Our "Patriarch of Preservation," Doctor Elias Hicks Trueblood
Doctor Elias Hicks TruebloodDoctor Elias Hicks Trueblood was born in 1830 in the Blue River Quaker Community to pioneer settlers. He would grow up to attend the Blue River Academy, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Louisville School of Medicine where he explored a plethora of interests that helped foster his love for history, along with his talent as a physician.
Following his education, Elias would return to Washington County, taking on jobs that ranged from doctor, to farmer, to historian, and author. He would take great care to ensure record collections for local groups, while also crafting his own histories on the Quakers and pioneers of Washington County, as well as stories of the Underground Railroad operations conducted in the here (of which his father was said to have been a principle conductor).
At the turn of the 19th century, when the leaders of the Old Settler's Historical Society began to pass away, and the stability of the organization began to falter, Elias sprung into action. The good doctor singlehandedly rallied community support for ensuring a permanent place for a county historical organization, that would help maintain and record our precious county history. This rally, held in 1914, culminated in the reorganizing of the Old Settler's Historical Society into the Washington County Historical Society we know and love today. Doctor Trueblood was appointed as Secretary of the organization, and continued to ensure the development and preservation of our history.
Dr. Elias Hicks Trueblood would die in 1919, but his legacy as a cornerstone of the founding of the WCHS lives on both through the continuation of his passion for protecting our county's history, and many of his personal belongings and writings remain in our collections today.
If you wish to learn more about Dr. Elias Hicks Trueblood, see his artifacts, and experience some of our beloved county heritage, come on over and visit us at the Stevens Museum today!
