My Genealogy Hound

Dr. Thomas G. Brewer, whose celebrity in the healing art is widespread, was born in Aberdeen, Miss., in 1851. His parents were Samuel C. and Mary A. (Pritchett) Brewer, of Virginia, who moved to the State of Mississippi at an early period, where the father became a very prominent contractor for the erection of buildings. Thomas was the youngest of fourteen children, of whom four boys entered the Confederate army, one of them being killed at Gettysburg, one dying in prison at Rock Island, having been captured at the battle of Chickamauga, and the other two serving through the entire period of the war, of whom one is residing at Water Valley, Miss., and the other is a popular physician at Lamar, Miss. The father of these boys died in 1879, and the mother nine years previous. Thomas remained at home during the war, being then too young to bear arms, and studied mathematics under his father, preparatory to entering the university. His first intention was to adopt the law, but his father’s financial ruin soon after the war changed his plans, and he joined his brother, W. W. Brewer, at Lamar, to study medicine. He remained with his brother one year, and then attended the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, where he remained one year. On his return he won a scholarship at a competitive examination held in the Louisville Medical College at Water Valley, Miss., and remained at that college during the years 1873-74, graduating in February of the latter year. On his return to Lamar he began practicing his profession, and continued at that place until 1879. It was during the yellow fever epidemic of 1878, that the Doctor displayed his heroism, and the courage to face death, where thousands were panic-stricken and fleeing in all directions to escape the scourge. He remained at his post, and with his brother’s assistance attended case after case with a nerve that was magnificent, and won the admiration of thousands. During his residence in Lamar he was elected mayor and quarantine commissioner, and held the office of mayor for several years. In 1879 he removed to Monroe, Phillips County, Ark., where he remained for two years, but losing his health to some extent, he thought it better policy to return to Lamar. After one year’s residence there he improved, and then came to Mississippi County, Ark., settling at Pecan Point, to practice his profession. He remained here until 1887, and then moved to Fort Smith, but the ill health of his family again compelled him to change, and he returned to Mississippi County, where he has since been permanently located, and has built a comfortable home. His skill is too well known to comment upon, and his practice embraces a stretch of some twenty miles upon the river front, and several of the islands; besides this it is rapidly increasing. The Doctor is a member of the County Medical Society and of the Tri-State Medical Association of Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee, and at one time was vice-president of the latter society. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Honor, Lodge No. 3315, of Pecan Point, and was instrumental in the organization of these lodges. In 1876 he was married to Miss Mollie C. Hudson, of Lamar, Miss., and they are the parents of one child, a boy named Norman W. Dr. and Mrs. Brewer are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and are both active in all church work. Some idea of the Doctor’s skill may be gathered from the fact that last year he attended 130 families, and but two deaths occurred out of that number, which is one of the most creditable records of any physician in that section.