McMechan - James G. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: Zach, Karen Bazzani.  Montgomery Medicine Men .... Crawfordsville: MCHS 2002.

Having had a father born in Ireland, Dr. James Gaven McMechan was Irish through and through.  Born July 24, 1808 in Cincinnati, Ohio, he came to Crawfordsville at an early age.  His parents were John and Sarah (Gaven) McMechan.  James studied medicine in the office of Dr. Pleasant Winston (sometimes found as WInton) where he met Winston's lovely younger sister, Eliza (Elvira in one source).  The McMechans wed in Crawfordsville on October 17, 1833.  Later, the good doctor would serve on the city council.  

Dr. McMechan constantly sought to improve his medical knowledge.  It was noted in one source that Dr. McMechan helped erect one of the first buildings at Wabash College.  At various times throughout his career, he attended the Academy of Oxford in Ohio, the Univeristy of Kentucky and the Medical College of Chicago.  Although not a young man, he served as surgeon in the Civil War and was at the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Ft. Donelson and Ft. Henry, four major ones in terms of loss and maimed.  

Most of his professional career was spent at Darlington and lower Tippeanoe County and at the time of his death, which occurred on Wednesday, June 7, 1899 he had spent almost 60 years as a practicing physician in Montgomery County.  He was an elder for 50 years in the Presbytrian Church and a member of the Masonic Lodge over 60 years.

In September of 1852, just after receiving his actual medical degree from Rush Medical College, his professional car, found in the Crawfordsville Locomotive raed: "I will give my undivided attention to all professional calls.  Residence on Washington Street, second door south of Jefferson Street.  Office at Ott's new Drug Store."

The McMechans parented five children:  Laura (wife of Judge Michael D. White of Crawfordsville and at whose home the doctor passed away after a long confinement from a paralytic stroke); Theodore (who became a well-loved local dentist); Eva (Bless who lived in Toledo, Ohio at the time of her father's death); Marcell (Grayson of Crawfordsville) and Charles (who was serving in the military and missed his father's funeral.

Quite a talented and loved man, he was an excellent citizen of our community.  

Source: Crawfordsville New Review, Saturday, May 24, 1899

 

Dr. J.G. McMechan, the aged father of Mrs. M.D. White, is  lying at the point of death at the home of his daughter, on W.  Pike St.

 

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Dr. J.G. McMechan died Wednesday night at the home of his  son-in-law, Hon. Michael D. White, after a long confinement from  the effects of a paralytic stroke. Dr. McMechan was perhaps the  oldest citizen of Montgomery County, having been a practicing  physician in the County for a period of 58 years, with the  exception of four years, when he was located at Dayton, in  Tippecanoe County. Most of his professional career was spent at  Darlington, until he became too old to do the hard work connected  with the profession. He has been a resident of Crawfordsville for  a long period of years, and since the death of his wife has made  his home with his daughter, Mrs. M. D. White on west Pike street  where his death occurred. He was a staunch and loyal member of  the First Presbyterian Church of this city, and for 50 years has  been an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and always ready to  give of time and means to further the interest of the cause, let  it be at home or abroad. He was a member of the Masonic Order,  and has been for over 60 years, which makes him no doubt the  oldest Mason in the County. On account of the burning of the  early records of the Masonic Lodge the exact date of his Masonic  birth cannot be given.

 

Dr. McMechan was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, July 24, 1808. His  mother was a Virginian by birth, and his father was born in  Ireland, but came to this country with the parents while a small  child. The deceased received his education in such common schools  as the country afforded 80 years ago, and later in life attended  the Academy at Oxford, Ohio. He studied medicine in the office of  Dr. Winton, Crawfordsville, and in 1833, was married to Miss  Eliza Winton, sister of his preceptor. He began the practice of  his profession in 1840. He later took a course of lectures at the  University of Kentucky, and still later, in 1852 he graduated  from the Medical College at Chicago. He was a practitioner in  this city for some years and was among the first councilmen of  the infant city. He entered the service of the United States as a  surgeon, during the civil war, and was in the battles of Shiloh  and Forts Donelson and Henry. In 1870 he removed to Darlington,  where he remained for a long time.

 

Dr. McMechan was the father of five children. Laura E., the  wife of Hon. M.D. White of this city. Theodore, whose death  occurred but a short time ago, and a well known citizen of  Crawfordsville. Eva, now Mrs. Bless, of Toledo, Ohio, Mrs.  Marcella Grayson, of Crawfordsville, and Charles W. who has just  returned from serving the United States in the Island of Cuba,  and is sick at a fort in Alabama, and unable to be present at his  father's funeral.

 

The funeral occurred Friday afternoon at four o'clock, under  the auspices of the Masonic fraternity of which he was a lifelong  member. Religious services were conducted by Rev. H. L. Nave at  the First Presbyterian Church.