My Genealogy Hound

Dr. J. D. McKenzie, the leading physician of Bradford, Tenn., is one of eight children born to James M. and Martha (Coleman) McKenzie, born in Georgia and North Carolina respectively. They both came to Tennessee when young, and were married in Carroll County, where they spent their days in agricultural pursuits. The father, who was a Presbyterian in faith, died in 1873. His widow lived until 1880. She belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject’s paternal grandfather and grandmother were born in Scotland and Ireland respectively. Dr. McKenzie was born in Carroll County, November 1, 1844. He received a common school education, and after the breaking out of the war ran away from school, joined Forrest’s command, and served from 1862 until the close. In 1872 he began the study of medicine under Dr. William Travis, of Carroll County, and for one year was engaged in the drug business. In 1874-75 he took his first course of lectures at Vanderbilt University, at Nashville, and in the spring of 1875 opened an office in Bradford and immediately built up a large practice. His brother, J. A., having graduated from Vanderbilt, became his partner in 1879, and thus gave our subject an opportunity of finishing his course. He graduated in 1886. In 1868 he married S. E. Travis, who died in 1873, leaving one daughter. In 1877 the Doctor married Laura Peeples. Both are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. The Doctor is a Mason and Democrat and is one of the first physicians of the county.