BIO: William Wilson RUTHERFORD, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 363.
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  RUTHERFORD, WILLIAM WILSON, M.D., son of William Rutherford and his 
wife Sarah Swan, was born November 23, 1805, in Paxtang, now Swatara 
township, Dauphin county, Pa.; died March 13, 1873, at Harrisburg, Pa.  
He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Whiteside, of Harrisburg, 
then a prominent physician, in 1830; and after the removal of Dr. 
Whiteside, continued under the instruction of Dr. Dean.  He attended 
the lectures of Jefferson Medical College, 1830-32, graduating from 
that institution on March 7 the latter year.  He located first at 
Mechanicsburg where he remained nearly a year, when, entering into 
partnership with his preceptor, Dr. Dean, he removed to Harrisburg, 
where for forty years he practiced his profession, winning for himself 
an honorable name not only at home but abroad.  Dr. Rutherford had what 
few physicians possessed - a most perfect knowledge of diseases in 
general; and it mattered little what case, his diagnosis, when called 
in consultation, was final as it was accurate.  An extensive practice 
of over forty years in every department of medicine and surgery gave 
him such a perfect knowledge of his profession that the loss of his 
advice and assistance in difficult cases was severely felt by his 
surviving brethren.  For eight years prior to his death he had been the 
regular appointed surgeon to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 
although he served it some ten years previous when called upon.  From 
the organization of the old Harrisburg Gas Company he was one of its 
directors, and, at his death, president of the company.  In numerous 
other enterprises he took an active part, and was always one of 
Harrisburg's public-spirited citizens.  His life was an eventful one, 
and one fraught with many incidents of interest.  In season and out of 
season, in life and in death, his good-natured face appeared upon the 
stage, gladly, even tearfully, welcome.  Dr. Rutherford married Eleanor 
Crain, daughter of Col. Richard M. Crain.