The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-06-28


sense of the ridiculous and looked on
the bright side of things always. He
loved a Joke and told story with
rare zest There was a well developed
vein of humor in his make up and he
extracted fun out Of the most COM
mon place events Of every day life.
In the practice of medicine DIR.
Cheatham was eminently successful.
He earned fortune but he was
always too busy to look after the bus
mess end of his profession and died
paratively a poor man as far as
this worlds goods are concerned. He
did large charity practice always
responding to such calls with the
same promptness and cheerfulness
that he did in cases where compensa-
ton was expected. DR.. Cheatham
was a man of keen judgment and
quick perception. He had the faculty
to see through things and grasp the
situation as if by intuition. In ex-
treme cases which called for quick
decision and prompt action he never
seemed at a loss. He was confident,
resourceful, and could act in an
emergency with skill and judgment
as unerring as if he had given the
matter long and careful consideration.
People had confidence in him. Men
trusted him and women and children
loved him.
He loved his profession and next to
the service of his Lord and Master he
consecrated his life to its practice
and the service of his fellow-men.
DIR. Cheatham was born in Gran
vile county, within four and half
miles of Henderson, April 29th, 1882.
He graduated from the Virginia Medi-
cal College, at Richmond, in 1856.
He first located in the lower part OF
what is now Vance county, living in
the home of the late Scion Souther-
land, Esq, and practiced his profess
sion about two years. In 1858 he
moved to Henderson and associated
himself with DR.. &. w. Blacknall,
North Carolina's most famous hotelist
in later years, which association was
terminated some time afterWard, and
he had resided here ever since.
While a student at the Virginia
Medical College DR.. Cheatham studied
under DR.. Brown-Sequard, the noted
French Psychologist, to whom he was
also assistant He was a college mate
of DR.. Hunter Mcclure and friend
of DR.. Edward Warren, Bey.
DR.. Cheatham contributed a num-
Der of papers to leading medical jour
nails which attracted wide attention
and favorable comment. An article
on opium poisoning was copied in
several French and German papers.
But DR.. Cheatham was too busy to
write much for the press, as he was
frequently solicited to do.
Besides his contributions to the lit
erature of the profession DR.. Cheat
ham added to it several surgical in
struments of his own invention. One
of these especially is regarded as
among the most valuable and indispen
sable things of the kind ever devised.
None of these instruments would he
patent but unseltish soul that he was
he gave them to the medical profess
sion for what they were worth to the
world.
DR.. Cheatham had held many posi-
profession. He had been President
of the North Carolina Medical Society,
being elected at the meeting in Ashe-
vile in 1891, and presiding at the
meeting in Wilmington in 1892. His
paper read on that occasion was pro-
nounccd one Of the finest ever deliver
ed before the Society. He was one OF
the Vice-Presidents of the PanAmeri-
can Medical Society; honorary men,
Der of the New York Medico-Legal
Society; member of the international
Medical Congress. which convened in
Washington in 1887; fraternal dele
gate to the Virginia, South Carolina
and National Associations, etc.
We recall DR.. Cbeatham's attend
ance upon the meeting of the Virginia
Medical Society at Fredericksburg.
He was called upon at the banquet to
respond to the toast "Our Women, ,
and his speech was the hit of the
evening. 1t was an exquisitely wrought
bouquet of choicest flowers of rhetoric,
unique in its setting, a gem of its
kind.
DR.. Cheatham was even more ready
with the pen. He had fine descrip,
tive and delineative powers and ii
was a regret to his friends that he did
not find time to write more. Many
of our readers will recall the series Of
articles he wrote for the GOLD LEAF
some years ago, giving an account Of
his visit to Texas and Mexico and his
impressions and observations of peo-
Pile and things seen in the Lone Stal
State and the land of the Aztecs.
DR.. Cheatham had a rich vein OF
domesticity in his nature. He loved
his home and his devotion to his
family was beautiful. While he was
indulgent to his children he took
early opportunity to instill into them
sound business and religious princi
piles. DR.. Cheatham had for more
than 25 years been 4 member of the
Methodist Episcopal church. He had
| occupied various official positions and
to every trust he was faithful and
true. He loved his church and gave
it loyal service.
DR.. Cheatham was a Mason and be.
lieved in the principles and tenets Of
that ancient and honorable order
He had held high official positions in
the Lodge. But he did not wish to
be buried with Masonic rites. He
desired only a simple service. His
wish was complied with. The funera,
was to have been held at O'Clock
Sunday afternoon, but on account o.
the rain it was deferred until II
O'Clock Monday morning.
The active pail bearers were
Messrs. j. c. Cooper,W. S. Parker,W
F. Gary, f. G. Davis, A. c. Zollicoffer
w. II. Hart, j. X. Young, I. B. Gary
Capt. W. B. Shaw, Thad r. Manning
Honorary: Messrs. j. H. Lassiter
Sr., W. F. Rowland, T. c. Williams
r. R. Pinkston, Maj. J. F. Harris
| Gen. Cheek. Dr. l.. j. Picot.
The funeral was held from thu
/ Mot ho6iSt Er;coorol oburoh Tho =,