TENTH DISTRICT DOCTORS


Dr John Netherland Dykes
(Handed down by word of mouth)


Around 1870, Dr John Netherland Dykes came into the Versailles-Rockvale area, married Margaret Carlton, daughter of Blake Carlton, and became a valuable citizen of the community. His home was on a part of the original Carlton Land grant and stands directly opposite the entrance to the Snail Shell Cave Road, now owned and occupied by henry Manning.

After several years of serving the community as a capable medical doctor, respected citizen, and postmaster in his home at Pin Hook, Dr Dykes moved to Christiana.


Dr John Jackson Garrett
Information by Margaret Garrett Richardson,
the microfilm records and others


Dr John Jackson Garrett, born 132 Oct 1870, near Rover and Fruit Valley area in Bedford County, was one of ten children of Robert Cannon Garrett and Martha Lytle Jackson of Irish and English lineages. Dr Garrett married 1 Dec 1906, Mary Ann Ivie, a niece of C.D. Ivie, and they had four children:
1 Robert Ivie Garrett (12 Oct 1803-13 July 1974) married 26 Dec 1939, Elizabeth Wassell. Issue, 2 children: Robert Ivie Garrett, Jr and timothy Garrett
2 Mary Dell Garrett (23 April 1910-___) married 25 Sept 1931, Andrew M Jarrett. Issue, one child: Andrew M Jarrett Jr.
3 John Jackson Garrett (31 March 1912-_____) married first, August 1940, Eileen Peebles. Issue, one child: John Jackson Garrett, III; married second, Aug 1952, Ruth Hoover.
4 Margaret Louise Garrett (15 Feb 1915-_____) married May 1932, Lavon Richardson. Issue, 2 children: Larry Richardson and Carol Richardson.

Dr Garrett graduated from the Nashville Medical of the University of Tennessee in April 1900, and immediately began practice in the Tenth District. Practice was continuous in the Rockvale- Versailles and adjacent areas, except for one year in Bell Buckle. His reputation as a diagnostician an internist and medical doctor became widespread among citizens of the area and with other doctors and surgeons in Nashville and Murfreesboro. His patients included all who requested his service regardless of their race, creed, or financial status. Many called were made for which he never expected to be paid. Even during inclement weather, night and day, he went, traveling at first by horseback, buggy and later by T-model Ford, occasionally driven by one of his four children, and others.

One rare and unusual case was that of Will Harris, who had an ice pick stuck in the top of his head, came in the roof of his mouth and the handle broke off even with his skull. The event occurred in a fight at an ice cream picnic type gathering of black persons at a tenant house. Will walked the mile north to Dr Garrett's home. The doctor examined him, gave a loud guffaw, got a pair of wire pliers, pulled the ice pick out, poured iodine in the wound, and sent him on his way to live for many years.

In the early twenties, Dr Garrett had a large barn (100' X 150') built near Rockvale stores and across the road from the family home and his small outside office near the Versailles road. Parts of the labor was furnished by patients who could not otherwise pay. Being community and school improvement- minded, the loft was floored and used as a gymnasium for basketball and roller-skating by the Rockvale High School until 1929. This was the first gymnasium in the county except for the Teachers College and Murfreesboro Central's box type court. Six Aladdin lanterns lighted the floor. Spectators sat on bales of hay or stood on loft joists. Some game receipts amounted to $5-$10.

Dr John J Garrett's tragic death, for which the area never really recovered, occurred 17 Sept 1929, at age 59, when he was shot by Fred Boyce, insane at the time. Wounded in his left breast by a 12- gauge shotgun, he died in seconds on the ground close to the Bedford County house porch of his patient who had requested rural medical service. His death removed from the rural communities a leading citizen and the county's most prominent doctor.

Three ministers conducted the funeral. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in Murfreesboro, with physicians of Rutherford and Bedford Counties, plus Dr Frank Fessey of Nashville serving as pall bearers. Thus in inquiring, scientific mind was abruptly lost.

Following this tragedy, his wife, Mary Ann Ivie Garrett, entered Teachers College as a freshman, graduated and taught elementary school for many years.


Dr Elias Tidwell Gray
Information from Ellis Gray, his grandson


Dr Elias Tidwell Gray's ancestors came from England, settled in Virginia, and later came to Tennessee. He was a practicing physician during the Civil War and came to the Versailles-Concord area from Fayetteville or Columbia, TN. He married Josephine Downing of the Concord area. They made their first home at the Floyd place; then they moved to their permanent home located west of the Rockvale School and back of the Joe Manning home.

Not only was he Gray in name, but he wore a long gray beard, gray hair, and always rode a gray horse, whether by intent or coincidence. Dr Gray attended the Nashville Medical school. As was custom of country doctors at that time, he always rode horseback, carrying his medicines in saddle bags. He bought his supply of medicines from Frank Nance at the Versailles store. He carried a knife with a long blade with which he would reach into the bottle of powdered medicine, take out the proper amount for one dose, wrap it in a small piece of white paper and place it, with similar ones in his saddle bags. On occasion, before the days of capsules, he possessed the knowledge to mix two or more powders into one dose, fold it in a paper, and call it a "tablet". Calomel, a strong purgative, was a much used medicine at that time, as was also paregoric to relieve pain, with catnip tea and castoria for babies. Carrying his medicines with him was a necessity as well as a great convenience to his patients, at the time of few drug stores and horse and buggy travel. At this point in time, the medical doctor was often asked to play the part of a dentist, not for filling a tooth, but for extracting an aching tooth. An improverised dental chair was made by turning a wash tub upside down and placing a chair with arms on the tub. The doctor would then extract the tooth by means of forceps, usually without the comfort of an anesthetic.

Dr Gray was most considerate, even sympathetic, in his charges. He charged one dollar for delivering a baby and would accept his pay in farm products; possibly a hog jowl, a bushel of turnips or apples, or a piece of side meat. Oh, that such a spirit of sympathy was with is today.

Dr Gray was highly respected by all who knew him and greatly loved his patients. He died in 1915 at the age of 82.


Dr Amasa Webb (Macie) Manier
Information gathered and assembled by Carmine Jackson


Dr Amasa Webb (Macie) Manier was the son of David Lemuel Manier and Susan Manier. He was born 8 Feb 1837 at the old Jody Ralston place. He married 11 March 1858, Julia White. Their home was what is now the Alex Ralston place.

For two years during the Civil War, Dr Manier served in the Confederate Army as a Hospital Stewart and Detailed Assistant Surgeon. He resigned in 1862 and returned home. (This information was taken from the Muster Roll of the 24th Tennessee Infantry - Co. A.)

Dr Manier is said to have built the first home in the new village of Rockvale. The exact location is not known; it stood only a short time before being consumed by fire.

Dr Manier practiced medicine before and after the Civil War in the communities of Needmore, Versailles, Rockvale, and Rover. Dr Manier at times rode his gorse bareback to visit his patients.

After a long and useful life, he died on 24 July 1913 at the age of 76.


Dr Thomas Ivan Poplin
(From a newspaper article written by Dick Poplin, a nephew)


Dr Thomas Ivan Poplin (born 1868) was the son of William Richard Poplin and Anna Melissa Susan Jackson Poplin, who was the seventh daughter of William Jackson and Drucilla Lytle.

Thomas Ivan Poplin and his brother, Richard E Poplin, and several cousins who lived near by, "read" medicine at home before attending the University of Tennessee Medical School in Nashville. Many young people formed the habit of sitting before the home fire and spending the long winter evenings reading books. This habit proved a great benefit to the group who studied together with Thomas and Richard Poplin. Both Poplin brothers and two of the cousins who studied with them became medical doctors; one became a pharmacist.

After finishing the Medical School in Nashville, Thomas Poplin stayed for a time in the home of Dr Robert Read in Murfreesboro, studying and practicing with him. Dr Poplin began his own independent practice in the community of Patterson (sometimes called "Possum Trot") located near the Williamson-Rutherford County line between Eagleville and Truin.

Dr Poplin proved himself to be a very kind and generous man. In those days, people talked about doctors "waiting on" the sick. This meant that the doctor wet to the home, through any kind of weather or rough road, and often stayed all night during serious illness or stayed until the crisis passed. This was before the days of easy access to a hospital or when a trained nurse would come to the home. When Dr Poplin was called to a sick bed, he went regardless of whether the patient was white or black or whether he had any respect of receiving his pay. Quite often the pay cane in pigs, calves, chickens, or farm produce; however, he remained true to the oath of a medical doctor, to do his very best to help suffering humanity.

While practicing his profession at Patterson, he met and married Mattie Leathers, sister of Jim Leathers. They became the parents of two daughters, Robbie Lee Poplin, who taught the Midland School and married Burney Tucker; and Annie Mitchell Poplin, who married Walter Modrall.

From Patterson, Dr Poplin moved to Rockvale where he had an extensive practice that included Versailles and all the Tenth District. While living here, a young doctor, J. J. Garrett, studied and practiced with Dr Poplin.

Leaving Dr Garrett in charge of the practice in the Tenth District, Dr Poplin moved to Midland, a community near the Rutherford-Bedford County Line.

After a strenuous and well-spent life, devoted to his profession, Dr Thomas Ivan Poplin died during 1916. He is buried in the Poplin Cemetery near and west of Cader's Crossing.

"As long as memories of such men remain, the term "Country Doctor" will be one of love and respect."


Dr Jefferson Robinson
From Fannie P Taylor scrapbook
and memory of Maira J Garrett


Dr Jefferson Robinson, born Aug 1862, in Alabama moved into the Versailles-Concord community around the turn of the century. He lived in the house that stood a short distance back of the concord Methodist Church. However, he built for himself ab office on the south side of the crossroads directly in front of the Concord store. No record of his medical practice has been found. After about 2 years, he moved away,.


Dr J. A. Sharber
From Jackson ancestors


One of the earliest medical doctors in the Versailles Community was Dr J. A. Sharber, who married 7 March 1860, Lucretia Jackson, daughter of Francis Jackson, II. They lived on the road leading from the Versailles Store to the Concord Store on the farm later owned by Tennie Williams. Dr Sharber lived only a short time after his marriage and is buried in the Sharber Cemetery located on the farm where he lived.


Dr John W Taylor
From Mary T Taylor Fugham, a niece


Dr John W Taylor (14 Dec 1862-5 Nov 1927) was the son of Joseph Taylor and Nancy Henricks Taylor. They lived on the main road near Pucketts Store. Dr John W Taylor married Lula Virginia Lynch and attended medical College in Nashville.