Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 63

Author: Speer, William S
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Tennessee > Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee > Part 63

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Going back, we find he was married, April 3, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Church, daughter of Dr. Wil- liam Church, a prominent physician at Pittsburg, who died in the year 1829. Her paternal grandfather was also a physician. Her father's brother, Samuel Church, was a leading iron manufacturer and merchant at Pitts burg, a bosom friend of Alexander Campbell, and a great promoter of his Baptist reform. Her brother, William Irwin Church, was also a physician, having studied, and afterwards become a partner, with her husband, Dr. Dake, He died at Pittsburg, in 1862. Though early left an orphan, and inheriting a delicate constitution, Mrs. Dake received a good education in her girlhood. Possessed of a natural fondness for lit erary work, she has written many lines of great merit, chiefly known, however, to friends in affliction, words of comfort and consolation. With a strong religious bias and inspiration, she has always been devoted to her church, and the interests of the poor and the distressed. Since her children have grown up, so as to engross less

of her attention, she has been a manager in the board of the Woman's Mission Home and of the Protestant Orphan Asylum at Nashville. A more devoted wife and mother and faithful dispenser of charity, all without os- tentation, cannot be found.

By his marriage with Miss Church, Dr. Dake has five children, all sous, born at Pittsburg, except the youngest: (1). William Church, the eldest, was born at Pittsburg, January 28, 1852. His literary education was received at Ypsilanti, Michigan, and at Nashville, where he graduated from the high school. He studied medicine in his father's office, and graduated from the medical department of the University of Nashville. He also attended lectures at the New York Homeopathic Med- ical College and the elinies at Bellevue Hospital. Since 1872, he has been associated with his father in practice. Besides an excellent reputation as a successful practi- tioner, he has won some fame.as a medical writer. Ilis work ou diphtheria, founded on a large experience in treating that disease, stands high as an authority in Eurpoe as well as in this country. In 1873 he married Miss Myra Wiggin, daughter of Richard Wiggin, a well known railroad superintendent at Pittsburg. She lived only three months after her marriage. He married a sister of his first wife, Miss Addie Wiggin, in 1878, and by her has had two children, Richard W. and Bessie C. (2). Walter M. was born January 16, 1855, and received his literary education at Nashville; studied medicine in his father's office; attended lectures at the University of Tennessee, at the Pulte Medical College, Cincinnati, and at the Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, taking the diploma of the last named in thespring of 1877. Hav- ing a strong love for literary pursuits, he hesitated some time before falling into line with hisancestry in the pro- fession of medicine. After graduation, he located for a short while at Jackson, Tennessee, where he was doing well when called to Nashville to aid his father and elder brother, with whom he has since been associated. He married Miss Fanny G. Ward, eldest daughter of S. M. Ward. a planter, at Jefferson, Texas. In regard to these brothers, it may be remarked, that it seldom happens that such harmony and success are seen to attend two brothers associated in professional life. Each has a strong and enthusiastic following, and is widely known in Tennessee, (3). Jabez P., jr., was born September 15, 1857, and educated chiefly at Nashville, graduating from the Fogg high school, attending lectures at the medical department of the University of Tennessee and the University of Michigan, and taking his medical degree from the latter, in 1879. He located at New Albany, Indiana, but was prevented remaining there long by failure of his health. Giving up practice, he visited the Hot Springs, Arkansas, and other health re- sorts. So far as able, he now assists his father and brothers in their practice at Nashville, (4). Charles, was born July 13. 1860, and received his literary edu- cation at Nashville, and in the Southwestern Baptist

286

PROMINENT TENNESSEANS.

University, at Jackson, Tennessee. He attended lec- tures at the medical department of the University of Tennessee, and graduated there in the spring of 1881. The summer after graduation he spent at Hot Springs, in charge of the business of a practitioner who had gone to Europe. He afterward located at Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained till the removal of his friend from Hot Springs and the urgent calls of ac- quaintances there occasioned his return to that place, in the autumn of 1883. Though young, he holds his pro- fessional knowledge and measures with such a grip as to command confidence and win success. (5). Frank B., was born at Salem, Ohio, September 10, 1861. He was educated at Nashville, and afterward attended Weaver's Business College, at Louisville, Kentucky. After hes- itating as to the profession of his father and brothers, he finally concluded to follow their example, and is now attending lectures at the medical department of the University of Temiessee.

Dr. Dake imbibed the religious beliefs of his fathers, uniting with the Baptist church when he was eleven years old; and, looking back, he now considers his early profession of religion as a great safe-guard during the trying years of youth. Though connected with the Baptist church for so many years, he is not in full ac- cord with its teachings upon all subjects. He claims the right to theorize and generalize for himself' upon accepted facts. In religion, as in medicine, he submits to no authority without thinking, and considers free thought and investigation essential to the truth and to the happiness of man, no less in spiritual than in tem- poral affairs. His wife, at the time of marriage, was a member of the Disciple or Christian church, but re- moved her membership to the Baptist church soon after.

Dr. Dake, though strictly professional, has given some attention to outside financial ventures, some of which have been unsuccessful, yet he has acquired a compe- tency. Professional men, he thinks, should invest only in the best securities, such as require but little personal attention, even though they afford less income than some others may promise. If there is any special secret in his success it is in untiring application wisely exercised, at first in student life and then in professional life. His efforts have done much to forward the interests of the new school of medicine, especially in the South. As a member of the yellow fever commission, in 1878, he endeavored to show, by statistical gathernigs, the superior efficacy of the homeopathie treatment in that dreaded disease. His medical writings are recognized in Europe, as well as America, as among the most fin- . ished. No American physician of the new school is more favorably known in England.

Besides holding membership in the national society of his school and his State and local medical societies, he has been made an honorary member of numerous other associations of physicians, among which may be mentioned the Homeopathie Medical Society of Mex- ico; the State Societies of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and other States; the Western Academy of Ho- moopathy, and an active member of the American Public Health Association. Dr. Dake has recently returned from his third visit to Europe, having been obliged to go there with his son, Dr. J. P. Dake, jr., in the interest of health for both. In this last travel abroad his attention was given to matters of art, as well as to the eyelopadia being published in London, under the editorship of Dr. Hughes and himself. He is yet at work, with the prospect of years of usefulness.

WILLIAM T. ARRINGTON, D. D. S.

MEMPHIS.

W ILLIAM T. ARRINGTON, of Memphis, now one of the most eminent dental surgeons in the South, was born at Dresden, Weakley county, Tennes- see, November 11, 1836, and passed his youth in that place. He was brought up on a farm and received an academic education at Dresden. After this he was engaged in the drug business, as a clerk, for two years, and during that time read a course in medicine, which he at the time contemplated adopting as his profession. In 1853 he went to Hickman, Kentucky, but shortly afterward, his health failing, went to the parish of Plaquemines, Louisiana, where he remained one year. Hle then went to Goldsborongh, North Carolina, and resumed the study of medicine under the tutorship of his brother, Dr. B. F. Arrington, and also took up the

study of dentistry. Subsequently, he gave up medicine altogether and devoted himself to dentistry, following the example and advice of his brother. In the fall of 1851, be entered the Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery, and graduated there in 1856, in a class with Dr. J. Foster Flagg, of Philadelphia.

After leaving college he located at Trenton, Tennes- see, built up a large practice, and remained there until the breaking out of the war. When hostilities began he went to Union City, Tennessee, where the Confeder- ate troops were assembled, and became connected with the quartermaster's department, serving in that capacity until the evacuation of that place, in 1862. His health again failing, he resigned and returned to his old home at Dresden, where he engaged in farming until the

٠٠.

287

PROMINENT TENNESSEANS.

spring of 1864. He then went to Hickman, Kentucky, and engaged in commercial. enterprises until the close of the war. After the war he went to Memphis and again resumed the practice of his profession, since which time he has remained there, enjoying a very large and lucrative practice. During all his changes of resi- dence and business he has been uniformly successful and prosperous.

In 1867. he was called to Cincinnati to fill a chair in the Cincinnati College of Dental Surgery, but remained there only during one course, when he resigned.

In 1869, together with Dr. William H. Morgan, of Nashville, and other prominent dentists, he organized the Southern Dental Association, and was elected its first president, at Atlanta, in August of that year. In connection with Dr. Morgan, he was also one of the organizers of the Tennessee Dental Association, in 1867, and was its first secretary and afterwards its pres- ident. He is also a member of the National Dental As- sociation.

In recent years, Dr. Arrington has become largely connected with mining interests, and is secretary and treasurer of the Indus Mining company, of New Mexico, and also secretary and treasurer of several large enter- prises in old and New Mexico.

Dr. Arrington was raised an old line Whig, but, like most men at the South, abided the wishes of his State and went with her when she left the Union. Since the war he has been a Democrat. He has, however, always avoided politics, shrinking from public life and refusing to hold any political office, preferring to devote himself to his profession. He became an Odd Fellow in 1879, and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Royal Asylum, and the Knights of Honor. He passed through all the chairs of three of these in the year in which he was initiated. He and his wife are both members of the Protestant Episcopal church.

In 1876, he was elected a member of the public school board of Memphis, and, being re-elected from time to time, served until January, 1852, when he resigned. He was an carnest advocate of equal rights and equal com- pensation for male and female teachers.

Dr. Arrington's father was James HI. Arrington, a gentleman of Scotch English descent, born in North Carolina, January 4, 1801. He was a planter, and in 1826, moved to Tennessee, settled at Paris, and engaged largely in that occupation. He died in 1862, leaving one daughter and five sons, three of whom are now living: (1). Dr. B. F. Arrington, a dentist, and now resident of Goldsborough, North Carolina. (2). Dr. John Arrington, also a dentist, at Jackson, Tennessee. (3). Dr. William T. Arrington, subject of this sketch.

Another son, J. J. Arrington, went to California dur- ing the " gold fever," and subsequently took an active part in politics, serving in the State senate of California for several terms. He was the first brigadier-general commissioned in California, and at the beginning of the

war started south to join Breckinridge's army, was de- tained in St. Louis by the Federal authorities, and while there met with an accident which resulted in his death.

Dr. Arrington's mother's maiden name was Mary Sprouille. She was the daughter of Dr. Sprouille, of Dublin, Ireland, who was educated in that city, came to America, settled in North Carolina, on Albemarle Sound, and there achieved success and distinction as a medical practitioner. Mrs. Arrington was the sister of Gen. Samuel Sprouille and Col. Ben. Sprouille, of North Carolina. Her mother was Miss Mary W .. Blount, a member of the Blount family, of North Carolina, from which Gov. Blount, of Tennessee, was descended.

On January 18, 1859, Dr. Arrington was married to Miss Enna C. Levy, daughter of Archibald Levy, then a merchant at Trenton, Tennessee, formerly of Georgia. Mrs. Arrington's mother was Miss Overall, a member of the well-known Rutherford county family of that name. Iler grandfather was Louis Levy, a merchant at St. Mary's, Georgia; and her grandmother was Miss Ann Patterson, daughter of Col. John Patterson, of Philadelphia, one of the old Revolutionary patriots. Mrs. Arrington's grandmother was remarkable for her Christian and womanly virtues." She died in Philadel- phia at a very advanced age. At the time of her death there were living of her descendants thirteen children, fifty-three grandchildren, and thirty-six great-grand- children -- in all one hundred and two direct descendants.

By his marriage with Miss Levy, Dr. Arrington has two children : (1). William T. Arrington. born in 1868. (2). Quy Arrington, born in 1874.

Dr. Arrington has always loved his profession and faithfully devoted the best years of his life to it, strictly adhering to the policy of having no partner, and saying but little of his successes or failures. While socially inclined, he has never formed many confidential friend- ships, but has confided in his wife for counsel and assistance. He has always conducted his business on the principle of never putting off till to-morrow what can be done to-day ; has studiously avoided all lawsuits or controversies of any sort. believing in the settlement of' disagreements by milder means. He has always been temperate in his habits, and has but few troubles, study- ing always to avoid them. He is fond of scientific in- vestigation, which he follows as a labor of love. Cour- teous to all men, respecting rich and poor alike, he never makes discriminations under any circumstances. A member of the medical profession in Memphis says of him : " He stands at the head of his profession, and is a gentleman of the highest tone-of veracity, integ- rity and morality."

He has a fine store of general information, and is perfectly at home upon a great variety of subjects. In disposition genial, and inclined toward social conver- sation, he is also serupulously particular about treating all men, high and low, with the utmost courtesy, which

١٠٠ ١٠١٠٠٠

288

PROMINENT TENNESSEANS.

at once makes them at case in his presence. He never says anything which would wound the feelings of any one, and demands the same treatment from others, de- spising, as he does, discourtesy and impoliteness. As a friend, he is faithful, and will not allow an absent friend to be censured withont coming to his defense. Affee Gionate and kind as a husband and father, positive in his nature, quick in his susceptibilities and decided in his views, he is, nevertheless, always willing to yield and make reparation when he is in error. The follow ing is the estimate placed upon him by a leading mem- ber of the Memphis bar : " Dr. Arrington has been a resident of Memphis for twenty years. I have known him intimately in all the relations of his life, as a hus- band, a father and a friend, and he has been all that a

true, faithful, brave man could be. He has no superior in his profession, and there is no man who enjoys more of the confidence of the people of Memphis. Hle has been eminently successful in his life's work, and belongs to the highest order of manhood."

Dr. Arrington not only ranks all the me.abers of his profession in Memphis, but it may be safely said in Tennessee. It is said his work is even more celebrated in Europe than here, and is readily recognized as his without any other evidence. He is a man of fine ao- complishments in every way, and his name is one of the immovable jewels of the proud young city of Memphis . -an honor to dentistry, and, in a measure, the redemp- tion of it -- a name, indeed, prominent among the emi- nent gentlemen of the South.

DEERING J. ROBERTS, M. D.

VASILVILLE.

D EERING J. ROBERTS, M.D., was born in Nashville, Tennessee, May 20, 1810. His father was JJohn Roberts, who came to Nashville from London, England, in 1835, a practical printer, and for a number of years was one of the proprietors of the Nashville daily and weekly Republican Banner. His mother, Eliza Sheegog, was born in Cheshire, England, her father being John Sheegog, a barrister at law, who removed from Ireland to London a few years before her birth. The subject of this sketch was the third of a family of seven children, six boys and one girl. He was educated in the best private schools of Nashville, until he at- tained his seventeenth year, when he commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Alfred R. Griffith as a preceptor. He entered the medical department of the University of Nashville in the winter of 1858-9, attend- ing the succeeding summer session, and graduating at the annual commencement of the session of 1859-60. Of the two valedictorians elected that year, he was chosen to represent, and delivered the valedictory ad dress to, the medical society of the class, acquitting him solf' creditably in his first appearance before a public audience.

Hle located in Pittsborough, Calhoun county, Mississ- ippi, in the spring of 1860, but his health giving way to the effects of malarial influences, he returned to his native State, notwithstanding he was rapidly acquiring a good and remunerative practice.

On his return to Tennessee, he settled at Nolensville, in Williamson county, where he remained in active practice until the culmination of the civil war between the States, in the spring of 1861.

Hle first entered company C, Rock City Guards, of the First Tennessee regiment of infantry (Col. George Man- ey), as a private, and although he received a certificate

of passed examination and was tendered a commission as assistant surgeon, he served in the ranks, making friends of both commanding officers and comrades, until April, 1862. During his career as a private soldier, his regiment served through an arduous and active cam- paign in western Virginia, under the renowned Gens, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. At no time was he ever known to shirk a duty, and was always with the first to volunteer his services when any manner of extra duty was on hand, no matter how difficult or haz- ardous. In April, 1862, at the reorganization of his regiment, he was transferred and assigned to duty as the medical officer of Col. Joel A. Battle's famous Twen- tieth Tennessee regiment, serving with it until the Army of Tennessee was surrendered at Greensborough, North Carolina, under Gou. Joseph E. Johnston, in May, 1865. He passed his examination as assistant surgeon at Murfreesborough, in November, 1862, and his examination for promotion to surgeon at Shelbyville, six months later, although, with the exception of but a few months, he was the acting senior medical officer of his regiment. The history of the Twentieth regiment is his history from 1862 until 1865, for he shared its fortunes, its toils and privations, its marches and its bat- tles, its defeats and its glories, until its flag was furled, with the exception of the brief interval from December 1, 1864, when, at the battle of Franklin. Tennesse, he was left on the field in charge of the wounded of Bate's division until January 28, 1865, when he was exchanged as a prisoner of war, and again rejoined his regiment, to remain until his parole was given him with the rest of Johnston's army, in North Carolina, when he returned to his father's residence, at that time in Sumner county, Tennessee.

In the summer of 1865. he commenced once more the

1 :

289

PROMINENT TENNESSEANS.

practice of his profession at Palestine, Lewis county, Tennessee, remaining only until the spring following, when, at the solicitation of his sister, then residing in Kentucky, he removed to that State, locating at Breed- ings, Adair county, Kentucky.

During the winter of 1867. January 20th, he married Rachel Lavina, eldest daughter of Robert M. Breeding. In January of the year following, he removed to Hen- dersonville, Sumner county, Tennessee, where he soon acquired a large and lucrative practice, enjoying the confidence of all the leading citizens of that com- munity.

In the spring of 1877, he was tendered, unsolicited, and accepted the chair of physiology and clinical medi- eine in the Nashville Medical College, now the medical department of the University of Tennessee, The fol- lowing winter session he was transferred to the chair of theory and practice of medicine in this institution, which he has since held, with credit to himself, his asso- ciates, and the college.

In 1879, together with his associates and colleagues, Prof. Duncan Eve, and the late Profs. George S. Blackie and T. Chalmers Dow, he set on foot a literary venture, devoted to medicine and surgery, bearing the title of The Southern Practitioner. The death of two of his honored and honorable co-laborers left him and Dr. Eve to carry out the undertaking. Under his di- rection, as managing editor, since 1882, it has far exceeded its former wonderful success, and is now re- cognized as one of the standard medical journals of the land, with a circulation larger than any publication of like character south of the Ohio river.

In 1876, he was elected to membership in the Ten- nessee State Medical Society. In 1877, he read a paper on diphtheria, at the annual meeting of this organization, which attracted more than ordinary comment as a paper of original thought. He also read at the same meeting an eloquent biographical memorial of his former be- loved teacher in surgery, the late . Prof. Paul F. Eve. He has taken an active part in every meeting since, was a member of the committee of publication one year, and chairman of the same committee in a subsequent year. He was elected treasurer of the society in 1853 HI.

became a member of the American Medical Association in 1876, was elected secretary of the section on practice of medicine in 1881, and chairman of the section on State medicine, chemistry, physiology, etc., in 1883. He was elected vice-president of the American Medical College Association in 1852. He is also a member of the Summer County Medical Society and the Nashville Medical Society. He was elected a member of the Nashville board of health in 1879, and by the board its secretary. At the expiration of his term, in June, 1883, he was unanimously re-elected by the board of council- men and aldermen of his city, his past services as a sani- tarian being appreciated by the municipal authorities.

He was a delegate to the Democratic State conven- tion in 1878, and was appointed surgeon to the Tennes- see State penitentiary by his old military chief, Gen. William B. Bate, when he was elected governor of the State, his appointment having been recommended by leading physicians in nearly every county in the State, by every living president of the State Medical Society, by ex-governors, United States senators and many lead- ing politicians throughout the State.

Dr. Roberts was made a member of Saundersville Lodge, No. 359, Free and Accepted Masons, in 1876, was elected Senior Deacon in 1877, and Worshipful Master in 1878, and represented his lodge at the Grand Lodge in 1879, and subsequently. He has never di- mitted from his lodge. He is a member of Gallatin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, receiving the degrees in 1877, and of Nashville Council, No. 1, Royal and Select Masters. He is also the representative of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, near the Grand Lodge of Tennessee.

Dr. Roberts was received into membership in the Presbyterian church at Hendersonville, in 1876, and was made a deacon of the church the year following.

Dr. Roberts has a family of five sons and three daugh- ters (two sons having died in infancy), to-wit: Amic, John, Harry, Rachel Eugenia, Deering, Albert, Joseph E. (died at the age of nine months), Bessie, George B. (died twelve days after birth ) and Robert.

Dr. Roberts is a hard-working, faithful, zealous prac- titioner, of quiet, modest. gentlemanly manners, and highly esteemed by all who know him.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 63

Author: Speer, William S Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Speer, William S
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel
Number of Pages: 1278