Individual Details

Information taken from the Yale College class of 1835 biographies.
Josiah Abbott.—I was born in Framingham, Mass., May 22d, 1811. My father, Josiah Abbott, was also a native of the same place, and the birth place of my
mother, Ruth Estabrook, was Holden, Mass. They were good parents, faithful in the right training of their children (of whom there were eleven), and giving them such advantages for education as they were able. Of the sons, one died while in a course of preparation for college, and another entered the medical profession. A daughter, educated at Mount Holyoke Seminary, became the wife of Rev. N. Shotwell of Virginia. Another was the first wife of Rev. B. Schneider, missionary to Turkey. A younger sister became his second wife, and, now a widow, continues his missionary labors in Constantinople.
My preparatory studies were pursued at the academy in my native town, under the instruction of teachers Folsom and Keith ; also at Exeter, N. H., Academy, Benj. Abbott, LL.D., Principal, and at Amherst Academy, under the tuition of William Thompson, now a Professor of Theology in Hartford. I entered Yale College in 1832, but from ill health was soon obliged to suspend my studies. In 1833 I resumed my college work and graduated with the class in 1835. During my whole course of study I was a sufferer from the effects of my sedentary life, my constitution requiring an unusual degree of exercise, and my success in study, and my enjoyment of college life was, of course, greatly hindered. Immediately after graduating I spent a year in teaching in Bridgeport, Conn. In 1836 I entered the Yale Divinity School, remaining two years, and having received a license to preach, I occasionally supplied vacant pulpits in the vicinity of New Haven. It had for some time been my desire and purpose to prepare myself for usefulness in the foreign mission field, and with the thought that a knowledge of medicine would enable me to render more valuable service, I entered upon a course of study with Professors Knight and Beers in 1838, and attended two courses of lectures in Yale Medical College, completing my studies at the medical college in Fairfield, N. Y., and receiving the degree of M.D. from the latter institution in January, 1840. I then went to Boston for the opportunity of witnessing medical and surgical practice in the different hospitals for a few months. I had at this time been led by a change of circumstances to relinquish my former purpose of going abroad, and in May, 1840, I first commenced the practice of medicine in the town of Marlborough, Mass.
In January, 1842, I was married to Miss Arminda P. White, at the residence of her father, Dea. Joseph White, of West Boylston, Mass. Vide Prov. xxxi, n, 12, 26, 31. I have been blessed with a good wife, whose influence has been most salutary, and to her I am indebted (under God) for a large share of the happiness and success of my life. We have no children, but have never been without the society of the young. My residence in Marlborough continued for about three years, during which I was favored with a reason able degree of success, and I have retained only pleasant recollections of the time passed there. In September, 1843, I removed to Rindge, N. H., having been invited to
take the place of a physician of extensive practice, his failing health obliging him to relinquish his business. The change proved to be in many respects a desirable one, and although there was the usual proportion of shadow with the sunshine, yet on the whole our life was prosperous and happy, and my practice for several years was quite large and successful. As a relaxation from the cares and anxieties of business I found pleasure in the cultivation of a few acres of land, with a variety of fruit trees and shrubs, and this proved to be not only conducive to physical health and vigor, but was also a source of much enjoyment. I was also interested in the welfare of the common schools of the town, and was for many years a member of the school committee. In the years 1860 and 1861, successively, I was chosen to represent the town in the State Legislature. In 1864 I entered the Army, having been appointed assistant surgeon of the 13th U. S. C. Heavy Artillery,
then stationed at Smithland, Ky. In the Spring of 1865 1 received the commission of surgeon of the 119th U. S. C. I., and joined the regiment at Camp Nelson, Ky. While in the performance of duty 1 was prostrated with
malarial fever for several weeks, in consequence of which I was unfitted for further service, and resigning my commission, received my discharge in the fall of 1865. This sickness produced so serious an effect upon my nervous
system that I was unable to resume my practice, or to engage in any business requiring intense thought or mental application. Since that time my life has to a great extent been spent in the quietness and retirement of my
own home, finding in the care of my small farm both employment and recreation. In 1874 we removed to Winchendon, Mass., a strong motive for the change being the desire to be near our relatives who reside here, as age should advance upon us. Here we have found a comfortable home in a pleasant, thriving village, and not far away are a few choice acres where I have the opportunity still to indulge in my favorite occupation. Here I shall probably pass the remain ing years allotted me, and it is my earnest desire that they may be spent for the glory of God and for the good of my fellow men.

Birth	22 May 1811	Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts
Death	27 Nov 1901	Winchendon, Worcester, Massachusetts

Father	Josiah Abbott (1775 - 1856)
Mother	Ruth Estabrook (1782 - 1863)
Sibling	Franklin Augustus Abbott ( - 1847)
Sibling	Cyrus Abbott (1806 - 1833)
Sibling	Elmira Abbott (1822 - 1825)