Faison, John Miller

17 Apr. 1862–21 Apr. 1915

John Miller Faison, physician and congressman, was born on a plantation near Faison, the son of Henry W. and Martha Hicks Faison, the paternal grandson of Isham and Sallie Thomson Faison, and the maternal grandson of Dr. James H. and Sara Elizabeth Miller Hicks. He was educated in private schools and at Davidson College where he was graduated with a B.S. degree in 1883. He then attended the Medical College of the University of Virginia and did his internship at the Polyclinic Hospital in New York, receiving his M.D. degree in 1885.

In 1887 Faison married his cousin, Eliza Faison DeVane, a daughter of Colonel William S. (C.S.A.) and Laura Murphy DeVane. They had seven children: Louise Murphy, who died young; Laura Murphy, Henry W., and William DeVane, veterinarian, who all died unmarried; Isham Rowland, who married Louise Oates; John M., who married Esther Ramsdell; and Martha Hicks, who taught school for a number of years.

Dr. Faison built a house in Faison and had a large medical practice in the community. He was a member of the board of directors of the State Hospital in Goldsboro. For several years he was editor and publisher of a local newspaper, the Faison Journal.

In politics, he was a Democrat and gained a reputation as a public speaker and debater. He was active in the Red Shirt Campaign of 1898, and advocated the prohibition of alcoholic beverages. In 1910 he was elected to the United States Congress from the Third District of North Carolina and served from 4 Mar. 1911 to 3 Mar. 1915. In the House he worked hard for the Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act of 1913 and for the Glass-Owen Federal Reserve Act; he also supported the Clayton Antitrust Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Faison was a lifelong member of the Faison Presbyterian Church. He was buried in the Faison Cemetery in Faison.