Bio: Dr. J. C. Egan, Caddo & Bienville Parish La Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker sueshoe@hotmail.com ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Dr. J. C. Egan, a prominent physician of Shreveport, and one of the oldest practitioners in Northern Louisiana, was originally from the Old Dominion, his birth occurring in Mecklenburg County, October 21, 1822. His parents Dr. Bartholomew and Anna E. (Cormuck) Egan, were natives of the Emerald Isle, the father born in Killarney and the mother in Dublin. The maternal grandfather was a rebel of 1798, and was obliged to flee for his life. He exchanged clothes with his gardener, fled to France and thence to the United States, locating in Augusta, Ga., where he amassed an immense fortune in the mercantile business. He and Joseph Cormuck, Dr. McClellan (father of Gen. McClellan) and Thomas Emmett (brother of Robert Emmett), all came to the United States together. Grandfather Egan died in Killarney, Ireland, as did also his wife. The parents of Dr. J. C. Egan were married in Ireland and sailed for America about 1817, locating in Amelia County, Va., near the residence of Gov. Giles. The father taught school in Amelia Academy, which was established by Gov. Giles, and was afterward an educator in the Virginia University. he studied medicine, and was a graduate of Richmond Medical College. In 1847 he came to Louisiana, located at Mt. Lebanon, Bienville Parish, and was of great assistance in building up the Mt. Lebanon University, chartered by the State. Here he practiced his profession for years, and was president of the University for a number of years. He was surgeon-general in the State forces under Gen. Moore, and was a State elector for Jefferson Davis on State confederacy. He was president of the North Louisiana Medical Association. After the death of his wife he came to Shreveport and died at the residence of Dr. J. C. Egan in about 1881, when in his eighty-fourth year. He was a very active man up to the time of his death. He was one of the organizers of the Louisiana State Convention, and was its first promoter. He was intimately and influentially identified with Northern Louisiana in a professional and social point of view, and gained a large and warm circle of friends. he was a member of the Baptist Church and a member of the Mason fraternity. He was a particular friend of Thomas Jefferson, who, in speaking of his friend, said that he was one of the ripest scholars of his time. He had but two children who grew to maturity, and Dr. J. C. Egan is the only survivor. The latter was reared in Virginia and educated at Patrick Henry Academy, a celebrated school of its day. At the age of twelve years he began the study of medicine with his father, taking charge of the latter's patients in the infirmary, dressing their wounds. When eighteen years of age, or in 1840, he took his first course of lectures at Richmond University, and graduated in 1846 at New York City Medical College. He began practicing in Spottsylvania County, Va., and remained there until 1850, when he came to Louisiana, locating at Mt. Lebanon, Bienville Parish. There he resided until 1876, then moved to Shreveport, where he has since made his home. he was elected State senator in 1868 without his permission, and was obliged to serve. He has been president of the State Medical Society, Shreveport Medical Society, and was on the board of supervisors of the State University. He is a member of the American Medical Society, and has been very active in all public enterprises. He was first lieutenant in Company C, Ninth Louisiana Regiment, which was organized by himself and Benjamin Pierce, and raised a North Louisiana regiment five times before getting into service. He was surgeon of the Ninth Louisiana Regiment, brigade surgeon of the First Brigade, and acted as division surgeon for Gen. Ewing during the Valley campaigns. He was transferred to the North Louisiana Department in February, 1863, and organized a hospital department of the district of West Louisiana as its chief. He was subsequently chief surgeon of the district of the West Louisiana Department, both hospital and field service. Dr. Egan was married in 1852 to Miss Susan R. Ardis, and the fruits of this union have been four living children: Mrs Anna L. Calvert, Dr. W. L., Miss M. C. and Miss lavina. Dr. and Mrs. Egan are worthy members of the Baptist Church, and are liberal supporters of all worthy enterprises. Socially the Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the A. L. of H. His brother, William B. G. Egan, was also a native of Virginia, born in 1824, and was a graduate of Emery & Henry college, near Abingdon, Va. After this he read law with Judge Norman Taliaferro, of Franklin County, Va., was admitted to the bar and practiced a few years in Spottsylvania County, Va. In 1848 he moved to Louisiana, located at Homer, and was elected district judge in 1854, remaining on the bench until the reconstruction. He was elected State senator in 1866 and served his term. He removed to Shreveport, La., and became a member of the law firm of Egan, Williamson & Wise, which had a large practice. He was a member of the supreme court, and while a member of the same he died in 1880, leaving no children. He was a Mason, and a member of the Episcopal Church.