His father was a prominent local physician and a political and militia leader during the American Revolution.
Childs trained with his father, eventually joining and then taking over his practice.
He was responsible for the introduction of smallpox vaccination to the area, against significant local opposition.
One of his first major political activities was lobbying the state for a charter to establish a medical school in Pittsfield, which was granted in 1823.
[3] Childs married Sarah Clapp; the couple had four children, one of whom died as an infant.