1838-1882
Adoniram Judson Pickard
Physician Maine ME/ME
Long before there was a Jean-Luc Picard (born July 13, 2305), Captain of the Federation starship USS Enterprise, there was an Adoniram Judson Pickard who was born in Penobscot County, Maine, on Christmas Eve, 1838. He received his A. B. degree from Bowdoin College (1863) but his class had been decimated by departures to fight in the Civil War. A classmate wrote,
College life, not usually very exciting, consisting of ceaseless digging for Latin roots, grabbing for Greek stems, delving for the hidden mysteries of the calculus, rolling in luxury during senior dignity—is, if possible, more alarmingly quiet this term than usual… owing to the absence of many students of the profession in the army as assistant surgeons and hospital stewards. About 60 is the present number in attendance.[1]
During this time of turmoil A. J. served as a high school principal in Rockland, ME, in 1863. He volunteered for the war and was commissioned as 1st Lieut. 2d Cavalry Regiment Maine Vols., 63-64; Adjutant, 64-65. Pickard earned an A. M. in 1866 from Bowdoin and then worked at a research station in Pensacola, FL, where he met and married Elizabeth Matilda Favorite (1848-1886). Pickard was granted an M. D. on February 15, 1872, from Homeopathic Hospital College, Cleveland, Ohio.
Though we know little about his life and work in Maine, we do know the sad story of his death only eleven years after he finished medical school. On December 27, 1882, The Portland Daily Press reported this tragedy under the title, “Physician Killed by Maine Central Train.”
Bangor, Dec. 26.–The Maine Central train from Portland to Bangor early this evening collided with a team on the crossing near Carmel station. The sleigh was broken to splinters and the occupant instantly killed and the lifeless body thrown on the cow catcher. It proved to be Dr. A. J. Pickard, homeopathic physician of Carmel. He was about 60 years old and leaves a widow and five children.[2]
Two months later we read the “Verdict Against the Maine Central Railroad.”
Bangor, Me, Feb 21–An indictment against the Maine Central Railroad Company for carelessly and negligently killing Dr. A. J. Pickard of Carmel, December 26 last at the crossing of the railroad and a public highway, has been tried. Dr. Pickard at the time was traveling along the highway alone in a sleigh. The alleged acts of negligence on the part of the railroad were excessive speed and a fail to whistle and ring the bells. Verdict guilty. Forfeiture imposed by the jury $5000.[3]
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[1] “Local and State News,” Lewiston Daily Evening Journal (Lewiston, ME), July 1, 1863, p. 2.
[2] “Physician Killed by Maine Central Train,” (Portland, ME: The Portland Daily Press) December 27, 1882. Vol. 20, Page 2.
[3] “Verdict Against the Maine Central Railroad,” Boston Evening Journal (Boston, MA) February 21, 1883. Vol. L. Issue, 16417, Page 1.