Cleave’s
Biographical Cyclopædia of
Homœopathic Physicians and Surgeons
By Egbert Cleave
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet
VERHART,
OLIVER TROXEL, A. M., M. D., of Marysville, Pa., was boar at
Manchester, Carroll county, Md., May 18th, 1832, and is the second son
of George and Catharine Everhart. His maternal grandfather, Adam Shower,
served as a captain in the war of 1812, and afterwards as a member of
the State Legislature, as did his father during the late civil war,
serving also as justice of the Peace for many years. He received his
preliminary education at the Manchester Academy, and in October, 1851,
entered the Sophomore class of Franklin and Marshall College, from which
he graduated with the salutatory honor of his class, in July, 1854.
Always intending to follow the medical profession, he began his studies
in medicine whilst at college, and he was enabled, therefore, to attend
lectures at the University of Maryland during the winter of
1854-’55 ; he graduated from that institution in March, 1856.In the following fall
he began practice in Goldsboro, York county, Pa., where he remained for
ten years and a half almost constantly. On the outbreak of the civil war
he entered the United States army as Assistant Surgeon, and was assigned
to Camp Curtin. His arduous professional duties, combined with the
severe and unavoidable exposure, brought on an attack of sub-acute
inflammation of the spinal meninges, which resulted in complete
paralysis. With this he was confined to his bed for four months, and
thereafter walked with a crutch and cane for thirteen months. Having
recovered sufficiently, he resumed practice in Goldsboro. In 1867, owing
to ill health arising from malaria, and the effects of disease
contracted in the army, he was compelled to seek a more healthy
location, and removed to Shrewsbury, York county, Pa. There he recovered
from the malarial trouble, but the paralysis was not so easily disposed
of, and to the present day he suffers to some extent therefrom.It was while suffering
in his own body and ruminating upon the uncertainty of medicine that Dr.
Everhart was induced to try homœopathic remedies. His conversion was
brought about by reading an able address or introductory lecture of
Professor William S. Helmuth to the class of 1852. Perusing it the
scales fell from his eyes, and he was able to look with an unprejudiced
mind into the principles of the new school. He immediately procured
homœopathic medicines, and tried them upon his own system. The rapid
change for the better in his condition convinced him that there was
virtue in the method. On his recovery, in 1869, he removed to
Marysville, Perry county, Pa., began at once to prescribe
homœopathically, and has proved very successful.Dr. Everhart has always
taken a warm interest in educational matters, and for years past has
devoted his spare time and attention to the establishment and
maintenance of the best system of instruction for the children of his
borough. He is now President of the board of School Directors. He has
never aspired to any other public office.For three years Dr.
Everhart has been surgeon of the Northern Central Railway Company.He was married in
April, 1859, to Sarah Kister, who died from typhoid fever in September,
1860. In October, 1864, he was married to Anna C. Shelly.Source
: Cleave’s Biographical Cyclopædia of Homœopathic Physicians and
Surgeons By Egbert Cleave