Clarence G. McPherson, M.D.
Dr. Clarence G. McPherson, Xenia physician, with offices at the corner of South Detroit and Third streets, is a native son of this county, born on a farm in Xenia township on October 28, 1880, son of John H. and Elizabeth G. (Githens) McPherson, the former of whom, a veteran of the Civil War and former auditor of Greene county, also was born in this county and is still living here.
John H. McPherson was born on July 11, 1840, son of William and Mary Ann (Rader) McPherson, the former of whom was born in the city of Xenia on February 16, 1816, son of John H. and Margaret (Hivling) McPherson. the latter of whom was born in Maryland and was the daughter of John Hivling, sheriff of Greene county during the years 1813 and 1814. The elder John H. McPherson also served the community in a public capacity, having been for some time postmaster of Xenia and for ten years, 1830-40, recorder of Greene county. Of the considerable number of children born to him and his wife, John Moses, Sophia and William grew to maturity and reared families. The latter, grandfather of Doctor McPherson, learned the trade of saddle-maker at Dayton and later returned to Xenia and engaged in that business there, continuing thus engaged until 1840, when, after his marriage, he began farming on his grandfather Hivling's old place on the Dayton hill, in the upper part of town, and was there thus occupied until his removal to a farm he had bought on the lower Bellbrook pike, four miles southwest of Xenia, in 1850. His wife, Mary Ann Rader, was a daughter of Adam and Christina (Smith) Rader. William McPherson and wife were the parents of nine children, seven of whom reached the age of maturity, those besides John H., the first-born, having been Joshua, who went to the front as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, a member of Company C, Seventy-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died at Nashville while thus engaged in service; Ann, who married E. S. Barnett, of Xenia township; Sophia, who married William Priest, of that same township; Charles, who continued the management of the home farm; Adam R., who moved to Iowa and there became a farmer, and William, who was graduated from Ohio State University and later became a professor of chemistry there.
Reared on the home farm, John H. McPherson was residing there when the Civil War broke out. He presently enlisted his services in behalf of the Union cause and went to the front, serving for three years and two months, or until honorably discharged at Savannah, Georgia, in 1865. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. McPherson returned to the home farm and after his marriage established his home there, continuing there engaged in farming until 1884, when he became engaged in the hardware business at Xenia, a member of the firm of Williams & McPherson, and was thus engaged when he was elected to the office of county auditor. He is still living at Xenia and is now serving as justice of the peace.
Clarence G. McPherson was but four years of age when his father, John H. McPherson, moved to Xenia and he received his early schooling in that city, in due time being graduated from the high school. He then entered Ohio State University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1904, and then entered Starling Medical College at Columbus, from which he was graduated in 1908. For a year after receiving his diploma Doctor McPherson served as an interne in the Protestant Hospital at Columbus and then as an interne for two months in the State Hospital in that city, after which he returned to Xenia and opened an office for the practice of his profession in his home town and has there been thus engaged since then. Doctor McPherson is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, of the Ohio State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association. While attending the university he was a member of Delta Upsilon and Alpha Ivappa Kappa fraternities.
On October 14, 1909, Dr. Clarence G. McPherson was united in marriage to Margaret Bates, who was born in Nelsonville, this state, daughter of Louis A. and Electa C. Bates, the latter of whom is still living. Mrs. McPherson was formerly a professional nurse and was thus engaged at Columbus at the time she met Doctor McPherson. The Doctor and Mrs. McPherson are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church at Xenia and the Doctor is a member of the Sons of Veterans, the Masons, the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918