| Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 234, 338.
- [S118] History of early Sevier County Doctors , Beulah Linn, (www.sevierlibrary.org/genealogy/doc/doc.htm).
John T. Shields was born in Sevier County, on Sept. 27,1825, son of Richard and Susannah Thurman Shields and great-grandson of Robert and Nancy Stickton Shields who brought their family to what is now Sevier County, settling on Middle Creek, about 1786. He was 2nd Sergeant Company A. 2nd Tennessee Volunteers Infantry commanded by 'I. Col William T. HaskeIl John T. Shields was discharged on the first day of September 1846 at Camp Tenn. on the 1 lt Bank of the Rio Grande River below Matamoras by reason of Sergeants Certificate for general debility. (His own description).
At the beginning of the Civil War ,John T. Shields took a company of militia to Louisville, Ky.to enlist in the Union Army. Because he was suffering from a deep chest cold, the exam thought he had consumption, and rejected him. He then went on to the vicinity of Seymour, Ind. where he "read" medicine with a kinsman.
Dr. Shields married, Mar. 14,1854, Margaret Quintine Hill, dau. of Joseph and Susanna McMeans Hill. They had five children: Susanna Madora Shields (1854-1857); Loyd Cummings Shields (1957-1864); Sarah E. Shields (18581881) m. Archibald R. McMahan); Robert McMinn Shields (1861-1861); Dr. John Alwin Paul Shields (1869-1939) m. Josie Ellen McAndrew.
He married 2nd, Mar.14,1885, Mrs. Mary Jane France Derrick. One child, Martha, died as an infant.
Dr. Shields was first affiliated with the Methodist church, but later joined the United Brethren church for which he was a minister. Along with preaching and doctoring, he was also a teacher. He taught "subscription" schools in Cocke, Jefferson, and possibly Sevier County. At one time he was a tax collector for Sevier County. In his latter years, he lived a type of nomadic life. He maintained no regular home, and spent his time with various friends and relatives in Jefferson, Cocke and Sevier Counties. His visits were eagerly anticipated because he brought news from neighboring areas and his fine mind could interpret and explain various topics of interest and necessity to his hosts. He supported himself by his, teaching, practice of medicine, and a Mexican War Pension. Dr. Shields died Oct. 29,1907, and is buried next to his first wife at the Chestnut Hill Methodist Cemetery.
TWO OATH TREATMENTS RECOMMENDED BY DR. SHIELDS
WHITE SWELLING
"A receipt for making a poultice for to cure a white swelling in the first stage. 1 hat crown full of ivy leaves
`" 3 bunches of
1 double span of safras roots
Toss the whole into a vessel and boil until all the strength is out and then strain and boil down to one pint, and then thicken with corn meal to form a poultice and spread on a cloth and then dust the poultice with fine sulphur and then apply the poultice to the affected part. Renew every twelve or twenty four hours until the pain disappears. And when a poultice is removed bathe the affected part with warm water and then put on a new poultice from tie to time as before directed until the pain disappears.
The foregoing treatment will not fate to cure a case in its first stage and has cured many cases in the last stage. The foregoing receipt was obtained from an old doctor on Clinch River some 50 years ago by Martian Baker."
December 18, 1860 John T. Shields
COLLEN'S RHEUMATIC OINTMENT
"One half pint of red pepper powdered well and two Indian turnips also powdered well. Put the powdered pepper into a sufficient quantity of water and boil some time, and then add the Indian turnips powered and boil again, and then add two table spoonfuls of salt and then enough hog lard to make a point of ointment. and then strain it until the water is all out. The waters hould be strained out of the powders after the strength is all out of the peppers and the Indian turnips before the salt and lard is added, and you must stir it al I the time you are simmering the water out. Put it on the affected part and bake well to the fire. Good for all pain.
December 19,1860 J. T. Shields
P.S. It is thought that the above medicine is much better to use good whiskey in place of the water, and some use the water and a portion of the first shots of whiskey."
Information from Eddie Walker Cocke County Historian
- [S112] Census, 1850.
Name John S Shields
Event Type Census
Event Year 1850
Event Place Sevier county, Sevier, Tennessee, United States
Gender Male
Age 24
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1826
Birthplace Tennessee
House Number 527
Household
Role
Sex
Age
Birthplace
Richard Shields M 55 Tennessee
Emily Shields F 25 South Carolina
John S Shields M 24 Tennessee
John Shields M 8 Tennessee
William Shields M 14 Tennessee
Nancy Shields F 6 Tennessee
Meeda Shields M 3 Tennessee
Sarah Shields F 0 Tennessee
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