History of Goree, Part 7 (Early Doctors)

Goree's Early Doctors
by John H. Bates
1964

Dr. J.R. Smith

In 1891, Dr. J.R. Smith, a native of Kentucky came to what we today call “Old Goree” and opened an office. Dr. Smith practiced medicine there and over a larger territory until 1907, when he moved to Munday. He became a large land owner and was truly a frontier doctor. He passed away at his home in Munday in 1926.

Dr. E.F. Heard

Dr. Heard was born in Marietta, Georgia on April 21, 1878. He graduated from Georgia Medical College in Atlanta in 1902 and came to “Old Goree” in March of 1903. He married Miss Sidney Parks in 1904 and made Goree his home. Dr. & Mrs. Heard had four children; Pete, who died in early manhood; Mary Isabelle, who is now Mrs. Temple Dickson of Sweetwater; Angie, who is now Mrs. Hill Ritcher of Dallas; and Charles of Abilene.

Dr. Heard lived to be 81 years in history, according to the good he did his community, none could have been more wisely spent. Those in Dr. Heard’s family are my friends and without these grand people the history of our community would not be nearly as interesting.

Dr. W.M. Taylor

Dr. W.M. Taylor was born in Rock Mills, Alabama on July 28, 1887. He moved with his parents to Atlanta, Georgia. He was educated in the Atlanta public schools and graduated from the college of Medicine and Surgery in 1902.

He was converted and joined the Baptist Church at the age of 15. He began the practice of medicine in Newton County, Georgia.

He married Miss Thompson of Covington, Georgia who passed away. He was married to Miss Chloe Maloney, who passed away during the influenza epidemic. He married Miss Bettie Madole of Marlin, Texas.

Dr. Taylor came to Goree in 1907, but returned to Atlanta with his ailing wife in January, 1908. After her death, he came back to Goree in November, 1908.

He was a charter member of Goree Masonic Lodge number 1029, when it was organized on December 10, 1910. He was made a life member of the Goree Lodge on May 5, 1947.

Dr. Taylor passed away on December 7, 1960, at the age of 83; thus ended the life of an exceptional man because of his rugged honesty, his sincerity of purpose and his sympathetic understanding. He must have been high on God’s list of a chosen child. No man deserved more praise as a man, a physician, a Christian and friend than Dr. W.M. McEwin Taylor.