History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

251

PHYSICIANS OF OAKLAND COUNTY PRIOR TO I837
DR. WILLIAM THOMPSON
The first physician to locate in this county was Dr. William Thompson. He came to Michigan from Lisle, Broome county, New York, in
1815, visiting Detroit and stopping for a time in Mt. Clemens. He then
came to Avon township and finally to Pontiac, in I819, where he spent
the remainder of his active life in the practice of his profession. William Thompson was the son of Thaddeus Thompson, a surgeon in the
American army during the Revolutionary war, and Betty Whitlock, the
widow of a British officer. He was born at Lenox, Berkshire county,
Massachusetts, January 15, I786. His education was obtained in the district school and academy for Latin and Greek of his native town, and
when fourteen years of age he was said to be fitted for college. At about
this period of his life, with his parents he moved to Lisle, Broome
county, New York. He commenced the study of medicine in the office
of John McWhorten in the neighboring village of Cincinnatus, New
York, a graduate of Glasgow University, a man of strong personality
and rare qualities as a practitioner. After two years of study Dr. Thomson was licensed to practice his profession, but not being satisfied with
his preparation he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons of
New York City for two years, from which institution he was graduated,
receiving the degree of M. D. in 181o. His death occurred in 1867.
There were few, if any, specialists in those days, but Dr. Thompson
for many years after locating in Pontiac was the acknowledged expert
obstetrician in this part of the country. His former preceptor had
taught him the use of the obstetric forceps, and his personal reminiscences
and notes on practice record many cases of instrumental delivery by himself to which he had been called in consultation, some of them in Detroit,
others as far away as Romeo and Saginaw.
That Doctor Thompson soon occupied a prominent place in the community is evidenced by his appointment by Governor Cass as the first
chief justice of the newly organized county court, there being two associate justices. The first session of the court was held July 17, 1820, and
the doctor held the judicial office until 1827. Dr. Thompson was also
one of the organizers of the Pontiac Company which was such a factor
in the settlement and organization of the county.
Dr. Thaddeus Thompson, brother of William, located at Troy, this
county, previous to I828, where he practiced his profession for many
years, afterward moving to Detroit.
DRS. OLMSTEAD CHAMBERLAIN AND JOIIN CHAMBERLAIN
Among the first to settle and practice in Pontiac after Dr. Thompson
were Dr. Olmstead Chamberlain and Dr. Sterling W. Allen. The latter
came from Monroe county, New York, and located at Pontiac in 1825.
He was a skillful physician and afterwards resided at Grand Rapids.
Dr. Olmstead Chamberlain came from Lewiston, New York, but did
not follow his profession as a business. He settled in Pontiac in I82I.
He was born in Richmond, Vermont, in I787. He was a prominent citi