The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-01

Dr. Robert Rutherford was son of
Colonel Vivian Rutherford OF Georgia. He
was born In Columbus. Ga. In 1886 and
was sent to school In the old field schools
of that country till old enough TO enter
college. He then took a collegiate course
at the University of Georgia
Selecting the profession OF medicine for
his life work. he read the necessary text
books and going to Nashville, pursued the
study of medicine there and. ater, at the
medical department OF the University of
New York
On the breaking out of the war, Or,
Rutherford although n mere youth, with
that impetuosity, which Is q characteristic,
promptly enlisted as a soldier in the Con-
federate army, and rushed to the defense
of his native South. He Was one of mel
sons Rangers, noted troop In the Sec
ond Georgia regiment He made good
! soldier, always ready for march or
/ fight with a marked preference for the
! latter and was early taken prisoner. He
/ with number of other Confederates, was
carried TO Fort Delaware. at Alton, ILL.,,
! and there imprisoned twelve months.
| When the war was over finally and the
1 scattered remnants OF the gallant hosts
of the Lost Cause had returned 70 their
homes hose OF them who had any
homes-Dr. Rutherford determined to
I leave the country; did not want to live
Z .
/ perhaps, to constant humiliation. so ho
! packed up his little personal effects and
| started for Mexico Arriving In Texas no
began TO change his mind and to relout
CT his hasty resolve. When he had gotten
/ as far as Wharton, so impressed was he
with the richness Of the lands and the
! probable outcome, should the resources OF
Texas be developed that he determined to
seek no further but to drive down his
stake there, 10 plant there his vine and
fig tree and there to raise his medical
Ebeneaer, so to speak, AT any rate, he
settled in Wharton, and one fine morning
the citizens OF that quiet hamlet were
surprised and gladdened by the sight Of
another medical banner aafurled to the
breeze. Here he engaged in practice sue
ccsstully for some time, and then removed
to Brazoria, At Brazoria no resided and
practiced medicine TIL 1871 when. over
lures being made him by prominent med
cal men IN Houston and by friends. who
assured him that Houston was the coming
metropolis and rairoad center of Texas,
and that here he would have wider and
perhaps, more lucrative field for tho prac-
liee of medicine, he moved here and
opened an office.
In 1878, while he was serving as health
officer here. a position which for many
years he nlled with marked satisfaction
and success. yellow fever broke out In
, New Orleans. At that time Texas ply
slclans had had but little experience with
quarantine, but they had had large ex-
Q perlence with yellow fever Ia 1867, wher
Il broke out in Galveston, whence Il spread
O TO the interior of the State aud devastated
. nearly every town, city and village III
! Texas. Hence. when it made its appearance
In 1913 In New Orleans, the medical meu
A OF Texas hOd Just cause for apprehendinl
another invasion, aud the more thought
: tnl OF them set about to devise means O
arresting u at the threshold OF the state
4 DR.. j. Nj. Ross Of Bgenham now deceased
= wrote a letter to Dr.. Rutherford suggest
. Ing conference OF health offcers, an,
, requested him to issue call for a meet
n ing With DR.. Ross Ia said to have orig
) mated the idea Of contributing the powe
/, OF quarantine under one head, aud thi
II Idea was acted on and carried out az III
q meeting which was held In response /,
q the call of the Houston health authorities
of which DR.. Rutherford was the head
a The various municipalities of the State
: especially those which had suffered II
y 1861, sent representatives to Houston, an,
q conference was held; a large numbe
OK acting health officers were present AZ
I. ter much discussion Dr. Ross suggestio,
: prevailed to make one man the head AM
a 'front.' with plenary powers and 10 hnld hin
= TO strict accountability. Dr. Rutherfort
! was unanimously chosen to represent IN
views Of the convention and to carry int
execution the plan outlined at the meetine
= He was invested with authority TO act 10
= all, Without fear or hesitation, and wit
: no hope or even thought of remuneration
. he accepted the trust, Notwithstanding IA
7; certainty OF much loss to his private IN
= terests staring him IN the face. In this n
!, displayed patriotism and loyalty 1
2 duty which ever characterized his admin
I, istration of higher trust, and this mrs
I step was doubtless the foundation ston
!, upon which he subsequently erected hi
:, vide reputation as an enlightened an
= progressive sanitarlan. His administrators
WAS a success and clearly demonstrate
the correctness OF his views thar 10 b
n efficient quarantine should be operated b
one man with plenary power and tn