An
early physician, Dr. Fielding, was recruited from Franklin, Ohio, to Sidney, Ohio, by its
residents after the death of Dr. Pratt in 1824.
Dr. Pratt had come to
Green Township in 1820 or 1821. Here he taught the winter term (1821-1822) at a newly
built log school. For his services as teacher, he received $10 a month and board with the
families of the students. It is unknown if the doctor had a family since he died
without a will between May 24 and June 1, 1824.
Fielding was in the War of 1812 and served six months under Colonel Johnston in Piqua. He was not only an
excellent physician, but also became one of the leading elders in the Presbyterian Church.
He represented the county in the Ohio General Assembly for seven years.
Dr. Fielding was also the
founding father of the Masons and
became one of its first members along with Thomas English, John Lenox and James Wells. He
was a twenty-seven year member of that organization and wrote much of Ohio’s Masonry
constitution and ceremonies. The Sidney Lodge was named the Temperance Lodge in honor of
him because he practiced and taught temperance all his life. Dr. Fielding and his wife, Elizabeth Vail, reared a family of 12 children.
