CLASS OF 1859
Charles Walker Pickering was born in Greenland, N. H., September 14, 1838, the son of William and Susan B. (Walker) Pickering. His father" was state treasurer for fifteen years, and his mother was the granddaughter of Timothy Walker, the first Congregational minister of Concord. Mr. Pickering graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover, in the class of 1855, and after graduation from Dartmouth studied at Harvard Law School. He practiced law a few years at Haverhill, Mass., and Exeter, N. H., but his health failed and he returned to Greenland, where he has since lived. He was a member of the state house of representatives in 1869 and '70, and was a trustee of the state normal school in 1872-3. He was also colonel on Governor Weston's staff. He had been chairman of the board of selectmen and a member of the school board. He never married. Mr. Pickering died December 27, 1910, of pleuropneumonia, although he had been somewhat of an invalid for several years. He leaves one sister, Mrs. Lucretia M. Frink.
[See the account of the annual meeting of Cincinnati Association, supra.]
IN MEMORIAM
The Cincinnati Dartmouth Alumni Association having lost since its last formal meeting one of its .most beloved and distinguished members in the death of Dr. Phineas Sanborn Conner, it would seem fitting that we give expression to our deep sorrow over such loss and our appreciation of his noble and sterling qualities. In doing this it is hardly needful to recount the details of his life and career, this having been so fully done at the time of his death by his professional brethren and the public press.
It will suffice here to say that he was born in 1839 in Pennsylvania of cultivated parents, his father being a physician and a native of New England, and his mother of an old and well known family of the South. His parents coming to Cincinnati, the son wag placed in our public schools, where as a precocious and scholarly lad he was fitted for college at the early age of sixteen years, when he entered Dartmouth College. He graduated in 1859, the leader of his class. He at once entered upon the study of medicine; a year later the Civil War breaking out, by great industry and by utilizing his vacations he completed his studies and entered the .army .in 1861 as a surgeon. He continued in the army throughout the war, rapidly rising in rank, and at the close of the war, having risen to the position of medical director of an important division of the army, he retired, having reached the age of twenty-five years, honored and commended by his superiors for his efficient and patriotic service.
Coming to Cincinnati, he earnestly set about establishing himself in his profession, under circumstances of anxiety and discouragement, such as usually attend a young practitioner. He was soon, however, appointed a professor in the Ohio Medical College, a position he retained for forty years. Success rapidly came to him as a general practitioner, and later he gave his entire attention as a specialist to surgery, achieving great distinction.
For many years Doctor Conner was also a lecturer in the Medical School of Dartmouth College. At the height of his career as a surgeon, he was often pronounced by his asso- ciates the best diagnostician west of the Alleghanies-and unsurpassed as an operator. He was several times elected president of national medical associations, and from time to time delivered addresses before these which attracted wide and favorable attention. He was a frequent contributor throughout his career to medical journals and encyclopedias, of articles which were greatly commended both here and in Europe. He was an omnivorous reader, conversant with several languages, a fluent speaker, and a master of a simple, pungent, and graceful style in both his writing and his speech.
He was a man whose integrity and purity was absolute in professional, business, and private life. He despised all sham, pretense, and duplicity. As a lecturer he was plain, direct, and forceful, always commanding attention, and the love and admiration of his students.
It is said that Judge, now President, Taft, when presiding at a public dinner, in introducing Doctor Conner as a speaker referred to him as a "great and eminent surgeon and physician," declaring that such were his gifts and attainments that he could have been equally distinguished as a statesman, at the bar, or in the pulpit. This is high praise, but probably not unmerited.
In his intercourse with the people he was cordial and democratic, and by reason of his success and commanding personality he had hosts of admirers. But, comparatively speaking, his close friends were few. He was slow to confide in others, but to those whom he had learned to love and trust he was confiding, and to them his attachment was deep and steadfast. Among these friends he was a charming companion, and toward them he was generous and self-sacrificing to a fault.
In his later years his professional activity naturally declined, but his mind remained clear, pentrating, and effective to the end. During the week preceding his death he made two notable speeches, one to a medical convention touching their duties and responsibilities, the other a eulogy upon the character of a friend and a professional brother. It is reported that these indicated the same intellectual force, felicity of diction, and refinement in taste and feeling which early characterized such efforts.
He was intensely loyal to his college and its alumni, freely aiding both through his purse, time, and thought whenever occasion justified. He was the prime mover in organizing this association, and did much to keep it alive and in touch with the College.
To-night we miss his inspiring and courtly presence, and to some of us his loss is wholly irreparable.
It is understood that his rare and costly medical library, according to his request, has been turned over to the College, and is to remain under its control as a reminder of the virtues and achievements of one of the worthiest and most distinguished of her sons, in the generation to which he belonged.
Let us cherish his memory, as of one whose lifelong devotion to duty brought honor to his Alma Mater, comfort and relief to a multitude bearing the burden of disease, pain, and suffering.
Secretary, Dr. Edward Cowles, 419 Boylston St., Boston
