USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 17
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In March, 189S, after a favorable vote held for the purpose, the city municipal court of Litchfield was duly organized, with Col. Amos Oller as judge, and Hugh Hall as clerk. Judge Oller held the judgeship for four years, and in 1902, was superseded by Judge Paul McWilliams, who held the office for twelve years. In 1914, Daniel W. Maddox was elected city judge to succeed Judge McWilliams, who did not desire re-election. Mr. Hall continued as clerk of the court for eight years, being superseded in 1906 by Mrs. Louretta Salzman, who is still holding down the office. The court has never had a large amount of legal business to adjudicate, but seems to give satisfaction to the citizens of Litchfield. The sheriff has charge of the court the same as the circuit court in the county seat. The court holds its grand jury sessions, the same as the circuit court, and the jurors are selected in the same manner. Those who
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have filled the positions of judge and clerk of this court have given a critical public entire satisfaction.
FORMER MEMBERS MONTGOMERY COUNTY BAR.
From the very beginning of its history, Mont- gomery County has had its distingushed mem- bers of the legal profession, and among those whose names have come down to the present gen- eration, as good examples of high standard in legal knowledge, and adherence to the ethics of this calling, and who have retired, died, or removed, may be mentioned the following :
Robert W. Davis, died ; James M. Davis, died; Elizur Southworth, retired; George W. Paisley, retired; Robert McWilliams, died ; Edward Lane, died; George L. Zuik, died; Jesse J. Phillips, died ; James M. Truitt, died ; George Pepperdine, removed; George M. Stevens, removed; Thomas Rutledge, died; W. T. Coale, died; William D. Shirley, died ; Amos Oller, died ; M. M. Creighton, died; W. H. Howett, died; Emilo Ferrio, re- moved ; Ben McWilliams, removed; C. K. Sher- man, removed; H. H. Willoughby, removed ; Wm. Todd, died; E. A. Cress, removed; Geo. R. Cooper, died; T. A. Gasaway, removed ; Harry Phillips, removed; P. A. Wilhite, died ; D. H. Zepp, died ; Ben. E. Johnson, died; A. N. Kingsbury, died; Robert Christian, died; Wick- liff Kitchell, died ; John. W. Kitchell, removed; E. Y. Rice, died : Mr. Hearford, removed; Mr. Dougherty, removed; Geo. W. Scott, removed. There were others whom we do not readily call to mind.
FIRST LAWYER.
It may be interesting to know that the first lawyer to settle permanently in Montgomery County was Joseph Fisk, who located in Hills- boro in quite an early day, and boarded at the Blockburger Tavern, the old brick house where Warren Neff now lives. He was elected a justice of the peace, and also was honored with a term in the State Legislature, thus setting the ex- ample to the succeeding members of the bar to try to break into the Legislature about as soon as they get their legal diploma, a precident which has been pretty closely followed to this day.
Judge Hiram Rountree did not receive his right to plead at the bar till 1840. and when he died in 1873, he was the senior member of
the Montgomery County Bar. The first case ever set for trial in the county was that of Barnabus Mitchell against Jesse Johnson, and the case was dismissed at plaintiff's cost. The second case called was John Meisenheimer versus Phillip Row, for assault and battery, and this, like the case above, was continued, thus set- ting another precedent of court practice.
The first case really tried was that of William C. Robinson versus Gordon B. Crandall. The case was a jury trial and lasted three hours, not three days or more as is generally the cus- tom now. It may be consoling to our present clerks of court to know that the fees of Judge Rountree for the first eighteen months of clerk- ing for the circuit court of Montgomery County, came to exactly eighteen dollars, or twelve dol- lars a month.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY BAR AT PRESENT.
The present members of the Montgomery County bar are as follows: William Abbot, Hillsboro; James Atterbury, Litchfield; C. W. Bliss, Hillsboro; Joseph M. Baker, Hillsboro; J. T. Bullington, Hillsboro; McLin J. Brown, Hillsboro; John L. Dryer, Hillsboro ; L. V. Hill, Hillsboro; Thos. M. Jett, Hillsboro; H. L. Jack- son, Litchfield ; Ed. Kaburick, Hillsboro; S. W. Kessinger, Litchfield; D. R. Kinder, Litchfield ; Guy C. Lane, Hillsboro; Robert Ludewick, Witt ; M. J. McMurray, Hillsboro; Russell McDavid, Hillsboro; J. K. McDavid, Hillsboro; J. T. Mc- David, Hillsboro; Amos Miller, Hillsboro; Paul McWilliams, Litchfield; Rice Miller, Hillsboro; J. Earl Major, Hillsboro; Dan Maddox, Litch- field ; H. C. Miller, Nokomis; Geo. P. O'Brien, Litchfield; Zeno J. Rivers, Litchfield; Frank Ramey, Hillsboro; J. H. Ragsdale, Hillsboro; Harry Stuttle, Litchfield; H. S. Sawyer, Hills- boro; Win. G. Webster, Nokomis; Jefferson D. Wilson, Nokomis.
THE LITCHFIELD BAR.
As the editor is not well informed as to the early attorneys of Litchfield, we are permitted to use the following article written by Hon. S. W. Kessinger of the Litchfield bar.
"Why, I know not, but I have never seen any- thing in print about the lawyers, past and pres- ent, of Litchfield.
"Thos. Marron seems to have been the first disciple of Blackstone to flaunt his shingle to
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the pioneer breezes. I have been unable to learn from whence he came, how long lie remained, and whither he departed. Ile must have been here for several years, however, as Hon. E. Southworth, who came here in 1859, remembers him quite well.
"In 1858 B. M. Munn came, and lingered here until the Civil War broke out when he organized a company and went to the front. He after- wards located at Cairo. Major McWillianis came from Hillsboro in 1865 at the close of the war, and the following year brought George L. Zink, a native of Steubenville, Ohio. George P. Fowler came about the same time, and remained until his death. A cold marble slab in Elm- wood cemetery will give further information. 1869 brought George Talley, who practiced here for a while, and then returned to his old home in Delaware. R. M. Lay came next and prac- ticed until his death a few brief years later, as a partner of Major McWilliams.
"In the late Seventies, probably 1879, Louis Allen came here from Carlyle. He served from 1884 to 1888 as States Attorney, and was elected to the office of County Judge in 1890 and served until his death the following summer. In the early Eighties, James H. Atterbury was grad- uated from the law department of the University of Michigan and began the active practice as a member of the firm of Southworth & Atterbury. He is still in harness.
"George W. Jones came in the middle Seven- ties and, from 1878 to 1881, served as city clerk, paying little, if any, attention to law. He de- parted suddenly in 1SS1, after some trouble with the city council concerning finances.
"In 1885 Wm. Pearman, who had taught school in the north part of the county for a number of years, was admitted to the bar and began to practice as a member of the firm of Allen & Pearman. He was elected to the office of States Attorney in the fall of 1888, but died of typhoid fever, without qualifying, in December of that year. About the same time Pearman began to practice, Joseph E. Paden began as a member of the firm of McWillians & Paden. He later opened an office of his own, but in 1889 went to Chicago where he is still practicing.
"The spring of 1889 marked an era of great prosperity in Litchfield. The Planet Mills and the Litchfield Car Works were running full blast, and the building of the present Fifth ward schoolhouse started a building boom in the northeast part of town, which at that time was
called Oklahoma on account of its rapid growth, and for the further reason that the present state of that name was thrown open for settle- ment that year. Col. Amos Oller came from Staunton on the crest of the boom and prac- ticed until his death a few years ago.
"The year 1890 brought a new crop of lawyers. Attorney Potts, of Taylorville, formed a partner- ship with E. Southworth, but remained here but a short while. M. M. Creighton came from Taylorville, John P. Gardner from Hillsboro, and Douglas Temple from Nokomis. Creighton has been dead for more than five years, Gardner is in California, and Temple in East St. Louis. In the same year David R. Kinder was admitted to the bar and formed a partnership with George J. Zink, which was terminated by the latter's death in August, 1902. Gilbert P. Randle was a partner of Mr. Zink's for a short time before Mr. Kinder, but returned to his first profession, that of school teaching.
"Then in rapid succession came Ben McWil- liams, now of Chicago, Paul McWilliams, the writer, P. A. Wilhite (died in March, 1904), Zeno J. Rives, Harry Phillips, as a partner for a short time with Major McWilliams, T. A. Gasa- way, now of East St. Louis, Harry Stuttle, George P. O'Brien and Harry Ballard, now of Oklahoma City, Okla.
"Judge Dan W. Maddox came from Hillsboro in the spring of 1910, and the last arrival was H. L. Jackson, who hung out his shingle the latter part of January, 1914.
"The practicing lawyers of Litchfield at pres- ent are : Jas. H. Atterbury, David R. Kinder, Paul McWilliams, Harry C. Stuttle, George P. O'Brien, Dan W. Maddox, H. L. Jackson and S. W. Kessinger. Zeno J. Rives is postmaster, and E. Southworth has retired.
"L. E. Wilhite came from Hornsby about four years ago, but worked for the Lincoln Fraternal Union, paying but little attention to the law. Hon. Geo. W. Paisley has resided here for sev- eral years, but to the best of our knowledge has not practiced his profession in this city.
"In the early Seventies my father resided but one block from a jaunty, jovial man, whose laugh was contagious, and one whom I remember quite distinctly. I afterwards knew him per- sonally and learned his worth to his community. That man was none other than Major Robert McWilliams. In this article I must give credit to Charles W. Bliss, of Hillsboro, who was ac- quainted with Major McWilliams as a lawyer
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MRS. EDMUND FISH
EDMUND FISH
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
for almost forty years. Mr. Bliss, in an article written at the time of the Major's death in December, 1910, said :
"'Major McWilliams was the Nestor of the Montgomery county bar and for more than thirty years was one of the leading lawyers in this part of the state. He was a sound lawyer and" an eloquent advocate, and when we remember that he was contemporary in the practice with such legal luminaries as Judge Jesse J. Phillips, Judge E. Y. Rice, J. M. Truitt, George L. Zink, and others, both living and dead, and that he was the peer in his palmy days of any of them, we realize that in the death of Major McWil- liams, a great lawyer has passed away.'
"Mr. Bliss further says: 'Iu the summer of 1862 Mr. McWilliams had priuted and dis- tributed hand bills urging men to enlist in the cause of the Union. He hired a wagou, secured a fife and drum, and travelled from place to place making speeches asking for volunteers. Three companies were raised through his ef- forts, and they weut into camp at Camp Mc- Williams at Hillsboro. He was elected captain of Company B, 117 Illinois Volunteer Infautry. He came home from the war a Major, and shortly afterwards came to Litchfield.
"Major McWilliams formed several partuer- ships during his practice, amoug them being McWilliams & Sturgess, Southworth & McWil- liams, McWilliams & Talley, McWilliams & Lay, McWilliams & Paden, McWilliams & Son (the son being Attorney Ben McWilliams, now of Chicago), McWilliams & Phillips (Attorney Harry Phillips, formerly of Hillsboro, now of Chicago), and McWilliams & Son, the son this time being Judge Paul McWilliams, one of our prominent attorney's at this time.
"Politically, the Major was a Republican. He served several terms as city attorney. In 1880 he was elected minority representative from this district to the legislature. Mr. Bliss says : 'He introduced in the winter of 1881 the bill known as the "anti-pooling" bill, prohibiting railroads from combiuing to keep up freight and passenger rates. From this idea our Federal Interstate Conimerce law was formed.' He had gained such prominence in his party at that time he was selected as the forlorn hope to attempt the defeat of W. A. J. Sparks, one of the brilliant democratic congressmen of that day. The dis- trict was not properly constructed for that pur- pose, and 'Jack' Sparks was pretty well known throughout the district.
"Mr. Bliss continues : 'The writer has watched him in cases of immense importance to his clients, and has been amazed, not only at his knowledge of the technicalities of the law, but at his wonderful versatility and his quickness to take advantage of every point that appeared favorable to his side. During the period be- tween 1870 and 1SOS he was on oue side of every important case, and a history of the fierce legal combats he had during those years with Judge Phillips, Judge Rice and Judge E. Lane of this city ( Hillsboro) would make interesting reading.'
"The Major was born in Ohio, learned the tailor's trade, studied law while working at his trade, and was admitted to the bar in that state. He practiced first in this state at Bloom- ington, then at Sullivan, Shelbyville and Hills- boro, before permanently locating in Litchfield. Such was Major McWilliams, one of the leading attorneys of central Illinois for more thau a quarter of a century. We would say more if space would permit. He is survived by two sons, as noted herein."
CHAPTER IX.
THE MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRO- FESSIONS.
PUBLIC NEEDS THE PROFESSIONS-PIONEER PHYSI- CIANS-PHYSICIANS OF LATER DATE-MONT- GOMERY COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION - DR. AMOS SAWYER-REVIEW OF MEDICAL HISTORY- DENTISTS-OTHER HEALTH PRESERVERS.
PUBLIC NEEDS THE PROFESSIONS.
No community can dispense with the services of the well trained men and women who devote their skill and energies in the above named pro- fessions, and thereby relieve the distresses and aid uature in her efforts to restore the normal functions of the human body. Nor would any history of the county be complete that did not give some account of these public servants, and recognition as well as commendation of the ability and skill of these necessary agencies in
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a civilized community. The maintenance of health is essential to the success of every in- dividual, and functional derangements and frac- tures and dislocations are all too common, so that without the physician they would often distress and destroy human life. Hence the physician and the dentist are great agencies in aiding and prolonging both life and develop- ing opportunity. So progressive is history that the good intended work of the old time physi- cian or dentist of a few decades ago, seems as butchery when compared with the improved methods and skill of the modern masters of these professions.
PIONEER PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Levi Boone, a brother of Ira Boone, after returning from the Black Hawk War in 1832, practiced as an "old school" physician at Hills- boro until 1836, when he moved to Chicago, later becoming one of its leading citizens and was at one time mayor of the city.
Doctor Casey came to Hillsboro in about 1836, and practiced for a time. He, too, was an old school physician.
Doctor Osborne, the father of Riley Osborne, located at Hillsboro about 1830. He was the first "steam" doctor to come to the county. Doctor Osborne carried his water bottles and rocks with him aud had a large clientage. Fol- lowing Doctor Osborne, came Doctor Mitchell of the same school. In addition to his lobelia, rocks and bottles, he had a pamphlet describing the full methods of the "steamers" and instructed others in the mysteries of their use. He also added the gentle art of rubbing the patients, and his followers were numerous, but, with the exception of several devoted ones, his scholars were not lasting. Contemporary with Doctor Mitchell was Doctor Harrison, who coutinued in the same line of practice for a time.
Doctors Lynn and William Marshall came to Hillsboro about 1847 or a little later. They were eclectics, which school was a great improvement over that of the "steamers" and used much sauer methods. Doctor Marshall, as is well known, died here about 1912, but Doctor Lynn survived until about 1915, claiming at the time of his death to be the oldest practicing physician in the state. He died at his home near Ocouee, Fayette County, Ill.
Doctor Hillis came to Hillsboro in about 1840. He represented the old school, and for many
years successfully pursued his calling here. The entire outfit of even the best physicians in that day, was a mere bagatelle as compared with the equipment of a modern man of medicine. It is said that Doctor Hillis moved his entire outfit from one locatiou to another on a wheelbarrow, and yet he rauked as an up-to-date physician of his day.
Doctor Herrick came to Hillsboro some time in the forties and built the house where Mrs. Hagood now lives. He was in the Mexicau War, and after his return, he sold out to Doctor Haskell, and moved to Chicago.
Doctor Haskell, while practicing mediciue, built the lower story of the building now occu- pied by Mr. Frey as an office. The secoud story was built by the Masons, aud that order laid the cornerstone with due ceremony. The stone may be seen today in the southwest coruer of the second story, it being the only instance the writer ever heard of a cornerstone being laid other than in the northeast corner. After its be- ing completed, we think the Odd Fellows occu- pied it jointly for some years with the Masons. Both Doctors Herrick and Haskell belonged to the old school. William Hillis, a nephew of Doctor Hillis, came to Hillsboro about 1850, and practiced until his death, a few years later. Doctor Charles Harper located at Hillsboro about 1848. He was of the old school, aud was while here, a partner of Doctor Haskell. Doctor Fink came here from southern Illinois, aud studied under Doctor Haskell, and of course was of the same school of medicine. He practiced and conducted a drug store for quite a long time, and is well remembered by many of our present generation. Doctor Luke Stoddard came to Hillsboro about 1868, although he had been practicing in the southern part of the county for some years prior to that time. He was an old school advocate, and died in Fayette County in 1893.
Dr. Daniel Scharden came from Germany to America in 1842. He was called a "water doctor," and was the second German to come to Hillsboro, George Loehr beiug the first. Doctor Scharden located north of town on what is now known as the Glenn farm. Besides water healing, he did a business in garden farming and the sale of garden products. Later he moved to Butler, Ill., where he died.
Dr. M. S. Davenport was one of the old time physicians. He located at Donnellsou and later was at Walshville, where for a good muany years
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he enjoyed an excellent practice, dying about twenty years ago.
In Litchfield, Doctor Gamble was the first to locate as a practitioner. He lived a block west of Main street, near the present office of Doctor Bennett. His house was a log cabin and was only half floored. Doctor Grinstead located at Woodburn in 1857, but when Litchfield was hav- ing its initial boom, he left Macoupin County and cast his lot with the new town, where for several years he was successfully engaged in practice. Doctor Hood first located at Harden- burg, but when that town was moved to Litch- field, he came with it, and continued to make his home there until his death. Doctor Spears came to Litchfield soon after its establishment, and Doctor R. F. Bennett made his first appear- ance in Litchfield about 1862, and is now the oldest practicing physician in that city, and is prominent in most of Litchfield's business and social affairs.
Doctor ·Logan came to Hillsboro at a little more recent date, and Doctor Caldwell located at Zanesville somewhere about the same time. Doctor Colt, an eminent surgeon is still prac- ticing at Litchfield, having arrived in that city about the same time as Doctor Bennett of that same city. Doctor Sawyer of Hillsboro was an- other early physician dying in 1915, and Doctor Cook of Coffeen, was another, and he is still practicing, though a very old man for active practice. Doctor J. B. Cary located in Donnell- son some forty years ago and still pursues his calling there. Doctor Herman and Doctor Hicks of the same city, all quite old practitioners, have been in Raymond since the town was large enough to support a physician.
PHYSICIANS OF A LATER DATE.
While the pioneer physicians wrought miracles considering their limited facilities, their prac- tice and methods cannot be compared to those of the modern physician. If in nothing else, the physician of today has the advantage of the long and careful training and practical experience gained in hospitals, oftentimes supplemented by post graduate courses here and abroad, which before he has entered upon the practice of his profession, places him far in advance of the most advanced of the oldtime men of his calling. State regulations regarding the entrance into the profession, and the conduct of the physi- cian in his practice, help to safeguard the re-
putable practitioner and his patients, and to brand as unsafe those who cannot comply with them. Medical societies of local, state and national organization keep the profession abreast of the times, and literature in current medical papers and magazines, as well as in books, afford him access to the thoughts and discoveries of the leaders in medical research. Therefore it is little wonder that the modern medical man can cope with disease in a way that would not have been understood by those who went before him. He has learned not only to cure, but what is much more important, to prevent, and uses his skill and knowledge to keep people well and normal, as well as bringing them back to health. The debt the various communities owe the physi- cians is heavy, and too much stress cannot be laid upon their work. Perhaps no other men give so much of themselves in their calling, and many physicians work faithfully without hope of remuneration, knowing that were they to hold off until paid, their patients would suffer, if not die, and so when the means of the person forbid the settlement of the doctor's bill, the majority of the medical men, simply charge the account to profit and loss, and credit themselves with a little more experience, and another act of "Divine"Providence."
The following is a list of the physicians now practicing in the county, as nearly as we have information. Hillsboro: M. L. Moyer, H. A. Seymour, Z. V. Kimball, W. W. Douglas, Ed Douglas, J. J. Pleak, osteopath, A. W. Lindberg, George A. Clotfelter, R. A. Hamilton, L. S. Brown, E. T. Douglas, W. V. Parkhill. Litch- field: R. F. Bennett, Harry Bennett, G. A. Sihler, Sr., G. A. Sihler, Jr., M. W. Snell, T. W. Williams, G. W. Cox, L. G. Allen, J. B. Bar- croft, Doctor Blackwilder Nokomis: G. S. Wil- son, Doctor Bullington, A. E. Burwell, W. A. Hodges, H. C. Hopper, W. C. Hovey, J. M. Hoyt. Raymond: G. F. Barger, P. J. Herman, W. F. Hicks, C. E. Driskill, J. R. Kenton, O. R. Lipe. Donnellson: W. A. Allen, Robert Allen, J. B. Carey, A. B. Carey. Coffeen : W. H. Cook, F. W. Berry, H. C. Turney. Witt : J. W. Adams, C. A. Lockhart. Harvel : W. B. Kilton. Farmers- ville : H. M. Snyder, K. T. Hayes. Waggoner : Doctor Caldwell, Charles Ford. Atwater : Zanny Trout. Butler : Benjamin Buchannan. Ohlman : O. G. Hubbard. Walshville : Otto Hauser. Fill- more : H. S. Short, W. O. Fish. Irving: R. N. Canaday. Taylor Springs : E. H. Herman.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
MONTGOMERY COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
The physicians of the county organized a medical association several years ago for the purpose of discussing medical topics, modes of practicing and the value of treatments. The association often bring men of prominence along special lines to the county who lecture to the people. The present officers are : President, Dr. C. A. Lockhart ; vice president, Dr. J. R. Ken- ton; secretary, Dr. G. W. Cox ; treasurer, Dr. C. H. Zoller; medico-legal, Dr. L. S. Brown ; delegate, Dr. R. W. Allen ; alternate, Dr. F. W. Berry ; censors, Dr. Geo. A. Clotfelter, Dr. L. G. Allen, Dr. G. A. Sihler, Jr.
DR. AMOS SAWYER.
The medical profession has made great progress since the pioneer days, and the methods and practice of the old time doctor seem inade- quate when viewed from the viewpoint of the modern physician or surgeon. The early history of medicine in the county cannot be better given than in the following paper prepared by Dr. Amos Sawyer a year before his death. Dr. Amos Sawyer, who spent his life in the medical profession in the county, and who had a more than local reputation because of his studies along scientific lines and the papers published fron time to time in medical and scientific jour- nals and before giving his paper, we say this of him personally : Amos Sawyer was born at No. 17 Temple place, Boston, Mass., on the morning of March 24, 1837. He came to Hillsboro on November 1, 1842, with his parents and with the exception of a residence of seven years in St. Louis, Mo., has lived in Hillsboro ever since, a period of seventy years. He attended the old Hillsboro Academy and the Lutheran Col- lege of Hillsboro and Springfield ; and was grad- uated from the St. Louis Medical College in St. Louis in March, 1859. The diploma which he received at that time was destroyed when the Sawyer house burned in 1870, but he procured a duplicate of it. Doctor Sawyer was always a great student and wrote many valuable treatises on scientific subjects. He was corresponding member of the Academy of Science of St. Louis and wrote many papers on anthropology which are on file in the library of the Academy of Science. He also wrote frequently on local topics, especially on conditions of the weather, soil and health and every one of his papers
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