USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I > Part 47
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KANEVILLE PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.
In Kaneville we find that Dr. Stephen R. Hyslop was practicing as early as 1848, for on the Ioth of October. in that year. he was married to Miss
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Almira Burt, a Kane county lady. . .. Dr. Merritt F. Potter, a graduate of Harvard Medical College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, March 12, 1846, was practicing at Kaneville in and probably previous to 1854, and afterward located at Hinckley, DeKalb county .... Dr. Hiram T. Hardy was graduated from Dartmouth Medical College, Hanover, N. H., October 31, 1866, having begun the study of medicine at Thetford. Vermont. He served in the cavalry and artillery arms of the service during the war of the Rebellion, located at Elgin, Illinois, in 1872, and in 1873 removed to Kaneville.
VIRGIL PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.
In the township of Virgil, Dr. Strong, who came in 1856, is said to have been the first resident physician. .. . Dr. William Kennedy, who came in 1857. was a finely educated practitioner, and continued in practice until the fall of 1862, when he died .... Dr. Robert McNair, who came to Kane county in 1837, from Pennsylvania, returned to that state ten years later, studied medi- cine and practiced seven years, removing thence to Wisconsin. In 1862 he returned to Kane county, and settled in practice at Lodi (now Maple Park) .... Dr. J. W. Thompson, a graduate of the Chicago Medical College, located also in the village in 1875. He had come with his parents from Ireland to DeKalb county in 1856, and was graduated from the institution named, March 16, 1875. ... Dr. David L. Kenyon, of the same place, was graduated from the same college March 5, 1878 .... Dr. George Steurnagel became a graduate of Michigan College of Medicine March 5. 1883.
BIG ROCK PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.
Dr. J. T. H. Brady was the first doctor to locate in the township of Big Rock, coming in the spring of 1838, although he did not commence regular practice until eight years later. He soon afterward removed to Little Rock. . .. Dr. S. O. Long, from Massachusetts, lived and practiced thirty years in the township, and was universally respected. He died of consumption July 3. 1874, aged sixty years .... Dr. B. Harris was graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, February 16, 1859 .... Dr. Henry C. Sedgwick, from Ben- nett Eclectic Medical College, Chicago, March 27, 1869 .... Dr. L. J. Lamson commenced practice ahout 1861-62.
SUGAR GROVE.
The first physician in Sugar Grove has already been mentioned. Dr. Nelson H. Norris, a very successful practitioner, was graduated from Dart- mouth Medical College, Hanover, New Hampshire, in October, 1867.
RUTLAND.
In Rutland township the first settled physician was Dr. Mckay, a native of Ireland, who came about 1847 and practiced many years.
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
PLATO.
Dr. Daniel Pingree came to Kane county, from New Hampshire, in 1838, and purchased a large claim in Plato township. He studied medicine and was graduated March 22, 1849, from the Indiana Medical College at La Porte. Indiana. He practiced a number of years in California, but returned to Kane county in 1860, and had an extended ride in the region around his home, for many years .... Dr. L. S. Tyler was, however, the first regular physician in Plato, having come to Udina early in 1836, from Vermont. He came here because of finding no opening at Chicago, and was engaged in practice at Udina for eight years.
CAMPTON.
Campton township's first representative of the medical profession was Dr. John King, who came very early, and was a prominent citizen. He was also a preacher, and built a sawmill, which was never used much, owing to insuf- ficiency of power. The locality in which he lived was until recent years known as "King's Mill."
BURLINGTON.
In Burlington township. Dr. I. W. Garvin was the first doctor to locate. After practicing a number of years he went to California in 1849, and some time later returned to Illinois and settled at Sycamore .... Dr. A. J. Willing practiced a few years in Burlington village, but removed to Hampshire about 1875. and later to Wheeler. Indiana. Dr. Carl E. J. Christiansen, a native of Germany, and an assistant surgeon in the Ninth Artillery during the Franco- Prussian war, was graduated from the University of Giesses February 13. 1872. He came to the United States in 1873. upon the steamer "Atlantic," and was one of the survivors of the wreck of that ill-fated vessel. He came to Burlington township in August, 1877. . .. Dr. Carl M. Maxfield was gradu- ated from the Eclectic Medical Institution, Cincinnati, Ohio. February 8. 1870.
Dr. J. W. Stone, formerly from Michigan, was located in Burlington for a short time. beginning about 1880. He finally removed from the township.
Other physicians who have at various times practiced in the county, where some of them are still located, are included in the following list, which names also the schools from which they were graduated. in most instances :
Dr. E. W. Nash was in the county in and previous to 1847. as was also Dr. A. Gardner-the latter at Blackberry .... Dr. C. A. Jaeger. Elgin, gradu- ate of Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, March 1. 1854. ... Dr. John Joseph Crane. College Physicians and Surgeons, New York city. March I. 1876. .. . Finla McClure. Geneva, Rush Medical College, Chicago, February 15. 1876 .... Emma F. Wells, medical department University of Michigan. June 26. 1879. . . . James E. Bumstead, graduate of Chicago Medical College. in 1880. . . . William T. Putt ( Oswego) Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati. Ohio, May 12. 1874. . . . John S. Nitterauer ( Sycamore). Hahnemann Medical College. Chicago, February 26, 1880 .... Alfred Schmidt. University of Tub- ingen, Germany. November 8. 1860 .... Lorin A. Kelly. Bennett College of
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Eclectic Medicine and Surgery, Chicago, March 15, 1809. .. L. G. Hemen- way, same institution. February 21, 1877. ... Samuel R. Millard, graduate of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery .... James Bradley. Chicago Medical College, March 4, 1868 .... Hiram Hopkins, Rush Medical College, Chicago, February 17, 1885. ... Margarite Weber, Medical College of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, August 2. 1881 . . . . Alvin Platt Dewey, Rush Medical College, Chicago, February 19, 1884. ... Royal McTaggart, Syracuse Medical College, New York, February 22, 1855. .. . Charles W. Ray, Bennett Eclectic Medical College, Chicago, March 31, 1885. ... Augustus James Thibodo, Uni- versity of Trinity College. Toronto, Ontario. April 6. 1854. ... Carleton E. Starrett. Bennett Medical College, Chicago, in 1884. Died at Elgin in 1907. .. C. H. Waldschmidt, Rush Medical College, Chicago, March 20, 1877 . . . . Fred A. Larkin. Bennett College of Eclectic Medicine and Surgery, Chicago, March 23. 1886. ... Marian Elizabeth Strain, department of medicine and surgery of University of Michigan, July 1. 1886. .. . Charles V. Jenkins, Uni- versity of Buffalo, New York, in 1860. .. . Howard L. Pratt, Rush Medical College, Chicago, February 26, 1878 .... David Charles Thomas Watkins, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1887 .... Theodore D. Williams, Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, 1871 .... George Green (Bristol Station). Rush Medical College, Chicago, March 2, 1870. ... Josephine Dickes, midwifery, Le Conseil de Gouvermente du Grand Duche de Luxembourg, January 6, 1846.
In 1858 the following physicians were engaged in practice in Kane county :
At Aurora-P. A. Allaire. F. H. Van Liew. A. R. Bartlett, Stephen Bateman, George Higgins, O. D. Howell, Wesley Krymer. Mason M. Miles, Charles Naeher, Salisbury & Humphrey, L. A. Winslow and D. W. Young. J. A. Hatch. Jerome Van Allen, Otis Winslow, W. C. Winslow and Martin Woodruff were medical students.
At Batavia-C. Geisler, homeopathist; I. S. P. Lord, homeopathist; Isaac W. Lord, medical student ; Thompson Mead, T. W. Stitts, D. K. Town, H. W. Williams.
At Big Rock-Erasmus ( S. Orasmus?) Long.
At Blackberry-Hendrick Acers. L. M. Barrows and E. M. Smith.
At Dundee-Levi A. Crabtree, R. T. Goodwin, H. Gough, R. L. Hale and Luke Hale.
At Elgin-S. Guilber, B. P. Hubbard, C. A. Jaeger, Thomas Kerr, V. C. McClure, Almerin Turner, L. S. Tyler and Dr. Winchester.
At Geneva-A. T. Dusenbury. Wesley Humphrey and William Le Baron.
At Hampshire-Thomas E. Fowler.
At Kaneville-Samuel McNair and M. F. Potter.
At Lodi Station-J. B. Strong.
At Rutland-Joseph Randall and William Wiley.
At St. Charles-M. D. Coe, H. M. Crawford. O. Kinbsbury (hygeo- pathic), J. K. Lewis, William R. Miller and D. D. Waite.
At Sugar Grove-L. A. Winslow.
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS IN PRACTICE IN 1908.
E. U. Banker.
AURORA. C. W. Geyer.
O. S. Parker.
F. A. Bartlett.
George W. Haan.
I. W. Pritchard.
E. E. Bouslough.
C. H. Hitchcock.
B. J. Pulfer.
H. A. Brennecke.
W. S. Johnson.
Henry Reder.
C. E. Colwell.
R. L. Kendall.
M. S. Rice.
F. J. Coughlin.
WV. C. Langhorst.
J. S. Ricker. James Selkirk.
D. D. Culver.
J. W. MacDonald.
C. H. Cutter.
A. H. Mclaughlin.
William P. Sherman.
A. E. Field.
H. Milbacher.
E. W. Stubbs.
C. H. Franz.
J. S. Miller.
J. S. Watson.
H. G. Gabel.
Margaret D. Mitchell.
A. White.
E. H. Gale.
C. D. Mowry. W. L. Murphy.
ELGIN.
E. H. Abbott.
J. Forest Bell.
W. C. Bridge. Thomas E. McCauley. Alban L. Mann.
S. P. Brown. W. S. Brown.
R. W. Markley.
John R. Tobin.
Frank M. Brown.
D. E. Burlingame.
James M. Campbell.
Ora L. Pelton.
Alfred E. Pleavin.
S. H. Van Doren.
Anson L. Clark. George S. Dobbins. Lewis W. Dudley.
J. M. Postle. Howard L. Pratt.
Hugh H. West.
H. W. Dueringer.
James A. Rutledge.
Henry K. Whitford.
Henry J. Gahagan.
Susan K. Whitford.
Philip F. Gillette.
Jonathan M. Larson.
J. C. Augustine.
F. Wylie Nash.
F. M. Brown.
J. E. Bumpstead.
C. D. Calhoun.
O. M. Blood.
J. H. Cory. F. M. Marstellar.
BATAVIA. O. P. McNair. BIG ROCK. WV. O. Sheller. DUNDEE. H. H. Hagerty. A. W. Hinman.
H. E. Kerch.
ELBURN. W. T. Oake. R. C. Taylor. GENEVA. C. F. Read. R. G. Scott.
Mrs. Katherine Simpson. Charles E. Sisson.
Arthur B. Sturm.
John G. Tapper.
Clara L. Todson.
J. Will Murphy. Charles H. Murray.
Jane C. Trull. Pierce Tyrrell.
Ora A. Chappell.
Mrs. Katherine Pleavin.
Herbert C. Waddle. Harriett Ward.
Annie M. Spencer.
George J. Schneider. Frederick Schurmeier. C. E. Sharp.
R. A. Windett.
J. E. Garrey.
T. Simpson McCall. E. A. McCornack.
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
HAMPSHIRE. C. P. Reid. D. J. Roach.
R. R. De Witt.
E. Kirkpatrick.
KANEVILLE.
H. J. Hardy.
PLATO.
C. H. Doty.
SUGAR GROVE.
F. M. McNair.
Dentistry has made great strides the past twenty years, the American dentist being recognized the world over as the leader in this branch of medi- cine. Nearly every hamlet in the county supports a dentist, while Aurora and Elgin maintain about twenty of this profession. Osteopathy has become a regular practice, there being many osteopaths practicing in Aurora and Elgin.
CHAPTER XXII.
HISTORY OF AURORA, KANE COUNTY.
The township of Aurora occupies the southeast corner of Kane county and borders on DuPage county on the east, Kendall county on the south, and corners on the northwest corner of Will county. Its unwritten history reaches back unnumbered centuries into the unknown past, when it was the favorite home of several tribes of Indians, who lived comfortably on the wooded banks of the Fox river, whose placid waters furnished them an abundance of fish, and where the buffalo fattened on the prairies to the west, could be driven almost to their homes. Here Waubonsie, chief of the Pottawatomies, lived most of the time, particularly in the summer months, but in winter would migrate with his family to the south-as far south as the Illinois river, but returning again on the approach of spring. Shabbona, known as "the white man's friend," spent much time near Aurora, and is kindly remembered by old settlers as warning them of the approach of Black Hawk's warriors. The Winnebagoes, Sacs, Foxes and other tribes have at times made their homes in or near Aurora and it is claimed by some that the Fox river derived its name from the tribe of Indians of that name. But the Indians are all gone. They did not improve their opportunities by cultivating the soil, and, like the man with one talent told about in the Bible, who did not use what he had, it was taken away from him. So the land which the red man failed to use was taken from him and given to those who would utilize it. But they left the graves of their ancestors behind, and several mounds in Aurora and vicinity are known as Indian burying grounds. Bones and arrow heads are all that remain as evidence that the country was once inhabited by another race. The present inhabitants of the country boast of a superior civilization, yet, if for any cause this country should not be inhabited for a thousand years, northern
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
Illinois might not show any more evidences of a past civilization than now exist of the extinct Indian races, certainly not as much as exists at present in Egypt after five thousand years have passed since the inhabitants then exist- ing attempted to perpetuate the memories of their deeds to the end of time. The future antiquarian might find here an occasional knoll containing a few bricks indicating that the country had once been inhabited, but nothing else would stand the rigors of this climate for a thousand years. We cannot hope that the paper on which this history is printed can last as long as the buried papyrus in the dry, mild climate of Egypt; so the occurrences here related will be of interest and use for only a few generations, and it is probable that after two hundred years from now it will be difficult for any then living to trace their ancestry back to those now taking part in making the history of these times whose names are herein recorded. The tendency to "race suicide" will soon render many family names extinct; and blot their race and memory from the face of the earth. The population of this section of the country is con- stantly changing, many of the early settlers have migrated to other sections and thousands are moving in, coming from every part of the world. Will they form a new race by the intermarriage of the newcomers, which will crowd out the old? Will they change the laws, customs and civilization now existing ? Time alone will tell. But let it be recorded that at the beginning of the twentieth century the inhabitants of Kane county, Illinois, believe they have the best known system of government for establishing justice, the preser- vation of liberty, and the promotion of the general welfare; that they have the best known system of schools for the development of the individual to his greatest capacity ; that they have perfect freedom in religious beliefs, and that, virtually, no prejudice exists against any class or sect on account of religious views or creeds; and that they actually have the highest form of civilization ever known in this world since the dawn of history. They may have no monuments to perpetuate their memory, but they have the more enduring, unseen principles of civil and political liberty. of religious tolerance and freedom, of justice and equal rights to all, well established in the hearts and minds of the people, with the hope that these principles will never perish as long as man inhabits the earth.
The story of the early settlement has been often told and will be only briefly repeated here. A complete history of Aurora with all its institutions. industries, churches, schools, and all that goes to make the city would require a volume. Space and time are limited in the compilation of this little sketch, and errors and omissions must be pardoned.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first white settler in Aurora was Joseph McCarty, a millwright by trade, from Elmira, New York, who in April. 1834. at the age of twenty-four years "squatted" on a claim of one hundred acres on the west side of the river. just north of the island where he saw possibilities of water poper and a sawmill. He also laid claim to three hundred and sixty acres on the east side of the river and bought from another squat-
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CITY HALL. AURORA.
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
ter his claim of four hundred acres adjoining his own, paying therefor sixty dollars. This was for his brother Samuel, who was expected, and soon appeared on the scene. A log cabin 14x16 feet was soon built on the east side, and preparations were made to build a dam, which was completed in the sum- mer and autumn of 1834. Then a sawmill was erected, the "raising" of which required the services of a dozen men, which exhausted the supply for twenty miles around, and it took them three days to "raise" the frame. The first lumber sawed was for Mr. Wormley, of Oswego, and the process afforded the Indians much surprise and pleasure. They would watch the saw for hours at a time with great delight.
Before the arrival of the McCartys the Indian name of the place was "Waubonsie," in honor of the chief of that name, whose home was north of the mill, on the west side of the river-a pretty name, which ought to be perpetuated in some way. In 1835 the place became known among the whites as McCarty's Mills, and in that year the immigration to this section was quite extensive. Among the newcomers were Stephen A. Aldrich and family, R. C. Horr, who was afterwards elected justice of the peace, the first justice in town ; Dr. and Mrs. Eastman, Joseph Hamilton and family, Wilson Higgins and family, Seth Read, Theodore Lake, Zaphna Lake, R. M. Watkins and wife, Charles Bates, B. L. Philips, E. Squires, J. M. Leonard, William L. Elliot, Peter Mills, E. D. Terry, besides hosts of others. Samuel McCarty. like a thrifty manager, which he was, laid out his land into streets and town lots, leaving one block for a public park (now Lincoln park), and selling many lots to the new residents. He always insisted on calling himself "The founder of Aurora," and is entitled to the honor. in as far as laying out the "original plat of Aurora" can give it. It extended from Flagg street, on the north, to Benton street, on the south, and ran back from the river to Root street, on the east. Most of the business section of East Aurora is now included in this plat.
The early settlers formed themselves into a "Mutual Squatters' Protec- tion Society," which served to protect their rights and but little "Claim jump- ing" was known. One case is related by Augustus Harman in his little his- tory of Aurora in 1858. He says "Theodore Lake had quite a large claim west of his brother Zaphna, extending westward to the creek. A "claim jumper"-a sort of land pirate-who went about jumping claims and extort- ing money from the "squatters" to induce them to evacuate their claims, by the name of Atwater, undertook to build a frame house nor far from the creek (since named Turkey creek). Mr. Lake questioned him as to his intention, and was answered sullenly that he intended to build himself a house. Mr. Lake then called in several of the neighbors; they assembled; Mr. Lake told him he might have fifteen minutes to move his frame in; one of his friends held the watch and when the fifteen minutes were up they tore the frame down. Atwater was then asked what he wanted to do with the lumber, and he answered he had nothing to say; whereupon they loaded it on a wagon and took it down near the river, not far from Wilder's tavern, where they contemplated building a schoolhouse, and used it for finishing the inside."
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
It was hardly necessary to add that there was "very little trouble with claim jumping" after that.
In 1836 Samuel McCarty staked out a road between this place and Naper- ville, and persuaded the mail contractor to use this road in going from Chi- cago to Galena instead of the original state road, which crossed the river at Gray's, now Montgomery. The compensation was, McCarty kept the stage driver and his horses free of charge for one month. McCarty acted as a sort of sub-postmaster and handled the mails for all the neighbors. But a postoffice was needed and several consultations were held to find a suitable name for it. Several Indian names were suggested, but finally E. D. Terry suggested the classic name Aurora, which was adopted.
Burr Winton, a democrat, was the first postmaster, being appointed by Martin VanBuren, and held the office two years, and had the postoffice on the east side. When General Taylor was elected president, Mr. Winton resigned and M. V. Hall was appointed, holding the place during the Taylor administration and moved the office to the west side. When Pierce, a demo- cratic president, was elected the office was turned over to E. R. Allen, who moved it back to the east side. He turned republican and Senator Douglas had him removed and R. C. Mix appointed in his place. Mr. Mix promptly had the office removed to the west side, locating it in the Plum block, corner of Downer place and River street. This created such a storm of indignation that Mr. Mix finally built a little frame building on Stolp's island and moved the postoffice there, and thus settled for all time the question of the location of the postoffice. It has remained on the island ever since, occupying the city building until the government building was erected expressly for its use.
After 1835 the fame of the fertility of the soil spread throughout New York and New England and sturdy pioneers flocked to this land of promise by hundreds, and soon thereafter by thousands, who not only secured some of the. finest farms in the world, but who transplanted to this soil the civil and religious institutions they had enjoyed in their former homes.
Among the early pioneers who arrived in this vicinity in 1835-6-7 the following names are prominent : Isaac Van Fleet, John Peter Schneider, John Nicholas Schneider, George K. Slater, Chester P. Trask, Ashbel Culver, William Hall, Levi Leach, Joseph Means, Elihu Wright, Thompson Paxton, Fredick Stolp, Captain Slater, Addison Albee, Walter Selvy, John Barker, David Crane, Robert Hopkins, E. Squires. Sr., Hiram Hopkins, Benjamin F. Smith, John Douglas, Daniel S. Gray, William Willson, Charles McNamara, Seth Reed, Lyman Isbell, P. Y. Bliss, Joseph Stolp, John Wormley, John Lilley, Harrison Albee, George Slater, William J. Storng, Henry Stolp, John Stolp, Charles Stolp, John Warne, Wyatt Carr, Daniel Bloss, Joseph Stolp, Sr., Epaphras Clark, Charles Wagner, John VanSickle and many others.
Many interesting stories are told of the early settlers, which ought to be put in some permanent form, but for which room for only a few can be given in this volume.
Joseph McCarty, the discoverer of Aurora, did not live to see the town grow up, but being in poor health, went to Alabama for his health, where he died in the spring of 1840, aged about thirty years.
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
The first wedding in Aurora was a runaway match, the story of which has been often told, but never twice alike. A brief authentic version is this : William F. Elliot, a blacksmith, aged twenty-four, from Middlesex county, Connecticut, located a quarter section of land on the east side of the Fox river about half way between Aurora and Montgomery in 1834. He boarded at Elijah Pierce's tavern, in Montgomery, and fell in love with Mr. Pierce's daughter. His affection was reciprocated, but Mr. Pierce strenuously objected to the match. At that time the law required that the bans of marriage be announced publicly by a minister of the Gospel two weeks before the con- templated event, and Mr. Elliot saw to it that this was properly done by Elder Clark, at Naperville. Mr. Pierce was still relentless, but he had to go to Chicago for supplies for his tavern, expecting, he said, to be back before the two weeks' notice expired, but, instead, the time was up the day he started for the city. Mr. Elliot and Miss Pierce improved the opportunity by going to a neighbor's house, sending to Oswego for a justice of the peace, and had the ceremony performed in a rail pen adjoining the settler's cabin. This happened August 3, 1835, and the couple lived to a good old age on the claim on which Mr. Elliot originally located. They had many sons and daughters, some of whom are still with us, who, with their children, are highly respected citizens. It is further related that when Mr. Pierce found that he had been outwitted by Mr. Elliot, he attributed it to too much whiskey, which was among the supplies brought from Chicago, and, therefore, he rolled a barrel of the liquor outside the house, knocked in the head, letting it spill upon the ground and decided that no more whiskey should be used inside his house- a resolution which was thereafter sacredly kept.
Theodore Lake laid out the village of West Aurora in 1842 and estab- lished the first store in town. The original plat was bounded on the north by Galena street, and on the west by Lake street, and on the south by Hol- brook's addition. In a few years the plat was sold out and the proceeds laid the foundation for quite a fortune for the enterprising farmer.
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