James Small was born October, 1841, in McMinn County, Tennessee, seventh son of Rev. James Small and Mary A. Wallace, of Scotch descent and from Wane County, Kentucky. James Jr. attended neighborhood schools until 1861, when he joined the Federal army, enlisting in the Second Kansas Infantry, and from that entered the Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry, in which he served till the close of the war. In 1864 he married Miss Mary Noe, of Lee County, Virginia, by whom he had five children, Mary J., born April 3, 1866; Amy A., March 23, 1868; Nellie A., June 23, 1872; Robert Walter, July 19, 1878, and James Arthur, January 12, 1884. After the close of the war, James took charge of the old homestead, his father being dead. Remaining two years, he began reading medicine with Dr. E. H. Moore, of Ash Grove, Missouri. The following year he moved to Yellville, Arkansas, where he studied with Dr. U. M. Noe, his brother-in-law. After remaining with him three years, in 1871, he began the practice of his profession in Isabella, Missouri, and there continued until 1879, when he went to the American Medical College, St. Louis, where he graduated in 1880. After a short practice in Isabella, Missouri, he moved to Marion County, Oregon, remaining until 1882, when he returned to Oakland, Arkansas, at that time a small place, but which, with the assistance of the doctor, soon became a flourishing little town. He was postmaster in Oakland, and gave it the name which it bears at present. In 1887 he moved to Douglas, Missouri, where he had an extensive practice, and was appointed postmaster at Smallett, in the same county, where his home is; the office is now in charge of his wife. In September 1891, he moved to Okmulgee, Creek Nation, and in October was appointed resident physician to the Nuyaka Mission, which position he now holds. Dr. Small, at his home place, owns a fine farm of 120 acres, and some cattle, horses, and other stock, besides a comfortable residence, orchard, garden, etc. He is six feet high and weighs 190 pounds, is intellectual and highly educated, having a natural talent for the profession which he represents so creditably, being only too well qualified to fill the responsible position which has been recently offered him.
