Dr. Sylvanus Dwelley Freeman, Smethport Surgeon, Expires After a Long and Painful Illness.
August 17, 1894
McKean County Democrat
As announced in the Democrat of last week, Dr. S. D. Freeman, Smethport’s well-known surgeon expired at the Sanitarium in this borough between 1 and 2 o’clock last Friday morning after a long and painful illness, aged 65 years, 6 months and 11 days.
As Dr. Freeman’s life had been hanging in the balance for many weeks, the announcement of his death was no surprise to those who had watched the progress of his case. Early last winter he had an attack of grip, and about big business when he should have sought rest and quiet. The result was that he had two setbacks, but notwithstanding this Dr. Freeman did not give up until tired nature absolutely refused to further respond, and he was compelled to take to his bed for good. Late in April the doctor sent for the writer of this to come to the Sanitarium as he wished to see him on a matter of business. We responded, and there found the doctor reclining on his bed. He informed us that only the day before he had performed a most critical operation on a lady for the removal of an abdominal cancer. The operation necessitated the removal of the entire intestine and two hours time was consumed in doing the work. At the time this operation was performed Dr. Freeman was only able to be out of his bed a few hours at a time, which goes to show the great will power of the man. This is only one of the many instances during his long illness in which he showed his mastery over the disease, which was slowly, but surely sapping his life away.
Dr. Freeman was, by reason of his great skill as a surgeon, probably the best-known physician in Northern Pennsylvania. His reputation was statewide and we might add national, and after he in a measure gave up the more general practice of medicine and established his sanitarium in this borough a few years ago, patients came here from every section of the country to place themselves under his care. He met with a full measure of success in this new undertaking and to his credit be it said that no poor person was ever turned away from his door on account of not having the money to pay for treatment. When his services were required Dr. Freeman never asked where the pay was coming from. The man or woman who had not a cent of money received the same care and attention as the millionaire. In view of this fact, can anyone say that the deceased did not possess a most generous heart? It is said of him that never during his professional career did he ever fail in case of sickness to respond to a call for his services on account of the ability of the sufferer to compensate him for his professional services. No matter how dark or how cold the night, or how great the distance to the humble cottage, Dr. Freeman always cheerfully responded to all professional calls without so much as asking who he was to look to for his pay. This was a secondary consideration with him. It goes without saying that such a man will be greatly missed in this community where he has spent so many years of his useful life. If he had faults, and who of us has not, his good qualities were magnified and obviously worthy of mention.
The funeral, which was one of the largest ever held in Smethport, took place at the Sanitarium on Sunday afternoon, McKean Post, No. 347, J A. R, having charge of the ceremonies, Rev. G. W. Balliwell made fair appropriate remarks at the house, which were followed by a prayer by Rev. J. W. Wright, after which the multitude were permitted to take a last look at the familiar face of the dead physician. The remains were followed to Rose Hill cemetery, where the interment took place by an immense concourse of people in carriages and on foot, played by the Crosby Band. At the cemetery the beautiful burial service of the G. A. was guns through with, and as a fitting final of the services a salute was fired over the grave. The pallbearers were six members of the old Bucktail Regiment of which Dr. Freemen was surgeon during the war. The floral offerings were numerous and most beautiful
Dr. S. D. Freeman was a son of Edmund and Elizabeth (Chadwick) Freeman, natives respectively of Connecticut and New Jersey. He was born in Potter county January 29, 1829; his ancestors came over in the Mayflower in 1620 and 1623, his father having been a lineal descendant of Edgar William Brewster of Mayflower ship. His parents after marriage removed to Potter County, then to McKean County in 1832. To them nine children were born, four now living. The subject of this sketch received his early education in McKean County, eventually graduating from the University of Buffalo in 1858 and first began the practice of medicine in this borough. In this he continued until the beginning of the civil war, when he was made surgeon of the Pennsylvania Bucktails, and in October 1862 he was promoted to surgeon of the United States Volunteers, a position he retained until after the close of the war, when he was brevetted lieutenant colonel and resumed his practice, continuing there until the Mexican in disturbance in 1876, when he proceeded to that country as corresponded for the committed op foreign relations. On his return home he resumed the practice of his profession to this place. On June 1, 1855, Dr. Freeman married Ms. Reisdorph, the union being blessed with three children, of whom two are living. Mrs. F. N. Taylor and Mrs. H. C. Wells, both of this borough. Dr. Freeman was a member of the G. A. R, and thirty-second degree Freemason, ex President of the McKean Medical Society, a member of the State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association.