Caledonia

CAHOON, William W.

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, pp 349-350

William W. CAHOON graduated at Dartmouth in 1845, and at the Medical College 
of Woodstock in 1848, and subsequently at a medical college in New York, 
where he was afterwards connected with the institution, under Doctor MOTT, as 
assistant physician, where he made good progress in science and made himself 
useful about a year, when he contracted a pestilential disease and died. 
None had better abilities and higher aspirations for excellence and 
professional usefulness than he had. Having studied with able and skillful 
physicians and surgeons, attended the best lectures in the state, and 
received his diploma, in pursuit of still higher attainments, he sought the 
foundation heads of the profession in New York, resolved to never 
unskillfully tamper with human life in the practice of his profession, if 
adequate knowledge could be attained, and in his laudable endeavors to make 
himself more useful by garnering from the purlieus of the hospital, he became 
a martyr to the cause of humanity.

The following tribute erected in New York City to him and thirteen others 
speaks for itself: Haec mea ornamenta sunt (these are my jewels). Gorham 
BEALS, William W. CAHOON [and twelve others whose names are not given], 
students of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, died of pestilential 
disease while serving in the Public Hospitals of New York. This Tablet is 
erected by the Faculty that the memory of these Martyrs of Humanity may not 
die, and that taught by their example, the graduates of the College may never 
hesitate to hazard life in the performance of professional duty." The editor 
of the newspaper from which the foregoing is taken adds: "Many of our 
readers will remember one whose name is given above, W. W. CAHOON, of Lyndon, 
a young man of much promise, whose sun went out ere it had reached the 
meridian." He was the son of the late William CAHOON, and died 31 August 
1848, aged twenty three years and six months. He was a favorite of the 
family, and wherever known was appreciated. [The name or date of the 
newspaper is not given, and the editor is not named.]

[Also mentioned in the section dealing with the history of Lyndon, Calendonia 
County, Vermont, (from which the above is an excerpt) are George C. CAHOON, a 
graduate of the University of Vermont in 1820, and Edward A. CAHOON, who 
graduated in 1838, both of whom were practicing lawyers in Lyndon. Unknown 
to submitter, who is not researching this surname, what if any relationship 
existed between Edward A., George C., and William W. CAHOON.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly