American Life Histories
Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project
1936-1940

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History of career (in part) of J.H. KIMBROUGH
Physician at LOWNDESBORO Ala For 25 years
(Alabama)

Tom's note: This life history was handwritten, and was particularly difficult to decipher in many parts.  The subject of the article, Dr. Kimbrough, seemed to be a man of unique character.

Twenty five years have passed since Dr. K- moved into the small country town which was known throughout middle ALABAMA to be a center of culture and prosperity. He came to practice his chosen proffesion and a charming wife - 4 small red, headed boys and a reputation of being an excellent Physician were brought with him.

He was in his early forties. Red haired, stoutish, small piercing brown eyes and chopped off moustache to match his hair as to color. He always wore tan and gray clothes of some well known make and a light colored hat made by Stetson. He was born and reared in good circumstances and did not intend to get away from it.

He insisted that the best was the most economical in the long run and had the good things of life. According to his opinion good food saved his bills and a good appearance attracted patients to him and accumulated bills in his charge account book against the other fellow. He was not overestimated. WILCOX CO. lost while LOWNDES gained as he was on asset to any town or community. He was a gentleman of the "old school" and was a good sport in addition. He settled his family in an old ante-bellum home which by chance was for rent and hung out his shingle as an advertisement, in a store on Main St.

There were already 2 Physicians in the community. One had practiced in the town for nearly a half a century and almost half the population in it bore his "trade mark." But this old pioneer Dr. was getting time worn and weary and would, soon pass on to his reward. The other was young with untried [pathway?] so the new Dr. felt that it was a good opportunity.

He and his wife "fit" exactly in the picture. Both were educated, pleasant and affable. The office was in a historic setting. Being in the McGill Building which was the first store built in the village known at that time as McGills HILL and was in MONTGOMERY CO. as scraps had not then been taken from nearby counties to create LOWNDES. The notice from the old historic store attracted wide spread attention and patients crowded his office and he could not take care of all the calls. "A new broom sweeps clean" and every one wanted to give him a "try out."

The fatal year of 1918 when the flu epidemic swept the cities. The small towns and the death toll and the different mobilization coups were tremendous. The red headed Dr. in the small town was on duty day and night. His fight against that dreadful disease should never be forgotten. He only stopped at home long enough to snatch a bite and feed his horse for the next call or trip.

At times the call would be miles away in the country perhaps 10 or 15 miles out on a rough plantation road. His practice reached out in to the large plantations that extended far and around that distance from the office. The personal wear and tear incident to these trips counted up but the owners of the broad acres sent "orders" and the Dr. who got the practice of those extensive plantations considered himself fortunate. He made the routes in a cart, a two wheel vehicle - known by some as a road cart or sulky which was drawn by a bay horse that he called Capt. Jinks.

The Dr. and the Capt. had been "calling" many years together and each know the tricks of the other. It was an open secret that the medical man enjoyed his "redeye" as his little boys called it. He said it was essential on a night trip and owned up that he carried it as regular as he carried his saddle bags but he secreted his bottle under the seat of the sulky, and stopped to take a "nip" at intervals.

When these intervals were too close together. "Capt Jinks" was always patient when stops to snooze were made and always carried his master home safe in the wee hours in the morning after the night before.

The four footed friend also was patient when the master made a philandering detour for he believed in "stepping" out when he could "get by" with it and contended that when a man went home worn out and hungry he wanted soothing and petting. If he met nagging instead he went else where to get it and said he thought he had a right to do so. And flung out the Challenge. Philandering was not uncommon in the territory he covered so he got by.

Previous to the [?] of this interesting family the Presbyterian church had been the shrine at which they worshipped and their letters of membership was moved to this church which they attended a very short time. His alertness soon showed him that the larger and wealthiest membership was at the Episcopal church and negroes who peopled the large cotton farms surrounding were [?] by members of this church. Their religious faith underwent a change overnight and their membership was changed to the Episcopal church where the "quality and money was." DR. K- had his "hobbies" and catered to some extent to them. One was gardening and "between calls" he could be seen [?] there with hoe, spade or rake. He wanted vegetables early and raised every thing from a luscious strawberry to a huge pumpkin. Putting them on the table early carried out his idea that only the [?] early vegetables were fit to eat and after the hot summertime sun hit them they were full of fever.

A sample or more of some of his [?] vegetables was always on exhibition at his office and it was displayed to visitors with a brag and boast and the jest was made that he was such a "Cracker Jack" gardener that his vegetables were made - enjoyed and gone to seed in time to gather and furnish seed for his neighbors to use in planting their usual spring gardens

His favorite patients always were carried a lovely basket of strawberries in season which were almost equals in size to the guinea egg. But the fastidious who were thus favored were world wise and sensed that he had spent extra time in selecting the large berries only so he could "crow and cackle" when he presented them. On an occasion when he was attending a medical convention not far from his house enough for his boasting to be unknown it was decided to play a friendly joke on him. While he was out one night enjoying the company of some of the delegates his friends made for the joke.

A very large cooter was captured and concealed at the foot of the bed he was assigned to. In due time he retired and fell asleep. But was soon awakened by the cooter "working on" his toes. My God! he exclaimed what in the h- is that in the bed with me? Those "lying in wait" for the fun answered. Why that is an a LOWNDES county chinch.

A chinch - he roared (about that time the cooter was [Shoved?] out on the floor and as it was dark in the room it could be felt but not seen.) I never heard of a chinch being that d- big. His friends said. "You see it is this way. Over your way everything you touch grows so large and over in our section we grow our chinches just that large. The cooter was thrown out the window and the bottle was passed around and all took a drink. He had sporting blood in his veins and twice annually he arranged a "1 leg race" - There were in the town and surrounding community quite a few negroes who had only 1 leg - some of these got about by means of a [?], some used crutches and the [least?] fortunate had what is known as the peg leg and among these were some women.

For sport he sponsored the race and sent out notices as to time and place and list of prizes to be given by himself. The first prize for the fastest runner was to be a 24 pound sack of Ballards flour. Second prize - a 5 pound sack of sugar and the one coming out last was to receive a box of snuff or plug of their favorite tobacco.

At the appointed time the candidates hopped in seemingly from every where and the race was "on". Starting at his office and extending down a side street for a half mile. He was an all round fellow and the doors of the home were often thrown open for entertainment and dancing and he would be outstanding in dancing the old time gigs etc. The boys 4 in no. were growing up and were limbs off the old tree. Bad mischievous and red haired, as soon as" DOOLEY" as they called the Dr. turned his back for the office or a call, they took the [?] and watered his "redeye". Drank as much they could and refilled with water to delude him.

The cart and horse days passed and the Dr. had to keep step with the times. He bought a WHIPPET but on the nights he wanted to philander he was aware of the fact that the motor would make noise. In the cart and horse era the wheels of the cart were wrapped with cotton so his exit would not be heard. But now the d- motor was another matter.

Soon that difficulty was solved by pushing the car 2 blocks from the house before starting the motor. The climax of this unusual characters careers was reached when he announced that he had had a vision. God had sent a message to him (he said) by an angel telling him to preach the gospel. He was already a wonderful bible scholar and knew its contents from the beginning to end. He responded to the call and began preaching to the colored race in their churches and meetings. He continued his practice and carried his religion to the bedside of the negro patient.

A second blessing, he claimed to have received and could be seen anytime kneeling down with a patient or shouting hand in hand with (negro) and all praising God together. This continued till a few years ago when he had a stroke which ended the career of this brilliant but most unusual man which surely our maker lost the pattern after making him and his devilish little foresome.

Marie Reese March 29. 1939-

Written Mch. 29 -1939 by MARIE REESE - LOWNDESBORO ALA.

Text from: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection