My Genealogy Hound

Dr. William H. McCall, physician, Briggsville, Ark. Dr. McCall, an energetic practitioner, is recognized throughout this county as a friend and laborer in the cause and advancement of the medical profession, and has acquired a flattering reputation as a physician. He came with his father’s family to this State from South Carolina in 1860, settled at Mount Holly, Union County, was reared on a farm, and remained with his father until his majority. His educational advantages in youth were good and when he came to Arkansas, when seventeen years of age, he was fully prepared to enter college. But he was deprived of this privilege for several years on account of the breaking out of the war. In 1861 he engaged to teach a country school for $40 per month and continued this employment for about three years. About this time (October, 1864) his father died leaving a large family to support, and as he was the eldest child the care of the family devolved upon his shoulders. He gave up teaching and returned to the farm, where he remained for three years, being very successful in this pursuit. During this time he had taken up the study of medicine. In 1867 he became a clerk in the general mercantile store of C. L. McEae & Co. at Mount Holly, Union County, and there he continued for six months, but being interested in the study of medicine, he left the firm in the fall of that year, to attend a course of lectures at Memphis, Tenn. The following spring he came to Briggsville Township, Yell County, and commenced the practice of medicine, which business he has continued up to the present time, meeting with excellent success. About two years after his arrival he bought a tract of land containing 160 acres, and in connection with his practice carried on agricultural pursuits. In 1875 he had sixty-five acres under cultivation, but in this year he sold his place and bought in the same neighborhood 360 acres, 50 acres of which were improved. He has added to that improvement until he now has about 90 acres cleared, with good house, barns and outbuildings. He has, from time to time, made other purchases until he now owns about 1,800 acres of land, lying in this and adjoining townships. His principal crops are cotton and corn and he has about 600 acres under cultivation this year. He is also engaged in general merchandising at Briggsville, where he now resides, and is selling about $10,000 worth of goods per year. In 1882 he with J. H. Waldron started a grist mill and cotton-gin, the first in the neighborhood, but Dr. McCall has since sold out his interest. Dr. McCall was bom on May 28, 1843, and was the son of Malcomb and Lydia (John) McCall, the latter a daughter of Daniel John. On July 27, 1876, our subject was married to Miss Mary C. McRae, formerly of North Carolina. His political preferences are Democratic, and he was chairman of the central committee. He is an Old School Presbyterian and gives liberally of his means to churches and schools, as well as all other enterprises for the advancement of social and public interests.