Person:William Rutherford (18)

"He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Whiteside, of Harrisburg,then a prominent physician, in 1830, and after the removal of Dr.Whiteside continued under the instructions of Dr. Dean. He attended thelectures of Jefferson Medical College, 1830 to 1832, graduating from thatinstitution on the 7th of March, the latter year. He located first atMechanicsburg, where he remained nearly a year, when, entering intopartnership with his preceptor, Dr. Dean, he removed to Harrisburg,where, for forty years, he practiced his profession, winning for himselfan honorable name not only at home but abroad. Dr. Rutherford had whatfew physicians possessed -- a most perfect knowledge of diseases ingeneral, and it mattered little what the case, his diagnosis, when calledin consultation, was final as it was accurate. An extensive practice ofover forty years in every department of medicine and surgery gave himsuch a perfect knowledge of his profession that the loss of his adviceand assistance in difficult cases was severely felt by his survivingbrethren. For eight years prior to his death he had been the regularlyappointed surgeon to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, although heserved it some ten years previously when called upon. From theorganization of the old Harrisburg Gas Company, he was one of itsdirectors, and, at his death, president of the company. In numerous otherenterprises he took an active part, and was always one of Harrisburg'spublic-spirited citizens. His life was an eventful one, and one fraughtwith many incidents of interest. In season and out of season, in life andin death, his good-natured face appeared upon the stage, gladly, eventearfully, welcome." (Egle, William Henry. "Pennsylvania Genealogies:Scotch-Irish and German." Harrisburg Lane, 1886.)

1.   Egle, William Henry, (i)Pennsylvania Genealogies: Scotch-Irish and German(/i) (Harrisburg Lane, 1886).