Samuel Prescott Hildreth ~ PART IV

No preface is necessary in an outline of the life of Dr. Samuel P. Hildreth. The reader already knows him. ~  Seymour J. Hathaway

In our last post, we left our cousin Samuel Hildreth (4C6X) continuing his trip back east to visit friends and family

Oliver Hidreth's farm

From Metheun Samuel went to Townsend, MA where his grandfather (and our cousin) Oliver Hildreth (2C8X) owned a farm:

It was the birth place of my father, where he resided until he was 21 years old working on the farm of his parents in the summer months at at the trade or art of coopering in the winter . . .My grandfather's farm was located on "Wallace's Hill" a broad elevated range of country

three miles north of "the Harbor," and near the line of New Hampshire. After ascending the slope of the hill the eye of the traveler is greeted with one of the broadest and grandest views I have seen in any part of my journey. . .The farm of my grandfather contained about 100 acres, on which he lived, but he owned another tract of about 150 acres, chiefly of woodland in a distant part of the town. The homestead was composed of fine farming land for this part of the country, and contained many fruit trees of his planting. I collected memorials of my attachment and respect for the old place, by breaking small portions from the granite rocks, laid up in the stone wall near the house, and cut a twig from an ancient pear tree near the door. . .I learned many interesting facts in the history of the family, she (the neighbor) having lived on the adjoining farm all her life time. She says my grandfather was only a moderate sized man, but that my grandmother was not only tall, but very corpulent, weighing nearly or quite 350 pounds.

the return journey

After returning to Boston and staying with his brother for a while, the Hildreth's began their long journey home in the first week of July, 1829. From Harrisburg, PA, they took a canal boat up the Susquehana River to the Juniata River. Samuel noted that "The Juniata comes in to join the Susquehanna just below the bridge and the whole forms one of the most picturesque scenes that can be found in any country. . .As we approach the mountains, the views become more wild and beautiful along the shores of the Juniata."

To cross the Allegheny Mountains, they traveled by a contrivance that hauled the canal boat up and over the mountains something such as they never had experienced and that fascinated Hildreth.

"Here we were drawn up an inclined plane by a stationary engine and a huge cable of hemp. This operation of drawing up is repeated five times by as many engines before reaching the summit. . .The mountain scenery at this season of the year is fine. The chestnut is in full bloom."

The Hildreths continue their journey on the Allegheny River, reaching Pittsburgh, "a dirty, smoky town," on July 21st. They arrived back in Marietta four days later, "after an absence of eleven weeks.

We found the family all well, and rejoiced to see us again after so long an absence. Our hearts rejoicing in the goodness of God, who has safely guided and protected us through the perils of the journey; suffering no accident or evil to befall us, from the day of our departure to the day of our return. Blessed be His great and glorious name forever.

Samuel the writer

According to McCullough, "Samuel Hildreth, despite keen competition from seventeen physicians in Washington county, continued to 'monopolize' the medical profession. In addition to his medical practice, he was also a prolific writer.

It appears that Samuel's first published work was a description of the 1807 epidemic in Marietta. It was published in the New York Medical Repository. His next works were articles and descriptions of plants. In 1824, the full history of another epidemic which plagued Marietta was published in the Philadelphia Journal of Medical Science. From Wikipedia:

In 1826, he published in Silliman's Journal of Science. . .a series of articles on the Natural and Civil History of Washington County. From that time until his death, nearly forty years, he was a contributor to the Journal—such articles as descriptions and drawings of fresh-water shells found in the Muskingum and other streams, several upon geological subjects, touching upon the geology of Southeastern Ohio, the salt-bearing rock, the history of salt manufacture from the first settlement of Ohio, the coal formation, &c.

In 1848, Samuel published his "long awaited" Pioneer History of the Early Settlement of the Ohio Valley, "a work like no other until then and one of great lasting value." McCullough wrote that "praise for the book was plentiful, but that which had greatest meaning to Hildreth came from Benjamin Silliman, who wrote to tell him his name would 'be ever honoroably associated with the early history of the West. . ."

In 1852, Samuel published a second book, Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlements of Ohio, "taking into account a cast of thirty-nine characters of note. . ."

death of Samuel's daughter

Samuel completed his Genealogical and Biographical Sketches of the Hildreth Family ca. 1840 but continued adding codicils at least until the year 1854, the year his daughter died. "Some Account of the Sickness and Death of Mrs. Rhoda Marie Hildreth Ross Aged 31 Years" was the last entry in the book.

As a father, the account must have been difficult for Samuel to write. As a doctor, however, he gave strictly clinical facts. Below are some excerpts from the account.

She was confined in child bed with her second child on Thursday, February 9, 1854, at 8 o'clock P. M. The labour was not unusually severe or tedious, but complained of a good deal of tenderness of the bowels, if placed on the back, indicating incipient inflammation. She had been uncommonly healthy for months preceding. She remained comfortable until the next day at 11 A.M., when a chill came on as she was sitting up in bed to take nourishment, followed by a light fever, and that night slept poorly. . .

On Saturday evening at 9 o'clock was attacked with a pain in the right side near the viscera, for which took Dovers powders and sandnum, with warm fermentations; it afforded some relief and she slept with moisture on the skin, pulse120. She was bled in the evening to 14 or 16 ounces. . .

On Sunday, the third day, continued the Dovers powders, with nitre and directed a diet of gum arabic, water and elm, lest a pernicious food should occasion flatulence and swell the bowels still more; thirst not great or tongue much coated, and seemed to be a disease of irritation, rather than inflammation, there being but little pain since Saturday evening, bearing pressure, except on the spot where the pain commenced. . .Slept more on Sunday night than any previous one.

On the fourth day or Monday was more comfortable, pulse at 105, at 5 P.M. At 7 P.M. her brother Charles arrived from Louisville, and changed the course of treatment, directing more nourishing food and giving some brandy, thinking there was danger of reducing her too much; he also applied sinapisms to the breasts to promote secretion of milk, none yet appearing; also over the abdomen. . .She had a wretched night from the distress and irritation of the mustard; no sleep.

In the morning, Tuesday the fifth, the nurse without my order, changed her dress and removed her to make the bed, combed her head, etc., all of which wearied and distressed her exceedingly; bowels more turmid and more tender; gave a dose of oil and Terebinth, which operated a little and lessened the fullness.

Tuesday, sixth, continued the use of Tin. Veratria which kept the pulse at 70 or 80; thirst increased, gave bits of ice to cool the mouth and quench dryness.

Wednesday, seventh, bad night, sleeping only at short periods, difficult breathing with severe pain in the right iliac region, where it first began, extending up the right side to the top of the shoulders. . .pulse rose to 105 in the night showing increased irritability of the heart, and it was not again below 100.

Thursday, eighth day, no better, bowels more full and hard to move, distressed since Tuesday with an immense load of gas on the stomach. . .preventing sleep and jarring the bowels, now quite tender.

Friday, the ninth day, at 4. P.M., after nausea and vomiting from the action of the Veratria, had a copious discharge from the bowels, with much gas, which afforded a good deal of relief and lessened this swelling one third. Her brother Charles now left for home, at 9 A.M., thinking her to be much better.

Saturday, tenth, had a very bad night, no sleep of any length, looks sunken and distressed; until now had been cheerful. . .bowels more turmid, pulse 120.

Sunday, the eleventh day, last evening, Dr. Regnier advised to lay a blister over the right hypochondrium, as it was hard and swelled; it vesicated partially, but distressed her very much. During the day gave the Veratria every three hours, 10 or 12 drops, pulse very rapid, thirst great, with redness of the lips and tongue. Omitted the Veratria as it had no control over the pulse, only sickening the stomach. Sunday night still worse. Having been with her nearly all the time, by night and by day, I left her after eleven at night, but returned at 3:30 A.M. Monday morning, pulse intermitting and very rapid. Percieving that death was at hand l apprised her of it, and sent for the Rev. E. B. Andrews, who lived near. Her pastor, Mr. Wicks, had visited her on Sunday evening, and prayed with her. In this trying emergency her mind was calm and collected. She sent for some of her dearest female friends. . . commenced calmly and bid them a tender adieu, as if going on a journey, perfectly resigned to the will of God, glorifying Him in her last hour.

She desired Mr. Andrews, after prayer, to baptise her babe, naming it Samuel Hildreth. Called for her dear little Mary, now three years and six months old, and with a sweet smile told her that her mother was now going up to the skies, and she would see her no more; but if she was a good little girl, she should come to her some time. She then directed about her burial, with the grounds around her grave to be made cheerful and pleasant with roses and evergreens, so that when I visited it with her children, I could tell them about their mother. The charge of these she committed to her mother, sister Hattie and myself.

She had been living a little over a year in a house which I had built expressly for her and after her own model. She regretted she must leave it so soon, with the ornamented shrubbery in contemplation this spring, but was resigned to the will of her heavenly Father, and gave up all cheerfully at his bidding. She designated numerous little articles, as mementos to be given to her personal friends, with all the calmness of an every day occurence.

The breathing now became more oppressed as the abdomen was enormously distended, stopping the motion of the heart and diaphragm. She called on her Saviour with confidence and assured hope in her last hour, as her only dependence. A few minutes before she ceased to breath, her reason left her and she grasped frantically the arm and shoulder of her sister. The agony of death soon ceased and her departing spirit was in the presence of her God and Redeemer, where sorrow and suffering can distress her no more. Thus died our dear Rhoda Maria, in the midst of her days and usefulness. May the will of God be done in all

things.

death and legacy

From David McCullough's Pioneers:

Dr. Samuel Hildreth, now nearly eighty, remained one of Marietta's most accomplished, highly respected citizens. he had been honored with numerious awards for worthy achievment well beyond Marietta, yet remained ever devoted to the town and the town to him. He had also remained in good health - a well preserved and happy old gentleman, as said - - until Sunday, July 5. That morning he had attended church as usual, but in the afternoon he suffered a stroke that paralyzed him.

Samuel Hildreth died on July 24, 1863, in the grand red-brick home built by Joseph Barker. His wife, Rhoda, his physician son, George, and others of the family were at his side.

His funeral was held two days later at the Congregational church. He ws buried beside his father at the old Mound Cemetery. Rhoda, Cook Hildreth, who died in 1868, would also be buried beside her husband.

After Samuel's death, his old friend and mentor Benjamin Silliman wrote that "[i]n his private life he illustrated every virtue of a Christian gentleman. Bright and cheerful by nature, he loved nature with the simple enthusiasm of a child. Industrious and systematic in a high degree, no moment of his life was wasted"

Samuel's long obituary in the Marietta Register noted his many scientific and historic publications, the fact that he had been president of the Medical Society of Ohio and that he had "recently donated his collection of fossils, insects and shells, some 4,000 specimens in natural history, arranged in cases and drawers. . .to Marietta College."

. . .he accomplished very much, as he himself expressed it, by saving the "odds and ends of time". . .He was exact in all his dealings, an honest man, a Christian. His was a complete life, he "finished his work."

Such was Samuel's reputation in Marietta and the surrounding area that in his History of Marietta and Washington County published in 1902 by Seymour J. Hathaway, Samuel is introduced with these words:

No preface is necessary in an outline of the life of Dr. Samuel P. Hildreth. The reader already knows him.