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Physicians, Dentists, Veterinarians, and Nurses of Vaiden and VicinityPhysicians of ShongaloDr. W.H. Weir
was the first physician in this village, He and his bride of a few months
came here from Dr. Nathaniel
Wells, a well-educated young man from New Hampshire, was the next physician
to settle here. He married Eliza Love Pleasants, daughter of Thomas and Mary
Pleasants. Mrs. Wells died about two years later, after the birth of their
baby daughter. A few years after her death, Dr. Wells married Mary Smith. Her
father, Douglas Smith, lived on the Dr. Newton was
the next physician to locate at Shongalo. He married the oldest daughter of
Thomas Ely. Dr. William H.
Armistead was born August 5, 1820. He began his practice in 1840. He married
Mary Wilson, youngest child of Thomas Wilson. Dr. Armistead's home was
located near the present site of Vaiden and was later included in the
corporate limits. To the Armistead's delight, their home was the favorite
gathering place for the young people of the community. Dr. Armistead died Dr. Edwin
Armistead joined the Shongalo Presbyterian Church in 1855. This is the only
information available on this doctor. Dr. James A.
McBride, after serving in the Civil War, studied medicine and had a
successful practice in the Shongalo area for many years. He married Minnie
Hamilton. They had three daughters and one son. Physicians of MiddletonDr. Harper
Howell Hudgins came here from Physicians of CoilaDr. E.R. McLean
made his home near Coila. During the days of the stage coach, he served as
innkeeper, merchant, and physician. Dr. Joseph M.
Keys had a very lucrative medical practice in the area. He married Mrs.
William Farmer and they lived on her plantation near Coila. Dr. George
Everett moved to the vicinity of Vaiden about 1840. Since there were several
doctors already established here, he moved to Coila to practice medicine.
After about ten or twelve years, he moved back to his estate near Vaiden. Physicians of EmoryDr. R.D. Meek
lived at Emory prior to 1861. He had an extensive medical practice in the
county. After the Civil War, he settled on his plantation located between
Black Hawk and Emory. He continued the active practice of medicine until his
health failed, compelling him to give up his work. Dr. Meek was always
affectionate toward his family, true to his friends, and faithful to his
promises. He was a charitable man and a "king" to his neighbors. Dr. Rogers, Dr.
John A. Linder, Dr. James M. Thompson, Dr. W.C. Redd, and Dr. Alexander were
also physicians who are remembered at Emory. Unfortunately, no information is
available on these men. Physicians of Black HawkDr. William
Glenn, a physician of long ago, was sincere in everything he undertook.
During the Civil War, he enlisted in the first company made up of men from
this county. He was full of hope and zealous in his love for the South. He
became ill and died in Dr. Anthony,
Dr. Hendon, Dr. Stevens, Dr. Chew, Dr. Terrell, Dr. V.O. King, Dr. B.F.
Kittrell, Dr. Calhoun, Dr. Godfrey, and Dr. Elmon were also physicians of the
Black Hawk area. No informationis available on these men. Dr. Robert
McEachern Hill, son of Henry W. Hill and Lillie McEachern Hill of
Blackmonton, practiced medicine in a small community called Seven Pines,
located near Black Hawk. Dr. Hill had three brothers and four sisters. One
brother, Henry, died at an early age. One sister, Mrs. Lula Hill was a
resident of Vaiden. Physicians of BlackmontonDr. H.B. Conner, youngest son of Gabriel and
Mary Farrish Conner, was a native of Slate Springs ( Physicians of New
Dr. W.H.
McEachern was born December 17, 1838, a son of Daniel McEachern, who was one
of the first settlers of this section. He was a graduate of Dr. Shipp Conner, (1882-1911), son of Dr.
H.B. Conner and Mrs. Harriet Shipp Conner, was a native of Physicians of VaidenDr. Cowles Mead
Vaiden was the first physician of Vaiden, and the Town's namesake. The
account of his life here is contained in other articles throughout these
pages. Dr. Joseph Andress
Applewhite (1824-1893), was born in Dr. John R.
Applewhite, a brother of Dr. Joseph A. Applewhite, was another physician in
this area. Further information is not available. Dr. Thomas W.
Fullilove was born July 31, 1851, in Dr. A.J.
Sanderson (1845-1902) practiced in Vaiden many years. He married Miss
Harriston. They had five daughters and two sons. Dr. R.L. Wilson
joined the Shongalo Presbyterian Church in 1871. This is the only information
available on this doctor. Dr. Joseph C.
Armstrong, from Poplar Creek, Mississippi, attended the University of
Nashville and Vanderbilt University, graduating at age 21. He was licensed to
practice medicine on April 6, 1893. In 1902, he contracted smallpox, and
recovered. He moved from Vaiden to Dr. Fritz
Rehfeldt was born in Dr. Charles
Gresham McEachern, (1876-1935), son of Angus Taylor McEachern and Guerring
Pickett Shipp, was born in Dr. Peter
Fletcher Fitzgerald, a practicing physician in Vaiden, offered his services
to the people of Dr. John
Woodson Barksdale, son of Charles Henry Barksdale and Emily During World
War I, he served as Lt. Colonel, Senior Surgeon of Hospital Center,
Rimaucourt, France, and Commanding Officer of Base Hospital No. 58. After the
war, he located at Some of the
professional and social organizations in which Dr. Barksdale played a
prominent part are: Carroll County Medical Society, President; Mississippi
State Medical Society, President; Tri-State Medical Society, President;
Fellows of the American College of Surgeons, Governor; International College
of Surgeons, Charter Member; The Founders Group, Member; American Board of
Surgery, Member; Southern Surgical Society, Member; American Medical
Association, Member; West Tennessee Medical and Surgical Society, Honorary
Member; Mississippi Reserve Officers' Association, Colonel and President;
Jackson Country Club, President; University Club, President; Mississippi
Chapter of the Newcomen Society of England, Organizer and First Chairman by
Invitation; 1929 Jackson Junior League Carnival Ball, King, Tennessee Club of
Memphis, Member. Dr. Barksdale
was an Episcopalian, a Mason, a Democrat, and a Rotarian. He continued to
study, and kept abreast of the growing body of medical knowledge. He was
frequently asked to deliver orations in surgery before various learned
medical gatherings. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trap shooting, and was
an excellent Bridge player. Dr. Barksdale retired in the early 1950s, and
died May 9, 1953. Dr. James Oscar
Ringold was born and reared in Gore Springs ( Dr. Cassius
Dent Alexander, son of Joseph T. and Harriette Belle Alexander, was born
February 8, 1987. He grew up in West, During World
War I, Dr. Smythe, a Dr. James P.T. Stephens, son of Captain
Pyrrhus T. and Elmira Stephens, was born October 10, 1876, in Attala County, Dr. Stephens
was a member of the Vaiden Methodist Church; a member and Past Master of
Dewitt Clinton Lodge No 47 F&A.M. of Vaiden; a Charter Member and First
Worthy Patron of Virginia Kennedy Chapter No. 271 OES, serving as Worthy Patron
for five years. He was Chief Surgeon for the He owned the
first car and the first radio in this area, and enjoyed novelty musical
instruments and was adept at playing a musical saw with a violin bow and
musical cowbells. He once travelled to Dr. D.J. Murphy, son of W.A. and Rosa Strahan
Murphy, was born August 16, 1881. He received his degree in civil engineering
from the Dr. Murphy was
a Mason and a member of Shongalo Presbyterian Church. Shortly before his
death, he was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from President Franklin
Roosevelt for grateful recognition of uncompensated service patriotically
rendered to his country in the administration of the Selective Service System
of World War II. Dr. Murphy died November 30, 1944, and is buried in the Dr. Marvin E. Arrington, son of William O.
and Ida Smith Arrington, was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, December 3,
1905. He had three sisters: Mrs. Dudley Stringer, Mrs. K.C. Moon, and Mrs.
Edith Rhyne. He grew up and finished high school in Brookhaven. He received
his medical degree at He came to
Vaiden to practice in 1933. He was a Methodist, a Mason, and a member of the
Eastern Star. He served as county health officer for several years. He was a
fine doctor and a useful citizen. Dr. Arrington was fatally injured in an
automobile accident August 8, 1945. Dr. Van R.
Burnham, Jr. was born in Dr. Burnham
practiced medicine in Vaiden from September 1, 1946 until July 24, 1948. On
July 28, 1948, he married Barbara Braswell of Vaiden. They settled in Dr. Herbert Raymond Power, son of Charles O.
and Cornelia Maddox Power, was Vaiden's doctor for many years. He was born in
Weir ( After
graduating from On December 21,
1940, Dr. Power married Erin Fox of He taught high
school mathematics and science at Barnes High School ( When Dr. Power
first began his medical practice, he did home deliveries. At times, he had to
be taken to the homes on tractors or in trucks, and sometimes had to stay all
night. To avoid such long absences from his office, he began doing all
deliveries in the clinic. Because of the growth of the patient load and the
increase in paperwork required by Medicare and Medicaid, insurance forms,
etc., he stopped doing deliveries in early 1969. Prior to that time, he
delivered approximately 860 babies, including the delivery of this writer. He
still made house calls for many years, and was highly visible in town by his
car, his trusty Volkswagen Beetle. When he found
time, Dr. Power enjoyed many hobbies, such as playing bridge and other games,
working crossword puzzles, reading, crafts, fishing, and playing the organ
and piano. He was not only Vaiden's Doctor; he was a beloved citizen who was
always willing to assist anyone who needed his help. At the time of the
publication of the Vaiden Heritage in 1976, Dr. Power was still practicing
in Vaiden, but is since deceased. Many citizens of Vaiden and the surrounding
communities miss him and remember his generous and friendly attitude to
everyone he knew. He was a man of character, style, and grace, a fine doctor,
and above all, he was a part of the lives of many people. Never let it be
said that this writer wasn't one of those whose life was touched by this
exemplary doctor, citizen, and friend. When Dr. Power retired because for health
reasons, Vaiden lost a valuable member of its community. Today, the Vaiden Clinic ( Vaiden Health Clinic PicturesDivider Glass -- Building Plaque Mallory Health CareVaiden Community Living CenterDentistsDr. Joe
Alexander, son of Captain Joseph T. Alexander of West, practiced in Vaiden.
No other information is available. Dr. S.H. Guess
was a dentist about 1902. He married Alica Cain of Vaiden. No other
information is available. Dr. Claude A.
Moore, 1882-1941, practiced in Vaiden about 1905. He married Miss Willie Lou
Cain of Vaiden. He was a graduate of the Dr. Pleasant
Thomas Flowers, son of John Erasmus and Sallie Knox Flowers, was born in
Montgomery County, Mississippi, March 23, 1878. On November 3, 1910, he
married Lula Doty Armstrong, also a native of After attending
Dr. Flowers'
hobbies were the breeding of purebred bird dogs and small-scale farming. He
was influential in bringing the first After the loss
of his sight, Dr. Flowers continued to live here for ten years, maintaining
an active interest in civic and church affairs. He was a Mason, an Odd
Fellow, a member of the VeterinariansDr. Milam
O'Neal Huffman, only son of Louis and Alice Tyler Huffman, was born September
24, 1879. In January, 1900, he married Clara Williams. They had three
daughters: Muzette Huffman Byrd, Katie Huffman Crook, and Susie Huffman
Tucker. Dr.Huffman
began practicing veterinary medicine in 1910, receiving his state license
after a study course at home. His practice covered a wide area. His library
was filled with books which he studied constantly. He was a Mason and a
member of the Medical
Professionals From Vaiden That Practiced Elsewhere Many men in the
medical profession came from the Vaiden area, but never practiced here. Some
of these are the following: Dr. Larkin S.
Rogers, son of Richard Thomas and Eleanor Cain Rogers, was born in Dr. Richard
Cornelius Bains received his M.D. Degree from Birmingham Medical College at
age 34, and was licensed to practice May 19, 1898. No other informationis
available. Dr. Charles
Ernest Wright, eldest son of James M. and Narcissa Dr. W.W. Nye
was born in Vaiden. No other information is available. Dr. Clifford
Vaiden McConnico. No other information
is available. Dr. Malcolm A.
McEachern. No other information is
available. Dr. Harrison P.
Simpson from Blackmonton, graduated at age 24 and was licensed May 17, 1904.
He finished at Dr. R.S.
Simpson, brother of Dr. H.P. Simpson, went to dental college at Louisville, Dr. Otis
Preston Gaston received his degree from the University of Nashville and
College of Physicians and Surgeons at age 25, and was licensed October 18,
1907. Dr. Joseph
Clyde Conger of Blackmonton, son of Lucius L. Conger, received his M.D.
Degree from the University of Nashville at age 23, and was licensed to
practice May 22, 1909. He had four brothers: Will, Tommy, Hal, and Ben, and
four sisters: Susie, Annie Lee, Dr. Dennis
McDougal was from Blackmonton, but practiced in Halls, Dr. Jessie
Jonathan Armstrong, son of John J. and Freddie Gross Armstrong, received his
M.D. Degree from Tulane School of Medicine at age 27, and was licensed July
14m 1921. He had two brothers: Fred and Rodney (deceased), and four sisters:
Magdalene, Annie, Bertha, and Eunice. Dr. and Mrs. Armstrong had one son and
one daughter. He practiced and resided in Dr. James
Harris Armstrong, only child of the late Cade L. and Lorene Colmery
Armstrong. He attended the Dr. John Allen
Randle, son of Ernest G. and Alice Pullen Randle, graduated from Vaiden High
School in 1932, then studied veterinary medicine at Iowa State College in
Ames, Iowa. He has one sister: Earnestine, and five brothers: Robert,
Charles, Grider, Frank, and Dale. He practices at Dr. Percy A.
Bennett, Jr., D.D.S., son of Percy A. and Maggie Louise Cade Bennett,
graduated from Dr. William
Ward Canon, son of Jesse and Marilla Vail Canon, graduated from Dr. Joe Registered NursesMrs. Myrtle
Archer: Head of all nurses A.R.F., World War I, stationed at Miss Georgia
Holmes: Superintendent of Nurses, Methodist Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, for
25 years and Methodist Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, for 15 years. (deceased) Mrs. Carrie
Herring (B.J.) Ramage: Superintendent of Nurses, Miss Nina Nye:
Private duty for 20 years. (deceased) Mrs. Minnie
Esther Armstrong (Will) Gee: Private Nurse for two years, Mrs. Elizabeth
Girner (J.F.) Herring: Superintendent of Nurses, Winona Infirmary for three
years. Private duty for 40 years. (deceased) Mrs. Urlene
Baskin (E.C.) Humphreys and Mrs. Mamie Baskin (E.C.) Baskin: Sisters,
graduated from Helena, Arkansas, hospital. Mrs. E.C. Baskin did private duty
for 40 years. Mrs. Humphreys is deceased. Miss Myrtle
(Patsy) Devine: Daughter of Jim A. and Sudie Girner Devine of Midway
Community. Received her training at Winona Infirmary. Operating Room
Supervisor, Mrs. Mary
McEachern Haddakin Morgan: Daughter of Dan and Julia Ross McEachern of Midway
Community. Graduated from Mrs. Betty
McCorkle (Harold) Rixie: Daughter of C. Marion and Luna Dell Mrs. Betty
Cummins (Ronald) Clark, daughter of Joe and Joyce Mae Vinson Cummins of
Vaiden, received her degree from Mrs. Louise
Shelton (Donald) Morris, daughter of Roger Shelton (deceased) and Gladys
Wiltshire Sue Noah
(Roger) Gratz, daughter of Robert and Dolly Mann Noah of Vaiden. Received her
degree from Charlene Guess
Wiley (James) Elmore, daughter of W.H. and Ouida White Guess, received her
degree from the Mrs. Ann Ross
(Herman) Wardlow, daughter of J.K. Ross (deceased) and Evelyn Jones Ross of
Vaiden, received her degree from the Ginger Hambrick
(Frank) Dana Rogers
(Carl) Grubbs, daughter of Jamie and Grace Grantham Rogers of Vaiden,
received her degree from St. Dominic's Hospital in Kay Palmertree
(Dempsey) Rutledge, daughter of Coleman Palmertree of Winona, and Ella Ouida
McCorkle Palmertree (deceased), received her degree from Judy Randle
(Dale) Autrey, daughter of W.L. Randle (deceased) and Blanche Bailey Randle
of Vaiden, received her B.S. and R.N. Degrees from Laura Jean
Collins (Steven) Drazda, daughter of Guy H., Jr., and Barbara Cummins Collins
of Moorehead, was born in Vaiden. She received her degree from the Mrs. Caron
Busby (O.G.) Smith, daughter of Joseph B. and Mary Ann Tullos Busby (both
deceased), is not a native of Vaiden, but has lived here for many years. She
received her degree from Mrs. Gladys
Devine (Fletcher) Shappley: Another daughter of Jim A. and Sudie Girner
Devine. Received her training at Winona Infirmary. Hospital and private duty
for approximately 20 years. Now retired and lives in Mrs. Margaret
Michie (A.D.) Hartley, daughter of George and Allie Boyette Michie, received her
degree from Baptist Hospital in Jackson, . . .To Be Continued. . .Page II
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