Physicians of Maury County

The physicians of 1808 were Dr. Samuel Mayes, who was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1759, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and settled in South Carolina. He moved to this county in 1808, where he died in 1841. He saw service in the Revolutionary war.

Dr. L. B. Estes, well known in the early history of the county, was born in Virginia in 1774, graduated from the University of Virginia, and came to Maury County in 1808 where he died in November, 1814.

Dr. James O'Reiley was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1776, graduated at the university of the same, married in North Carolina in 1805, and came to Maury County in 1809. He was noted for his boldness and originality both in the practice of medicine and surgery. He was well known to the business world. He died in 1850.

Dr. G. T. Greenfield was born in Virginia, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania and came to Maury County in 1812. He abandoned the profession and became a cotton planter, and grew rich. He was a noted politician. His death occurred in 1847.

Dr. William Fort Brown was a native of North Carolina, where he was born in 1790. He was a student under Dr. O'Reiley; also a partner for a time. He was very much addicted to drink, yet such was the confidence of the people in him that they would send and bring him to their houses and lock him up until sufficiently sober to prescribe. His death occurred in 1859.

Dr. Thomas Brown was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, in 1784, and was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. He came to Maury County in 1814; was a popular physician. He died of cholera in 1834.

Dr. Isaac J. Thomas was a native of North Carolina, born in 1781, and came to this county in 1814, where he remained till his death in 1844.

Dr. John B. Hayes was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in 1796, graduated at the University of New York and settled in Maury County in 1816. He is described as a close student, an acute observer, generous, genial, high-toned, "a fellow of definite jest that was wont to set the table in a roar." He related a story that well illustrates the superstition of the time; "A member of a family living twelve miles in the country was affected with the shingles; the remedy at the time was the blood from the tail of a black cat. Efforts were made to procure the coveted black cat, but none could be found, the disease became alarming and a runner was started to town with the following instructions from the old lady of the house; 'Johnny, when you get to town try to get a black cat, but if you can't get one, bring Dr. Hayes.' " Dr. Hayes died after a successful practice of fifty-two years.

In 1816 Drs. Gale and James G. Smith came to this county; both were from Maryland.

Between 1816-20 Drs. J. B. Sanders, Dowell N. Sansom (Horatio Depriest?), McDowell, Silas M. Caldwell, John W. McJimsey, Gillespie and William McNeil; of these Dr. Depriest committed suicide, and all were well known in their profession and in the social circle.

Dr. George W. Campbell started out full of promise, but died early in life from septicemia, originating from a wound.

Dr. Grevor abandoned the profession for business, and died at New Orleans of yellow fever.

Of the same period were Drs. Cooper, Ford, Turner and Crawford.

Dr. J. W. S. Frierson was born in Sumpter District, South Carolina, in 1801, graduated at Greeneville College, and was made a doctor of medicine at Transylvania in 1824, and from that time till his death, in 1872, was in active practice. He was an ornament both to the profession and to society. He was succeeded in the profession by his son, Dr. Samuel W. Frierson.

Dr. John Baptiste Alexander Chevenot was born in Paris, France, February 26, 1793, and graduated at the early age of eighteen; was surgeon for a time in the army of Napoleon. He settled at Mount Pleasant in 1824, where he died of cholera in 1834. He was a noted linguist, something of a poet and author, and was regarded as a brilliant and eccentric practitioner.

Dr. Jonathan S. Hunt was a native of North Carolina, where he was born in 1790, moved to Williamson County in 1820, graduated at Transylvania in 1822, and moved to Maury County in 1824, and there remained till his death in 1860.

Dr. Samuel Porter was born in Chesterville, _. Carolina, February 3, 1793, graduated at Transylvania in 1821, and began practice in this county in 1826. He held an extensive practice about Williamsport till his death in 1873.

Dr. Zebina Conkey and A. G. Tracey came to Maury County from New York in 1826, about the same time there came Drs. Hillard Myrick, Mervin Daniel and John Henry Crisp; the two former were graduates of Transylvania, and the latter was a native of North Carolina and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Amos Gray was born in Prince William County, Virginia, in March, 1800. He was graduated at Transylvania in 1827, and at once began practice at Santa Fe. He died October 5, 1870.

Dr. John S. Law was born in Liberty County, Georgia, in 1802, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1827, moved to Maury County in 1833, and died of black tongue in 1844.

Between 1828-30 there settled in Maury County Drs. P. P. Barbour, John Littlefield, Dr. Eskew, H. S. Roberts, Placebo, Bills and Bracken.

Between 1830-40 there were Drs. A. H. Buchanan, S. T. McMurray, of Spring Hill, and Wharton White, who was born in Nashville, January 23, 1819, graduated at Louisville in 1839, and died in 1859.

Dr. G. T. Harris was a native of Rutherford County, where he was born in 1806, was a student of Dr. O'Reiley, before mentioned, and graduated at Transylvania in 1826. His death occurred in 1866.

Since 1840 there have been the following; Drs. A. M. Kellar, A. M. Hamner, N. W. B. Wortham, Milton B. Frierson, James Leach, James E. Sealey.

James H. Frierson, a native of Maury, born in 1812, graduated at Transylvania and died in 1846.

Calvin H. Walker, who was born in Columbia in 1823, and graduated at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, in 1847. He was a gallant colonel of a Confederate regiment in the late war, and was killed by a shell near Marietta, Georgia.

Dr. Wiley T. Perry first saw the light in this county in 1830, graduated at Louisville and died in 1869.

Dr. F. S. Woldridge was born in Franklin in 1826, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1850 and died in 1870.

A. W. Byers was born in 1815, graduated at Louisville in 1840, and died in 1870.

D. J. McCallum was born in Giles County in 1826, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1853, and died in 1864.

Dr. Gomar Wing was from Maine, and was a successful practitioner for many years at Spring Hill.

In addition there were Drs. A. and J. W. Leftwick, Satterfield and the brothers Kilpatrick.

Dr. McKeithen, who was from North Carolina, and who lived with Gen. Lucius J. Polk at his plantation near Spring Hill. He was regarded as a well-read physician.

Maury County Epidemics and Disease

AHGP Tennessee

Source: History of Tennessee, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1886