Biographical Sketch of Dr. Joseph Dick Wingfield
August 30, 1865 – January 12, 1930
Joseph Dick Wingfield was born into the farming family of Samuel Hopson and Sarah Mobley Wingfield of near Antoine, Pike County, Arkansas on August 30, 1865. Preceding him were brothers William Cryer and Benjamin Franklin and sisters Sarah Ella and Cordelia A. Wingfield. “As a child he attended the public schools in Pike County, and later he attended the normal and institutions of higher learning that were available at that time. He then taught school in Pike and several adjoining counties.”1 “He attended the leading medical school at Louisville, Kentucky during the years 1889, 1893, and 1895. He was admitted to practice medicine in Pike county during the year 1889.”2 The 1906 American Medical Directory lists him as attending the Louisville Medical College but does not provide a graduation date, stating that he was licensed in 1903. In the 1900 U. S. Census his home is in South Fork, Montgomery county where his occupation is listed as a doctor.
Dr.Wingfield’s first wife was Mary Alice Watkins, their marriage taking place in Montgomery county on January 20, 1892. They had two children, Samuel Jodie and Clara Allie. Mary Alice died shortly after the birth of Clara. Dr. Wingfield married Clara Josephine Whittington on November 1, 1894. Into this family another nine children were born.
“For forty one years Dr. Wingfield was engaged in the practice of medicine. His well known ability as a physician was known by everybody , and his services were rendered to many during his lifetime here.3 Dr. Wingfields granddaughter says there are many stories of his sons driving him in the buggy for house calls , while he slept in the buggy, being out all night. “It stands to his credit that during the forty-one years of his practice of medicine, he never turned down a call where he knew that the party who needed his services were not financially able to pay for the same. The poor and needy received his services, although they were unable to pay for same, and in his profession as a physician, the wealthy and poor stood alike. He often stated that he did not practice medicine for money gain that might be had by the active practice of this profession but that he did so because the people were in need of his services. The charges he made and collected for his services were not sufficient to maintain and educate his large family of boys and girls and for this reason, he was also actively engaged in having his farms cultivated and in having lands improved, and rented or sold, and in buying and selling real estate.”2
Dr. Joseph Dick Wingfield passed away at his home in Washita on Sunday morning, January 12, 1930. At his side were all his family and numbers of friends.
1 Montgomery County Our Heritage, 1986, Vol. 1, p. 259
2 “Masons Honor Late Dr. Wingfield” newspaper article furnished by
Ellen Wingfield Elder, granddaughter of Dr. Wingfield
3 “Dr. J. D. Wingfield” obituary furnished by Ellen Wingfield Elder,
granddaughter of Dr. Wingfield
John T. Mitchell, BBA
April 18, 2020