Dr. Noah Elliott, African American Pioneer Physician

Abstract

<p>This presentation highlights some of the fascinating aspects that the author has been able to unearth about the life of Dr. Noah Elliott, the first African American physician to practice in Athens County. Not much about Dr. Elliott's early life is known, other than that he was born a slave in Kentucky. He is listed in the 1860 census in Gallipolis, Ohio, with an occupation of physician. During the War of Rebellion (1861-65) he served as a hospital steward in the 26th United States Colored Infantry. After the war, he practiced in several locations including in the western Athens County community of Albany and in the City of Athens. He then moved to Columbus where he continued to practice until a few weeks before his death at age 92. His home in Athens, which still stands, was the site of the wedding of Booker T. Washington and Olivia Davidson, Dr. Elliott's sister-in-law.</p> <p>The PowerPoint presentation was presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Ohio Academy of Medical History held on April, 14 at the Granville Inn in Granville, Ohio.</p>