Ohio History Journal

DR. WILLIAM A. GALLOWAY

Dr. William A. Galloway, a life member of the Ar-

chaeological and Historical Society, a scholarly gentle-

man long interested in the local history of his section of

the State, a public-spirited citizen and prominent physi-

cian, died at his home in Xenia early in the afternoon of

November 7, 1931. He had been ill for almost a year as a

result of ptomaine poisoning which left him with a weak-

ened heart. He seemed to rally from the attack in the

early autumn. This buoyed the hopes of his friends for

a time, but later a sudden change for the worse took

place, followed by a relapse from which he did not re-

cover.

For some years past, Dr. Galloway was engaged in

writing the Pioneer History of Greene County and

Southern Ohio. His great-grandfather, James Gallo-

way, Sr., came to Ohio from Bourbon County, Ken-

tucky, and settled about six miles north of Xenia in 1791.

He established friendly relations with the Indians and

was acquainted with the great Shawnee Chieftain Te-

cumseh. Shortly before his death Dr. Galloway con-

cluded his history which later will be published. It will

include much in regard to the Shawnee Indians not pre-

viously published. In his research for this work he con-

sulted many original manuscript records and traveled

far to glean authentic materials. He made a journey to

Oklahoma to visit Thomas Wildcat Alford, the great-

grandson of Tecumseh, and was there inducted into the

Shawnee tribe by ceremonies similar to those accorded

(104)

106       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

to his great-grandfather, when the Shawnees were

numerous in the Scioto Valley. Mr. Alford made a re-

turn visit to Dr. Galloway and aided him in concluding

his chapters of Indian history. It was a great satisfac-

tion to the Doctor to know that the manuscript of the

work had been completed before he was called from his

earthly labors.

The funeral of Dr. Galloway, which was conducted

from the Presbyterian Church of which he was a mem-

ber, at two o'clock, November 10, was largely attended,

Among his honorary pall-bearers were H. C. Shetrone,

Director of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

Society and C. B. Galbreath, its Secretary. There were

many manifestations of the high regard in which the de-

ceased was held. Extended obituaries appeared in the

Xenia and Dayton papers. From these and other sources

we glean materials for the following sketch:

Dr. William Galloway was born in Xenia April 8, 1860. He

was the son of James and Mary Ann (Kendall) Galloway. He

was educated at Antioch College and Ohio Medical College in

Columbus, graduating from the latter in 1890. He practiced

medicine in Xenia with his brother Dr. Clark Galloway, until the

latter's death in 1913. Since then he carried on a private prac-

tice.

For years he had taken an active interest in the general affairs

of his home community and was one of the most widely known

citizens in the County. When the draft board was created in

Greene County in the spring of 1917 in connection with World

War activities, he was appointed one of the three members and

made chairman of the Medical section. He was placed at the

head of the military supplies department of the Greene County

chapter of the American Red Cross.

For twenty years Dr. Galloway was one of the most active

and influential friends of Wilberforce University and as President

of the Board of Trustees of the combined Normal and Industrial

department of that institution, rendered a service to the Univer-

sity that will remain as a testimonial to his skill as an organizer

Dr. William A. Galloway               107

and director. An appreciation of his services in this connection

was the naming of Galloway Hall, the largest building on the

campus, in his honor. On the day of his funeral Wilberforce

University suspended all work for five minutes as a final tribute

to his memory. A request had been made that his body be per-

mitted to lie in state in Galloway Hall but previous arrangements

prevented compliance with this request. Tribute was paid to him

by the University and a small wreath sent to his funeral.

The Doctor was a member of the Greene County Medical

Society, the Ohio State Medical Society, the Mississippi Valley

Medical Association, and a frequent contributor to medical jour-

nals. He was railway surgeon in Xenia for many years for both

the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio systems.

He was a Mason and a member of the Ohio Society of the

Sons of the Revolution, long corresponding secretary of the local

chapter of the latter organization. In 1910, he made an extended

tour of Europe in which he attended the performance of the Pas-

sion Play at Oberammergau. In 1908 the degree of Master of

Arts was conferred on him by Antioch College and the same

year the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred by Wilberforce

University, both degrees in recognition of his educational services.

Dr. Galloway was president of the Greene County Historical

Society and a noted local historian. He was a life member of the

Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society and made val-

uable contributions to its Museum, including the famous toma-

hawk which had been presented to his great-great-aunt by Te-

cumseh. In his later years he was much interested in the rem-

nant of the Shawnee tribe now residing in Oklahoma. He pub-

lished in the Shawnee language the four Gospels that had been

translated into that tongue by the great-grandson of Tecumseh,

the scholarly Thomas Wildcat Alford of Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Dr. Galloway was married April 2, 1891, at Newark, Ohio,

to Maude Evelyn Lyon, only daughter of William C. and Evelyn

Lyon, the former a lieutenant-governor of Ohio from 1888-1890.

He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Alice Eavey; a son Lyon at

home, and a daughter Mrs. Stewart Macaulay of Baltimore,

Maryland; two grandchildren, Evelyn Alice and Ross Macaulay,

also survive. His wife died in 1924 and another daughter passed

away in 1920.