My Genealogy Hound

NATHAN W. FOLWELL, M. D., was for seventy-two years a respected citizen of Seneca County, and was widely and favorably known. As a physician he ranked with the best in the community where he so long resided. As a citizen he was esteemed for his enterprise, and as a Christian he was loved and honored because of his great faith, his loyalty and steadfast determination to walk in the footsteps of the Master, doing His work faithfully and well, and trusting in His promises as a child trusts in the promises of a father. He was born in Bucks County, Pa., in 1805, and was a son of William W. Folwell, also a native of the same county, and a grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth Folwell, who were natives of Pennsylvania. On his father’s side he was of English descent, and Scotch-Irish descent on his mother’s side. Thomas Folwell served with fidelity in the War of 1812. Our subject was only two years old when his parents moved to Seneca County and located in the town of Romulus, where the father purchased a large tract of land and engaged in farming during the remainder of his life. Nathan attended the district schools, where he laid a foundation for an excellent education, and then went to Lodi and attended a school taught by Robert Herriott at Townsendville. September 6, 1826, he entered Geneva (now Hobart) College, and was graduated from that institution August 6, 1828. In September of the same year he returned to Townsendville and began the study of medicine with Dr. C. C. Coan, and in September, 1829, he entered the Fairfield Medical College and was graduated therefrom in January, 1832.

His most intimate friend while at college was Asa Gray, the famous botanist. Soon after leaving the latter college he formed a partnership with Dr. Coan, of Ovid, the connection lasting a few years. Later he went to Lodi, where he remained in practice until 1849, but on account of ill-health, in all probability caused by exposure, he gave up the practice of his profession, moved onto the old homestead, where he remained a short time, and then purchased about two hundred acres of land, which he improved and on which he resided until his death, February 4, 1879.

Dr. Folwell was united in marriage with Caroline Reeder, a native of Trenton, N. J., who was born September 14, 1811. To them were born ten children. William W. is living at Arcadia, Wayne County, where he is engaged in farming. Asa G. resides in Farmer, his farm adjoining the village. James D., a private in the Thirty-third New York Infantry, was taken prisoner and confined in Libby Prison; in 1862 he died in a hospital in Philadelphia, his death resulting from ill-usage received while a prisoner of war. Ida T. is at home. Nathan W. and Emma R. are deceased. George F. is living on the home farm. Jennie E. is at home. Judson is the next in order; and Alice E. is deceased.

Dr. Folwell was a member of the Baptist Church, and was a true Christian, one having at heart the love of the cause, and who was willing to make any sacrifice that would advance the Master’s kingdom. In politics he was an ardent Republican, with which party he had acted since its organization. A skillful physician and, an honest, God-fearing man, his death was mourned by many friends throughout Seneca and adjoining counties. His good wife survives him and is yet living on the old homestead, in fairly good health, although in her eighty-fifth year. Like her husband, she is an earnest Christian, and for years has been a member of the Baptist Church.