|
James Byars, M. D.
Among the well-known and trusted physicians of
Colorado County James Byars, of Columbus, occupies a noteworthy
position. Thoroughly fitted for his duties, both of study and by
years of practical experience, he has won a fine reputation for
professional knowledge and skill, and in his chosen career has met
with excellent success. A son of the late William Minor Byars, M.
D., he was born, July 27, 1847, in Durhamville, Lauderdale County,
Tennessee, coming, on the paternal side, of substantial Scotch-Irish
ancestry.
The Doctor's grandfather, James Byars, was born
and reared in Virginia. Receiving excellent educational advantages
in his youthful days, he subsequently taught school many years in
his native state, but later in life moved to Columbus, Texas, where
he resided until his death, at the ripe old age of eighty-four
years. He was a man of fine character, a stanch advocate of
temperance, a total abstainer from liquors of all kinds, and in his
religious beliefs was an Episcopalian. He married Lucy T. Minor, who
was born in Virginia, removed with her husband to Columbus, and
after his death settled in Covington, Tennessee, where she spent the
remainder of her life, dying at an advanced age.
One of a family of five children, Dr. William
Minor Byars was born in Virginia, and was there brought up and
educated. After his graduation from the medical department of the
University of Virginia he went to Philadelphia, where he completed
the full course at the Jefferson Medical College, receiving the
degree of M. D. Beginning the practice of his profession in
Durhamville, Tennessee, he remained there until 1849, when,
accompanied by his family, he started for Texas. Loading his
household goods in wagons, and laying in an ample supply of
provisions, he took the overland route, camping and cooking by the
way. Arriving in Washington County, he located at Independence,
where he was engaged in practice a number of years. Coming from
there to Columbus in 1857, he soon became known as one of the most
skillful physicians of this section of Colorado County, and until
his death, in 1871, had a large and lucrative practice in this
vicinity. By his marriage with Mary Ann Carlton, a daughter of James
Carlton, a pioneer settler of Columbus, he had seven children
namely: James, the special subject of this sketch; Caspar; Thomas;
Victor; Zuleika; Henry; and Conrad. This wife, who had proved
herself such a true helpmeet to her husband, and such a loving and
faithful mother to their children, passed to the higher life in
1865.
But two years of age when he came with his
parents to Texas, James Byars received his elementary education in
the public schools of Independence and Columbus, after which he went
to Covington. Tennessee, where he attended a preparatory school kept
by his uncle, James Byars. Completing a course in civil engineering,
he returned to Columbus, and, there being no railroad building in
Texas at that time, and but little need of a civil engineer, he
entered the employ of a stockman, and for five years was engaged in
driving cattle for the Salt Lake City and California trade. In 1864
Mr. Byars enlisted in Easley's Company, Mann's Regiment, and served
as a private in the Confederate army until the close of the war, at
which time he was stationed on Galveston Island. Purchasing land
then on the San Marcos river, he followed farming and stock raising
for several seasons. Having in the meantime studied medicine, he
entered the Ohio Medical College in 1880, and two years later was
graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D. Immediately
locating at Bay City, Texas, Dr. Byars commenced the practice of his
profession, and, with the exception of the year 1886, when he took a
post-graduate course in New York City and has since continued it.
Since coming to Columbus, in 1857, he has built up a most successful
practice, becoming one of the leading physicians of this place.
In June, 1873, Dr. Byars, married for his wife
Miss Sally Simmons, who was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, and died in
September, 1905 in Columbus. She was a daughter of John T. and Susan
(Randall) Simmons, and a niece of Gen. Horace Randall, who was
graduated from West Point, and afterwards served as a commanding
general in the Confederate army,. Of the marriage of Doctor and Mrs.
Byars, three children were born, namely: Caspar Ralph, Hennie Z.,
and Gustave S. Caspar Ralph Byars, the eldest child, attended the
Agricultural and Mechanical School at Bryan, and three years at the
Medical Department of the University of Texas, and graduated from
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. After receiving the degree
of M. D., he entered the United States service as assistant surgeon
in the army, and was for a time located in the Philippines, where he
came in contact with all the well known contagious diseases
excepting yellow fever. Three years of active service there sufficed
and he resigned his position. Returning to Texas, he resided for a
year at Bay City, after which he re-entered the army, and at the
present time, 1906, is stationed at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont.
Hennie Z. Byars, the only daughter, married A. S. Adams, of Waco,
Texas. Gustave Byars, the youngest son, is a druggist at Bay City,
Texas. Dr. Byars is a Mason, belonging to the Bay City Blue Lodge,
A. F. & A. M.
A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas,
Volume II, Lewis Publishing Company, 1907, pp 365-366
|
