Vern's Travels Thru Time and Other Places 

Doctor James McGarry, Surgeon  1st NYV Engineers

From Ron McGarry Dr McGarry taken by George T Lape from Jeff Lape.

Note from Dr Ron McGarry about his ancestor Dr James McGarry.

Thanks for you quick reply. Attached is a scan of a copy of a photo of James McGarry. The original is a small tintype, but the detail on the copy is very good. James was a Canadian born in Niagara Falls, Upper Canada (now Ontario) in 1835. He did his medical training at McGill University in Montreal, graduating in 1858. He mustered into the Union army at Albany in December 1862 as Assistant Surgeon and was promoted to Surgeon in early 1865 upon the death of Dr. A. Snow. After the war, he returned to Niagara Falls, where he continued family practice until his death in 1905. He brought his horse home from the war, said to be a large black horse with a white star on the forehead. He apparently loved the horse and when he had finished his house calls for the day, he would sleep in the back of the buggy while his horse took him home. There have been four generation of doctors in my family so far, starting with James and my son is waiting to see if he will be accepted into medical school (his own choice, I don't think I pressured him). Most people in the United States don't realize that up to 50,000 Canadians served on both sides in the civil war. James was not married before he went to war, so unfortunately we don't have any letters or such to document his experiences. I know of a least one other photo of him recently sold on EBay and identified by us. I also know that there is a photo in existence of James McGarry and US Grant, signed by both and likely taken by Brady. It was sold by an antique dealer in Niagara Falls in the late 70's so if I can ever find it, I would dearly like a copy. If I can do anything else for you, let me know. I hope this scan sends OK.

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