The typical family doctor of the old school was the late Dr. Allan Ruttan. He was a son of Peter W. Ruttan who claimed to be the first white child born in the township of Adolphustown. His grandfather, William Ruttan, (spelled Rattan in the original records) was enrolled in the old U. E. L. list still preserved in the Crown Lands Department at Toronto, and was assigned lot number eighteen in the first concession of Adolphustown.
Dr. Ruttan was born in Adolphustown in 1826, and after passing through the common school of the township took a preparatory course of instruction at the Picton Grammar School, and graduated from McGill University in 1852. Immediately after graduation he commenced to practise in Newburgh and in a short time acquired an enviable reputation. When the final vote was taken fixing Napanee as the county town he evidently felt that the chances of Newburgh growing into a populous centre were not very encouraging, so he removed to Picton, greatly to the regret of the citizens of the village and surrounding country, who, upon his departure, presented him with a silver service and an address testifying the esteem in which he was held by all classes in the community.
He remained in Picton less than two years, when he returned to Napanee and purchased the only three-story residence in the town, the old brick dwelling-house on the market square, where he lived until a few years before his death, when he removed to the dwelling on Bridge Street now occupied by his son, Mr. G. F. Ruttan, K.C. He died in 1908, universally respected by all who knew him. He was a tall, powerful man with a strong face indicating great force of character, yet in the sick room he was gentle, and had a great affection for his patients.
He was often heard to remark that he would be unable to operate upon a child if he allowed himself to pause and think of the appealing cries of the little sufferer. He possessed great originality, and in treating many of his difficult surgical cases devised and made his own mechanical appliances. In his conversation he was plain and blunt, with a touch of humour that removed the sting of his sometimes caustic comments; and between him and his patients there was a bond of sympathy stronger that that arising simply from the confidence in his medical skill. For many years he was the representative of this District on the Ontario Medical Council, and by this connection acquired more than a local reputation as one of the leading physicians of the province.