Thursday, September 17, 2020

Webster County, Kentucky Physicians 1888


Kentucky passed an act in 1874 that made it unlawful for any person, for reward or compensation, to practice or prescribe medicine or perform surgical operations if they have not graduated from a chartered school of medicine. A person who had been regularly and honorably engaged in the practice of medicine for 10 years was deemed to have complied with the provisions of this act. A person having engaged in medicine for 5 years was allowed one year to comply with the provisions. Anyone practicing medicine or performing surgery and did not meet the provisions of this act, if convicted,  had to pay a fine. The act, amended and approved 24 April 1888, stated that, beginning 1 April 1889, any persons practicing medicine in Kentucky must register in the county clerk’s office where he practiced medicine.[1]

The following physicians registered with the State Board of Health in Bowling Green and then with the Webster County court clerk. The following records can be found in Webster County Medical Register 1888 – 1955  on FamilySearch.

Dr. T.J. Calvert, age 62; born Muhlenburg [sic] County, Ky; has practiced in Muhlenburg County about two years and in Webster County about 41 years. Registered 28 Aug 1888. [p. 1]

Dr. W.J. Moore, age 43; born Webster County; diploma from Kentucky School of Medicine and Univ. of Louisville 1870 & 1872. Registered 11 Sep 1888. [p. 2]

Dr. D.T. White, age 29; born Henderson County, Ky; diploma from Kentucky School of Medicine 26 June 1885. Registered 11 Sep 1888.  [p. 3]

Geo. W. White, age 31; born Webster County; diploma from Kentucky School of Medicine 26 June 1885. Registered 24 Sep 1888.  [p. 4]

J.T. Sayars. age 50; born Christian County, Ky; diploma from Ohio School of Medicine of Columbus, Ohio 1861. Registered 12 Nov 1888.  [p. 5]

Dr. R.L. Agnew, age 25; born Henderson County, Ky; diploma from Univ. of Louisville 26 Mar 1884. Registered 23 Nov 1888.  [p. 6]

Dr. Chas. L. Edwards, age 25; born Webster County; diploma from Missouri Medical College of St. Louis 2 Mar 1886. Registered 23 Nov 1888.  [p. 7]

Dr. Joel Parker, age 25; born Webster County; diploma from Bellevue Hospital Medical College “City NY” 26 Jun 1884 and Honorarium diploma from Kentucky School of Medicine 9 Mar 1885. Registered 27 Nov 1888. [p. 8]

Dr. L.A. Archibald, age 44; born Pictou/Tipton[?] County, Nova Scotia; diploma from Louisville Medical College 16 Jun 1873. Registered 28 Nov 1888.  [p. 9]

Dr. Ephraim M. Stewart, age 46; born Calloway County, Kentucky; diploma from Hospital Medical College of Evansville, Indiana 27 Feb 1885. Registered 10 Dec 1888.  [p. 10]




[1] “Kentucky’s Amended Empiricism Law,” Medical Laws of Kentucky, Register of the United States, Kentucky, p. 457, Google Books, accessed 2019.

Published 17 Sep 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

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