Dr. John Broughton is one of the oldest and most popular physicians of
Butler County.

His paternal ancestors were English people and members of the family
came from the old country in the time of the colonies and settled in
South Carolina, in which state the doctor's grand-father, John
Broughton, was born and raised. John Broughton served in the
continental army during the war of the Revolution and after the close
of that struggle emigrated to Georgia, settling in Green county about
two miles from the city of Greensboro.

Edward Broughton, the doctor's father, was born in Green county, Ga.,
in the year 1802. He was a planter in early life, but later became
interested in the internal improvement of the south and was one of the
promoters and contractors of several of the earliest railroads of
Georgia and Alabama, in the construction of which he amassed a large
fortune. In partnership with several of his sons, including the
doctor, he built that part of the L&N. railroad extending from Fort
Deposit to Flowers Mill, in 1855-56, and his connection with this and
other lines brought him into prominence in Alabama and other states of
the south. He was especially noted for his superior qualifications as
a financier, and during his business life succeeded in accumulating a
fortune variously estimated from $500,000 to $800,000.

He married, about the year 1828 or 1829, to Sarah Lackey, daughter of
Thomas Lackey, of Greensboro, Ga. Thomas Lackey was a native of South
Carolina, born of Irish parentage, and became a resident of Georgia in
1831, settling in Harris county about twelve miles from the town of
Columbus. In 1836 he made a business trip to northern Alabama, and on
his return was killed by an Indian war party not far from where the
town of Opelika now stands.

Edward and Sarah Broughton were the parents of three sons and seven
daughters, namely: John L.Broughton, Edwin Broughton, a Confederate
soldier, killed before Richmond in 1862; Mary Broughton, widow of
H.P.T. Montgomery; Fannie Broughton, deceased wife of John B. Long;
Mittie Broughton, wife of Coleman B. Ferrels; Georgia Broughton, wife
of Thomas H. Hayes, L. P. Broughton, first lieutenant in the
Confederate service, killed in second battle of the Wilderness;
Quinnie Broughton, wife of William Martin; Mattie Broughton, wife of
Matthew Whitfield, and Sarah Broughton, who died in girlhood. The
father and mother of these children died in 1878 and 1880
respectively.

Dr. Broughton was born in LaGrange, Ga., April 25, 1830. His early
educational training in the common schools was supplemented by a
course in the university of Georgia, where he graduated in 1849, after
which he began the study of medicine at LaGrange with Dr. R.A. Ridley,
under whose able instructions he continued two years and then became a
student of the Medical college of South Carolina, at Charleston. His
professional knowledge was further increased by attendance at the
university of Pennsylvania, where he completed the prescribed course
in 1853 and after receiving his degree he returned home and entered
upon the active practice the same year, but in 1854 located in
Greenville. Ala. 

The doctor moved to the latter place in the two-fold
capacity of physician and contractor, being connected at that time
with his father and brothers in the constmction of the M. & M.
railroad, which he built from Montgomery, Ala., to Pensacola, Fla.,
completing that part of the line in April, 1861. Since that year he
has been in the active practice of his profession at Greenville, and
his success as a physician is second to that of no other medical man
in Butler county, or in the southern part of the state.

During the late war Dr. Broughton served as surgeon, with headquarters
first at Columbus, Miss., and later was connected with the Chimborazo
hospital, Richmond, Va., where he was engaged until after the
surrender. In addition to the practice of his profession the doctor
has given considerable attention to agriculture, and is now the
possessor of four fme plantations, one containing 580 acres, nine
miles from Greenville, another of 600 acres, six miles north of the
town, a third containing 200 acres, twelve miles, north, and the
fourth, of 210 acres, lying three miles in the same direction.

Dr. Broughton's professional reputation is of the highest order of
excellence. Of strong character, healthful presence and sympathetic
heart, he always calms the sick room, and his conscientious fidelity
to duty has won for him the love and confidence of all with whom he
comes in contact, either socially or in his capacity as medical
adviser. He possesses many of the elements of popularity, and his
deportment is characteristic of the cultured southern gentleman. 

The doctor was married in 1864 at LaGrange, Ga., to Sarah Ashford,
daughter of Thomas Ashford. Mrs. Broughton bore her husband four
children, and departed this life in 1878. The following are the names
of the children: Mary Broughton, deceased at the age of four years;
Mary, wife of H.G. Wilkinson; Edward Brougthon, a medical student at
Tulane university, New Orleans, and ThomasA. Broughton, who is now
pursuing the study of medicine under the instruction of his father.
Dr. Broughton is a member of the F.& A.M., and belongs to the Baptist
church, of which his wife was also a communicant.