Chapter IX
Medicine - Doctors - Biographies
As one might suspect, the earliest of settlers depended on homemade remedies to treat their ills. Herb
gardens were of great neccessity. Mullen syrup was sdministered for whooping cough, spearment and
pennyroyal tea for stomach distress, and the sames of sassafras and calomel came into focas. For winter
colds, mustard plasters and onion syrup were used extensively. Naptha soap sterilized cuts and bruises
resulting from accidents.
In the very beginning, there were no doctors present to administer to the ills of people in Penobscot,
therefore midwives became famous in the treatment of such people in the particular, for the deliveries of
babies. Sarah (Staples) Wardwell, of Old York, and wife of one of out earlier settlers, Daniel
Wardwell, acted as neighborhood physician and practiced midwifery for many years before a regular
doctor settled here. In this capacity she was later succeeded by Lucy Newberry of Vinal Haven, and
still much later by Grace Leach of Penobscot.
As time progressed, licensed doctors migrated to this territory. There are differences of opinion as to
who was the first doctor who settled to practice medicine in Penobscot. According to one reference,
Dr. Sprague was the first doctor who settled to practice medicine in Penobscot. But, according to
another reference, Dr. Nason was "probably" the first doctor. He, at a later date, changed his location
to Blue Hill. It is known that Dr. Ferguson, of Deer Isle, came to Penobscot for a short period, but
returned to his native town. Dr. Willard Collins, of Castine, practiced medicine in Penobscot many years
before enlisting in the army as a surgeon. Dr. Percy Warren, of Bangor, was the next physician, and
practiced for a short period. Soon after, Dr. Edwin Sprague arrived from Swan's Island, and practiced
until his death in 1895. Dr.George Parsons, of Castine, succeeded him. Then, a native son of
Penobscot, Dr Melvin Wardwell, opened his practice before the turn of the century and continued until
his death in 1934
.
Dr. Melvin A. Wardwell, M.D. (1873 - 1934 )
Dr. Melvin A. Wardwell was born on May 7, 1873, at Penobscot, the son of Albert and Ruth
(Perkins) Wardwell. Raised in Penobscot, hewas graduated from Bucksport Seminary and the
Bellevue Medical College of New York.
He opened his general practice as a country doctor
in 1898, and served the citizens of this town for the
rest of his life. Horse and wagon took him to many
remote areas in the early days of his practice. Later,
the Model A and the Model T Fords allowed him to
attend to his patients at a much faster pace.
Interested in all civic work, he managed to find
time to serve on the school board, and for a short term
as Superintendent of Schools. He also served Penobscot
as Town Treasurer for many years and was worshipful
master of the Rising Star Lodge #177 of Free and
accepted Masons.
In addition to his ability as a very competent and concerned medical doctor, he will be remembered
as a tall, slender, handsome man, always immaculate in appearence, and very reserved and professional
at times.
But, when most reserved, a warm and reassuring smile would often appear as though to say everything is
going to be alright. He was also a very graceful dancer, and he and his wife Belve (Sellers), enjoyed the
challenge of a beautiful gliding waltz, or leading the grand march at some of the Town Hall functions.
Dr. Wardwell and his wife had two children, Elliot and Albert. Their marriages have produced nine
children to carry on the Wardwell ancestery. Even though Dr. Wardwell has been deceased over 50
years, he is still affectionately remembered as a wounderful country doctor.
Harold S Babcock, M.D. (1888 - 1973 )
Although Dr. Babcock is more related to Castine, Penobscot also shared his services, as did
surrounding towns. Dr. Melvin Wardwell was also a very close associate of Dr. Babcock.
He was born in Hampden, Maine on August 1, 1888, the sixth of seven children. He attended the so
called "common schools", and graduated from Hampden Academy. Encouraged to be a doctor by his
mentor, also a popular physiciarn, he started by serving as an orderly in the Massachusetts General
Hospital. Following this experience, he attended Jefferson College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
graduating in 1916 with honors. After serving a one year internship at Eastern Maine General Hospital
in Bangor, Maine, he began to establish a general practice in the Castine area. Using Castine as a base,
as well as a residence, he soon found that surrounding towns were in need of his skills. As he once
said, " In the year 1917, I came down the river to administer to Castine ills. Then, soon after, I found
myself deep in the work around the whole countryside".
During the first years as a general practitioner he planned to be away for at least two days and nights a
week, all night, and would feel lucky to arrive home at dawn. He traversed bad roads to all points
north, south and east. For ten years he used the North Castine Ferry to West Brooksville. He then
picked up his automobile, which he left there permanently, and drove to other points such as Cape
Rosier or North Brooksville. However, at times, in deep snow, the automobile could not function. One
of his most memorable experiences was having to walk and carry two packs from West Brooksville to
Cape Rosier in deep snow to attend a woman in labor. Her husband's boat was ice-locked in
Eggemoggin Reach and he was unable to get home. Dr. Babcock stayed at this humble home from
Friday until Tuesday, cooking for the family and caring for the children. The baby finally arrived on
Tuesday morning , and as soon as help arrived, he was on his way home.
Blessed with a good sense of humor, he learned as a
young doctor that a hearty joke and an infectious laugh
could soon put a disturbed patient at ease.
He was married to Matilda Harris, of Nova Scotia, a
registered nurse, whom he met while employed at the
Massachusetts General Hospital. They were wed in 1912
and their marriage produced one son, Phillip. Mrs Babcock
died shortly after her 100th birthday, and only within the
last few years. In addition to his many other contributions
he founded the Castine Community Hospital in 1928, and served
as a resident physician for four decades.
Dr. Babcock was truely one of our country doctors, was well
loved and will always be remembered throughout the many towns
he served. He died in 1973 and is interred in the family Castine Cemetery plot.
gardens were of great neccessity. Mullen syrup was sdministered for whooping cough, spearment and
pennyroyal tea for stomach distress, and the sames of sassafras and calomel came into focas. For winter
colds, mustard plasters and onion syrup were used extensively. Naptha soap sterilized cuts and bruises
resulting from accidents.
In the very beginning, there were no doctors present to administer to the ills of people in Penobscot,
therefore midwives became famous in the treatment of such people in the particular, for the deliveries of
babies. Sarah (Staples) Wardwell, of Old York, and wife of one of out earlier settlers, Daniel
Wardwell, acted as neighborhood physician and practiced midwifery for many years before a regular
doctor settled here. In this capacity she was later succeeded by Lucy Newberry of Vinal Haven, and
still much later by Grace Leach of Penobscot.
As time progressed, licensed doctors migrated to this territory. There are differences of opinion as to
who was the first doctor who settled to practice medicine in Penobscot. According to one reference,
Dr. Sprague was the first doctor who settled to practice medicine in Penobscot. But, according to
another reference, Dr. Nason was "probably" the first doctor. He, at a later date, changed his location
to Blue Hill. It is known that Dr. Ferguson, of Deer Isle, came to Penobscot for a short period, but
returned to his native town. Dr. Willard Collins, of Castine, practiced medicine in Penobscot many years
before enlisting in the army as a surgeon. Dr. Percy Warren, of Bangor, was the next physician, and
practiced for a short period. Soon after, Dr. Edwin Sprague arrived from Swan's Island, and practiced
until his death in 1895. Dr.George Parsons, of Castine, succeeded him. Then, a native son of
Penobscot, Dr Melvin Wardwell, opened his practice before the turn of the century and continued until
his death in 1934
.
Dr. Melvin A. Wardwell, M.D. (1873 - 1934 )
Dr. Melvin A. Wardwell was born on May 7, 1873, at Penobscot, the son of Albert and Ruth
(Perkins) Wardwell. Raised in Penobscot, hewas graduated from Bucksport Seminary and the
Bellevue Medical College of New York.
He opened his general practice as a country doctor
in 1898, and served the citizens of this town for the
rest of his life. Horse and wagon took him to many
remote areas in the early days of his practice. Later,
the Model A and the Model T Fords allowed him to
attend to his patients at a much faster pace.
Interested in all civic work, he managed to find
time to serve on the school board, and for a short term
as Superintendent of Schools. He also served Penobscot
as Town Treasurer for many years and was worshipful
master of the Rising Star Lodge #177 of Free and
accepted Masons.
In addition to his ability as a very competent and concerned medical doctor, he will be remembered
as a tall, slender, handsome man, always immaculate in appearence, and very reserved and professional
at times.
But, when most reserved, a warm and reassuring smile would often appear as though to say everything is
going to be alright. He was also a very graceful dancer, and he and his wife Belve (Sellers), enjoyed the
challenge of a beautiful gliding waltz, or leading the grand march at some of the Town Hall functions.
Dr. Wardwell and his wife had two children, Elliot and Albert. Their marriages have produced nine
children to carry on the Wardwell ancestery. Even though Dr. Wardwell has been deceased over 50
years, he is still affectionately remembered as a wounderful country doctor.
Harold S Babcock, M.D. (1888 - 1973 )
Although Dr. Babcock is more related to Castine, Penobscot also shared his services, as did
surrounding towns. Dr. Melvin Wardwell was also a very close associate of Dr. Babcock.
He was born in Hampden, Maine on August 1, 1888, the sixth of seven children. He attended the so
called "common schools", and graduated from Hampden Academy. Encouraged to be a doctor by his
mentor, also a popular physiciarn, he started by serving as an orderly in the Massachusetts General
Hospital. Following this experience, he attended Jefferson College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
graduating in 1916 with honors. After serving a one year internship at Eastern Maine General Hospital
in Bangor, Maine, he began to establish a general practice in the Castine area. Using Castine as a base,
as well as a residence, he soon found that surrounding towns were in need of his skills. As he once
said, " In the year 1917, I came down the river to administer to Castine ills. Then, soon after, I found
myself deep in the work around the whole countryside".
During the first years as a general practitioner he planned to be away for at least two days and nights a
week, all night, and would feel lucky to arrive home at dawn. He traversed bad roads to all points
north, south and east. For ten years he used the North Castine Ferry to West Brooksville. He then
picked up his automobile, which he left there permanently, and drove to other points such as Cape
Rosier or North Brooksville. However, at times, in deep snow, the automobile could not function. One
of his most memorable experiences was having to walk and carry two packs from West Brooksville to
Cape Rosier in deep snow to attend a woman in labor. Her husband's boat was ice-locked in
Eggemoggin Reach and he was unable to get home. Dr. Babcock stayed at this humble home from
Friday until Tuesday, cooking for the family and caring for the children. The baby finally arrived on
Tuesday morning , and as soon as help arrived, he was on his way home.
Blessed with a good sense of humor, he learned as a
young doctor that a hearty joke and an infectious laugh
could soon put a disturbed patient at ease.
He was married to Matilda Harris, of Nova Scotia, a
registered nurse, whom he met while employed at the
Massachusetts General Hospital. They were wed in 1912
and their marriage produced one son, Phillip. Mrs Babcock
died shortly after her 100th birthday, and only within the
last few years. In addition to his many other contributions
he founded the Castine Community Hospital in 1928, and served
as a resident physician for four decades.
Dr. Babcock was truely one of our country doctors, was well
loved and will always be remembered throughout the many towns
he served. He died in 1973 and is interred in the family Castine Cemetery plot.
