Dougherty County GaArchives Obituaries.....Davis, Dr. W. L. 1872
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Naomi McFadden naomi@ctc.com.na June 23, 2004, 11:07 pm

HISTORY OF DOUGHERTY COUNTY       pages 123-127
HISTORY OF DOUGHERTY COUNTY       pages 123-127 (no date or publisher)


DOUGHERTY'S PHYSICIAN~ PAST AND PRESENT

   Dougherty County has always been blessed in the character and skill of its
physicians. In the early days when the practice was chiefly among the planters 
who had settled with their slaves in this section, the hardships of the country 
doctor who daily rode many miles on horseback or by buggy with his case of 
medicine and instruments to ease the ills of humanity were such as cannot be 
appreciated in this day of powerful automobiles and accessible hospitals and 
drug stores.
   The earliest settlers among the medical fraternity so far as can be learned 
were Dr. John G. Slappey, Dr.. W. A. Love, Dr. W. H. Jeffries, Dr. Taliaferro 
Jones, Dr. W. L. Davis, Sr.,J Dr. Jeremiah Hilsman, Dr. John B. Gilbert, Dr. 
Chan. Hill, Dr. E. L. Connally, Dr. I. B. Dickinson, Dr. Lawrence Robert, Dr. 
Stoney Robert, Dr. William Twitty, Dr. B. M. Cromwell, Dr. W. P. Jennings, Dr. 
J. E. MacMlillan, Dr. T. D. Mathews, Dr. L. L. Strozier, Dr. E. W. Alfriend, 
Dr. Joe Davis, Dr. Thomas M. Nelson, Dr. John Nelson, Dr. Sims.

        DR WILLIAM L. DAVIS, SR

   Among the brave men who pushed their way through the virgin forests, erected
trading stations and became the pioneers of our ever growing population, the
physician deserves a place in the annals of every town. Albany was in, its 
second decade when Dr. W. L. Davis, a graduate of the University of 
Pennsylvania, cast his lot with the village.  He was enrolled in the first 
class at Penfield, where Mercer University was then located, and with a good 
education he began the study of medicine.  To reach Philadelphia in those days 
was an arduous task, and while he first enrolled as a student in the Jefferson 
medical College, he found those he considered the most distinguished professors 
at the University of Pennsylvania, and transferred his membership to a class at 
this most eminent university of medicine in the United States.  There were 
found at this time the greatest teachers of medicine in America, and under 
their tutelage and by diligent application he qualified himself for the 
practice of medicine. In fact, the department of anatomy at; that time was 
equal to any in the world, and some of his specimens, which he carefully 
prepared during his student days, would be models for teaching today.  After 
graduating he located in Albany, the then struggling village remote from cities 
and many of the advantages that a young M. D, desired. While living in Albany, 
together with several prominent physicians of the state, they planned the 
organization of the Medical
Association of Georgia, thereby making themselves charter members.
   Born in 1821 of good Welsh and English stock at the family home in Wilkes
County, son of William Lewis Davis and Velinda Gardner, of Augusta, Ga., 
daughter of Colonel Gardner, of the English army, he grew with five brothers 
and one sister on his father's plantation in a home where duty and honor were 
the keynotes in their daily lives. His father was noted for his unquestionable 
veracity and as one whose name was sufficient to a promise. It was from such an 
atmosphere and training that the young M. D. came to wrest fortune from a 
pioneer section. 
   He established himself in an office on Broad street, north side, in what is 
now known as the 100 block.  Patients consulted him from far and wide, at a 
distance of 60 miles or more. To go east the river must be ferried, to go 
north, west or south the roads were almost impassable--and many times no roads 
at all. Creeks to be forded and long stretches of country to be covered between 
the homes of settlers.  Sometimes the young doctor on horseback with his 
saddlebags filled with medicines and necessities would be gone three days or 
more on calls. His tender sympathy for the sick, resourcefulness when in need 
of medicines or instruments not to be had, his fidelity to his patients, 
received their reward when on his death in 1872 every business house in the 
town was closed and all classes mourned the loss of the skilled surgeon and 
family friend. One who knew him told of this fidelity to his patients and his 
intrepid courage of purpose:   Arriving at the river's bank on a cold and 
bitter night, finding the ferry on the opposite side of the river, he called to 
the ferryman.  The ferryman having retired to his home for the night, the 
physician vainly called to him to bring the ferry over to transport him and his 
horse on the way to the sick bed of some patient. Finding that he could not 
arouse the sleeping ferryman, he disrobed and by the aid of the ferry: rope and 
his determination swam across the stream, warmed himself over some smouldering 
coals and brought the ferry back, replaced his clothes and ferried his horse 
across the stream.  After rebuilding the
fire and getting himself warm, he continued his journey to the patient, who 
received him most gratefully, and for a long time no one knew the sacrifice the 
physician made in order to reach his patient's sick bed.
   In 1849 Dr. Davis married Ella Catherine Winkler, of Savannah.  From this 
union there were four children who reached maturity: Abby Howe, William Lewis 
Gardner, a practitioner in Albany, Edward Campbell, at this time a surgeon in 
Atlanta, and Edwina Theodore Lamar, of Albany, Ga.
   When the Civil War began he offered himself as a private, stating that he
preferred to be in the line rather than occupy any position in the medical 
department or behind the line, but his medical skill was of such a character 
that he was urged to accept a position as assistant surgeon in the 25th Georgia 
Regiment. He soon was made surgeon and promoted to a position as brigade 
surgeon with the rank of major, in the brigade commanded by General Walker. 
After the promotion of General Walker he still remained in the brigade as chief 
surgeon under Colonel Wilson. He was in active service during the entire four 
years, and at the conclusion of the war, with tears streaming from his eyes, he 
stated that he was far from defeat, and desired to go on to the consummation of 
his most ardent wish, namely, the success of the Confederate Army.  An instance 
still  related by one of the soldiers rather characterizes the sympathetic 
nature of Dr. Davis.  Once a former soldier on asking one of his sons if he was 
in any way related to Dr. W. L. Davis, whom he remembered as a surgeon in the 
Confederate Army, and who, he .stated, always rode a little white horse while 
in the army, and being informed that he was the father of this young man, 
turned and with tears in his eyes stated:  "My life is due to his kindness.  In 
Mississippi it was thought that I was fatally wounded and was left on the field 
to die, as most of the transportation for the sick and wounded was 
overburdened, and only those for whom hope was entertained for their recovery 
were sent back to the hospital, I being so badly wounded, that as previously 
stated I was left to die in the blazing sun of a hot Mississippi day."  He also 
stated that he could well recall the physician on the little white horse with 
his feet almost dragging the ground, and hearing groans he stopped, placing a 
canteen of water to the soldier's parched and almost famished lips gave him 
some drugs to relieve him of
suffering, und pinned upon him a little card directing the ambulance driver to 
take him to a hospital. The ambulance came within a few minutes and carried him 
to a hospital, and he made a complete recovery.
   At the beginning of the war Dr. Davis had moved from Albany to the city of
Savannah, seeking a larger field for his profession, and once each year he spent
from one to two months in the city of New York.  Most of these periods were 
spent in the office of Dr. Carnachan, one of the most eminent surgeons of 
America at that time, and whose original operations are still quoted in 
surgical literature.  He was a professor of surgery in the medical department 
of Columbia University. So much did Dr. Carnachan admire Dr. Davis's work that 
he offered him a position in his office at what was then considered a very good 
salary, if he would locate in New York City, but having such strong affection 
for the South he declined this offer and went to a little town wherein he spent 
the balance of his life.  He had formed several partnerships during his 
residence in Albany, and he finally took as his partner his younger and 
affectionate brother, Joseph, whom he had educated, and the two enjoyed a large 
and lucrative practice. 
   In 1872 Dr. W. L. Davis died from pneumonia, and was buried in Oakview
Cemetery, honored by the entire populace of Southwest Georgia.

Additional Comments:
Davis, Dr. W. L. listed as dying Oct 9th 1872
Sexton records for Oakview cemetery 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/dougherty/cemeteries/sexton5.txt

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