Pioneers of Ellis County Dr. James Campbell Loggins Contributed by Herman I. May [Editorial comments from contributor are enclosed in brackets]   Dr. James Campbell Loggins died at his home in Ennis, September 28, 1921. Death was unexpected and sudden. While Dr. Loggins had not been in the most vigorous health, he showed no sign of illness, and died while taking his usual midday nap, following a hearty dinner. [His tombstone gives date of death as 21 Sept 1921]. Dr. Loggins was born near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Dec. 7, 1845, the day Texas was admitted to the Union. When five years old, the family moved to Grimes County, on Roan's Prairie, where he was raised to young manhood. In 1861, at the age of 15 he enlisted in Hood's Texas Brigade, of the Confederate Army, and served throughout the war. He was captured at Gettysburg and was a prisoner at Fort Delaware for over a year, finally escaping by swimming Delaware Bay, and returning directly to his command. [James' parents and two of his sisters are buried in Old Oakwood Cemetery - just southeast of Roan's Prairie. James served during the Civil War in Company "G", 4th Texas Volunteer Infantry.] At the close of the war, Dr. Loggins returned to Grimes County, and was married to Miss Lydia Antoinette Alston of  Montgomery County, Nov. 28, 1866. He entered Tulane University School of Medicine at New Orleans and graduated from that institution in 1868. He practiced in Roan's Prairie until 1872, when he moved to Ennis, where he practiced until the time of his death. His home in Ennis is partly included in the home in which he died. He had lived there nearly half a century. [James and Lydia and their two first born children are found living in Grimes County during the 1870 enumeration]. The medical career of Dr. Loggins was typical of the physician vice-president of the State Medical Association, and in 1896, he became its twenty-eighth president. In 1891, he was elected to the Judicial Council, at that time fulfilling the function now served by our board of Councillors. In 1893, he was chairman of the Section on Medicine, and his presidential address was one of the few contributions to medical literature that he ever made formally, although he was free in his discussion of medical subjects. He was an active worker in his county medical society and at one time served as president. Dr. Loggins served his day and generation well in lay as well as professional services. He had been chief of the fire department, alderman and mayor of his home town. He was active in the councils of the Confederate Veterans, and had served their organizations in several official capacities. He was a charter member of the First Baptist Church and was always active in its councils. He was a Mason of high degree. His last public service was as Superintendent of the Confederate Home in Austin, which position he filled ably and with credit, from January 1917 to March 1920, when he resigned because of failing health. Dr. Loggins' wife died February 24, 1908. A son, Dr. Lee Loggins, died Dec. 27, 1907. He is survived by three sons, two daughters and a niece who was reared in his home and who was looked upon as a daughter. The funeral services were conducted by the Masons. The honorary pall bearers were the living past presidents of the State Medical Association, several of whom attended the funeral, and the members of the local medical profession. The funeral was perhaps the largest attended in that section of the country in many years. [Source: Texas State Journal of Medicine 17: 369, November 1921. "Deaths: Dr. James Campbell Loggins;" History of Science Collection UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas]   Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:30:03 MDT