My Genealogy Hound

JOHN BUZZARD, M. D., is a successful physician, and has a large practice in Bangor, where he has been located since 1875. He is proprietor of the Opera House Drug Store, the largest of the kind in this part of the state. He was one of the organizers of the Bangor Bank, which was subsequently merged into the First National Bank, in which concern he was a Director for eight years. He was also President of the Merchants’ Bank after its organization for some two years, and was a Director in the Bangor & Portland Railroad for a period of ten years. With the last-named company he has been for years a surgeon, and is now Surgeon-in-Chief.

The Buzzard family originated in Germany, and the Doctor’s great-grandfather was one of the early settlers of this county, being a locksmith by trade. His grandfather, who bore the Christian name of John, was a native of the county, and lived about a mile east of Bangor. He was a successful farmer, and also was master of the gunsmith’s trade. On his demise his remains were buried in the old Mennonite Cemetery in the borough of Bangor. He was a Whig, and a devoted adherent of the Mennonite faith. Of his six children, one only survives.

George Buzzard, the Doctor’s father, was born in this place, and followed his trade of a black-smith throughout his life. He was a Republican, and a member of the Evangelical Church. For his wife he chose Mary Gruver, daughter of William Gruver, o f this county, and to them were born eleven children. Isaac, who first married a Miss Chamberlain, after her decease wedded Miss Hohenshild; Josiah, whose wife was formerly Miss Chamberlain, resides in Stroudsburg, Pa.; Amos, now living at Bangor, married Miss Ackman; George died in Florida; Caroline is Mrs. Harrison Shannon, of Windsor, Conn.; Mary, deceased, was the wife of Christian Bruch; Sarah is Mrs. Marshall Hutchison; Louisa is Mrs. P. J. Albert, of Bangor; Susie and Emma, deceased, were wives respectively of A. Swayze, of New Jersey, and Rev. Walter Piper, of Iowa; and John, our subject, completes the family. Isaac, the eldest son, was a Captain in Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, during the late war, and fought in the engagements at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, receiving slight wounds during the latter battle. He has been Justice of the Peace, and is now engaged in the insurance business. Josiah was also a wearer of the blue during the war, and marched with Sherman to the sea.

Dr. John Buzzard was born in Upper Mt. Bethel, this county, September 21, 1851. At the age of sixteen years he began teaching school, and taught in the public school of Bangor. He followed the teacher’s profession in Northampton County for a time, and later took a normal and scientific course at Kutztown. He began reading medicine with Dr. A. A. Seem, of Bangor, and in 1873 entered the Long Island Medical College, from which he graduated two years later. Soon afterward he began practice in this place, which has been the field of his labors ever since. In 1892 he took the regular course in the Medical School of New York City, and subsequently, in the same institution, took the following special courses: operative surgery, microscopy, gynecology and general laboratory work. For years he has made a specialty of surgical cases and diseases of women, meeting with gratifying success. He is a Republican, and has been for two terms a member of the Town Council, and for a period of three years served as School Director. With the Northampton County and Pennsylvania State Medical Societies and with the Easton Medical Club he is identified, and at one time served as President of the first-named organization. He is Past Master of Bangor Lodge No. 565, F. & A. M., is also identified with Bangor Chapter, R. A. M., Hugh De Payen Commandery, K. T., of Easton; the Consistory at Scranton, Pa., and Lulu Temple of the Mystic Shrine, of Philadelphia. He is also a member of Prosperity Lodge, I. O. O. F., of this place. In religious belief he is identified with the Evangelical Church of Bangor, of which he was Trustee for five years.

In July, 1875, the Doctor married Mary E., daughter of John G. Miller, of this county, and they have four children, three sons and a daughter, namely: George Melvin, Charles Austin, Cora May and Rossiter Raymond. The eldest son is a student in Schuylkill Seminary, while the others are pursuing their studies in the public schools of Bangor.