From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 566-567.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


JOSEPH DODDRIDGE

Joseph Doddridge, whose book, "Notes on the Settlement and Indian 
Wars of Virginia and Pennsylvania," perpetuates his memory, was a 
member of both the clerical and medical professions.  He was the 
eldest son of John D., of Maryland, and was born October 14, 1769, in 
Bedford county, Penn.  His father in 1773 moved to Washington county, 
near the Virginia line.  His facilities for obtaining an education 
were very limited, and to his own energy and perseverance he was 
mainly indebted for his intellectual culture.  After several years at 
school in Maryland he worked on a farm until eighteen years of age, 
soon after which, being a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church, 
and engaged in itinerant work.  In 1778 he was received at a 
conference in Uniontown, as a traveling preacher.  After his father's 
death in 1791, he ceased this work, began to study, and soon entered 
Jefferson academy, Canonsburg, Penn.  After completing his studies, 
he became a minister in the P. E. church, and did eminent services in 
establishing new churches throughout western Virginia and eastern 
Ohio.  A few years after his entrance into the ministry he was under 
the necessity of combining with his clerical profession that of 
medicine, in order to obtain a support.  His own wife said that 
before her husband began the practice of medicine he was too poor to 
buy himself a second suit of clothes, and often hid himself while she 
mended his clothes for the Sabbath.  He completed his medical studies 
in Philadelphia under Dr. Rush, about the year 1800, and located in 
Wellsburg.  Here, and in the surrounding territory, he practiced 
medicine for a number of years, in connection with the ministry.  In 
1812 he was made a member of the academy of natural science of 
Philadelphia.  He was also elected an honorary member of the medico-
surgical society of east Ohio instituted in l821.  In the practice of 
medicine Dr. Doddridge was eminently successful and deservedly 
popular.  The fatigue and exposure to which he was subjected in his 
large and laborious practice in the lapse of years undermined his 
constitution, and engendered a disease which terminated fatally in 
November, 1826.  In addition to his "Notes," already referred to, Dr. 
Doddridge published "Logan," a dramatic piece; "A Treatise on the 
Culture of Bees," "The Russian Spy," a series of letters containing 
"Strictures on America," and some sermons and orations. 


(Linda Fluharty)