Cyrus Falconer
Cyrus Falconer, physician and surgeon, was born January 21, 1810, in Washington County, Penn. His parents, Isaac and Nancy (Wilkins) Falconer, were natives of the same place. In 1812 the family removed to Ohio, passing down the Monongahela to Pittsburg, and thence on flat-boats down the Ohio to Cincinnati. Rossville (now West Hamilton) being their point of destination they started for that place, crossing the Big Miami by ferry-boat where the iron bridge now spans it. The doctor's father rented a hotel opposite to where the Straub House now stands. The building was erected as early as 1806, and still remains a land-mark. Mr. Falconer conducted this hotel and the ferry till 1816, when he erected the frame building now occupied by W.C. Miller as a drug-store. It was known as the "Falconer House," and was conducted by Mr. Falconer until 1838. Besides his hotel business, he for several years carried on the cabinet-maker's trade, which he had learned while young, in company with Mr. Thomas Enyeart. He was among the first to build flat-boats on the Miami, and for many years carried on an extensive trade down the Ohio and Mississippi. He made several trips to New Orleans, the last one being in 1827, with a load of furniture of his own manufacture. Mr. Falconer built one of the first saw-mills in Hamilton (Rossville), which he carried on for a short time. He also was engaged in farming, to some extent. He was drafted, in 1814, for the second war with Great Britain, but before reaching the seat of hostilities the conflict was over. He served for several years afterwards as captain of a military company. He died in 1840, age sixty, while his widow survived him fourteen years, dying at the age of sixty-four. But one brother of Dr. Falconer's, John H. Falconer, ever grew to manhood. He was a tailor and hotel-keeper in Rossville for several years, and afterwards a farmer in Illinois, where he died in 1866. His only sister was Mrs. Louise M. Deshler, widow of the late John G. Deshler, of Columbus, who was a very prominent and wealthy banker. Dr. Falconer received his primary education in the schools of Hamilton. At the age of fourteen he began studying Latin and the higher branches in a select school conducted by John L. Watkins. In 1826 he entered Miami University (then in its infancy), and was in the class with General Robert C. Schenck. He remained at this institution until the Fall of 1827. To add a little experience and knowledge of the world to his book learning, he accompanied his father on his last trip to New Orleans on a flat-boat down the Ohio and the Mississippi. It was on this romantic trip that he became instilled with abolition principles. He witnessed slavery in its worst form; and the cruelties and degradation seen by him made a lasting impression upon his mind. Upon his return in the following Spring he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. R.B. Millikin, father of Mr. Thomas Millikin, at present the oldest practicing lawyer of Hamilton. During 1830 and 1831, he took a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati. In 1832 he was licensed to practice medicine by the Second Senatorial District Medical Society, and immediately opened an office in Hamilton. In the Fall of 1834 he entered into partnership with Dr. L. Rigdon, brother of Mr. Sidney Rigdon, made famous by his association with Joseph Smith, of Mormon notoriety. The Winter of 1837 was passed by the doctor in traveling through Texas on horseback, shortly after the capture of Santa Anna by Sam Houston, prospecting for a new location. A tour was also made through Illinois and Iowa, when he returned to Hamilton, and in the Autumn of 1838 he entered the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he graduated in 1839. He now resumed his practice in Hamilton, opening an office on the grounds where his residence now stands. In 1846 he took as assistant Dr. L.J. Smith, and in 1850 received him as partner. In 1859 this relation was dissolved, and it was not until 1878 that another and last partnership was formed, when Dr. Lee Corbin became associated with in practice for one year.
It is just half a century since Dr. Falconer entered upon the duties of his profession, which gives him the distinction of being the oldest practicing physician in the county, while but few in the State can lay claim to a professional career of equal length. No physician in Butler county is more widely or more favorably known than Dr. Falconer, not only by his acknowledged skill as a physician and surgeon, but also as a man of prominence outside of his chosen profession. His early education was liberal, and from studious habits and a naturally inquiring disposition his mind is replete with a store of knowledge that constitutes him one of Hamilton's most cultured citizens. He is a ready writer, which from time has enabled him to furnish scientific and medical journals with able articles. His first contribution was a report on cholera in Butler County, published in 1834 in Dr. Drake's Western Medical Journal. Another article which attracted considerable notice was furnished the same journal some years afterwards, describing a Caesarian operation performed by him.
Doctor Falconer has been a prominent member of the Ohio State Medical Association ever since 1845, shortly after its inception, and is one of a few of its oldest members now living. He has been its vice-president repeatedly, and in 1881 was nominated for president, but was defeated by a small vote. He has also been a member of the American Medical Association since 1859, and was a delegate to the first international medical congress, which was held in Philadelphia in 1876. The medical profession in Butler and surrounding counties owe much to Doctor Falconer for his efforts in their behalf. He was the active founder of the Butler County Medical Society, composed of the physicians of Butler and Preble Counties, Ohio, and Union, Rush, Wayne, and Fayette Counties, Indiana. Doctor Falconer for many years has had a very large practice, and every thing intended for the advancement of medical science in the surrounding country has had his hearty support and the benefits of this long and successful experience. Upon the first draft of soldiers in 1861 he was appointed examining surgeon of this district. For the past three years Doctor Falconer has been carrying on a farm in Hanover Township in connection with his other duties. During R.B. Hayes's first term as governor of the State, Doctor Falconer was, by his appointment, trustee of the State Agricultural College, and was also appointed by Governor Noyes.
Ever since the inception of the Republican party Doctor Falconer has been an enthusiastic supporter of its principles, although his first vote was cast for a Democratic candidate General Jackson, in 1832. Between that date, however, and the birth of the Republican party his affiliations were with the Whigs. He figured conspicuously in politics in those days and was sent as a delegate to the Whig National Convention at Harrisburg, in 1839, which nominated General Harrison for President, and took an active part in the campaign following.
The doctor has been one the leading members of the Presbyterian Church of Hamilton for a great many years, having been associated with that Church since 1845, and for the past thirty-two years one of its elders. In 1857 and 1864 he was a delegate to the Presbyterian General Assembly, at Lexington, Kentucky, and Newark, New Jersey, respectively.
He was early identified with educational interests of Hamilton, and was one the organizers of the union school system in this place in 1851. He was one of three of the first board of school examiners, in which capacity he served for nine years.
Doctor Falconer married his first wife, Miss Mary, daughter of the Hon. John Woods, October 8, 1839, who died September 18, 1870. Eight children were born of this union. The oldest, John W., born September 30, 1840, was killed at Appomattox Court-house, April 9, 1865, thirty minutes before the flag of truce was raised by General Lee asking a cessation of hostilities from General Grant. He was a captain of a company of United States colored troops, and was leading the skirmish line which checked the last effort of the rebels to escape, when he received a mortal wound. The second son, Jerome, born March, 1844, was also shot at Stone River, in August, 1863. He died at his home, in Hamilton, seven months afterwards. William R. (or P.) was born May 14, 1847. Louise, wife of General Eugene Powell, of Delaware, Ohio, was born February 15, 1852. Helen, wife of Captain O'Brien, of the Seventeenth Regiment in the regular army, serving at Fort Yates, Dakota, was born December 9, 1853. Cyrus, Jr., was born March 5, 1856. Scott, born May 12, 1858, died, aged two years, and Mary was born May 22, 1863.
The date of his second marriage was February 1, 1872, to Miss Margaret McKee, of Columbus, who died September 15, 1878. He married his present wife, Miss Ella Crawford, of Hamilton,, May 20, 1880. Of this last union one child, a son, was born, February 16, 1882.
Doctor Falconer, although of advanced age is firm and elastic in step, vigorous in movement, and displays the same activity and quickness he did thirty years ago. His face is very marked in its outline, and his head is crowned with an abundant growth of white hair.
He has been very concerned in nearly every public measure which affects the interests of Hamilton, and has been distinguished in his action by originality of views. He is but little affected by the ideas of others, and pursues his course regardless of popular clamor. Often he has been the most unpopular man in town, but time has generally shown the correctness of his opinions. He never shrinks from maintaining what he believes to be true; neither does he mince words in branding a falsehood.
For the last fifty years he has taken a decided stand in every thing that can affect mankind in this neighborhood. He was an ardent Whig and is now an ardent Republican; he is unremitting in his attendance on the ordinances of religion; he is an active Sunday-school teacher; he has on occasions delivered addresses on patriotic and professional subjects; in committee work he has done a great deal; he has exposed wrong and fraud wherever he has met them, whether intended to defraud the taxpayers of Hamilton or of the country. He attends every public meeting at which it is desirable that good citizens should turn out and he had not been backward in putting his hand into his pocket when desired to do so for the good of the community. For many years he has been regarded as among the first three or four citizens of the town.
From A History and Biographical Cyclopædia of Butler County Ohio, With Illustrations and Sketches of its Representative Men and Pioneers, Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati Ohio, 1882.