Dr. James Alexander Clopton of Alabama

Born June 10, 1817 in Madison County, Alabama, Dr. James Alexander Clopton was the son of William Hales Clopton and Avery Garrett Smith. He was a twin; his brother was named John Hales Clopton who also became a doctor. Incorrectly identified as James Albert Clopton in some publications, Dr. Clopton married Mary Elizabeth Penny, the daughter of John and Nancy Penney, on December 9, 1841. A Huntsville, Alabama physician, he died Mary 4, 1898. He and his wife are buried in the Huntsville Cemetery.

They had four children: Cornelia Ann Clopton, James Malvern Clopton, William H. Clopton, and John Walter Clopton.

On March 25, 1863, an article appeared in a Tallahassee, Florida newspaper regarding Dr. Clopton.

Dr. J. A. Clopton of Huntsville, Ala., will be in Tallahassee today and is ready to examine patients. He is scheduling a visit to Quincy, March 30 and to Monticello, April 16. Clopton advertises himself as a specialist in the cure of "piles, fistula, tumors, ulceration of the womb, spermatorrhoes, and syphilitic afflictions." He says that he has already operated successfully in Monticello. He "Guarantees perfect success in every case," and says that "he has never had an accident to happen," though he has operated in cases pronounced hopeless by "?almost every other surgeon of any reputation." He encourages patients to write him for an appointment and says that "all letters must contain a ten cent stamp if a reply is requested." He also says that "ladies will be visited at their homes for private consultation and examination."

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Contributed by :

Morris L. Clopton and
Suellen Clopton Blanton, bblanton@fast.net
Originally Appearing in the Clopton Newsletter August & December 1995 Issues