My family and I have been on a new adventure recently (hence the blogging hiatus. Sorry!) We have bought an old historic building in downtown Durant and are restoring it. Throughout the process of demolition we have unearthed a few treasures. Today, while peeling off some old bead board we discovered this:
So, I set out to find out just who doctor Shuler was. Here's what I found!
DR. JAMES LAFAYETTE SHULER
1860-1939
Dr. James Lafayette Shuler, born at Adairsville, Georgia on January 28, 1860, was the son of John Shuler and his wife, Matilda Hill. His maternal grandfather was Ladson Frazier Hickman, and maternal grandmother was Rebecca Josephine Ross.
In the 1880's, with his father and mother he came from near Cartersville, Georgia and settled on a farm near Hackett City, Arkansas, and he received his primary education at the local schools in the community in
which he lived in Georgia and in Arkansas. His medical education was received in the Medical Department of the Arkansas Industrial University (Little Rock), now the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, in 1887 graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He was licensed to practice medicine in Oklahoma under the Act of 1908. Prior to that time he had been licensed under the laws in force in the Choctaw Nation. He was a member of his local and state medical societies and a Fellow of the American Medical Association, secretary and past President of the Bryan County, Oklahoma Medical Society, and Medical Director of the Bryan County Hospital.
After his graduation he practiced medicine in the Choctaw Nation at Pocola and removed to Cameron in 1895 where he engaged in the practice of medicine until 1901, when he removed to Durant and continued in the practice of medicine until his death on August 24, 1939 at Hobbs, N. M., where he was on a visit to his son.
Funeral services were held on August 26, 1939 from the First Methodist Church of Durant, Oklahoma, Rev. W. L. Broome and Rev. W. L. Blackburn officiating, interment being in Highland Cemetery at Durant.
He was married on January 11, 1896 at Pocola in the Choctaw Nation to Lucy A. Hickman, who together with their son, Dr. Ashley Cooper Shuler, who resides at Hobbs, N. M., survive him.
Dr. Shuler was an active and leading member of organized medicine in Oklahoma. After his location in Durant in 1901 he served as President of the State and County Societies, and at the time of his death was Secretary of the County Society. For many years he was Councilor of the State Medical Association and served as President in 1912. He had devoted his time and talent liberally in the support of his profession. He was a member of the Masonic Order, holding membership in the Blue Lodge, Knight's Templar, Scottish Rite, and Shrine, and had from his youth been an active and consistent member of the Methodist Church and a supporter of the Democratic Party, and of local civic enterprises.
A devoted husband and father and a good citizen has passed away.
R. L. Williams
I just have to say...
HOW COOL IS THAT??
