'd" in the
first syllable and spelling the second
dur" instead of bore. 1t will be
remembered that DR.. Wilbur s
grandfather, Asa Wilbur, preached
the first sermon ever given In the
town of Skowhegan. The doctors
father David A, was Justice of the
Peace. Born August %, 1920, in
Sidney, the early days of DR.. Wilbur
were spent in that town and in Au-
gusta, where he fitted for college at
the Augusta High School, He grad
uated from Colby with an A. B. de-
gree in 1S45, and received his A. M.
degree in 1849. He attended one
course of lectures at Bowdoin Medi-
cal College and began his medical
studies with II. H. Hill, M. D., OF
Augusta. He then completed full
course at Jefferson Medical College
in Philadelphia, receiving there his
M. d. degree.
He located in Norridgewock where
he practiced for one year. afterward
| "a r
was declared he went South as sur
geon with the Eleventh Maine Regi-
ment. Before the War was over, he
was taken sick at Fortress Monroe
and was obliged to return home.
Upon recovery, he went to Augusta,
where he was examining surgeon
for the Third Congressional District
of Maine, a position which he held
under the establishment Of a board
of examiners to which he was ap-
pointed Later he returned to
Skowhegan where he practiced up to
within two weeks of his death which
occurred in July, 1893. 1t will be
remembered that DR.. Wilbur was
physician and surgeon to Governor
Abner Coburn.
He was married to Miss Frances
Elizabeth Moore, daughter OF Isaac
and Nancy Moore of Warren, Mass,
descendants of the Studley family of
Studley Park, England. DR.. Will
bur's two children are still living
both being residents of Skowhegan,
Dr. c. II. Wilbur. dentist and Mrs.
Mary Parker, wife of the late Moses
A. Parker.
I During his life, DR.. Wilbur was
prominent in the Masonic order and
won several high offices and honors.
He was made an honorary member
of the Eye and Ear Infirmary in
Portland; was principal of Union
Academy at Kennebunkport; super
intendent of schools in Skowhegan
for years; a trustee Of the Bloom
field Academy, High School and the
Skowhegan Public Library; vice
president and afterwards president
of the Skowhegan Circulating Libra
ry; a member of the Maine Medical
Association and of the Somerset
Medical Association; of the Skowhe-