1892 Biography - A. Gayden

A. Gayden, M. D., superintendent and chief physician of the State Insane asylum, of Jackson, La., and a native of this parish, was born and reared on the home place of his parents. [See sketch of I. G. Gayden.] He was primarily educated in the common schools, afterward at Centenary college, and finally took a medical course at Tulane university, of New Orleans, where he graduated in 1877. He was an earnest student, and at the time of his graduation was the valedictorian of his class. His people were in straitened circumstances after the war and he was energetic enough to make his own way through school. He then spent two years in the New Orleans Charity hospital as a resident student practitioner, when he returned to his native parish of East Feliciana and has since made his home here. He located near Wilson. In 1892 he was appointed to his present place in the asylum, after serving a term of three years, as first assistant superintendent. By his own efforts he has made himself one of the leading physicians of the parish. He has studied hard to get to the front rank in his profession, and richly deserves the place which he now holds. His first wife, Miss Mary Octavia Perkins, was a daughter of Dr. L. G. Perkins. She was educated at Silliman Collegiate institute, from which she was graduated with a high rank in her class. She was a lady of much culture and fine attainments, and at the time of her death was a member of the Baptist church. She left one son, who died shortly after her death. Dr. Gayden then married Miss Kate N. Perkins, a sister of his former wife, who is also a graduate of Silliman. She has much musical ability and makes a specialty of the guitar. To this union have been born two children; Mary Octavia and Lewis Perkins. Mrs. Gayden is a member of the Baptist church and her husband is a member of the Presbyterian church. The Doctor is a member of the Parish Medical association, of which he has several times been the president. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor, and in his political affiliations is a democrat, though taking no special part in politics, other than to express his right of suffrage. He is held in high respect in the parish and he and his estimable wife are well thought of in the social circles of the place.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana, published in 1892, volume 1, page 441.