Bill, Curtis Harvey

MILITARY SERVICE Age: 0, credited to Albany, VT Unit(s): USA, 5th TN CAV Service: settled Clarksville, TN, driven from Clarksville, TN, by Confederate Vigilance Committee, when he refused to become Confederate SURG; removed to Louisville, KY, Acting ASURG, 10/1/61, 15th US Infantry SURG-in-chief, Howard Hosp. No. 4, Nashville TN, 11/62-8/63, SURG 5th TN CAV 11/8/64-8/14/65 See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALS Birth: 07/02/1835, Albany, VT Death: 07/24/1905 Burial: Village Cemetery, Albany, VT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone researcher/photographer: Denis & Karen Jaquish Findagrave Memorial #: 0 (There may be a Findagrave Memorial, but we have not recorded it) Cenotaph: South Cemetery, Hollis, NH Marker/Plot: Gravestone researcher/photographer: Heidi McColgan Findagrave Memorial #: 69867453 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Unknown Portrait?: Unknown College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (State digraphs will show that this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldier's home) Remarks: None DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today)

BURIAL: Copyright notice Village Cemetery, Albany, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. CENOTAPH: Cenotaph at South Cemetery, Hollis, NH Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there.

Obituary

A SON OF ORLEANS COUNTY

In memory of Dr. C. H. Bill, who went out from Orleans County, and made himself a name. His body was brought to Albany from Bridgeport, Connecticut July 29, and laid to rest in the family lot in the village cemetery.

Curtis Harvy Bill was born in Albany July 2, 1835, the second son of Dyer and Ruth (Coburn) Bill. The following is an extract from the Bridgeport Standard.

He attended the schools of his native town, and after securing a common school education he entered the University Medical College of New York City, graduating in 1859. He began his career as a physician in Clarksville, Tenn, and was succeeding in building up a large practice when the first gun was fired at Fort Sumter. On account of his Northern birth and his refusal of a surgeon's commission in the confederate army he was driven out of the south by a vigilance committee

He then went to Louisville, Ky., and the call to arms stirred his martial spirit. After reporting to General William T. Sherman he was assigned to duty as acting assistant surgeon of the Fifteenth United States Infantry. The army records show the splendid service rendered by Dr. Bill up to the time he was mustered out with the full rank of Surgeon in August, 1865.

Dr, Bill then came East and located in this city, practically beginning his professional life anew. But his service for his country and his thorough knowledge of the practice of surgery and medicine soon won him the confidence and patronage of a large clientele, and for 25 years or more he has been recognized as one of the most trustworthy and successful physicians in the city. At the time the Bridgeport Hospital was instituted he was made a member of the visiting staff and served for ten years, when he resigned, and has since been on the consulting staff. His skill was recognized by many insurance companies, he having been examining physician for half a dozen of them for many years.

Dr. Bill was a gentleman of mild manner, kindly spirit, and his many manly qualities made him universally esteemed. His demise will bring sorrow to many. His services for the poor of the city. without any hope of compensation or reward were extensive but always ostentatious. There are many poor families in this city who have reason to grieve over Dr. Bill's death, for even to his last days he would respond to calls from families who he knew were unable to pay for his services, yet he labored for them just as conscientiously and persistently as for families that paid him large fees. His services were always at the disposal of the humble, and instances are many in which he never rendered a bill. Too much can not be said of Dr. Bill's charitable work for he did in a manner that was devoid of display, and was a subject never mentioned by him.

In September, 1865, Dr, Bill married Mary Jane Worcester, a niece of Joseph E. Worcester, LL. D., author of Worcester dictionary. Dr. Bill was a direct descendant of a long line of famous English ancestry, particularly of Dr. Thomas Bill, physician to Queen Elizabeth of England. Besides a widow he leaves three children, Mary E., Dr. Philip W. and Harold Bill. Among the many organizations with which he is affiliated with are Elias Howe jr. Post No. 3 GA. R., and Brooklawn Country Club, The Contemporary Club, The Bridgeport Medical Society, The Fairfield County Medical Society, Connecticut Medical Society, and The American Medical Association.

Dr. Bill was a staunch Republican politically, but never took any active part in politics

Dr. Bill went to St Luke's Hospital, New York, for an operation for serious intestinal trouble. He lived nearly a week after but never fully recovered consciousness, and died July 24. His son, Philip was with him at the time.

Dr. Bill settled in Bridgeport, Conn. In 1871, and was one of the leading physicians of that city. The funeral was held at his home in Bridgeport July 27, and the body laid in state from 6 to 8 o'clock in the evening when about 2000 people reviewed the remains of their family friend and physician, many children to take the last look of the beloved doctor. He was popular with all classes of people, and will be universally mourned.

Orleans County Monitor, August 21, 1905

Courtesy of Deanna French.