View source for Charles F. Wicker



'''Born:''' September 15, 1857, in Burlington, Vermont

'''Died:''' February 1, 1930

'''Married:''' Gertrude L. Pope (1859-1893), c. 1880; [[Lillian%20C.%20Wicker|Lillian Coffin]] March 31, 1900

'''Children:''' With Gertrude Pope: Bertha Wicker (Mrs. David) Palmer 1886-1943; Bess Wicker (Mrs. Andrew) Callanan 1891-1948

'''Dr. Charles F. Wicker''' came to Saranac Lake in 1880; he was one of the original [[village%20trustee|village trustee]]s of Saranac Lake in 1892. <sup>1</sup> He also served as coroner for Franklin County.
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'''1881-1928: Then & Now''', a manuscript by Dr. Charles Wicker

As I look back forty seven years – to the time I began practice here – I note some changes – and as my mind wanders back, I am going to try and recall some of my experiences.

My first glimpse of Saranac Lake was between Xmas & New Years 1880, when at the suggestion of Dr. H. A. Tallmadge of Keeseville – a noted surgeon of his time – He told me if he was a young man he would locate at Saranac Lake. I decided to look the field over. – so Mr. F. W. Pope my wife’s uncle got a team and started. The snow was very deep and drifted and we made only [[Franklin%20Falls|Franklin Falls]] the first night. We were up early next morning and got as far as [[Bloomingdale|Bloomingdale]], where we stopped at the Hardware Store of Mr. [[R.%20H.%20McIntyre|R. H. McIntyre]], who Mr. Pope knew. After a long visit in which Mr. McIntyre advised me to locate there as at that time Bloomingdale was a “big town”, but to me it looked “lonesome” and I said to Mr. McIntyre and Pope let’s look Saranac Lake [over], so we came in, went to the “[[Riverside%20Inn|Blood Hotel]],” had dinner and a good one, then went to call on Dr. [[E.%20L.%20Trudeau|E. L. Trudeau]] who boarded at “[[Lute%20Evans|Lute Evans]].”

I found him very pleasant and kind. After telling him my plans, he was kind enough to tell me that it would be an experiment, but that if I decided to come he would do all he could to keep me. – While we [talking?] some one came for him to go & see a patient. He turned to me and said Doctor here is your chance – go & make this call for me. He gave me his medicine case – I went and saw the patient a child of [[Mac%20Smiths|Mac Smiths]].

On my return from the call, he said he had been thinking the matter over and as there was a larger surrounding [country?] Harrietstown, Paul Smiths and North Elba, he rather thought it would be a fair opening for me.

I had decided to come and so told him. We then left, drove to Franklin Falls & stayed again over night, reached Keeseville next day & began to make arrangements.

I had no money, but my father in law Mr. Pope staked me to a horse and cutter. Mr. F. W. Pope lent me some money with which I bought at Ausable Forks what furniture we needed, also groceries, hired a team at the Forks to bring the goods. We landed here on December 31st 1880 and moved into the house of [Louisa?] Morgan where we had 4 rooms. My office upstairs in the hall. After I had arrived here, had paid for all our expenses I had less than $30. left to begin life in.

I began practice then on Jan. 1st 1881 – But it was not a “nerve-wracking” practice. I did not need an assistant. About Jan. 15th as I had to register at the County Clerk’s office at Malone, I started one morning with a lunch in my cutter & oats for my horse, drove as far as [[Merrillsville|Merrillsville]] where Mr. [[James%20W.%20Littlejohn|Littlejohn]] kept a Hotel. I stopped and asked if I could drive my horse in the barn floor, feed him & eat my own lunch. He was very kind, said yes, but that I must come in and eat a warm dinner as his guest. I did so, told him who I was and where I was going. He told me how to go and where to stop, at the [[Franklin%20House|Franklin House]]. The horse and I were both very tired when we reached Malone, had our supper and went to bed.

Next morning I registered, $1. fee, paid my Hotel bill $1.50 bought a lunch and started for home. The trip cost me less than $5.
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''Plattsburgh Sentinel'', September 26, 1902

A burglar entered the house of Dr. C. F. Wicker, one night recently was startled, however, by some one coming in late and fled leaving his plunder.
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''Ticonderoga Sentinel,'' December 24, 1908

Dr. Wicker,<span> <span>who recently<span> <span>accused the [[Saranac%20Lake%20Board%20of%20Health|Saranac Lake Board of Health]] of criminal negligence<span> <span>in their<span> <span>duties, has withdrawn his charges and thus a disagreeable<span> <span>incident has been <span>closed. The village board of education is now preparing for the construction of<span> <span>two new school buildings.



## Footnotes

1. ''[[Adirondack%20Daily%20Enterprise|Adirondack Daily Enterprise]] Weekender'', November 6, 1993, p. 2