Gallion, Zachary Taylor (MD); Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller



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Gallion, Zachary Taylor, M. D., the oldest living practitioner of 
medicine in the parish of Natchitoches, where he began 39 years ago, 
is one of the best-known and most popular among the physicians of 
North Louisiana.  He was born Feb. 18, 1849, in Natchitoches parish, 
the son of James Hawkins Gallion, a native of Kentucky, who came to 
Louisiana in early manhood, about the year 1828, settled in 
Natchitoches parish and engaged in the planting business.  He rose 
to prominence in the public affairs of the community and in 1850 
took the census of the parish.  Between James Hawkins Gallion and 
Gen. Zachary Taylor, who was then located at Fort Jessup, there 
existed a close bond of friendship, and it was in remembrance of 
that fact that Mr. Gallion named his son Zachary Taylor Gallion.  
The elder Gallion passed away at the age of 52 years.  Elijah 
Gallion, grandfather of Dr. Gallion, was a citizen of Lexington, 
Ky.  The doctor's mother, Eliza Jane (Wray) Gallion, was born in 
Louisiana, of Irish parents, who had settled in Rapides parish, 
near Alexandria.  She died at the age of 45 years.  James Hawkins 
Gallion and wife were the parents of 4 sons and 4 daughters.  
Zachary Taylor Gallion passed his boyhood on his father's farm, 
and received the rudiments of an education in a log-cabin school.  
He lost his father in death when 11 years of age and his mother 
when 14.  From an early age he has fought his own battles in life 
and went forth into the world to earn a living when his mother died.  
He worked on farms, meanwhile, applying himself with patience 
and determination to acquiring an education.  In 1871 he graduated 
from the Louisiana State university and for 3 years was engaged in 
teaching and thereby earned funds to defray his expenses in securing 
a medical education.  He entered the medical department of the 
University of Louisiana (now Tulane) and graduated in 1875.  
Returning to his native parish, Dr. Gallion has been in active 
practice of his profession ever since receiving his diploma.  With 
a high reputation as physician, excellent citizen, successful business 
man, Dr. Gallion has been identified with public and professional 
life for many years, as ex-member of the board of supervisors of 
the Louisiana State university; ex-member of the board of 
administrators for the Louisiana State Normal school, a position 
he held for 25 years, and at the present time coroner of the parish 
of Natchitoches, which position he has held since 1892.  He is 
affiliated with the Natchitoches Parish Medical society, the Louisiana 
State Medical society, the American Medical association and the 
Southern Medical society.  Dr. Gallion married, in 1876, Miss Mary 
Cornelia Somerindyke, by whom he had 10 children:  Mary Eliza,  
Ida Louise,  Lucy Nancy,  Zachary Taylor, Jr.,  Annie Pearl,  
Joseph Warren,  John Hawkins,  Bryan Wray (deceased),  James 
Donald (deceased) and  Myra Elise.  Mrs. Gallion died Sept. 28, 
1899.  Nearly 2 years after--June 1, 1901--Dr. Gallion wedded Mrs. 
Frances Cornelia Chambers, nee Blanchard.  They have no children.  
Dr. Gallion is a communicant of Episcopal church.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, 
Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic 
Form (volume 3), pp. 175-176.  Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  
Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.