This was published in the Albany (NY) Medical Annals after his death.

In Memoriam
Martin Luther Mead, A.M., M.D.

The subject of this sketch was born in Cornwall, Vermont, January 23, 1834, and died in Highlandlake, Colorado, September 5, 1899, of tuberculosis of the brain, after an illness of eight years.

Dr. Mead fitted for college at Flushing, L.I. and graduated from Middlebury College, Vermont, in 1855. He was invited back by the faculty to take the chair of Chemistry and Natural Sciences, but declined, as he had decided to study Medicine. He taught in the Collegiate Institute at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and in Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., 1855-1858, and entered the Albany Medical College in 1858, graduating in 1859. In January 1860 he commenced the practice of his chosen profession, entering into a business partnership with Dr. Freeman in his office at Albany, continuing with him until May, 1863.

In July, 1862, he entered the army as contract surgeon. He was ordered to headquarters of the army of the Potomac, then at Harrison's Landing, and was put in charge of the 4th regiment, Michigan Infantry, just after seven days battle before Richmond, the whole surgical staff being absent on account of sickness. The condition of the men was appalling, but with characteristic courage and self-sacrifice he threw himself into the work of alleviating human suffering. He was twice under fire-when the camp on the James River was shelled at night, and in the second battle of Bull Run. In October, sickness compelled him to leave the service.

In May, 1863, he removed to 141 North Pearl St. Albany, where he commenced practice for himself and continued until May, 1869. He was married to Miss Hannah W. Treadwell, daughter of John G. Treadwell of Albany, New York, May 19, 1863. She was suddenly removed from her husband and family by a fatal accident September 5th, 1864, leaving an infant daughter three months old. This great sorrow cast a shadow over his whole subsequent life. On January 23, 1867, Dr. Mead was married to Miss Myra M. Jenkins, of Conway, Mass., to whom are born four sons. (Note: the Mead's only had three sons, Paul, Fred, and Harry. Of the three, only one lived to have children of his own).

In September, 1871, he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he resided twelve years and practiced medicine. He was connected with one of the medical colleges as lecturer on chemistry two years of this times. For health reasons, he removed to Highlandlake, Colorado, in 1883, where he continued his practice til his health would no longer permit. During the last two years of his life he was helpless and deprived of the power of speech. He met the verdict of the counsel who declared his case hopeless from the outset with the same heroism that characterized his whole life. He exemplified the fact that an active practitioner of medicine may live a faithful Christian life.

There can be no better testimonial of his life than this, which has recently come from one of the families he attended in Cleveland:

"How he exemplified the faith that makes faithful; how he stimulated and educated the spiritual life in us all, adorning the doctrine of our Lord and Savior with all the graces of his brilliant and cultivated mind. I well recall many time too, when in the exercise of his profession he was a veritable angel of mercy in our house."

This page was updated on October 17, 2009