1852-1858 Detailed Ledger of Pioneering Big Island, Marion, Ohio Physician with Endless References to Marion’s Early Settlers
12268On offer is the remarkable medical ledger and diary of one of Marion, Ohio’s pioneering physicians, Dr. Russell Clark (R.C.) Bowdish (1823-1913).
Dr. Bowdish was born to Elijah and Sarah (Russell) Bowdish. In 1907, a book on the History of Marion County was published which referred to Bowdish as the “only surviving pioneer physician” [Jacoby, 1907]. Bowdish was one of the first students who attended Marion Academy, before studying medicine under Dr. John C. Norton and Dr. T.B. Fisher. He graduated from Cleveland Medical College in 1844. He first practiced in Waldo before moving to Big Island in 1851 where he practiced medicine until his retirement in 1889. Dr. Bowdish married Irene Hardin (1829-1876) in Delaware, Ohio in 1848. They had two children, both of whom sadly died in childhood. Late in life, Dr. Bowdish married Margaret Emma Wheatley (1840-1921) in 1885.
The diary is as interesting for its hundreds of references to pioneers of Marion County as it is for its collection of information about medical treatments and costs of the time. It is also interesting to see how Dr. Bowdish traveled for his work and when, what his typical calls were (usually medication requests and visits to wives who are “in confinement”, but some other neat moments such as attending a protracted labour are noted), how much health care cost and who received it regularly vs sporadically in the region. A small selection of excerpts gives the flavour of the diary:
“Wm E Brady medicine for self .20 …A Coleman cathartic pills .13…Alfred Walker cathartic pills for wife .13” [Sept 1, 1852].
“James Ford [fifth person to get married in Marion county in 1824] for Squill .13” [Dec 7, 1852].
“P Burns attendance upon wife and delivering placenta 2.50” [Nov 1, 1853].
“John Bates for Bateman [Dr. Bateman’s Pectoral Drops, opium drops] drops .13” [May 4, 1854].
“Wm Preston to attendance upon wife while at confinement 4.00” [Jan 2, 1855]
“E. Messenger…reducing dislocation of arm for S. Smith 2.00…Willy Fowler med for child .63” [May 27, 1855].
“Porter Brady to cup wife’s temple .50” [Jan 7, 1856].
“Clinton Britton 2 visits for self 2.50” [Nov 20, 1856].
“Mrs. S. Britton Cr by cash in full of act on estate of Clinton Britton decd 34.78” [Oct 11, 1857; DeWitt Clinton Britton died in Big Island on Nov 21, 1856].
“...Colored man on Cushman farm to visit for girl 1.50” [Sept 4, 1857].
Some of the many early settler families to Marion County’s townships were patients of Dr. Bowdish and their medical interactions are featured in this ledger. Some of these many names include those from the following family groups: Brady, Messenger, Britton (all from Big Island); Walker (Green Camp); Bryant (Montgomery); Martin (Salt Rock); Page (Grand Prairie); Brundige (Waldo); Johnson (Scott, Montgomery, Green Camp); Griswold, Beckley, Redding, Skates, Seymour, Carr, Hall, Fowler, Milikin, Rhodes, Wood family, Clark, Hatch, Matison, Conkin, Sprugue, Cushman, Christman, Parker.
This is a truly special piece of 19th century medical and Ohio pioneering history.
The ledger is hardcover and the spine is showing signs of wear, as are the covers. The binding and all pages are intact. Writing is legible. 194 pages, 100% complete. 11.5x7.5 inches. Overall Fair to Good.
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