Dr. J. Homer McCall, physician and surgeon of Fort Gibson, was born in De Kalb county, Illinois, April 2, 1859, and is a son of Alfred and Catherine (Durham) McCall, who were natives of Ohio and of New York respectively. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent, while the mother came of German lineage. In early manhood Alfred McCall devoted his life to the ministry but later became a railroad promoter and was active in connection with the building of the Florida, Memphis & Columbia River Railroad, which is now a part of the Santa Fe system. He was also active in promoting the Neosho Dam project at Chanute, Kansas. At an early day he went to De Kalb County, Illinois, where he acted as minister for the Methodist church and later he became presiding elder of the Rock River conference. Subsequently he removed to Kansas, residing at Galesburg, that state, to the time of his death. During the Civil war period he acted as recruiting officer for the government. On one occasion he was urged to accept the nomination for governor of Kansas on the republican ticket but declined the proffered honor. He died in 1875 at the age of fifty-six years, while his widow long survived, passing away in 1917 at the advanced age of ninety years.
Dr. McCall was reared and educated at the Osage mission in Kansas, at what is now the town of St. Paul. He afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in Kansas for seven terms, and later he went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he entered upon the study of medicine, feeling that he would have better and broader opportunity in medical practice than as a teacher.
He was graduated on the completion of his course with the class of 1889. He afterward practiced in Kansas City for about four years and in 1897 he came to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, as surgeon for the Eighth Cavalry. He continued to fill the office for three years, having been appointed under civil service system. On the expiration of that period he resigned and traveled with his wife for two and a half years on account of the condition of her health. He then returned to Fort Gibson, where he has since continued in private practice, and his ability has brought to him a gratifying measure of success.
In February, 1891, Dr. McCall was married to Miss Nettie Maddox, and they have become parents of three children: Zola May, who is now with the Graham Sykes department store in Muskogee; Nellie Grace, who is superintendent of schools at Shamrock, Oklahoma; and Lottie, who is attending school. The wife and mother passed away May 10, 1908, and Dr. McCall was again married in September, 1917, when Miss Louise Rennington became his wife.
In public affairs Dr. McCall has taken helpful interest. He served as mayor of Fort Gibson, giving to the city a businesslike and progressive administration, and he has also been a member of the board of health.
He was nominated on the republican ticket for the office of State Senator but was defeated. Again he was nominated for a second time but did not win the office. He was also nominated for county treasurer of Muskogee County but could not overcome the strong Democratic majority which the Democratic Party has always had in this section of the state. He never wavers in his allegiance to the party, however, and moreover he considers the pursuits of private life as in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. In addition to his practice he gives his attention to the supervision of two good farms near Fort Gibson, which he rents. This is all bottom land, rich and productive. He also owns seven city residences in Fort Gibson and has a large number of oil leases.
In religious faith Dr. McCall is a Methodist and is loyal to the teachings of the church. Professionally his membership is with the Muskogee County and Oklahoma State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. His entire life has been characterized by fidelity to duty and the conscientious performance of every task that has devolved upon him. His work in many relations has been of great value to the community in which he resides, and he commands the respect and confidence of his fellow townsmen to an unusual degree.
