Early doctors of Cass Countys

Material referenced from various articles first printed in the very earliest editions of our journal.

William James Howe was born 31 May 1813 in Macon County, Georgia. He married Celia Harp on December 19, 1842 in Upton County, Georgia. Celia was born December 19. 1819 in Baldwin County, Georgia. The Howe’s came to Texas, Cass County in 1859 and settled in Douglassville where they bought land. Their son, Thomas Green was four years old then. There were eight children in this family, two sons having lost their lives in battle for the Confederacy in the Civil War. The other six children, three sons and three daughters all married and raised families in Cass County. William James Howe died March 4, 1893 at Dumas, Texas and was buried there. Celia Adaline died December 16, 1892 at Dumas, Moore County, Texas and was buried there. Later Dr. Thomas Howe moved their bodies to Douglassville for their final resting place.

Dr. Thomas Greene Howe was born 15 February 1855 in Grangerville, Macon County, Georgia. He grew up in Douglassville and married 9 May 1880 to Martha Ephegenia Brooks at the Methodist Church in Douglassville, Texas. Martha E. Brooks was born 6 January 1857 in Douglassville, Cass County, Texas and daughter of Ransom Allen Brooks born 6 April 1821 in Abbeville County, South Carolina and died 25 December 1893, in Douglassville.

There were four children born to Dr. Thomas Greene Howe and wife Martha. Una Howe was born 10 June 1887. Conrad Howe was born 12 December 1889. Cohen Howe was born 2 December 1894 and Lerina Howe was born 25 October 1896. All were born in Douglassville. Dr. Howe named his two sons for two famous surgeons. Conrad Howe died 15 April 1894 and Cohen Howe died 21 September 1895.

Thomas Green Howe had a store of general merchandise in Douglassville for several years and had the desire to make a doctor, so he went to Tulane Medical University in New Orleans, for two terms and came back home and worked one year for money to finish in medicine. The chose to go to Memphis Hospital Medical College and graduated 13 March 1893.

Dr. Howe practiced in Douglassville and the county for about twelve years, then in 1905 he received license to practice in Arkansas and Texas. Moving from Douglassville to Texarkana but did not stay long and returned to Douglassville and in 1908 the family moved to Longview where he practiced medicine and surgery with his daughter Dr. Una Howe, who had graduated in medicine in 1912. Then the family moved pack to Atlanta in 1914 where Dr. Thomas Greene Howe practiced medicine until his death in July 1938.

Dr. UnaHowe married 14 February 1917 to Robert A. Hasskarl at Brenham, Texas. Both graduated together from Galveston Medical School Dr. Robert A. Hasskarl was born 14 February 1887 in Golkona, Hoke County, Illinois, a full blood German and died 25 September 1962 in Brenham, Texas.

Dr. Una Howe Hasskarl was killed in a car accident between Dallas and Greenville, Texas on her way home after telling her husband, Major Hasskarl good by to overseas service in World War I. Dr. Una Howe Hasskarl received her B.A. degree at age 21 and M.D. degree in 1912 at age 25, both from the University of Texas. She had volunteered for service for over seas duty and was accepted after her death in the Red Cross. Dr. Una Howe Hasskarl died 10 July 1918, age thirty-one, there were no children. After Dr. Robert Hasskarl’s service in the War, he returned to Brenham,Texas and continued his medical

Lerina Howe, married James Lloyd Joslin in Longview, Texas. James was born 30 June 1892 and served in World War I. To this couple was born a son, another to be great doctor, Blocker Howe Joslin 14 December 1918 in Atlanta, Texas. Lerina and son Blocker lived much of the time with her parents, Dr. Thomas Green Howe and Martha, both who lost their sons at a young age and were glad to help raise their only grandson. Dr. Blocker Howe Joslin died 11 December 1981 in Atlanta, Texas. Lerina Howe Joslin married a second time to John H. Derryberry, 8 January 1927 and he is deceased. Lerina still lives in Atlanta, Texas.

The above biographical sketch was by Lerina Howe Joslin Derryberry in the early 1980s.

Dr. Charles Dewitt Hibbets was a physician and surgeon at Naples and practiced medicine for nearly a quarter of a century. He was born in Madison County, Texas on December 27, 1879 and died on March 1, 1938. He is buried at Rock Prairie Cemetery at Normangee, Madison County. He was the son of W. H. Hibbets and Mary Hollis. His father was born in Jan Jacinto County, Texas. The family came to Texas from Tennessee at the time of the Texas Revolution. Mr. Hibbets was for a number of years the tax collector in Madison County. Mrs. Hibbets died in 1923.

Charles D. Hibbets finished his high school education in Madison County and was a teacher before he qualified for the practice of medicine. He completed his literaty education at Allen Academy at Bryan and studied medicine at the Barnes Medical College at Saint Louis, Missouri. He graduated as a M. D. in 1904. He did post-graduate work at the Chicago Polyclinic in minor surgery. He began his practice at Naples, Texas and won the confidence and esteem of the citizens there and all of Morris and Cass Counties. He applied himself with enthusiasm and carried out several programs with the cooperation of all the citizen. During World War I he was a member of the local draft board and was active in a drive for funds for the war effort. For several years he was President of the Morris County Medical Society and was a member of the Texas, Tri-State, Southern and American Medical Associations. He served on the school board and was a Democrat.

Dr. Hibbets married Lura Bryan of Bryan’s Mill, Texas. She is buried at Union Chapel Cemetery near Bryan’s Mill, Texas. Lura Bryan Hibbetts was the daughter of William Claiborn Bryan who was born on July 20, 1844 and died February 4, 1920. Lura’s mother was Elizabeth Jane Stewart who was born August 25, 1848 and died January 24, 1923. Dr.Charles and Lura Hibbets were the parents of a son and daughter. Their son Charles Edward Hibbets was born January 1, 1910 and died on November 18, 1952. Their daughter, Mary Jeannette Hibbets was born on February 8, 1912 and married Paul C. O’Dell of Birmingham, Alabama on May 31, 1917. She now lives in Shelby, North Carolina. The above article was submitted by Mrs. Martha Dell McCoy of Bryan’s Mill, Texas in 1984.

A SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL OF OUR READERS

If you are having trouble with your Genealogy or just want to know who your Great Grandfather was and what he did The Cass County Genealogical Society might be able to answer your questions. Just send your send your question to:

C. C. G. S.

P. 0. Box 880

Atlanta, Texas 75551, E-mail us at evanjevans@yahoo.com , call us at (903) 796-3081,

Or just visit us in the Genealogy and History Section on the Second Floor of the Atlanta Public Library.