Dr. Gottfried Henry Schmutter

1797 - Yes, date unknown

• Name	Gottfried Henry Schmutter
  Prefix	Dr.
  Born	10 Jul 1797	, Germany   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Name	Godfrey H. Schmutter
  Name	Henry F. Schmutter
  Occupation	Doctor
  Occupation	1849	Petersburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	doctor
  Occupation	1851	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	doctor
  Occupation	1852	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Doctor
  Occupation	1852	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	doctor
  	Lived with Henry B. Bauman.
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-487971
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I487971	Generations
  Last Modified	30 Sep 2024

  
  

• Notes

  DELION, FREDERICK was the founder of a family in the New World who was born in what was then Prussia in 1809. He was first mentioned in a wedding announcement in the Deutsche Canadier on February 23, 1844, when he married Magdalena Kuhn, of Waterloo. The issue of February 23, 1844 of the same paper had his professional card: Dr. Fr. Delion , formerly living at Mr. John Eby's, later at Mr. H. Baumann's in Waterloo, has just moved to the house of Mr. Bossenberger, Greenbush, next to Pastor Bindemann. A news item on January 28, 1848 tells us that he treated his sister-in-law, Miss Salome Kuhn for a tapeworm 1/8 to l/4 inches wide - doubtless interesting reading for her neighbors. Dr. Gottfried H. Schmutter, a recently arrived German physician, distributed handbills containing a virulent attack on Delion, as well as on Dr. John Scott. The injured parties and the newspaper published rebuttals which responded in kind. In the face of the enmity he had aroused, Schmutter soon left for other parts. Delion's response was in the February 11th. issue of ." Der Deutsche Canadier: Notice 'With regard to a public slander about me and another person, from one known as Smutter, in a poster issued by him for distribution, I take the liberty only to explain that this malicious attack against my private life has nothing to do with my practice as a physician, and that in regard to my knowledge as physician, I leave that to the public to decide. That Smutter's poster is an imitation and pretense of the truth from beginning to end, that a malicious character and half deranged intellect has gathered, everyone should perceive for himself. He made considerable use of the newspapers, notifying the public with regard to daily visits to Waterloo, cautioning of court actions for delinquint accounts, warning trespassers off his property, and admonishing those who had borrowed his books without returning them. He had what must have been a substantial library, some parts of which are still retained by members of his family. An outspoken announcement appeared in the issue of April 8, 1852 of Der Deutsche Canadiert I hereby announce that henceforth I will permit medicines to be given out only at my home. The reason therefor may be seen daily at any time in the unpleasant and disagreeable state to be met with in Mr. Henry 'Baumann's house in Berlin. On January 28, 1853 His card in the Berlin Telegraph gave his location as Woolwich, near Kressler's Tavern. From this time on he conducted a rural practice near Heidelberg, expanding his interests to include some veterinary practice, as is evidenced by one volume of his library which deals with veterinary homeopathy. Dr. Alexander D. Campbell, Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925 ________________ SCHMUTTER, GOTTFRIED HENRY was a controversial figure who came from Germany, likely in 1847. When he appeared before the Medical Board he "exhibited a diploma of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from Berlin, Prussia." The Board found him"fully qualified to practise these several branches" and granted him his certificate. He attended the University of Vienna in 1814 and the University of Berlin in 1820. His thesis, dated 1820, is listed by the catalogue of the New York Academy of Medicine. The February 11, 1848 issue of the Deutsche Canadier must have created quite a stir as it exhibited the culmination of events which appear to have been set in motion some five months previously by Schmutter's handling of a fractured arm in a child. The remarks by the newspaper explain their stand: It has pleased the Licentiate Schmutter of Berlin to publish a defamatory statement against us, Dr. Scott, and others, by means of posters, to which we say in response the words of the wise Sirach "If one pulverizes a fool seven times in a mortar. it would not lessen his foolishness." We take the liberty to inform the distinguished public, or at least those who have read the aforementioned poster, that we not only supported Mr. Schmutter five months ago right after the occurrence involving Mr. Knechtel's child, but in addition we invited him to defend himself in our Newspaper, which he has himself confirmed. But nobody who has a bit of common sense can allow a newspaper writer to make himself a judge and arrive at a decision in a surgical case in which educated physicians are in disagreement. This time we defended Mr. Schmutter so fully because we believed he had been unjustly treated, and even at this time we gave him permission, because of the broken arm, to justify himself in our newspaper and to present this case according to his own viewpoint. We rejected his publication solely because it was written in a mean and outrageous manner, and this by a man who wants to be considered cultured and educated. Subsequently we would have had to be prepared to be sued for libel by Dr. Scott. And truly, the poisonous snake rewards us by biting us for our good intentions and impartiality in this case. According to his communication Dr. Scott. as well as Dr. Delion, consider him in the same light as we do. Dr. Delion does not mention him at all, and despises him in the manner he deserves. The fellow, like a furious Pisscat, throws his stinking feces around himself to the right and the left, and the more one touches these fellows the more one dirties ones self; this is the thanks we received for having defended him approximately half a year ago. (Translated with the assistance of Dr. W. Stein)• Dr. Scott answered in a notice to the public: A placard was widely circulated here this week, from a man who is still all but a complete foreigner here, and calls himself Dr. G. G. H. Schmutter, and which poster makes a slanderous statement against myself and as well includes another well known person here. In fairness to myself, as well as to my friend, who naturally wishes to obtain my opinion regarding this product, I can only thereto reply that this indicates to me how baselessly mean and contemptible is his disposition as if arising from a half burnt out brain, and therefore the consideration due anyone acquainted with human beings is completely wasted. Dr. Delion replied in a similar vein: Notice With regard to a public slander about me and another person, from one known as Smutter, in a poster issued by him for distribution, I take the liberty only to explain that this malicious attack against my private life has nothing to do with my practice as a physician, and that in regard to my knowledge as a physician, I leave that to the public to decide. That Smutter's poster is an imitation and pretense of the truth from beginning to end, that a malicious character and half deranged intellect has gathered, everyone should perceive for himself. As this could hardly be regarded as an expression of esteem, Schmutter moved away for a time. A message concerning him was in the Canadier on February 11, 1849. Dr. G. H. Schmutter of Niagara District has given me his notes and accounts Tor this district to call in. Everyone here concerned is requested to make settlement by the 10th. of March next, otherwise their accounts without exception will forthwith be given to the Clerk of the Court for collection. Signed Peter B. Eby On his return he did not settle in Berlin at once: Card: Doctor Schmutter, German Physician, permits himself herewith to announce to an honorable public, that he is licensed as Physician, Surgeon and Accoucheur (has license for Canada) as which he commends himself to you highly. Petersburg September 25, 1849 The next notice was from a different location, in the Deutsche Canadier on October 10, 1851: DR. SCHMUTTER. Is a regular (in Germany) educated physician, here in possession of a License from His Excellency the Governor General of this province and authorized to practice Physic, Surgery and Midwifery in Canada, his office is in Mr. Cornwell's Hotel in Preston. In this year he was listed in the census as aged 54 He was back in the pages of the Deutsche Canadier on January 1, 1852, in full cry after his persecutors: To The Public Several months ago it came to my knowledge in the United States, that a most base, false and mean report from Europe has followed and been spread about me as far as America, and even as far as here in Canada, whereby I have been considerably hindered in the success and practice of my medical profession. In order to disprove this false report, which the truth must refute, I am forced to make public the following certificate, and thereby disprove and put a stop to the dishonest action of my enemy (whom I must have here). Certificate We certify that we have examined in detail Dr. Gottfried Schmutter and we believe that he is a regular practitioner provided with a licence, educated as such or trained as such, licenced by his Excellency the Governor-General, and certified by the President and Secretary of the Medical Examination Board in Toronto, and therefore we are sure that the explanation shows that Dr. Schmutter is completely mentally sound and therefore capable of being employed by everyone who requires his help. Signed: James Mchlemurray, Thomas Morrison, Partick Trenor Toronto 21 August 1851. That these three physicians are very esteemed in Toronto, the man and two esquires in Toronto certified, and in testimony thereof impressed the city seal. Anyone who is doubtful of the truth of this certificate may see the original certificate at my office on request, and convince themselves of the truth. Berlin, Waterloo County 16 January 16 1852 - Dr. Schrautter After all this effort, there was not a word of comment in the local press, nor has any further mention of him been found in any professional bodies contacted, here or in the United States, Dr. Alexander D. Campbell, Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925, 1986

  
  

• Sources

  [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 4.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 10 Jul 1797 - , Germany Occupation - doctor - 1851 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Doctor - 1852 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - doctor - 1852 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth