About the year 1821, a young man from "York State" arrived in Ashland, and obtained employment at the distillery of Slocum and Palmer.
He was dreadfully afflicted with obliquity of vision, a disease known as strabismus. One eye seemed to be so much afflicted as to be useless for all purposes.
And the other, so distorted as to make it very difficult to read. His singular appearance attracted a good deal of attention, and many unfeeling witticisms were perpetrated at his expense.
The young man attended promptly to the interest of his employers; and in deportment was habitually reserved. It was noticed, however, that he possessed quite a store of information, and could converse fluently when so disposed.
He very soon engaged the attention and sympathy of Doctor Joel Luther, whose esteem he finally won. The Doctor discovered, on further acquaintance, that the young man possessed a most retentive memory, and had talents of an unusual order.
Thus he had been richly endowed with intellect to atone for all his physical infirmities, as in the case of Aesop and thousands of others. At the request of Doctor Luther, Mr. Hildreth commenced a course of medical studies, and made rapid progress.
He continued in the office, as a student, some three years. At that period the laws of Ohio required all students, at the completion of their studies, before entering upon practice, to procure a license to do so. There being no medical school, the young doctor had to thread his way along rough roads and paths to the legislature, with a view of submitting to an examination by a special committee to be appointed by that body.
On his arrival, he attracted a good deal of attention. The committee was appointed, and the time and place for examination designated. From the singular appearance of the applicant, it was believed that the committee would make a sort of frolic of the affair, have a good deal of fun and let the young man depart in disgust.
The chairman of the committee, being a sort of doctor, turned out to be not so learned on anatomy as Horner, Wistor or Wilson. He had proceeded but a brief time in the examination, when the young doctor picked him up on the origin, insertion, and location of the sartorius.
The next blunder was, in assigning the position of the liver and stomach in relation to the diaphragm. The young doctor triumphed. The principles of the theory and practice of medicine was hastily disposed of, and compatibles and incompatibles entered upon.
By way of crowding the young doctor into a tight place, the chairman wished to know the result of a mixture of alkaline salt, water, and animal oil, in given proportions. After revolving the matter a moment, the young doctor said; "Gentlemen, I have studied with a view of practicing medicine, and not to follow the occupation of making soap."
The laugh was on the wrong side again. The committee had caught a " Tartar," and was bound to bring in a favorable report, which was done; and the doctor returned fully authorized to practice his profession.
He continued in practice, in Ashland, with fair success, some five or six years, and removed to Bellville, Richland County, where he resided many years.
He subsequently studied law located in Mansfield, where he deceased about two years since. The doctor achieved a fine reputation as a leading member of the Masonic fraternity.
He was, perhaps, one of the brightest Masons in the State, and many years ago was appointed by the Grand lodge a member of a committee to revise the work, a duty that he discharged with fidelity and rare ability.
As a physician, he understood clearly the principles of his profession, and, as a lawyer, he is said to have been versed, but, owing to his infirmities of vision, he was unable to make such a display of his talents as would win public patronage.
He was the second physician in Ashland, and a man of note. He is an illustration of what can be accomplished by industry and untiring perseverance, notwithstanding the embarrassments of physical infirmities.
contributed by
Russ Shopbell
bellshop@zoominternet.net
Arrival Page
Russ Shopbell
