MOSES MEARS BAGG, M. D.
Moses Mears Bagg, M.D., is a grandson of Moses Bagg, sr., who in the autumn of 1793 came with his wife and two sons to what was known as Middle Settlement and on March 12, 1794, moved thence to
Old Fort Schuyler. He settled and finally bought of Mr. Bleecker four acres of land where Bagg's Hotel now stands, and then practiced his trade of blacksmith and also opened his log house for the
accommodation of travelers. Soon afterward he erected a two-story frame building on the same site. He was succeeded by his son, Moses Bagg, jr., who in 1812-15 built on the site of this wooden
structure the central portion of the brick hotel which still bears the family name, and who continued as proprietor until 1836. Moses Bagg, jr., came here with his parents from Westfield, Mass. He
married Sophia, daughter of Matthew Derbyshire, of Hartwick, Otsego county, N. Y., and a recent immigrant from Yorkshire, En gland, and in this now famous hotel their son, Dr. Bagg, was born July 13,
1816.
Dr. Bagg received his earlier education in part at the Utica Academy, but chiefly in the Utica High School; now extinct, which was kept by Charles Bartlett in the eastern portion of the city. He entered the sophomore year of the class of 1836 at Hamilton College, finished this and the junior year, and as there was temporarily no president to instruct the senior students, he went to Yale College to complete his course and was graduated from that institution in 1837. After a year spent in teaching in Baltimore, Md., in an institution known as Mt. Hope, he began the study of medicine with the late Dr. Charles B. Coventry, of Utica, and attended two courses of lectures at Geneva Medical College, where Dr. Coventry was one of the professors, and where he received his degree after spending a winter studying medicine in Philadelphia. For one year he was a partner with his preceptor and then went to Paris, France, where he was engaged in attendance on lectures and hospitals and in travel for about fifteen months. Returning, to Utica in the summer of 1845 he opened an office, and waited for practice. For two years he was city physician, having the care of the sick poor of the whole city during half thin time and of one-half of them during the remaining period. He was also at One time the health officer, and at a later period he was for five years physician in charge of the city hospital. His practice increased steadily and became in time absorbing. Other duties somewhat alien to it and occupying a limited portion of his time were the teaching of rhetoric and composition in the Utica Female Academy for four or live years and of French in the Free Academy for two years, as a substitute for the regular teacher, who was incapacitated by illness. Of both these institutions Dr. Bagg was a trustee; of the former board for many years the secretary and now, as senior member, its president.
Dr. Bagg eventually built up a large practice and became one of the foremost physicians of the city. He has always been regarded as an able and talented practitioner, a wise counsellor, and a kind and sympathetic friend. Few men have ever won a warmer place in the hearts and affections of the people than has he. His genial nature, his honesty and uprightness, his benevolent spirit, his unfailing sympathy for the afflicted, his words of wisdom and encouragement, his cheerful disposition, have always made him a welcome visitor at the bedside or in the family circle. Charitable, kind hearted, and friendly he acquired a high reputation and generously met every demand upon his time and means. In the Oneida County Medical Society, of which he is one of the oldest living members, he has occupied Several position", from secretary to president. As a member of the New York State Medical Society he has been censor of the middle district. In 1864 he was employed for a few weeks by the New York State agency in caring for the sick and wounded soldiers at Washington, and for two years--1883-85--he was one of the board of pension examiners.
Dr, Bagg has for many years been deeply interested in the history of his native city and has been the means of collecting and preserving more historical matter than any other man. In 1877 he published the "Pioneers of Utica," a Volume of in estimable value to the local historian and biographer. In 1892 he edited for the publishers a large volume entitled "Memorial History of Utica," bringing the story of the city's growth and development down to a recent period. He is the author of several published addresses, mostly historical in character. These were two addresses before the County Medical Society and one before the managers of the Utica Orphan Asylum, of which he has been a medical attendant since its organization. He has also read a paper before the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association, a semi-centennial address before the Oneida County Bible Society, and an annual address and two or three other papers before the Oneida Historical Society. Of this latter organization he has been an interested participant since it was founded and is at present its librarian, Probably no man has taken a deeper or more active interest in its growth and welfare. He is also a member of the Reformed church of Utica and for some fifty years has been one of its consistory. In all these connections, in the elevation of society, and in the advancement of the city. Dr. Bagg's enthusiasm and loyalty have known no bounds. He is public spirited, energetic, and progressive, and takes a just pride in aiding every cause for the betterment of humanity.
On November 22, 1847, Dr. Bagg was married to Miss Maria R., daughter of Samuel Farwell, of Utica, and they have two sons, both residents of Watertown, N. Y., and four daughters, who with his wife constitute his family in Utica.
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