Biography - John Damron
JOHN M. C. DAMRON, M. D., a practicing physician of Vienna, Johnson County, was born in Weakley County, Tenn., February 20, 1824. His father, Charles Damron, was born in Kentucky to Wilson Damron, who was born in Virginia and removed from that State to Kentucky, where he was an associate of Daniel Boone. From Kentucky he removed to the Northwest Territory, and for a time resided in that part thereof now included in the State of Illinois, from which be removed to the Territory of Missouri, and was one of the pioneers in the neighborhood of Springfield. He was in the employ of a fur company, and was one of the explorers of the Yellowstone River country. He spent his last days, however, near Springfield, Mo. The maiden name of his wife was McClain.
Charles Damron, father of our subject, came to the Northwest Territory with his parents when very young, and resided here until the State was admitted into the Union. He voted for the adoption of the first constitution of the State. At that time he was living in Saline County, at a period when deer, bears and panthers were very plentiful. Soon after his marriage he removed to Weakley County, Tenn., purchased a tract of land, engaged in farming, and resided there until 1852, when he came to Johnson County and settled in what is now Tunnel Hill Township, where he bought a farm, upon which he lived until his death in 1878. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Carson. She was born in Middle Tennessee, to Uriah Carson, and died about 1882.
Dr. Damron received his early education in the select schools of Weakley County, Tenn., and when twenty-one years old commenced teaching school in Williamson County, Ill., teaching five years in one schoolhouse, after which he commenced the study of medicine, and attended a course of lectures at Rush Medical College during the winter of 1854-55. He then commenced practice near Carrier's Mills, in Saline County, and continued to practice there until the fall of 1855, when he attended his second course of lectures at Rush Medical College, graduating from that institution with the Class of '60. He removed to Vienna in the fall of 1855, and has been in the active practice of medicine there ever since. He was married in 1850 to Elizabeth Buckner, who died in 1852. His second marriage occurred in 1855, to Adeline Standard who was born in Union County, and was the daughter of William Standard. After her death, in 1877, our subject married, in 1878, Adelia Knowles, who was born in Indiana and died in 1887. His fourth marriage occurred in 1888, to Alice (Matheney) Murdock. By his first marriage he had one son, Leonidas, a farmer living in Missouri; by his second marriage six children: John Franklin, Emma, Mollie, Jennie, Lucy and Augusta. He is a member of the Southern Illinois Medical Association; of Vienna Lodge No. 150, A. F. & A. M.; and of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is a Democrat in politics.
Extracted 16 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 465-466.
