Читать книгу History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 2 - Группа авторов - Страница 9

In every community the family physician is influential above most of his fellow citizens, for the reason that his association with its members in times of sorrow, suspense and affliction draws him very near to them if he be a good man of kindly sympathies. The subject of this sketch is one of the older members of the medical profession in White Plains, and he has been called an ideal family physician. He settled here in 1876, when quite a young man, and for nearly a quarter of a century has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine in this community, being one of the early representatives of the homeopathic school in this place.

Dr. Kingsley was born in the town of Sodus, Wayne county. New York, July 6, 1849, descending from an old New England family, and his ancestry, may be traced in a direct line to colonial times. John Kingsley, the founder of the family in America, was a native of England. He emigrated to the New World in 1631 and settled in Massachusetts. The family continued to reside in Massachusetts and Connecticut until the beginning of this century, when the grandfather of the present generation located in northern New York, where he was one of the earliest and one of the most influential residents. Here three generations of this branch of the family lived. When the Doctor, who represents the eighth generation, appeared upon the scene everything had undergone a change. The wilderness had disappeared and prosperous towns and cities had grown up and farms had been improved and beautified. There, in his native place, he passed his boyhood in the manner usual to such communities, except that, displaying a fondness for study, he was given better educational advantages than most of his playmates. After spending some years at the Marion Collegiate Institute, a leading school of that time, he was sent to Phillips Academy, at Andover, Massachusetts, to finish his preparation for college. The years he passed at Andover were exceedingly pleasant and profitable. The studious habits acquired there have remained with him through his professional career, and have added much ta the success of his life. Ill health, however, for several years prevented the completion of his literary course; but, recovering somewhat, he decided upon the study of medicine and entered the office of Dr. Myron H. Adams, at Palmyra, New York. After the prescribed course of reading under Dr. Adams' preceptorship, he studied at the Detroit Medical College, and was graduated in the class of 1873. In the following year he took a post-graduate course in the New York Homeopathic College, where he was graduated in 1874.

Returning to his home, he entered into partnership with his preceptor, Dr. Adams, of Palmyra, New York, where he remained two years, enjoying the advantage of a large experience. In 1876 he moved to White Plains and succeeded to the practice of Dr. W. A. Ely, who had occupied the field for a few years. He met with success from the first, and at the end of six years had so increased the practice of his predecessor that he could no longer manage it alone. In 1882 he associated with him Dr. A. M. Haight, of Woodbridge, New Jersey, who still remains in partnership with him in the management of their extensive practice.

October 15, 1873, Dr. Kingsley married Miss Rachel M. Shipley, of Pultneyville, Wayne county, New York, a daughter of Waters Shipley, who was a prominent citizen of that place. The Doctor is the father of three children: Florence Birdina, who died June 24, 1883; and Charles W. and Arthur D. , both of whom are living. The Doctor and his wife are prominent members of the Presbyterian church of White Plains, in which he has served as elder for the past eighteen years. Both take an active and helpful part in the religious life of the church and community.

Dr. Kingsley is one of the physicians of the Westchester Temporary Home for Destitute Children and a member of the New York State and Westchester County Medical Societies. He has always been- a progressive physician, seeking to avail himself of every discovery of science that might aid in the relief of human suffering. His life has been one of strictest fidelity to his profession. Prompt, energetic and skillful, he has by attention to every detail of business attained both prominence in his profession and financial success.