Dr. DOZIER B. McPHERSON,
an active
spirit in the medical circles of Longview, is all but a native of
Texas. He is of Southern birth and Scotch ancestry, with forefathers
of notable martial activity in at least three conflicts of historic
interest. A brief view, chronologically, of striking points in the
genealogical history of this family will be of particular interest.
The Doctor's paternal ancestors were of the
McPherson clan of Scotland. Among its representatives was that John
McPherson who joined his Highland clansmen in their support of the
Stuart claimant to the throne in 1745. When the fortunes of young
Prince Charles—which had glowed so swiftly and brightly in
Scotland—waned rapidly in England and were replaced by clouds of danger to the Chevalier and his
followers, John McPherson became a refugee. His escape from British
shores was made in a singular manner. Nailed up in a coffin he was
placed on board the Atlantic plying vessel and thus succeeded in
having his head and finding a home of future free democracy. He
leached America in the early 'fifties and promptly united his fate
with that of the other colonists. His former estates were
confiscated by the British crown. As years passed, he founded a
family in the South Carolina home of his adoption and his sons were
soon growing up about him.
When two decades had passed and the American
colonies prepared for rebellion to the stern mother country, it was
not strange that the transplanted Highlander made ready to join in
the conflict. When hostilities were actually begun—thirty years
after his youthful enthusiasm for "Prince Charlie," this
Scotch-American patriot with his three sons joined the Revolutionary
army. The father was in touch with General Washington throughout the
struggle. His eldest son fought in the Army of the Northwest,
protecting settlers from British and Indian onslaughts in that
region; he finally settled there and gave origin to the McPhersons
of Ohio and the Lake regions in
this country. The youngest son, William, was one of those who
followed Marion and Sumter with their independent bands in the
South: that land became his home after the Declaration of
Independence had been effectually demonstrated by arms, and the
redcoats had betaken themselves
again to their island home. William McPherson had a son, bearing the
same name, who became a South Carolina planter of considerable
property in land and blacks. He married Eleanor McGee and became the
father of three children: Ruth, who became Mrs. Samuel Cole and
passed her life in Alabama ; Rebecca, who died unmarried; and
Benjamin F., who lived to become the father of Dozier B. McPherson.
Born in Anderson District, South Carolina, on
December 9. 1825, he was given a fair education and started in life
with bright prospects. But his enjoyment of a contented home was cut
short by the interruptions of the Civil War. which drew both him and
his eldest son—a merry lad—into its wake. Joining the Confederate
army during the first year of the rebellion, he served through the
war in Baker's brigade of Hood's corns in General Joseph E. Johnston
's army.
Similarly enlisted was his son, whose participation in
the defense of Atlanta cost him his hand. It was in the heat of that
engagement that a distinguished representative of the northern
branch of the McPherson family—General James B. McPherson—lost his
life while commanding a corps of
the Union Army. That the fatal bullet may have been speeded from the
gun of one of his own distant cousins is no remote probability. At
last the warfare between the states was at an end.
Benjamin
McPherson was with his command when it surrendered at Greensboro, as
the last of the great fighting force of the Confederacy to lay down
its arms. He stacked his arms and returned to his once affluent but
now war- impoverished home. With his resources finis dissipated
and his free labor taken from
him, he found his home conditions reduced almost to the point of
penury. Removed to Texas, he settled among new scenes of seclusion
alike from antebellum reminders of better days and from ?
distractions, he proceeded quietly to devote his vigor to the toil of the field,
to the rearing of his children and to the modest responsibilities
which rested upon him as a citizen.
His politics, of course,
was Democratic; religiously, he was affiliated with the Missionary
Baptist church. Such was the paternal ancestry of Dozier B.
McPherson. His mother's parents were James Prothro and Mary Mims
Prothro. The children of Emily Prothro and Benjamin F. McPherson
were Tolbert F., the Confederate soldier mentioned above, who died
in Mineola, Texas; Demetrius C., also deceased; Allison, of Harrison
county, Texas; Hermenia, Mrs. L. R. Young, of Gilmer, Texas;
Beatrice, Mrs. W. P. Mims of Tacoma, Washington; Helena, Mrs. A. B.
Rucker of Texarkana; Miss Helen McPherson, of Longview; Mollie, Mrs.
Pullen, of Natchitoches, Louisiana; Zula, Mrs. J. T. Northcutt, of
Longview; Dr. Dozier B., of this notice; Clara, Mrs. Truly, of
Natchitoches, Louisiana; and Miss Lorena, deceased. The mother of
this family lived until 1900 and the father's eventful life closed
the same year.
The birth of Dozier B. McPherson occurred
during those anxious reconstruction years. It was on February 21,
1867, that he first saw the light of day in the soon-
to-be-abandoned home of his parents in Chambers county, Alabama. It
was not long after that he became a part of the life of the state
which he now so loyally claims and serves. He remained a member of
the parental home until well into his teens.
Having then
completed such studies as were possible in the rural schools, he
supplemented his elementary education with courses in Alexander
Institute, at Kilgore, Texas. His next step was one taken with the
motives of self-support and the securing of funds for further
intellectual development. Entering the employ of a lumber company,
he was thus engaged for several years. He then entered Tulane
University, where in the department of medical science, he pursued
the customary lines of research and experimentation out of which
physicians evolve their power of rational and skillful healing. When
he had taken two courses of lectures, his financial conditions were
such that remunerative activity again seemed necessary. So thorough
was his grasp of medical principles of analysis and practice that he
was able, though still an undergraduate, to pass his medical
examinations. Thus admitted to practice, he settled at Linn Flat, in
Nacogdoches county, in 1893. From that year until 1899 he continued
in active practice at that place. He then returned to his
university, where in one year's time he completed the conventionally
prescribed studies and came away with his well-merited diploma from
the historic Tulane.
Dr. McPherson is one of those
progressive physicians who recognize what wonderful growth is
constantly being made in this marvelous science, and who realize
that the twentieth-century physician who really counts is he who
keeps abreast of new medical achievements and discoveries. He
therefore engages, from time to time, in further post-graduate
research and study. Since 1900 he has been one of Longview's valued
practitioners. Here his prestige has steadily grown, and with it the
extent and the confidence of his large circle of patrons. His
interest in the status of his profession in general is evinced by
his connection with both the American and the State Medical
Associations.
Mrs. Dozier McPherson, the doctor's estimable
wife, is a is a daughter of Daniel Carroll, now deceased, and of his
wife, who was born Elizabeth Montgomery, who became Mrs. Addison by
her first marriage, Mrs. Carroll by the second, and after Mr.
Carroll's death, Mrs. James Sumners by her third. Her daughter,
Laura Carroll, became Mrs. McPherson on December 19, 1902, her
marriage to the doctor taking place in Marshall, Texas. They are the
parents of one son; the date of his birth was November 30, 1903, and
he has been christened Hamilton McPherson.
Dr. McPherson is
a welcome and prominent member in Masonic circles in Longview, being
connected with both the Blue Lodge and Chapter of that order in this
city. His personal support is given to the tenets and the party
candidates of the Democratic party, though he is charitable to all
other beliefs and entertains high respect for his political
opponents when they are of worthy character.
Not only does Dr.
McPherson deserve fully every degree of his professional success,
but he also merits high praise for the energy and determination,
which—combined with his natural ability for his special line of
work—have made him a self-made and a well-made man and
physician.
