Cleave’s
Biographical Cyclopædia of
Homœopathic Physicians and Surgeons
By Egbert Cleave
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet
TEPHENS,
PORTER, M. D., of Napa City, Cal., was born at Palmyra, Wayne
county, N. Y., February 5th, 1817, where he remained until the age of
twelve years, and then removed with his mother and stepfather, W. O.
Sherman, M. D., to Albion, Erie county, Pa., where he obtained an
academic education. At the age of nineteen he went to Austinburg, O.,
intending there to complete his education, hut owing to failing health
was obliged to abandon his studies. At the age of twenty he commenced
active life for his own support, and traveled to Liberty, Clay county,
Mo., where he entered the office of Dr. Williams, an English physician
of high reputation, and commenced the study of medicine. At the close of
the year he returned to Erie county, Pa., and resumed his studies under
the instructions of Drs. Teny and Sherman, attending a course of
lectures in the meantime. In 1841, he returned to St. Louis, Mo., where
he attended a second course of lectures and became a graduate of the
Medical Department of Kemper College. After two years of successful
practice in the vicinity of St. Louis, he went to Abingdon, Knox county,
Ills., where he remained four years. In May, 1847, he was induced to go
to Wisconsin, and soon built up an extensive practice.In the autumn of 1848,
he was led to investigate homœopathy, became deeply impressed with it,
and in the fall of 1849, announced his intention to adopt its practice.
Thereupon his business declined ; nevertheless, convinced that homœopathy
was the true science of medicine, he struggled against the disfavor
shown, and continued with close application the study and investigation
of the pathogenesis of drugs, and soon succeeded in malting such
application of his research as brought him into prominent notice, and
gradually favor and increase of business followed.In 1866, he removed to
California, where he soon established a large practice. In 1870, he
visited Chicago and other eastern cities, and received from the
Hahnemann Medical College his adeundem degree.Source
: Cleave’s Biographical Cyclopædia of Homœopathic Physicians and
Surgeons By Egbert Cleave