RICHARD
BANKS, Physician, was born in Elbert
County, Georgia, on October 23, 1794, son of Ralph Banks and Rachel Alston
Jones. One of thirteen children, Banks was the only
one to attend college. After attending
both the University of Georgia (one year) and the University of Pennsylvania, in 1820 he received his M.D.
degree. After practicing in Philadelphia
for one year, he returned to rural Ruckersville, Elbert Georgia and
set up a practice not too far from his home. He was so skilled and popular
that he eventually moved his practice to larger offices in Gainesville, Ga.
in 1832. Dr. Banks was employed by
the United States government to visit Cherokee indians, and vaccinated them
and performed surgery on the Indians as well. He gained national recognition for performing
skilled surgeries,like achieving almost natural-like results in correcting
cleft palate. He was the only physician
in the area who performoed paratoidectomies, cataract removal and lithotomy.
Dr. Banks was noted for his loaning money to Mark Allen Cooper to keep
the city of Etowah, in Bartow County, a going concern. Dr. Banks is listed
on the Friendship Monument built by Mark Cooper in honor of the men who helped
him overcome his financial problems. Dr.
Banks once owned a gold mine and his name appears as drawing land in the 1821
and 1832 land lotteries.
Even though he was among the most
talented physicians of his day, Dr. Banks preferred to quietly help his neighbors
and friends. Richard Banks married Martha Brown Butts (1810-1880)
on 14 Dec 1830 in Warren County, Georgia. He died in Gainesville, Ga. on May 6, 1856 and is buried in Alta
Vista Cemetery.. On December 11, 1858,
the General Assembly honored his memory by naming a county after him.