Page 49
History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
Page 49
HUGH SPEIR.—This gentleman was a native of Glasgow, Scotland. He came to this place in the year 1788, and soon took an active part in all the improvements and public affairs of the village. He was by trade a cabinet maker, and the first one in the place. A man of strong mind and great originality of character, he possessed more ready wit and repartee than most men. A member and elder of the Associate Reformed Church, his delight was to do good, he kind and benevolent to all. He died in 1826, aged 61 years.
We give an example of his ready wit, (call it by any other name you please.) He had been cheated in the purchase of some potatoes, procured from a wagon in the street. A few days after this another vender of vegetables asked him if he did not wish to purchase a few bushels of potatoes, and recommended them as very fine. Mr. Speir replied that he had been cheated in some he had purchased, and declined. The man asked him in what they were deficient. Mr. Speir replied, the potatoes were of good size and appeared to be of fine quality, but when boiled they cracked the skin, and some of them fell to pieces in the pot. The man then stated that his were not of that kind, and if he took them he would warrant they should not act in that way, and Mr. Speir have no reason to complain of them for such a cause.
It is unnecessary to tell the reader the purchase was declined.
DOCT. MOSES HIGBY.—We observe that this individual was instrumental, in his professional capacity, in producing the silver ball which contained the dispatches of the British spy Taylor. The doctor was among the earliest of his profession in this section of the county, and contemporary with Dr. Whalen of Montgomery. At that early day the population was thinly dispersed over a large district, and this profession really laborious, far more so than now, with good roads and dense population.
The doctor had but a common education, though considered good for the times, and what he lacked in this, strong natural talents, observation and extensive practice made up. That he had taken pair in the War by being connected with the discovery of the silver ball, his acquaintance personally with the officers of the American army, who lay encamped 1782—3 around his dwelling, and being the principal physician in the settlement, imparted at least a fictitious, is not a real consequence to his character and personal bearing. Of all these interesting incidents and connections the doctor was fond and inclined to recur on proper occasions.—His practice was among the old and respectable families in this town and New Windsor, and this, of itself, was a flattering circumstance. The consequence of all this was, that while his professional services were wanted, though you sent for him in a case instantly pending between life and death, there was no certainly when he would come. If the messenger was so fortunate as to find him, he was sent back with the glad tidings that he would, perhaps, be there before him——. But this was no sure guarantee, for he had some further incidents to relate, some old story to tell about the war, its; officers or times, some disquisition of practice or about matters: and things in general; and withal, strong in the belief of his medical skill, short only of infallibility, that it was one hundred to one the learned doctor would not be at the bedside of his patient till next day, if then. This habit of neglect was so well known and understood by his employers, that many who could spare the convenience, took advantage of it, and appropriated his person, as well as services, to themselves. With such, it was a common thing to have a room in the house prepared and in order for his reception and residence, into which he entered on arrival, whether at mid-day, or midnight, or cock-crowing, as his own chamber.—His arrival was looked upon by all concerned—the doctor included—as a kind of god-send, and they kept and entertained him for days, as if some heavenly messenger—unless, in the mean time, he was sent for to go elsewhere. Here his saddle-bags, of potent and wonderful efficacy, were safely deposited, unstrapped and emptied; the table upleafed and upon it spread the small and larger packages, ready and convenient in case of emergency. Here the doctor sat, conversed, made up his prescriptions, issued his decrees and reigned supreme. We say supreme, for being self-willed and headstrong naturally, these traits of character were increased by the dictatorial nature of his profession, which made it presumption in any one to enquire what he was about to do, though the patient was soon to enter the next world. To this, by way of confirmation, was added the habit of authority, imbibed from the practical command of the officers with whom he had been familiar during the war; so that the doctor as a practical physician or a man in common life was uncourteous, presumptuous in knowledge and dictatorial in manner. We do not condemn; these things were rather the fault of the times in which he lived, the circumstances by which he was surrounded, and from an old revolutionary, ingrained Whig, who had done some service to the country in the hour of her extreme necessities, and withal, taken good care of the bodily welfare of our fathers and mothers, we can bear far more than these small matters of personal conduct—nay, we revere the man for his stern integrity, upright and open manner. He died May 3, 1823, upwards of 80 years of age, having practised medicine over 60 years.