Excerpt from: Early History and War Record of Wilkesville and Salem by Charles B. Taylor; Cincinnati: Elm Street Print Co., 1874:
"George W. Althar was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, in the year 1796. His father was a farmer and desired his son to adopt the same avocation.
George, however, was anxious to obtain an education, and become a physician. His scholastic opportunities were limited, but he made the best use of them, walking with his
sister three miles over the mountains to school.
There was a merchant, named Erskine, in Lewisburg, six miles distant. One day he noticed young Althar in the store and was surprised at the rapidity with which he made calculations in arithmetic. He inquired where the boy got his education, and was still more surprised to find that he had made such progress with such limited opportunities.
He offered him a place in his store as a clerk, which (after some time) was accepted. He was sixteen years old when he left the farm to work for Mr. Erskine.
He studied medicine with Dr. Winfield, teaching school to defray his expenses, and began practice in Pocahontas County. Virginia. He was married to Hannah C. Gilliland in 1824. He became involved in pecuniary difficulties by going security for a friend, lost the greater part of what he had gathered together, and in 1832 came to Wilkesville with his family, his household goods, and one dollar in money.
For the next thirty years his history is a prominent part of the history of Wilkesville. There was a physician at Rutland, one at Jackson, and others at Gallipolis and Athens. These were the neighbors with whom he counseled. For years he was the only physician in Wilkesville, and day and night he rode over this country when it was almost a wilderness, prolonging human life and relieving suffering.
Not a few families in this region remember with affection "the old doctor," who was with them when their children were born, and when their parents died, and who was a trusted friend both in joy and in sorrow.
His wife was truly a help meet for him. She read his books and was a woman of keen observation and good judgment. If patients came and the doctor was away, they were satisfied if Mrs. Althar was at home. She could use the lancet and the forceps with steadier nerve than many a young practitioner. Although often in feeble health, she would leave her work and ride miles to the relief of the suffering. She died in 1841.
Dr. Althar was married three times. In 1843 he married the widow Strong, who lived until 1857. His last wife, formerly Mrs. Curtis, still lives. He was the father of six sons and two daughters. His oldest child is Mrs. Virginia Cline, wife of Dr. W. C. Cline. Dr. Althar died in 1862."
"George W. Althar was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, in the year 1796. His father was a farmer and desired his son to adopt the same avocation.
George, however, was anxious to obtain an education, and become a physician. His scholastic opportunities were limited, but he made the best use of them, walking with his
sister three miles over the mountains to school.
There was a merchant, named Erskine, in Lewisburg, six miles distant. One day he noticed young Althar in the store and was surprised at the rapidity with which he made calculations in arithmetic. He inquired where the boy got his education, and was still more surprised to find that he had made such progress with such limited opportunities.
He offered him a place in his store as a clerk, which (after some time) was accepted. He was sixteen years old when he left the farm to work for Mr. Erskine.
He studied medicine with Dr. Winfield, teaching school to defray his expenses, and began practice in Pocahontas County. Virginia. He was married to Hannah C. Gilliland in 1824. He became involved in pecuniary difficulties by going security for a friend, lost the greater part of what he had gathered together, and in 1832 came to Wilkesville with his family, his household goods, and one dollar in money.
For the next thirty years his history is a prominent part of the history of Wilkesville. There was a physician at Rutland, one at Jackson, and others at Gallipolis and Athens. These were the neighbors with whom he counseled. For years he was the only physician in Wilkesville, and day and night he rode over this country when it was almost a wilderness, prolonging human life and relieving suffering.
Not a few families in this region remember with affection "the old doctor," who was with them when their children were born, and when their parents died, and who was a trusted friend both in joy and in sorrow.
His wife was truly a help meet for him. She read his books and was a woman of keen observation and good judgment. If patients came and the doctor was away, they were satisfied if Mrs. Althar was at home. She could use the lancet and the forceps with steadier nerve than many a young practitioner. Although often in feeble health, she would leave her work and ride miles to the relief of the suffering. She died in 1841.
Dr. Althar was married three times. In 1843 he married the widow Strong, who lived until 1857. His last wife, formerly Mrs. Curtis, still lives. He was the father of six sons and two daughters. His oldest child is Mrs. Virginia Cline, wife of Dr. W. C. Cline. Dr. Althar died in 1862."
Excerpt from: Early History and War Record of Wilkesville and Salem by Charles B. Taylor; Cincinnati: Elm Street Print Co., 1874:
"George W. Althar was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, in the year 1796. His father was a farmer and desired his son to adopt the same avocation.
George, however, was anxious to obtain an education, and become a physician. His scholastic opportunities were limited, but he made the best use of them, walking with his
sister three miles over the mountains to school.
There was a merchant, named Erskine, in Lewisburg, six miles distant. One day he noticed young Althar in the store and was surprised at the rapidity with which he made calculations in arithmetic. He inquired where the boy got his education, and was still more surprised to find that he had made such progress with such limited opportunities.
He offered him a place in his store as a clerk, which (after some time) was accepted. He was sixteen years old when he left the farm to work for Mr. Erskine.
He studied medicine with Dr. Winfield, teaching school to defray his expenses, and began practice in Pocahontas County. Virginia. He was married to Hannah C. Gilliland in 1824. He became involved in pecuniary difficulties by going security for a friend, lost the greater part of what he had gathered together, and in 1832 came to Wilkesville with his family, his household goods, and one dollar in money.
For the next thirty years his history is a prominent part of the history of Wilkesville. There was a physician at Rutland, one at Jackson, and others at Gallipolis and Athens. These were the neighbors with whom he counseled. For years he was the only physician in Wilkesville, and day and night he rode over this country when it was almost a wilderness, prolonging human life and relieving suffering.
Not a few families in this region remember with affection "the old doctor," who was with them when their children were born, and when their parents died, and who was a trusted friend both in joy and in sorrow.
His wife was truly a help meet for him. She read his books and was a woman of keen observation and good judgment. If patients came and the doctor was away, they were satisfied if Mrs. Althar was at home. She could use the lancet and the forceps with steadier nerve than many a young practitioner. Although often in feeble health, she would leave her work and ride miles to the relief of the suffering. She died in 1841.
Dr. Althar was married three times. In 1843 he married the widow Strong, who lived until 1857. His last wife, formerly Mrs. Curtis, still lives. He was the father of six sons and two daughters. His oldest child is Mrs. Virginia Cline, wife of Dr. W. C. Cline. Dr. Althar died in 1862."
"George W. Althar was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, in the year 1796. His father was a farmer and desired his son to adopt the same avocation.
George, however, was anxious to obtain an education, and become a physician. His scholastic opportunities were limited, but he made the best use of them, walking with his
sister three miles over the mountains to school.
There was a merchant, named Erskine, in Lewisburg, six miles distant. One day he noticed young Althar in the store and was surprised at the rapidity with which he made calculations in arithmetic. He inquired where the boy got his education, and was still more surprised to find that he had made such progress with such limited opportunities.
He offered him a place in his store as a clerk, which (after some time) was accepted. He was sixteen years old when he left the farm to work for Mr. Erskine.
He studied medicine with Dr. Winfield, teaching school to defray his expenses, and began practice in Pocahontas County. Virginia. He was married to Hannah C. Gilliland in 1824. He became involved in pecuniary difficulties by going security for a friend, lost the greater part of what he had gathered together, and in 1832 came to Wilkesville with his family, his household goods, and one dollar in money.
For the next thirty years his history is a prominent part of the history of Wilkesville. There was a physician at Rutland, one at Jackson, and others at Gallipolis and Athens. These were the neighbors with whom he counseled. For years he was the only physician in Wilkesville, and day and night he rode over this country when it was almost a wilderness, prolonging human life and relieving suffering.
Not a few families in this region remember with affection "the old doctor," who was with them when their children were born, and when their parents died, and who was a trusted friend both in joy and in sorrow.
His wife was truly a help meet for him. She read his books and was a woman of keen observation and good judgment. If patients came and the doctor was away, they were satisfied if Mrs. Althar was at home. She could use the lancet and the forceps with steadier nerve than many a young practitioner. Although often in feeble health, she would leave her work and ride miles to the relief of the suffering. She died in 1841.
Dr. Althar was married three times. In 1843 he married the widow Strong, who lived until 1857. His last wife, formerly Mrs. Curtis, still lives. He was the father of six sons and two daughters. His oldest child is Mrs. Virginia Cline, wife of Dr. W. C. Cline. Dr. Althar died in 1862."
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Found alternative spellings of Alther - also can be Althor or Altare.
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