Biographies - Dr. David Finney Stuart

          David Finney Stuart was born at Bethany, in Brook county West Virginia, in 1833. He is the son of William Stuart and Mary Cummins. He was educated at Bethany College, West Virginia, and studied medicine with Dr. George C. Red, at Gay Hill, Washington county, Texas, to which place he had immigrated in 1850. Having thoroughly prepared himself for matriculation, he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated M. D. after two courses of lectures; he attended one course also at New Orleans, in the Medical Department of the University of Louisiana. After receiving his diploma, he located for practice at the town of Gay Hill, where he remained a while, doing a general practice; thence he removed to Houston in 1865, his present place of residence.

           Dr. Stuart served throughout the war between the States, as a Surgeon in the Confederate army; first as Surgeon of the Tenth Texas Infantry, then as Senior Surgeon of Cranberry's Brigade, in the Army of Tennesseee.

           In Houston, Dr. Stuart is much esteemed as a physician and surgeon, and as a citizen. He takes an active part in all public affairs, and occupies, and has occupied high positions in both capacities. He is at present President of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Medical College, located at Galveston; President of Board of Trustees of Stuart Seminary, Austin, and is ex-President of the Baylor Orphan Home; he is also chief surgeon of  the Harris county hospital; chief surgeon of the Houston & Texas Central railway; chief surgeon of the H., E. & W. T. railroad, and local surgeon of the International & Great Northern railroad, and of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe road. While doing a general practice, Dr. Stuart has given most attention to surgery and obstetrics. He is a member of the Texas State Medical Association, and is one of the few who participated in its organization, in 1869. This body testified the respect in which Dr. Stuart is held in the profession, by electing him its President in 1873; and in 1876 he was appointed a member of the Ninth International Medical Congress which met in Philadelphia, that year.

           Dr. Stuart has been twice married; in 1867 (Sept. 17), to Miss Ellen M. Dart; and to Miss Bettie M. Bocock November 28, 1883. He has four children, Joseph R., Daisy, Susie Walker, and Mary Cummins.

           Unlike the majority of medical men, Dr. Stuart has been successful financially; and his talent as a financier is appreciated by his fellow-citizens, who testify their appreciation by calling him to fill positions of trust; for instance, he was appointed receiver of the Houston Savings Bank, when that institution went into liquidation; and he managed the affairs with such skill as to enable the directors to pay, within eighteen months, seventy cents on the dollar of the indebtedness. The directors of the Commercial National Bank at Houston, which was organized in 1886, with a capital of $200,000, also testified their confidence in, and appreciation of him as a financier, by electing him a director, a position he now fills. This bank paid a dividend of 8 per cent, the first year. Dr. Stuart is at present in the prime and vigor of mid-manhood. In stature he is of medium height, and is a man who would be observed in any assemblage of men. His manner is quiet and reserved, but characterized by a uniform courtesy.