SABIN, DR. ROSWELL - For the Union. - In Memoriam - The pioneers are rapidly disappearing from our midst, and it is proper that they should have more than a passing notice.  Among those who have been recently gathered to their fathers, is Dr. Roswell Sabin, for more than half a century a resident of Troy, and extensively known as an eminent Physician and a wise and good man.  He was born in Pittsfield, N. Y., Jan. 29th, 1796.  Soon after, his father removed to Highgate, Vermout, and then 1804 to Dunham in Canada East.  Here, with a colony from the States, they remained till the war of 1812, when the greater part of the colony left the Province to avoid the calamities of Border warfare.  On the 20th of Sept. 1812, the father of Dr. Sabin, in company with some twenty other families removed to the States.  Their point of destination was Worthington, Ohio, where they arrived in safety after a most fatiguing journey of more than two months, over rugged mountains, through dense forests and dismal swamps.  Subsequently, about 1813 or 14, the most of the colony, settled permanently on Darby Plains, then in the county of Madison, where many of them soon fell victims to the terrible malaria and milk sickness of that region.  About the age of 17 or 18, young Roswell left home and engaged in teaching school for a number of years.  Meanwhile, a close student himself, and for sometime a pupil of that accomplished preacher and scholar, Rev. John P. Finley.  Soon after arriving at manhood, he commenced the study of Medicine under Dr. O. Howe of Mechanicsburg, Champaign Co., Ohio, and completed his course with Drs. Carter & Howe of Urbana.  His first practice was among the Wyandotte Indians at Upper Sandusky, which had been formed into a mission, under the superintendent of Rev. J. B. Findley.  A very fatal epidemic was prevailing among the Indians, and at the urgent request of Rev. Mr. Guileman, he became their Physician, and succeeded in arresting the disease among them.  On the 8th of May 1823 Dr. Sabin was married to Mary H. Robison.  They lived happily together until her death, which occurred July 23rd, 1843.  Dr. Sabin married the second time July 24th 1844 to Caroline A. Conable, an excellent lady from Massachusetts, a devoted christian woman, and faithful in all things.  She survived the death of her husband only four days, and now reposes by his side.  About the time of the Doctor's first marriage he settled in Troy, Miami Co.  Half a century has since passed away with all its changes and busy scenes.  And what changes!  Gradually he saw the forests cleared, farms opened and towns and hamlets growing up around him.  A physician's life was then no sinecure.  It was hard work.  Much of the day and night in the saddle, with long rides and only a bridle path, or blaze upon the tress to guide them.  This with hard fare and small pay at long intervals, made the practice of Medicine a laborius life.  Through these various hardships, he passed in safety, through the various duties of a long and busy life, with honor to himself and family, till on the 11 of March 1873, he entered into his eternal rest.  Such are some of the leading facts in the life of this good man.  As a citizen Dr. Sabin was an honest and true man.  He was no sham; what he was, he seemed to be.  Upright in his dealings, prompt to fulfill his engagements, faithful in his promises, a man who stood for the right and made no compromises with that he believed to be wrong.  As a scholar, he was far above mediocrity.  To a vigorous mind, he added patient persevering study.  He was an excellent Latin and French scholar, and thoroughly versed in mathematics, and general history.  All this was the result of patient industry--the improvement of spare moments, which so many young men pass in idleness and dissipation.  As a physician, Dr. Sabin had few superiors, especially in clinical practice.  He had quick perceptions, a sound judgment and a clear discrimination of pathological symptoms, that enabled him to prescribe with skill and safety for the sick and suffering.  Few called him to their homes, who did not desire his services for the future.  As a christian, he was a faithful man and feared God above many.  His life, exemplified his profession.  He was indeed a man of strong prejudices.  What he determined to do, he usually did.  And what he held to be right, in matters of belief or practice, he never surrendered.  He was a lover of God's house and worship and was never absent when he could avoid it.  He took great delight in the study of the Bible, and in his class in the S. School, to which he was ardently attached.  He was a man of prayer, and morning and evening, gathered his family around the altar at home for divine worship.  Well might such a man say when he came to die, "I am satisfied, I am resigned."   

Troy April 7, 1873      G. C. C.