DR. BUTTERFIELD, THE CLAIRVOYANT PHYSICIAN

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, February 14, 1890.

The Clairvoyant Physician.

(Watertown Times.)

   Dr. Butterfield, the clairvoyant physician who has made between 250 and 300 professional visits to Watertown during the last 25 years, for he comes here once in five weeks, has had extraordinary success in his calling. This is proved by the fact that his business has been constantly increasing from the day of his first appearance in Jefferson county. It is now larger than it has ever been. He takes cases which have been regarded as incurable by other physicians, and very generally affords relief. The diseases he treats are mostly of a chronic character, and while he does not guarantee immediate help, he promises improvement, and ultimate recovery if he thinks the condition of the patient warrants this assurance. When a contrary state of things exists he frankly informs the sufferer of his or her condition and engages to do what he can to assist nature, but he never promises recovery when he considers it improbable.

   His purpose is to deceive no one who comes to him for advice. He realizes that "while there is life there is hope," and the patient is given the benefit of this solacing truism. He diagnoses a case in a way peculiarly his own, more accurately than the sufferer can do it himself, and he gives such remedies as he believes the case demands, and in a vast majority of instances with beneficial results.

   As is known he is a regularly educated physician, but holding that the science of medicine is far from being an exact science he pursues such methods as his observation, study and large experience have taught him the safest and best.

   This journal is not sufficiently learned in the healing art to speak authoritatively of his system of practice, therefore it can say he helps his patients when he undertakes to do it, and that is more than can be said of all engaged in the medical profession. The doctor spends a considerable part of his time in Syracuse, where he resides, and where he has a sanitarium in which he treats a limited number of patients.

   Dr. Butterfield will be at the Cortland House, Cortland, Thursday and Friday, February 27 and 28, 1890.

TOWN REPORTS.

SOUTH CORTLAND.

   Farm hands are arranging for their summer work. The price per month is $10 to $18.

   The old men of this place say this is the warmest winter, thus far, they have ever known.

   The question as to who shall be our next road commissioner, seems to be the leading topic at present.

   Mr. John Reed of Babcock Hollow, and Miss Lizzie Cole of this place, were united in marriage on Saturday, Feb. 1st. We hope their lives will be long, their journey prosperous, their union happy and blessings without number.

   We had the privilege of attending the Chicago Grange last Saturday evening and found them alive and wide awake. [Chicago was located between South Cortland and McLean—CC editor.] They have the finest hall, all things considered, that there is in the county. The Grange is a true fraternal order, with no political or religious faith except faith in God. Its purposes are to lead men and women aright, and to the cultivation of true fraternal relations of man to man. It makes no difference how good a man may be he becomes a more faithful servant of God when he enters the portals of the Grange if he lives up to the instructions therein taught. You can no more stop the growth, objects, and aims of this grand order than you can hush the winds or stop the ebb and flow of the ocean. The fires will be kept burning and guarded with that diligence that the virgins guarded the eternal fires in the temple of Vesta. It is not a charitable order that gives relief when needed or asked. It gives by virtue of its organic laws of universal brotherhood and of the fundamental principles of its existence. Neither is it a secret society, no further than the certain signs used to designate its brotherhood as to bar its doors against the unwary intruder. Its growth is rapid and intellectual, and it now numbers over 500,000 in the United States.

VIRGIL.

   Mr. Frank Freer is improving slowly under the care of Dr. Givens.

   Mrs. B. Robbins, of Cortland, was visiting her sister, Mrs. Aaron Hutchings, last Thursday.

   Mrs. Rodolph Price is stopping in Harford for a few days with her daughter, Mrs. Charles Jennings.

   Mr. Frank Freer has sold his hotel to Mr. W. Henry Hall; consideration, twenty-five hundred dollars. Mr. Freer had to retire on account of poor health. Mr.Hall is an honest and upright man, and he will try to conduct the hotel in such a manner that it will be a credit to himself and the town.

   Our community was shocked when we heard the sad news Monday of the death of Mrs. Will McKinney, of Cortland. She had been in poor health for some time, and she thought the change in the climate would benefit her health, so a few weeks ago she went to Atlanta. Georgia, and was taken worse and died Sunday. She was born and lived in our town until she was married, and since then she has made Cortland her home. None knew her but to love her.

   TOPSY

MARATHON.

   Quite a little maple sugar was made in January.

   Bentley & Mack have a new sign on the side of their store. It was designed by Purdy.

   LeRoy

   A car-load of basswood slabs is being shipped at this station for the Hitchcock Manufacturing Co.

   The Empire Quartette of Cortland, gave their entertainment at the Marathon Opera Howe on Thursday evening last. The attendance was not large but the programme was quite well rendered.

   We learn that T. L. Corwin has traded his residence and two acres of land for a farm in Cortland. Possession is to be given immediately. Mr. Corwin has rented the dwelling formerly owned by him, for one year.

 *    *

    * [pen name symbol of correspondent]

FREETOWN.

   Just a little snow and we hear the [sleigh] bells for the first time this winter.

   Miss Carrie Tuttle is spending a few days with her aunt in Homer, Mrs. C. Carly.

   Moving is the order of the day. There are so many changes they are too numerous to mention.

   Mrs. Doctor Stone and daughter, of Homer, are staying with the doctor's father, Mr. Harry Stone.

   The dime social will be held at Mrs. E. Dart's, on Thursday evening. All lovers of pleasure had best attend.

   Town meeting occurs next week and we hope all officers elected will be honest and true men and will do their duty when called on.

   Many, very many, are on the sick list. Mrs. Slocumb, Jane Brooks, Mrs. Tripp, Mrs. Tuttle and Mrs. M. A. Hammond and many others. Mrs. Lennon is no better.

   KATE.

SCOTT.

   Sunday last was the first day of sleighing since last winter.

   Married in Spafford, by Squire Roundy, February 5, James Fenton to Amelia Larrison, all of Scott.

   John B. Cottrell has sued Supervisor Frisbie to recover a tax levied by him to pay for a road scraper. Mr. Cottrell refused to pay his tax and a levy was made and the tax was collected.

   Town meeting is close at hand and republican candidates are lively and full of faith and works. As near as we can find out they don't say anything about "protection," but it seems to be "free trade" and dicker among the anxious ones. The first slaughter of "The Innocents" will take place at the caucus on Friday of this week, and there may be "more to follow."

   There is a little commotion over in Sempronius. It seems that a couple were married there recently and certain ones thought they would celebrate the event with a "horning," and they went beyond the bounds of reason and did a little damage to the property of the bride's father; at which he swore out a warrant several days since and the boys have been on the hide since. It is stated that the constable seems not to care to make the arrests while the Justice wants to see the law vindicated. And now it is stated that "the boys" have been looking up the record of said Justice and find some irregularities that, if brought to test would prove very unpleasant.

BLODGETT'S MILLS.

   Mrs. Wm. Biggar is slowly improving.

   The farm of the late John Catlin is advertised to be sold February 21st.

   The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Hall wish them success in their new undertaking as proprietors of the Virgil Hotel.

   Last Wednesday evening at the residence of Mr. John Brown, Mr. Elmer Burt was married to Miss Mary Owen of Marathon. Rev. Mr. Usher of McGrawville officiated. The bride looked charming in a lovely peacock blue silk. A sumptuous wedding supper was furnished by the groom's sister Mrs. Brown. Only the near friends of the family were present.

EAST HOMER.

   Died, at her residence in East Homer, Feb. 8th, Mrs. Minerva Griffith, aged 84 years.

   Mr. Abram Griffith is not as well at present, he having had a relapse the second time. His case is considered serious.

   Mr. W. T. Dwelly has exchanged his stock of goods with Mr. G. M. Hopkins of Cortland, for his wholesale notion wagon, goods and fixtures.

   Rev. J. H. Zartman of McGrawville, assisted Rev. E. B. Stull in the funeral services of Mrs. Minerva Griffith, which were held Monday of this week.

   UNCLE SI.

WILLETT.

   Rev. Mr. Gleason is in town visiting friends.

   Mrs. Wesley Maine, who has been quite sick, is improving.

   Our fishermen are taking some very fine pickerel out of the Ellis pond.

   We understand that our farmers are making unusual preparations for sugar making.

   Mr. J. M. Delevan has begun extensive repairs on his house on the west side of the river.

   The light fall of snow which came on Saturday is being thoroughly utilized by the farmers and lumbermen.

   Mr. John Tennant and wife, accompanied by Mrs. E. W. McBirney, attended the Chenango County Sabbath school convention which was held at Greene last week.

   CLEO.

FROM EVERYWHERE.

   The State Fair will be held September 11 to 18 inclusive, on the new State Fair grounds at Syracuse.

   Stuart Perry, inventor of the Yale lock and the key register bank lock, died at his home in Newport, Herkimer county, on Sunday, aged 76.

   Dr. N. J. Hall, one of the attending physicians at the bedside of the Rev. Father P. J. Kearney, of Fulton, has been presented by the priest with a handsome colt, valued at $1,500.

   On Saturday night W. W. Harmon was knocked down in Oswego on his way home by two East side parties and robbed. He is engaged in getting evidence against the suspected parties. Mr. Harmon was badly pounded.

   Employees of the New York Central & Hudson River, West Shore and Harlem railroads will be paid hereafter on a new system. There will be two pay cars instead of one, as at present. While one car is paying off the men between New York and Syracuse, the other will be paying the men between Syracuse and Buffalo.

   Great damage has been done by the Los Angeles river. It has changed its course at almost a right angle just south of Los Angeles, and after crossing the country for six miles empties into the old San Gabriel river. The inundation covers a large area. A large number of orange, walnut, lemon and other orchards are almost ruined. Growing crops in its course are completely destroyed. The total damage in this locality is $750,000.

   John McGoldrick, aged between 50 and 60 years, tanner by trade, reached Rome from Taberg on the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg railroad at 9:30 A M. yesterday, intending to take train on the Central a few minutes later for Fonda, where he was going to work. While waiting in Rome he crossed the track and went to the Little Stanwix hotel to get a drink. In returning he slipped and fell upon the east-bound passenger track of the Central. He carried a bundle of working clothes and a tanner’s knife. The knife was 18 inches long and 1 3/4 inches broad. He fell in such a way as to drive the knife about 6 inches into his side, the blade entering between the second and third ribs and penetrating his lung. He managed to rise, pulled out the knife and staggered across the remaining three of the Central's tracks, falling in front of the depot. He died about half an hour later. A widow and three children survive.

   Madame Nadyda Sihida [Nadezhda Sigida], of noble birth, and a teacher in the High School at Moscow, was found last year with revolutionary pamphlets in her possession, and sentenced to penal servitude. On her arrival at Kara she attracted the attention of the director of the prison, who insulted her. Madame Sihida slapped the face of the director, who then had her stripped and flogged in the presence of all the men in the prison. The woman was so apprehensive of further shame and torture that she committed suicide by poisoning herself. Several of the other females, political prisoners, fearful of receiving similar treatment, followed her example. Among them was the wife of Prof. Kovalevskaia. A few miles from the women's political prison at Kara is that occupied by male political convicts, who, on hearing of the tragedies, revolted en masse. Troops were called out and shooting, flogging and torturing followed indiscriminately.

Recommended:

Dr. Butterfield, The Medical World, Vol. 10, page 137: https://books.google.com/books?id=JR0CAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA137&lpg=PA137&dq=Dr.+Butterfield+the+Clairvoyant,+Syracuse,+N.+Y.&source=bl&ots=yKxIHUcdVj&sig=yZjTRri81asDp1uj3euP8QnFKns&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Wjs9VfjyJMKwggSUpYHoDw&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dr.%20Butterfield%20the%20Clairvoyant%2C%20Syracuse%2C%20N.%20Y.&f=false

Clairvoyant Physicians, Chemung Historical Society: http://chemungcountyhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2014/09/elmiras-clairvoyant-physician-and.html

Clairvoyant Dr. Butterfield: http://jeffpaine.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-clairvoyant-dr-butterfield-and.html

Find a Grave, Dr. Edward Francis Butterfield: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Butterfield&GSiman=1&GSst=36&GSsr=41&GRid=116266493&df=np&