OBIT: Samuel S. MEILY, 1895, Lebanon, Lebanon County, PA

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DR. SAMUEL S. MEILY EXPIRED AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS

HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL PHYSICIAN And Enjoyed a Large Practice in this City and 
Surrounding Country - He Will be Greatly Missed by a number of Our People.
  The people of Lebanon were shocked this morning when they learned that Dr. 
S. S. Meily was dead, as very few knew that he was complaining.  On Sunday a 
week ago the doctor fell while on his way to the stable and severely 
sprained his arm.  Some days afterwards it became very sore and began to 
swell, and toward the end of the week erysipelas set in, which aggravated it 
very much.  Dr. John Walter had been called and was attending to his 
injuries.  Some time during Saturday night the doctor had a stroke of 
apoplexy, this being the second, having had a slight stroke several months 
ago.  Toward Sunday morning he became delirious and began to sink very fast.  
Dr. Walter was quickly summoned and gave him proper attention and in the 
afternoon he rallied and began to improve but had numerous hiccoughing 
spells; these continued until late Sunday night.  Up to midnight the doctor 
rested easily, although unconscious most of the time.  Toward 3 o'clock this 
morning he began to sink rapidly and this morning at 5 o'clock he quietly 
and calmly sank to rest without a struggle.
  Dr. Samuel S. Meily was a son of the late Emanuel Meily, and was born in 
this city.  He was aged about 55 years.  When he was three years old he fell 
while playing and broke his right leg.  The limb was not properly set and he 
was lame ever after that.  He was educated in the public schools of this 
city and then read medicine with the late Dr. David Marshall, after which he 
entered the University of Pennsylvania, taking a course in medicine and 
graduated in the spring of 1863.  While attending lectures at the 
University, he became acquainted with Miss Josephine Martindale, of Camden, 
Delaware, and in July, 1863, they were married.
  Dr. Meily then began the practice of medicine in this city and resided in 
part of the house now occupied by Frantz's furniture rooms from where he 
removed to another building on Cumberland street.  Later he purchased the 
old home occupied by Doctor Bechtel, where he and his wife have resided 
since.  Dr. Meily was a useful man in his profession.  He was a natural born 
physician and had a special aptitude for diagnosing cases, being able to get 
the temperature and other conditions of his patient by a glance or mere 
touch of the skin.  He was a successful practitioner, and although a strick 
believer in the old school was more eclectic in his practice and made use of 
means which he found helpful and beneficial, it mattered not to him from 
what source they came.  He was especially successful in treating fevers and 
in surgery cases.  His chief aim always was to get his patient into a normal 
condition and then allow nature to do the rest.  There are many families in 
our city and surrounding country who will greatly miss Dr. Meily.  He had 
the faculty also of inspiring confidence in his patients and of bringing 
hope to the sick.  He went right to the root of a sore or of a disease, and 
while it seemed heartless really inflicted less suffering than if he had 
done otherwise.  The deceased had a brusque exterior and could apply the 
surgeon's knife in severe and delicate cases without the quiver of a muscle, 
because he knew it was better to do so, but he was very tender hearted.  He 
had seen many pass away and one might suppose he had little feeling, but we 
have been present on a number of occasions when kind friends died and 
invariably his tender heart would cause the fountain of tears to overflow 
and he would weep with the sincerest regret and deepest sympathy.  He was of 
a kind disposition and most cheerfully gave his services in behalf of the 
suffering or distressed without ever considering whether he would be 
remunerated.  He was a faithful physician and at all hours of the day and 
during the most severe weather he responded to the call of duty and 
ministered long and often when it was necessary.  His work is ended; but, as 
we have said, many will regret that he could not have lived some years 
longer.  After life's fitful fever he rests well, and lying upon his bed 
this morning he appeared as if he had only fallen into a sweet sleep.
  His wife survives and of a family of 12 brothers and sisters only four are 
left, Jos. M., in this city; George, residing in Indiana, Emanuel, in 
California, and Milton, in South America.  The funeral will be held on 
Thursday afternoon.

Lebanon Daily News, February 11, 1895

DR. SAMUEL MEILY

  Funeral services over the body of the late Dr. Samuel S. Meily were held 
at his late home on Cumberland street, at 2 o'clock this afternoon.  Rev. 
Able, of the Jonestown Orphans' home, preaching the sermon.  He was assisted 
in the services by Rev. James P. Hawkes, pastor of St. Luke's Episcopal, of 
which Dr. Meily was a member, having been received during Rev. Able's 
pastorate.  The floral offerings were a pillow, "At Rest," from eighteen 
young men, all of whom had been warm friends of the doctor.  On the card 
that accompanied the offering was "Our Friend."  Other friends sent white 
carnations.
  The bearers were all men who had been associated with the doctor in his 
work.  They were all physicians:  Drs. John K. Reinoehl, John Wa***, S. T. 
Lineweaver, A. H. Light, W. T. Kline, of Lebanon, and E. B. Marshall of 
Annville.  That the deceased had many friends was evident by the number of 
people who began entering the house at 12 o'clock and the line continued 
until 2.  Many had Doctor Meily to thank that they were living.

Lebanon Daily Times, February 14, 1895