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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

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