History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 19

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois > Part 19

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and at that meeting was appointed a member of the committee on surgery. On the 4th of October, 1871, Dr. Hamil- ton was married to Mary L. Frost, daughter of the late John S. Frost, of Jersey county, and grand-daughter of Judge Lowe. The doctor has rapidly risen to a high standing in the profes- sion of medicine and surgery, and is now filling the important position of surgeon-general of the United States marines.

Doctor W. O. Langdon, at one time a practicing physician of Jersey county, came to Delhi in 1870, and carried on the duties of his profession in that vicinity for about eight years, when he removed to Carrollton, Greene county. In the history of that county a sketch of him may be found.

Henry Z. Gill, M. D. came to Jersey- ville April 26, 1873, from St. Louis. Ile is a native of Pennsylvania, born Oct. 6, 1831. He graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and be- gan practice at Columbus, Ohio, where he remained till the commencement of the rebellion, when he enlisted in the three month's service, serving four years and a half. He arose from assist- ant surgeon to surgeon of volunteers, of the rank of lieutenant colonel, which position he held until the close of the the war. He then spent two years in Europe, after which he located at St. Louis, Mo., where he followed his pro- fession, and, in company with Dr. W. S. Edgar, published the Medical Journal, after which he came to Jerseyville as noted in the foregoing. In August, 1881, he took charge of the Southern Illinois penitentiary, and in November, 1883, resigned that position to accept

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the chair of surgery in the Wooster Medical College at Cleveland, Ohio, where he now resides, and which posi- tion he still retains.

Among the physicians of the past was Charles A. Knapp, a son of A. R., who practiced . here for two or three years. Shortly after his marriage he removed to California, where he subsequently died.

PHYSICIANS OF THE PRESENT.

Among the medieal fraternity of the present now located in the county, the following are among the most prominent and are representative men of the class: Drs. A. K. Van Horne, George Sumrall, E. L. H. Barry, Caleb Du Hadway, A. A. Shobe, C. A. Edgar, C. R. and C. W. Enos, T. J. Kingston, A. A. Barnett, of Jerseyville; C. G. Buffington and Wesley Park, of Fieldon; A. D. Erwin, of Fidelity; John S. Wil- liams and James A. Flautt, of Otterville; S. M. Watson and E. F. Franeis, of Mississippi township; A. F. Slover, of Elsah township; J. F. Gary, of Delhi and J. Tidball, of Grafton.

Dr. A. K. Van Horne, is a son of Elijah and Polly Wyckoff Van Horne, was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., April 2, 1831, and came with his parents to Jersey county in 1833. He received his education in the common schools of this county. In 1852, he commeneed the study of medieine with Dr. Charles A. Knapp, of Jerseyville. He attended lectures at the Missouri Medical College St. Louis, in 1853 and 1854. In the latter year he went to Greene county, where he continued his studies and practice his profession. In the fall of 1855, he entered Jefferson Medieal Col-

lege, Philadelphia, from which he gra- duated in March, 1856. He then came to Jerseyville and commeneed the prae- tiee of his profession in earnest. In 1871 and 1872 he returned to Philadel- phia, and took part of a course of lec- tures, to bring himself abreast of the times. On the 11th day of Oct., 1859, he was married to Elizabeth S. Bacon, who died Oct. 18, 1881. On Dee. 23, 1884, the doctor was again married to Sarah M. Stelle. He is the eldest practicing physician in the county.

George Sumrall, M. D., Jerseyville, Jersey county, Ill., came to Illinois March 1, 1872, and to Jersey county October, 1874; is a member of the Presbyterian church, and of Masonic lodge, chapter and council; has one child Maggie, born March 4, 1873. In April, 1876, was mover and drafter, before Jersey County Medical Soei- ety, of a greeting to State Medical As- sociation, praying that body to secure such legislative action as would compel higher medical education and partially rid our state of quacks. In response to said greeting, the State Medical Asso- eiation appointed a committee which spent the next winter at the capitol, memorialized the legislature, and se- cured the enactment of our state medi- cal act, and the appointment of our State Board of Health, which has saved to our state millions of dollars, and to her citizens untold suffering. Witness the control of the small-pox, the emi- grant train inspection, and the hundreds of uneducated charletans compelled to cease practicing on the lives of our citi- zens, and to seek elimes where ignor- anee is more tolerated.

A. A. Shobe, M. D., one of the lead-

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

ing physicians of this county, came here in the spring of 1873, from Frank- lin county, Mo., of which state and county he is a native, and was born Aug. 24, 1846. His father, Alfred Shobe, and mother Mary (McGinnis) Shobe, both died when he was but two years old. He was brought up by W. J. Brown, who was a member of the Missouri state legislature, and whose daughter he subsequently married. His youth was spent on a farm, where he was variously employed in the multi- farious duties ineident to the life of a boy in such a position. He attended common schools in his native county, and when 14 years old was attending the academy at Kirkwood, St. Louis county, preparatory to a military edu- cation at West Point. Meanwhile, his guardian, whose sympathies were with the southern people, during the conflict of that time, went south and placed himself among those of the legislature who favored secession. The subject of this sketeh went with him subsequently, and in 1862, joined the Confederate army, remained in the service until the elose of the war, and was paroled at Mobile, Ala. He then entered the Chris- tian Brothers' college, St. Louis, to complete his literary education, and remained two sessions. He then com- meneed the study of medicine, gradu- ating from the MeDowell's College in 1868-69, when he commenced the prae- tice of medicine in Franklin county, Mo., and there continued until coming here. His marriage to Sallie A. Brown occurred June 3, 1868. They have had three children, Mary O., Cora B. and Irene V. Mr. Shobe is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Masonie

fraternity. He takes a commendable interest in publie affairs, and was for two years president of the board of ed- ucation.

Charles R. Enos, M. D., was born in Madison county, N. Y., in March, 1816. His father, Joseph Enos, a native of Rhode Island, was a farmer, and the subjeet of this sketch was reared to farm life. In 1842 he migrated to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked in a ma- chine shop till 1849. He then went to Madison county, Ill., and engaged in farming. Here he commenced taking care of the sick, being a good nurse, also practiced medieine to a consider- able extent. In 1874 he graduated from the homeopathie medical college, of Missouri, and has since that time given his attention principally to the practice of medicine. In April, 1882, he came to Jerseyville, since which he has prae- ticed his profession in company with his son, Dr. C. W. Enos. Ile was mar- ried in 1845, to Eliza A. Thorpe, and by this union has had ten children, eight of whom are living ;- Sarah C., Charles W., of Jerseyville; William H., who graduated as a physician, but follows farming; lda V., wife of Theo. S. Ellison; Joseph W., a physician; Law- rence, Dewitt C. and Grace.

C. W. Enos, M. D., located at Jersey - ville, Jan. 29, 1874. He was born in Madison county, Ill., Dee. 13, 1849, and is a son of Dr. C. R. and Eliza Ann (Thorpe) Enos. Hle was brought up on a farm and received a good education, attending the state normal school at. Bloomington, Ill., also the state indus- trial institution at Champaign. After completing his education he taught school two terms, then turned hisatten-

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tion to the study of medieine, with a view to making that profession his life work. He entered the office of Dr. W. C. F. Hempstead, of Edwardsville, with whom he studied for a time. In 1872 he became a student at the homæo- pathie medical college of Missouri, from whence he graduated in 1874, re- eeiving the prize for surgery. He then came to Jerseyville and, opening an office on the day of his arrival, within two hours received his first call, to attend a ease of lung fever the patient being a daughter of David M. Houghton. His practice rapidly increased, and in the first eleven months of his residence here, his accounts amounted to two thousand dollars. Since Dr. Enos lo- cated in this city there have been but three days during which he has not re- eeived a eall, with the exception of one week when he was absent from the eity upon a pleasure trip. In 1881 Dr. Enos took a course of lectures on the eye and ear, at the New York Opthalmnie Hos- pital, also an operating course on the eye and ear, under the celebrated Dr. H. Knapp. He has sinee made a specialty of treating those organs. He has performed many difficult surgical operations, and always with perfect success. Although comparatively a young man, Dr. Enos stands at the head of his profession, and his reputation for skill and good judgment is well known and widespread. His success has been something remarkable, and his practice extensive and remunerative. He is a member of the Western Academy of Homeopathy, and of the American In- stitute of Homeopathy. Dr. Enos was married in 1875, to Melissa Post, daugh- ter of C. A. Post, who died in October,

1877. In 1879, Dr. Enos was married to Elizabeth Cory, daughter of Abner and Margaret Cory. They are the parents of two children, Herbert C. and Gracie E. Dr. and Mrs. Enos are men- bers of the Baptist church, and he was for six years superintendent of the Sab- bath school. He is an active temperance worker, and in 1884, was candidate for secretary of state on the prohibition ticket. He is a member of the county and state central committees. Dr. Enos eame to Jerseyville fifty dollars in debt, but has been highly successful finan- cially. He is the owner of a farm of two hundred acres, and also of town property.

Dr. Augustus R. Knapp (deceased) was born in Connectieut in the year 1801. When young, he removed to Del- aware county, N. Y., and was educated for a physician in New York city. He was married in Sehoharie county, in 1822, to Catherine Wyekoff, and the fol- lowing year removed to New York city, where he practiced medicine till 1839. At that date he came to Illinois, and lo- cated at Kane, in Greene county, where he practiced his profession five years. He then moved to Jerseyville. Here he had an extensive practice. He was a member of the constitutional eonven- tion of 1847, to revise the constitution of Illinois, In 1849 he went to Califor- nia, where he remained for a time, in search of gold, in which he was quite successful. Dr. and Mrs. Knapp had five ehildren. Charles A., who was edu- eated for a physician, went to Califor- nia, where he died in 1856; Jane A., married to H. O. Goodrich; Anthony L., who was a lawyer, Robert M., and George H., now a practicing physician

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of St. Louis. These children all re- ceived the benefits of a good education, and all of the sons became professional men, two studying law and two medi- cine. Dr. Knapp died in Jerseyville, July 13, 1862. Mrs. Knapp survived her husband till February, 1868.

Dr. Charles A. Knapp (deceased), was born in Blenheim, N. Y., July 21, 1823. Ile studied medicine with his father, and afterwards took a medieal course and graduated from MeDowell College, in St. Louis. Ile commenced practice at Kane, Ill., in 1847. Two years later he came to Jerseyville and took the practice of his father, who then went to California, and continued here until 1854. Then, on account of feeble health, he migrated to California, where he died in 1856. He was married in 1850 to Caroline Whitney, who survived. liim about 20 years. They had two children, Elnora and George A.

Joseph Ormond Hamilton, M. D., (deceased) was born in Monroe county, Ill., April 2, 1824. He is the youngest child of Thomas M. and Alpha Ham- ilton. Thomas M. Hamilton was a son of Captain Nathaniel Hamilton, who commanded a company of Green Moun- tain boys during the Revolutionary war. Thomas was born in Rutland, Vt., of Scotch and English parentage, and was reared in Ohio, whither his parents emigrated about the year 1797. In the spring of 1818 he removed with his family to Illinois, landing at Harrison- ville, on the east bank of the Missis- sippi river, on the first day of May. He located at what is now New Design, Monroe county, four miles southwest of Waterloo. On the 9th of May, 1831, he moved to the present limits of Jersey

county, settling on a traet of land in T. 7, R. 12, where he followed farming during the remainder of his life. Dr. Hamilton attended school first in Mon- roe county, then at the stone school house built at Otterville through the munificence of Dr. Silas Hamilton. In 1843 he became a student at the Ohio l'niversity, at Athens, O., remaining there two years. He then commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Silas Parker. The latter moving from Athens, he continued his studies with Dr. Wil- liam Blackstone. In 1845 he came to Jerseyville and practiced under Dr. James C. Perry, who was originally from Scotland, and a gentleman of fine attainments. Dr. Hamilton practiced with him one year, after which he lo- cated in Calhoun county. In 1846 he returned to Jersey county and taught school, in what was locally known as Buttermilk academy on Sce. 2, T. 7, R. 11. The following year he went to Louisiana and obtained a situation as teacher, after waiting for them to build a school-house, which was constructed of gum logs, sawn by negro power. He taught in Tensas parish, on Tensas river, receiving for his services, $35 per month in gold, board included. In 1849 he returned to Jersey county and attended leetures at the Medical Uni- versity of Missouri, graduating on the 4th of March, 1850, and commenced praetiee at Grafton. May 1, 1851, he was married to Margaret Perry, daugh- ter of Dr. Perry, of Jerseyville. They had six children, three of whom are deceased, and one daughter and two sons are yet living. In 1852 he entered into partnership with his father-in-law, with whom he practiced till January,

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1853. Dr. Perry died in 1858. Dr. Hamilton's death occurred, Aug. 21, 1882. He was one of the the most cel- ebrated physicians in the west. Some of his essays have been incorporated in the transactions of the American Medi- cal Association and can be found in the volumes of 1870 and 1872. He was elected president of the Illinois Medi- cal Society, convened at Peoria in May, 1871, being the first native president from Illinois. He attended as delegate, the American Medical Association at the cities of Cincinnati, New Orleans, Wash- ington, Philadelphia and San Francisco. In 1867 he was appointed surgeon for the United States pension office of this district, and acted as examining surgeon for six of the most prominent insurance companies of the United States. He was a man of great ability and untiring industry, and performed many difficult surgical operations with perfect success. He was highly appreciated at home, as well as abroad, being popular with all classes, who regarded him as a skillful physician and a gentleman of the high- est moral worth and principle.

Dr. John S. Williams, physician at Otterville, was born in Simpson county, Ky., in 1839, where he remained until fourteen years of age. He then re- moved with his mother, Lucinda (Sal- monds) Williams, to Lincoln county, Mo., his father being dead. While living here John S. attended the high school at Truxton, Mo., then entered Iowa State University, at Keokuk, grad- uating from the medical department of that institution in 1865. During that year he had charge of a ward in the hos- pital, attending sick and wounded sol- diers. He then came to Jersey county,

and located at Otterville. Here he practiced his profession until 1870, then went to St. Louis and took a course of lectures at St. Louis Medical College, graduating in 1871, after which he re- turned to Otterville where he has since remained engaged in the practice of his profession. Doctor Williams has won an enviable reputation as a physician and has an extended and remunerative practice. He was married in September, 1867, to Millie Close, a native of Illinois. They had two children-Lucy E., who died in 1882, at the age of thirteen years, and Jesse Franklin, who died in infancy. Mrs. Williams died in January, 1873. In December of the same year Doctor Williams was married to Maggie Blaik- stock, a native of Wisconsin. By this union there were two children-onc died an infant, and Dalton Hall, now living. Doctor Williams owns four hundred and twelve acres of land, and a residence in Otterville. He is a member of the State Medical Society, and of the Amer- ican Medical Association, also of the I. O. O. F., and the Masonic fraternity. He is one of the board of education, and has been coroner two terms, during which he kept the first coroner's record ever kept in this county.

James A. Flautt, M. D., was born in Maryland in 1848, and is a son of James M. and Ann C. (Althoff) Flautt, the former, a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Maryland. When he was quite young, his parents moved to Ohio, thence to Wisconsin in 1855. He re- mained in the latter state till the spring of 1870, when he went to Alton, Ill. Four years later he moved to Jersey- ville, and lived there also four years, after which he came to Otterville. Dr.

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Flautt was educated in the graded schools of Reedsburg, Wis., and at St. Joseph, O. He attended medical col- lege at Keokuk, Ia., where he graduated in 1881. He began his medical studies with Dr. Williams, of this county, in 1878. After graduating he located per- manently at Otterville, where he is now engaged in the practice of'his chosen profession. Although a comparatively new comer here, Dr. Flantt has gained the reputation of being a skillful prac- titioner, and has a lucrative practice. He was married Sept. 21, 1872, to Mary A. Deming, a native of this eounty; they have one child-Charles Edward, born August 5, 1883. Dr. Flautt owns 240 acres of land in Christian county, and 60 acres in Jersey county, all im- proved; also a fine residence property in Otterville. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and also of the I. O. O. F. As a citizen he is popular and esteemed.

Austin F. Slover, M. D., a practicing physician of Elsah township, resides on the northeast quarter of Sec. 11. He was born in Middletown, Butler county, O., June 4, 1828. In 1836 he went to Delaware county, Ind., where he ob- tained his education, and remained un- til 1850; at that date he came to Jersey county, Ill., and located at Jerseyville. Here he was married in 1853, to Mary E. Freeman, daughter of Dr. J. D. Freeman, of Jerseyville. She was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1832, and died Jan. 28, 1857, leaving one child-Mary E., who was born Jan. 18, 1857. She is now married, and is living in Mississ- ippi township, Jersey county, Ill. Dr. Slover was married in 1866, to Mrs. Agnes McAdams, and by this union has six children-Nancy J., wife of Marion

Coonrod, of Elsah township; Josephine, Robert L., Ann Louisa, Alice, Willard and Abel. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Slover is engaged in rais- ing small fruits and vegetables. He is a democrat in politics.

A. D. Erwin, M. D., was born near Rockbridge, Greene county, on the 21st of March, 1858, his parents being A. D., Sr., and Malinda (Hill) Erwin. In 1864, his parents removed to Jersey- ville, where they have since continued to reside. They gave him his prelimi- nary education in the common and high schools of Jerseyville, and he then commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. K. Van Horne, of the same town. He studied with him two years, reading medicine, and afterward attended two full courses of lectures at the Missouri Medical College, in St. Louis, where he graduated in 1882. After completing his medical education, he commenced the actual practice of medicine at Bluff- dale, Greene county, where he con- tinued until coming to Fidelity in the spring of 1884. He was married in Jerseyville on the 9th day of May, 1884, to Tillie Davis, of that town. He devotes his entire mind and attention to his business and is making a success in his chosen profession.

Dr. J. Tidball, one of the prominent physicians of Jersey county, is located in the picturesque town of Grafton. He is a native of Ohio, horn in 1848, and is the son of John and Mary L. (Rich mond) Tidball. The doctor remained in the state of his nativity until 1864, when he emigrated to Mercer county, Ill. In 1868, he removed to Monmouth, Warren county, this state, where he attended college until 1871. He then,

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to fit himself for his life's labor, attended the medical department of the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, and graduated from that noble institu- tion in 1874, with high honors, The doctor then commenced the practice of medicine, but three years later, with a devotion to his honored profession, he resolved to still further pursue his studies in the same, under competent instructors, to the end that he might attain greater eminence therein. He therefore proceeded to New York city and, entering the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, devoted himself to the study of surgery and medicine. He graduated from this noted surgical train- ing school in 1878, his attendance there being chiefly to avail himself of the unparalleled facilities afforded there for the closer study of practical surgery. On quitting the classic walls of this latest alma mater, he removed to Graf- ton, in this county, where he has al- ready built him up a large, lucrative and constantly increasing practice. As a scholar and a physician he takes rank with any in this section of the state, while as a genial companion and bed- side visitor he has but few peers. He was united in marriage, in 1874, with Ellen Montgomery, also a native of Ohio. The doctor is in politics a repub- lican, is a member of both the I. O. O. F. and A. F. & A. M. societies.

Dr. James F. Gary, practicing physi- cian of Delhi, located here in the spring of 1878. He is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Rives) Gary, both of whom were born near Frankfort, Ky., and are now living in Greenfield, Greene coun- ty, Ill. The subject of this sketch was born in Macoupin county, March 4, 1852.

He grew to manhood in his native county, receiving a liberal education. After completing his literary studies he engaged in teaching school two years, and in the meantime commenced the study of medicine. He then entered the office of Dr. J. Lane, at Barr's Store, Macoupin county, where he pursued his medical studies one year, after which he went to St. Louis and entered the American Medical College, taking a two years' course at that institution, graduating in 1878. He had, during this time, commenced the practice of his profession, at Jerseyville, but pre- vious to his graduation located at Delhi, where he now has an extensive and highly remunerative practice, and has gained the reputation of being one of the most skillful as well as one of the most successful physicians of Jersey county. He was married in Delhi, Oct. 10, 1882, to Mary Ingles, a daughter of Frederick Ingles, of Alton. They have one daughter, Etta, born July 27, 1883. Dr. Gary is a member of the State Ec- lectic Association, also of the Knights of Honor, No. 1129, of Jerseyville.

Dr. Wesley Park was born in Luray, Licking county, Ohio, on the 19th of November, 1833, his parents being Sam- uel and Lethe A. (Belt) Park. When quite young our subject moved with his parents to Granville, Licking county, where he received his education in the common schools of that place. When 16 years of age he attended the academy for one year, when he entered into a course of study at the Granville College. At the age of 19 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Spellman. He came to Marshall, Clark county, Ill. where his parents had previously moved

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and established their home. Wesley continued his course under the care of Dr. J. L. Duncan, about one year, when he commenced the course of lectures. In 1861 he was appointed acting assist- ant-surgeon with the 79th Ill. Infy. His regiment was nearly annihilated at the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and he was then assigned to the general hospi- tal, at Vicksburg, having charge of the same for the remainder of the three years of the service, with the exception of the time he was held a captive. He was captured by the Confederates and taken as a prisoner to Jackson, Miss. He was taken to Cahawba, where he was released and sent back to Vicksburg. After the war he remained about one year in the south, and on the 31st of December, 1865, he came to Jersey county, Ill., and practiced medicine until the winter of 1866, when he at- tended the Chicago Medical College, and there graduated. He then practiced in Fieldon, Ill., until 1871, when he went to Philadelphia to attend the Jefferson Medical College, of that city. He grad- uated in 1873, and has practiced since that time in Fieldon. Dr. Park is a member of the Odd Fellows order, and was a charter member of Fieldon lodge, No. 592, A. F. and A. M., of which lodge he has been worshipful master for 11 years out of the 15 of its exist- ence. He was married in Crawford county, Ill., on the 4th of January, 1855, to Miss J. E. Ward. They have three children-Arthur F., George C. and Frederick W.

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History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 19

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150