Biographies

Source: 
History of Morgan County, Ohio
with
Portraits and Biographical Sketches
of some of its
Pioneers and Prominent Men.
By Charles Robertson, M. D.
 - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co.
1886

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JAMES B. NAYLOR, M. D., one of the young physicians of the county, was born in Penn Township, Morgan County, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1860.  He received an academical education, which he made practically useful to himself and others by teaching.  In 1882 he began the study of medicine with W. Emmet Gatewood, M. D., of Stockport, graduating from the Starling Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio, in the class of 1886; was married to Miss Myrta, daughter of Captain C. J.Gibson, of Windsor, Mar. 28, 1886.      The first medical practitioners in Chester Hill and vicinity were the physicians of Pennsville and Plymouth, and occasionally Dr. Johnson and others from McConnelsville.  Dr. Jesse Foulke was in the place a short time prior to 1837.  Dr. Isaac Huestis, who located here in 1837, was the first settled physician, and for years his practice was extensive.      Dr. John Baswell, not then a graduate, though he received a degree later, was in Chester Hill for a time about 1840, but never practiced much. Source:  Chapter XV - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 284 Joseph W. Nixon JOSEPH W. NIXON.    Hugh Nixon was born in Ireland about the year 1785, whence he came with his parents at about ten years of age, locating in Pennsylvania.  Thence he removed to Ohio County, Va., where he married Miss Rachel Wood.  They had six children, two of whom, Robert and Eliza Ann, were born in Morgan County.  Their names were Frances Shutt (dead); Ann Jane (Hopkins) resides in Deerfield Township; Joseph W. resides in Deerfield; John resides in Zanesville; Robert, in Wisconsin, and Eliza in Deerfield.  Mr. Nixon served as justice of the peace in Deerfield Township nine years.  He was a very prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church from the time of his marriage.      He held several prominent positions in the church during his membership, which lasted during his lifetime.  He was a devout, sincere and consistent Christian.  He died at fifty-nine years age.      Joseph W. Nixon was born in Ohio County, Va. (now West Virginia), Aug. 9, 1811, where he resided until about eight years of age, coming with his parents into Deerfield Township in the year 1819.  He married Miss Eliza Hopkins May 12, 1835.  Three children were born of this union: James H. and John E., residents of Deerfield Township; William H. (dead).      Mrs. Nixon united with the Methodist Episcopal Church when only fifteen years of age, her future husband joining the same day.  She lived a consistent Christian life until called to higher usefulness July 24, 1879.  He married for his second wife Miss Mary Massey, daughter of the venerable pioneer, William Massey.  Mr. Nixon being one of the pioneers, his education was necessarily limited, but by industry and perseverance he acquired a fair education, and we find him now in the evening of life well posted on current topics.  By industry, honesty and frugality he has acquired a competency and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor.  Mr. Nixon has been a stanch republican ever since the organization of that party.  On all questions of public import lie has always been found on the side of right and justice.  The nobler traits of character, such as generosity, magnanimity and Christian forbearance, are innate with him.  He is generous almost to a fault, courteous toward strangers, and evinces the most cordial Christian forbearance toward those who cherish opinions different from his own. Source:  Chapter XVII - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 460 H. J. Noyes, M. D. HIRAM JUDSON NOYES, M. D., is of New England birth and education.  He was the son of Cyrus and Mary (Page) Noyes, and was born in Haverhill, Mass., Apr. 8, 1834.  When he was three years of age his parents moved to Amesbury, and after four years’ residence there, to Andover.  His father was superintendent of an almshouse in Andover and was accidentally killed.  After his death Hiram returned to Haverhill, where he worked for his board and attended school for one year, he then worked for five years in a woolen mill owned by the late Hon. E. J. M. Hale.  From August, 1849, to November, 1850, he attended the Washington Street Grammar School, then entered the high school, where he remained one term.  He next worked a short time in a shoestore, then went to Atkinson, N. H., where he took care of twenty-four head of cattle for Rev. Jesse Page, President of Atkinson Academy, at the same time attending the academy, under the preceptorship of Hon. Wm. C. Todd and Chase Prescott Parsons, where he was prepared for college.  He was a student of Amherst College in 1855, and then began the study of medicine with Dr. John Crowell at Haverhill, and attended medical lectures at Dartmouth College, N. H., in 1856.   From 1856 to 1861 he was engaged in teaching.  In the spring of 1858, while on his way from Philadelphia to Boston, Dr. Noyes lost many valuable books and narrowly escaped losing Ins life.  He was a passenger on the steamer “Palmetto,” which was wrecked by striking on a rock near Block Island, seven miles from shore.  The boat broke in two in the middle, and the passengers, taking to the lifeboats, all reached the shore in safety, though several of them lost nearly all their worldly possessions.  In 1862 he graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Noyes served in the Fairfax Seminary Hospital from August, 1862, until April, 1863; was hospital steward and regimental postmaster of the 33d Regiment of Pennsylvania militia from June 26, 1863, to Aug. 4, 1863; hospital steward of the 34th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry from August, 1863, to duly, 1864; first assistant surgeon of the 4th Regiment of United States C. H. A. from July, 1864, to February, 1866.  During the latter period he had charge of the |medical department of the regiment several months, and was acting surgeon in-chief of the post at Columbus, Ky., in the summer of 1865.  In 1860 Dr. Noyes located at Meigsville, Morgan County, Ohio, where he has since resided and practiced his profession, taking a high rank as a physician and a citizen.  He served as president of the Morgan County Medical Society in 1877; was treasurer of that society in 1881, vice-president in 1882, and one of the censors in 1885.  From 1877 to 1881 he was a member of the Zanesville Academy of Medicine, and is now a member of the Muskingum Valley District Medical Society.  He is also a permanent member of the American Medical Association.  1884-5 he was president of the board of education of Meigsville Township.  Since 1871 he has been an elder in the Presbyterian church and superintendent of the Sunday school; was president of the Meigsville Township Sunday School Association in 1880; is a member of the National Institute of Pharmacy, a life member of the Ohio State Sunday School Union, and served as district secretary of that body from 1882 to 1886.  He is a life member of the Alumni Society of the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Noyes received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Amherst College in 1881.  He has contributed many articles to the press and has written articles on “The Circulation of the Blood,” “The Functions of the Spleen,” “Venesection and Its Substitutes,” etc.  He was married Dec. 16, 1864, to Mrs. Margaret Stewart, widow of T. L. Stewart, who served as a sergeant in Company H, 92d regiment, O. V. I.  Of this union one child has been born, a daughter, Mary Nettie, who was married in 1885 to Rev. T. C. Petty, Ph. B., of the East Ohio Conference.      The first resident physician of Deavertown was Dr. Baldwin, who came in the year 1827.  Previous to that time Dr. Little had prescribed for the “ills that flesh is heir to.”  Dr. Baldwin remained but a short time and in 1829 Dr. Mercer, of Chandlersville, came.  He had the practice for five years, when he left.  In 1833 Dr. Lytle established himself in Deavertown, and did an extensive business until 1845, when he disposed of his business to Dr. William H. Reeves, who was in active practice for about ten years.  About 1845 Dr. U. K. Hurd, an able physician and an excellent gentleman, commenced the practice.  He remained nineteen years, leaving in 1864.  He removed to Odin, Illinois, where he now resides.  Dr. Philip Kennedy came in 1853 and remained until his decease, in 1882.  In 1867 Dr. J. C. Devol came.  He practiced his profession in Deavertown and vicinity until his death, which occurred in 1872.  Dr. J. R. Bell succeeded to his practice. Source:  Chapter __ - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 279

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