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This biography is from ANNALS of the Medical Society of the County of Albany, 1806-1851, by Sylvester D. Willard, M. D.

Peter De La Mater

Peter De La Mater whose name appears as a member of this Society in July, 1812, was descended from a Dutch family in Ulster county, the record of which dates back to the colonial settlers in 1656. The family were active in the war against the French in Canada. His grandfather Isaac, who was born in 1693, and died April 20th, 1775, had six sons, three of whom, viz.: John, Isaac and Hendrick, married sisters, viz.: Maria, Catharine and Eve Kipp. These parties were all united on the 20th of February, 1752. Peter was the youngest of eight sons of John De La Mater. He was born at Amenia, in Dutchess county, on the 1st day of January, 1773. He commenced the study of the medical profession with his elder brother Abraham, a practitioner in Duanesburg, then a part of Albany county, in the year 1794 or '95. He began practice in Duanesburg, but removed to New Scotland in 1811. And after seven years returned again to the former town in 1818. Here he resided until 1834, when he removed to the town of Knox adjoining, and was engaged in active duties until 1845. He then retired from business on account of the infirmities of increasing years. He died at the residence of his son, Dr. Stephen G. De La Mater, in Duanesburg, on the 14th of September, 1849, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, having been for more than a half a century in the profession. During that period he rendered a large amount of most laborious service. His strength of constitution and iron endurance seemed to be commensurate with the toil that his position, and the nature of the country in which he settled, imposed upon him. It is due to the early practitioners of our profession that praise be spoken of them for their willingness and the alacrity with which they obeyed every summons to the sick, irrespective of time, season, or weather, for the faithful attendance they rendered, and for the moderate compensation they required, and the indulgence they granted in its bestowal; emphatically they were men who were conscientious in the discharge of professional obligations. To the subject of this sketch this meed of praise may be justly accorded.

Of five sons three survive, two of whom are physicians, Dr. Stephen De La Mater, occupying the field of his father, and Dr. Ira M. De La Mater of the city of Albany.

Prof. John De La Mater of Ohio is a nephew of the subject of this notice.

The family were of Huguenot extraction, having fled from France into Holland.



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