Anson Hurd

As printed in 1886

ANSON HURD, M. D., Findlay, comes of a worthy line of Connecticut pioneers in Ohio. He was born in Twinsburg, Summit Co., Ohio, December 27, 1824, son of Eobert and Mary (Brainerd) Hiu-d, whose ancestry in Connecticut dates back to the first settlements in that State as a colony, and numbers many of the important provincial families, as the Brookses, of Saylrook, the Hxi'rds and Brainerds. In 1820 Dr. Hurd's father removed from Connecticut with his family, and settled in Twinsburg, Ohio, as agent of the twin brothers, Moses and Aaron Wilcox (after whom the township was named), whose extensive land interests he managed there for many years, and served as an active official (viz.: justice of the peace) for eighteen years in the early times. In 1839 he removed here, and was prominent before the people many years as a leader in the development of Hancock County s interests, among which may be mentioned the laying out and platting of the village of Arlington, in 1844. He died in 1800, at the age of seventy-six, leaving a large family (who had become scattered considerably through the West), viz.: William Brainerd, Lorenzo Wellington, Brooks, Jared, Anson, Evaline, Mary Ann, Betsy, Huldah and Cordelia. He had buried three sons: Harlow, Phineas and Edwin. Our subject was reared in Twinsburg, Ohio, and in 1839, with his brother, Jared, came to this county, and at Arlington cleared the land and built the cabin occupied by their father on his arrival. Upon attaining his twentieth year, Anson, being anxious to obtain means for his education, etc,, presented his father with $50 for his time, and returned to Twinsburg, where he remained for three years under the instruction of the Rev. Samuel Bissell, D.D., president of Twinsburg Institute. He then taught school in Pike County, where, becoming acquainted with the Hon. J. I. Van Meter, of that county, he obtained a scholarship in Delaware College. After spending three years in that institution he engaged in the study of medicine with Dr. William Blackstone, of Athens, and after a year repaired to Columbus and read in the office of Prof. Samuel M. Smith, graduating from Starling Medical College in March, 1852. He then located in Oxford, Ind., where he remained in popular professional connection for many years. In 1801 he represented the counties of White and Benton in the Legislature of Indiana, in both the regular and extra sessions, and the same year (after the firing upon Fort Sumter) he was invited by Gov. Morton, of Indiana, to accept the post of assistant surgeon of the Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which he accepted, serving through the first campaign to Hatteras. Returning to Fortress Monroe he resigned his commission in the Twentieth, and accepted that of surgeon of the Fourteenth Indiana Vohinteer Infantry, and served in all the battles of the campaign of 1862. In January, 1863, he resigned his commission, and in April moved to Findlay, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the State Medical Society and the Northwestern Ohio Medical Society, of which he has been President and a prominent and active member. In 1876 he served as delegate from the Tenth Congressional District to the International Medical Congress, held at Philadelphia, Penn. He is a professional scientist of no mean note, and has for many years contributed to the pages of many leading medical journals of this country, among which may be mentioned the Medical and Surgical Reporter, of Philadelphia; The Clinic (late the Lancet and Clinic), of Cincinnati; Medical Record, of New York; the Detroit Lancet, Columbus Medical Journal, Toledo Medical Journal; Therapeutical Gazette of Detroit, and medical works of Philadelphia, and bab frequently read papers on scientific work before medical meetings throughout the State. Dr. Hurd was married, in 1853, in Oxford, Ind., to Amanda V. Cell (originally Zell), of pioneer German ancestry in Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of the Rev. David Cell, a worthy deceased minister of the Baptist Church. They have a daughter, Huldah,wifeof N. F. Hardman, of Findlay. Mrs. Hurdand daughter are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, to which the Doctor is a liberal contributor. He is also an Odd Fellow. Dr. Hurd has always been a liberal supporter of measures tending to the growth of the social and industrial life of his community, and has taken a leading position with many. He is at present president of the Findlay Improvement Association. The Doctor is of fine physique, vigorous nature, and bids fair to hold his place in the front rank of active professional work for many years to come. In politics he is a Republican, and takes a deep interest in the success of that party.

As printed in History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history o (1886). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.