WILBUR H. BOOTH, M. D.
Wilbur Hiram Booth, M. D., is a son of Hiram and Catharine (Wheeler) Booth and was born in Huntington, Fairfield county, Conn., December 11, 1852, his ancestors having settled in Stratford, Conn., early in the seventeenth century. He received his preparatory education at the Connecticut Literary Institute in Suffield and the Providence Conference Seminary at East Greenwich, R. L, and early in life decided upon medicine as a profession. After leaving college he entered the medical department of Yale and was graduated therefrom with the degree of M. D. in June, 1874, being valedictorian of his class. In the following October he became house surgeon in the New York Charity Hospital and served in that capacity with ability and credit until April l, 1876, when he came to Utica, where he has since resided.
Dr. Booth, upon coming to Utica, began the active practice of his profession and rapidly won a foremost position among the leading physicians and surgeons of the city. His genial personality as well as his recognized professional ability soon made for him a wide circle of friends, while his contemporary practitioners accorded him that eminence which talent and skill always inspire. For several years he has made general surgery a specialty, a sphere in which he has acquired high distinction, not only in Utica and Oneida county, but throughout Central New York. In this branch he has built up an extensive practice, one of the largest ever enjoyed by a Utica surgeon. He also became thoroughly identified with the city's institutions and its prosperity, and took a deep interest in all that pertained to the public welfare. For one year he had charge as surgeon of St. Elizabeth's Hospital, with which he has ever since been prominently connected. He was formerly consulting surgeon to Faxton Hospital and the Utica Orphan Asylum and is now senior surgeon to St. Luke's Hospital. For six years he was a member of the Board of Health of the city of Utica and has recently declined to serve another term in that capacity. He is a member of the New York State Medical Society; the New York State Medical Association, the Oneida County Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, and a member and formerly president of the Utica Medical Library Association. He was also United States examining surgeon for pensions for four years.
Dr. Booth was one of the first surgeons to advise the removal of the appendix vermiformis for inflammation of that organ, and he successfully performed this operation in June, 1876. He was also one of the first operators to revive the then out of date, but now very successful operation for stone in the bladder, known as the high or supra pubic operation.
Dr. Booth has contributed various articles covering a wide range of medical and surgical literature to many of the leading medical journals of the country, and is a recognized authority on a number of subjects pertaining to the profession. He is public spirited, progressive and benevolent, a generous supporter of all worthy movements, and as a citizen takes commendable pride in the advancement of the community.
July 10, 1878, Dr. Booth was married to Miss Sarah Leah Lynch, daughter of James S. and Sarah Adams (Johnson) Lynch. of Utica. She died in Florida on the 15th of February, 1882.
Pages 178-179