For Cheryl and my other Posey cousins: (Note: the original article is 3 pages long and has sources listed..) from the Savannah Morning News, Sunday, January 24, 1937 "The Life and Work of Dr. John Frederick Posey" by Victor H. Bassett, MD, librarian,Georgia Medical Society Dr. John Frederick Posey, a physician of Savannah, GA., was, at the time of his death in 1860, the oldest practitioner of medicine in the city, having served the community for over forty years. For the last seven years of his life he was president of the Georgia Medical Society, and much beloved and highly honored by the citizens of Savannah. Dr. Posey, while not having the advantages of long-continued instruction in institutions of learning, was a well-informed man, of wide intellectual interests, and also took a large part in progressive civic activities. Dr. Posey was born in the Carolinas, and moved to Savannah when he was about 20 years of age and before he had received his professional training. In Jones' History of Savannah, it is stated that he was born in North Carolina. His death notice and family traditions state that he was born in the Abbeville district of South Carolina. Additional information on the subject is much desired. The family was probably originally from Virginia, since patriots of that name were active during Revolutionary times. Posey's Infantry was sent to Georgia to resist the British invasion. It is probable that the Posey family, following the example of many others, migrated from Virginia to North Carolina, thence to South Carolina and Georgia. We do not know the exact year and day of Dr. Posey's birth. His death notice states that he was 67 years old at the time of his death, January 15, 1860. Since his age is given only in round numbers of years, his birth might have occurred in either 1792 or 1793. Probably the former date is correct. Another record states that he was 67 years, 10 months and 21 days at this death. This would indicate that he was born on or about February 24, 1792. In the family records it is stated that Dr. Posey settled in Savannah when he was about 20 years of age, or about 1812. The first record of his activities in Savannah was his joining the volunteers who were offering to protect the city and state in the beginning of the War with England.in 1812. Young John Frederick Posey, being patriotically inclined, offered his services to protect the community in which he had recently setrtled. It is probable young Posey did not see active service, since the necessity did not arise locally as anticipated. Later in life, after he received his professional education and after many years of practice, Dr. Posey again offered his services to his country and served as surgeon aboard a naval vessel, a privateer outfitted to prey upon commerce during the Mexican War. Many Savannah physicians...undertook to teach medical students, and it is probable that Dr. Posey studied with some one of the practitioners prior to 1820. At the end of his course of study, he doubtless received a certificate, signed by his preceptor, stating he had spent the required time, from two to five years, in preparation for practice. It is probable that Dr. Posey did not have the degree of M.D.. The schools of medicine later established at Charleston and Augusta, were not yet available. In common with the custom of the times, physicians practicing with the certificates of their preceptors were addressed as doctor. Dr. Posey's medical work began in 1819-20, according to the records of the City Health Department, his first fatal cases being recorded on September 13 and December 4, 1820, both deaths due to yellow fever. Dr. Posey was interested in scientific inquiry and it was customary for physicians to give attention to meteorological investigations, since such conditions were then considered to have important relationships to the development and spread of epidemic diseases. For many years Dr. Posey made records of temperature, rainfall, etc. and forwarded his reports to the Smithsonian Institution, of which he was a valued correspondent. Dr. Posey also assisted Dr. John LeConte, then residing in Savannah, in investigations on the nervous system of the alligator. This important work on animal physiology resulted in new discoveries, reported to the Georgia Medical Society and published in the Southern Medical and Surgical Journal. Dr. Posey took a great interest in medical organization and assisted in the formation of the Medical Association of Georgia and of the American Medical Association. He served on important committees of both these societies... For ten years during the period from 1838 to 1859, he served as alderman of the City of Savannah. It has long been a custom for physicians to serve as city officers. For many years Dr. Posey served on the staff of the Savannah Hospital and Poor House and also took an interest in the work of the Union Society in maintaining the orphanage at Bethesda. In 1838 Dr. Posey married Miss Mary Susanna Haupt (1802-1852) of Savannah, the daughter of John Haupt and Rebecca Livingston Lavinder, a sister of Dr. Mary Lavinder (1778-1845) of Savannah, a skilled midwife in early times. Dr. Posey had two daughters, but left no other descendants since both daughters died unmarried. (Jane Haupt Posey and Isabelle Harrison Posey) Dr. Posey died January 15, 1860, attended in his last illness by Dr. James Bond Read, the younger, The cause of death was noted as debility. He was buried in Laurel Grove cemetery, lot 1159. The community is fortunate in possessing a good portrait of Dr. Posey, now in possession of the Georgia Medical Society and placed in the hall of the Society. This portrait, by E. E. Hull?, was presented to the society by Mrs. Georgia Furgeson Seyle and Mr. and Mr. S. Branch LaFar of Savannah. Mrs. Seyle and Mr. LaFar are descendants of John Haupt.