Loading...
The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-06-28, Page 74Section 3, Page 22 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE JUNE 28, 1973 DOCTOR WEDS NURSE Dr. Hugh Hyndman, shown above with his office nurse, Victoria Johnston, was the son of the first doctor in the dis- trict, Dr. John Hyndman, Dr. Hugh Hyndman later married his nurse in 1923. Medd served two terms in Toronto CHOIR MEMBERS • Some very prominent people were members of the Anglican church choir when this photo was taken. In the back row, from the left are Mr. Brewer, manager of Moison's Bank; Mr. Caddy, barrister; Mr. Hayden; and Mr. Brown, Middle row left, Jenny Drew; Henrietta Stone; Mrs. Hayden; Miss S. McDonnell; and Miss Swartz.- Bottom row left, B,S. O'Neil; Ida Carling; Ann Fitton (Mrs. W.J. Carling), organist; Miss J. Carling (Mrs. R. Elliot) and W.J. Carling, who was in the store business with his father, Isaac Coding Sr. This it one of the few photos still around which was taken by Charles Senior. VV.G.M'EDD and a past president of the Exeter Lawn Bowling Club. At one time he was a member of the Exeter School Board. In 1929 Mr. Medd was elected to the Ontario Legislature where he served for two terms. Mrs. 'Medd, whose maiden name was Hanna Almina Gregory, predeceased him in October 1946, Son follows footsteps of town's first doctor JOTTINGS BY J.M.S. (December 6, 1962) A few months ago we printed a picture of the office of Dr. John Hyndman and his son Dr. Hugh K. Hyndman, now the office of Dr. M. C. Fletcher, Last week Mr. Milton Sleamon brought into the office an article that was read before the Medical Historical Society of Western University by Miss Margaret Strang prior to her graduation as a doctor. It was awarded first prize. From this article we have taken some of the more im- portant facts of the early life of the, Hyndmans in Exeter, pioneers in medicine and surgery during the early history of the Huron '1 rect. In the year 1851 Dr, John Hyndman a graduate from the Toronto Medical College, at the age of 21, set out his shingle at Devon Corners, close by the sign of the Black Horse, Devon's one' hotel, owned by Joseph Quick. He was the first of his profession to settle in the district. Over main roads and back roads, good in spots and unr speakable in others or through the bush the doctor walked or rode horseback carrying his satchel and a revolver. In time the doctor married the innkeeper's youngest daughter. Charlotte, She was Canadian born and well schooled in pioneer ways. In her father's hotel many prominent guests had been en- tertained. To this union was born five sons and one daughter. Eventually the doctor moved T-A February 7, 1935 Want rabbit drive The fame of the jack rabbit drives in this community has spread to Michigan and Mr. Fred Kerr is in receipt of a com- munication from Grand Rapids asking him to arrange for a rabbit hunt one day next week. The editor of an outdoor sporting magazine, a representative from one of the Detroit daily papers and it is expected a represen- tative from the Michigan Con- servation department will be present to join in the drive and secure first hand information. These men are particularly in- terested as Michigan may be the next to be invaded by the jacks. T-A March, 1909 W.W. Taman left Saturday for Detroit, Toledo and Chicago with a view to learning what may be new in theline of clothing, cutting and making. his family and office to Exeter. In 1863 Hugh Kennedy Hyndman was born. His first schooling was in a private school conducted by Mrs. Elston. From Mrs. Elston he passed on to learn the three "R's" in Exeter's public school, thence to Upper Canada College in Toronto and to Bishop Hellmuth's School for boys in London, He entered Western University Medical School under Dr, Waugh who drove a white horse and an old buggy. In 1886 Hugh Hynd- man graduated with his M.D. degree, one of the third class to graduate from the school. He returned to Exeter to enter in partnership with his father a partnership that lasted h.r ,3 y.,,,,rs. Both father and son were p • ar readers, They subscribed ie die Lest current medical literature and gathered a fine lit rar).. There were long drives in summer over dusty roads and longer ones in winter through the snow. The drifts were often over the fences and the horses kept the - road by instinct, for mere man could not tell where the road ended and the fields began. Dr. John Hyndman died in 1899, leaving Dr, Hugh the respon- sibility of closing the estate, the responsibility of the immediate family and to carry on the practice, When the telephone came into general use, Dr. Hugh Hyndman was quick to see its possibilities in a rural community. As nobody in the district knew anything about telephones, building the lines and keeping them in shape, the doctor undertook the job himself. He ordered the poles and the equipment to be shipped in, hired the men to do the work, financed the building of the lines, set his own rural rental rates, arranged an exchange with the Bell Telephone Co. and his brother George kept the books. The system was sold to William Frayne and is now operated by his sons, Harry and Lloyd. The doctor was not without a proper sense of pride in his new telephone line. Some of the first poles were not exactly straight and the doctor had them replaced. The telephone line saved time as well as lives but still the doctor had his long drives to make. Good horses were not always available when he wanted them so he bred and raised his own. He kept a stable of five horses and because of his extensive practice, there were times when he did not have a fresh horse with which to answer a call. On one occasion when called out of town during a winter blizzard, he was storm stayed for three days. The roads were so bad that he fought his way into Centralia on foot and took the first train, a freight train back to Exeter. His horse and cutter were brought home as soon as the roads were passable. Raised Airedales Horses were not his only pet animals. He also bred Airedale dogs and one of these was a special pal of one of the horses. When the horse went out the dog went too, and through snow, rain, wind and darkness it kept the road and at times when neither limn or horse were sure where the road was, they followed the d og. When new treatments and new equipment came into use, the doctor's library and equipment swelled accordingly. He installed a high-frequency X-ray machine and employed an office nurse to run it. He not only did his own work, but also a great deal for the local dentists. During the year of the first influenza epidemic, he opened the rooms above the office as a private hospital which proved an inestimable boom to the community. Medicine, however, was not the doctor's only interest. He found time to cultivate a garden and was the first in the district to grow the canna plant and the gladioli. He helped to foster a horticultural society and was honorary president of the society for many years. In 1923 the doctor married Miss Victoria Johnston, a graduate of Victoria Hospital London, who had served with him as office nurse for a number of years. Dr. Hyndman senior was first coroner of Huron County and advisor of the Grand Trunk Provident Society. In both of these offices his son succeeded him. During the influenza epidemic of 1918 the doctor worked day and night until he fainted under the strain. He was put to bed with pneumonia and stayed there for one week. Later he developed heart trouble and he died sud- denly on March 6, 1926, following a busy day with his patients. The funeral service was held in the Trivitt Memorial Church conducted by the Rev, A. A. Trumper. The church was unable to accommodate the large crowd that had assembled for the funeral. (April 19,1961) Mr. William George Medd, for many years a prominent figure in this community, passed away suddenly Tuesday, March 27, in his eighty-second year. Mr, Medd, who has been resideing in London for the winter, came to Exeter Monday to be present at a social evening of the Kumjoinus Class of the Main Street Sunday School, He had prepared a paper which he read at the meeting. He spent the night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Pearce and passed away quietly during the night, He had been suffering with a heart condition for some time but of late had been enjoying good health. He had reservations made for a trip to Ottawa to at- tend a meeting of the Ontario Temperance Federation. Mr. Medd was born in Hullett Township and came to this community in 1904 when he took over the Winchelsea Creamery, at one time a very flourishing industry, In 1919 he purchased from Mr. J.H. Scott the Exeter Creamery which he ran in con- junction with the Winchelsea plant. At that time he moved to Exeter. While at Winchelsea he was active in the Elimville United Church and after coming to Exeter he affiliated with the Main Street Church and was one of their leading laymen. For years he was recording steward and also a teacher of the Young People's Class. He was prominent in the councils of the United Church, serving for years on the Set- tlement Committee of the London Conference. At one time he was president of the Ontario Religious Education Council and was a member of the executive of the Ontario Temperance Federation. He was also on the executive of the Ontario Dairyman's Association. He was a com- missioner to the first General Council of the United Church which Met at Winnipeg following union. Never seeking honours but" always willing to serve Mr. Medd played an important part in local activities. When the Exeter Arena was built in 1937 Mr. Medd was one of the leading advocates. To him went the credit of prac- tically designing the building. For years afterwards he served on the Arena Board either as president or secretary. He took an active interest in girls' soft- ball. He was an ardent bowler T-A 1874 On February 1, 1874, Exeter's pioneer chartered bank opened its doors. T-A, January 10, 1935 Former Exeter girl honored by King Of the eight Canadian women who were included in the King's list of honora of New Years, one of them is an Exeter Old Girl in the person of Miss Mabel F, Hersey, superintendent of nurses at the Royal Victoria Hospital at Montreal. Miss Hersey was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire, She was born in Exeter and spent her girlhood days here. Her father, the late Samuel Hersey, conducted a grocery store in the building now occupied by Mr. Thos. Coates as a garage. Miss Hersey's friends here will join with the Times- Advocate in extending congratulations.