Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
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OUTERSON, Andrew Mansergh, M. D.,<br />
Physician.<br />
Andrew Mansergh Outerson, M. D., <strong>of</strong><br />
Hartford, graduate in medicine <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Jefferson Medical College <strong>of</strong> Philadel-<br />
phia, highly regarded physician and surgeon<br />
<strong>of</strong> Hartford and gynecologist at St.<br />
Francis' Hospital, was born in Windsor<br />
Locks, <strong>Connecticut</strong>, June 16, 1876, the<br />
son <strong>of</strong> Andrew and Mary (Lawlor) Out-<br />
erson.<br />
For three generations the Outerson<br />
family has been resident in America. It<br />
is <strong>of</strong> Danish origin, and the family were<br />
papermakers for generations. A branch<br />
<strong>of</strong> the family appears to have crossed to<br />
Scotland, for Scottish records show that<br />
Andrew ( ?) Outerson, grandfather <strong>of</strong> Dr.<br />
Outerson, was born in that country, and<br />
that he there learned the papermaking<br />
trade. Eventually he came to America,<br />
and in this country also followed the trade<br />
<strong>of</strong> papermaking. His wife was Sarah<br />
Mansergh, but the place <strong>of</strong> their marriage<br />
does not appear ; it was apparently in<br />
Scotland, or in Ireland, where their son,<br />
Andrew, father <strong>of</strong> Dr. Outerson, was<br />
born.<br />
Andrew Outerson, son <strong>of</strong> Andrew and<br />
Sarah (Mansergh) Outerson, was born<br />
in Dublin, Ireland, in 1834, and came with<br />
his parents some years later to America,<br />
the family settling in South Carolina,<br />
where Andrew attended school. But at<br />
some time prior to the commencement <strong>of</strong><br />
the Civil War, the Outerson family came<br />
North, and both father and son found<br />
work in the paper mills <strong>of</strong> Windsor<br />
Locks, <strong>Connecticut</strong>. Andrew, the son,<br />
eventually became general superintendent<br />
<strong>of</strong> the old Seymour Paper Mill in Wind-<br />
sor Locks. He was a man <strong>of</strong> much inge-<br />
nuity, and early recognized that educa-<br />
tion should not cease after having reached<br />
the point <strong>of</strong> present requirement. Thus,<br />
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />
while at practical work in the paper<br />
mills, he also studied the scientific phase<br />
<strong>of</strong> papermaking, and was not content<br />
until he had become master <strong>of</strong> every<br />
detail connected with the manufacture.<br />
Also, it is said, he was especially skillful<br />
in coloring papers ; at a time when the<br />
only illuminant was the unsteady and<br />
dim light from kerosene lamps, Andrew<br />
Outerson was reputed to have had so<br />
thorough a knowledge <strong>of</strong> color, the result<br />
<strong>of</strong> minute study under all conditions, that<br />
he could match colors even under that<br />
light. He also was the inventor <strong>of</strong> a filter,<br />
widely used in paper mills, and even now<br />
in use in some <strong>of</strong> the biggest breweries in<br />
the country.<br />
Mr. Outerson married Mary, daughter<br />
<strong>of</strong> Timothy Lawlor, <strong>of</strong> Queenstown, and<br />
to the union came eventually eight chil-<br />
dren : Sarah, who married John J. Burke,<br />
<strong>of</strong> Windsor Locks ; Mary ;<br />
John W\, <strong>of</strong><br />
Philadelphia ; James D., town treasurer<br />
and town clerk <strong>of</strong> Windsor Locks ; Andrew<br />
M., <strong>of</strong> whom further; Richard A.,<br />
<strong>of</strong> Windsor Locks ; Daniel L., <strong>of</strong> Windsor<br />
Locks ; and Katarina. Mr. Outerson<br />
97<br />
died in 1907, aged seventy-three years.<br />
Dr. Andrew Mansergh Outerson, fifth<br />
child <strong>of</strong> Andrew and Mary (Lawlor) Out-<br />
erson, was given a good preliminary edu-<br />
cation in the public schools, and later<br />
attended the <strong>Connecticut</strong> Literary Insti-<br />
tute <strong>of</strong> Suffield, but as a younger son <strong>of</strong><br />
a large and not overly-wealthy family, it<br />
may be said that the medical education<br />
obtained by Dr. Outerson was mainly<br />
attributable to his own energy, initiative<br />
and determination. He was enabled<br />
eventually to attend the Jefferson Medi-<br />
cal College <strong>of</strong> Philadelphia, at which he<br />
assiduously applied himself to the study<br />
<strong>of</strong> the science, diligently following the<br />
lectures, and intelligently observing the<br />
clinical demonstrations. He was conse-<br />
quently well able to meet the graduation