Colorful Central New York ‘Bonesetters’

The Musings of A Simple Country Man

By Hobie Morris

“Waterman Sweet, bonesetter, hopes to meet the applause of all who may be under the necessity of employing him. . . ” – The Providence (‘Rhode Island) Journal. Feb. 16, 1830

“Dr. Sweet, the natural bone-setter from Columbus, was in the city Thursday to perform an oper­ation on the six-year-old daughter of Charles Knoller of Hallstead. The child has been suffering from a dislocation of the hip for some time and physicians have been unable to give her any help. Dr. Sweet put the injured bones back in place.” – Binghamton Herald. April 16. 1904

” — Dr. Sweet, of Columbus, was called in to see Mrs. A. C. Tuttle one day this week, who had in some manner dislocated her shoulder. She had had but little use of her arm for two or three weeks. The Doctor had little trouble in putting the bones in place, and as a result of the operation Mrs. Tuttle experienced great relief.” -Brookfield Courier. March 24, 1895

“The graceful, alert iron deer on Dr. Sam Sweet’s lawn was a long time Utica landmark. It once stood on the lawn of his Father, Doctor Ira Sweet who had purchased it at a New York Mills auc­tion. Newcomers to Utica looking for Dr. Sweet’s office are often told ‘the House with the iron deer — you can’t miss it’.” —Information from People Worth Knowing — Dr. Samuel W. Sweet.” Utica Observer Dispatch. December 19, 1954

(Brookfield, NY – Feb. 2013) Many older area residents still fondly remember this famous iron deer and a very prominent Utica orthopedic surgeon who practiced here for over half century.

A U. F. A. (1913) and Colgate University (1918) graduate, Samuel “Sam” Sweet completed his medical training at the University of Maryland Medical School in 1922 beginning his practice the same year on Utica’s Carlile Avenue.

In his early years as an MD, Sweet spent a considerable amount of time “on the road” setting bones (fractures, sprains and dislocations) all over the Central New York area. In those years, few fractures were set in hospitals, no x-rays were used, and few operations were done for fractures other than for amputations. “Bonesetters”‘ skills were in the manipulation of bones using their hands/fingers and eyes.

Dr. Sam Sweet was a direct descendent of a remarkable family from southern Rhode Island called, and recalled, as the “Bonesetter Sweets’.” Their progenitor, John Sweet of Welsh extraction, and a good friend of Roger Williams, came to what became Rhode Island from Salem, Mass. in 1636 or 1637. His son, James, was the first of the American “Bonesetter Sweets.”

Generations later Sam’s grandfather and great grandfather (both with the same surname — Waterman) had made their mark in bone setting— including trips to the south before the Civil War. Possibly it was Sam Sweet’s great grandfather who continues to set bones for 16 years after he became totally blind!

Was this seemingly uncanny ability to set bones, and relieve pain and suffering, a “natural,” inherited ability or simply the “passing on” of special knowledge acquired from their elders from one generation to the next?

As the Sweet family tree grew, its branches began appearing in many parts of the country including upstate New York, where their “bonesetters”‘ fame quickly spread.

But this story is not entirely about Dr. Sam Sweet, but about a man very dear to him — his Father. But first we must take an auto ride south of Utica into the historic and beautiful Unadilla Valley.

Take Rt. 8 south crossing Rt. 20 at Bridgewater. Pass through Leonardsvillle, skirt West Edmeston and soon, several miles further along, there is a curious little jog in the otherwise straight highway.

Many years ago the Unadilla Valley Railroad tracks crossed Route 8 at this spot. Trains running up and down this scenic Unadilla Valley from Bridgewater to New Berlin would stop at the nearby little depot. While the rails, ties and trains are long gone, the quaint little station remains, now a popular florist shop.

Old-timers still call this spot “Sweet’s Station.”

A half mile or so further south stands a huge old barn and long vacant house on the east side of the highway; both structures now sadly succumbing to the ravages of time.

Years ago these dwellings were the nucleus of a prosperous farm. The beautiful, elegant house, full of life—the focus point of the very active and well known Ira Smith Sweet family. He was widely known in these parts as “Doc” Sweet and he was married to Martha Brown, who was the daughter of Samuel Brown of Columbus who was Chenango County’s second State Assemblyman. They had four children—Samuel, (“Sam” for short) and three daughters: “Mattie”—later Mrs. Fred Camenga of New Berlin—who became a well known area “bonesetter” in her own right; “Flora”—Dr. Flora Sweet Schafer of Utica and “Tillie” Sweet Fiske, also of Utica, who was a well known area artist and art instructor.

To many of his patients he was only a notch or two below God. To others – mainly in the established medical profession – Doc Sweet was an ongoing 40 year target. Like hounds after a rabbit they tried to run him down and put him out of business once and for all.

Today this once revered man, the Father of Utican Dr. Sam Sweet, is a largely forgotten man and name, except for an occasional reference to the quaint railroad crossing at “Sweet’s Station” named after the distinguished family who lived nearby.

Up in the hills of Brookfield it was an all too familiar plea: “Go fetch Doc Sweet.” Thanks to a feisty cow a farmer’s shoulder was painfully dislocated. He knew Doc would be there as soon as he could.

The scenario was always the same: “Go fetch Doc Sweet.” Over 40,000 people were treated by him throughout the United States.

Initially the calls came because of his father’s bone setting reputation. Very quickly Ira’s own reputation spread rapidly and his career began.

Local newspapers were continually reporting on Doc Sweet’s activities.

In February, 1899 for instance, it was reported that he had gone by train to St. Joseph, Michigan, in response to an urgent call for his “bone setting” services. As the newspaper noted “.. .the doctor’s fame is in fact worldwide.”

Again in April, 1901, the Brookfield Courier noted that Sweet had been called to West Eaton to set a dislocated hip for a lady who was hurt in a fall four years earlier and had gotten around since only with the use of crutches. “In 15 minutes,” the Courier wrote. “Doctor Sweet had her on her feet.”

As Doc Sweet’s reputation spread he opened branch offices in Oneonta, Cooperstown, Binghamton, Utica and other locales. People in larger cities like Boston and New York also soon began calling for his services.

What were his fees? When asked his usual reply was “give what you like” or nothing at all if his patient was poor.

Sweet’s genuine humanitarian interest towards his patients reminded me of the similar feelings of the late eminent Utica thoracic surgeon and medical inventor, the much beloved and admired Dr. Pat Ciaglia. When a worthy patient couldn’t pay, Dr. Pat was known to say “I’ll take care of it,” and he did.

When Pat finished U. F. A. and Hamilton College in the early 1930’s Doc Sweet’s 83 year life drew to an end in late June 1932, at his Utica home at 1505 Genesee St. Sweet had purchased this beautiful home from Hugh Glenn in 1906 for $100,000. His next door neighbor at 1507 Genesee was Vice President of the United States James S. Sherman.

Ira’s Utica practice spanned over two decades and for 10 years coincided with his young M. D.’s son’s blossoming practice. According to a 1954 Q-D article on Sam Sweet, Ira Sweet’s house on Genesee St”… [was] a busy household.. .teeming with energetic young Sweet’s and Ira’s patients, who not only customarily filled the bonesetters” waiting room but spilled over into adjacent rooms. They came from far and near….When Doctor Ira was out of town… .he could count on an office full, patiently awaiting his return.” Ira continued his practice for some time after he had become blind with “…no let down of the healing in his fingers.”

Years later both the Sweet and Sherman houses were razed to make way for an A & P Grocery store.

I have a feeling if Ira Sweet and Pat Ciaglia had been contemporaries they would have been friends. Both were unconventional in many ways—free thinkers, courageous in their beliefs—with a touch of maverick in both. Both had a special affection for the people in their lives.

But there was a major difference. When Dr. Pat died his passing was universally grieved. Doc Sweet’s death, while grieved by a great many, was met by others with a collective sigh of relief.

You see, Doc Sweet was not a licensed M. D., a fact he never tried to hide. While his education and training was extensive he never received a degree or a license to practice as his son Sam and other later Sweets would receive.

For this reason throughout his career he was continually in legal trouble. For 40 years many unsuccessful attempts were made to keep him from setting bones. Early in the 20th Century he was arrested in Oneonta on the insistence of physicians on a charge of practicing medicine without a license. His case went before a Grand Jury and the 23 man jury spent one minute listening to the evidence against Doc Sweet. Then they dismissed the case and called him to the Grand Jury Room for a group photograph with the “bonesetter” in the middle. As the photo was about to be taken, a farm boy with a broken shoulder came into the room and asked for Doc Sweet’s help. He lifted the boy onto a table, stripped him to the waist and set the bone while the Grand Jury men smiled their approval and the photograph was taken.

The Oneida County Medical Association hired detectives to trail Doc Sweet. Applications for arrest warrants were repeatedly denied. Three State Supreme Court actions were brought against him. He won each suit.

“Doc” Ira Sweet. Remember this fascinating “bone setting” legend as you pass where his house once stood on Genesee Street or as you come to a little jog in Route 8 on your way south.

Possibly somewhere in the United States there may still be a Sweet—or a descendent—”setting bones.” Not in the old ways of course but still with an unusual feel and sensitivity in their hands. With a Sweet you were always in good hands! Who knows, there might even be an iron deer on his front lawn!

Resources used Binghamton Herald, Brookfield Courier, Central New York—-An Inland Empire (book), Sweet Family Geological Information (Oneida County Historical Society), Providence Journal, Utica Daily Press, Utica Observer Dispatch, Waterville Times and Yankee Magazine.

Hobie Morris is a Brookfield resident and simple country man.