Clarysville Hospital, Civil War Records of Samuel West, Physician

Collection

Collection Number: A&M 3509

Staff Only

Overview

Civil War records of the U.S. military hospital at Clarysville, Maryland, recording activities of Assistant Surgeon Samuel B. West. Includes appointment letter, "Special Orders No. 74," for Samuel B. West dated 7-25. There are approximately 800 "Bed Cards" (5 3/4 in. by 3 1/2 in.) and 105 larger and more detailed "Medical Descriptive Lists" (12 3/4 in. by 8 1/4 in.). The Bed Cards contain the name, age, place of birth, marital status, residence, address of wife or nearest relative, rank, regiment, date admitted into hospital, diagnosis, where or how wounded, nature of missile or weapon, treatment, and result (with date). "Medical Descriptive Lists" contain name, age, rank, Company, Regiment, disease or injury, admission date, disposition (return to duty, death, or other), name of attending medical officer (Samuel B. West), treatment, and detailed remarks regarding progress of treatment. There are also: ten letters to and from Samuel B. West regarding medical record requests for pension applications, 1867-1883; a guide to Washington, D.C., 1869; train schedule and map for Philadelphia and New York area, n.d. (2 1/2 in. by 4 1/2 in.); handbill regarding admission of "colored physicians" to membership in the American Medical Association, n.d. (6 in. by 13 1/2 in.); and a two page statement regarding transgressions of soldiers upon civilians. The Bed Cards available in a digital collection accessible online (see Digital Material section, below); access to the original Bed Cards is restricted.

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Special access restriction applies.

Researchers may access digitized materials by visiting the link attached to each item or by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department at https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Biographical / Historical

[obituary for Dr. Simon Brown West, ca. 1885]

"Death of Dr. West"

Dr. Simon Brown West, the oldest physician in this place, as well as the first located here, having commenced the practice of medicine in Martin's Ferry in 1836, died at his residence Monday morning. Aged 73 years.

Dr. West was born in Jefferson county, near the Belmont county line, acquired the rudiments of an English education in one of the log school houses, which enter so largely into the history of Ohio, afterwards studied Greek and Latin under a private tutor, studied medicine under his brother, Dr. Henry West, of St. Clairsville; graduated at the medical college of Cincinnati in 1836, and settled in Martin's Ferry immediately afterward, where he has resided and practiced his profession till within the last two or three years, or since he has been disqualified by ill health.

Dr. West was very successful in the practice of his profession which was very laborious, his field extending for miles up and down the river and over the hill and far back into the country.

He was an active and enterprising citizen, always taking a prominent part in whatever he decided for the welfare of the country or the interest of the community. He with his father and all his brothers were earnest and unyielding Democrats of the old Jeffersonian school, till the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, when he at once identified himself with the Union party and all through the war his voice and council was for any legitimate measures which promised a quick and speedy overthrow of what he deemed a damnable attempt of scheming rascals to overthrow the best government on earth. He served during the war as a surgeon in the Union army in West Va. and Maryland, a part of the time near Cumberland.

After the close of the war, he identified himself with the Republican party, because, as he said, the other party contained too great a proportion of red handed rebels, whose counsels would dominate and control it and although it claimed to be the party of his early love--the party in which he had spent the early vigor of manhood, he could find no resting place among the men who had fought to destroy the Union.

His death was the result of a general break down of the system and although only 73 years old, he may be said to have died of old age.

The funeral which took place at 10 o'clock Tuesday was private. Interment at Walnut grove cemetery, where his wife and all his family but one daughter repose.

[obituary for Florence West, ca. 1875]

DIED.--On Monday Morning at 11 o'clock, Miss Florence, daughter of S.B. and Mary Z. West, aged 34 years and 9 days.

A house hushed in mourning; the voice of a daughter stilled in death; the light of a sister's eyes faded entirely out; a loved one gone from the trying scenes of earth, to brighter, fairer climes. For years, Miss West has been an extreme sufferer, the extent of which no mortal tongue can tell. During her latter illness, her quiet, peaceful resignation endeared her to her friends, who watched with assiduous care around her bedside. Before she bid adieu to the passing and unsatisfactory scenes and pleasures of earth, she gave the most convincing evidence that she had title to an inheritance that "is uncorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away." Although dead, she but sleepeth, and will awake on the resurrection morn in the blessed arms of the Savior, as calm and peaceful as when she departed. For the bereaved family, the sympathetic chord which beats in the heart of every individual, is deeply awakened. They respond with that touch of nature which is akin to all. Her remains were followed to the silent City of the Dead on Wednesday, by a large concourse of sorrow stricken friends, and as they consigned them to their last resting place, it was with assurance that spirit was Paradise.

[obituary for Mary Kathleen Parker, ca. 1924]

"Mrs. Mary Parker, great-granddaughter of Betty Zane, succumbs today."

Mrs. Mary Kathleen Parker, 83, a direct descendant of pioneer settlers of Martins Ferry and this section of the Ohio valley, died in her home, 302 Walnut street, at 2 o'clock this morning. Her death was indirectly due to injuries suffered several months ago in a fall at her home. Her hip was broken and since the day of the accident she was obliged to use a wheel chair.

Mrs. Parker was born, reared, and lived her entire life in the home where she peacefully passed away in the early morning hours. She was born January 27, 1841, a daughter of Dr. S. B. West and Mary Martin West.

Her father and mother started housekeeping in the brick residence where Mrs. Parker died. Ebenezer Martin, one of the founders of Martins Ferry was Mrs. Parker's grandfather. Betty Zane, heroine of the siege of Fort Henry, was Mrs. Parker's great-grandmother.

Oliver C. Parker, her husband, died 13 years ago in 1911. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church and until advanced ago curtailed her activity was active in the work of its congregation and various societies. She was widely known, not only in the Martins Ferry district but throughout Belmont county and this section of the valley. One son, Simon W. Parker, prominent Ferry druggist, survive[sic].

The time of the funeral has not been set this morning but services, probably in the Parker homestead, will be conducted by Dr. C. B. Wingerd. Burial will be in the Zane burying ground, in old Walnut grove cemetery, where so many of Mrs. Parker's illustrious ancestors sleep.

[obituary for Iola Smythe Parker, 19 December 1971]

"Mrs. Iola Parker"

Mrs. Iola Smythe Parker died Friday at Peterson Place. She was a Presbyterian. Preceded in death by her husband, Simon Parker, she is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Harry R. (Mary Virginia) Hesse of Wheeling, and several nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received at the Heslop Funeral Home, Martins Ferry, tonight after 7 and Sunday from 2 to 4 and after 7 p.m. Private services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Stephen Stofcheck officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Martins Ferry.

Clarysville Hospital, Civil War Records of Samuel West, Physician

Overview

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Biographical / Historical

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Digital Material

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