Town: Columbia
PORTER, Otey James, physician; born Williamsport, Tenn., Sept. 11, 1867; English-Irish descent; son of William T. and Mary J. (Russell) PORTER; father’s occupation, farmer and merchant; paternal grandparents, S. S. and Catharine (Todd) PORTER, maternal grandparents M. M. and Rachel (Jones) RUSSELL; received common school education; graduated University of Nashville (Tenn.) Medical department, with degree of M. D. in 1890; was valedictorian and faculty medalist of class 1890; in early life was a farmer and school teacher; married first Elizabeth BOWEN in1896, married second Mrs. Annie Mayes Bowen in 1904; member of K. of P., Century Club, American Medical Association, State Medical Society; health officer Columbia, Tenn., 1900-1904; successfully exposed fraudulent claims of “Mrs. Abbott” famous “Georgia Wonder,” in 1890; waged a successful fight to establish smallpox diagnosis of the atypical smallpox epidemic in the United States 1900-1902; independent in politics.
