Dr. James A. Fogle, a surgeon trained during the Civil War, was a physician of Alapaha, GA and an associate of Hardeman Giddens, of Ray’s Mill. He was well known in Berrien County – an M.D., farmer, Mason, census enumerator, innkeeper, merchant, and Justice of the Peace. In his judiciary role, he notably heard the 1879 case of John Cooper for the murder of Reese Byrd at Paxton’s turpentine farm.
Dr, J. A. Fogle, Physician and Surgeon of Alapaha, GA
Alapaha Star
October 2, 1886Dr. J. A. Fogle
Physician and Surgeon,
Alapaha, GeorgiaReturns thanks the citizens of Worth, Berrien, Irwin and Coffee counties for patronage in the past, and hopes to merit a continuance of the same. Calls by letter or telegraph promptly attended to. Charges are reasonable.
James A. Fogle was born September 12, 1838 in Columbus, GA. He was a son of Nancy L. Turner and Dr. Jacob Fogle, dentist and prominent citizen of Columbus.
As a young man, James A. Fogle attended the University of North Carolina, receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1860.
James A. Fogle served in the Civil War. He enlisted as a private in Company G, Georgia 2nd Infantry Regiment on April 16, 1861. He was detailed by the Secretary of War to work in a Confederate hospital. He was promoted to Full Hospital Steward on October 6, 1862. At that time he was posted at General Hospital Camp Winder, Richmond, VA. He was later promoted to Full Assistant Surgeon on November 14, 1864.
General Hospital Camp Winder hospital ward, Richmond, VA. Dr. James A. Fogle was detailed as a nurse at the hospital May 24, 1862. Fogle was later promoted to Assistant Surgeon, and practiced medicine at Alapaha, GA after the war.
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On November 1, 1862 Fogle was reassigned as a steward at Chimborazo Hospital No. 3, Richmond, VA.
Chimborazo Hospital, the “hospital on the hill.” Considered the “one of the largest, best-organized, and most sophisticated hospitals in the Confederacy.”
Library of Congress
Fogle was at Chimborazo Division No. 3 in June of 1863 when Green Bullard, of Ray’s Mill, was admitted in the No. 2 Division with typhoid fever. In November 1864, Fogle was promoted to Assistant Surgeon and continued to work at Chimborazo Hospital. The Civil War ended six months later with Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.
After the war, Fogle returned to South Georgia. He took the loyalty oath in Baker County, GA on July 10, 1867.
James A. Fogle, Oath of Loyalty to the United States of America, July 10, 1867.
On April 2, 1868 James A. Fogle married Sarah E. Leonard in Taylor County, GA.
Marriage certificate of James A. Fogle and Sarah E. Leonard, Taylor County, GA
James and Sarah Fogle made their home in Newton, Baker County, GA. The 1880 census shows they employed Sarah Gamble as a live-in cook. Dr. Fogle established his medical practice in Newton.
1870 census enumeration of Dr. James A. Fogle, Newton, GA
In the winter of 1872, while traveling near Camilla, GA., Dr. Fogle plunged into a a flooded creek to rescue a drowning African-American man.
Albany Herald, March 1, 1872 reports Dr. J. A. Fogle’s participation in the rescue of two African-American men from drowning in Racoon Creek, Camilla, GA
Albany Herald
March 1, 1972Narrow Escape.
We are informed by our agent, Dr. J. A. Fogle, that on the 14th inst. the two negroes of the Panitheopticonicon, while attempting to cross “Raccoon Creek,” had their horse drowned and came near loosing their own lives. Dr. Fogle, although the water was near freezing, swam in after one and rescued him by means of a rope.- Mr. Stokes Walton, with the assistance of Mr. Lee and four or five negroes, constructed a raft of logs and rescued the other. A half hour’s longer delay would have resulted in the death of both parties. Although nearly frozen, they were the happiest beings imaginable when taken out of the water.
This creek should, by all means, have a bridge over it. Last week Dr. Fogle came near losing his own and his horse’s life in the same place. Dr. Kirksey, Dr. F’s companion, lost his baggage, containing valuables to the amount of one hundred and twenty-five or one hundred and fifty dollars. [Camilla Herald.
The two rescued men were employees of the Panitheopticonicon. The Panitheopticonicon was a religious dramatization presented with a stereopticon, or “Magic Lantern.” A stereopticon is a slide projector which has two lenses, usually one above the other. These devices became a popular in the 1850s as a form of entertainment and education, and continued in popularity into the 1900s. Mashburn’s 1913 “Possum Supper” for physicians in Valdosta, GA featured as stereopticon. The Panitheopticonicon was billed as the “Great Religious Wonder of the Age!” where “Adam and Eve pass the scene… with the serpent following at their feet,” and attracted “almost the entire population without distinction of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
Dr. Fogle Comes to Alapaha
Some time before 1879, the Fogles made their way to Alapaha, GA. In the census of 1880 of Berrien County, James A. Fogle was the enumerator for the 4th District. He enumerated himself as 41 years of age, and employed as an M. D. and a farmer. His wife, Sarah, was keeping house. Also in the household was Sarah’s widowed sister, Frances S. Leonard.
1880 Census enumeration of Dr. James A. Fogle, 1156 Georgia Militia District, Berrien County, GA.
In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Fogle opened a drug store in Alapaha.
Alapaha Star
October 2, 1886Drug Store
Dr. J. A. Fogle,
Proprietor,
Alapaha, GAMy stock of drugs, medicines, perfumery, toilet articles, cigars, tobacco, etc., is the largest and best selected ever brought to this market.
Prescriptions
Carefully and accurately compounded day or night.
Thankful for liberal patronage in the past, I shall endeavor to merit a continuance of the
the same.
In the spring of 1886, the Macon telegraph reported that Dr. and Mrs. Fogle were opening a new hotel at Alapaha.
Fogle House, Alapaha, GA
Macon Telegraph
March 24, 1886
At Alapaha. Her New Hotel. Her Clever Social People. Her Prosperous Merchants, Etc.,
[Alapaha has]…a new hotel, two stories high, nicely fitted up and well kept. Dr. J.A. Fogle, one of the most clever men you would met in a week’s hard riding, is the proprietor, but his time is mostly devoted to an extensive practice and to his well stocked drug store. The hotel is presided over by Mrs. Fogle, a lady of refinement and most pleasant manner, ably assisted by her sister, Miss Fannie Leonard. The table is bountifully supplied with tempting fare, the sleeping apartments are models of cleanliness and comfort, and the attention to guests is prompt and courteous The commercial tourists are fond in their praise of it, and you know they are, generally speaking, a difficult set to please.
Dr. James A. Fogle died on Friday, January 6, 1888 at Alapaha, Georgia. His death was reported in the Americus Weekly Recorder. Americus was the home of Dr. Fogle’s sister, Mary E. Fogle, and brother-in-law, Uriah B. Harrold:
Death of Dr. James A. Fogle, 1888.
Americus Weekly Recorder
January 12, 1888Death.
Mr. U. B. Harrold Friday received a telegram announcing the death of Dr. James A. Fogle, at Alapaha, Berrien county, Ga. As he had been suffering from inflammatory rheumatism, it is supposed that that was the cause of his death. Dr. Fogle was an eminent physician and the brother of Mrs. Harold. Mr. and Mrs Harrold left for Alapaha Friday night.
Dr. Fogle was laid to rest at Alapaha in Fletcher Cemetery.
Grave of Dr. James A. Fogle, Fletcher Cemetery, Alapaha, GA. Image source: D & D Fletcher
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