Alfred A. Gerrish (1829-1903)
 Dr. Gerrish's office |
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The following unidentified newspaper articles were in a collection owned by Lowell Town Historian Richard Schmal:
- Alfred A. Gerrish, M.D., was a descendent of an old time-honored New England family of farmers, attorneys, clergymen and the like; but Dr. Gerrish is the single disciple of Esculapius. He was born on Independence Day, 1829, and is the seventh of the thirteen children of Joseph and Susan (Hancock) Gerrish, both natives of the Granite State, and of English descent. They were large land owners owning land about 15 miles above Concord, on the Merrimac river, adjoining the Daniel Webster homestead. On this site Dr. Gerrish was born, and his parents lived and died. Here he passed his youth and early manhood. After attending the common schools, he entered Dartmouth College, where he had a thorough literary course. __________________ of twenty, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Wight, of Gillmanton, and afterward at Concord, under Prof. Barker. In 1851 he became a private pupil of Prof. Peaslee, of Dartmouth, until his graduation from the New York Medical College, March 3, 1853. He enjoyed the instructions of some of the most eminent physicians our country has produced. After graduation Dr. Gerrish located at Mount Vernon, N.H., where he soon acquired a large and lucrative practice. In 1865, by reason of ill-health from overwork, he was compelled to seek another location, and he came to Lake County, Ind., where he had relatives; he stopped at Lowell for a time, and, improving in health, resolved to make it his home. Being a good physician, he soon had a large practice which he maintained till the decline of his health. Owing to an accident a few years ago, he has since done only a select practice. He was influential and independent and was highly esteemed by his fellow-laborers. Aside from professional prominence, he was a public-spirited citizen, always to be found on the side of temperance and education; he was, however, the only Democrat among the physicians of Lowell.
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Dr. Gerrish Dies
Dr. A.A. Gerrish, one of Lowell's old and well known citizens, died at his home at 7:15 o'clock yesterday morning after an illness of several weeks, aged 74 years. His demise had been expected, as he had grown steadily weaker. At the hour of going to press, the funeral arrangements had not been completed, but we were informed that the funeral services would be held from the Methodist church at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Hoagland, and that burial would take place at the Lake Prairie cemetery. Funeral Director Binyon has charge of the burial arrangements. Dr. Gerrish had practiced medicine in Lowell continuously since 1865 and amassed considerable wealth, it is said.* * * * *
Funeral of Dr. Gerrish
The funeral of Dr. Gerrish took place from the Methodist Church Monday afternoon, the remains being conveyed from the house about a quarter to 2. The pall bearers were: H.H. Ragon, Daniel Lynch, Jake Baughman, Ralph Bacon, John Lynch and Perry Clark. The casket, a heavy draped one, was covered with some beautiful flowers. There was a large crowd of people at the church to witness the necessarily sad ceremonies. The physicians of the town attended in a body. The singing by Messrs. Bert Koplin and Gilbert McNay and the Misses Daisy Dinwiddie and Blanche Babcock, accompanied by Mrs. Binyon on the organ, was very appropriate and well done. After prayer and another song Rev. D.D. Hoagland preached a short discourse in most excellent manner. At the conclusion of the services the people were allowed to walk forward and take a last look at the deceased. The remains were then taken and placed in the hearse and the procession went to Lake Prairie cemetery, where interment took place. Quite a number of people congregated at the graveyard.No one could have been shown more attention and whose wants administered to with more willingness than was Dr. Gerrish during his recent sickness, by his niece, the nurse and Dr. Quincy.
The following March 13, 1952, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, columns 3-4:
Lowell Doctors of the past
A Series of Articles contributed by Attorney Schuyler C. Dwyer, lifelong resident of LowellDOCTOR ALFRED GERRISH
This particularly interesting "medic" hailed from New Hampshire in the early 1870's. He was a bachelor throughout his life, and during his early career here, he occupied the second floor rooms of the formerly described Dr. Yeoman house. His obsession was in devoting his constant day and night time to his practice, and saving his earnings therefrom and loaning same to some of the people of the community and thus he became known as the leading lender here before any bank was established, and when the First National Bank was established he became one of the leading stockholders therein. He was a long time boarder at the early "Mee Tavern" -- then located facing the then termed "Public Square." He was known to judge, in some instances, his lending security mostly by looking his borrower straight in the eye, and thus questioning him, "Are you honest? Will you surely pay me?," and it seemed that he never lost.In his practice, he occasionally was engaged in a desperate case when he recommended, and apparently gave, medicine generally not so well known, but which proved to be a "life saver."
He had executed a will within his "last days," bequeathing his entire estate to a certain adult niece from New Hampshire, who had become his housekeeper, but as soon as he told of what he had prepared for her, she declared she would not accept it. "That she preferred the good will of his and her relatives, over his entire estate," the amount of which was a "princely sum". Therefore he destroyed the prepared document and the estate descended to a multitude of scattered heirs, most of them unknown to him.
Within his latter years he erected a portion of the present brick apartment facing the library and park and occupied same for his home and office. He passed away within the first few years of the present century.
Go to Alfred A. Gerrish, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
Return to Lowell Biographies.