Gedney, William H. - Dr.

DR. WILLIAM H. GEDNEY is a son of Dr. William Gedney, a native of Orange Co., N.Y. His father’s name was Daniel. When a mere child he was left an orphan by the death of his parents, and at sixteen years of age apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a tanner. An attack of lung disease compelled him to abandon the business, and in 1804 he commenced the study of medicine under his brother, Dr. Eleazer Gedney, of Newburgh, N.Y. In 1807 he removed to Milton, Ulster Co., N.Y., and began the practice of his profession. From that time until his death, about the year 1849 (at the age of sixty-four), he enjoyed a large and extensive practice in that section of the county, and the reputation of a skillful and intelligent physician. He took an active interest in public affairs, and was supervisor of Marlborough in 1825. His wife was Eleanor, daughter of Capt. Anning Smith, one of the first settlers of Marlborough, and the children of the union were Almira, David, Charlotte, Catharine, Ruth S., Eleanor M., William H., Adelia, Augustus H., George W., and Eleazer. David and Augustus H. both became physicians, practiced in Marlborough for about four years each, and died in that town. But four of this large family of children are now living, viz.: Eleanor M., who is the widow of James W. Southard, late of Newark, N.J.; William H., the subject of this sketch; Charlotte, widow of Henry J. Perkins, of Highland, Ulster Co.; and George W., a resident of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and who is engaged in the transportation business between Albany and New York City.

Dr. William H. Gedney was the seventh child of Dr. William Gedney, and was born in the town of Marlborough. The earlier years of his life were passed at home and in attendance upon the schools of his native town. Upon reaching mature years he commenced the study of medicine with his father, and completed his professional training at the Albany Medical College. In 1846 he entered upon the practice of his profession in Milton, and has since continued the leading physician of his town and locality, and enjoys a wide and successful practice. He is a member of the Ulster County Medical Society, and has been its vice-president and president.

Aside from his professional life, Dr. Gedney has filled an important place in Marlborough, and enjoyed an influence second to none in the town. He has a leading and controlling mind, is positive in his convictions, frank in the expression of his views, a fluent and effective speaker, and one of the most cultured and intelligent citizens of Marlborough.

In politics Dr. Gedney is a Republican, and he has held various offices of trust and responsibility. He was supervisor of the town of Marlborough in 1852, 1853, 1855, 1857, and 1874, and has served as a delegate to a large number of political conventions. In 1874 he was nominated by an unpartisan caucus of his fellow-citizens, pledged to make a thorough investigation of the alleged frauds against the county, and served actively and with peculiar zeal upon the committee of investigation.

In 1864, Dr. Gedney was united in marriage to Cordelia A., daughter of Jacob Handley, of Milton, Ulster Co., but was deprived of his wife by death a few months after the union.