OBIT: Americus ENFIELD, Dr., 1931, of interest in Somerset and Bedford Counties, 
PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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AMERICUS ENFIELD

Americus Enfield Dead at Bedford

Aged Physician and Politician Passed Away After Long and Useful Career

  Dr. Americus Enfield, aged 84, who for half a century was a familiar figure in 
Bedford County medical and political circles, passed away last Thursday night at 
9 o'clock, following an illness of several weeks.
  Dr. Enfield was born in 1847, in Elk Lick Township, Somerset County, where his 
ancestors settled shortly after the Revolutionary War.
  The Enfield family came to this country before the Revolutionary War and for 
many years manufactured rifles in the New England States.  The family was 
engaged in the manufacture of firearms in England for many years.
  Enfield, England, was named after the Enfield family, and is the seat of the 
well-known government manufactory of rifles and small arms and the standard 
rifle, used in the British army, also is made there.
  The original Enfield rifle was a muzzleloading rifle and was used in the 
British army prior to the introduction of the breech-loading system.  It also 
was used in the United States during the Civil War by the Northern Army, when 
Springfield rifles could not be obtained. Some Enfield rifles also were used by 
the Confederate Army.
  In England large numbers of the Enfield rifles were converted into 
breechloaders on the Snider principle and were then known as the Snider-Enfield 
rifles.
  Dr. Enfield was the proud possessor of the first Enfield rifle manufactured in 
America.
  He received his early education in the public schools at Salisbury, and later 
the Academy at Somerset.  Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, Dr. Enfield 
entered the artillery service and participated in the battle of Gettysburg, 
where he was wounded.
  Following his recovery he enlisted in the U.S. Cavalry, in which service he 
remained until October 31, 1865.
  Dr. Enfield taught school in West Virginia for two years and later entered 
Mercersburg, (Pa.) College.  He then went to the office of Dr. G. B. Fundenburg, 
an ex-army surgeon, in Cumberland, Md., where he remained for two years studying 
medicine and then entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and later 
Bellevue Medical College and Hospital in New York City.
  After his graduation from that institution, he practiced in Cumberland and 
later at Flintstone, Md.  In 1870 he located at Clearville, Bedford County, Pa., 
as a medical practitioner.
  A few years later he was elected Sheriff of Bedford County and moved to 
Bedford, where he had since resided.
  An ardent Democrat, Dr. Enfield was one of the most active and best known 
Democratic politicians in Pennsylvania for more than half a century.  He was a 
delegate to nearly every Democratic National Convention since the Civil War.  He 
was acting chairman during part of the sessions of the convention in Baltimore 
in 1912, which resulted in the nomination for Woodrow Wilson for President.  He 
was postmaster of Bedford for nine years by appointment by President Wilson.
  On several occasions he was a candidate for Congress in the old Cambria-Blair-
Bedford district.  Last year he was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for 
State Senator in the Somerset-Bedford-Fulton district, being defeated by Hon. 
Charles H. Ealy, of Somerset, a native of Bedford County.
  During most of his life Dr. Enfield wore flowing sidewiskers.  He was a fine-
looking man and picturesque character of kind and generous disposition.
  Having spent his boyhood along the banks of Piney Run in Elk Lick Township, 
Dr. Enfield became an expert trout fisher, and during his old age he loved to 
return each spring to his native heath to fish for trout in Piney Run.
  Dr. Enfield's wife, who was Miss Rebecca Bruckman, of Salisbury, died some 
years ago.  The following children survive:  Dr. Walter F. Enfield, the Misses 
Fannie and Olive, and Milton S. Enfield, all of Bedford; Charles Enfield, of 
McKeesport, and Mrs. Mary Legge, of Los Angeles, Cal.
  Of his five grandchildren, two are physicians, Dr. Thomas Enfield, of 
Philadelphia, and Dr. George S. Enfield, of Bedford.
  Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon at his late home and were 
largely attended.  Rev. J. Albert Eyler, pastor of the Bedford Reformed Church, 
officiated.  Interment was in the Bedford Cemetery.

Meyersdale Republican, April 9, 1931