Individual Details

Silvanus Bedford Kirkpatrick

(22 Dec 1851 - 4 Aug 1944)

From: Melvin Kirkpatrick & David Hudson, A Kirkpatrick Genealogy - The Family of James Kirkpatrick of South Carolina, (2nd Edition; 1996). Silvanus B. Kirkpatrick was born 22 December 1851 in Jackson County, Tennessee, and died 4 August 1944 in Taylor, Williamson County, Texas. He married Roxie Hamilton on 16 September 1873.

There were ten (10) children born of the marriage. Seven of the ten children died at a young age.

On the 1900 U. S. Census Silvanus and his wife Roxie appear with their children, Charles V., Oliver N., Bedford A. and Ruth. Silvanus is a physician. Roxie is the mother of 10 children with 4 presently living.

On the U. S. Census of 1930 Sylvanus and his wife Roxie appear at Thrall, Williamson Co., Texas. Sylvanus is a medical doctor.

From: Genealogical Records of the Kirkpatrick Families, Compiled for Dr. S. B. Kirkpatrick By Asa C. Elliott, El Paso, Texas, 1942--Revised 1959 by Dr. B. A. Kirkpatrick, Taylor, Texas., Pages 35 & 36.

Dr. Silvanus B. Kirkpatrick
The subject of this life story is my friend and kinsman, Dr. Silvanus B. Kirkpatrick a descendent of the Revolutionary Kirkpatrick. He was born of devout Christian parents in the beautiful valley of the Cumberland River, in Jackson county, Tenn. near the village of Gainesboro and that eventful date was Dec. 22, 1851. His father was Albert Kirkpatrick; his mother was Emily C. Tinsley Kirkpatrick, daughter of John Tinsley. His grandfather was Ellis Kirkpatrick, son of Amos Kirkpatrick and a brother of William Kirkpatrick.
During his boyhood, he attended the common schools of the community, where he gained the rudimentary elements of an education. These schools were not conducted but for a few months of each year. For the remainder of the year he worked on the farm and helped with the chores common to a well ordered country home. When a young man, he clerked in a general store where he got some business training. Sometime later he acted as assistant clerk on a river steamboat that plied the waters of the Cumberland River above Nashville, Tenn. As the boating business lasted only five months of each year, he sought other employment between times. Between the boating seasons he found ample time for the cultivation of his social instincts, courting and winning the hand and heart of Miss Roxie Hamilton, daughter of Col. Oliver P. and Mrs. Hamilton, the marriage taking place in a good old southern style on Sept. 16, 1873. She was born in the Hamilton Bottom, a community on the Cumberland River in Clay County, Tennessee, Oct. 5, 1857. This part of the Cumberland River Valley took its name from her grandfather, Dr. Adam Hamilton, who was among the first settlers of this part of Tennessee. She is also a descendent of the Revolutionary Kirkpatricks through her mother, Helen Hamilton, a daughter of William Kirkpatrick. According to the genealogical scale, Dr. S. B. Kirkpatrick and his wife (Roxie Hamilton Kirkpatrick) were distantly related.
After a few years, the new couple decided to cast their lot with friends on the broad prairies of Texas, to which state they moved in the year 1874. At first he engaged in the grocery business and conducted a typical Texas country store, with the cracker box under the counter and the cheese knife on top of the long counter. While keeping store, when there were no customers to wait upon, he took up the study of medicine, under the tutelage of the local doctor. When he thought he was sufficiently prepared, he attended the Missouri Medical College in St. Louis, Missouri, from which institution he graduated March 6, 1883. In later years this school was made a part in the great Washington University. From this date, the subject of this sketch will be known as Dr. S. B. Kirkpatrick.

He began the practice of his chosen profession in the then small town of Celina, Texas and has continued in the noble work of relieving pain, distress and suffering for more than fifty nine years. He moved from his first location to find a larger field of activity in Commerce, Texas, where he stayed several years. He moved to Waco, Texas in 1900 where he stayed eight years. While residing in Waco, the city on the Brazos, he joined with other physicians in the organization of the first anatomical and pathological society in that part of the state. In connection with this work, the dissection of the human body, as a study, was carried on for three winters. At the same time, Dr. Kirkpatrick took up the study of microscopy, which called he found to be very helpful in making a diagnosis; but when in doubt, he always called in the services of a specialist. He joined the ranks of the Texas State Medical Association soon after graduating and took a deep interest in the work and purposes of the association (My father has told me many times how he got on a horse and went from Celina, Texas to McKinney, Texas where he caught a train and went to Belton, Texas where he joined the State Medical Association in May 1883. He wore a long frock tailed coat and a high silk hat and carried his diploma to show that he was a graduate of medicine. [B.A. Kirkpatrick]). For any years, even while he was a young man and a medical student, he has used his facile pen, writing short poems and other matters of interest, from political subjects to the more serious religious discussions. In this way, many of his productions have appeared in the magazines, newspapers, and other publications. Even at his present age of 90, he is still a regular contributor to the press. At the present time he is correspondent for the Taylor Daily Press and the Austin American. And just to keep busy he writes articles for the Houston Chronicle, The San Antonio Light, and the Thorndale Weekly Champion, from which labors he says he receives more pleasure than profit. He regards, that to be idle, after so many years of an active strenuous life, would mean stagnation for him, mentally, physically, financially and spiritually. While devoting much of his time to this peasant avocation, he has been actively engaged in his profession, and not until some six years ago did he withdraw from fulltime in his profession. He is till City Health Officer and a railroad surgeon but receives no remuneration for his services, except that the railroad issues to him an "annual pass" for himself and his wife, but he does not avail himself of that privilege. At this time, June 1, 1942, there are four children living of the family, and all have established homes of their own. Charles V. Kirkpatrick of Dallas, Oliver H. Kirkpatrick of Oklahoma city, Bedford A. Kirkpatrick of Taylor, and a daughter, Mrs. Gordon Mann of Hollywood, California. The family record will show a number of nephews, nieces and grandchildren.

Dr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick have been loyal and consistent members of the Christian Church since before their marriage and they are still trying to do their part in the work of the church, their hands always finding something to do in making this old world more beautiful and a better place to live.

A chronological record of his medical practice, here given, will serve to give his friends and descendents some information as to his activities in his long life work:
Graduated from Missouri Medical College March 6, 1883
Began practice in Celina, Texas, where he remained 4 years.
Practiced in Commerce, Texas for 13 years.
Practiced in Waco, Texas for 8 years.
Practiced in Snyder, Texas for 4 years.
Practiced in Giddings, Texas for 1 year.
Practiced in Rockdale Texas for 4 years.
Practiced in Sharp, Texas for 3 years.
Practiced in Dallas, Texas for 6 months.

He moved to Thrall, Texas in July 1920, at which place he and his wife now reside.

This sketch was written from Data and material furnished to me by Dr. S. B. Kirkpatrick himself, and from genealogical records in my possession, and this has been a labor of love and pleasure for a friend and kinsman.

A.C. Elliott
3716 Jackson St.
El Paso, Texas

First written Sept. 1941
Revised June 1st, 1942

Dallas Morning Sun, August 5, 1944: Dr. S. B. Kirkpatrick To Be Buried Saturday. Funeral services for Dr. S. B. Kirkpatrick, 97, father of a Dallas man and physician in North and Central Texas many years will be held in Taylor Saturday morning. Dr. Kirkpatrick, who formerly lived in Commerce and Waco, died Friday at his home in Taylor after a short illness. Last October he and Mrs. Kirkpatrick celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary. He came to Texas seventy-four years ago. Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, C. V. Kirkpatrick, Dallas, O. H. Kirkpatrick, Oklahoma City and Dr. B. A. Kirkpatrick, Taylor and a daughter Mrs. Gordon L. Mann, Hollywood, Calif.

Events

Birth22 Dec 1851Jackson Co., Tennessee
Marriage16 Sep 1873Tennessee - Roxanna "Roxie" Hamilton
Death4 Aug 1944Taylor, Williamson Co., Texas
BurialTaylor City Cemetery, Taylor, Williamson Co., Texas

Families

SpouseRoxanna "Roxie" Hamilton (1857 - 1947)
ChildBeulah Kirkpatrick (1874 - 1875)
ChildZona Belle Kirkpatrick (1877 - 1880)
ChildCharles Vanus Kirkpatrick (1880 - 1957)
ChildAlla Clyde Kirkpatrick (1882 - 1883)
ChildOliver Hamilton Kirkpatrick (1884 - 1957)
ChildHelen Kirkpatrick (1886 - 1886)
ChildNellie Kirkpatrick (1887 - 1889)
ChildBedford Amonette Kirkpatrick (1889 - 1966)
ChildAlbert Kirkpatrick (1892 - 1892)
ChildRuth Anna Kirkpatrick (1896 - 1989)
FatherAlbert Kirkpatrick (1821 - 1901)
MotherEmily C. Tinsley (1820 - 1895)
SiblingEllis Kirkpatrick (1844 - 1849)
SiblingAlice Mandyville Kirkpatrick (1846 - 1895)
SiblingJohn Tinsley Kirkpatrick (1848 - 1859)
SiblingAmonette Fowler Kirkpatrick (1850 - 1919)
SiblingAmos Newton Kirkpatrick (1853 - 1936)
SiblingMartha Araminta Kirkpatrick (1854 - 1939)
SiblingMary A. Kirkpatrick (1858 - 1889)
SiblingCaleb Pembroke Kirkpatrick (1861 - 1892)
SiblingJoana Belle Kirkpatrick (1863 - 1865)

Endnotes