My Genealogy Hound

Dr. James E. Blaydes, a well known practicing physician of Atoka, Tipton Co. Tenn., was born in Madison County November 28, 1839, and is a son of John K. and Sallie (Coleman) Blaydes, who were both natives of Virginia. The father was born in 1802, and in 1830 moved with his parents from Virginia to Madison County, Tenn., where he lived for seven or eight years, then moved to Fayette County and settled at Macon, ten miles southwest of Somerville. The greater part of his life was spent in farming, but a few years before his death, he was in the mercantile and livery business at Wythe’s Depot, In Shelby County. Mr. Blaydes was always a Democrat, and, with his wife, belonged to the Missionary Baptist Church. He died July 18, 1876, aged seventy-four years. The mother was born in 1808 and died in 1861. Our subject received a good education, and in 1858 entered the Nashville Medical College, where he took his first course of lectures. In 1861 he went to the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and received a diploma. In the summer of 1861 he volunteered as private in the Confederate service, enlisting in Company B, Seventh Tennessee Regiment of cavalry, which joined Forrest. After serving six or eight months as a private, he was made assistant surgeon of the Second Engineering Regiment of Gen. Loring’s division, where he remained until the war closed. He returned home in June, 1865. The war left him without means and it was with difficulty that he commenced the practice of his profession; but he located at Portersville, Tipton County, and in a very short time built up a large practice, and was soon recognized as one of the most skillful physicians of the county. May 3, 1866, he married Malinda E. Payne, of Tipton County, born February 20, 1839, and by this marriage had two sons and four daughters-one son and two daughters living. Dr. Blaydes has been an exceedingly prosperous man; his wife had a few thousand dollars and this, with the income from his large practice, enabled him to buy land and sell to an advantage, he owns 3,500 acres. Dr. Blaydes is a Democrat. While not holding membership with any church, he is a firm believer in the Christian religion, and in sympathy with the doctrine of the Missionary Baptist Church. He is one of Tipton County’s most valuable citizens.