Biography of James Alfred Williamson, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 724 

James Alfred Williamson, M. D., a prominent physician of Elmo, whose
name is familiar in many homes throughout Independence County, is a son of
Alfred and Caroline Virginia (Sanders) Williamson, the former a native of
Maine, and the latter of Kentucky. The parents were married near what is now
Saloma, Taylor County, Ky., where James Alfred was born, on the 20th of March,
1857. The parents moved from Kentucky the same year, and settled in Arkansas,
at a point near Batesville, where the father commenced practicing his
profession [p.724] in addition to cultivating a farm. The Doctor was reared on
the home farm, and educated in the schools of Independence County. After
graduating from these schools he took a course in literature at the Batesville
High School, and in 1880 commenced the study of medicine under his father. He
received his first course of lectures at the Missouri Medical College, of St.
Louis, Mo., in 1882 and 1883, and afterward located at Elmo, Ark., where he
practiced until the fall of 1884, when he matriculated at Vanderbilt
University, and graduated that term, also graduating from the medical college
at Nashville, Tenn., in 1885. Dr. Williamson was married to Miss Henry Clay
Tunstall, of Arkansas, a daughter of Clay and Nancy (Arnold) Tunstall, both
natives of Tenuessee, but among the earlier settlers of the former State, and
Clay Tunstall's name is associated with much of Independence County's early
development. To the Doctor's marriage were born three children: Jessie, Basil
and Imogene, and they contribute to make this one of the brightest and happiest
homes in Northern Arkansas. The Doctor has built up a large practice in this
section, and enjoys the confidence of everyone with whom he comes in contact.
He is a general practitioner, and skillful in his profession, having made it
the study of his existence. In the winter season, when pneumonia, bronchitis,
croup and kindred diseases are prevalent, he has his hands full, and in the
summer months, when malarial affections are lurking everywhere, he is one of
the busiest men in that county. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, and in
religions faith he, with his wife, attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr.
Williamson is a member of McGuire Lodge No. 208, Oil Trough, Independence
County, and filled the chair of Senior Warden at one time, but is now the
Senior Deacon. He also belongs to Oil Trough Chapter No. 84, at Oil Trough, and
holds the position of Captain of the Host.