Henry Pierpont (abt. 1831 - 1892)

Born about 30 Apr 1831 in Morris, Litchfield, Connecticut, USA

Ancestors

Biography

• Henry was a practicing physician in New Haven, CT
• He began the practice of his profession in Naugatuck, Connecticut, but was interrupted by the failure of his health in 1858.
• Subsequently he went to Europe, and on his return in 1862 he settled in New Haven, where he had a large practice and was greatly respected.
• In the summer of 1892 he continued at his post while far from well, until finally obliged to give up, early in August.
• He died, at his cottage at Savin Rock (in the township of Orange), on August 26, in his 62d year.

obituary by William L. Bradley, MD. New Haven, CT^[1]

Dr. Pierpont was born at Morris, Connecticut, April 20, 1831 and he died at his summer residence in West Haven, Connecticut, August 26, 1892. He was a lineal descendant in the fifth generation from the Rev. James Pierpont who was pastor of the First Church in New Haven from July 2, 1684 to November 14, 1714 a period of thirty years. In his youth Dr. Pierpont attended the well known private school of Amos Smith at New Haven, CT. In 1851 he entered himself as a student of medicine with Dr. JG Beckwith a prominent physician of Litchfield. He graduated from the medical department of Yale University in 1853. He began the practice of his profession at Naugatuck but in 1858 he was compelled by the condition of his health to abandon his practice temporarily and he made several trips to Europe. In 1862 his health and strength were so far restored that he was able to resume his practice at New Haven. In 1871 he was married to Miss. Helen Warner daughter of Wyllys Warner who for nineteen years was Treasurer of Yale University. Mrs. Pierpont survives him as also three children two daughters and a son.

The professional career of Dr. Pierpont extended over a period of nearly forty years. During his residence and practice in New Haven the population more than doubled in numbers and the increase was very great in the northwestern section of the city which was more particularly the scene of his labors. In the war of the rebellion he was an acting assistant surgeon at the Knight United States Hospital. At the close of the war he was appointed by the government an examiner for pensions and he served about fifteen years. He was the attending physician of the New Haven Orphan Asylum for a period of twenty years, from 1863 to 1884 inclusive. During the first eight years his services were gratuitously rendered and would no doubt have been so longer had not the managers in view of the increasing amount of the work felt it right to vote to him some small yearly acknowledgment. He was the examiner for the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company for about thirty years. He was a member of the New Haven Medical Association and also a member of the Connecticut Medical Society of which he was a fellow in 1864 and 1865. In all the various positions of public responsibility which have been enumerated he performed the duties intelligently and faithfully.

Although never physically very strong he was endowed with an energetic disposition which often led him to do more work than his natural constitution and the state of his health would safely permit. The ordinary cares and responsibilities of his private and professional life demanded and received his entire attention and he never seemed desirous to bring himself or his work to the notice of the public. The writer of this sketch recalls many medical and surgical cases seen with him in consultation which were possessed of mutual interest but only a small number were brought to the attention of the medical profession.

In the Proceedings of the Connecticut Medical Society for 1868 he published with an illustration a rare and interesting case of ichthyosis sauroderma^[2]. There was also a case of Caesarian operation which occurred in his practice November 26th 1875 the operator being Dr. Francis Bacon. It was the second case of its kind in New Haven and it was reported in a collection of such cases, published by Dr. Robert F. Harris of Philadelphia.

He was a member of the First or Center Church of New Haven with which as has already been stated he was also ancestorially connected. Controlled and guided by the principles of a pure Christianity, he endeavored to exemplify in his life that charity which is full of kindness and Christian love towards those who are suffering. With an intelligent mind and good powers of discrimination in the choice of remedial measures he combined uniform cheerfulness and suavity of manner which rendered him a most welcome visitor to the sick and gave him success in the practice of his profession

Name

Henry Pierpont

Sources

• Kilbourne, Payne. Sketches and Chronicles of the Town of Litchfield, Connecticut (Case, Lockwood and Co., Hartford, 1859) Page 248
• Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University (Yale University, 1900) Page 193, 203
• Rhoda Cowles Manuscript, Morris, CT Library. Henry was a practicing physician in New Haven, CT.
• Evergreen Cemetery, 92 Winthrop Avenue, New Haven, CT 06516 203-624-5505. I-95 to New Haven exit 44; to Washington St; right on Columbus; left on Davenport; to Evergreen Cemetery
• Dexter, Franklin Bowditch. Historical Catalogue of the Members of the First Church of Christ in New Haven (New Haven, 1914) Page 303
• Find A Grave: Memorial #147393882

Footnotes

1. ↑ Proceedings of the Connecticut Medical Society By Connecticut Medical Society, Page 244 http://books.google.com/books?id=vH0CAAAAYAAJ
2. ↑ ichthyosis sauroderma: Crocodile skin; an extreme degree of ichthyosis in which the surface is covered with thick plates marked like the hide of a crocodile.