Birth
Platt Wickes was born about 1798[1] in Rensselaerville to Elijah Wickes (B. Nov 11, 1769) and his wife Elizabeth Rogers. He had a younger brother named Orrin Wickes (B. April 14, 1800).
Education
In 1823, Platt Wickes graduated as a medical doctor and received his license from the State of New York.[2]
Occupation
Platt Wickes was a medical doctor, who had his office in the hamlet of Rensselaerville. At his death, he was said to have been the "oldest practicing physician in the State of New York, or perhaps this country."[3] During his years of practice, medical students from Albany Medical College studied under him including Henry M. T. Smith and S. Mosely Smith.[4][5]
Marriage & Children
Platt Wickes married Frances M. Carter[6] (B. abt 1800), who was known as "Fanny".
They had the following children:
- Deborah Wickes (B. March 29, 1825 Rensselaerville)[7]
- Delight L. Wickes (B. April 26, 1826 Rensselaerville)[6][1]
- Harvey Wickes (B. 1830)[1]
- Helen Wickes (B. 1832)[1]
- Luther Wickes (B. 1834)[1]
Life
Platt Wickes can first be found in the US Census in 1830 living in Rensselaerville.[8] He continued to live there for the remainder of his life. Dr. Platt Wickes always had a full house with his children, grandchildren, other young people and servants. His occupation as the local doctor provided a good living and allowed him to accumulate real estate valued $3000.00 and personal property of $3,000.00 in 1870.
In 1852 there was an outbreak of smallpox in Rensselaerville, which required Dr. Wickes and his son Harvey, who was then a medical student, to work around the clock caring for people.[9]
Several of Dr. Wickes children went west to Nevada County, California where they settled.[10][9]
Death
Platt Wickes died in Rensselaerville the late 1880s, probably in late April of 1887. Different sources show his age at death to be either 90 or 94[3] years of age. He was buried in the Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery in Rensselaerville with his wife and one son.[10]
Postscript
The house where Dr. Platt Wickes lived and housed his medical practice is now a Bed and Breakfast called the Catalpa house.[10]
Additional Media
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1850 US Census, Rensselaerville, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ Transactions by the Medical Society of the State of New York, Published 1833, page 65
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The Doctor" Published by C. A. Welles, 1888, Google Books
- ↑ Medical Society of the State of New York, Transactions, Published 1846, page 77
- ↑ Transactions of the Medical Society of the State of New York, Volumes 1844, 1845 and 1849, Published by Joel Munsell, Albany, NY
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hopkins, Timothy, The Kelloggs in the Old World and the New; Volume I, Published by Sunset Press, San Francisco, Ca., 1903, page 752
- ↑ Waters, Henry Fritz-Gilbert, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1880, page 176
- ↑ 1830 US Census, Rensselaerville, Albany Co, NY
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Comstock, David Allan, Brides of the Gold Rush, published by Comstock Bonanza Press, Grass Valley, California, 1987, page 60.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Janet Haseley, Research Chair, Rensselaerville Historical Society
