Doctor Catherine Ann Dobson was born February 2, 1812 in Haywood County, North Carolina and Died March 3rd, 1865 in Homer (Angelina County) Texas.

She was the daughter of John Dobson Jr. and Nancy "Anna" Parks. Her Paternal Grandfather was Captain John Dobson Sr., who died in the Revolutionary War battle of Ramsour's Mill in North Carolina Her Paternal Grandmother was Catherine Killian.   Her maternal Grandfather was Captain Benjamin Parks (Revolutionary War). Her maternal Grandmother was Elizabeth Branch.

Catherine's ancestors, through Elizabeth Branch can be traced back to William the Conqueror. This same ancestral avenue shows that she is a fourth cousin to President Thomas Jefferson.

Her great grandfather was Doctor Joseph Dobson, a Revolutionary War surgeon.  The influence of careers in medicine has been passed on through her Grandfather and herself to many of her descendants and continues down to our own generation..

On her 18th birthday, Catherine married Attorney James Washington Guinn.

They had a total of Ten children, one dying in infancy.

She moved with her husband to Randolph County, Alabama where she practiced medicine. One of the few woman Doctors in the Rural South.

Catherine, her husband and family moved to Cherokee County, Texas and later to Angelina County. Her husband, James Washington Guinn, was elected to the Texas State Senate.

In 1865 while delivering a slave's baby, she was poisoned by one of them. Abolutionists, prior to the Civil War had given the slaves poison and arms with instructions to poison their masters. This was intended to keep Texas from becoming a Slave State. This was no longer a current cause as it was just a month before the war ended.

The picture of the Gold Spanish Hair comb came into Catherine's possesion. Exactly how, is not known. Family tradition says that it was given to her by an Indian as payment for her medical services.