My Genealogy Hound

Dr. Benjamin S. Medlock, prominent as one of Saline County’s physicians and surgeons, residing at Collegeville, was born in Fayette County, West Tenn., in 1834, and is the son of Judge John A. and Mary (Forsyth) Medlock, born in South Carolina in 1812 and in North Carolina in 1812, respectively. The parents resided in that State until 1842, when they moved to Tippah County, Miss. They made this place their home until 1858, and then came to Saline County, Ark., settling at a point about five miles above Benton, and in 1861 moved to a farm near Collegeville, where the Judge still resides with his third wife. He is one of the best known citizens of this county, and a prominent man in public life, having for four years served as county and probate judge. In secret societies he is a member of Alexander Lodge No. 353, A. F. & A. M., at Mabelvale, and also belonged to the Chapter and Council many years. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for about sixty-five years, and is a liberal contributor to all religious and educational matters. His father was Benjamin Medlock, of South Carolina, who came to Saline County in 1868, and remained here until his death, in 1874, at the age of ninety-two years. The latter had served in several Indian wars, and was noted as a great Indian fighter during that period. The maternal grandfather, Benjamin Forsyth, was a lieutenant-colonel during the War of 1812, and commanded a North Carolina regiment. He was killed during the latter part of that event. Benjamin S. Medlock, the principal in this sketch, was the oldest of eight children born to his parents, of whom there are six yet living. He was reared on his father’s farm, and educated at the public schools of his native State and in Mississippi. When at the age of twenty-five years he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. R. L. Bouton, a celebrated physician of the latter State, and afterward entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1861. The Civil War commencing at this period forced him to leave his profession for a while, and he then joined Company E, First Arkansas Infantry, with the rank of orderly-sergeant, and promoted to lieutenant. His service the first year covered Virginia, and afterward he fought in the battles of Bull Run, Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and all through the Georgia campaign. He was captured at Jonesboro, Ga., on August 1, 1864, but was exchanged with other prisoners at Nashville, about ten days afterward, and then joined Hood, under whom he fought at Franklin and Nashville. Later on he joined Gen. Johnston, and was with him at the time of the surrender. After the war was over he returned to Arkansas, and began to practice his profession at Collegeville, where he has since continued, and is today the most successful as well as the oldest practicing physician in Saline County. His success financially has been remarkable, and some of his marvelous cures have caused a great deal of comment in medical circles. The Doctor has a splendid home at Collegeville, and owns about 1,050 acres of very valuable land in Saline and Pulaski Counties, with about 125 under cultivation. In July, 1869, he was married to Miss Julia Jennings, a daughter of Richard and Julia Jennings, the father an Englishman, who went to New Orleans on arriving in this country, and in 1837 moved from there to Little Rock, where he died in 1847, while the mother is now residing with Dr. Medlock and his wife. Two children were born to the Doctor’s marriage, of whom one is yet living, Rosa. For a number of years Dr. Medlock has been a prominent figure in public life, and in 1866-67 represented Saline County in the legislature, and was chairman of the committees on the auditor and treasurer’s books, as well as being a member of educational, medical, geological, and various other committees. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Buchanan in 1856, and several times has been a delegate to the State convention. In secret fraternities he is a member of Alexander Lodge No. 303, and also belongs to the Chapter and Council at New Albany, Miss., but has never affiliated with that order at Collegeville. He and wife and daughter belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and take an active interest in all religious and educational matters, the Doctor having served from 1874 to 1876 as superintendent of the school board in Saline County.