John Gainey Sloan

John Gainey Sloan was born in the Cardsville community of Itawamba County on September 23, 1881. He was the son of Jackson Samuel Sloan and Melissa Carolina Potts.

Uncle Gainey was a country veterinarian. Although he received no formal training, he studied medicine under his brother, Alfred, who was a medical doctor educated at Vanderbilt. Gainey was known throughout southern Itawamba County as someone to call on when your farm animals or pets needed medical care. And sometimes, when a doctor was not available, Gainey was asked to provide care for people too. On at least occasion, he was called upon to deliver a baby.

On April 11, 1909 Gainey Sloan married Dora Belle Ridings, the daughter of W. W. and Martha Ridings, and they had eight children: Martha, Edgar Acqulis, Johnnie, Una, Shirley or "Squire", Grace, Dorothy and Afton.

Uncle Gainey died October 20, 1950 at his home in Peaceful Valley.

1910 Census
Itawamba County, Mississippi
Cardsville precinct
John G. Sloan 29 MS AL MS farmer, married 1 year
Dorah B. 28 MS MS MS

1920 Census
Monroe County, Mississippi
Boyds Precinct, Pleasant Grove Road
Gainey J. Sloan 40 MS MS MS farmer
Dora 28 MS MS MS
Marthey 8 MS
Aquila 7 MS son
Johnnie 5 MS son
Una 3 MS daughter
Shirley 3 mo MS daughter (should be son)

1930 Census
Itawamba County, Mississippi
Beat 3
Fulton-Barrs Ferry Road
living next to his parents
John G. Sloan 49 AL AL MS farmer, rents, married at age 27
Dora B. 43 MS MS MS
Martha C. 18 MS
Edgar A. 17 MS
Johnnie R. 15 MS son
Una I. 12 MS daughter
Shirley 10 MS
Helen G. 8 MS
Dorothy J. 5 MS
Afton I. 3 MS daughter

A big note of thanks goes out to my Sloan cousins who shared this photo and many others at the recent Sloan reunion as well as to Cousin Rita who retouched the photograph.