Freestone County, Texas
Biographies 



Biography of Dr. Thomas Blackmon Grayson
  (1 Mar 1833-28 Feb 1903, buried St. Elmo Cemetery in Freestone Co., TX.)

A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, 
  Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1893; pages 833-834

"  T. B. Grayson, M.D., the second oldest practicing physician in Freestone county, 
Texas, was born in Wilcox county, Alabama, and was the son of Dr. S. G. and
Caroline (Blackmon) Grayson, natives of South Carolina and Kentucky, respectively,
married in Alabama.  Dr. S. G. Grayson was a graduate of a medical school in 
Kentucky. After graduation Dr. Grayson began the practive fo his profession while 
the State was yet a Territory and the Indians more numerous than the white men.
He retired from the practice of medicine many years previous to his death, which
latter event occurred in this State. He had come here in 1853, from Alabama, 
dying in this county in 1871. During his long life in the State he also engaged
in farming, but took little interest in political matters, beyond voting for the 
Democratic candidates. The Grayson family had come from Scotland to America long
before the war of independence and settled in Virginia, later removing to Kentucky,
where Dr. S. G. Grayson was born, in the same county as were Abraham Lincoln and
Jefferson Davis. Dr. Grayson and wife were the parents of ten children, seven of
whom lived to be grown, namely: William, deceased, was an attorney at Fairfield,
Texas, and served as a Judge of this county; Dr. T. B., our subject; Elizabeth,
deceased; Harriet, wife of William Cleveland; Mary, deceased, wife of Judge L. D.
Bradley, of the Thirteenth District, and was Judge at the time of his death; 
Virginia, deceased; Carolina, her twin sister, married D.C. Weatherford; Charles,
of Leon county; Robert, of Leon county; and Alice, deceased, wife fo Judge O. C. 
Kirven. Mrs. Grayson died in 1862, greatly lamented by all.
   Our subject received his primary education in the common schools of Alabama,
finishing a higher course at the University of Alabama. At the age of nineteen
he entered the Department of Medicine in the Tulane University, New Orleans,
graduating there in the class of 1854-'55, and opened his office at Fairfield, 
May 1, 1855. Here he continued until 1872, when he removed to his present location.
He still has an extensive practice, covering the greater portion of Freestone 
county. In the latter portion of 1862, Dr. Grayson entered the Confederate service
in Charles Pyron's regiment of cavalry, but did not remain with them very long as
he was ordered by General Walker to join Walk'er Legion as surgeon. While in this
position he was stationed at Houston and Galveston until the close of the war.
At this time he returned home and engaged inthe practice of his profession, in 
which he has been very successful, becoming one of the most highly regarded men
in this portion of the State.
    The Doctor had cultivated about 100 acres of land previous to the war, and 
was a partner in a drug store in Fairfield. For many years the Doctor was a member
of the Medical Examinating Board of his county, and during the time the physicians
had a medical board he took a great interest in it. In 1856, he was married to 
Miss Carolina McArthur, of Alabama, a daughter of John and Christian (Gordon)
McArthur, natives of Scotland and North Carolina. Dr. and Mrs. Grayson are 
parents of nine children: Arthur, deceased;  William S., of Navarro County; Mary, 
wife of John Robinson; Mary K., wife of C. J. McConnico; Bertie, wife of W. Y. 
Glass; Martha R., wife of M. M. Bonham; John E.; Charles B. and Cora B.  Dr. 
Grayson is a member of the Birdston Lodge, No 333, A.F. and A.M., of which he 
was a charter member, and for many years a member of Fairfield Lodge, No. 104.  
He has served there as W. M. and was appointed W. M. of Birdston Lodge.  He is 
also a member of R.A.M., Fairfield Lodge No. 42 and was a member of I.O.O.F., 
Eudora Lodge No 42, which no longer exists. He is prominent in the County Grange."