Biographical Sketch of H. D. Poston, M.D., Washington County, Missouri

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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H. D. Poston, M. D., was born in St. Francois County, Mo., October 11,
1824.  That Dr. Poston has made himself eminently successful in his
professional career, nearly forty years of constant practice abundantly
testifies, and is amply corroborated by his professional brethren.  His
parents were Henry and Nancy (Johnson) Poston, both natives of North
Carolina.  The father was reared in his native State, and by occupation
was a surveyor. In 1800 he came to Washington County, Mo., on horseback
and alone, being then twenty-two years of age, and attracted by the
glorious reports of Austin's Mines.  After remaining for a time he 
entered the employ of a man named Bryant, in St. Francois County, and
had charge of an old-fashioned furnace.  After the organization of the
territory he followed surveying for fifteen years, sectionizing the
locality of Washington County.  After the organization of St. Francois
County he was elected sheriff, and also represented the county in the
State Legislature at the first or second session after the seat of 
Government was established at Jefferson City, he was also a colonel in
the War of 1812.  In a family of eleven children H. D. was the seventh
child; he was reared on a farm and educated at St. Charles College.  A
desire to obtain a thorough knowledge of some of the sciences led him
to take up the study of medicine, and under the guidance of Dr. George
Williams, he was prepared to attend a course of lectures at Louisville,
Ky., and later in St. Louis, Mo.  He commenced practice in 1849, but
owing to impaired health he went to California in 1850, remaining two
years.  He settled in Washington County in 1854, since which time he 
has been actively devoted to his chosen calling. In 1876 he was elected
to represent the county in the State Legislature, in which position he
served with honor and ability.  The success and patronage which he has
enjoyed, and the pleasing results that have followed him, warmly test-
ify to his ability and popularity as a physician and surgeon.  In
August, 1852, he married Miss Cassandra Ashburn, a native of Kentucky,
and a daughter of Dr. William Ashburn.  Their family consists of three
children, Charles, a practicing physician of Bonne Terre; Henry and
Fannie.

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