Jerry and Linda Butler

STINSON, Dr. James Carey, was born Feb. 16, 1858 to Alexander and Almeda Cravens Stinson in the Ridley community a few miles to our west nearer Center Point. He earned an M.D. Degree in 1882 from Vanderbilt School of Medicine and in 1886 married Hulda Belle Van Dyke. They lived at Center Point where Dr. Stinson was known as a fine doctor with more than his share of hospitality and the milk of human kindness. Will Stinson, his brother taught school in Scotts Hill during the early 1890's and endeared himself to all.

Dr. Stinson, as nearly always done, built a small office-clinic on his front lawn. From there he did a wide practice, at times coming as far as Scotts Hill. He also did much minor surgery with some not so minor. Our W.B. Keeton often was the anethetist.

Was it tradition that so many rural physicians kept three riding horses before automobiles came in? Anyway. Dr. Stinson kept three and in bad weather, all were often "ridden down." He learned however, to be a special friend to his faithful steads as well as to his human
patients.

He never liked to ride a horse way in the night without that horse being fed just before departure. So he rigged up some grain bins above the feed troughs in the stalls of all three horses. These were fitted with sliding lids or doors which could be controlled with three small ropes up the hill to the doctor's bedroom window and when he got a call, he pulled the rope which provided a supply of grain for the horse he was to ride. Actually! Then by the time he could dress the horse had eaten and was full of new life!

This was not all for the clever medic. He never wore anything but "gaither" shoes when on duty call. This type of shoe had neither laces, buckles or fasteners of any kind. They could be put on in a jiffy and were comfortable too with the elastic in sides of the slipper-type footwear. When asked why he wore such shoes, the doctor explained that a seriously ill patient could die before he could strain on ordinary shoes with laces or buckles and get there. He wanted to go and go now when called!

Dr. Stinson was a great gynecologist (stork assistant) though he may never have heard the word. His babies numbered into the hundreds. Even after he retired and could no longer assume the responsibility of delivering babies, the community loved him so much that quite often some to-be father or a family member would persuade Dr. Stinson to just come and sit in the room and, without turning a hand, see that the old bird was flying right! Imagine such nowadays. It is all true however but that is not all.

The Stinson home was preeminent in hospitality. It was always the home for the teacher of the community school, without charge. It was home for preachers of all faiths who "sent appointments" or came for protracted meetings. No wonder such a once-flourishing village completely dried up after such leaders as Dr. Liss McKenzie and Dr. Jim Stinson had gone. However, many have entered into their labors elsewhere.

• Gordon H. Turner, Sr., The History of Scotts Hill, Tennessee (Carter Printing Company, Southaven, Mississippi, 1977)

Stinson, James Carey (The Lexington Progress, December 7, 1923) Called to Heavenly Reward: After a life of labor of love in all activities to which he gave the best that his willing hands and great heart could do, Dr. James Carey Stinson was called last Friday morning at 4 o'clock, November 30th, from his home in the old 12th district of Henderson County to the Eternal reward in his Heavenly Father's Kingdom which he had so richly earned. James Carey Stinson was born in Henderson County February 16th, 1856. In December 1886 he was truly happily married to Miss Hood (Hulda) Vandyke, daughter of the late Esq. A. M. Vandyke and four daughters born to that union, survive: Bettie (Mrs. Curry H. Lancaster) who lives at the paternal home; May (Mrs. N. C. Galbraith) of Henderson, Tennessee, and by sad coincidence, Mr. Galbraith also died last Friday morning; Myrtle (Mrs. Henry Edenton) of Alamo, and Miss Ruth, who is teaching in high school at Henderson. These daughters have ever been devoted to the exemplary and affectionate father.

Dr. Stinson was a graduate in medicine from both Vanderbilt University and the University of Nashville, the years of his attendance at these schools covering a period from 1879 to 1883, and he won diplomas in both institutions. He loved his profession in all of its activities in spite of the drudgery which falls to the lot of the county practitioner. He had membership in and attended the meetings of the County, West Tennessee, and State Medical Associations. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church U. S. A., but what matter church, for Dr. Stinson was a Christian gentleman, who left the record of his life in deeds done instead of mere talk. What he did for suffering humanity in the more than forty years of his service in the medical profession, only his God knows for Dr. Stinson was one who did not let one hand know the good deeds done by the other. In every way he was always the lovable, quiet gentleman, the positive character and the exemplary citizen we found him to be when we first met him almost forty years ago.

His remains were interred Saturday afternoon at Marl Bluff, where family, other relatives and loving friends paid him the last possible earthly tribute. The services were conducted by the Rev. William Thorne of McKenzie, who for many years had been the pastor of the little Marl Bluff Church. Rev. Thorne in his own way, before a large crowd told of the life of Dr. Stinson, as was only known by those who lived close to him and had daily watched his walk in life. The community had lost one of it best citizens in the death of Dr. Stinson but the world is better because of his having lived in it.

• CROSSING THE DARK RIVER, Henderson County, Tennessee, Obituaries
  1827-1950 by Brenda Kirk Fiddler, Lexington, Tennessee 1999