Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

CVURTIS HARVEY BILL, M. D., one of the Jj best and most widely known physicians and surgeons of the State, settled in Bridgeport in 1871. Coming without previous acquaintance, or any credentials recommending him to favor- able consideration, he soon, through persevering industry and integrity of character, established himself in public confidence to an unusual degree. Doctor Bill comes of good English ancestry, nearly every generation of which has furnished one or inore respected members to the medical profession. He is a direct descendant of Thomas Bill, M. D. [See Athena; Cantabrigienses, Vol. I, pp. 98 and 539], who was born about 1490 in Bedfordshire, England, and as a physician was an attendant of Princess Elizabeth in 1549. He was entitled to a B. A., in 1524; was afterward elected Fellow of Pembroke Hall; in 1558 had conferred upon him the degree of M. A. As a medical student he, in 1530, had leave extended him from his college to travel for three and a quarter years on the Continent, and again, in I 5 3 1 , two additional years were voted him. This was granted that he might be the better fitted for his profession by visiting the medical schools and attending the lectures of the most eminent physi- cians in Europe. He took the degree of M. D. at the celebrated University at Pavia, Italy, founded by the Emperor Charlemagne. He be- came one of the physicians of Henry VIII, and of Edward VI, and from the latter received, March 26, 1547, a grant of one hundred pounds 194 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. sterling per annum. The Princess Elizabeth wrote in 1549 the following letter of thanks to the Duke of Somerset, in which she gratefully alludes to Doctor Bill: iti/ Very Good Lord: Many lines will not serve to render the least part of thanks that your Grace hath deserved of me, most especially for that you have been careful of my health, and sending un- to me not only your comfortable letter, but also physician, as Dr. Hill, whose diligence and pains has been a great part of my recovery; for whom 1 do most heartily thank your Grace, desiring you to give him thanks for me, who can as- certain you of mine estate of health, wherefore I will not write it. And although I be most bounded to you in this time of my sickness, yet 1 may not lie unthankful for that your Grace hath made such expeditions for my patent; with most hearty thanks and commendations to you and to my good lady, your wife, most heartily fare you well. Your assured friend to my power, Elizabeth. From Cheshurst, the present Friday, To my Lord Protector's Grace. The first American ancestors of our subject were John and Dorothy Bill, and from them Dr. Bill is in the seventh generation, namely : (II) Philip and Hannah Bill ; (III) John and Mercy (Fowler) Bill; (IV) Benajah and Mary Bill; (V) Eliphalet and Dorothy (Marsh) Bill. Dorothy was the daughter of John Marsh and Dorothy Mason, who was the fifth in descent from Major John Mason, the conqueror of the Pequots. (\T) Dr. Dyer and Ruth (Coburn) Bill, parents of our subject. Dr. Dyer Bill, who was born at Hart- ford, Vt., April 7, 1793, was a prominent man both as a physician and as a politician. He settled in Albany, Vt., in 1819, and there practiced his profession for fifty-seven years, acquiring an en- viable reputation and, consequently, an extensive practice. He also served as postmaster and jus- tice of the peace for many years, and represented the town of Albany in the State Legislature sev- eral terms. He was twice married ; his first wife, whom he married September 14, 18 14, was Ruth Richardson, of StralTord, Vt., born Octo- ber 9, 1792, and died August 13, 1829. The six children by this marriage were : Louisa M., Jose- phine, Emeline, Lucinda, Mary and Dyer Rich- ardson. For his second wife Dr. Dyer Bill mar- ried Ruth P. Coburn, January i, 1830. She was born at Cabot, Vt., January 30, 1803. By this marriage Doctor Bill had fivechildren: Frank Coburn, Curtis Harvey (subject of this sketch), James Ravvson, Dwight Strong, and George Au- gustus. Curtis Harvey Bill was born at Albany, Vt., July 2, 1835, and was educated in the public schools of his native town, and in Barre Acad- emy. In 1854 he commenced the study of med- icine with Dr. Charles B. Chandler, of Mont- pelier, Vt., attending two courses of medical lect- ures at Dartmouth College, one at the University of Vermont and one at the University Medical College of the City of New York. At the last of these he graduated in March, 1859, with the de- gree of M. D. At his final examination in anat- omy aird surgery he was highly commended by the Faculty. The young physician and surgeon settled at Clarksville, Tenn., and there began his eventful practice. He was at Clarksville, when, in April, 1861, the firing on Fort Sumter roused the whole country, and in May of that year he was tendered a surgeon's commission in the Confederate army. This he declined, and in consequence within twenty-four hours was driven from the State. The following war service of Doctor Bill is from the records : Having declined a surgeon's commission in the Fourteenth Tennessee Infantry in the Rebel army, he was driven from Tennessee by a Vigi- lance committee; reported to Gen. W. T. Sher- man at Louisville, Ky., and was appointed acting assistant surgeon October i, 1861, and assigned to duty in the 15th U. S. Infantry; served with that command in the 4th Brigade, 2d Division, Army of the Ohio, until September, 1862; 4th Brigade, ist Division (Center), Army of the Cumberland, until January, 1863; 3d Brigade, ist Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cum- berland, until June, 1863, and participated in the battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 7, 1862; the siege of Corinth, April 30 to May 30; the Perry- ville campaign, October i to October 15; Dog Walk, October 9; relief of Nashville, November 5-9; Murfreesboro campaign, November 26, 1862, to January, 1863; Stone river, December 31, 1862, to January 3, 1863; Stewart's Creek, January i, 1863; was especially complimented for gallant and faithful service on the battlefield by Gen. John H. King, commanding the regular brigade, 14th Army Corps; on detached service headquarters Department of the Cumberland, as a member of the examining board which passed upon seven thousand applications for discharge during July, August and September, 1862; de- tailed as surgeon-in-chief of " Howard Hospital," No. 4, Nashville, Tenn., November, 1862, until August, 1863, where he had the care of many sick and wounded soldiers, and performed many successful operations. On the request of Andrew Johnson, then military governor of Tennessee, he was commissioned surgeon of the 5th Tennes- see Cavalry to rank from November 8, 1864, and served with that regiment until mustered out August 14, 1865. Doctor Bill remained in the South five years after the war, practicing his profession and cul- tivating a large cotton plantation near Fayette- ville, Tenn. Coming to Bridgeport in the fall of ■1 'f:/-"ij:i J )..!t to ■ r\; A'l .J- 'u;'^; .;j fu.lr. '-MilOJj i: .1 •■.■■111 ' pj": •*. .). n\:,i:,:.:\ .-.,■ ■.■'!;;(<:,= J-; b".^ .i.•^,! . -.■.']., i ^,. .'j..'' : J '■,-■■;_ V .,■■ .If; r^. .'j ;'-,,,..: , i|ji. ::■"':-; I ■-'-ioJ':!-"'.-' t;Ji,;; .■.iii^ ■Mi., i ' , ■-;.; :■.-•■: t .:■■■■:! ,■/• -onrif (.liii' r^i.-^! ■ " ' ■■ ' /.I . i ,' ■/ !■■ ' ■■! It !'! .. ■'.,'.,■; '.I : f 'Jr'' ■ ■ .' ..'Ml . ; 1 "I , , -> (! iL ,:. I.'-' I :..v: ii J I.- '-i '■....■vi.,, J COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 195 1 87 1, he immediately began the practice of his profession, which he has since followed, building up, during these twenty-five years, a large and extensive practice among the best families. He is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion, the State Medical Association, the County Medical Association, of which he was president in 1880-81; and also of the Bridgeport Medical Association, of which he was president in 1879. He has been connected with the Bridgeport Hos- pital since its organization in 1884, and inau- gurated the medical and surgical visiting service of that hospital. For ten years he served on the visiting staff, resigning at the end of that time, and has ever since served on the consult- ing staff. Doctor Bill has also, for many years, served as medical examiner for several of the largest life insurance companies, including the Mutual Life, of New York ; the Penn Mutual, of Philadelphia ; Travelers, of Hartford ; Manhat- tan, of New York ; Home, of New York, and Bay State, of Massachusetts. He has also written a number of professional papers, among which maybe mentioned "Monographs on Treatment of Hospital Gangrene with Bromine," and "Ex- section of Joints," etc., with cases.