JAMES SMALL, M. D. The physician is one who inspires confidence because he is worthy of it. His humanity is expressed in the interest he takes in his patient’s welfare, as well as for the experience he may gain while pursuing the paths of this his arduous profession, in order to benefit future sufferers. Dr. Small is one of the old practitioners of southern Missouri, and is living in Smallett. He was born in McMinn County, East Tennessee, October 28, 1841, a son of James and Mary A. (Wallace) Small, the former of whom was born in Kentucky about 1802.
James Small Sr. was a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church for many years, and from 1854 until his death in 1861 resided in Dade County, Missouri He and his wife were married in Kentucky, lived there for some time, then removed to Tennessee, and from there to Missouri in the above-mentioned year. In addition to his ministerial duties the father also followed agricultural pursuits, and was highly honored in the section in which he lived. He was a Republican politically. His father, Thomas H. Small, was born in Scotland, and came to the United States prior to the Revolution, in which struggle he and a brother participated. The early home of the Small family was in Virginia, but Thomas H. became one of the early pioneers of Kentucky.
The maternal grandfather, George Wallace, was also born in Scotland, and took part in the war of the Revolution, was wounded in battle, and afterward became a pensioner of the Government. He died in Kentucky. His daughter, Mrs. Small, died in Dade County, Missouri, in 1865, after having become the mother of ten children, seven of whom are living: John, who died in 1892, held the rank of major of the Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry during the war, and left a family; T. H., died in early boyhood; Henry, who died in 1891, was a farmer of Ozark County, Missouri, and left a family; Jane died in Greene County, after her marriage with James Hill; Elizabeth, the wife of Mr. Arthur, died in Texas; Joseph B. died in boyhood; George W. also died young; R. S. is a successful physician of Gainesville, Ozark County, Missouri; James and Matthew, the latter who resides in Dade County.
Dr. James Small passed his school days in Dade and Greene Counties, and in 1866 took up the study of medicine, but prior to this had been a soldier of the Civil War, and after serving for some time in the Missouri State Militia, he joined the Sixteenth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, and was a participant in the battles of Newtonia, Springfield, Booneville, Jefferson City, Lexington, Independence, Kansas City, Oletha, and was in the second battle of Newtonia, besides many skirmishes, and saw some hard service. After the war he took up the study of medicine, as above stated, his preceptor being Dr. W. M. Noe, and did his first practicing at Yellville, where he lived for three years. He then removed to Ozark County and lived in Isabella from 1871 to 1881. In 1880 he graduated from the American Medical College of St. Louis, after which, in 1881, he removed to Oregon, where he continued his practice for about one year. At the end of that time he returned to Missouri, established the town of Oakland, Marion County, Arkansas, and there lived from 1882 to 1887, when he came to Douglas County, Missouri Here he owns a farm of 120 acres, but almost his entire attention is given to his profession. He is thoroughly posted and well read, and is popularly known in Ozark, Marion and Douglas Counties as a successful medical practitioner. The Doctor has been active in the political affairs of his section, is a stanch Republican in politics, and has been postmaster at both Oakland, Arkansas, and Smallett, Missouri He has been a member of Yellville Lodge of the A. F. & A. M. since 1869, is past noble grand in Isabella Lodge No. 373 of the I. 0. 0. F., and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State.
The Doctor was married in Greene County, Missouri, to Miss Mary Noe, daughter of Charles and Jane (Dunlap) Noe, the former of whom was born in Virginia and died in Kentucky, after which his widow removed to Marion County, Arkansas, and died at Springfield, Missouri, near the close of the war. She bore her husband the following sons and two daughters: A. J., postmaster at Yellville; L. H., who was killed during the war; F. C., who died in 1880; William M., a physician at Yellville; H. J., a resident of Virginia; Eliza, wife of F. McGuin, died in 1876 in Kentucky; C. W., who died young; and Mary (Mrs. Small). The latter was born in Virginia March 16, 1844, and has borne her husband the following children: Jennie, wife of W. F. Patterson, of Nebraska; Emma A., wife of J. G. Siler, of Forsyth, Missouri; Olivia, who died at the age of three years; Nellie, wife of J. H. Bunyard; Laura M., who died at the age of two years; Robert W. and James A.