RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 2, 2020
KINSEARCHING
by
Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
“Another Old Timer Located” is the title of an article found on pages 49-50 of the September 1929 (Volume 50, Number 4) of The Texas Druggist. Even more interesting is the subtitle, “Possibly the Oldest Living Pharmacist in the Country.” The article was written after the Texas Pharmaceutical Association received a letter from Dr. Alfred J. J. AUSTIN of Mission, Texas. In his letter, Austin stated that he had been a member of the Association in 1886 and that he wanted to be affiliated with it again since he had recently moved back to Texas. After a check of the society’s official records proved he was present at meetings in 1886 and 1887, Austin was asked to furnish an account of what he had been during the past forty-three years. (Some punctuation may be added or deleted for clarity.)
“...I was born in England in 1843 and came to the U. S. in 1866. I was sent to Texas by the Federal Government as Hospital Steward, U. S. Army, in 1867, after having passed an examination in Pharmacy, etc., and reported to Gen. E. R. S. Canby, Commanding General of the Fifth Military District (Texas and Louisiana) at Austin, Texas, where I was assigned to duty under Col. Warren Webster, Medical Director of said Fifth Military District, and Major Middleton, Post Surgeon. In 1869, I requested a change of post and, knowing more or less the condition of Ringgold Barracks, where Capt. H. M. Cronkhite was Post Surgeon, I requested to be sent there, where I remained until Feb. 1870.
I retired from Fort Ringgold (as it was called) and established a drug store in Rio Grande City; there never had been one there and there was only one old man who attended to the wants of “Rancho Davis” as Rio Grande City was customarily called. If he was a legal practitioner or not, I never found out. My venture with a drug store there was a failure and I moved to Camargo, Mexico (about 6 miles from Rancho Davis), where there were 4 physicians and where I was very successful.
I married in Rancho Davis, Nov. 1st, 1870, the day that I completed 27 years (my wife is still strong and vigorous). In 1882, I established a branch in Rio Grande City...some years after, Mr. KING, a lawyer who had located there, intimated to me to join the Texas Pharmaceutical Association, which I did....In 1887, owing to my wife’s ill health, I sold the drug store in R. G. City to Dr. A. M. HEADLEY and concentrated my attentions to my store in Camargo.
About this time, the state government of Tamaulipas intimated that a new law would be made regulating the medical and druggists (sic) professions and that physicians would be recognized as pharmacists. I, therefore, took up the study of medicine and was duly graduated, was City Physician to the City of Mier [for] 13 years, and Medico Forense del Juzgado de Letras de la 5a fraccion del Estado de Tamaulipas, for 14 years. Owing to the revolution in 1913, I abandoned Mexico.
I have my license to practice my profession in Texas and, having heard about a new law to regulate pharmacy in Texas, I presented myself to the Board of State Examiners last February in San Antonio and passed—and have my certificate. Probably I am the oldest pharmacist in Texas—Born Nov. 1, 1843—86 years old. Apprenticed at 18 years—for 5 years. Served the government to 1870. Since that time, always working.
Yours very truly,
Alfred J. J. AUSTIN, M. D.”
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