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Biographical Sketch of Dr. Robert Gideon Williams
September 8, 1851 – November 11, 1922
Robert Gideon Williams was born September 8, 1851 in Benton, Polk County, Tennessee to parents Robert Joshua and Hester Ann McJunkin Williams. At home were his siblings, Elizabeth, Joseph, Amanda, William and Richard, soon to be joined by Cassandra and Vinson. “Soon after the close of the Civil War, his father died, leaving the family in hard financial circumstances which precluded any further schooling.”1
He took up farming, marrying Sarah Charlotta Hatman on July 24, 1872 in Greene County, Missouri. In the 1880 U.S. Census the family was living in Jefferson, Izard County, Arkansas. His mother-in-law was an old time herb doctor who had a fairly wide practice and lived with “Bob” and his family. The would-be doctor secured some books, studied them and rode with his mother-in-law, Dr. Moton of Franklin, Ark., and other doctors of the country. When he had acquired sufficient knowledge to pass an examination, he went before an examining board of doctors and took the test. On September 24, 1885 he was licensed to practice.
“The Williams home was the gathering place for people for miles around over the country. Mrs. Williams was an excellent cook and seemed to enjoy preparing meals for the large numbers of people that ate at her table. With a family of six children there was bound to be many problems for the parents and perhaps more for the children. For example, one hot day Dr. Wlliams put son Vince to laying by a field of corn with a double shovel plow and a stubborn mule. Soon after the doctor left on a call, Vince took the mule loose from the plow and went to the house and told his mother he was sick. When the doctor returned from the call Mrs Williams met him at the front gate and told him she was afraid Vince was pretty sick. The doctor examined the patient and diagnosed the case as, “Don’t want to plow” and gave him a dose of castor oil and vermifuge. He told Mrs. Williams to double the dose if Vince was not able to go back to work by two o’clock. At five minutes till two Vince left for the corn field.”
In the 1900 U.S. Census the family was living in Strawberry, Fulton County. This was home for the duration of Dr. Bob’s life.
Dr. Bob’s pay for his services was $.25 cents when people came to his home for medicine, and $.25 cents per mile when making calls. He later went up to $.50 cents a mile. In the first years of his practice obstetric cases were $2.50, later he charged $5.00, then in his last years the price was $10.00. Those that could pay money did so. The ones that did not have money paid him with corn, wheat, calves, hogs, meat, lard, or work on the farm, such as cutting wood, making rails and posts.2
Dr. Williams died at home November 11, 1922. He had spent the last 37 years of his life trying to relieve the pains and save the lives of suffering humanity. He was buried in Morriston Cemetery, Morriston, Fulton County among the people that he loved and was loved by.
1 Dr. R.G. Williams Pioneer Doctor by Vester Williams, Salem
Headlight, Salem Fulton County, Arkansas, December 27, 1956
2 “Williams op. cit”
John T. Mitchell, BBA June 15, 2024