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History enthusiast Clarence Hickey wants the community to know that a 19th century doctor, whose name graces a small museum and a street in the heart of Rockville, was selfless in caring for county residents in the early days of modern medicine.

That's how he portrays the physician in his book, "Send for the Doctor: The Life and Times of Dr. Edward E. Stonestreet."

The book, published by the Montgomery County Historical Society in 2009, is a compilation of Hickey's years of research and offers an extensive account of Stonestreet's experiences in medicine and the prominence he played in the county's history. Stonestreet (1830-1903) was a contract surgeon for the Union army, the first public health officer in the county and helped found the Montgomery County Medical Society.

Hickey, a retired marine biologist who lives in Aspen Hill, came across Stonestreet by chance when his daughter worked as an intern at the historical society. Fascinated by history, Hickey became a docent and included Stonestreet when speaking about local history at the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine, which is part of the Montgomery County Historical Society.

The Stonestreet Museum, located to the rear of the historical society's Beall-Dawson House on West Montgomery Avenue in Rockville, consists of a one-room reconstructed doctor's office filled with artifacts such as medical tools, books and furniture.

The last page of Hickey's book contains the author's thoughts on the doctor's office: "Dr. Stonestreet's office is a spiritual place and a place with spirit."

To perfect his research, Hickey traveled all around the state looking through old newspapers, photographs, property maps, family scrapbooks and letters. Hickey said his most valuable source was a diary written by a Rockville family whom Stonestreet regularly treated.

"It gave me new insight into Dr. Stonestreet and how he would ride the three miles or so out to their farm to attend to their illnesses and deliver their babies," Hickey said. "He made house calls to his patients seven days a week."

Hickey also managed to contact direct descendants of Stonestreet, many of whom live in the area.

"They've been very helpful," Hickey said. "They've opened up some family things to me. Some of them, knowing I was doing this, were really thrilled about it."

Elizabeth Prettyman-Guay, Stonestreet's great-great-granddaughter from her father's lineage, spoke with Hickey during his research.

"I think it was wonderful of Clarence to write the book," she said. "In reading it, I learned a lot about Dr. Stonestreet and my family that I never knew."

Benjamin Harris Stonestreet is the great-grandson of Edward Stonestreet's third cousin, Joseph Harris Stonestreet.

"It was rewarding for me to learn more about my family ancestors through the persistence of Clarence's hard work," he said. "Dr. Stonestreet was an extraordinary man and was loved by many in the Rockville community."

As a result of helping Hickey with his research, Benjamin Harris Stonestreet, who lives in Silver Spring, now is a member of the board of directors for the Montgomery County Historical Society.

With an abundance of information contained in its pages, the book went to press in the fall and is on sale at the Montgomery County Historical Society. All proceeds will go directly to benefit the nonprofit organization.

"Clarence has dedicated incalculable hours, hundreds and hundreds, toward his research," historical society director Debbie Rankin said. "The publication of the book will serve the efforts of the Montgomery County Historical Society to teach our fellow county residents to appreciate our shared history — the stories of fascinating people that came before us — while simultaneously understanding the stories of those around us will one day have their own stories told to communities of the future."

Hickey, too, expects his book will give Montgomery County residents a newfound awareness of the community's past.

"I hope it will give them some new insights, like what it was like living in the 19th century," Hickey said. "It's kind of a looking-back at how we were 150 years ago and trying to put that into perspective."

Throughout Stonestreet's life, Montgomery County was a rural area. In 1860, while Stonestreet was practicing medicine, Montgomery County had a population of about 18,300. In contrast, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Montgomery County recorded a population of 950,680 in 2008.

On call at all hours of the day, Stonestreet served the community as a whole.

"He treated everyone," Hickey said, noting that Stonestreet even cared for slaves. "He did a lot of what people would say was pro bono, asking for little in return."

Stonestreet was often paid in-kind with farm goods or food, Hickey said. Even if his patients could not pay, Stonestreet did not refuse to treat them.

Hickey is passionate about telling Stonestreet's story and does so by dressing in clothing Stonestreet might have worn. Hickey travels across the county speaking about the doctor.

A testament to his devotion to the community and its history, Hickey has received several awards, such as the Arthur M. Wagman Award for Historic Preservation Communication and the Montgomery County Executive's Volunteer Award for the Arts and Humanities.

Hickey believes that Stonestreet's generosity should be a model for today's society.

"His life example is one to emulate," Hickey said "If we could all live just a piece of this, think of what our community would be.

"Send for the Doctor: The Life and Times of Dr. Edward E. Stonestreet," by Clarence R. Hickey, is available for $18 at the Montgomery County Historical Society Museum Shop, 103 W. Montgomery Ave. in Rockville, or it can be ordered by calling 301-340-2825. For more information, visit www.montgomeryhistory.org. All proceed benefit the Montgomery County Historical Society.