Dr. James Still: The Doctor of the Pine Barrens
You may recognize the Pine Barrens from our Jersey Devil series, but there is more than that creature that lurks in the 1.1 million acres of woodlands. In fact, we’ve explored some of them, dimension hopping and the Witch of the Pine Barrens. Today, I want to introduce you to another legend that, some way, still lingers: Dr. James Still
Born on April 9th, 1812 Dr. James grew up not too far from the Pine Barrens in Burlington County New Jersey. His parents had fled to the Pine Barrens after escaping slavery. So, what led James to become Dr. Still? Well, a doctor visited the poorer families in the Pine Barrens to help vaccinate and observe the children living there. This simple visit from a Philadelphia doctor would forever change his life.
When he was just 18, James was voluntarily hired out as an indentured servant by his father to help support the poor family. Still was indentured for three years and during those hard years away from home, he devoured books on medicine, botany, and science. Furthermore, he had contact with Native Americans where he was indentured and he would often have long discussions about healing and best practices that they had learned. Finally, on his 21st birthday he was free to follow his dreams. As a thank you, he was given $10 and a new suite. He left for Philadelphia. Although it was his dream to attend medical school, racism and cost prevented him. But, he continued to devour medical content and never stop learning. During his time, he worked a series of jobs to support him and his studies.
In 1835, he met and fell swiftly in love with a woman named Angelina Willow. I find the her surname, Willow, to be almost perfect for Still. Why? Well, Willow is a storied plant whose bark has been used for healing purposes for generations. Shortly after they were married, Angelina gave birth to a baby girl the couple named Beulah. Tragically, both mother and daughter would die from tuberculosis after just three years. Although we don't know much about Still's emotional state at this time, he did remarry to a woman named Henrietta Thomas and had two sons with her. It was during his second marriage that his medical career could finally begin
Still owned a small farm and cultivated plants and herbs in it. With his own plants, he created a cough balm and began sharing it with those who had visited the Still Farm for aliments in the past. After a few people got their hands on it, the cough balm went as viral as something could in the 1800s. He soon became famous and brought in two Philadelphia pharmacists who had heard tell of the man in the Pine Barrens and his fantastic cough cure. They began buying it for their stories and with the money, he bought a small house. And with the reputation and credibility he earned? Well, he became a sort of self-made doctor and began taking house calls.
Of course, the credentialed doctors in the area felt this competition keenly and called into question his non-existent medical credentials. However, Still consulted with an attorney and learned that no legal action could be taken if he abided by two rules: 1) Never officially claim he was an MD and 2) Never require a fee for his services.
Still eventually suffered a stroke at a young age and patients then had to come to his house to get treatment. In 1877, his autobiography, Early Recollection and Life of Dr. James Still, was published. Although he had been warned of calling himself an MD, I believe he must have no longer been regularly taking patients and although he was not able to formally attend school, his work and dedication to the community earned at least the title in his autobiography. He would die in 1882, of another stroke, at the age of 70.
Okay, okay now I know you’re wondering…where is the astonishing part of this story? Of course, Still’s dedication and absolute drive to become a doctor is astonishing itself. But, nothing in the Pine Barrens is just one thing. There is a rumor that Still was eventually lynched by jealous doctors and townfolk, but most sources say it was the second stroke that took him away from the Pine Barrens and his patients.
You see, some say Still still lingers.
There have been reports of people lost or hurt in the area getting help out of thin air from a man who appears as a doctor and helps them out. Some claim he appears to them as a seemingly normal and corporeal man, others claim a ghostly presence.
He is largely believed to be a kindly spirit who, even more than a century after his death, continues the practice of doctors to help and support those in need of medical support.
There is something special and strange and unknown about the Pine Barrens. The dense woods seem to be filled with fear and monsters, like the Jersey Devil. But whatever it is in the dirt and air that creates fearful monsters, there also seems to be an equal power for the creation of goodness. Although the Pine Barrens has been home to cults and murder and monsters, it has also been home to doctors and healers and helpful spirits that guide and support you until you’re safe.
The Pine Barrens may just be a collection of woods and weird stories, but, if you believe in this at all, maybe they’re something more…
The image is in the public domain in the United States.
