American Medical Biographies/Pope, John Hunter
Pope, John Hunter (1845–1915)
John Hunter Pope, physician and public health officer, was born in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia, February 12, 1845. His father, Alexander Pope, a prominent lawyer, was a friend of Alexander Stephens, and his mother was Sallie Willie. An uncle was Chief Justice James Willie, of the Supreme Court of Texas. In 1858 young Pope with his parents moved to Marshall, Texas. When eighteen he enlisted in the Confederate Army and fought until the close of the War, being wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga. He entered the University of Virginia and graduated M. D. in 1868; in 1869 he received the same degree from the University of Louisiana.
Dr. Pope settled at Milford, Ellis County, Texas, and practised until 1871 when he returned to Marshall and formed a partnership with B. F. Eads. In 1879 he was elected president of the State Medical Association, and was a member of the National Board of Health. After spending two years in Mexico for his health he established a sanatorium for the treatment of nervous diseases at Lithia Springs, Georgia; in 1892 he opened a similar institution at Marshall, but his health failing this was relinquished in 1896.
Among his writings were: the "History of the Yellow Fever Epidemic at Marshall, Texas" (1873); "Report of Climatology and Epidemics of Texas" (1874); "Report on the Science and Progress of Medicine" (1875); and "The Menace of Mexico to the Public Health of the United States."
Dr. Pope was twice married, first, 1872, to Hattie J., daughter of Dr. James F. Starr, former treasurer of the Republic of Texas; she died in less than a year. His second wife died in 1890 and a young son died soon after.
His own death occurred as a result of pneumonia at Marshall, September 20, 1915.
Two brothers were physicians, Irvin Pope, of Tyler, who survived him, and Asa Pope of Marshall. Three other brothers were lawyers: Judge W. H. Pope, Judge James W. Pope, and Alexander Pope, who died in 1913, 1911, and 1899 respectively.