Henry Daniel Cogswell, DDS (1819-1900) : a temperance advocate, philanthropist and builder of ice-water fountains
Christen, A.G.; Theobald, M.S.; Christen, J.A.; Cogswell, H.D.
Journal of the history of dentistry 47(2): 51-59
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 1089-6287 PMID: 10686912 Document Number: 501432
Henry Daniel Cogswell (Fig. 1), the second of five children, was born in Tolland, Connecticut on March 3, 1819. His father, George Washington Cogswell, was a general carpenter, architect and builder of moderate circumstances. In 1827, when Henry was eight, his mother died. The following year, Henry's father moved to Orwell, (Oswego County) New York, in hopes of improving his financial condition. Henry was left behind in the care of his paternal grandfather, who died several months later, leaving the 10-year old boy, stranded and forced to rely upon his own resources. (In those times, when families were separated, individual members had limited means of locating one another.)