- DR. W. H. BORDEN, who for years has been numbered among the
prominent physicians of
- Rock County and is a leading citizen of Milton, was born
in Schoharie County, N.Y., Sept. 24, 1824. The BORDEN family
is of English descent. The doctor's great-grandfather, William
BORDEN, was also a physician. His family numbered three children,
two sons and a daughter, one of whom, P. BORDEN, was the grandfather,
and his son, James, one of a family of twelve children, was the
father of our subject. He married Rebecca CRAIG, a native of
New Jersey, and had seven children, six of whom are living -
W. H., of this sketch; Marietta, now Mrs. STRICKLAND of Otto,
N.Y.; Andrew, who resides in Chautauqua County, N.Y.; L. S.,
who is engaged in the tobacco business at Milton, Wis.; Jay,
a tanner by trade, residing in Springfield, N.Y.; Henrietta,
who died in Otto, N.Y., in 1887; and James C., a resident farmer
of Otto. James BORDEN emigrated to Otto, Cattaraugus Co., N.Y.,
and settled in a section which was then almost a wilderness.
He was well and favorably known in that vicinity and at his death
the county lost a great citizen. He died in the prime of life,
when but forty-eight years of age; his loved companion survives
him, aged eighty-nine.
- Dr. BORDEN was reared to manhood in his native State and
received his primary education in the
- public schools of his neighborhood. He finished his studies
at the Fredonia Academy, and began looking about him with a view
to adopting some trade or profession. After due consideration
he chose the medical profession and for a year pursued his studies
under the direction of Dr. Levi GOLDSBOROUGH, of Otto, N.Y. In
February, 1847, he entered the Medical University of Buffalo,
N.Y., from which institution he graduated on the 19th day of
April, 1849, receiving his diploma from Millard Filmore, then
vice-president of the college. On obtaining his degree of M.D.,
he located at Jamestown, N.Y., but soon afterward moved to Randolph,
N.Y., where he formed a partnership with Dr. Samuel WILCOX. That
connection continued for two years, and the firm gained a liberal
share of the public patronage. January 23, 1851, while a resident
of Randolph, Dr. BORDEN married Miss Levina D. VANCAMPEN, a native
of New York and a daughter of Benjamin and Mary S. VANCAMPEN,
who were of German descent. Three children were born to them:
Mary Alice, born in November, 1851, is at home; Emily A., born
in May, 1857, is now the wife of George VANCAMPEN, a real estate
and loan agent, of Buffalo, N.Y.; James B., born September 24,
1869, is a student in Milton College.
- Leaving Randolph, N.Y., Dr. BORDEN became a resident of Scio,
Allegany Co., N.Y., where
- he practiced two years, at the end of that time returning
to Otto and forming a partnership which existed a year with Dr.
GOLDSBOROUGH, under whom he began the study of his profession.
In 1854, resolved to try his fortune in the more promising field
of the new and growing West, he came to Milton and soon had an
extensive practice; and from that time he has met with increasing
success and appreciation.
- In 1864 Dr. BORDEN was commissioned surgeon of the 1st Wisconsin
Heavy Artillery. The
- regiment was ordered to Virginia and placed in the defenses
of Washington and formed the 3d brigade of DeRussy's division
of General Augur's corps. The doctor was given charge of a post
hospital near Fort Lyon, Va., and continued there until he was
mustered out of the service in June, 1865, and was discharged
with the regiment July 13, at Milwaukee.
- The greatest sorrow of the doctor's life came to him in 1885,
when he was called upon to mourn
- the loss of his wife. The doctor is a progressive and public-spirited
citizen and is one of the energetic and enterprising men of Milton.
To his efforts can be attributed his success, and the prosperity
which has attended him is due to his industry, ability and fair
dealing which has ever marked his intercourse with his fellow
men. He has manifested great interest in the political affairs
of his country, his views being in accordance with those of the
Democratic party, which he has supported since 1872.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 762-763.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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