Francis Paddock
Encyclopedia
Dr. Francis Paddock was a frontier doctor who settled in Salem
, Kenosha County
, Wisconsin
in 1838 and became an important member of the community, serving as a physician, a politician, a businessman,
a farmer, and an overall leader of the town. Paddock Lake, a prominent feature of The Village of Paddock Lake
in Salem, Wisconsin, was named after him.
, Onondaga County
, New York on September 15, 1814. He was the eldest of six children and took his education seriously from an early age, starting to teach at age seventeen. He attended Fairfield Medical College with the goal of becoming a physician. Fairfield Medical College was the first medical school west of the Hudson River. He later received an appointment with Dr. Hamilton of Auburn
, allowing him to pursue his medical endeavors.
In 1838, at the age of twenty-five and finished with his medical education, Francis and his family, three generations of it, traveled west from New York in a covered wagon to what was then the Wisconsin Territory
. On the way, he passed Chicago and described it as "a marsh with a few Indian huts scattered here and there." He and his family settled between two lakes now known as Paddock and Hooker Lakes in the town of Salem in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. The eldest member of the group, David Paddock, Francis's grandfather, was a Revolutionary War
veteran and died shortly after the trip. He was called 'Blind David' because he was blinded from powder burn injuries he sustained during the war. Starting their new life, the Paddock family was able to purchase about 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land from the government at $1.50 an acre and built a log cabin on the land.
On August 19, 1841, he married Martha Cecilla Munson. They had fourteen children together, nine of whom survived to adulthood with five dying in childhood. Dr. Paddock was the first medical professional in the area. However, he was a man of multiple trades. Not only a physician, he was also a businessman and a farmer. He ended up becoming one of the wealthiest and most influential members of his community. In 1843, he acquired 281 acres (1.1 km²) of land from the U.S. Land Patent Office. He became well known and respected for his expertise in treating fevers and also for his large cattle herd. From 1842 to 1844, he was the supervisor of the town of Salem. He also served his town as the Commissioner of Schools and Justice of the Peace. In 1855, he served his district in the Wisconsin State Senate
.
The Paddock farm had between 1500 and 2000 sheep and at one time over 100 cows and perhaps as many horses. Dr. Paddock was an example of the typical country doctor, having to ride horseback for miles in all kinds of Wisconsin weather. He carried medicines in saddlebags and had howling wolves following him during the winter months.
Dr. Paddock would store his medicines on shelves in the pantry. Sometimes when his supplies got low, he would divide up what was left among patients. If someone needed a tooth pulled, he would do the job for 25 cents. One night he delivered a baby at a home that did not have a candle. He solved the problem by putting grease in a dish, placing a rag in it and lighting it.
Concerned with providing his children the best education possible, Dr. Paddock's land became the site of the Paddock school house, which was built in 1843. The building still stands as a house next to Brass Ball Fruit Stand in Salem, Wisconsin. When there was a lack of funds to pay a teacher, he often kept a teacher in the house for his own children, as well as the neighbor children, and paid the salary himself. He converted the front room of his home into a school room for this purpose.
Dr. Francis Paddock died on March 29, 1889 in his home in Salem and was laid to rest in Salem Cemetery.
In 1960, the hamlet known as Paddock Lake in the Town of Salem was approved to separate from Salem and The Village of Paddock Lake was created.
Salem, Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Salem is a town in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,871 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Benet Lake, Salem, Salem Oaks, Trevor, Voltz Lake, and Wilmot are located in the town...
, Kenosha County
Kenosha County, Wisconsin
-Demographics: As of the census of 2000, there were 149,577 people, 56,057 households, and 38,455 families residing in the county. The population density was 548 people per square mile . There were 59,989 housing units at an average density of 220 per square mile...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 1838 and became an important member of the community, serving as a physician, a politician, a businessman,
a farmer, and an overall leader of the town. Paddock Lake, a prominent feature of The Village of Paddock Lake
Paddock Lake, Wisconsin
Paddock Lake is a village in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,012 at the 2000 census.-Education:Paddock Lake is the home of the regional high school, Westosha Central High School.-Geography:...
in Salem, Wisconsin, was named after him.
Biography
Francis Paddock was born in CamillusCamillus, New York
Camillus, New York is located in Onondaga County. There are two parts to Camillus, New York:*Camillus, New York *Camillus, New York...
, Onondaga County
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, New York on September 15, 1814. He was the eldest of six children and took his education seriously from an early age, starting to teach at age seventeen. He attended Fairfield Medical College with the goal of becoming a physician. Fairfield Medical College was the first medical school west of the Hudson River. He later received an appointment with Dr. Hamilton of Auburn
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
, allowing him to pursue his medical endeavors.
In 1838, at the age of twenty-five and finished with his medical education, Francis and his family, three generations of it, traveled west from New York in a covered wagon to what was then the Wisconsin Territory
Wisconsin Territory
The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin...
. On the way, he passed Chicago and described it as "a marsh with a few Indian huts scattered here and there." He and his family settled between two lakes now known as Paddock and Hooker Lakes in the town of Salem in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. The eldest member of the group, David Paddock, Francis's grandfather, was a Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
veteran and died shortly after the trip. He was called 'Blind David' because he was blinded from powder burn injuries he sustained during the war. Starting their new life, the Paddock family was able to purchase about 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land from the government at $1.50 an acre and built a log cabin on the land.
On August 19, 1841, he married Martha Cecilla Munson. They had fourteen children together, nine of whom survived to adulthood with five dying in childhood. Dr. Paddock was the first medical professional in the area. However, he was a man of multiple trades. Not only a physician, he was also a businessman and a farmer. He ended up becoming one of the wealthiest and most influential members of his community. In 1843, he acquired 281 acres (1.1 km²) of land from the U.S. Land Patent Office. He became well known and respected for his expertise in treating fevers and also for his large cattle herd. From 1842 to 1844, he was the supervisor of the town of Salem. He also served his town as the Commissioner of Schools and Justice of the Peace. In 1855, he served his district in the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
.
The Paddock farm had between 1500 and 2000 sheep and at one time over 100 cows and perhaps as many horses. Dr. Paddock was an example of the typical country doctor, having to ride horseback for miles in all kinds of Wisconsin weather. He carried medicines in saddlebags and had howling wolves following him during the winter months.
Dr. Paddock would store his medicines on shelves in the pantry. Sometimes when his supplies got low, he would divide up what was left among patients. If someone needed a tooth pulled, he would do the job for 25 cents. One night he delivered a baby at a home that did not have a candle. He solved the problem by putting grease in a dish, placing a rag in it and lighting it.
Concerned with providing his children the best education possible, Dr. Paddock's land became the site of the Paddock school house, which was built in 1843. The building still stands as a house next to Brass Ball Fruit Stand in Salem, Wisconsin. When there was a lack of funds to pay a teacher, he often kept a teacher in the house for his own children, as well as the neighbor children, and paid the salary himself. He converted the front room of his home into a school room for this purpose.
Dr. Francis Paddock died on March 29, 1889 in his home in Salem and was laid to rest in Salem Cemetery.
In 1960, the hamlet known as Paddock Lake in the Town of Salem was approved to separate from Salem and The Village of Paddock Lake was created.