Nathaniel Burger Shaler
The Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 January 1882, page 4
OBITUARY
Dr. Nathaniel Burger Shaler died at his home on Taylor street near York in Newport last evening at six o'clock. Dr. Shaler was born in the year of 1806 on Land street in New York City and was seventy-six years old at the time of his death. He was the son of Captain Shaler, who was lost at sea, leaving his only son, N B Shaler, descendant, whose education was directed by Jonathan Russell and William Shaler, both distinguished American statesmen. He was a graduate of Harvard University, class of the year 1829, and a graduate of the Boston School of Medicine. He accompanied his uncle William Shaler, Consul General of the Barbary Powers of the United States, afterwards Consul General to Cuba under General Jackson's administration, with whom he went to Havana and became a practitioner of medicine under Spanish authority.
He remained there for three years, through two seasons of yellow fever and cholera, and contracted the latter disease twice during the discharge of his professional duties. He then returned to the United States via New Orleans, seeking a place to renew his professional labors. He proceeded to this city in the year of 1832, when cholera was raging in the three cities. His professional services being in demand, he remained and settled in Newport. He entered upon his professional duties and met with pronounced success.
During the year he became very much attached to Miss Anna H Southgate, daughter of the lamented Richard Southgate, one of the pioneer settlers of Newport. He attended her during two violent spells of fever, and succeeded in saving her life, and she ultimately became his wife. After his marriage he soon took a high and commanding position in his profession, being a man of natural fine ability with the highest order of culture. He was a fine geologist and a good chemist, learned in all the languages with general information seldom surpassed by men of his generation.
He was one of the charter members of the Odd
Fellows in Newport and will be buried with the honors of the Lodge. He was a
surgeon in the late war in the employ of the Government and won quite a
reputation. He was exemplary in habits, discharged his duties in life faithfully
as a husband, father and friend. His love for natural science was marked in his
late illness by a request that his tombstone should be a bowlder (sic) of the
glacial period, with the simple instruction:
N B SHALER
Harvard University
Class of 1829
He was the father of four children, all of whom survive him. They are N S Shaler, formerly state geologist of Kentucky and professor of Harvard University; Richard Shaler of Newport; Mrs. Ann S Berry, wife of Hon. A S Berry; and Miss Minnie Shaler of Newport. His surviving widow is the possessor of considerable estate. He was raised an Episcopalian. Several weeks ago he broke his hip bone by a fall in his bedroom, which, with other organic troubles, super induced by old age, produced death.
His son, Nathaniel Shaler and wife and two daughters, are spending the winter in Florence Italy, and a cablegram was sent them last night announcing his demise. They will probably not return for the funeral as Mr. Shaler is in very delicate health. The funeral will take place Friday.
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Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Thursday, 19 January 1882, page 10
DEATH OF DR. SHALER
Dr. Nathaniel B Shaler, for many years a prominent physician, of Newport, died at his residence on Taylor street, in that city, Tuesday evening at 6 o'clock. The deceased was born in New York City in the year 1806. He father was Capt. Shaler, who died at sea when the deceased was quite young, leaving him to be educated by his kinsman, Jonathan Russel and William Shaler. He entered Harvard University and was a graduate of the class of 1829, and also of the College of Medicine of Boston Mass.
He was a member of the United States Consulate to the Barbary powers during President Jackson's administration, under his uncle, William Shaler. Afterward, his uncle having made Consul General to Cuba, he accompanied him to Havana, where he engaged in the practice of medicine under the Spanish authorities there. He remained there for three years though two seasons of yellow fever and cholera, contracting the latter disease twice during his attendance upon the many victims of that dread malady.
He returned to this country and settled in Newport in 1832, during the prevalence of the cholera in this vicinity and took up the practice of his profession. He made the acquaintance of Miss Anna H Southgate, daughter of Richard Southgate, one of the early settles of Newport, having been called to attend her in two serious cases of fever and saving her life. She soon afterward became his wife.
After his marriage he attained much prominence in his profession and engaged actively in it until about eight years ago, when he retired altogether from the practice. He was for many years previous to the war a member of the School Board from the First Ward of Newport. At the commencement of the rebellion, he warmly espoused the cause of the Union. He was appointed surgeon at the United States Barracks and was also medical examiner at Covington, of the army recruits at this point.
His wife and four children, N S Shaler, formerly State Geologist of Kentucky; Richard Shaler, Mrs. Albert S Berry and Miss Minnie Shaler, all survive him. A fracture of the hip bone, received by a fall in his bedroom some weeks ago, together with organic troubles super induced by old age, caused his death.
The funeral will take place next Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock from his late residence on Taylor street. The following gentlemen will act as pallbearers: Thomas Gideon, P H Wilson, L R Hawthorn, Z B Coffin, Dr. Massey of Cincinnati; Gen John W Finnell of Covington and Dr. G Thornton. Prof. N S Shaler, with wife and two daughters are wintering in Florence, Italy, and have been apprised by cablegram of the Doctor's death.