doctors at lincoln's bedside

[Linda Anderson]

Linda, how did Dr. Verdi gain his position as Seward's "family doctor"?

I found this image of Dr. Verdi.

I don't know how Dr. Verdi came to be employed by the Seward family, Scott, but he was the family physician for almost three years before the assassination attempt. This is from the NYT article.

"Dr. VERDI has been the physician of that distinguished family for nearly three years. We recollect his saving the life of Gen. SEWARD two years ago, when brought from the camp to Washington, with life fast ebbing away under a most formidable attack of dysentery. Dr. VERDI was also required at Auburn when the same gentleman was low in typhoid fever; and we well remember his successful treatment of the fractured elbow-joint of Assistant Secretary SEWARD last Fall."