My Genealogy Hound

Dr. Finis E. Jeffery, senior member of the firm of Jeffery & Dickson, physicians and surgeons of Jamestown, Independence County, was born in Izard County, Ark., in 1855. He is a son of Hon. Miles and Sarah (Williams) Jeffery, the former born in Missouri, in 1816, and the latter in Izard County, Ark., about 1820. The parents were married in Izard County, which county was always their home, the father dying in 1868, and the mother in 1875, both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Hon. Miles Jeffery was reared in the wilds of Arkansas with no educational advantages, but became one of the most influential men of the county, and held many positions of trust and honor, taking an active interest in everything pertaining to the upbuilding of the community. He served as justice of the peace for many years, was sheriff of Izard County from 1844 to 1846, and from 1856 to 1860 represented that county in the legislature with credit and distinction. In his death the county was deprived of one of its most valuable men. Hon. Miles Jeffery was a son of Judge Jehoiada Jeffery, who was of a Virginian family of English descent, and in 1816 removed to the White River country, Ark., settling in what is now Izard County, where he spent the rest of his life. In 1824 he represented Independence County in the Territorial legislature, and brought forward a bill to make a new county, calling it Izard, for the then governor of Arkansas; he subsequently represented Izard County in the legislature, and brought forward another bill to divide the county, naming the new county thus formed, Fulton, for the man then governor of the State. For perhaps a dozen years he served as judge of the county and probate courts of Izard County, and was one of its most prominent men. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and had a personal encounter with an Indian, whom he killed and whose scalp he brought into camp; he died at his White River residence in 1846, esteemed by many. The maternal grandfather of our subject was also a pioneer of Izard County, but in an early day went to California and was never afterward heard of. Dr. Finis E. was one of the younger members of a family of nine sons and six daughters. He was reared on a farm, receiving a good education at the common schools and the La Crosse Collegiate Institute. He began the study of medicine in 1876, with Dr. O. T. Hunt (deceased), of Izard County, and graduated in 1879 from the University of Louisville, Ky., after a two years’ course; he was in a class of 105, and was one of ten who stood the best examination, being awarded the degree of honor. He immediately returned to Arkansas and began practice in partnership with Dr. L. A. Dickson, of Jamestown. Dr. Jeffery is now one of the leading medical practitioners of the county, and has an extensive and remunerative practice. June 10, 1886, he married Maud Dickson, daughter of his former partner, Dr. L. A. Dickson. Mrs. Jeffery is a native of Greenbriar Township, Independence County. Dr. Jeffery is a prominent member of the Independence County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He is the present mayor of Jamestown, and takes an active interest in all public enterprises, being one of the influential men of his town. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Jeffery is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.