History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 124

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013

USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 124

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Dr. J. D. Plunket was born in Franklin, Williamson Co., Tenn., Aug. 20, 1839. He was the fourth child of a family of ten-four girls and six boys-which was given to James Plunket and Anna Smyth, the former from Edge- worth, County of Longford, and the latter from Belfast, Ireland. They came to the United States, she in early childhood, and he when a young man, and met in Pater- son, N. J., where they were afterwards married.

James Plunket was for many years an extensive manufac- turer of cotton-mill machinery in Paterson, but during the great financial crash of 1832 his large fortune was utterly wrecked. His courage and determination were equal to the emergency, however, and he resolved to "go West" and begin life anew, and accordingly moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he resided four years. His naturally rare qualifica- tions, coupled with a splendid education, he being a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, made him much sought after as a wise and safe counselor, and he was consulted far and near on difficult questions of scientific mechanics. Having received a liberal offer to take charge of the large cotton- mill and mercantile establishment located at Franklin, Tenn., he accepted, and at once moved his family to that

place. But a short time elapsed until he became the lead- ing proprietor of that then mammoth concern.

In a few months after the arrival of the family at this place, James Dace, the subject of this sketch, was born. Notwithstanding his physique was frail and enfeebled by successive attacks of illness, he early gave evidence of poe- sessing a bright, quick mind, and made rapid progress in his studies. His literary education was conducted under the direction of private tutors, supplemented by a collegiate course. In order to obtain an insight into the laws of trade, and to receive proper drilling in those two cardinal virtues, system and promptness, and which can only be acquired by a course of practical business training, he. entered, at the age of fifteen, the wholesale mercantile establishment of Morgan & Co., of Nashville, where he remained three years, and then accepted a very liberal offer from Messrs. De Annan & Co, of New Orleans, commission merchants. He remained with them a year, and then, abandoning com- mercial pursuits, he began the study of his chosen profes- sion, medicine. In the fall of 1859 we find him a medical student in the office of Dr. George A. J. Mayfield, Nash- ville, Tenn. Twelve months afterwards he became the private pupil of Dr. Joseph Leidy, professor of anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania, in which institution he attended medical lectures, and from which he graduated with distinction, receiving the degree of M.D. in the spring of 1863. During his two years and a half stay in Phila- delphia he spent his summer seasons as an interne in the large and famous hospitals of that city, and was thus af- forded abundant opportunity of applying those principles which he had been taught from the lecturer's desk.

The war between the States had now become a serious affair,* and it was apparent to all that the struggle would be prolonged until one or the other side should become ex- hausted.

Dr. Plunket resolved to at once offer his services to the Confederacy,-the land of his birth and the home of his nearest living relatives. When he arrived at Nashville an order had been issued by the provost-marshal of the United States army to the citizens of Nashville requiring them to take the oath of allegiance to the United States government or to register at his office to be sent South. Dr. Plunket immediately registered to be sent South, and a few days afterwards he was one of a little company under Federal escort wending their way into " Dixie." On arriving within Confederate lines, he, upon the official invitation of Surg .- Gen. Moore, Confederate States army, appeared be- fore a board of medical examiners at Charleston, S. C. With what credit he passed this examination may be seen from the following extract taken from an official notice sent him by this board the following day at his hotel : " Your examination was unexceptionably good, and it is with much regret that the board finds the existing law such as to forbid them the pleasure of unanimously recommending one so proficient to the department at Richmond for com- mission as full surgeon in Confederato States army." He was ordered to the Department of East Tennessee, and was

* As the theory under which the ninety-day soldiers had been et- listed was abandoned.

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assigned to duty as assistant surgeon in the " Frank A. Ramsey Hospital," at Knoxville ; here he remained until the evacuation of East Tennessee, when he was ordered to Cassville, Ga., where the above-named hospital was re-estab- lished. Eight months afterwards Cassville was evacuated in that wonderful retreat of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston from Dalton to Atlanta, when Dr. Plunket petitioned to be ordered into the field, and was assigned to duty with the Fortieth Georgia Regiment of Infantry, Gen. Stovall's Bri- gade, but was shortly afterwards transferred to the Fifty- second Regiment, same brigade, with which he continued to the close of the war, except during the time that he was twice a prisoner of war, being left with the wounded on the field after the battle of New Hope Church, and again at Columbia, Tenn., after the battles around Nashville and Franklin.

After the surrender he returned to Nashville, where he arrived in May, 1865, and at once opened an office and be- gan the practice of medicine.

Having a marked fondness for sanitary science in its broadest significance, and finding Nashville in an extraordi- narily bad sanitary condition, in consequence of the dis- banding of the Federal army, which had been in and around Nashville for the three past years, he soon began to agitate the formation of a local board of health, which took definite shape on June 4, 1866, in the organization of the Nashville Board of Health, composed of ten of the leading physicians of the city as volunteers.

Dr. Plunket was chosen secretary and executive officer of the board. Notwithstanding it was near the end of July following before the City Council by proper enactment gave the board even legal existence,-denying it means, and cloth- ing it with very limited powers,-yet during the disastrous epidemic of cholera that swept the city six weeks later it was enabled to do much good by mitigating the effects of unsanitary localities, and by allaying panic through wise and timely official counsel. This organization continued until the spring of 1869, when the city government was placed by the courts in the hands of a receiver on account of its having become a means of oppression and robbery to its citizens through the noted " Alden Ring."

Upon the eve of the epidemic of 1873, by appointment of his honor the mayor, there was organized a " Sanitary Commission," composed of seven of the leading medical practitioners of Nashville. The services of Dr. Plunket were again called into requisition, and he was made presi- dent of the commission, and by a vigorous and thorough disinfection of the city it is believed the stay of the pesti- lence was shortened and the number of its victims much reduced. In May, 1874, the Board of Health was re- organized, and of the four physicians elected by City Council to compose the board Dr. Plunket was one, and upon its organization was chosen its president. In June, 1876, he was unanimously elected health officer, but declined to accept the office, because of the pay being too small to justify him in giving up his practice. He continued, how- ever, an active member of the board to June, 1879, when he retired, declining re-election on the grounds of the office being a non-paying one, and requiring sacrifices at his hands which he regretted he was unable to continue.

The importance of a State Board of Health he had for many years urged, and, at his suggestion, at the meeting of the State Medical Association in 1874, a committee was appointed to petition the Legislature to establish such an organization. At first all efforts were unsuccessful, and it was not until March, 1877, when, through the almost unaided efforts of Dr. Plunkett, a bill was finally passed by the Legislature establishing "The State Board of Health of the State of Tennessee," authorizing the Gov- ernor to appoint a board consisting of " five physicians of skill and experience, regular graduates of medicine, who have been engaged in practice not less than ten years." Immediately upon the approval of the bill by the Governor, he notified Dr. Plunket of his appointment as a member of the board, and asked him to " name four other physicians through the State who would be worthy to receive and capable of discharging so high a trust, and he would com- mission them." With this request he complied; and, upon organization, Dr. Plunket was unanimously elected presi- dent for the ensuing twelve months, and was re-elected for the four successive terms following. Immediately after the last election (May, 1880) he resigned the office on account of the state of his health, and the steadily increas- ing duties of the office interfering with his professional duties to such an extent as to render it necessary that he should do so.

The trying and demoralizing scenes incident to the yellow fever epidemic which occurred at Memphis in 1879 brought him, as president of the State Board of Health, prominently before not only the people of Tennessee, but of the entire Union, as the difficult and hitherto-in this country at least-untried experiment of quarantining a great inland city was assigned him. This, however, only served as an opportunity for him to display the remarkable executive, administrative, and scientific abilities he pos- sessed, coupled with that courage and unwavering deter- mination which only belongs to one who, knowing his duty, dares to perform it. It was natural that in the enforce- ment of the rigid rules it was found necessary to prescribe he should be met with opposition and protest from some of those whose pecuniary and trade interests were, for the time being, embarrassed. This opposition in some in- stances found expression in the most vehement manner. Dr. Plunket was caricatured in every conceivable manner. Cartoons cleverly . executed were displayed in shop-windows and in many public places ; he was even hung and burned in effigy in the streets of Memphis. The press of the city, while not countenancing such extremes as this, after a time joined in the howl, and that, too, in terms that must subsequently have appeared absurd and puerile even to the writers them- selves. As the epidemic, with all its attendant horrors and excitements, passed away, and the great good effected by the rigid quarantine in confining the pestilence almost within the city limits became apparent, public opinion, with remark- able unanimity, indorsed the action of Dr. Plunket in daring to perform, in the face of such pronounced oppo- sition, this unpleasant duty.

Through the efforts of Dr. Plunket there was held at Memphis, on June 30, 1879, a conference of representa- tives from the various Boards of Health in the Mississippi

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Valley. Eighteen different States were represented, and the convention was resolved into "The Sanitary Council of the Mississippi Valley," with Dr. Plunket as its presi- dent. The great wisdom and advantage of this union of effort was realized and fully appreciated during the epidemic of yellow fever which shortly after developed at Memphis.

Dr. Plunket is a member of the "American Public Health Association," and has twice been elected a member of the executive committee of that body. He is a member of the "American Association for the Advancement of Science," and in 1878 was made chairman of the committee on me- teorology. He is a member of the " American Medical Association," is a member of the " Medicul Society of the State of Tennessee," and from 1865 to 1875 was its per- manent secretary, and for the sixteen years ending April, 1881, he has continuously served as treasurer. He is a member of the " Davidson County Medical Society," and in 1868 was elected to the chair of surgical anatomy in the Medical Department of Cumberland University. In 1870 he was elected alderman from the Third Ward of Nashville, and was chosen president of the City Council. After serv- ing several months in this relation he resigned. He is the author of several papers-" Disinfection of Sewers by Ozone," " Cotton as a Fomite"-and a number of articles scattered through medical journals and the secular press.

On Nov. 19, 1872, he was united in marriage to Eliza Jane, youngest daughter of John Brevette Swope and Frances Hunton, of Boyle County, Ky. There were born to them a daughter and a son, both of whom, however, died in infancy.

JOHN ROBERTSON WILSON, M D.

John Robertson Wilson, M.D, was born in South Caro- lina, on the 4th of April, 1799, and moved, when quite young, with his parents to Rutherford Co., Tenn. He was the second of a large family of children, and, his parents being in very moderate circumstances, he carly learned the important lesson of self-dependence. His early education was obtained principally in a neighboring school. With an untiring energy and perseverance, which he possessed to the fullest degree, he mastered the classics and other branches of education preparatory to attending medical lectures, teach- ing school during the day and reading and studying until late at night, frequently by torchlight.

His medical education was under the supervision of Dr. Wilson Yandell, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. He attended two courses of lectures at Transylvania University, of Lex- ington, Ky., and graduated there in March, 1825, among the first in his class. While there he was the private pupil of Drs. Dudley and Drake, for whom he afterwards enter- tained the highest reverence and estecm. He commenced practicing medicine id McMinnville, Warren Co., Tenn., and afterwards moved to; Murfreesboro', Tenn., near which place he was married to Miss Eliza P. Black, daughter of Samuel P. and Fanny Black. After living in Rutherford County for several years he moved to the vicinity of Nash- ville, where he finally settled, and where he gaincd a very extensive and successful practice, doing a work which none

but the most energetic and determined of natures could have accomplished, acquiring a host of friends among bis patients and a competence for himself and family.

He was very successful in his practice and singularly correct in his diagnosis of cases. He performed some very difficult operations, among the most difficult of which was one for "intussusception of the bowel," performed on the person of a negro man in Rutherford County,-an operation at that time unknown in surgery. The patient recovered and lived to an old age. The notes of the operation having been lost, a more extended notice could not be given. He retired from the practice of medicine about the year 1845 or 1846, and turned his attention to cotton-planting in Yuzoo Co., Miss., and to improving his property in and about Nashville. He died, Aug. 4. 1855, at his residence (Cottage Home), five and a half miles from Nashville, on the Murfreesboro" pike, aged fifty six years.

His wife, Mrs. Eliza P. Wilson, died at the same place January, 1864. Their children were W. L. Wilson, who resides in Nashville; Thomas B. Wilson, near Saunders- ville, Sumner Co .; Mrs. Fanny W. Harris and Lucy W. Harris, near Nashville.

HIRAM V. HOOPER.

Hiram V. Hooper was born near Green Hill, Nelson Co., Tenn., Nov. 20, 1834. His father was John J. Hooper. who removed from Virginia to Tennessee a short time before the birth of his son Hiram. His father was a Virginian, and a soldier of the Revolution. His name was Samuel Hooper.

Hiram Hooper's mother was Mildred R. Watlington, also of an old Virginia family of excellent social position. His father was a man of more than ordinary education and force of character. He gave Hiram not only all the oppor- tunities for education afforded by the district schools, but subsequently placed him under the tuition of Gen. James E. Raines, at Milwood Institute. At a later day he en- tered Bethel College, at Russelville, Ky., where a scientific course of study was begun under Prof. Charles D. Lau- rence, and continued for some time, but not completed on account of the death of his father. This event made it best for the son to assume the charge of his father's farm, which he had under his sole care for the following year.

Young Hooper had traveled extensively through Tennes sce and neighboring States during school vacations in his father's interest. His father was connected with the lead- ing Whig paper of the State,-viz., The Republican. Hle was a zealous politician, a man extensively known, and popular. He was known as the " Whig Missionary." His correspondence with his paper was spicy and very readable. Ile sent his son out to collect for The Republican, and he was kindly reccived everywhere by his father's friends, and for a young man had thus made a wide circle of acquaint- ances, which afterwards became valuable to him when he had removed to Nashville and engaged as a salesman in : wholesale boot and shoe business.

After a year or two of traveling he embarked in the same line of business on his own account, but the civil war

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H. V. HOOPER.

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Photo. by Armstrong, Nashville.

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broke up his business; and though educated a Whig, and theoretically opposed to secession, he was carried by sym- pathy with his State into the Confederate service. He was attached to John H. Morgan's cavalry, afterwards to Gen. Wheeler's command. In October, 1863, he was captured near Lebanon, removed to the prison at Camp Morton, near Indianapolis, and detained there until near the close of hostilities, when he was paroled at Columbus, Miss., and returned to Nashville.

Gathering up the fragments of his former property, he became one of the newly-formed firm of Hollins, Wright & Co., in his old line of business. Between 1866 and 1876 the firm was three times changed as to some of its partners, but every change found Mr. Hooper the successor to the books and business of his predecessors, though his asso- ciates changed. During these ten years the business grew in extent; it was conducted with sagacity and profit, and when, in January, 1876, the present firm of Halls, Hooper & Mitchell was formed, it held a very prominent position in the trade, and continues so to do.

The war effected almost the total destruction of the job- bing trade of Nashville. Only by strenuous and united efforts has the tendency to seek larger markets been over- come by demonstrating to the trade that they could be as well served here as farther north. Large stocks have been kept in all staple branches of trade ; the merchants have co-operated with each other generally, and when one could not supply the wants of a buyer he has freely and cheer- fully taken the buyer to a neighbor, being desirous to have the buyer suited at Nashville if possible. One result arising from this determined effort to make Nashville equal to any competing market has been to repress the small jealousies and rivalries among different houses. New firms have been welcomed, for the larger the stocks kept the more securely was the trade held here. Nowhere is there a more fraternal spirit among merchants exhibited than in the city of Nashville.

Mr. Hooper married Miss Sally Long, daughter of Nim- rod Long, Esq., of Russelville, Ky., Nov. 18, 1869. Her death occurred May 29, 1877, since which time he has remained a widower. No children were born to them.

Mr. Hooper has never taken active part in politics, though entertaining decided political convictions, his entire attention being devoted to the care of his extensive and growing business.

JAMES A. HARWOOD.

James A. Harwood, son of William M. and Sarah (Griz- zard) Harwood, was born on the Big Harpeth River, Dav- idson Co., Tenn., Jan. 11, 1811. His father was a native of Virginia, and settled in Tennessee in the year 1794. He married Sarah Grizzard in 1804. She was a native of North Carolina.

James A. Harwood was reared on the farm. His advan- tages for education were very limited. On the 22d of July, 1834, he married Verlinda C. Beazley, from Virginia, and immediately removed to Gibson Co., Tenn., where he purchased a small farm and built a log cabin. As years passed his farm increased in size, until he owned some six

hundred acres. In 1847 he entered the mercantile busi- ness, which he carried on in connection with his farm until 1865, when he went to Memphis, and was there engaged for two years in the cotton trade, when he returned to David- son County and settled in District Five, on what is known as Mount Airy Fruit-farm, since which time he has given much attention to the cultivation of various kinds of fruits. Mr. Harwood has seven living sons by his first marriage, and one son by his second.

Mrs. Verlinda C. (Beazley) Harwood was born Nov. 8. 1815, and died Sept. 15, 1857. Mr. Harwood married Lydia R. Everett, Feb. 22, 1858. She was born May 27, 1825, and is the daughter of Thomas H. and Elizabeth Everett, and granddaughter of John Buchanan, one of the pioneers of Davidson County.

Mr. Harwood is a progressive farmer and fruit-grower of Davidson County. A man of unsullied character and truc to all the duties of a good citizen, he has held various offices to the satisfaction of his constituents.

BURRIL G. WOOD.

Burril G. Wood was born in Harrison Co., Ky., Jan. 2, 1830. He was the son of William F. Wood and Rebecca (Hill) Wood.

He had common-school advantages, and attended the Georgetown College at intervals till he was fifteen years of age. At this time his father removed to Lexing- ton, Ky. At eighteen years of age he joined the Third Kentucky Volunteers in the Mexican war, Miles B. Thomp- son colonel, and John C. Breckenridge major, of his regi- ment. He was in the City of Mexico when peace was made. Returning from the war, he next apprenticed him- self to the trade of boiler-making at Pittsburgh, Pa., where he worked at the Fort Pitt Works.

In 1851 he came to Nashville as a journeyman. In 1859 he began business for himself in his present location. The establishment (Wood & Simpson) is the oldest in the city of its kind, at present employing twenty to twenty-five men. Mr. Wood was not interrupted by the war, but kept his business moving, while many were less fortunate.

He has not been ambitious for office, though he has been called to represent his ward in City Councils.

He has been identified with every exposition held in Nashville, including the Centennial Exposition. Of three out of four of them he has held the position of chairman of the committee on machinery and power. This indicates the regard in which he has been held in his department of business.

In politics he was an old-line Whig before the war, but since that event has been in sympathy with the Democratic party.

Mr. Wood married Sarah A. Allen, of Nashville, in 1863, by whom he has two children living.

PATRICK BYRNE.

Patrick Byrne was born in Kingstown, near Dublin, Ire- land, on the 28th of February, 1840. Kingstown is a sea-

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port, and young Byrne from early boyhood had a strong love of sea-life.

He was educated in the common branches at home, chose the trade of a carpenter, and showed such skill and proficiency in it that at eighteen years of age he was made foreman in the first steam carpenter-shop in Dublin.

He entered the evening classes in Dublin University, taking instruction in higher mathematics, engineering, mechanical and architectural drawing.

Shortly after reaching the position of foreman of the above-named establishment the owner retired, and Mr. Byrne was thrown out of employment. He visited Lon- don, and after passing a competitive examination secured the position of assistant draughtsman at Chatham navy- yard. Here he improved his opportunity for further educa- tion, and studied navigation. In about a year he was pro- moted to the position of assistant sailing-master in the British navy, and appointed to the Brazilian squadron, where he spent about one year.

On the breaking out of the civil war, being in sympathy with the South, he resigned his position in the navy to join the Southern navy, and to secure his end he shipped on a blockade-runner from Liverpool for Charleston, S. C.

There was no navy organized on his arrival, so he re- mained in the blockade service. He was in this service three years and nine months, acting as second officer till his capture at Wilmington, N. C. He was removed to New York until paroled in February, 1865. His experience during this service was full of adventure and excitement.

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 124

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1013

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013