Charles Arnould Hentz
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Charles Arnould Hentz | |
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| Born | May 27, 1827 Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States |
| Died | June 30, 1894 (aged 67) Quincy, Gadsden County, Florida, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States |
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Charles Arnould Hentz was an American physician, diarist, and citrus farmer. Known for his detailed diaries and autobiography, Hentz documented his experiences as a rural doctor, his observations of 19th-century Southern life, and his involvement in the American Civil War. His writings provide significant insights into the medical practices, social structures, and racial dynamics of his time.[1] A member of the prominent Hentz family, Charles was the son of Caroline Lee Hentz, a noted Southern writer, and Nicholas Marcellus Hentz, an entomologist.
Early life and education
Charles Arnould Hentz was born on May 27, 1827, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He grew up in an intellectual family influenced by his mother's literary achievements and his father's scientific pursuits. He studied medicine, graduating with a doctorate from the University of Louisville in 1848. His early medical training included assisting physicians and performing autopsies, which he described in vivid detail in his diaries.[2]
Career
Medical practice
Hentz began his medical career in Port Jackson, Florida, in 1848, serving rural communities, including enslaved and free Black people, and "piney woodsmen." His medical cases ranged from obstetrical care to surgeries, such as a notable trephining operation to treat a skull fracture.
During the Civil War, Hentz worked at a military hospital in Quincy, Florida, treating Confederate soldiers. His accounts from this period include descriptions of medical challenges and the impact of the war on local communities.[1]
Citrus farming
After the war, Hentz attempted to transition from medicine to citrus farming. In 1881, he moved his family to Brevard County, Florida, near the Indian River, where he established a citrus plantation. Despite challenges, including health issues and economic difficulties, this endeavor marked a significant chapter in his life.[1]
Personal life
Hentz married Mary Elizabeth ("Bettie") Gilliam Booth in 1854, and they had five children:
- Sallie Lee Hentz (1855–1888)
- William Booth Hentz (b. 1860), who later became a noted luthier
- Julia Keyes Hentz Dumbar (b. 1862)
- Rebecca ("Bexie") Hentz (b. 1865)
- Charles Arnould Hentz Jr. (b. 1870)
After Bettie's death in 1871, Hentz married Cornelia Fitzgerald Munroe in 1873. The family eventually returned to Quincy, Florida, where Charles resumed his medical practice until his death in 1894.[3]
Legacy
Hentz's diaries and autobiography, preserved in the Hentz Family Papers, and published in the volume A Southern Practice: The Diary and Autobiography of Charles A. Hentz, M.D.[2], are rich historical records. They capture his professional and personal life, detailing Southern life before and after the Civil War. His writings also include reflections on racial relations, including his observations on enslaved and free Black people, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Hentz Family Papers, 1782-1932". finding-aids.lib.unc.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hentz, Charles Arnould (2000). A Southern Practice: The Diary and Autobiography of Charles A. Hentz, M.D. University of Virginia Press. ISBN 978-0-8139-1881-5.
- ↑ "FamilySearch.org". ancestors.familysearch.org. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
External links
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