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When Talbot Co was organized in 1827, the system of medical knowledge was still but a rough and crude science, having advanced relatively little in the 4000 years of known Arabian & Egyptian methodology. There were no antibiotics; the role of bacteria in disease was not yet understood; germs were still very much the yet unseen world. As little known, even less understood, it was as though the results were being observed & treated, not the cause itself.
The development of Medical Science underwent such tremendous changes during the 1800’s through the early 1900’s, any histories of the system read rather like a “Who’s Who” in the field.
Consider the scenario then, with the knowledge we now have, some almost 200 years later: no surgery for tumors had ever been performed until 1809, in a small Kentucky community, when Ephraim McDowell operated on a woman, without benefit of anesthetia or antisepsis, to successfully remove a 20 pound ovarian tumor. Also, consider that this surgery was unique in several ways, even the acceptance of men, treating women for “female” complaints, childbirth, etc, had only just recently evolved. And consider that up until that time, surgery itself was considered an almost automatic death sentence. And, add to all that, superstition, the belief man was attempting to trifle in “ungodly” practices.
Doctors themselves were not common in the years prior to Talbot County’s organization. Between 1765-1800, there were only 250 doctors produced in the United States, each after only 1 year of very limited study. Their education was in the traditional medical curriculum of the time: you sat in class, listening to lectures on various subjects, given little, if any, practical knowledge or experience.
In 1750, the average house-call charge was $.50, or its equivalent in trade.
The average life expectancy was 33 years, with deaths of infants and children under the age of 2 accounting for the greatest percentage of fatalities.
Bathing was done on the average of every 4-5 weeks. Drinking and cooking water was taken directly from running streams. We knew little, if anything of hygiene, proper disposal of refuse and our own bodily wastes.
A practicing doctor might well have been apprenticed to an established doctor for a short time, or he might have been trained for one year in one of the few Medical Colleges, or, what was more likely, he might simply have been one who displayed a common-sense approach to health. Anyone who claimed to be a doctor, was, in effect, a doctor.
In a medical emergency on the frontier, you had 3 choices: find a doctor, treat yourself, or die. Because of the shortage of qualified men, and the dangers of the frontier, sometimes the title “Doctor”, was not even of the person’s own choosing. After all, if someone was known to have amputated a leg or an arm, successfully applied a poultice, administered an herb that healed or saved someone’s life, they gained a reputation, and certainly more practical knowledge and experience than someone who had not.
It was not until the mid 1800’s that a ordered pattern of scientific courses were even available in Medical Schools or Colleges, and then, most of the “teaching” was done via lecture, with very, very little practical, or “hands-on” experience offered.
It is only in medical retrospect, that we now know that as a man settles in any geographic area, there are also resident bacteria naturally living there also. As time passes, man’s immune system builds up protective mechanisms against those surrounding bacteria and viruses.
When conflict erupts between societies/localities, famine and such infectious diseases as smallpox, cholera, influenza, typhus, scurvy, plague, march along with the armies. Those “native” bacteria and viruses are then introduced into other regions where the inhabitants lack a resistance. Epidemics break out, via infected material carried by rainwater to a water supply, and flies and other insects carry bacteria and viruses from the sources of the contagion to our food. Water is thus poisoned, fields are laid waste, starvation rules the day and whole communities are wiped out.
There was no such thing as the study of internal medicine until after the Civil War. The prevailing theories of healing dealt with controlling the bowels, the kidneys and the blood. Cathartics, diuretics and emetics were the favored treatments.
Medicine as such, seemed to be focused on but small aspects of the larger picture, i.e., the blood = circulatory system; the bowels & kidneys = elimination system.
Blood-letting appears to have been a favored practice since ancient times, for a variety of medical difficulties, from fever to sore throat. Medicinal leeches were so widely used, in the 19th century, the French raised them by the thousands on special farms. As an “improvement” on the technique, or as an answer to a shortage of the leeches, the lancet was used, tearing & disfiguring.
After being exposed to the cold and snow for several hours, George Washington developed a sore throat, acute laryngitis, December 12, 1799, Virginia. He was wealthy and respected enough that he commanded the attention of the most prominent physicians. With 4 doctors in attendance, the most promising treatment appeared to be blood-letting, and giving gargles of molasses, vinegar and butter, plus a blister of canthar-ides (a preparation of dried beetles) placed on his throat. Also, in accordance with time-honored dictates, he was bled, 4 times a day. Unfortunately, he did have 4 doctors, and they each prescribed he be bled 4 times a day. After 2 days of this treatment, on Dec 14, he died, and such was his faith in his doctors and in their prescriptions, he was asking for even more blood-letting.
In 1816 Kentucky, Davy Crockett was ill with malaria. Blood-letting was tried without success, and he was left to die. Almost incidentally, he was treated with an Indian remedy, quinine from the Centrilla tree, and survived.
It was not until the mid 1800’s that a ordered pattern of scientific courses were even available in Medical Schools or Colleges, and then, most of the “teaching” was done via lecture, with very, very little practical, or “hands-on” experience offered.
Those doctors who ventured westward with the frontier had one great advantage over those who remained in the east. They most definitely received practical experience in the treatment of a wider variety of ills and wounds.
The soldiers in 1812 and in the early Indian Wars encounter-ed basically the same problems. Most of the conflicts seem centered round the southern states, with their wet, humid conditions, poor or non-existent food supplies, a multitude of illnesses either never encountered or perhaps documented previously, to even warrant concern. There was almost a criminal negligence, out of ignorance, displayed in the few medicines or preventive measures put in place against disease. Oft-times, “the cure was worse than the disease”.
In viewing the various circulating newspapers in Georgia, we note the horrendous fatality lists particularly concerned with rampant outbreaks of malaria, bilious fever, yellow fever, smallpox, and unspecified diseases. Particularly prevalent beginning in August through October, or until a hard frost hit.
Perhaps it was due, at least in part, to circulation of these death lists, that an awareness began to grow that these diseases had “seasons”.
Some of the major communities in the region published Sexton’s Lists to keep track of those who died, and on what dates, of these outbreaks. Remember, they still had not identified the source so their means of protection was limited, but it appears that those in the cities and towns wisely either kept indoors, or left the vicinity altogether.
Sometimes you can find clues to outbreaks of disease and what precautions were taken by the residents of the commun-ity, as in: the Feb 22, 1836 Talbot Co Inferior Court Minutes:
#536 Further ordered that the following persons be appointed and constitute a Board of Death for town of Talbotton: Cullen Mayo, Rene Fitzpatrick, M. A. Murdock, Mr Persons, John B. Davis, Edward Deloney and Reuben Phillips with the power to suggest a report from time to time such arrangements as may be necessary to pro- vide against the spread of smallpox.
#537 Ordered that the stage drivers be requested to carry no persons through the town of Talbotton if there be any suspicions existing that bear they are laboring under the suspicion of smallpox.
#538 Ordered that should any case of the smallpox occur in the town of Talbotton, the person in disease be carried to a desirable situation or the location which may be prepared for the hospital.
539 Ordered that John B. Smith, H. M. Osgood, William H. Glover, A. Laurence, J. T. Talley, L. Maddux be ap- pointed a committee to make such investigations as may guard against the introduction of the smallpox into this town by persons who may have been in the infected neighborhoods where the smallpox is existing both in Columbus and the neighborhood of Daviston or who may have regretfully labored under the disease and that such suspicious persons be reported to the Health Officers which will ----with order such situations as may be requisite & proper.
540 Order that the wearing apparel of the physicians & nurses appointed to attend the cases of smallpox at --------- ------------then or shall or may occur be burnt as soon as they may be dismissed from such ser- vices and that they be required to swear under oath the value of such apparel.
#541 Attending physicians must have a written application of their appointment.
#542 Sheriff of Talbot Co appointed to carry the forgoing orders into execution.
#543 Sheriff to be on working with Bailey C. Duke, Esq. under such regulations. Feb 22 1836 Signed: John C. Hamilton, JIC, Bartley Whithurst, JIC, Daniel C. Maund, JIC.
An article in the Butler Herald (Taylor Co Ga) newspaper Oct 11, 1898- concerning an outbreak of scarlet fever, “it is very much regretted but no one has the least idea as to the cause of the illness”. Purely as a precaution, the house, clothing and bedding was thoroughly fumigated.
THE CIVIL WAR YEARS
Of the 620,000 men who died in the Civil War, roughly more than 60 % died of disease. Measles, whooping cough, yellow fever, typhoid, typhus, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, mumps, diarrhea, & dysentery, malaria were rampant. Most of the soldiers, coming as they did from rural communities, making them highly susceptible to such “city sicknesses” as smallpox and chickenpox. The death rate from just these two diseases was unbelievably high. The soldiers, debilitated by little sleep & fatigue, poor rations, poor cooking, impure water, constant mental & physical pressures, & exposure, they swiftly fell victim to disease. In the Union forces, disease accounted for 7 out of every 10 deaths, while it is estimated that disease accounted for 3 out of every 4 deaths in the Confederate ranks. Common also were rheumatism, camp itch, bronchitis, pneumonia, catarrh, scurvy, alcoholism, venereal diseases, continual eye problems, dementia and mental depression.
Some soldiers insisted upon treating themselves, purchasing any of the number of the popular “patent medicines” then on the market, which were mostly concocted of either opium, alcohol or mercury, all highly addictive. “Old indigenous” was a particular favorite of the soldiers, a quinine sub-stitute of dried dogwood, poplar and willow bark, with a healthy dose of whiskey added.
There were few medical provisions offered in the early days of the Civil War, either before, during or after a battle. There was no system of evacuation for the wounded. The Union did, at least in theory, own 2 ambulances, but these were under the control of the Quartermaster, not the Regimental surgeon, and were only available sporatically, at best.
At the Battle of Gettysburg, one General decided hospital supplies were of low priority for his much needed wagons, so he canceled the orders. Result? There was no pain medica-tion, and no bandages available for the injured.
Each battlefield had its own “dying tree”, where the badly wounded and dying were taken, to lie under its shade, while awaiting medical assistance. Sometimes, they waited in vain. It was not uncommon for a soldier to wait there for a week or more, and either dying of his wounds, or from exposure.
At the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, out of desperation, the Union Army finally instituted a system for removing the wounded. In the 24 hours of the battle, there were 23,000 men killed & countless thousands wounded on both sides.
Generally speaking, the attendants assisting the doctors on either side of the the Civil War, were not specialists, had no experience in either medical knowledge or procedures. They were simply soldiers who were detailed there. A good commander, not wishing to waste a single able bodied soldier, even temporarily, tended to send those previously wounded, ill or infirm; those convalescents unfit for duty in the field. More times than not, the attendants could not scour a floor, lift a patient, sit up nights with a patient, or even carry out a bed.
A Regimental Surgeon only labored for his own Regiment.
The primary medicines used were calomel and tartar emetic, rhubarb or squill; opium as either a tincture or by pill form as a pain killer and for diarrhea. Malaria was thought to be caused by a stagnant water “miasma”, and quinine was used to treat it then, as now, and, with a shot of whiskey, for headache, toothache, cough, syphilis and fevers.
So little was known about opium and its effects, that a tremendous number of drug addicts were created during the Civil War as a result. This addiction was later called “old soldier’s disease”.
Appears the standard recommendation for rheumatism was a mixture of 1 qt of rum and 1 oz of landanum, an opium derivative.
The North had the advantage of having major pharmaceutical companies located there. In addition, the Federal government set up a government laboratory in Astoria, New York, and one in Philadelphia, to augument drug supplies. There were 48 various kinds of drugs manufactured, measured & packaged in the Philadelphia lab and, they had access to the latest German scientific findings.
The South had only a few small government operated labs, and, deprived by the Blockade of the foreign grown plants, lacked the chemicals and raw materials such as ipecac, opium, jalap & quinine needed to adequately supply their army. The Surgeon General urged the citizens to grow flax, castor-oil beans and mustard for home remedies. Doctors were provided a list of 410 native wild plants with therapeutic value that might be used as substitutes, and were urged to search for them in the fields and woods. Among them, poppy & rose leaves, rhubarb, pokeweed, sassfras, lobelia, wahoo bark, angelico blood root, ginseng, yellow and white sarsaparilla, corn smut (ergo), spearmint, raspberry leaves, balm of gilead buds.
While the substitutes were generally better than nothing, there were some that were worthless, such as the bugleweed, used as a substitute for digitalis.
The Federal Surgeon General, William A. Hammond, undoubtedly saved untold Union soldiers from death when he banned the ever popular calomel and tartar emetic in 1863. Their usage up until then probably caused more deaths, than perhaps the symptoms for which they were given. Now known to deprive the body of necessary bodily fluids, plus introduce mercury poisoning, at the time, these were highly popular.
Three out of every 4 surgeries were amputations. Any wound that shattered bones meant amputation. Any wound that became infected, required amputation. The scene at the field hospital during a battle was described as being “a scene out of Dante’s Inferno”. The Doctors were covered with blood, working hours and days, with no rest or food, with a growing pile of severed limbs; arms, legs, feet and hands. The rate of mortality grew, the higher up the wound on the body. The closer the wound was to the mid-section, the higher the rate of death. There was a 89%-90% probability of death if wounded in the hip.
And consider if the patient did survive the amputation, he was rendered severely handicapped by the loss. With any amputation taking on the average of 15 minutes to perform, obviously there was no time spent on cosmetic, aesthetic, future comfort or well-being involved.
It is said that “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” And certainly some good things came out of the shortages and continual needs in the Southern Army.
The doctors in the CSA could not get the ligatures they needed because of the blockade, so they began using horsehair. But the horsehair was stiff and they found it had to be boiled to soften. This in effect sterilized it, and the infection rate went down.
They began using maggots to eat gangrene in a wound.
They learned the value of open, well-ventilated hospitals, learned to do re-sectioning, were forced to refine their knowledge & usage of herbal medicines when cut off from drug supplies.
A Little About THE WORLD’S Past EPIDEMIC DISEASES
Scurvy In the 16th century the Dutch discovered that eating fresh fruit and vegetables and drinking citrus juices would prevent scurvy. But it was not until a British Naval Surgeon recommended the same remedy in 1747, that it was became rather commonly accepted treatment of the problem. But it took still another 50 years, to organize the efforts to systematically deal with the problem. During Wartime, roughing it as the troops were called to do, there was little time, inclination or ability, to pay much heed to either the niceties or necessities of civilization.
During the War of 1812, if the soldiers were lucky enough to get meat or vegetables, more times than not, they were either so rancid or spoiled, the odor being so disgusting, it drove them away. Dysentery, diarrhea, and high fever broke out all about them.
Those suffering from scurvy suffered ulcerated gums, loosened teeth, and even, perforated cheeks. Soldiers and those at home, died for want of medical care.
Cholera The cholera bacillus is water-borne, and many of the early major epidemics were spread from contaminated wells or streams. There are early woodcuts, or early “cartoons” existing, featuring “Death’s Dispensary”, Death himself, pumping up water, free of charge, for the poor. Killing in a matter of but hours, you might awake healthy in the morning, but in your grave by the evening, death coming upon your circulatory system’s collapse.
No one knew how the disease rose and spread, until 1854 when the British Dr, John Snow observing an association between the water wells of Broad Street in London and the disease. And it took still another 29 years more for the cholera bacillus to be identified in 1883 by German bacteriologist Robert Koch, and even more years before a united system of prevention could even begin.
Major cholera epidemics occurred in the United States in 1849, 1852, 1866 and 1875. The 1852 epidemic killed 6000 in New Orleans and tens of thousands in other American and Canadian cities. There was no apparent cure, and the only recourse seemed to be to offer a concoction of red pepper, whiskey and opium to the dying.
Yellow Fever It was not until 1881 that the theory was even stated that mosquitoes transmitted yellow fever. It was not until 1900 that scientific tests were performed to either disprove or prove the theory, and then mainly because of the horrendous death toll incurred during the building of the Panama Canal. Between 1881-1889, more than 22,000 French laborers died of the disease. During the same time period, 1000 Chinese coolies died and 1000 Negroes from the West Indians died in just one 6 month period.
Typhoid fever During the Revolutionary War, through to the Civil War, typhoid and typhus, or “jail fever” were often confused with dengue fever. It was not until 1862 that typhoid became the official diagnosis. From then till June 30, 1866, there were 57,000 known cases reported, and 5360 deaths. Although Major Walter Reed and his health board having proved the cause of the disease were “food, fingers & flies”, there were no compulsory preventive measures taken until World War 1. By 1898, there were 20,000 reported cases, just in the military alone.
Anti-typhoid inoculations were introduced in 1896, but mass inoculations were not set in place until the first decade of the 1900’s.
Smallpox The disease appeared in the 17th century, in an era of long & bitter religious wars- starvation, scurvy, spotted fever, dysentery and bubonic plague which killed millions. It was brought in from Asia, and was epidemic into the 18th cen-tury. Having killed some 60 million people in Europe alone before 1750, it was not until Edward Jenner, an English surgeon developed a vaccine as protection from the disease that it could be brought under control. He developed the vaccine in 1796, after he observed, then theorized, then tested the theory that milkmaids never caught the disease, having acquired immunity by having previously caught the milder, bovine form. But it took years before the vaccine was accepted or widely available for prevention of the disease. One of those who helped pave the way for acceptance of the vaccine was Benjamin Waterhouse, a surgeon who had served in the War of 1812. He vaccinated his children and his servants against the disease, accompanied by a flurry of negative and adverse publicity.
Shirley Hornbeck’s This and That Genealogy Tips on Diseases, Medical Terms and Epidemics http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hornbeck/
Civil War Medicine http://www.civilwarhome.com/civilwarmedicineintro.htm
Early Doctors
There seems to have been a surprising number of doctors in early Talbot Co, undoubtedly drawn to the New Purchase and the area’s growing prosperity and promise. It is extremely doubtful that any of those practicing medicine did so full-time. Most were also either planters, farmers, or merchants.
We
have attempted to list those early Doctors known to have practiced at least
partially in Talbot Co:
Dr Alford L. Acee. Born ca 1801. Came into the County around 1830 and was serving as a trustee of the Jackson Institute in 1839. In 1850 was living in the 23rd LD, and practicing medicine in the Belleview community.
Dr Edward Livingston Bardwell (1838-1924). Was living in Talbotton at least from about 1865 until his death. He also owned a drugstore in Talbotton.
Dr Rickin F. Beall, b. ca 1823 in Ga, in 1850 was living and practicing medicine in Talbotton.
Dr James C. Birdsong (? - 1909). Lived near Evans Chapel.
Dr Samuel Boyd (1838-1893). Came into Talbot Co ca 1873. Practiced in and around Talbotton.
Dr Blake D. Brewster (1808-1871)Born in S. C.; was a doctor, the postmaster of Quito, & farmer. Was living in the 23rd LD in 1850. Buried at the Ephesus Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Woodland.
Dr Samuel H. Brewster (1812-1835) Buried in the Blackmon Cemetery. Probably related to John Blackmon or to his wife Mary. He & Dr Blake D. Brewster were brothers.
Dr Joseph Daniel Brooks (1811-1868). Prominent physician in the Pleasant Hill area. Was living in the 23rd LD in 1850. Buried in the Miller-Holmes Family Cemetery on Valley Road.
Dr James Hamilton Bryan (1836-1898). He was born in Talbot Co, where he attended Collingsworth Institute. He studied medicine at the University of Virginia and Medical College in New York. He finished his medical training at Tulane University in New Orleans, graduating in 1861. He served in the Talbot Grenadiers during the Civil War, being appointed assistant Surgeon of the Regiment April 1862. Lived in and practiced medicine in Belleview.
Dr Edmund Worrill Carter (1882-1928). Born at the Carter Plantation near Prattsburg; Graduate of the Augusta Medical College and practiced in Prattsburg. Buried in the Carter Family Cemetery.
Dr Grady Lumsden Carter (1890-1946). Brother of Dr Edmund W. Carter, sons of John Allen Carter & Adella Lumsden. Born at the Carter Plantation. Buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Talbotton.
Dr Francis M. Cheney, b. ca 1821 Ga. In 1850 was living in the 10th LD.
Dr James W. Daniel (1844-1909) Born in Upson Co, practiced medicine at Prattsburg. Buried in Thomaston, Ga.
Dr John Birch Douglass (1860-1924). Born in Louisville, Alabama, graduated from Atlanta Medical College in 1890. Began his practice in N. C., returned to Talbot Co about 1897. Dr Douglass also served as Mayor of Talbotton, was a County Commissioner and served in the Ga Legislature.
T. H. Dozier of Talbot Co graduated from Ga College of Medicine Mar 4, 1843.
Dr William P. Drane (1800-1870). Born Columbia Co, Ga. Buried in the Drane Cemetery at Prattsburg, along with his wife, Martha Hughes Winfrey Jones (widow of Sterling Jones)and their infant son, Andrew Jackson Drane. The family Cemetery is located at the old home site, LL #55, LD 24, Prattsburg GMD 883.
Dr Walter Hugh Drane, the son of Dr William P. & Martha H. Drane, born Jan 8, 1832 in Prattsburg. Graduated from the University Medical College of NY in 1854, and entered practice in the Prattsburg area. He enlisted Mar 4 1862 as a private in Co E 45th Regt. in Taylor Co; assigned as an Assistant Surgeon in June 1862; commissioned as a Surgeon in the 27th Regt, Colquitt’s Brigade Jan 1863. Surrendered Durham Station N.C. Apr 26 1865, and was paroled at Greensboro N.C. May 1 1865.
He returned to Prattsburg after the war, blinded in one eye. Having to give up his practice, he moved in 1866 to Panola Mississippi where he became a farmer. He died there 28 March 1905.
Dr Francis Cook Ellison (1829-1893). Physician in Pleasant Hill. Son of John & Elizabeth D. Patterson Ellison. At one time, he studied in France. Served as a Private in Southern Guards, Muscogee Co, and Assistant Surgeon of the 2nd Regt Ga Vol. Inf. Serving in Richmond, Va hospitals.
Dr John Berry Gorman (1793-1864) born Edgefield Dist., S.C., growing up in Milledgeville. He studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and practiced for over 20 yrs in Milledgeville & Talbot Co. Although successful as a doctor, he apparently preferred the life of a planter.
Dr John G. Griggs. Doctor in Talbotton.
Dr George Morris Gullett (ca 1795-1835). Born Guilford Co, NC, early settler in Talbot Co. Married Nancy Towns Sims, sister of George W. B. Towns. He is buried in Talbotton.
Dr William Holt, b. ca 1815 in Ga. Living in the 23rd LD in 1850.
Dr Joseph Huff, born ca 1822 in Ga. Living in Geneva in 1850.
Dr William G. Little(1808-1877). Born in Edgefield Dist, S. C. A prominent doctor in early Talbotton, arriving about 1837. He studied under Dr John B. Gorman in Milledgeville, then graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. Practiced previously in Milledgeville, then Wilkinson Co. He & John Gorman were partners in a drug store in Talbotton, and Dr Little’s various medicines were manufactured in Philadelphia, including “Dr Little’s Vermifuge for Worm Relief”; “Dr Little’s Tonic Bitters for Dyspepsia” and Dr Little’s French Mixture for Kidneys & Bladder.” He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Dr James H. Mathews (1826-1860). Buried Josiah Mathews Family Cemetery near Prattsburg.
Dr William Parker Mathews (1820-1879). Son of Josiah & Jane Brown Mathews, and brother to Dr James H. Mathews. Born in Baldwin Co, Ga and educated at Collingsworth Institute in Talbotton. He married Minerva Drane in 1846, daughter of Dr William P. Drane. Graduated from the Medical University of Philadelphia in 1841, & practiced medicine in the Prattsburg community.
Gradually retiring from his active medical practice after the Civil War, he was elected as the Democrat State Senator for the 24th Senatorial District(Talbot, Upson & Harris Cos) in 1870.Serving on the Senate Finance Committee, he earned the reputation as “the watchdog of the treasury”. He was in ill health for a year or so before he died and his funeral was held at Corinth United Methodist Church at Prattsburg May 18 1879. Buried in the nearby Josiah Mathews Family Cemetery.
Dr P. H. Mitchell (1830-1886). Practiced medicine in Pratts-burg for years. Buried in Talbotton.
Dr Enos C. Moyer, born in N. C. about 1810. One of the best known and respected early physicians in the County, probably arriving about Jan 1838. Was living in Talbotton in 1850.
Dr William Rabun Neal (1819-1898), born in Warren Co, Ga., Son of John & Martha Neal, who were early settlers in the County. He and his family lived in Talbotton where he practiced. Buried in the Neal Family Cemetery on the Upper Waverly Hall Road in O’Neal’s GMD.
Dr Samuel G. Noell (1859-1892). Born Upson Co and graduated from Atlanta Medical College, and a post-graduate course in N. Y. Buried at Collingsworth United Methodist Church Ceme-tery.
Dr John O’Conner, born in Ireland ca 1822. Living in the 23rd LD in 1850.
Dr John Daniel Owen (1818-1862). Born in Wilkes Co, Ga, moved to the Flint Hill area early Talbot Co with his family. Was living in the 23rd LD in 1850.
Dr William H. Philpot (1828-1904)Born in Ga, came to Talbot Co before 1860. He was a Surgeon during the Mexican War, & a Major and Surgeon in the 4th Regt. Ga Vol Inf, CSA. Served as the surgeon of the Central Railroad for years. Died in Columbia, S. C. while visiting his son there.
Dr Benjamin F. Ross, born ca 1826 in Ga, was living in the 24th LD in 1850.
Dr Frank P. Singleton
Dr William W. Seay (1819-1885)
Dr Charles Moody Smith (1819-1894). Dr Smith was living in Talbotton in 1850, and also owned Jessamine Plantation in the Box Springs GMD. A highly respected civic leader. He & his wife, Eliza Greene Birch, the daughter of Colonel John and Anne Dillworth Birch, are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Talbotton.
Dr Herod King Stanford (1819-1886) was born in Putnam Co, Ga & was in Talbot Co by 1850, living in the 17th District. Later, he lived adjacent to the Rough Edge GMD 904, but in Harris Co. According to his obituary, Dr Stanford studied with Dr Slaughter of Eatonton, Ga & later attended the Medical College in Augusta, then completed his studies in Philadelphia. He practiced medicine in both Talbot and adjoining counties. Buried in Waverly Hall, Harris Co.
Dr J. W. Suggs (1862-1905). Practiced in the Prattsburg area. Buried there in the Parker-Mathews Family Cemetery.
Dr B. S. Townsend. A doctor in Pleasant Hill ca 1876.
Dr Thomas B. Turner (1804-1882). Born Talbot Co, lived in Talbotton GMD 685. Buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Talbotton.
Dr Robert A. Ware
Dr Elijah Wells born in S. C. ca 1797, lived in Putnam Co, Ga. Came to Talbotton in 1829. He & his wife Harriet are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Talbotton, graves unmarked at this time.
Dr Frederick J. Wells (1839-1910). Born in Talbot Co, son of Elijah & Harriet Wells. Buried Oak Hill Cemetery.
Dr Hamilton N. Wells (1824-1882). Born Putnam Co, Ga. Graduate of University of New York, 1850. Never married. Son of Dr Elijah & Harriet Wells. Served as a Surgeon, CSA. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Dr Anderson Wynn b. ca 1821 in Ga. Living in the 17th LD in 1850.
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