History of the Department of Surgery at Baylor University Medical Center

Abstract

Dallas, Texas, was founded in 1841 by John Neely Bryan on the east bank of the Trinity River (1). In 1842 he married Margaret Bryan (Figure ​(Figure11). He was 33 years old and she was 18. Mr. Bryan had earlier been in Arkansas and wandered into Texas as early as 1839. It was not until 1844 that a surveyor laid out lots of one-half mile by one-half mile. He advertised the town but after 7 years had sold only 86 lots. Mr. Bryan left for the California gold fields in 1849. He returned to Dallas in 1851 and in 1852 sold his townsite real estate to Alexander Cockrell for $7000 (2). During his lifetime he sold most of his land at relatively cheap prices and thus did not profit from his real estate. Figure 1 John Neely Bryan, founder of the city of Dallas, with wife, Margaret. From the collections of the Texas/Dal las History and Archives Division, Dallas Public Library. In 1842, Dr. Calder became the area's first physician. He settled at Cedar Springs and was killed by Indians the following year in Collin County. In May 1843, Dr. John Cole, originally from Virginia, moved to Dallas from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Cole Avenue, the street where he practiced, was named for him in 1882 following his death in 1850. Early physicians often had other jobs, mostly as farmers, as Dr. Cole had been. There was no surgical specialty since all physicians were known as physicians and surgeons. There were no hospitals, and physicians might ride a horse several miles to get to their patients. The Republic of Texas had already passed a law creating a Board of Medical Censors on December 14, 1837. The board met annually to evaluate credentials and reputations of physicians (3). Four years after Dallas was founded, Texas became the 28th state under the governorship of Sam Houston. The following year, 1846, Dallas was named temporary seat of Dallas County, which was named for Vice President George Mifflin Dallas. The city was not officially incorporated until 1856.