Georgia:  Coweta County:  Biography of A. B. CALHOUN, M. D.

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A. B. CALHOUN, M. D., son of Ezekiel and Frances (Hamilton) Calhoun, and 
one of the oldest physicians in the state of Georgia, was born in the 
settlement known as Calhoun settlement in Abbeville district, S. C., 
March 17, 1809. 

His mother was a relative of Gov. Hamilton, of South Carolina. Dr. 
Calhoun's father was born in South Carolina, but died when the doctor was 
about eight or nine years of age. From that time on the latter had a hard 
time to get along, and it is amusing to him now to talk over the times 
when he was a small boy, and how he had to go barefooted nearly all 
winter, picking his way to school around the icicles in the woods. At the 
age of fifteen his mother sent him to Charleston, where he attended 
school two years, when he accepted a position as clerk in a drug store, 
remaining there two years. His mother then had him return to Abbeville, 
where he again entered school. In about two years he began the study of 
medicine at Cambridge with his brother, who was a practicing physician at 
that place. In 1829 he entered the medical college at Charleston, 
graduating in 1831, and came to Decatur, Ga., where he began the practice 
of his chosen profession, remaining there eighteen months. 

In the latter part of 1832 he located in Newnan, where he has since 
remained. When in Decatur his practice extended over a vast territory, 
and many is the time he has ridden through the woods when there was but 
one small cabin within miles of the present site of Atlanta, and one 
small store at "White Hall," near the city limits. He spent the greater 
portion of 1837 in the hospitals of Paris, and the other portion in 
London hospitals. He was in London just before the coronation of Queen 
Victoria. The doctor attributes his great success in the practice of 
medicine to the knowledge that he gained while abroad. He returned to 
Newnan, remaining until the war, when he, in company with Dr. Pelzer and 
Dr. Howard, composed the surgeon conscript board. 

They occupied this position until the fall of 1864, when Dr. Calhoun 
refugeed his stock and negroes farther south, and was absent one year, 
but after the surrender in 1865 he returned. Dr. Calhoun never had any 
political aspirations, but in 1838 his friends persisted in sending him 
to the legislature, where he served one term. In 1861 he was made a 
delegate to the secession convention of Georgia, and he now has the pen 
with which he signed the ordinance of secession. In his earlier days he 
was a member of the masonic fraternity. 

Dr. Calhoun was married to Miss Susan S. Wellborn, a daughter of Abner 
and Martha (Ronder) Wellborn, both natives of North Carolina, where the 
Wellborn family was very prominent. To this union six children were born, 
of whom two sons and two daughters are living: Dr. Abner W., oculist in 
Atlanta; Andrew E., recorder in Atlanta; Anna E. (Mrs. Dr. W. R. 
Caldwell, formerly of Charleston, now deceased), and Susan C. (Mrs. John 
M. Hill). 

Mrs. Calhoun was born in Richmond county, Ga., and died in 1860. 
She was a member of the Baptist church, while the doctor is a member of 
the Presbyterian. Dr. Calhoun stands very high as a citizen in Newnan, 
and is proud of the distinction of being a second cousin of Hon. John D. 
Calhoun. The doctor has a large amount of property, and since he gave up 
his practice, about twelve years ago, he has given his attention to 
cultivating his lands, being now one of the largest planters in this 
county.

Transcribed from MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA published by the Southern Historical 
Association, 1895.