History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

Personal Sketches 229
in Fall River, where now more than a hundred successful physicians are
located. In the summer of 1846 Dr. WelHngton took the place of a physician
in Templeton while the latter enjoyed a short vacation, and the
people there were so pleased with his work that they wanted him to stay,
but he still did not wish to practice in the town where his childhood had
been passed, and thus interfere with his friend the Templeton physician,
so he returned to Swansea, where for seventy-four years he made his home.
During the first year he rode horse-back carrying the traditional leather
saddlebags with his stock of medicines ;
later he used a chaise, and still later
a buggy. On the removal of Dr. Brown to Cambridge, Dr. Welhngton
succeeded to a practice which extended for miles around into the towns of
Fall River, Somerset, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Dighton, Mass., and Warren,
and Barrington, R. I., and in all those towns he was the famiUar and wise
councilor, a true representative of that fast disappearing but beloved and
useful type, the family physician. He was a natural mechanic, of the
inventive sort; and to meet the necessities of certain cases in which surgical
operations were urgent, in the earher years of his practice, before the day
of perfected instruments, he anticipated some of the later inventions by
mating for his own use such implements as served his purpose. He continued
to practice until 1904, having Served most faithfully in his profession
for sixty-two years; and during the later years of his work, four
good horses were necessary to take him to his patients.
August 7, 1845, Dr. Wellington married Charlotte Sisson, a native of
Warren, R. I., born Aug. 19, 1825, who died June 30, 1881. Their children
were: Arthur Wellesley, born Nov. 4, 1846; Helen Lloyd, Oct. 31, 1847;
Julia Russell, Jan. 3, 1849; William Henry, April 9, 1861; and Charles,
Aug. 27, 1864 (died May 20, 1866). Of these Arthur Wellesley married
Jan. 17, 1877, Nellie (Ellen) Read Mason, and has a son, Charles Frederick,
born Dec. 4, 1877, who graduated from Harvard University, 1900;
and William Henry married, Oct. 12, 1887, Ethelyn Rounseville Allen, and
they have had five children: Charlotte Sisson, (born May 26, 1888, died
Aug. 26, 1888), Lloyd Allen, (born Oct. 3, 1890, died Sept. 11, 1891), Roger,
(born June 16, 1894. died Dec. 3, 1900), Rosamond B. (born Oct. 18, 1901),
and Reginald G. (born Jan. 8, 1905). From 1840 to 1842 Dr. Wellington
was assistant surgeon to the 7th Massachusetts Infantry; and during the
Civil war was examining surgeon for recruits. He was a member of the
Massachusetts Medical Society, and of the Bristol County Medical Society.
In poUtics a Republican. He was also an honored member of the Harvard
club of FaU River. Among his treasured relics is his christening cap, embroidered
by his mother. He died February 11, 1916, in his 99th year.
The venerable Doctor left a hst of eleven families which he had served
four generations; six, for five generations; two six generations, and one
seven generations. It is estimated that he was present at 3,000 births. He
had owned 100 horses, sometimes having five in his stable at once; and
that he had ridden at least 250,000 miles, in his practice; occasionally
covering sixty miles in a day. November, 1915, he went to the polls, and
cast his baUot for Governor the 76th consecutive year. On the 98th
anniversary of his birth, Jan. 27, 1916, he received callers as usual, and was
the recipient of many tokens of admiration and affection.
Mason Barney
Few living can recaU Mason Barney to mind with his peculiar voice
full of impatient energy, his sharp brusque manner, and his wiry powerful
frame.
In 1802 he built his fiirst vessel a sloop of about 50 tons. He was only