USA > Illinois > Williamson County > Historical souvenir of Williamson County, Illinois : being a brief review of the county from date of founding to the present > Part 15
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LEVI B. CASEY, M. D.
Dr. Casey is a native of Johnson County, Ill. He was born March 22, 1863, and is the son of Capt. Levi B. Casey, of Company D, 31st Ill. Vol. I. He received his early training in the public schools. While pursuing his medical studies, he taught school in Bainbridge during 1882, and gradu- ated in the medical department of the University of Louisville, Ky., in 1885. In the Spring of 1886 he moved to Marion and began the prac- tice of his profession in partnership with Dr. E. L. Denison, then in the drug business. In 1888 he took a post graduate course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chi- cago. He was appointed pension ex- aminer by President Ben Harrison, which position he has retained until the present time, with the exception of an interregnum, during the sec- ond administration of President
Cleveland. April 5, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura B. Lowe, daughter of Frank Lowe, of whom was born one son, Clyde L. Casey, now fourteen years old. Skillful, reliable and faithful in his chosen profession, Dr. Casey has en- joyed till the present time a lucrative general practice, and still retains the unshaken confidence of his fel- low physicians and the general pub- lic. He has been a member of the K. of P. a good many years, and was a charter member of the Order of Elks, with whom he is still con- nected.
FRANK P. GILLIS, M. D.
Fifty years ago on the fifth of May Dr. Gillis first saw the light at
Canton, Ohio. He chose the profes- sion of medicine and began to prac- tice in 1876, one year before he graduated at the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, so that he has been devoted to his profession for nearly twenty-nine years out of fifty, and has climbed very near to the top of the ladder. After practic- ing ten years at Cutler, Perry Co., 111., he was appointed surgeon of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary of
Chester, where he served for six years. He then removed to St. Louis and took up the professorship of Ob- stetrics of the Woman's Medical Col- lege and also assistant to the Chair of Abdominal Surgery at the College of Physicians, and Surgeons at St. Louis. At the same time he had charge of the free dispensary for diseases of women and children in the same college.
On February 29, 1896, he mar- ried Miss Etta M. Chamness, daugh- ter of R. A. Chamness, of Pueblo, Col. The year of his marriage he moved to DuQuoin, Ill., and opened up and for four years conducted a private surgical hospital. In 1898, while attending to the duties of his hospital at DuQuoin, he took a post graduate course in medicine at the West Side Clinical School in Chi- cago. Last year he took a post graduate course at the Chicago Eye, Ear. Nose and Throat Hospital, cor- ner of Washington and Franklin streets, and removed to Marion on December Ist. 1903. Being always ahreast of the times, he at once opened up an X-Ray laboratory of Electro-Therapeutics, where he gives special attention to the disorders of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Aside from his thorough medical training. Dr. Gillis has only had the ad- vantages of the public school and a course at the Illinois Agricultural College at Irvington, 111., neverthe- less, as indicative of the solid ac- quirements of the man, we mention the following among the honorable positions he occupies: American Medical Association; Illinois State Medical Association: Tri-State Medi- cal Society: Southern Illinois Medi- cal Society: Williamson County Med- ical Society: St. Louis Medical So- ciety: Grand Medical Examiner of the Ancient Order of United Work- men of Illinois. He is a Knights Templar, Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellow and a member of the A. O. U. W.
G. J. BAKER, JR., M. D.
Dr. Baker was born March 14, 1870, in Grassy Precinct, Williamson County, Illinois, among the spurs of the Ozarks. He is the son of Dr. Alonzo P. Baker. and nephew of his namesake, G. J. Baker, Sr., M. D., and Dr. M. D. Baker, of Anna, fll. He comes of a family of physicians
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ot good reputation, and widely known for their probity and proies- sional skill. Very naturally he took to "the healing art" as a duck to water, and his education was intend- ed to prepare him for that noble pro- fession. After the usual training at our district schools, he entered the Union Academy at Anna, Ill., from which he graduated in 1890, at the age of 20 years. After a year spent at home under the excellent instruc- tion of his father, he entered Mis- souri Medical College at St. Louis, now known as the Medical Depart- ment of Washington University. He spent three years there and gradu- ated in 1894. Later he took a post graduate course at the Polyclinic of New York and entered at once upon the practice of medicine at Carter- ville, where he remained one year and then came to Marion, where he has been ever since.
In November, 1900, he married Miss Maud Duncan, daughter of Thomas Duncan, of Marion. She die ! just one year later and in Octo- ber, 1903, he took for his second wife Miss Martha J. Aikman, daugh- ter of W. J. Aikman, of Marion. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He belongs to the Southern Illinois Medical Association, to the Williamson County Medical Associa- tion and to the Marion Physicians' Protective Association.
DR. CURTIS BROWN.
Like the majority of our best, most successful and useful men of all occupations in life, Dr. Brown sprang from the soil. His earliest years were spent on a farm near old Bainbridge, and his schooling was picked up at intervals of farm work until he entered the Southern Illi- pois Normal University at Carbon- dale. His first entry into public no- tice was October 13, 1853, conse- quently he has had to put up with Dame Nature's treatment and the flouts and flings of outrageous for- tune for fifty-one years, during which time he has learned many things, the principal of which is not to do so again. Experience is a good school-master, but occasionally charges an outrageons fee. But high or low, it is wiser to kiss the rod than to break it.
Dr. Brown entered the St. Louis Medical College in 1871, but
switched over to the Missouri Medi- cal College in 1873, from which he took his "sheepskin" in 1874. He first began to keep people from the bone-garden at Crainville, as soon as he graduated, and continued success- fully to keep them out, or failing to help, hide his blunders until 1881. when he took a post graduate course at Rush Medical College at Chicago, since when he is supposed to be able to kill them more scientifically. But
after he finished his course at Rush he moved, in 1882, to Creal Springs and continued his experiments SC satisfactorily to his patients that they had patience with him tor eigh- teen years-surely a very creditable record. In March, 1899, he stuck out his shingle in the new town of Herrin, where he spent two years in very hard work, which he at first supposed was the least profitable period of his career; but he was sow- ing good seed, and he can now count it as the best portion of his business career.
In 1874 the Doctor did the wisest thing any man can do since Adam set the example-he took a rib. The maiden name of the fortunate lady was Louisa Herrin, daughter of the old pioneer on Herrin's Prairie, Oliver Herrin, long since deceased. Four children blessed the union: Clara B., wife of D. S. Anderson, Druggist of Creal Springs; Bertie B., wife of Fred C. Culver, of Redlands, Cal .; Metta Tot, who died at the age of 12, and John Herrin Brown, who was laid away at 6. After twenty- three years of happiness, they reached the dregs of the cup, and the wife followed her little boy and girl to the Land of Shadows November 29, 1897. As a proof of the happi- ness of his wedded life, the Doctor did not long endure "single wretch- edness," but took another partner in the person of Miss Emma Parmley, of Rock, Ill., in 1898.
The Doctor is a member of the Wil- liamson County Me'ical Association, the Southern Illinois Medical Asso- ciation, the Physicians' Protective Association of Marion and of the American Medical Association. He is not a member of any secret order, nor yet of any branch of the church, but out of business hours spends his time with wife and family, showing a vigorous, independent and contented mind, which doubtless has had much to do with his success in life.
DR. W. E. CLARK
Was first introduced to the public in Saline County, Ill., on May 20, 1854. After the usual farm work and farm training, incident to "get- ting a start" there, he spent two years at Princeton College, Ky., ac- quiring a general idea of science and literature, and then graduated in 1876. He quit not because he had learned all there was to know, al- though there was a good deal less of it to learn in those days than there is now, but because he wanted to study medicine. He has never quit studying, however, for to be a good "medicine Sachem" now-a-days. a
man must know of pretty much everything else too, So after gradu- ating from Princeton he spent two more years at Indiana Medical Col- lege, Evansville, Ind. There he was under the immediate instruction of
Dr. A. M. Owens, and graduated in
the winter of 1878 and Spring of 1879. Two years later he entered the St. Louis Medical College, from which he left with his sheepskin in the Spring of 1882. He then began to practice at Galatia, in Saline Co., and remained there, "doping out the poisons" for 15 years, till IS97, when people quit being sick and he took a change of venue to Union County, Ky. His trial in the various towns of that belligerant commonwealth lasted till 1900, when, being anxious once more to see "God's Country," he came to Marion, stuck out his shingle, and with "malice afore- thought" has been "doping out the pizens" ever since.
On October 16th, 1875, while still at Princeton College, he took a help- mate in the person of Miss Laura Ann Mitchell, daughter of Dr. T. S. Mitchell, of Raleigh, Saline County, by whom he had three children, one son and two daughters, Claud S., the eldest: Maud MI., the wife of John Boetzar of DeKoven, Ky., and Sadie, wife of Ollie Wallace, of Den- son's Springs, a Kentucky health re- sort. His wife died December 20. 1879, and in 'S1 he married May A., daughter of Dr. Hiram Musgrave, also of Raleigh. One child was born of this union, Miss Grace Clark, now keeping a dry goods store on North Market St., Marion.
The Doctor is Republican in poli- tics and a member of the Christian Church. He is Vice President of the Marion Medical Protective Associa- tion and has upheld its honors and did its hard work with Dr. Hartwell, its President, for three years. He belongs to the Williamson County anl the Southern Illinois Medical Associations. He is also a member of Escol Lodge, No. 182, 1. O. O. F., K's. & L's. of Security, Order of Ben Hur and the Red Men.
DR. J. F. TIDWELL.
Dr. Tidwell was born in MeNary County, Tennessee, March 30, 1841, near Purdy, the county seat. He be- gan his school days in the public schools near his home, where he re- mained until he was 15 years old, when, with his parents he went to Chalk Bluffs, on the Tennessee river, where he resumed his studies and re- mained in this line until he was 19, then taught five months public school and five months subscription school. In 1×59, '60 and '61 he attended Vanderbilt University at Nashville. The unsettled condition of affairs and rapid approach of war closed his studies for that time. Returning to his home at Chalk Bluff he remained until he enlisted in the service. Sun- day, April 6, 1862, he passed in lis- tening to the roar of battle at Shiloh. five miles away. On that eventful morning he saw General Grant leave
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SOUVENIR OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the Cherry House, his headquarters in Savannah, Tenn., for the scene of battle. The surroundings grew more desperate, and soon his father, union man, was compelled to flee for his life, and for sixty-three days and nights was concealed in the woods. His son carried provisions to him during the time. September, 1862, the 6th Tennessee Federal Cavalry was entisted, with Cot. Hurst first commander, and Dr. Eldridge Tidwell, father of the subject of this sketch, Major. In this organization Dr. J. F. Tidwell enlisted, where he served until August 11. 1865, part of the time Hospital Steward, also 2nd assistant surgeon of the regiment. During his service he was with the command in all its campaigns, escap- ing injury except a bayonet wound, received at Salem, Miss. The Major of the regiment was, on account of ill health, forced to resign and re- turned home, immediately removing to Illinois. The Doctor having served his time was mustered out and came to Williamson County August, 1865, and has practiced medicine here from that time to the present. While a lad he attended Shilo, Tenn., Bap- tist church, but for years he has been a Methodist and politicalty is a Re- publican.
V. A. S. BAKER, M. D.
Baker & Baker, Physicians and Surgeons, Marion.
The subject of this sketch was born in Williamson County April 3d. 1876. After a term in Crab Orchard Academy he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, where he took a four years' course, graduating last year. His wife was Nona Neber, the daughter of B. N. Neber, now of Jackson County. Their first child was Elsie, who died when 18 months old, then Sophia, now 3 years old, and Alonzo Newton, a bahe in its mother's arms.
DR. C. L. WASHBURN
Was born in Smith County, Tenn., August 10, 1852. He is a son of Judge Jas. M. Washburn, also a na- tive of Smith County, Tenn. His mother was Sarah M. Smith, who was born in Middle Tennessee in 1826, and died at the home of her son. Ben L. Washburn, in Carter- ville, Ill., November 18, 1897. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to Marion in the Autumn of 1857, and received his education in the schools of this County, mainly in Marion and Carterville. He en- tered Ewing College in 1870 and graduated in 1874. His early life was spent on his father's farm near Carterville, but after leaving college he took up teaching and taught in the public schools for six years. He then studied medicine, graduating
from Missonri Medical College in 1882.
The Doctor has been married
twice. His first wife was Katie L. Marcy, to whom he was united in October, 1856. She was a native of Livingston County, Kentucky, where she was born in 1867. His second wife was Mrs. Laura A. Uttey, to whom he was united June 1st, 1899. She was born in Greenville January 4, 1861. They have one son, James B. Washburn.
In politics Mr. Washburn is
a Democrat and is a member of the United Baptist Church. He is at present engaged in farming, stock raising and coal mining.
D. D. HARTWELL, M. D.
Born October 7, 1878, in William- son County, Illinois. After the usual training in our common schools he attended the High School at Creal Springs, and then taught one term of school in Southern Precinct. He en- tered the St. Louis Cottege of Physi- cians and Surgeons in 1897, from which he graduated four years later, and entered at once upon the prac- tice of his profession in Marion, where he has remained ever since.
Upon the organization of the Physicians' Protective Association of Marion, July 26, 1902, he was elect- ed its Chief Officer, and is now serv- ing his second term. He is also a member of the Southern Illinois Med- ical Association and of the Illinois State Medical Association.
His wife was Miss Rita Drake, of St. Louis, to whom he was united April 30, 1903. One boy, Alonzo Paul, born December 21, 1903, has blessed their union. At the late an- nuat election Dr. Hartwell was chosen Secretary of the Williamson County Physicians.
ALONZO P. BAKER, M. D.
Was born November 8, 1848, in Benton County, Tenn. He was brought by his parents to William- son County when but 2 years old, and settled in Grassy Precinct on the summit of Black Ridge, in the Ozark mountains. His father was a farm- er and he spent his youth farming in the summer and teaching in the win-
ter. When the war broke out he joined the army, and on Christmas day, 1862, enlisted in the 13th Ill. Cavatry, Co. I .. Col. Albert Erskine commanding. He saw hard service through the various campaigns in the Southwest, fought his way down into Texas and the Red River coun- try and hack through Arkansas and Missouri, and was mustered out at Springfield September 7. 1865.
Among the hard-fought battles in which he shared was that of Pea Ridge, Benton Co., Ark. His part in the battle, the Doctor claims, was
fought in detached squadrons and companies on account of the timber and brush an . the nature of the ground. The soldiers didn't see a commander higher than a Captain during the fight, but fought in their own way, whenever and wherever they saw a "Reb."
After the war he went to teaching, and in 1873 entered the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he grad- uated March 3, 1875, and began the practice of medicine in his own home. His first marriage took place April 7, 1869. to Miss Martha Jane Matheny, by whom he had four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living except one daughter, who died in infancy. His second wife was Miss Lizzie G. Day, to whom he was united September 3, 1875, and who gave him one daughter, Miss Bernice Baker.
His children by his first wife were Dr. G. J. Baker, practicing medicine in Marion, Mites David Baker, farm- ing. Dr. V. A. S. Baker, a partner with G. J. Baker, his brother, in Ma- rion, Elsada, wife of Prof. Asbury, in charge of the Marion city schools, and Marcus W. Baker, in the mining business in Marion.
The Doctor is a member of the Southern Illinois Medical Associa- tion and the Williamson County Med- ical Association. He is a member of the G. A. R., and cast his first vote for General Grant. He is also a member of the A. F. & A. M. Ma- kanda Lodge, No. 484.
DR. H. D. NORRIS, Osteopath
Is the only member of his profes- sion in Williamson County, and it must be admitted is making good use of the monopoly he enjoys. The remedial system he practices is now becoming sufficiently well known and established not to require an ex- tended explanation from the Sou- venir Book man. It may be well to state, however, that while no medi- cines are administered by the Osteo- paths, it wouldn't be safe to bank upon their ignorance of them, and as to anatomy, physiology and sur- gery, their system of cure compels them to be well posted in these branches.
Dr. Norris is a young man and a young practitioner, but seems to be meeting with encouragement in his chosen profession in this field. He is a native of Monticello, Piatt Co., Ill., where he was born December 12, 1873. His parents were farmers, and he was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools un- til ahout 17 years old, when he en- tered Madrid Normal School, at Ma- drid. Nebraska. He graduated in 1892, and then taught school three years. He became interested in Osteopathy about that time, and graduated from the Americal School
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of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Mo., January 29, 1903, under the instruc- tions of its founder, Dr. A. T. Little. He soon after moved to Marion and stuck out his shingle, where it still remains.
He was married September 8, ISSS, to Miss Maggie Biesecker, by whom he had two children, Helen, aged 5, and Hazel, aged 3. For his second wife he took Miss Anna Spencer, the daughter of C. C. Spencer, of Connellville, New York. They were married September 3, 1903.
@ Miscellaneous ø
HON. JAMES M. WASHBURN.
Judge Washburn comes of hardy pioneer stock in Smith County, Mid- dle Tennessee. He was born 51 miles east of Nashville, September 13th, 1826. His parents were farm- ers of simple and frugal habits and pure lives, who bequeathed the price- less heritage, together with its usual accompaniment of a vigorous consti- tution to their children. The father. Lewis Washburn, die1 on the last hour of 1872, at the age of 75 years and six months, while his mother tarried a couple of years longer and died in May, 1874. Her maiden name was Nancy More. She raised ten children, and died aged 79. James was the sixth child, and was reared and educated in his native state. He taught school four or five years, farmed, sold goods, read law, was admitted to the bar and married all before he was 23 years old. From this his life's record can be read.
He has been an exceedingly am- bitious and active man, full of life and energy, of great endurance, un- wearied diligence and iron will. He always had a dozen, more or less, dif- ferent enterprises on hand, and so good was his management and so wise his plans that none of them rarely or ever miscarried. He did not come to Marion till the Autumn of 1857. He studied law with Hall and Washburn, an older brother, from '44 to '46, was admitted to the bar in 1845, was elected County Sur- veyor, but resigned to come to Ma- rion. He lived in Marion for ten years (engaged in the practice of law and in the mercantile business with Frank Sparks), and after spend- ing a couple of years on a rented farm just out of town, he bought the farm where Dr. Ferrill now lives, near Carterville, and made it his home for 22 years. In 1862, while living at Marion, he was elected to the lower house at Springfield and served one term. In 1869-70 he was a member of the Constitutional con- vention which framed our present
State Constitution. In the Fall of 1870 he was elected to the State Senate for the 50th Senatorial Dist- rict, which is composed of the coun- ties of Jefferson, Franklin, William- son, Jackson, Randolph and Monroe. By a new arrangement coming in with the new constitution he drew a two years' term, and after its ex- piration was Assistant Secretary of the Senate for three years and dur- ing the session of 1875. In 1876 he was returned to the House and served another term of two years. From '72 to '80 he was also Master in Chancery at Marion, and from '73 to '93 was a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and as such was the Illinois Commissioner for the Columbian Exposition at Chicago in the latter year. In 1884 he had been elected County Judge for Wil- liamson County and served four years.
In 1874, while Assistant Secretary of the Senate, in company with his son, William Smith Washburn, Wm. T. Davis and Charles H. Dennison, he started the Egyptian Press news- paper, and only severed his connec- tion with it about two years ago. During that long period of 18 years, with a multitude of other matters on hand-financial, political, official business and family- whether as co- partner, associate editor and man- ager or sole owner. manager and editor, he acquitted himself credit- ably as the publisher of the principal Democratic organ of the County.
In 1894 he rented it to Casey and Watson and in '95 to Casey alone, when Casey bought a half interest and in 1902 he sold out to Casey en- tirely.
Mr. Washburn had the misfortune on September 15, 1897, to lose his house and all it contained by fire, and the 13th of November following his wife died. His children being all grown, these misfortunes broke up his family relations and he spent four years in traveling. Coming back to the town of his hoyhood he made the acquaintance of Miss Jen- nie Turner, to whom he was united in marriage in Smith County Novem- ber 3, 1901. She is a member of the Baptist church. His first wife's name was Sarah M. Smith, a native of Virginia. They were hoth for 47 years active members of the Mis- sionary Baptist church, and she died in that communion. Their children were William Smith Washburn, now of Chicago. Dr. C. L. Washburn, a physician and farmer about five miles northwest of Marion. and Ben- iamin L. Washburn, residing in Car- terville.
The following tribute to Mr. Wash- hurn is from the pen of Mark Erwin, the historian, and was written in
1876. And now, after the lapse of twenty-six years and the commentary of the events of more than a quarter
of a century, there seems to be no occasion to change the opinions then expressed.
"James M. Washburn commenced the practice of law in this county over fifteen years ago, and has since heen a Democratic politician of con- siderable prominence. During the war he was very bitter at times, but was elected to the State Senate in 1876 to the Lower House. He was a member of the Constitutional Con- vention in 1869. He is admitted by all parties to be honest and upright in his daily work, and is now the leader of his party."
HON. GEO. W. YOUNG.
Judge Geo. W. Young, of Marion Illinois, was born January 8, 1845. His parents diet during his infancy, and he was bound to Geo. W. Bink- ley, who was a farmer living on the farm where the plat of Whiteash is now located, four miles north of Ma- rion. Mr. Binkley died when the subject of this sketch was but four- teen years old. He was then bound by indenture to the widow, Mrs. Maria Binkley, but only lived with her about one year, when he left his native heath and went South, stop- ping at Cairo, remaining there a few days; enlisted on a steamboat, plying between St. Louis and New Orleans, as a deck sweeper, afterwards be- came a cabin boy and Texas tender. This position he occupied until the Winter of 1861, when he went ashore at Columbus, Kentucky, and hired to work on a farm at five dollars per month.
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