Wood, a prominent physician of New York, and remained under his instruction for three years, at the same time attending the lectures at the medical department of the University of the City of New York, where he graduated, with the degree of M.D., March 4, 1846. After practicing for one year in New York he removed to King's Bridge, which has ever since been his home, and has been constantly employed in the practice of his profession. In 1849 he purchased a portion of the old Macomb estate and erected his present residence. He married Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Losee, September 11, 1845. Their children were Sarah (deceased), Pamelia (wifeof Maynard L. Granger), James (of Neola, Iowa), George Dibble (deceased), Sarah and Alice (both deceased).
Dr. Varian is one of the oldest residents of King's Bridge and thoroughly acquainted with the history of the locality and its early families. When he commenced practice, the country round was thinly settled, and his rides to visit his patients extended from
One Hundred and Tenth Street on one hand to Greenburgh on the other. He was also frequently called to the villages on the western bank of the Hudson, and on one occasion, while crossing during a cold winter night, his boat became fast in the floes of floating ice and drifted below Fort Washington ; he and his two companions narrowly escaping a watery grave. He was present when ground was broken for the Hudsjn River Railroad and was surgeon for the company of contractors, they paying him at the rate of twentyfive cents a month for each man on the work.