From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 321-322.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


EUGENIUS AUGUSTUS HILDRETH

Eugenius Augustus Hildreth, M. D., born at Wheeling September 13, 
1821, died at that city August 31, 1885, was one of he most 
distinguished practitioners of medicine of the upper Ohio valley.  He 
was the son of Ezekiel Hildreth, a graduate of Harvard college in 
1814, who married a daughter of Jonathan Zane, one of the founders of 
Wheeling.  Dr. Hildreth, after receiving an education at Kenyon 
college, studied medicine with Dr. Townsend of Wheeling, and in 1844 
received the degree of M. D. from the medical college of Ohio, at 
Cincinnati.  After a year's practice as resident physician at the 
state hospital, he returned to Wheeling, and began a practice which 
was continued without interruption for forty years.  He possessed 
broad qualifications for success in life, was eminent in his 
profession, wise and far seeing in his business enterprises, 
scholarly and refined in his social relations.  High in his 
conception of the duties of life, there was lways evidence, however 
distinguished he might become in any department of action, 
professional or civil, that his noble character as a gentleman 
outranked all other distinctions.  Besides performing faithfully all 
the requirements of his profession he made many valuable 
contributions to medical literature, particularly in regard to the 
climatology and epidemic diseases of West Virginia, and the annals of 
his profession in this region.  He was a member and president of the 
Wheeling and Ohio county medical society, an original member and 
president of the state medical society, became a member of the 
American medical association in 1850, and was an honorary member of 
the California medical society.  In 1871 he attended the meeting of 
the American medical association at San Francisco, and became a 
member of the Rocky Mountain medical association.  Dr. Hildreth 
filled notable positions in the service of the city and state, being 
for thirty years a member and for many years president of the city 
board of education; one of the board of directors that organized the 
West Virginia hospital for the insane in 1864; a director of the 
state penitentiary from 1868 to 1872, and from 1873 until near the 
time of his death, secretary of the board of examining surgeons for 
pensions.  In 1851 Dr. Hildreth was married to Susan L. McMechen, of 
one of the oldest and most distinguished families of Wheeling, and to 
them were born three sons and two daughters.  The eldest son is in 
the Commercial bank at Wheeling, the second is secretary of the 
Nickle Plate Glass works of Fostoria, Ohio.  The youngest son, a 
namesake of his father, was born in Wheeling July 10, 1864, received 
his education in the city schools and read medicine with his father 
and Dr. Dickey.  He graduated at Jefferson Medical college, 
Philadelphia, subsequently entered Brooklyn hospital where he was 
house physician one year and then returned to Wheeling where he has 
attained high rank in his profession.  


(Linda Fluharty)