This gentleman is a native of Sumner county, Tennessee, born October 17th, 1815. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth Head, were both natives of Virginia. Dr. Head grew to manhood in the county of his birth, and received his non-professional education at the Rural Academy of Sumner county. His professional course was taken at the Nashville Medical University, and he began the practice in Benton county, Missouri, in 1843. He continued there till 1863, with the exception of about three or four years, from 1850 till 1854, which he spent in California. In 1863 he moved to Millersburg, Callaway county, Missouri, where he practiced medicine till 1881, his two sons being associated with him and doing a leading practice in that county. In the last mentioned year, Doctors Head located in Centralia, Boone county, Missouri, and are at this early succeeding date (1882) rapidly building a good practice. Dr. Head was married, in 1836, to Miss Rhoda L. Vincent, daughter of James and Clara Vincent of Sumner county Tennessee. There are five children of this marriage, Catharine A., Luvenia B., James H., Clara E., and Charles W. Dr. Head has been a Mason for over 17 years, and is in everything a worthy citizen and substantial man.
p. 718 - Charles W. Head, M.D.
Is a son of Dr. Alfred Head, of Centralia, and was born in Benton county, Missouri, January the 30th, 1855. His education was received in this State, the elementary part being acquired in the common schools of his native county. His literary and academic course was taken at the University of Missouri in Columbia, and his professional course, at the Missouri Medical College, of St. Louis. He attended the latter institution in the years 1875, 1876 and 1877, graduating therefrom in the latter year. The same year he embarked in the practice of his noble profession with his father at Millersburg, Missouri, continuing there till 1881, when they located at Centralia in this county, where they are now in practice. Dr. Head has been a hard student, and labors faithfully to keep up in all the new developments of medical science. Young in years and highly educated, both professionally and generally, there is before him every prospect of a successful future.
"Dr. Eugene Wallace Herndon was born February 4th, 1836. He was educated at Franklin College, Tennessee, graduating as A.B. in class of 1852. In 1855 he received the degree of A.M. from the same institution. Graduated at the Nashville Medical College in 1855, being at the time but nineteen years old. After completing his medical education he came to Clarksville, Missouri, and began the practice of his profession. In 1859 he commenced the study of law. Took the degree of LL.D. at Harvard University in 1861. In 1859 he began the publication of the PIKE COUNTY UNION, at Clarksville, which he continued until 1860. He supported Bell and Everett for president and vice-president. Dr. Herndon was a Union man at the beginning of the war, but the violent _expression of Northern sentiment caused him to take sides with the South. He was not a "secessionist," but entered the army as a rebel. Assisted Col. Caleb Dorsey, of Pike county, in raising a regiment for service in the Missouri State Guard. Was appointed surgeon of this regiment. Left Pike county in December, under Col. Dorsey, to join Price's army, and was in the battle with Gen. Prentiss at Mt. Zion church, in this county, an account of which may be found elsewhere in this volume. Reached the Confederate army at Cove Creek, where he was regularly commissioned a surgeon by Governor Jackson and assigned to duty under Gen. Martin Green. He was afterwards division surgeon under Gen. Parsons. After the battle of Pleasant Hill, was made chief surgeon of all the forces in West Louisiana and a member of Gen. Bagley's staff. Was at Elkhorn, Farmington, Prairie Grove, Helena, Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. Surrendered at Shreveport, Louisiana, in the spring of 1865 and returned o Missouri. For the next year or two he followed farming in Pettis county, after which he came to Columbia, where he has remained ever since. From 1869 to 1870 was editor of the BOONE COUNTY JOURNAL. Dr. Herndon was married in 1865 to Miss Laura E. Ruby of Randolph county. She died in 1881, leaving no children. Dr. Herndon is a Mason. He is a member of the Council, of which he was first high priest, and also first high priest of the Chapter. He is a member of the Christian church and is now editor of the CHRISTIAN QUARTERLY REVIEW, a publication of 144 pages, and the only periodical of the kind published in the interest of that denomination."
p. 771 - DR. GEORGE RODNEY JACOBS, DECEASED
The eminent gentleman -now numbered with the dead whose name heads this sketch was a native of Nelson county, Virginia, and was born February 20, 1802. He was educated at New Glasgow Academy, Amherst county, Virginia, and studied medicine in the office of an eminent physician of that State. After a two years course of reading, he attended the medical college at Philadelphia for two years; he received the degree of M. D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and returned to his old home to begin the practice. He quit the medical practice in 1832 and emigrated to Missouri. Dr. Jacobs was married in 1835, in Hampshire county, Virginia, to Miss Louisa Parsons. In 1845 he moved to Louisiana and located twenty miles from New Orleans, where he remained seven years. Returning then to Missouri, he settled in Boone county, where he resided till the time of his death, which occurred February 24, 1877. [On the same page, there is a sketch on David A. Jacobs, who is the son of Dr. G. R. Jacobs.]
p. 594 - DR. JAMES F. KEITH Dr. James F. Keith [J. Fabricius Keith, see bio following] was born in Livingston county, Missouri, January 18, 1849. He is the son of Dr. William and Martha J. (nee Lampton) Keith. The subject of this sketch left Missouri in the fall of 1863, going first to Arkansas, thence to Tennessee and Kentucky, and from the latter State back to Missouri, stopping at Sturgeon, in 1865, where he has lived continuously ever since, except the few years spent at the Medical College in St. Louis. He entered that institution in 1869, graduating two years later. He was assistant surgeon at the St. Louis hospital for six months, returning to Sturgeon in the fall of 1871. He practiced medicine with his father until the latters health failed, when he turned his entire business over to his son. He was married October 7, 1874, to Miss Dora, daughter of Alexander J. Turner, of Sturgeon. They have one child living, William F. Dr. Keith was not in the army. He belongs to no church. Is a member of the Knights of Honor, and is medical examiner for the order. He has served a number of insurance companies in the same capacity. He has the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
p. 592 - WM. KEITH, M. D., CENTRALIA
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is a native of Scott county, Kentucky, born December 20th, 1806. The Keith family seem to have been of Scotch origin, George Keith, great grandfather of Dr. William, having been a native of Scotland. The Doctors grandfather was a native of Maryland. All the paternal ancestors from the great-grandfather down, bearing the name of George. Longevity seems to have been a characteristic of this family, as most of the ancestors lived to be past eighty years old, and the primary ancestor herein mentioned is said to have reached the remarkable age of one hundred and eleven years. Dr. R. lived with his father in his native county till about fifteen years old, when they removed to Bullitt county, Kentucky, where William remained till he was 22 years of age. At the age of about 12 he was taken down with white swelling in his right leg and confined to his bed a long time, even before he was able to go on crutches, which he subsequently did for a considerable length of time. At 15 years old, he put himself under treatment of a Scotch doctor names James H. Forester, and was soon enabled to do a little light work. At the age of 17, being desirous to be at some employment, and having a fair education, began teaching, his school being mostly composed, at first, of juvenile pupils, or a-b-c-darians. He succeeded so well as a teacher that his patrons retained him several years. At intervals, however, he would between terms go off to higher schools himself for short periods until he was about the age of 22 years. Having a desire to see the old friends and relatives and his native soil, he left his fathers, and made his way back. Having a good English education he engaged in the occupation of teaching school in various places. Finally made his stand in Mortonsville, Woodford county, where he studied medicine with Dr. Wm. M. Wilson, and in the year 1837-8, at Transylvania University, completed his preparation for the practice of medicine. After this he began to practice in connection with his preceptor, Dr. W., who died during this connection, and Dr. K. remained there in the practice till 1840, coming to Missouri that year. He first practiced for three or four years near Centralia. He was married, in 1844, to Miss Martha Jane Lampton, and moved to Chillicothe, Missouri, where he purchased a farm a few years later, and continued farming and practicing medicine in Livingston county for several years. He then moved back to Chillicothe in order that his children might enjoy the advantages of the schools of that city. When the civil war came on, Dr. Keith was forced to leave home, entrusting the care of his family to his oldest son, Clayton, then a lad of 16 years, and his mother. The Doctor went to the Confederate army and served as surgeon to Gen. Wm. Y. Slack till the latter was killed at Pea Ridge. Dr. Keith remained with the General till he expired, and then buried him in Fullbrights orchard, in order that there should be no difficulty in finding his remains. Subsequently he was employed as hospital surgeon till the fall of 1863, when he left the army, and accompanied by his family, who had joined him, repaired to Arkansas. They remained in that State from October, 1863, till April following, when they went to Kentucky and remained till the civil troubles were over. In October, 1865, the whole family returned to Missouri, locating at Sturgeon, in Boone county, where they continue to reside, Dr. K. resuming the practice of his profession and continuing till 1875. He then turned it over to his youngest son, J. Fabricius Keith, who had previously been practicing in the City Hospital. He continues the practice at Sturgeon, and is married to a Miss Turner, an amiable lady of good family, daughter of Alexander Turner, now of Sturgeon. Clayton Keith, the doctors oldest son, obtained a good education and entered the ministry, but was forced to give it up because of failing health. He then studied medicine and having prepared himself for the practice, was soon afterwards married to Miss Mary Bernard, of Louisiana, Missouri, where he is now located and practicing his profession Dr. Keith has good cause to be proud of his family, having reared them in that exemplary manner that fits them for the responsible duties of life.
p. 899-900 - DR. WALTER T. LENOIR
Dr. Lenoir is a son of Walter Raleigh and Sarah E. (Bouchelle) Lenoir, and was born October 4, 1827, in Wilkes county, North Carolina. His father was born at Fort Defiance, North Carolina, March 15th, 1787, and died October 15th, 1844. His mother was born December 28, 1798 in Burke county, North Carolina, and died August 3d, 1875. They came to Boone county, Missouri, November 4th, 1834, and settled on a farm two and one-half miles north of Columbia. They are buried in the Columbia Cemetery. They were blessed with six children, two boys and four girls. Annie E. (deceased) wife of Boyle Jewell; Julia E., wife of Elder S. S. Church, of the Christian Church; Myra C., wife of Col. F. T. Russell; Dr. W. F.[sic]; Martha L., wife of T. A. Russell, attorney at law of St. Louis, and Slater E., prominent farmer of Boone county. Their grandfather was Gen. William Lenoir, of Old Fort Defiance, North Carolina. He was a prominent light in the politics of the old North State for sixty years, holding offices from justice of the peace up to president of the constitutional convention for remodeling the State constitution. He served many years in both houses of the legislature, and was for several terms respectively, president of the one, and speaker of the other. He was also for a number of years president of the Court of Common Pleas. He is buried at Fort Defiance, where an elegant monument was erected over his grave by an appreciative and grateful constituency. Dr. Walter T., our subject was educated at the State University, graduating from that institution in the class of 49. In 1850 he went to St. Louis and attended medical lectures at Popes Medical College, where he graduated in 1853, and returned to Columbia to practice his profession. From 1858 to 1861, he practiced in co-partnership with Dr. Wm. H. Duncan. He soon took rank with older physicians than himself, and today is reckoned among the States best. He has held a number of positions of honor and trust. From 1855 to 1862 he was treasurer of the State University and a member of the board of curators. Since 1856 he has been a member of the board of curators, physician and trustee of Christian College. He was appointed by Gov. B. Gratz Brown manager of the State Lunatic Asylum at Fulton, which position he held for four or five years. He has been an elder in the Christian Church since 1856, and is a Knight Templar, being at one time master of the lodge. He has been married twice, the first time to Miss Fannie C., daughter of James Shannon (at one time president of the University) May 29, 1856. By this union they had four children, three girls and one boy: Anna Sl, Eva D., James C., and Julia C. They were educated at Christian College and at the University. His first wife died April 13, 1864. She was a devoted member of he Christian Church, and a graduate of Bacon College, Kentucky. July 4, 1866, he was married to Miss Nannie J., daughter of Federal and Sarah Dunn Walker, of Howard county, Missouri. By this marriage they have one son, George W. Mrs. Lenoir is a graduate of Christian College and has been a member of the Christian Church since early childhood. Dr. Lenoir is yet in the prime of a vigorous, active manhood, and is a dignified, courtly gentleman of the old school.
p. 595-6 - DR. JAMES S. LOCKRIDGE.
The subject of this sketch was born in Randolph county, Missouri, April 27, 1832. His father, William Lockridge, was a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia. His mother was a native of Augusta county, Virginia. Her maiden name was Ruth Davis. The elder Lockridge died when his son was but sixteen or seventeen years of age, leaving him the sole support of his mother and three sisters. He had but little time to attend school and grew to manhood without being scarcely able to write his name. His sisters having married, and his mother dying when he was about twenty-one, he commenced his education in real earnest. He attended the St. Louis Medical College and Jefferson College, Philadelphia, graduating from the latter institution in 1856, and from the St. Louis Medical College the year following. He came to Sturgeon in the spring of 1857, where he was married the following November to Elizabeth A., daughter of Thomas Prather and granddaughter of Mrs. Cowan, one of the oldest citizens of Boone county. They have one child living, R. Lee. Have two sons dead. William died at the age of fourteen, Willard at the age of two and a half years. Dr. Lockridge built the first brick house ever erected in Sturgeon. He has an interest in the store conducted under the firm name of Goin & Lockridge. He has taken a lively interest in every enterprise calculated to promote the interests of the town in which he lives, and has lent a helping hand to every laudable undertaking which stood in need of such patronage. He is also liberal in his professional charges especially so to the poor, and in this way has done a great deal of good of which the world knows little or nothing at all. The doctor and his wife are both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. (portrait at p. 325)