Outstanding Pensacola Physician and son of Composer of Jingle Bells

James Lord Pierpont composer of Jingle Bells was from New England but settled in Savannah, Georgia. He was a songwriter, similar to Stephen Foster. He wrote Jingle Bells, dreaming of a snowy Christmas of childhood, after he moved to Georgia.

Born to J. L. Pierpont and his second wife Eliza Jane Purse in Savannah, Georgia, on February 25, 1864, Juriah Harris Pierpont had early schooling in Georgia, moved to central Florida as a teenager and worked there as a rail station agent. He began medical training at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, graduating in March of 1888 at which time he began internship at the Richmond City Almshouse Hospital. Because of his mother's illness, he moved to Winter Haven and then on to Pensacola on October 25, 1888. Dr. Pierpont associated with Dr. C. R. Oglesby shortly after arriving in Pensacola.

On August 21, 1894, Dr. Pierpont and Lucy Penelope Warren were married. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Fuller Warren. Mr. Warren was a founder and president of the Warren Fish Company, which was a major supplier of red snapper and grouper to the U.S. The Pierpont's first child, Frances Tracy lived only a day. Margery became a librarian; Florence Frances (Sal) married Lt. M. M. Marple, Jr in 1928 and they had two daughters, Constance Rust and Margery Pierpont. The Pierpont's also had a son, Andrew Warren who married Glendene Stuart in 1932.

When Dr. Pierpont began his practice in Pensacola there was no organized body of doctors so, in 1888 the Pensacola Medical Society was formed with about ten members, becoming president. By 1902 he began his third term as president of the Florida Medical Association.

Dr. Pierpont was appointed to the legislative committee and served for many years, and with several thwarted attempts, managed to get an examining board established to certify doctors. In 1894, he was appointed assistant surgeon for the Pensacola division of the Louisville and Nashville Railway, a position he retained until 1935 when he was made District Surgeon.

Among the offices Dr. Pierpont held were President of the Pensacola Medical Society, the Escambia Medical Society, and the Surgical Staff of Pensacola Hospital. He was also City Physician and Health Officer for six years around the time of the 1905 yellow fever epidemic.

Dr. Pierpont had the opportunity to travel to European hospitals and developed contacts with shippers to act as their local doctor in Pensacola.

On October 1, 1940, Dr. Pierpont retired from active practice but when he submitted his resignation to the L & N Railway, he was asked to retain the title of Consulting Physician which he did. Dr. Pierpont died at age 79 on May 23, 1943. Juriah Harris Pierpont, M.D. was buried in St. John's Cemetery 2 North Section 19.