JOHN G. POINDEXTER, M. D. The distinction of being the oldest citizen and the sole survivor now resident of the community of old Bridgeport belongs to the gentleman whose name initiates this biographical article. The years of his connection with the locality now immediately tributary to Bridgeport number thirty and his professional and mercantile career span the important eras in both the life of the old town and of the new. Unconsciously has his work as a citizen contributed to the substantial awakening and development of his commercial and agricultural locality and it is with confidence in his integrity and high regard for his character that his fellow townsmen refer to him.
August 7, 1876, Dr. Poindexter established himself in the community of old Bridgeport; a young man, educated and equipped for the practice of his profession. He has passed his youth in Denton county, where his father owned a farm and the country schools provided him with the elements of a common school education. The family located permanently in the Lone Star state in 1865 and their coming hither from Lawrence county, Missouri, was only a return after an exile of four years, to the empire state of the west. In 1855 their first entry into the state occurred and one years was spent in Liberty county before the family self-imposed its exile to the moss-covered commonwealth whose surface is irrigated by the waters of the “Big Muddy.”
Hawkins county, Tennessee, sent this worthy family out to help settle the frontier and from the vicinity of Mooresburg did their journey begin. Near this little town was our subject born on the 20th of May, 1850, and in the same locality did his father’s birth occur, in the year 1812. The latter was James Poindexter, a son of Thomas Poindexter, who aided as a colonial soldier in the establishment of American independence, chose farming and mill righting as a vocation in civil life and settled in Hawkins county around the close of the eighteenth century and there passed away. He married Miss Mary Elizabeth Williams and brought up his family in the faith of the Missionary Baptist church. His family consisted of sons, namely: John, William, George, James and Robert.
James Poindexter married Paulina P. Blackburn, a daughter of Berwin Blackburn, born in Hawkins county, Tennessee, in 1825, and is still living with her son Dr. John G. As farmers the young couple began life and as farmers they concluded their companionship together. The husband passed to his reward in 1882. Two children only reached years of responsibility and they yet survive, namely: Thomas Poindexter, of the vicinity of Beaumont, Texas, and the subject of this review.
Upon reaching the age of twenty John G. Poindexter quit the home of his boyhood and employed with the cattle firm of Bell & Stevens, drovers from Texas to Bates county, Missouri. He was engaged in this work for some two years and with the proceeds of his labor to defray his expenses proceeded to prepare himself for a professional career. He entered Louisville Medical College in 1874, and completed his course with graduation in 1876 and located for a few months in Gordonsville, Grayson county, whence he came to Wise and established himself at Bridgeport, as previously stated. A few years subsequent to his locating in the old town of Bridgeport Dr. Poindexter opened a drug store and for twenty years the drug business was a prominent adjunct to his profession and a prominent factor in his busy career. He removed to the new town when events determined that it was to be the dominant place and opened his stock here, remaining with the trade until 1904, when he disposed of his stock and the substantial stone business house which he had erected and has since more closely allied himself with his profession.
As a citizen he has sought no favors in politics, has supported the dominant party at the polls and has ever shown a liberality toward enterprises fostered and encouraged only by public support. He is a Master Mason, Past Noble Grand of the I. O. O. F., and for thirty-five years has held a membership in the Methodist church. The doctor’s first wife was Miss Sallie C. Cannon, of Kentucky. They had two children: one died when quite small and the other in his sixth year, Carl W. Dr. Poindexter married for his second wife Miss F. M. Green in Wise county and by her had one child, William A., who is now going to school. Dr. Poindexter is a cousin of William A. Poindexter, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, p. 362.