Dr. Melbourne Fowler Middleton Sr.

DR. MELBOURNE FOWLER MIDDLETON was born in Camden NJ on January 21, 1842. His father, Timothy Middleton, served one term as the Mayor of Camden in 1864. After graduating from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia in 1868, he returned to Camden and set up practice, and was quite successful. A practitioner of homeopathic medicine, he was the founder of the Camden Homeopathic Hospital and Dispensary. In 1875 Dr. Middleton was one of twelve homeopathic physicians in Camden. The other doctors were Purnell W. Andrews, James H. Austin, Thomas R. Blackwood, Samuel Carels, C. J. Cooper, William H. Crow, Henry F. Hunt, Jackson Kemper Bryant, George. S. F. Pfeiffer, Silas H. Quint and H. K. Stewart. He also was a member of the West Jersey Homeopathic Society, and served as President of that group. Dr. Middleton was also involved in many other professional organizations.

In 1886 he built a large home at 423-425 Federal Street, which also served to house his medical offices. Dr. Middleton and his wife had five children, Bessie, Melbourne F. Jr., Arthur L., F. Grant, and Timothy G. Middleton. Melbourne F. Middleton Jr. was a prominent figure in Camden’s civic affairs during World War I and the 1920s.

Dr. Melbourne Fowler Middleton passed away in 1913.

MELBOURNE F. MIDDLETON was born in the city of Camden on the 21st day of January, 1842. His father, Timothy Middleton, his grandfather, Amos A. Middleton, and his great-grandfather, Timothy Middleton, were all born here. In these early days, reaching back to Revolutionary times, Camden was but a very small village. Timothy Middleton, the father of the doctor, was born January 21, 1817, and died April 15, 1867. He was an active, intelligent farmer, but exchanged that occupation in his later years for city life, and, becoming interested in local affairs, was elected and served one term as mayor of the city of Camden. He was married, on the 19th of November, 1840, to Hester A. R. Jenkins, an estimable lady, and the following children were born to them: Melbourne F., Malinda E., Amos A., Elizabeth S. and Timothy J. Dr. Melbourne F. Middleton, the eldest and the subject of this biography, obtained his preparatory education in the public schools of Camden and Philadelphia. After leaving school he returned to his father’s farm, near Camden, where he spent about four years in the healthy occupation of a farmer. During this time and after leaving the farm (his father returning to Camden) he pursued special branches of study to fit himself more fully for active business life. We next find him engaged for a short time as a grocer’s clerk; then as a salesman in a cloth-house in Philadelphia; then as an assistant book-keeper in the office of Dr. D. Jayne & Son, of Philadelphia, where he was soon advanced to the position of general correspondent. The duties were arduous, involving a list of correspondents to the number of ten thousand. After being in the office about two years, and his health failing, the firm kindly gave him their power of attorney, and sent him out traveling in their interests, which position he held nearly two years, after which he returned, with renewed health and an invaluable experience, which had broadened his view of men and things, to enter upon the fulfillment of hopes that had been cherished from early childhood, and towards which every previous movement of his life had been a stepping-stone—the study of medicine. During the time he was in the office of Dr. D. Jayne & Son he matriculated, and each winter attended lectures on single branches of medicine, and, while traveling, continued study so far as his duties and health would permit. In the fall of 1866 he entered the Hahnemann Medical College, of Philadelphia, for the full course of lectures, and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine on March 4, 1868, and immediately commenced the practice of medicine in the city of Camden, where he still continues an earnest and successful physician. He is a member of the West Jersey Homoeopathic Medical Society, “The New Jersey State Homoeopathic Medical Society,” “The American Institute of Homoeopathy,” and the “Camden Microscopical Society.” He is one of the originators of the “Camden Homoeopathic Hospital and Dispensary Association,” and, in 1880, through his influence, the practice of homoeopathy was introduced into the “Camden County Asylum for the Insane.” He was for eight years a member of the “Board of Education of the City of Camden,” is also a member of “Camden Lodge, No. 15, F. A. M.,” and is connected by membership with the Third Street Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his parents were among the early members. Dr. Middleton was married, on the 16th day of March, 1871, to Miss Emily M. King, youngest daughter of Captain Henry King, one of the oldest and a highly respected citizen of Camden. They have four children,—Bessie K., Melbourne F., Arthur L. and Timothy G.

MELBOURNE F. MIDDLETON, M.D., a highly successful homoeopathic physician of Camden, was born in this city, January 21, 1842. His father, Timothy Middleton, his grandfather, Amos A., and his great-grandfather, Timothy, first, were all born in Camden.

Timothy Middleton, second, the father of the doctor, was born January 21, 1817, just twenty-five years before the birth of his son, and died April 15, 1867. He was an active, intelligent farmer, but changed his occupation in later years for city life, and was elected and served one term as Mayor of Camden. He was married on November 19, 1840, to a daughter of Andrew Jenkins, of Camden, who was graduated from New York University, and began the practice of his profession at Asbury, N.J., but eventually removed to Athens County, Ohio, where he remained a year with the National State Bank. He died in 1849 at over seventy years of age, being a victim of the cholera scourge which occurred at that time. His son, Reuben Jenkins, introduced homoeopathy into Burlington, N.J. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Middleton: Elizabeth S., Melbourne F., Malinda E., Amos A., and Timothy J. The mother died at sixty-four years of age. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Melbourne F. Middleton, the eldest son and the subject of this biography, obtained his elementary education in the public schools of Camden and Philadelphia. After leaving school he returned to his father’s farm near Camden, where he spent about four years as a farmer. During this time and after leaving the farm he pursued special branches of study to fit himself more fully for active business life. For a while he was employed in a grocery store, after which he went into the office of Dr. Jaynes of Philadelphia, where he was promoted to the position of corresponding secretary, and, as such, had a list of ten thousand correspondents. His health having broken down at the end of two years, he went on the road, and for two years travelled quite extensively for his employer, having the power of attorney. He retired at the end of that time much improved in health. Each winter while in the office of Dr. Jaynes he attended medical lectures. Entering Hahnemann Medical College in the fall of 1866, he was graduated in 1868, and at once engaged in practice in Camden, where he now has a large and lucrative practice. At about the time he located here as a physician, his father died, and he was obliged to assist in the support of his widowed mother and the younger children; but, while trying to establish a practice, he found a most helpful friend in his former employer. Dr. Middleton is the second oldest homoeopathic physician in this city, and there are but few older in Southern New Jersey. He still has on his visiting list families that began to employ him as their medical adviser more than a quarter of a century ago. In 1886 he built his present house at 423–425 Federal Street, and his practice is now so large that he has to use the entire first floor of 423 for his offices, reception-rooms, and consulting-rooms.

Dr. Middleton’s wife was born in Philadelphia. Her father was a ship-owner and sea captain. Dr. and Mrs. Middleton have five children, namely: Bessie K.; Melbourne F., who is with his father; Arthur L., with Charles B. Barney & Co., of Philadelphia; and F. Grant, who is studying at Hahnemann Medical College, from which he will graduate in 1899; and Timothy G.

In political affiliation Dr. Middleton is a Republican. He has served for some years on the Board of Health, and was on the Board of Education eight years. He is a member of the West Jersey Homoeopathic Society, the New Jersey State Society, the American Institute of Homoeopathy, and the Philadelphia Homoeopathic Medical Society; and he has often been asked to write upon different subjects, but has been obliged to refuse on account of his large practice. He was the founder of the Camden Homoeopathic Hospital and Dispensary. In 1880 he introduced this method of treatment into the Camden County Insane Asylum. He was formerly President of the West Jersey Homoeopathic Society, and is now President of the New Jersey State Homoeopathic Medical Society, and has been a member for many years of the Legislative Committee. Dr. Middleton has always taken considerable interest in church and Sunday-school work, and has been connected with the Church Extension Society for eight years. He and his wife are members of the Third Street Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his parents were early members.