Notes for William Lermartine BREYFOGLE

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Notes for William Lermartine BREYFOGLE

A civil war pension request was filed for under the name William L. Breyfogle for service with the 9th Ohio Cavelry. This request did not reference a spouse or dependent and is assumed to be filed by William himself.

SOURCE: Civil War Pension Index dated May 11, 1910

EDITORS NOTE:

Lewis Breyfogle listed the birth year for William as 1848, subsequent research has corrected this date but we mention it for those comparing our research against that of Lewis W. Breyfogle.

SOURCE: What I know about the Breyfogle Family, Lewis W. Breyfogle, 1963, Page 49

Dr. William Breyfogle, a younger brother, succeeded to Dr. Charles Breyfogle's practice and formed a partnership with Dr. R. W. Pearce, then a recent convert from the allopathic ranks. This firm did an extensive business, probably the largest in the city, for many years. Dr. Breyfogle, during the seventies became president of the American Institute of Homeopathy, and retired in 1885 to look after large business interests, which had gradually absorbed his time and attention.

SOURCE: History Of Homoeopathy And Its Institutions In America, 1905

Several sources of antiquarian books credit William L. Breyfogle for a translation of the book known as "Treatise on the Effects of COFFEE". The offer the statement that the book was "translated by William LaMartine Breyfogle in Dresden, April 30, 1824". Since William was born in 1845 we can only conclude that the translation date was much later than 1824. Perhaps his translation was of the 1824 printing of this book on homeopathic medicine.

SOURCE: Various Internet book listings under the subject of Homeopathic Medicine

BREYFOGLE, WILLIAM L., M.D., Oculist and Aurist, was born April 4, 1845, at Columbus, Ohio, and is the son of Charles Breyfogle, who was a tailor by trade, and, having acquired a fortune, has now retired. He received a good education, and, at the breaking out of the civil war, entered the Ninth Ohio Cavalry; served on Kilpatrick's staff; accompanied Sherman in his campaigns; and participated in forty or fifty engagements of the war, leaving the army in 1864. He immediately commenced the study of medicine, under Dr. George H. Blair, at Columbus, Ohio, and graduated in 1866; located, at New Albany, Indiana, in the same year; soon established a large and valuable practice; and, at that time wrote and published "Breyfogle's Homeopathic Epitome," a work which has already gone through five editions, and been translated into several languages.

His success at New Albany induced him, as his practice reached across the river to some extent, to move to Louisville in 1868, carrying on a large and successful general practice, till 1871, when he gave his attention especially to the treatment of the eye and ear, homeopathically; and, with a view of perfecting his knowledge, visited Europe, devoting a year to the study, at Vienna; during which time he occupied the position of assistant to the distinguished aural surgeon, Dr. Adam Politzer, assuming entire charge of his private practice, during his protracted absence; also for some time had charge of Aural Clinics at Vienna Hospital.

He took occasion to visit Paris and London, where he prosecuted his studies; and, on his return to Louisville, was soon engaged in an active practice, which has since become lucrative and influential. He was the originator of the first Homeopathic Kentucky State Medical Society; was elected its first President; is also President of the Indiana Homeopathic Medical Institute; is a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy; is a life member of the Hahnemannean Institute; is Censor of the St. Louis Homeopathic College, and also of the Cincinnati Pulte Medical College, holding the position of special lecturer in each.

He is said to be the first physician who used musk as an antidote to chloral poison. He has written several pamphlets, and is distinguished, in his school, as a writer and lecturer of great ability. He is devoted to Homeopathy, believing in it superiority; takes great pleasure in expounding its principles, and is one of the most able, worth, and successful of its representatives, his learning, manner, and bearing every-where gaining respect to himself, and giving reputation to his school. He is a man of exceptional personal and social habits, every-where gathering friends, and by his universal courtesy winning the esteem even of those who oppose his theories of medicine. Dr. Breyfogle was married, while residing in New Albany, to Bella, daughter of Hon. John B. Winstandley, of that city.

SOURCE: Transcribed from: Kentucky Biographical Encyclopedia, 19th Century

BREYFOGLE, WILLIAM L., M. D., of Louisville, Ky., was born at Columbus, Ohio, on April 4th, 1845, and is consequently still a young man, though by his indefatigable energy and perseverance he has succeeded in solving the difficult problem of compressing a long life into a short one.

After receiving a fair general education, he commenced the study of medicine, at the age of eighteen, in his native town, under the instruction of George H. Blair, M. D. His progress in his studies was so rapid that he was enabled to graduate at the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania., in 1866, having devoted three years of the most arduous labor to the acquirement of the necessary knowledge.

Having obtained his diploma, Dr. Breyfogle established himself in New Albany, Ind., where he immediately found himself engaged in active practice; but though his time was so fully occupied during his residence in that city, he still, with characteristic energy, found time to compose and publish his great work, entitled, "Breyfogle's Homeopathic Epitome."

Being impressed with the conviction that Louisville, Ky., offered a more extended and useful sphere for his labors, he removed to that city, in 1868. Whilst there, he devoted his attention and solicitude to the cares of a large and increasing practice; hut though thus busily engaged in his professional capacity, his ever-active mind was not satisfied, and he became a large and valued contributor to many of the homeopathic periodicals, beside assuming the editorship of the department of Materia Medica in the Western Observer.

In 1871, a new sphere of usefulness opened to his view, his attention being specially drawn to the homeopathic treatment of diseases of the eye and ear. With a view of perfecting his knowledge of this branch of science, he went to Europe, and devoted a year to its study in Vienna, in which city he enjoyed the inestimable advantage of studying under the celebrated Dr. Adam Politzer, whose assistant he became, and who confided to him the sole care of his office practice during a protracted absence. By the recommendation of Dr. Politzer, the subject of our sketch was appointed to the entire charge of the Aural Clinic in the Vienna University, the duties of which he fulfilled with entire satisfaction during several months. Before returning to this country, he spent considerable time in Paris and London in the prosecution of his investigations.

In 1870, Dr. Breyfogle was married to Miss Rella [sic] C. Winstandley, daughter of the Hon. John B. Winstandley, of New Albany, Ind., and is at the present time Fellow of the Hahnemannian Institute, and Censor of the Prelte Medical College.

Though offered several professorships, he has declined them all, preferring to labor on in his old sphere of usefulness at Louisville, Ky., making the homeopathic treatment of the ear and eye a specialty.

EDITORS NOTE: It is assumed that the name Rella actual refers to the name Bella, which all others references name as the wife of William L. Breyfogle.

SOURCE: William Harvey King, History of Homoeopathy, 1905

The Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad, also the Monon, derives from Potawatomi Indian words that sounded to the first settlers like metamonong or monong and seemingly meant "tote", or "swift running". In 1882, the railroad started printing "The Monon Route" on company maps, later naming itself "Monon - The Hoosier Line" on timetables, letterheads, and rolling stock.

William L. Breyfogle President 03-12-1890 to 03-31-1891

SOURCE: Monon Railroad Historical - Technical Society, Inc, http://www.monon.org/index.html

Lewis Breyfogle notes that William wrote a book when he was 51 years old. He said:

"He seems to have been a brilliant individual, who wrote at least one book, 'Sense and Satire', copyright 1899, Rand, McNally & Company, Publishers, Chicago and New York. The illustrations in the book are by John Breyfogle, his son (born 1874). The book is dedicated to his granddaughter, Dorothy (born 1898)."

Lewis goes on to describe the book and offers a quotation to illustrate the writing style:

"Success
The Product of Ambition

The wheel of fortune turns so fast,
The same conditions rarely last; - -
If sound in body, sound in mind,
No greater wealth can India find."

SOURCE: What I know about the Breyfogle Family, Lewis W. Breyfogle, 1963, Page 49 & 50

William L. Breyfogle was listed as being associated with Winstandley & Co. of New Albany, KY.

SOURCE: Louisville, Kentucky Directories, 1890

Wm L Breyfogle and Milton M Williams, located at 44 Gilfillan Block, Louisville, KY, were listed as president and secretay/treasurer of the The Little Falls Water Power of Minnesota. It is assumed that the water and power company were located in St. Paul, MN since this listing was in a directory for that city for the years 1890 & 1891

SOURCE: St. Paul, Minnesota City Directories, 1889-91

William and Bella are living next door to his brother Charles W. Breyfogle in Louisville, KY and is listed as a doctor, as is his brother. Living on the other side of William and Bella are Woods and Mary Mabury, parents of Olliva (Mabury) Breyfogle, the wife of Charles W. Breyfogle.

SOURCE: 1870 Federal Census Louisville, Jefferson, KY

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