USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 29
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fall of 1884 ran for State's Attorney in Logan County, Illinois, on this same platform, leading all the other candidates who were on the same platform with him for the various county offices.
WILFORD D. WYATT, attorney at law, Lincoln, Illinois, was born September 1, 1821, in Morgan County, Illinois, a son of William and Rachel Wyatt, and is the oldest living native of that county. He was the second white child born in the county ; the first child, a girl, died in infancy. He was reared on a farra near Jackson- ville, remaining with his parents till fourteen years of age, when, his father dying, he was obliged to depend on his own exertions for his maintenance. He worked at farming in the spring, summer and autumn months, and attended the country schools during the winter months till twenty-one years of age. Being ambitious to obtain a good education he had saved his earnings and in the fall of 1842 entered Illinois College at Jacksonville. Early in 1844 he left school and went to St. Louis, Missouri, and soon after accepted a second clerkship on a St. Louis and New Orleans steamer. In the latter part of June of the same year he obtained a situation as teacher in Phillips County, Arkansas, and taught in that county and in Coahoma County, Mississippi, until the breaking out of the Mexican war, in 1846. In the meantime he had devoted all his spare time, mornings and evenings,and during his vacations to the study of law, and while in Mississippi he for some time was employed in the clerk's office. He enlisted in the war with Mexico in a Mississippi regiment and served until its close. He returned to his home in Mississippi in July, 1848, and remained till the winter of 1849 and then removed to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and opened an office for the practice of law, and also became the editor and proprietor of the Pine Bluff Republican, a Democratic organ. He took an active part in the politics of the State until his health failed, in 1853, when he sold out his printing office, returned to Illinois and located at Carrollton, Greene County, where he practiced law, and also in 1855 and 1856 edited the Greene County Democrat. When the State Legislature con- vened in 1857 he was elected first assistant secretary of the Senate, and at that time removed to Lincoln, where he has since lived. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he recruited and took to Camp Yates the Lincoln Guards, the first Illinois company in camp. The company was assigned to the Seventh Illinois In- fantry, the first infantry of the State recruited for the war, and be was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment. At the
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expiration of his term of service (three months) he returned home and resumed the practice of his profession. In October, 1879, he was appointed master in chancery of the Circuit Court of Logan County and has been re-appointed three times, still holding the position. Mr. Wyatt ranks high in the legal profession, both as a special pleader and as a reliable counselor, and is eminently fitted for the responsible position he now occupies.
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CHAPTER X.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS .- PHYSICIANS OF THE PAST .- LINCOLN, MT. PULASKI AND ATLANTA. - PHYSICIANS OF THE PRESENT .- BIO- GRAPHICAL.
The life of a medical practitioner in a newly settled country is generally one of toil and hardship. Compensation is usually meager, and however extensive may be the physician's practice, much of it must be rendered gratuitously on account of the pov- erty of his patients. A strong constitution and abundant patience is requisite to success, and success frequently means on the part of the physician inerely the consciousness that he has performed his duty well. Many of those who first ministered to the sick in this county were not graduates of any medical institution, and would not to-day be recognized as competent physicians; but they exercised what knowledge they had in the interests of suffering humanity, and deserve credit for what they did. As the county grew in population, the number of physicians increased, and in a few years all the settlers had reliable medical advisers within a short distance from their homes.
Fever and ague was the chief complaint, and by far the most frequent among the early settlers. It was especially prevalent in the region lying along Salt Creek, Aside from this disease, from which few pioneer settlements in the West were ever entirely free, there was little sickness. The early settlers were generally men and women of strong constitutions and robust health. They never called a doctor unless their symptoms were alarming, but instead relied upon the efficacy of herb teas and other simple remedies. Had it not been for fever and ague, doctors would have had but little to do. That disease disappeared as the country improved, and now few portions of the country can boast of a healthier cli- mate and population than Logan County. No great epidemics have ever visited the people. There is nothing in the condition of air or climate to cause disease; and the present generation is free (321)
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from inherited taints, and blest with good habits and vigorous health.
The physicians of Logan County have generally been men of more than average ability in their profession. Not a few have been men of culture and extensive scholarship. The present prac- titioners are almost without exception reckoned among the most honorable citizens, and in their professional character are possessed of judgment, faithfulness, knowledge and skill such as entitled them to rank among the most useful members of society.
LINCOLN.
The first physician to locate at this point was Dr. H. P. Kelso, who came about the time Lincoln was first projected, and practiced here till his death, which occurred during the war. He was not highly educated, but was a plain, practical man, of good judgment, and was personally popular. Though he enjoyed a good practice, he died poor. A Dr. Blackburn tarried here also a few years, leaving just before the war. He was considered a fair "country doctor," not brilliant but a good, reliable man. He enjoyed a mod- erately large practice, not equal to that of Dr. Kelso. Dr. J. H. Beidler, afterward of Mt. Pulaski, was another ante bellum phy- sician of Lincoln. Then there was a Dr. Fuller, not a very reliable man, who left after a few years' residence. Drs. A. and R. S. Miller, brothers, located here about 1860, were considered competent, and enjoyed a fair practice during their stay. The former is now in Macoupin County, and the latter in Montana Territory. Dr. Joseph C. Ross, a surgeon in the army during the late war, came to Lincoln after the expiration of his term of service and practiced here till his death in 1884. He was a partner of Dr. A. M. Miller for five years. He was well educated, being the possessor of the degree of M. A. from Miami University, and had an excellent pro- fessional training. He was a popular man, enjoyed a good prac- tice and accumulated some property. The above named are the best remembered of the members of the medical profession who have resided in Lincoln but have closed their labors here; the roll of present practitioners includes Drs. A. M. Miller, Samuel Sargent, L. L. Leeds, H. B. Brown, T. Newkirk, H. K. Ehrlick, R. N. Wilson, W. W. Howser, T. W. Primm, Charles Fusch (Hom.) and Kate Miller.
MT. PULASKI.
Dr. Barton Robinson, one of the original proprietors of this
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village was an Englishman, born in London about 1800. He came to Sangamon County, this State, in an early day, and thence here in 1836, where he practiced till 1856 or 1857. He then went to Cairo, but afterward returned for a short stay before going to Paris, Kansas, in which State he is now located. He was a repu- table citizen and a good physician for his day. Dr. Granville Fain came in the " forties," and practiced until about 1860. He is still living in Mason County. He was well read, but an eccen- tric man, and his hobbies made him rather unpopular. A Dr. Dickinson died here in 1854, after about ten-years practice. Dr. John Clark came about 1846 or '47 and followed farming in con- nection with the practice of medicine until his death. Though he had no diploma, he was a Christian gentleman, popular, cautious and safe. He deserves to be remembered as a prominent and pub- lic-spirited citizen. Dr. Samuel Sargent came from Waverly, Ohio, about 1854. Dr. John C. Mershon came in the "forties" from Akron, Ohio, went to Michigan in 1858; thence to Ohio; re- turned here in 1882, and one year later removed to Peoria. Dr. Wemple came in 1856, and was for a time in partnership with Dr. Sargent in the drug business. The latter is now practicing medi- cine at Lincoln. Dr. or Major Wemple has not practiced since the war. Dr. J. H. Beidler moved from near Philadelphia to Ohio in 1852, and practiced at Chillicothe for a few years. In 1857 he came to Logan County with S. Linn Beidler, was at Lincoln several .years, and then fixed his residence at Mt. Pulaski. He held for two terms the office of superintendent of schools. Dr. J. N. Pumpelly came here from Atlanta in 1859, and practiced until his death, twenty years later. He stood very high in the community. Dr. A. H. Lanphier, now of Kansas City, came in 1859 and re- mained two or three years. He then removed to Springfield, where he had a large practice, being an excellent physician. He was afterward connected with a chemical establishment, and later went to Kansas City. While at Mt. Pulaski Dr. Lanphier was a partner of Dr. A. N. Fellows, who caine also in 1859. Dr. Fellows joined the army as a surgeon, and after his return went to Lincoln whence he went to Parsons, Kansas, having acquired a fair repu- tation. Dr. T. C. Bryan, from Jacksonville, located here in 1866, and in the winter of 1871-'2 died of confluent small-pox-the only case ever in Mt. Pulaski. Dr. M. P. Phinney came about 1873, and is yet in practice. Dr. W. S. Mendenhall, of Indianapolis, located here in 1877, and two years later left. He is now at Win-
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field, Kansas. Dr. P. H. Oyler, of Indianapolis, came about 1877 or '78, and in the latter year came Drs. C. F. Poppele and E. C.' Nolan. Dr. Geo. W. Ebrite has been here since 1880, and Dr. T. C. Meads since 1881.
ATLANTA.
Before this place was even projected, two physicians lived in this neighborhood, and practiced till their death. The first was Dr. Win, an educated man, and a graduate. The second was Dr. Proctor, who lived at Mt. Hope, and had an extensive practice for many miles in every direction. The first to locate at Atlanta was a Dr. Rankin, who located about 1852, and three or four years later went South. He is now in Northern Illinois. Though a man of good judgment, he was not highly educated, and did but little here. The second arrival in Atlanta was Dr. George M. Angell, who came in the spring of 1853 and has practiced con- tinuously since, except three years. The third was Jerome Tenney, who had resided at Armington for many years. He graduated at Jacksonville, came here in 1854, and remained until 1881, when he went to Florida. He was an A. B. and an M. D., was a good physician and did well here. He served in the late war as a Lieu- tenant of cavalry. Dr. Kirk, still practicing, came about the same time with Dr. Tenney. A Dr. Johnson was here " off and on " five or six years before the war, and then settled at McLean, where he died. Dr. Stewart came soon after the close of the war, in which he attained the rank of Colonel. He had been in medical practice at Waynesville before the war. He resided here until 1877, when he went to Texas, and is now following his profession there. Though not a graduate, he was a bright man, had a good knowledge of his business, and acquired a fair practice. Dr. White came soon after Stewart, and left in 1875 or '76. He was a very capable man and a graduate from Philadelphia. He kept a drug store here for a time. His practice was not extensive. Dr. Benjamin F. Gardner came about fifteen years ago and is still here. Drs. Serieux and Voke were homeopathic physicians, each remain- ing at Atlanta several years. The physicians now practicing here are: Drs. W. F. Kirk, B. F. Gardner, G. M. Angell, A. Bartholo- mew, C. M. Hough, G. W. Dunn and J. L. Lowry.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JOHN R. BARNETT, M. D., was born in Williamstown, Kentucky, Feb. 14, 1852, a son of Thomas A. and Amnarias (Vance) Barnett,
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who were also natives of Kentucky. The family removed from Kentucky to Indiana, and in 1867 came to Logan County, Illinois, settling at Latham. Jobn R. was reared to farming pursuits, and for many years worked by the month for farmers. He was edu- cated in the common schools, and also Lincoln University. He subsequently taught school four years, and while engaged in teach- ing at Middletown, commenced reading medicine with Dr. W. C. Maull as preceptor. In 1878 he entered Rush Medical College, from which he graduated Feb. 21, 1881, and in June of the same year he located at Hartsburg, succeeding Dr. L. Loda, where he has a large and lucrative practice. The Doctor has been twice married. In 1879 he was married to Mary Reed, danghter of Dr. T. M. Reed, of Middletown. She died three months after her marriage. In January, 1884, our subject married Mary Morris, of Columbus Grove, Ohio. To this union has been born one son-Clarence M. In politics Dr. Barnett is a staunch Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Lincoln, and superintendent of the Sunday-school at Hartsburg. He is a Master Mason and a member of the Odd-Fellow's order, and Ancient Order of United Workmen, having represented the latter order in the grand lodge of the State for four years. He is also a member of the corps of surgeons of the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railroad.
AMOS BARTHOLOMEW, physician of Atlanta, was born Oct. 12, 1808, in Jefferson County, Ohio. His parents, Moses and Eliza- beth Bartholomew, were natives of Maryland and Virginia, respect- ively, coming to Jefferson County in 1805, where Amos was born and brought up to manhood. He received his primary education in the subscription schools of his native county, and at the age of twenty-two he entered what is now known as Capital University at Columbus, Ohio, from which he graduated after an attendance of three years, in the meantime preparing himself for his ministerial duties. Since that time he has labored zealously for the cause of religion for many years, and at various periods has held important offices in the Presbytery. In the fall of 1868 he resigned his pas- torate at Belle Center, Ohio, where he was at that time settled pastor. He then came to Mason City, Illinois, and began the practice of medicine, being the first physician to introduce Home- opathy into Mason County. In 1870 he received a call from the church at Williamsville, Sangamon County, where he remained but a short time, and in 1872 he received a call from the presbytery
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to the Presbyterian church of Atlanta, where, in connection with his pastoral duties, he began the practice of medicine, which he has followed with success. He was first married in Ohio in April, 1835, to Eliza Ann Landes, by whom he has had seven children; three are still living-William A., Mary L. and Almira L. He was again married in Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1871, to Isabel C. Munce. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has filled many of the important offices of that society, and was a charter member of Cypress Encampment, No. 10, of Zanesville, Ohio. He has spent a life of usefulness worthy of imitation, and the good he has accomplished will undoubtedly have its influence on future generations.
DR. JOHN CLARK, deceased, was a son of David and Sallie (Wi- nans) Clark, and was born in Miami County, Ohio, November 25, 1810. David Clark, born August 28, 1776, in Essex County, New Jersey, removed to Kentucky in 1798, aud in 1800 married Rachel Rutter, who died four years later. In 1805 he removed to what is now Cincinnati, and made the brick for the first brick house erected in the embryo city. The following year he was married in Somerset County, New Jersey, to Sallie Winans, born October 25, 1788, and in 1809 settled in Miami County, Ohio, coming thence to Sugar Creek, Sangamon County Illinois. Our subject, John Clark, came with them, and, a year later, returned to Miami County, Ohio, where he married in August, 1830, Eliza Tremain, born May 24, 1810, in New York State. For about twelve years they engaged in farming in Sangamon County, then coming to Mount Pulaski, where Dr. Clark began the practice of his profession, he having studied medicine in his native county and graduated from the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati. He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1828 and was trustee of the Mount Pulaski Methodist Episcopal Church from its organization to his death. He was County Commissioner of Logan County for four years aud Justice of the Peace seventeen years, during which time he married eighty-four couples. He died January 28, 1877, and is buried in Mount Pulaski Cemetery. His widow is still living in Mount Pulaski.
GEORGE W. DUNN, physician and surgeon of Atlanta, was born in Richmond, Yorkshire, England, June 29, 1841, a son of Richard and Ann Dunn. He received his primary education in the Rich- mond corporation school, and at the age of thirteen years he was apprenticed as a pupil teacher in the Richmond parish school
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where he remained five years, and passed every annual Government examination successfully, receiving his Government certificate in 1860. In 1860 he came to America, and after spending a short time in South Adams, Massachusetts, went to New York where he was employed a few months in the office of the American Temper- ance Union. He was then appointed to take charge of Millburn sta- tion, in the Newark, New Jersey, Methodist Episcopal Conference preaching there till the following September. He was then re- ceived into the North Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was stationed at Republic, Seneca County, Ohio, one year, after which he was stationed at Melmore for the same time. He was then transferred to Avon, Lorain County, and a year later was sent to Port Clinton, remaining there one year. He then became pastor of the church at Monticello, Lewis County, Missouri, where he preached about sixteen months. The two years following he spent on his farm in Lewis County, and in 1869 he was appointed to La- mar circuit for one year after which he was on Medoc circuit. For several years he had devoted his leisure time to the study of medi- cine, and in 1872 he graduated from the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, being the valedictorian of his class. The same year he located at Georgia City, Jasper County, Missouri, where he engaged in the practice of medicine. In 1874 he located near Neosho, Missouri, thence to Lamar, Missouri, removing from the latter place in 1877 to Forest City, Macon County, Illinois. In 1879 he came to Atlanta, Logan County, where he has since fol- lowed his profession. He has secured a large practice and is classed among the leading practitioners of Logan County. The Doctor is still actively engaged in advancing the interests of the church, and for two years he served efficiently as president of the Logan County Christian Temperance Union. He is now president of the Logan County Sabbath-school Association. September 10, 1863, he was married to Kate Shaffner, of Seneca County, Ohio. This union has been blessed with six children-Harry W., A. Lin- coln, Kingsley G., Anna K., Dora D. and Richard M. Richard is deceased. In politics Dr. Dunn votes the Prohibition ticket.
GEORGE W. EBRITE, A. M., M. D., was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1840. His father was a teacher, and owned a farm, where George W. spent his early life. At the age of fifteen he entered the Lebanon Academy, and later the Jonestown Col- legiate Institute, where he studied two years. He then attended, for one year, the Lebanon Valley College, afterward entering
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Dartmouth College, from which historic institution he received the degree of A. B. in 1866. During 1867 he attended a course of lectures in the Long Island College Hospital, then entering the medical department at Dartmouth, from which he received his diploma in 1869, and the following year the degree of A. M. He practiced at Taylorville, Pennsylvania, for four years; at Gordon, Pennsylvania, eighteen months, eight years at Ashland, Pennsyl- vania, and in September, 1882, moved to Mt. Pulaski, Illinois.
During the campaign of 1884 he edited the Mt. Pulaski Cit- isen, in advocacy of the election of President Cleveland. Dur- ing the civil war, Dr. Ebrite enlisted in the Penn Reserves, and took part in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Mechanics- ville, Gaine's Mill, Savage Station, Frazier's Farm, Malvern Hill, etc. His horse was shot from under him at the battle of Antietam. He served three years, and was made Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps, where he served for some time. Dr. Ebrite makes a specialty of difficult cases of surgery, which branch of the pro- fession is his pride. He has successfully treated a dozen bad cases of fracture, among which was that of George Hasselman, whose skull was so split, by a runaway accident, as to cause part of the brain to protrude. Another case is that of the young son of George Mier, a lad of ten, whose skull was similarly opened by the kick of a horse. Both entirely recovered after three or four months' treat- ment. Other cases might be mentioned, but these will suffice. The Doctor is a member of the Brainerd District and Mississippi Valley medical societies. He is a Master Mason. He married Miss Sarah M., daughter of David Hanna, at Penn Hall, Penn- sylvania, her birth-place. They have five children. The Doctor is a member of the Lutheran church.
WILLIAM BASSETT FISH, M. D., medical superintendent of the Illinois Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children, at Lincoln, Illinois, is a native of Massachusetts, born at Lee, Berkshire County, Septem- ber 28, 1850, a son of William Tully and Harriet Rebecca (Bas- sett) Fish, the former a native of Connecticut, of English descent, and his mother of Massachusetts, of Puritan ancestry, tracing her descendants to the Mayflower. He was given a good education in his native town, and when about fifteen years of age went to sea in a whaling vessel, being in that service a year. He then was in the Merchants' service of the United States Navy over two years, when in the latter part of 1869 he returned home, and engaged in the manufacturing business with his father at Lee. In 1871 the
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business was discontinued, and he was employed as bookkeeper by the Holley Manufacturing Company at Lakeville, Connecticut, till 1876, when at the solicitation of Dr. Henry M. Knight, Superin- tendent of the Connecticut Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, went to New York City and began the study of medicine, with the view of fitting himself for the care and treatment of that un- fortunate class. He attended lectures at the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, New York City, and the Albany Medical College, graduating from the latter in March, 1879. He then spent a year in practice at Albany, and in 1880 was appointed superintendent of the Pennsylvania Institution for Feeble-Minded, at Elwyn, where he remained till October 4, 1883, when he was appointed by the Board of Trustees, medical superintendent of the Illinois Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children, at Lincoln. Dr. Fish was married February 14, 1882, at Haverhill, Massachusetts, to Miss Jessie H. Stewart. They are members of the Episcopal church.
WILLIAM B. GUTTERY, M. D., Middletown, Illinois, was born in Boone County, Indiana, May 7, 1850, a son of Milliken and Re- becca (Stevenson) Guttery. In 1865 his parents came to Logan County, and settled in East Lincoln Township, where they still live. In 1869 he entered Lincoln University and was a student there about three years. He then began teaching and followed that occupation five years. In the meantime he devoted his leisure time to the study of medicine, reading with Drs. W. W. House and H. B. Brown. In the fall of 1879 he entered the St. Louis Medical College and graduated in March, 1881. Four days after his graduation he located in Middletown where he has built np a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Guttery married Mary Jane, daughter of James Johnson, of Sheridan Township. They have two children-Walter Milliken and Sadie E.
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