My Genealogy Hound

H. D. Poston, M. D., was born in St. Francois County, Mo., October 11, 1824. That Dr. Poston has made himself eminently successful in his professional career, nearly forty years of constant practice abundantly testifies, and is amply corroborated by his professional brethren. His parents were Henry and Nancy (Johnson) Poston, both natives of North Carolina. The father was reared in his native State, and by occupation was a surveyor. In 1800 he came to Washington County, Mo., on horseback and alone, being then twenty-two years of age, and attracted by the glorious reports of Austin’s Mines. After remaining for a time he entered the employ of a man named Bryant, in St. Francois County, and had charge of an old-fashioned furnace. After the organization of the territory he followed surveying for fifteen years, sectionizing the locality of Washington County. After the organization of St. Francois County he was elected sheriff, and also represented the county in the State Legislature at the first or second session after the seat of Government was established at Jefferson City; he was also a colonel in the War of 1812. In a family of eleven children H. D. was the seventh child: he was reared on a farm and educated at St. Charles College. A desire to obtain a thorough knowledge of some of the sciences led him to take up the study of medicine, and, under the guidance of Dr. George Williams, he was prepared to attend a course of lectures at Louisville, Ky., and later in St. Louis, Mo. He commenced practice in 1849, but owing to impaired health he went to California in 1850, remaining two years. He settled in Washington County in 1854, since which time he has been actively devoted to his chosen calling. In 1876 he was elected to represent the county in the State Legislature, in which position he served with honor and ability. The success and patronage which he has enjoyed, and the pleasing results that have followed him, warmly testify to his ability and popularity as a physician and surgeon. In August, 1852, he married Miss Cassandra Ashburn, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Dr. William Ashburn. Their family consists of three children, Charles, a practicing physician of Bonne Terre; Henry and Fannie.