My Genealogy Hound

DR. ELLWOOD MAULSBY CORSON, son of George and Martha (Maulsby) Corson of Plymouth Meeting, was born June 15, 1842. The earlier history of the family is given elsewhere in this volume under the head, “The Corson Family.”

George Corson (father) was the fourth son of Joseph and Hannah (Dickinson) Corson. He was born January 4, 1803, at Hickorytown. Like his brothers, Alan W. and Joseph D. Corson, he inherited the characteristics of his father and became a cultured scholar. He had remarkable mathematical talent at school, leading all the pupils in mathematical studies. On reaching manhood he engaged in storekeeping with Jonathan Maulsby at Plymouth Meeting. January 24, 1832, he married Martha Maulsby, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Thomas) Maulsby. Samuel Maulsby was an extensive farmer and lime-burner. After the death of his father-in-law, George Corson bought the homestead and lime- stone quarries and continued the business until his death on November 18, 1860, in his fifty-eighth year. He and his wife, though not members, were frequently in attendance at Friends’ meeting, and their children were brought up in accordance with the principles of the Society. George Corson was influential for good in his community. He bore faithful testimony against the use of intoxicating liquor, often given by employers at that time to men who burned lime. He was also an earnest opponent of the system of slavery, his home being a refuge for runaway slaves, and he pleading their cause whenever it was necessary. Of the children of George and Martha Corson, Susan, the eldest, died of consumption in her fifteenth year; Mary died in infancy; Dr. Marcus H. Corson died in his twenty-third year, also of consumption. Their father was a victim of this disease. Samuel Maulsby Corson studied law and practiced it for a time, but preferred literature, like his brother, Dr. Marcus H. Corson. He became a teacher in Whitemarsh township, being very successful in this occupation and greatly loved by his pupils. He took great interest in historical research and wrote many articles on local history for newspapers. He died August 7, 1881, in his forty- third year. Only three of the children of George Corson are living, Dr. Ellwood M.; Helen, widow of Thomas Hovenden, the famous artist; and Ida, wife of William De Caindry of Washington, D. C.

Dr. Ellwood Maulsby Corson, after an excellent preliminary training, mostly in Friends’ schools, entered on the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Hiram Corson, near Plymouth Meeting, in 1860. The Rebellion breaking out the next year, he and his cousin, Joseph K. Corson, Hiram’s son, entered the Military Hospital at the corner of Broad and Cherry streets, Philadelphia, as assistants to the surgeons in charge. By day Ellwood M. Corson attended lectures at the University, and attended to the sick and wounded in the evening and at night until his graduation in the spring of 1863. Having been commissioned assistant surgeon, he was attached to the Sixty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. After the battle of Antietam, he was taken ill with typhoid fever, and sent to Baltimore. After his recovery he was sent to New York, thence on a monitor to Charleston harbor. The vessel did duty daily, exposed to cannonading until the Confederates evacuated Charleston.

After the war, Dr. Corson continued in the Marine Hospital, Philadelphia, as assistant to his uncle, Surgeon Maulsby, United States Navy. He resigned later and formed a partnership with his uncle, Dr. William Corson for the practice of medicine in Norristown, being associated with him until the uncle’s death in 1886. For many years, Drs. William and Ellwood Corson were located on the lower side of Main street, nearly midway between DeKalb and Mill streets. Dr. Ellwood M. Corson, who occupies a prominent place in his profession, being a skilled surgeon as well as practitioner of medicine, is now located on DeKalb street near Oak, Norristown, his services being much in demand as a consulting physician.

He married, November 20, 1866, Margaret Livingston Wilkeson, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Cady) Wilkeson. Mr. Wilkeson was the war correspondent and associate in the ownership and editorial work of the New York Tribune for many years, and Mrs. Wilkeson a sister of Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the eminent Abolitionist and Woman’s Rights advocate. Dr. and Mrs. Corson have three children: Katherine Cady Corson, Bayard Wilkeson Corson and Livingston Corson.

Dr. Corson is a member of the board of directors of Charity Hospital, Norristown, and takes an active interest in its work. He has an extensive and lucrative practice, his skill in surgery and medicine and his kindly, courteous manners commending him to all with whom he comes in contact. He is a Republican in politics, but independent in his views, preferring to follow principle rather than mere policy in matters relating to party government.