Union County NJ Archives Biographies.....James Boyd RISK, 1858 - 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 8, 2008, 6:46 pm Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor (1917) RISK, James Boyd, Physician, Public Official. For twenty years Dr. J. Boyd Risk was a resident of Summit, New Jersey, one of the leading practicing physicians of that borough, a prominent man of affairs and a borough official honored by all who knew him. To estimate the value of Dr. Risk's life is impossible, as it is of the life of any doctor devoted to his profession as he was. It is a peculiar relation the physician of long standing maintains to his community, the healing of their diseases being but one of the services required of him. So Dr. Risk was not alone the healer to his people, but to him came the young for advice on the questions they deemed of so much importance. To such he freely gave of friendly as well as professional advice, and those boys and girls who confided in him became his warm friends and enthusiastic supporters. To the old whose sands of life were running low, he was the source of hope and encouragement; to the young man he was the business adviser or the helper in determining a career, business or professional; to the voters he was the man of experience who would aid them in deciding upon the momentous questions of borough administration, while to everybody he was the genial friend in whose fidelity they might with safety confide. Such a life lived conscientiously and devotedly cannot be valued, only the great Hereafter shall reveal its harvest. Dr. Risk was a son of James and Catherine (Stauffer) Risk, his father born in Londonderry, Ireland, but living in Pennsylvania from childhood, his mother of German descent, her family a prominent one in Pennsylvania. Dr. James Boyd Risk was born in Muncy, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1858, died at his home in Summit, Union county, New Jersey, May 30, 1913. His early life was passed in Pennsylvania, where he acquired his preparatory education in the public schools. After the completion of such courses he matriculated at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated in the classical course with the degree of Master of Arts, class of 1877. He then spent two years at the Medical School, University of Pennsylvania, receiving his degree of M. D. with the class of 1879. He supplemented his medical preparation by an extended course of lectures at a famous university in Vienna, Austria, and by foreign hospital experience, then returned to the United States thoroughly equipped to engage in professional work. He first located at Baltimore, Maryland, where he opened a drug store and there continued in the drug business for some time. This was not in accordance with his plans for life work and he, as soon as possible, effected an advantageous sale of his business and located in Morristown, New Jersey, where for several years he was in successful medical practice. He continued in Morristown for several years, and although his practice was a large and still increasing one he transferred his offices to Summit in 1892, chiefly to be in closer touch with his brother, who was a practicing physician of that thriving borough. Here Dr. Risk entered upon the final period of his career and one most important in its results to that community. He soon acquired a loyal clientele and until his death ranked with the foremost physicians of Summit. His practice was general in its character and no man of his day was more devoted or more thoroughly able to meet its demands. He was exceedingly broadminded and liberal in his intercourse with other physicians, and no matter to him what their school he met and welcomed them as professional brethren. In fact that was his entire attitude toward life, consideration for the rights of others and a willingness to concede the utmost freedom of thought in all matters relating to the individual, allowing to others the right he demanded for himself. He was a member of the medical societies of Morris and Essex counties, had a wide acquaintance among medical men and ever held their highest esteem. His personality was charming and so thoroughly did he identify himself with his community, its ambitions, hopes and aims, that he was generally beloved. In fact none knew him but to love him. lie was one of the organizers of Kent Place School for Girls and served on the board of directors; he gave much of his time to the advancement of this project which became a decided success. He was also interested in the opening up of new sections of the borough and helped to build up some of the choice parts of Summit. Dr. Risk was not a recluse nor did he consider that his profession shut him out of participation in the business and civic activities of his community. He was vice-president of the Summit Trust Company and a director of the First National Bank. nor was he a figurehead in either. He served the borough as councilman and for two years was mayor of Summit, accepting that office as a responsibility he dare not decline when convinced his acceptance would result in benefit to the community. He filled the office most creditably to himself and to the satisfaction of the people who would gladly have retained him in the office. He belonged to many of the social organizations of the borough, the Country Club, the Baltrus-rol Golf Club, the Highland Club; was a member of the Masonic order and an attendant of the Presbyterian church. He could devote but little time to the enjoyment of these organizations, his life being so full of absolute duty, but he enjoyed such of their privileges as were possible and was always an honored and welcomed visitor, whenever he could command a brief period, "off duty." He was most charitable and no appeal was ever made to him in vain, particularly calls upon his professional skill. Thus was his life passed, "Spending and being Spent." His death came to the people of Summit as a distinct personal loss and few of the town were absent when the time came to pay the last token of respect to his memory. Dr. Risk's home was at the corner of Springfield and Morris avenues, Summit, and there his widow continues her residence with her two daughters, Mary Henderson and Catherine (Boyd) Risk. Dr. and Mrs. Risk were married April 16, 1902, she formerly Miss Mary Browning Butler. She is the daughter of Noble C. and Annie (Browning) Butler, natives of Indiana and Kentucky, her father a lawyer of Indianapolis, now clerk of the United States Courts of that city. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN VOLUME III MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 1917 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/njfiles/ File size: 7.1 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/union/bios/risk-jb.txt