Jackson-Leon County FlArchives Biographies.....West, Theophilus ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 3, 2008, 6:32 pm Author: B. F. Johnson Theophilus West Dr. Theophilus West, a prominent physician and druggist, and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Jackson county, is and for a long number of years, has been a resident of Marianna. He was born in Leon county, Fla., near Tallahassee. He is descended from an old and well known Virginia family, most of all of whom were residents of Accomac county in that State. His father, Charles Bundick West, was for a number of years, a successful farmer in Leon county. He lived a long life and was highly esteemed for many generous, noble Christian qualities. He died in 1888. His mother was Zipporah Topping of the well known Virginia family of that name, and was the daughter of Snead and Scarbrough Topping. Charles Bundick West and his wife emigrated from Virginia to Florida, in 1827, and located near Tallahassee, in the pioneer days when the State was almost a wilderness. Theophilus West spent his childhood and early youth on his father's plantation, and obtained his education in the common schools of that day. At the age of twenty, for a short time, he engaged in the business of teaching. Afterwards, having selected the profession of physician as his life work, he took a medical course at Oglethorpe Medical College, Savannah, Ga., and graduated from that institution in 1859. Shortly after he moved to Jackson county, Fla., and began the practice of his profession. In the early part of 1861, he was married to Mrs. Rebecca Spears, the young widow of Hugh Spears who was formerly a wealthy planter and slaveholder of Jackson county. When the tocsin of war sounded in the land, he offered his services to the little new born Southern Republic. He enlisted in Company E, Eighth Florida Infantry Confederate States Army, and upon the organization of the regiment, was appointed Assistant Surgeon. He went with his regiment which was assigned to the army of Northern Virginia, and through all the vicissitudes of life in the camps, and in the fields he faithfully served his country as surgeon until the surrender of General Lee's army at Appomattox. After he was paroled, he returned to his plantation home near Marianna in Jackson county, and endeavoring to save all he could from the chaos of war, began life anew. In connection with his farming operations, he continued the practice of his profession. The people in his neighborhood had most of them been impoverished by the result of the war, and were generally not able to compensate him for his services, but none were too poor to receive his kindly ministrations. All whether white or black, without respect to their ability to pay, received the benefit of his professional services. About the year 1872, he removed from his country home to the town of Marianna, where with a large field he conducted the practice of his profession and established the first regular drug store in said town. His reputation as a skilful and thoroughly reliable practitioner is well established, and for many years he has been regarded as the leading physician of the community. Dr. Theophilus West is a Democrat and has taken a prominent part in the political affairs of his country. His efforts, during the Reconstructive period to redeem the State from the carpet bag and negro rule, will never be forgotten by these people. He was appointed by Governor Drew, member of the County School Board in 1877, and served as Chairman of such Board continuously for twelve or fifteen years. It had long been the wish of his friends, that he should represent the people of Jackson county in the State Senate, and in the year of 1906, he was elected Senator from the Fourth Senatorial District composed of said county by a large majority. At the organization of the Florida Legislature of 1907, he was elected President pro tem of the Senate. He occupied the position of Chairman of the Committee of Health. The measures in which he was most interested, and for which he labored were sanitary and educational matters and also immigration. He is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and has given much attention to church and Sunday School work. He has been a member of this church for more than fifty years, and for more than thirty years, without practical interruption has been Superintendent of the Sabbath School and has exerted a great influence in the community which has resulted in much good. He has devoted much spare time to the study of the Bible and religious works, and his attainments in these matters cause him to be considered an authority on all subjects pertaining to the church and its teachings. He is an entertaining and instructive public speaker and makes occasional contributions to the press which are read with great interest. He has for a long time been a prominent Mason, having for many successive years held the position of Worshipful Master, Harmony Lodge No. 3. His long residence and extensive connection with men and matters pertaining to public affairs in Florida, cause his views and opinions to be much sought after and of great value to the younger members of society who desire the advancement of the best interests of the State and Nation. He is an advocate of immigration and believes that a desirable class of immigration would greatly assist in the development of the agricultural and manufacturing industries of Florida, which he believes to be of paramount importance to the progress and prosperity of the State. He stands for a rigid enforcement of law which he holds to as the sheet anchor of the peace of society and the prospects of the community. His first wife with whom he lived for a number of years, died in January, 1901. She bore to him one son, Theodore D. West, now a prominent business man of Philadelphia, Pa. His second wife was Annie Slade of Columbus, Ga., daughter of Captain J. J. and Lela Slade, to whom he was married in June, 1902. They have two little sons living, Charles Slade, age four years, and Marion H., age two years. Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. III. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. McCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. COPYRIGHT 1909 B. F. JOHNSON Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/jackson/photos/bios/west38gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/jackson/bios/west38gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 7.1 Kb