Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 2 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
o o o
Wakefield's First Doctor
The first doctor to practice his profession in Wakefield Village was Dr. Stephen Wright (1834-1895) the sixth son of John & Sibel (Cummings) Wright - his grandfather being Thomas Wright the older brother of Philemon.
Dr. Stephen married Caroline Knapp (1830-1919). Caroline was born in a cabin on a bank of the Rideau Canal at the time Lt.-Col. John By of the Royal Engineers was supervising its construction. Indications would suggest that Caroline's father was one of many men who were employed in its construction. Indications would suggest that Caroline's father was one of many men who were employed in its construction, either as a labourer, a mason or one of the military guards.
The Wrights made their home in what came to be known as "The Doctor's House", across the road from a later doctor's home and office, "the Maples" of Dr: Hans Stevenson and later the Doctors Geggie. Stephen Wrights had four children, two daughters, Frances Lorraine (1858 - ?) and Lucy Almira (1865 - ?) and two sons Marcus Colbourne (1860-1943) and Ruggles Church (1857-1865) who died Jan 19, 1865 at the age of eight years and 14 days. He was buried in Hall's Cemetery, just off Highway 105 as one approaches Wakefield. The sisters and Marcus all reached maturity and married.
Later Dr. Stephen Wright moved to Bytown (Ottawa) becoming well known in that growing town.
UNHAPPY NEW-YEAR
From the Diary of James Finlayson Taylor (1796-1861)
Friday, 27 Dec. 1822. Last night about half past nine o'clock was found the body of John Rusinstrom, a farmer belonging to this town (Wright's Town) at the back of Philemon Wright & Sons' Mill Dam. He was observed to come to the mill between sundown and dark in a state of intoxication, but the miller being at supper at the time no person thought anything of him untill (sic) the miller returning and not finding him in the mill he commenced to search for him at all the houses, store and tavern, but not finding or hearing anything of him, he concluded he must have fallen in about the mill sluices. The miller and some others accidentally looking over the dam (from) a height of about 19 feet they perceived something like a man's legs laying (sic) there. They immediately towered down a lanthorn (sic) by a rope and found the man was laying there apparently dead.
They immediately sent for me. I hastened to the spot, procured a ladder and went down, when I found that the man's legs moved a little as he lay on his face. I immediately called to them above to hand me a rope as I conceived there was still life in him. They however said I had better not meddle with him as he must undoubtedly be dead from his fall and laying there about three hours in water and ice. I observed to them that his legs moved. They said it must be owing to the force of water running against them. This, however, did not satisfy me as I put my hand into the water where it run against him and found that it was not the cause. I see (seeing) him move again, repeated my demand for a rope, which when handed to me I made fast under his arms and they hauled him up. We then carried him to the tavern, stript (sic) him of his clothes which were froze (sic) stiff, rubbed him thoroughly with rum and camphor, he revived, looked round but could not speak. He lived about fifteen hours after and expired leaving a wife and four children who are in very low circumstances in life to deplore his loss.
Found with Mr. Taylor's diary was a list of births and mention of their parents.
John Rusinstrom's wife was Lucy (no family name given). Their children were as follows: Abigal (Abigail) no given name John (dead) Mary Wright, John (Again).