Polk County Physicians (part 1)
Dr. William Campbell has prepared a list of Polk County physicians using several sources including the list that appears in The History of Polk County, TN 1839 - 1999, medical directories, the R. E. Barclay books on the Copper Basin, and other lists. He has attempted to verify the doctor's presence in the county and give educational information where possible. Many thanks to Dr. Campbell for sharing his research with us.
Akins, Elias M., a 1903 graduate of Chattanooga Medical College. Practiced in Polk from 1903 -1916. He was in Etowah, TN in 1925.
Alexander, Joseph M., was in Polk in 1840, but unable to find information on him.
Albright, A. Sylvester, an 1876 Tennessee Gazette list him as S. Albright at Ducktown. R.E. Barclay records him as Aubright and indicates he graduated the University of Pennsylvania where alumni information says a Joseph Scheide Albright graduated in medicine in 1860 and died in 1881.
Barna, P. Ivey, unable to identify.
Barnes, James Jackson, verified in Benton and Copperhill from 1898 -1916. He was a graduate of Chattanooga Medical College, 1898.
Baron, Richard J., practiced in Benton from 1982 – 1984, but unable to verify education.
Beeler, M. W. is verified in Benton 1860, but unable to identify education.
Blitch, Joseph J., a graduate of the University of the south Medical College in 1900. Practiced in Polk in 1902 and in South Carolina in 1906.
Brooks, Adolphus, in Ducktown in 1886; no education information.
Bradford, James, not verified, but could be the same James Bradford who had graduated from Atlanta College of Medicine in 1912 and was practicing in Murray County, Georgia in 1938.
Bryan, James A., in Benton in 1983 then Copper Basin; a 1969 UT graduate.
Burdett, George M., may be the same person who was in Lenoir City, TN in 1904 who was a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia, 1896.
Burdine, James, graduate of the Medical College of Georgia, 1944; in Copperhill about 1950.
Burdine, Winston, a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia 1939 and in Copperhill about 1950.
Burns, Robert Aexander, graduated from Bowman Gray Medical College, 1947. Although his office was in Blue Ridge, he was on the staff at Copper Basin Hospital.
Campbell, William O., graduated University of Tennessee, Memphis, 1962, and was on the staff of Copper Basin Hospital, 1966-1977. (Author of this article.)
Casteel, L. R., a graduate of the University of Nashville Medical college, 1893; practiced in Polk 1901.
Casteel, William J., a graduate of Lincoln Memorial Medical College, Knoxville, 1898. In Polk County 1901.
Cate, W., Verified in Benton 1886, but no educational information.
Center, H. E., this is most likely the same H. E. Center who was in Etowah in 1914, a graduate of Atlanta College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1899. In 1899 many persons who had worked in medicine were given certificates to practice., and may have attended medical school later.
Chastain, Ben, unable to identify
Chastain, Garvin Kent, University of Tennessee, 1982, currently practicing in Cleveland, Tennessee (2000)
Clemmer, J. M.. verified in Benton 1898, but no educational information found.
Cochran, R. Peeler, a graduate of Chattanooga Medical College, 1901. In Bradley County in 1906.
Cofer, George H., believed to be George H. Cope (see listing below.)
Colvard, Thomas William, a graduate of Tennessee Medical College, Knoxville, 1894.
Cooke, J. Kenneth, graduate of UT, 1948 and in Ducktown about 1950.
Cope, George H., a 1890 graduate of Chattanooga Medical College.
Copeland, Warren Jones, a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, 1861 and in Polk from 1860 until 1912. Studied medicine under Dr. Pendergrass on Cookson Creek.
Cronan, Elijah Newton, verified in Benton 1898, no educational information found.
DeArmond, George W. unable to identify.
Doyle, B. M., not identified.
Evans, Arthur, a 1950 graduate of UT and in Copperhill early 1950s.
Fields, S. R., must have been Swan R. Fielding who was in Knoxville 1904; no educational information except licensed in 1889.
Fitzsimmonds, Charles M., is verified in Heliotrope in 1887 but no further information found.
Fitzsimmonds, William J., in Heliptrope 1887, a graduate of the University of Nashville, 1883.
Fitzsimmonds, John A., verified in Benton 1850 and 1860 but no educational information.
Fleming, Robert N., born Rowan Co., NC; education mainly at Maryville College, Blount Co. ‘read’ medicine in Anderson County; in Benton 1850 – 1864.
Foreman, Richard; no information found except listed in the History of Polk County which mentioned that Foreman had written a book on Cherokee medicine. (1806)
Froneberger, William R., graduated from Tennessee Medical College, Knoxville, 1896 and in Polk in 1916.
Garcia, Joe, University of Tennessee Medical College, 1944; worked a short time in Ducktown
Garner, John C. C., a graduate of the Medical College of Ohio in 1881; ‘read’ medicine under Dr. Joseph Upton of Monroe County in 1861 and attended medical College at Nashville in the fall of that same year. He served as a surgeon in Confederate Army.
Garrett, W. V., a graduate of Atlanta Medical College, 1894 and in Polk 1904.
Gatewood, B. C., verified in Polk County 1860; no educational information found.
Gattinger, Augustus, medical education in Germany, in Polk in 1860.
Gee, James M., listed in Lillard's History of Polk County in 1890, but unable to confirm unless this was Dr. J. M. McGee who is listed below.
Geisler, Francis Otto was a graduate of the University of Nashville in 1908 and in Polk from 1910 - 1940s.
Gilbert, John Franklin, a graduate of Chattanooga Medical College, 1900 and in Polk from 1909 -1916.
Gilliam, William Young, a 1906 graduate of Atlanta College of Physicians and Surgeons; in Polk 1906 - 1960s.
Goodman, John, verified in Polk 1860. If this was the same John Goodman in Louisville, KY in 1886, he had graduated from the Univ. of Louisville in 1859.
Grable, Theodore James, a 1942 graduate of Tulane University, 1942; he practiced part-time in Ducktown in the 1970s after he retired from Florida.
Grady, John L., a graduate of Creighton University School of Medicine Omaha and licensed in 1977; lived in Benton area, but worked Emergency Room, Copper Basin and Etowah.
Grayson, Ronald James, University of Illinois; license 1970 and in Ducktown 1982-3.
Gregory, A. W., verified in Benton 1898; no educational info found.
Gregory, David W., verified in Benton 1893 and 1898, but no educational information found.
Gregory, Morain, unable to identify.
Gross, Lans M. a 1947 graduate of the University of Tennessee, practiced in Polk County from 1958 - 1968.
Guinn, Abraham Jasper, a 1915 graduate of Atlanta Medical College and Polk 1916 - 1956.
Hambright, J. E., unabe to identify; was supposed to have been in Polk in 1874.
Haymore, James Monroe, a graduate of the University of Tennessee, 1958. His primary practice was in North Georgia, but was on the staff of Copper Basin Hospital.
Hawkins, James, unable to verify that he was in Polk in 1840; there was a James E. Hawkins who graduated from Transylvania Medical College, Lexington KY in 1835
Hewson, Wilfred John, a graduate of Northwestern Medical College, Chicago, IL, 1908 and in Polk in 1916.
Hicks, Thomas J., a graduate of Emory Medical College in 1917, in Polk from 1917 - 1960s.
Higdon, John L., unable to identify.
Holmes, in Polk in 1860; could be Alman Holmes, a 1852 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania who died in Clinton, North Carolina.
Houston, James W., is verified in Polk 1890 and 1893; no educational information found unless he was the James Houston in Brodies, Tennessee who received a license in 1889, the same year many practicing doctors were 'grandfathered' into the profession.
Hunter, Samuel M., is verified in Polk in 1876 - 1890 and was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, 1853. (See picture of Dr. Hunter and his family, p. 15.)
Hutchins, Joseph E., a graduate of Chattanooga Medical College, 1901 and Vanderbilt Medical College, 1905. Practiced in Polk from 1903 - 1912.
Hyatt, Herschel Hazen, a graduate of the University of Tennessee Medical College, 1925. In Polk 1925-1976.
Hyde, Humphrey Posey, a graduate of Atlanta School of Medicine, 1912; practiced in Polk 1925-1958.
Hyder, Robert Lee, graduated Tennessee Medical College, 1901 and in Polk 1901 - 1912.
Jacobe, George Clinton, a graduate of Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery, 1908 and was with the Tennessee Copper Company and Ducktown Chemical and Iron from 1908 - 1913.
Johnson, J. E., in Benton 1893 and 1898, but no educational information.
Jones, John T., licensed in 1889 probably through the 'grandfather clause.'
Kemp, Roy Cleon, a graduate of Atlanta College of Physicians & Surgeons, 1913 and in Polk 1925.
Ketcherside, James Douglas is verified in Ducktown 1876, but no educational information, and may not have had a medical diploma.
Ketcherside, James Napoleon was a graduate of the University of City of New York, 1873 and practiced from 1873 - 1876.
Kimsey, Charles Windom, a graduate of UT Medical College, 1952 and in Ducktown 1953-1955.
Kimsey, Frederick Manning was a graduate of Vanderbilt, 1890 and practiced 1890 - 1929.
Kimsey, Lucius Emelius, a graduate of Vanderbilt, 1888 and practiced 1888-1930s.
Kimsey, Windom William, a graduate of Atlanta Medical College, 1915 and in Polk 1915 - 1924.
Lowery, James B., (erroneously listed as Lavery) a graduate of the University of Nashville, 1895 and in Polk in 1900.
Layne, J. T., a graduate of University of Tennessee College of Medicine, 1952. Practiced in Polk 1950s -1980s. Was head of Tennessee Copper Company Medical Dept.
Lee, William Reese, a graduate of Baylor Medical College, 1957; practiced in Polk 1950s -1980s.
Lewis, Albert Washington, a 1901 graduate of the University of Nashville Medical College; in Polk 1909.
Lillard, John Hubert, graduated U. T. Medical College, 1934 and in Polk from 1936 - 1958.
Lucas, Paul, unable to identify.
Lyons, Thomas, was in Ducktown in 1876 at the same time as Dr. James Ketcherside. Late in 1876, Ketcherside moved to Marten, Georgia and in 1882 there was a Thomas Lyon who graduated Atlanta Medical College in 1882 and went to Marten, Georgia whom I believe was training under Dr. Ketcherside in 1876.
McClary, Jacob Lake, probably the same as J. L. listed as being in Polk in the 1880s; a graduate of the University of Nashville, 1898.
McClary, Spencer Boyd, a brother to Jacob Lake and a 1904 graduate of Memphis Hospital Medical College. Practiced in Polk from 1909 – 1930.
McGee, J. M., verified at Rymer in Polk County in 1886, but no educational information found.
McDowell, F. M., unable to identify.
McDowell, J. L., unable to identify except on Lillard’s History of Polk County list as being in Polk County in 1912. There was a J. L. McDowell who graduated University of Louisville, KY 1890. On primary listings, he was in Kentucky.
McKowan, P. F., practiced Polk 1914; unable to identify.
McMahon, Charles G., a 1906 graduate of the College of Medicine and Surgeons, University of Minnesota. Was in charge of Tennessee Copper Hospital in 1912.
Marshall, W. R., in Polk in 1876 and could be the William R. Marshall in Cleveland, Tennessee who graduated from the University of Nashville in 1887. It’s possible that he was in training in 1876 and listed as a doctor, which was common practice in the 70s and 80s.
Mayfield, Benjamin, no dates but there was a Benjamin Mayfield (1819-1900) who was a Confederate Army surgeon. He began practice in Cherokee County, North Carolina a neighboring County to Polk.
Miller, Phyllis Edwards, a graduate of the University of Tennessee 1972, now practicing in Chattanooga, TN (2000). Polk County's First Female Doctor.
Miller, Theodore, verified in Polk in 1860, but no educational information found.
Nankivell, James R., a graduate of University of New York City Medical College, 1878; he had trained under Dr. Napoleon Ketcherside in Ducktown in 1876.
Niles, W. H., a native of New York and a 1913 graduate of Atlanta College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was in Tellico Plains in 1925 and murdered in Polk County in 1933 at age 47.
Nuchols, John David, Blount County, TN, a graduate of Tennessee Medical College, Knoxville, 1891. Practiced in Polk 1909 – 1930; died in Benton 1932 at age 64.
Oswald, Felix Leopold (1845-1906) trained in Europe (Belgium); lived on Oswald Dome, above Benton in 1880s; wrote several books including Vaccination – A Crime.
Park, James Franklin, a graduate of Chattanooga Medical College in 1902; listed as being in Polk in 1898.
Parks, James G., (Bill Campbell’s great-uncle). About 1881 James G. “thought about” studying medicine and may have gone to medical college one year, then he studied law and was a member of the Tennessee Legislature, a judge in Cleveland and an Attorney for the Tennessee Copper Company.
Patton, first name not known but was said to be in Polk 1840 although not listed on the census.
Prendergrass, Nathan, verified in Polk 1850 and 1860 but no educational information found.
He died in the 1860s and his widow married Dr. Warren Copeland.
Postelle, J. M., a graduate of Baltimore Medical College, 1894; verified in Ducktown 1898.
Prince, E. L., a graduate of the University of Nashville, 1891; was in Parksville and Copper Basin early in his career, but most of his professional life was in Fannin County, Georgia. He did move back to Benton in 1950.
Recto, Efren, a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila and practiced in Ducktown 1984 and 1985.
Rogers, Karl, (erroneously listed as Earl), son of Hassan Rogers and brother of Olin, graduated University of Nashville, 1907.
Rogers, Hassan Allan, trained with J. Napoleon Ketcherside of Ducktown and a 1878 graduate of University of New York City Medical College.
Rogers, Olin, a graduate of the University of Nashville, 1910.
Shearer, M. D., a 1905 graduate of the University of Nashville Medical college.
Shields, J. A., 1903 graduate of Chattanooga Medical College; in Polk 1917.
Shields, Lester, University of Tennessee, 1930.
Simpson, Oscar L., a 1951 graduate of UT; practiced Copperhill early 1950s.
Simpson, Robert L., a graduate of UT, 1951, and in Copperhill early 1950s.
Slack, Abraham, listed as a doctor living in the first district on the 1870 Polk County census, but may have also practiced in neighboring McMinn County where, in 1893, there was an Abraham Slack who was not a regular doctor, but an eclectic.
Slack, W. H., may have been the William Henry Slack who graduated Vanderbilt College 1876
Sloan, Fielding, 1860, is listed in the Lillard book as having died in Polk County in the Civil War. He is mentioned several times in his brother James’ Diary, as ‘my brother the Doctor’ .
Smith, John B., identified in Polk 1850; a John B. Smith died in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Spargo, James, probably the same person as S. J. Spargo who was a graduate of the University of Tennessee Dental College, 1895.
Standridge, John B. II, a graduate of the University of Tennessee Medical College, 1974.
Sterufus, never able to identify.
Strauss, Chauncey Walter, graduate of Northwestern Medical college, Chicago, 1911. He was a Tennessee Copper Company doctor.
Stuart, Fred B., Baltimore Medical College, 1904, and verified in Polk in 1912.
Stuart, James H., listed as a physician in Polk County in 1850 census living next door to the Shields mill in Parksville; educational background not found. (Name is Stewart in census.)
Sullivan, W. H., graduated Chattanooga Medical College 1899, in Bradley County by 1914.
Swan, Edward A., a 1886 graduate of the University of Nashville.
Taylor, Robert Newton, a graduate of Chattanooga Medical College, 1901 with a Benton address; evidently also practiced in 1890 with a ‘grandfather clause’ certificate.
Travena, William Arthur, a graduate of the Atlanta School of Medicine in 1911; practiced in Polk 1912 – 1940.
Trew, John A., on the 1850 Polk County census as a 45 year old physician born in PA; but no
educational information available.
Unahalekhaka, Arneth, a graduate of the Siriraj Hospital, University of Thailand and practiced in Copperhill in 1979.
Vaughn, J. D., verified in Polk 1887-1898, but no educational information found.
Von Henner, Charles Mason, a graduate of Loma Linda College, Los Angeles, CA and licensed in 1951.
Vereen, Stacy; a graduate of Adelaide, Austria (?) licensed in 1980; in Polk 1982.
Walker, C. F. mentioned as being in Polk, 1901, (not on 1900 Polk Census) but in 1904 and 1914 he was in neighboring Cherokee County, NC; no educational information available.
Walker, Ealhn Russell, a graduate of the University of Iowa, 1905, and verified in Copperhill in 1909.
Womack, Riley B., listed on 1910 Polk Census as a 65 year old physician in general practice; educational information not found.
Wood, Frank Henderson came to Copperhill 1985; a 1983 graduate of UT Medical College.
Woods, Lloyd, unable to identify.
Wright, Willie Blount, identified by Dr. Ben Harris McClary in his Fun, Fact, Philosophy: The Diary of John Coffee Williamson as having been born in Blount County in 1811 and removed to Benton after the death of his wife in 1838, then to Arkansas before the Civil War where he was killed. Medical education background not known.
Zachary, Warner C., a graduate of the University of Tennessee Medical College, 1952.
Note from the author, Dr. Bill Campbell: For anyone interested in more on this subject, the History of Bradley County by Roy Lillard has a section on doctors and several have a Polk County connection. (Dr. Campbell can be contacted at 4900 Bal Harbor Drive, Chattanooga TN, 37416.)