My Valley
Andy Thompson-another queer old character who lived by
himself for many a year, fell very ill and was attended by two of the neighbor women. One
morning the doctor called and finding the old man in coma, soon left but the women
continued talking in low tones. Lifting his head suddenly he said, "Does the doctor
think I'll not survive ?". Replied one of the women "Would you care to live, Mr.
Thompson?" "Aweel, life is sweet," and at that turned his
face to the wall and passed on.
Aunt Nellie Smith, widow, devout Christian woman, hard worker, eked out her scant subsistence by working for the neighbors. She worked for the Ferries and for Mrs. "Dr." Purdy- probably others. One day she had a terrible tooth ache and found she had some badly decayed teeth which should be extracted. So, instead of taking her troubles to the Dr., who like all physicians in those times could pull a tooth or saw off a leg in emergency, she undertook to do the job herself.
In her own words which she related to Mrs. Purdy afterward, she said, "I set me down in front of a small looking glass, and first I cut and cut all around each tooth with an old sharp case knife." (there were four of these teeth) "then I took a pair of big shears and I twisted and twisted each tooth until it came loose and I could pull it out with my fingers." "Oh", cried Mrs. Purdy aghast, "why didn't you speak to the doctor?" "He could have drawn them much more easily." "Well," naively replied Aunt Nellie, "I was afraid he'd hurt me." It is a wonder she didn't die of blood poisoning, but instead she lived to a good old age, mourned by all her neighbors and friends at her death.
Another heroic measure has been told of Dr. Bill Appley of Bethel Village who had one leg amputated. Pointing to his stump, he would sometimes ask, "'Do you want to know who cut off Dr. Bill Appleys leg? Well, Dr. Bill Appley did." and so it was told of him that he sat up and directed. the whole process- the incisions, the tying of arteries and veins and all connected with the gruesome business. Dr. Appley died long before my time and this story is very much hearsay with probably some exaggerations in each time it was told. However, I do feel this episode might have happened in those gory times of Indian scalpings and burnings. Certainly "'there were Giants in those days".
Sullivan Co. boys and girls who made good in their chosen professions- later 19th century. These are not given in the order of their importance but as they have come to mind as I have written the foregoing.
Will Waddell- South America Missionary and college President
Wynkoop Kiersted, Jr.-Civil Engineer
Will Haley- High School Principal, Custom House Official, Port of New York
Jerry Haly- Printers trade
Gid Swan- Civil Engineer
Ella Margison- Local fame, teacher
Julia Gillespie- Local fame, teacher
Frank Gillespie- Optometrist, Elgin, Ill
Will Brundage- Minister
Fred Brundage- Wholesale drugs
Adda Brundage- Singer from Boston Conservatory
Milton Kerr- Minister
Charles H. Royce- Mgr. large Estates, Cornell Professor
Eugene Gallagher- Physician
Francis Murray- Priest
John James Dillon- Editor Rural New Yorker
John Ferrie- Banker
Willis Purdy- Physician
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