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History of career [(miport)?] of J.H. [HimBROUGH?] - [? at] LOWNDESBORO Ala For 25 years [Written?] Mch. 29-1939 by MARIE REESE - LOWNDESBORO ALA. [Twenty?] five years have passed since Dr. K - moved into the small country [town/] which was [Kuorru?] throughout middle ALABAMA to be a [center?] of [culture?] and prosperity. He [came?] to practice his [Tussu?] proffesion and a [charming?], wife- 4 small red, headed boys and a [??] of being an [excellent?] Physician were brought with him. He was in his early forties. Red haired, [stoutish?], small piercing brown eyes and chopped off moustache to match his hair [??] color. He always wore [tan and?] gray clothes of [source?] well [known mat?] and a light colored hat made by Stetson. He was [born and reared?] on good circumstances and did not [intend?] to get away from it. He insisted that the best was the [?] most economical in the long run and had the good things of life. According to his previous good food saved his bills and a good appearance attracted [patients?] to him and accumulated bills in his charge account 0002 2[?] against the [?] fellow. He was not over [?]. WILCOX CO. [?] write LOWNDES gained as he was on asset to [???] community. He was a gentleman of the “old school” and was a good sport in addition. He settled his family in and old [??] home which by choice was for [?] and hung out his shingle as on advertisement, in a store on Main St. There were already a Physician in the community. One had practiced in the town for nearly a half a century and almost half the population in it love his trade work.” But this old pioneer Dr. was getting [time?] worn and weary and would, soon pass on to his reward. The other was young with [untried?] pathway so the [new Dr.?] felt that it was a good opportunity. He and his wife “fit” exactly in the picture. Both were educated, pleasant and [?]. The office was in a historic setting. Being in the [MEDIL?] BUILDING- which was the first store built in 0003 3the village [Kuorru?] at that time as McGills HILL [?] was in MONTGOMERY CO. as [scraps?] had not then been [further?] from [nearby?] counties to create LOWNDES. The notice from the old historic store attracted wide spread attention and [patients?] crowded his office and he could not take care of all the calls. “A new [broom?] sweeps [clean?]” and every one wanted to give him a “try out.” The [total?] year of [1918?] where the flu epidemic [?] the cities. The small [towns?] and the death toll [??] different [mobilization?] [couples were?] tremendous. The red headed Dr. in the small town was on duty day and night. His fight against that dreadful disease should never be forgotten. He only stopped at home long enough to snatch a bit and feed his horse for the next call or trip. At times the call would be miles away in the [?] [?] perhaps 10 or 15 miles out on a rough plantation road. His practice reached out in to the large plantations that [extended?] far and [around?] that 0004 4distance from the office. The personal [wear?] [and tear?] [?] to these trips counted up but the [?] of the [broad?] [acres sent?] “orders” and the Dr. who got the practice of those extensive plantations considered himself fortunate. He made the routes in a cart, [a two?] wheel vehicle - [Known?] by some as a road cart on [sulky?]. Which was drawn by a bay horse that he called Capt. [?].The Dr. and the Capt. had been “calling” many years together and each know the [tricks?] of the other. [He?] was on [open??] that the [medical?] man enjoyed his “[redeye?]” as his little boys called it. He said it was essential on a night trip and [moved?] up that he carried it as regular as he carried his saddle bags but he [secreted?] his bottle under the seat of the [sulky?], and stopped to take a “nip” at [intervals?].

Where these [intervals?] were to close together. “Capt [?]” was always patient where stops to [snooze??] made [?] always carried his master home safe in the wee hours in the morning after the night before.

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The four footed friend also was patient when the master [made?] a [? detour?] for he believed in “stepping” out when he could “get by” with it and [?] that where a [man want know more out?] and hungry he wanted soothing and [petting?]. If [he met wagging instead he went else where to get it [and?] said he thought he had a right to do so. And flung out the [Challenge?]. [?] was not [?] in the territory he covered so he got by. [Previous?] to the [?] of this interesting family the [?] church hand been the [?] at which they worshipped and their letters of membership was moved to this church which they attended a very short time. His alertness [???] that the [longer?] and [?] membership was at the Episcopal church and [negroes?] who [peopled?] the large cotton farms surrounding were [?] by members of this church. Their religious faith and [?] a [change over right?] and their membership was changed to the Episcopal 0006 6church where the “quality and [money?] was.” DR. K - had his “hobbies” and [catered to serve extract to them?] one was gardening and “between calls “he could be seen [?] there with hoe, spade or [rake?]. He wanted [?] [?] early and raised every thing from a [luscious strawberry?] to a huge pumpkin. Putting [them?] on the table [early?] carried out his idea that only the [?] early [vegetables?] were fit to eat and after the hot summertime sun hit [them?]. They were full of fever. A [couple?] on more of [?] of his [?] vegetables was always on exhibition at his office and it was displayed to visitors [??] a [brag and boast?] and the [?] was made that he was [such?] a “[Cracker Jack?]” gardener that his vegetables were made - enjoyed and gave to seed in time together and furnish seed for his neighbors to use in planting their usual spring gardens His favorite [patients?] always were carried a lovely basket of strawberries in season which were almost [?] in size to the guinea egg. But the [??] who were [there favored were?] 0007 7world wise and [?] the that he had [spent?] extra time in selecting the large berries only so he [could?] “[???]” where he [prosecuted them?]. On an occasion where he was attending a medical convention not far from his house enough for his [boosting?] to be unknown. it was decided to play a friendly joke on him. While he was out one night enjoying the company of some of the delegates his friends put [?] [?]for the joke. A very large [cooter?] was captured and concealed at the foot of the bed he was assigned to. In due time he retired and fell asleep. But was soon awakened by the [cooter?] “[working?] on” his toes. My God! he exclaimed what in the h- is that in the bed with me? Those “lying in [?]” for the fun [?]. Why that is an a LOWNDES county [?] A [chinch?] [??] (about that time the [cooter?] was [Shoved?] out on the floor and as it was dark in the room it could be felt but not seen.) I never heard of a [chinch?] being that d- big. His friends said. “You see it is [?] way over your way 0008 8everything you touch grows so large [and over?] in our [???] our [??] just that large. The [cooter?] was thrown out the window and the bottle was passed around and all took a drink. He had [sporting?] blood in his veins and twice annually he [arranged?] a “1 leg race” - There were in the [?] and surrounding community quite a few [negroes?] who had only 1 leg - some of these got about by [means?] of a [?], some used crutches and [?] [least fortunate?] had what is known as the peg leg and [?] these were [??][The?] sport he sponsored the race and [sent?] out notices as to time and place [and?] list of [prizes?] to be given by himself. The first prize for the fastest runner was to be a 24 pound sack of Ballards flour. Second prize - a 5 pound sack of sugar and the one coming out last was to receive a box of snuff or plug of their favorite tobacco. At the [appointed?] time the candidates hopped in seemingly from every where and the race was “on”. Starting at his office and extending [down?] a 0009 9[side?] street for a half mile. He was on all [??] and the [doors?] of the house were [??] space for [entertainment and dancing?] [?] he would be [outstanding?] [on dancing?] the old time gigs etc. The boys [4 in?] [?] were growing up and [?] limbs off the old tree. [Bad?] mischievous and red haired, as soon as” DOOLEY” as they called the Dr. turned his back for the office or a call. They took the [?] and watered his “redeye”. [Drank?] as much they [could?] and refilled with water to [?] him. The [cart and?] horse days passed and the Dr. had to keep steps steps with the times. He bought a [WHIPPET?] but on the [nights he routed to Philounder?] he was aware of the fact that the motor would make [noise?] For that cart [and horse era the wheels?] of the cart were wrapped with cotton so his exit would not be heard. But [?] the d- motor was [another?] matter. [Soon?] that difficulty was [?] by pushing the car 2 blocks from the house before starting the motor. The [climax?] of this unusual characters [careers?] was reached where he [announced?] that 0010 10he had herd a vision. God had sent a message to him (he said) by an angel [telling him to?] preach the gospel. He was already a wonderful bible scholar and [?] its [contents?] from the beginning to end. He responded to the call and began preaching to the colored race in their churches and meetings. He continued his practice and carried his religions [to?] the bedside of the negro patients. A second blessing, he claimed to have received and could be [?] anytime [knowing??] with a patient or [shouting hand in hand with?] [?] (negro) and all praising God together. This continued till a few years ago when he had a stroke which ended the [?] of this [?] but most unusual [?] which surely our maker lost the pattern after making him and his devilish little [foresome?] [Marie Rease??] March 29. 1939-