Richard L. Harrell, Rapides Parish, Louisiana 
Submitted: by Mike Miller   
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Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, 
Institutions, and Persons, 
Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 193-194.  
Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D.  
Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association 

RICHARD F. HARRELL M. D.  
Harrell, Richard F., M. D., specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose 
and throat, Alexandria, La.; was born in Sparta, Bienville parish, La., 
Feb. 19, 1854; son of Rev. John A. and Eliza (Simmons) Harrell. The 
father was born at Twiggs, Ga. He was educated at Pensacola, Fla., and 
later was married in that state. He located in Bienville parish, La., 
in 1848, and passed the remainder of his life in that parish, where he 
died at the age of 85 years. He was a minister of the Baptist church 
for many years. His father, Henry Harrell, was a native of Charleston, 
S. C., and throughout life followed the business of a manufacturer. The 
Harrell family in America is of English and Irish ancestry. Three 
brothers of the family came from England together. One of these located 
in North Carolina, one in South Carolina, and one in Tennessee, at a very 
early date in the history of the country. The mother was a native of North 
Carolina, and a daughter of Luke R. Simmons, who was long a prominent figure 
in political affairs in both North Carolina and Alabama. He served in the 
house of representatives in North Carolina, and removing to Alabama served 
in both houses of the Alabama legislature. Richard F. Harrell was the third 
of 7 sons born to his parents. There also were 3 daughters. Of these 
children, 5 sons and 1 daughter are now living. He was educated in the schools 
at Sparta and New Orleans, and then entered Tulane university, from which he 
graduated with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1879. Following his 
graduation, he located at Sparta, La., and there began the practice of medicine, 
but later removed to Mt. Lebanon, La., and after about 6 years at this latter 
location, removed to Denver, Colo., where he held a position during 1892-93 as 
an instructor in the Gross Medical college. At the expiration of the college 
term of the latter year, he returned to Louisiana and engaged in practice at 
Ruston, where he remained 12 years. In March, 1906, he removed to Alexandria, 
La., and has since been in practice there. Dr. Harrell has done post-graduate 
work in New York, Chicago, London and Paris, and has visited and inspected 
hospitals and similar institutions in many parts of Europe, for purposes of 
observation. He did special post-graduate work in New York City in 1912, and 
has at various times visited the city for similar purposes. Dr. Harrell is a 
member of the Louisiana State Medical society, the Rapides parish Medical 
society, the American Medical association, the Association of Railway surgeons 
of the Rock Island system, and is oculist and aurist for the Rock Island R.R. 
Co. and the Missouri Pacific R. R. Co., and chairman of the section of eye, 
ear, nose and throat of the State Medical society. He is also a Royal Arch 
Mason and a member of the Woodmen of the World. Dr. Harrell has been twice 
married.  Dec. 1, 1880, he was married to Miss Clara Tarver. Mrs. Harrell 
died in 1902, leaving 1 daughter, Ruth, now Mrs. C. H. Standifer, of Brady, 
Tex.  Dr. Harrell 's second marriage was to Mrs. Sarah McKee, nee Perry, 
born at Montgomery, Ala., and reared in Southern Georgia. One daughter, 
Virginia, has been born to this union. The Doctor and his wife are members 
of the Baptist church, he being a deacon of the church. In politics he is a 
Democrat, and for 6 years served as coroner of Bienville parish. He has never 
sought political honors. In public affairs he takes  a commendable interest, 
and is no less progressive as a citizen than as a physician and surgeon.