USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens > Part 45
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Robert W. Mckinney, attorney, of Bushnell, has been engaged in practice for some 40 years, and since 1876 has been located at Bushnell. He was ad- mitted to the bar in Franklin, Ohio, where he first began practicing his pro- fession. Three years later, in 1845, he went to Canton, Illinois, where he en- gaged in teaching school for one year. From there he removed to Nauvoo, and in 1876 came to Bushnell as before stated. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, February 5, 1817, and was united in marriage with Mary S. Peck on the 15th of May, 1841. They are now the
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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
parents of five children - Hannah E., Elizabeth R., William C., Charles E. and Robert M. Mrs. McKinney died in March, 1882.
George Fox, attorney and notary pub- lic of Bushnell, is a native of Ohio, and was born in 1850. When he was 15 years of age, his parents removed to McDonough county. He was admitted to the bar June 5, 1877, at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and then began practicing his profession in Bushnell. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On June 12, 1873, Alice D. Finley became his wife.
George S. Doughty, of the firm of Barnes & Doughty, attorneys, is a native of Atlantic county, New Jersey, and was born February 11, 1846. By trade he was a carpenter, which he followed until 1871, when he began reading law under Barnes & Sanders. He graduated from the law department of the state univer- sity, at Albany, New York, and was there admitted to the bar. The same year he was admitted to the McDonough county bar, and one year later returned to his trade.' In 1880 he became a member of the before mentioned firm, and has con- tinued practice ever since. October 31, 1875, he was married to Zerilda Barnes, a daughter of A. E. Barnes.
George S. Fuhr, practicing lawyer, located in Blandinsville, December 24, 1875. He is a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, born May 28, 1849. He came to this county when 11 years old. He obtained his early educa- tion in the common schools and supple- mented it by a course at the high school in Macomb. He began reading law in
that city and after five years study, was admitted to the bar in Springfield, in January, 1874. Since coming to Blan- dinsville, he has been editor and pro- prietor of what is now the Democrat, but is now devoting his time entirely to the practice of his profession.
Robert S. Randall was admitted to the bar in 1863, while a resident of Bush- nell, having studied that profession in the office of W. H. Neece, of Macomb, and practiced for many years in the town of Bushnell. He is a native of Washington county, Missouri, born March 18, 1831. He remained at home until he was some 19 years of age, when he moved to Fulton county, Illinois. This was in 1850. He was engaged in teaching school and farming while there, and in 1857, came to this county, locat- ing in Bushnell, and studying for his profession as above stated. He has en- tirely retired from practice at this date, and devotes time to looking after his opera house and other investments. He was married July 8, 1858, to Abbie Miner, and has one son -- Henry L.
David Chambers, of the firm of San- ders & Chambers, is a native of Ohio, born November 22, 1846. When but seven years old, his parents removed to near Marietta, Fulton county, Illinois, where he was reared on a farm till 1864. At this time he enlisted in the service of the United States, in company D, 127th Illinois infantry. In August, he was captured at Memphis, Tennessee, and was incarcerated in the rebel prison till March, 1865, at which time he was mus- tered out of the service at Springfield. He returned to Fulton county, and en- gaged in teaching school. He attended
.
Joseph & Porter
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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
the State Normal school at Bloomington two years, after which he engaged in teaching till 1881, at this time he en- tered the State university at Iowa City, Iowa, completing a law course there, and received degrees in 1882. Returning to Illinois, he was admitted to the bar at the Springfield supreme court, Judge
John Scofield presiding. His first prac- tice was in Astoria for about six months, when he formed a co-partnership with T. J. Sanders, as above stated. He was married, to Mary Bevins, December 31, 1873, and two children-John M. and Nellie, have blessed the union.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Voltaire has said that a physician is the most unfortunate of men, as he is expected to cure men, and keep them well, when they violate the very laws of their existence, every hour of their lives. Hence the life of the active practitioner in the healing art is no sinecure, at the best, as any one who has followed the profession can testify. Twenty-five to thirty years ago it was rather a serious matter to be a physician and to make the long and toilsome rides, through this then newly and sparsely settled country, when there were scarcely any roads, and no bridges, and the adven- turous disciple of Galen was frequently lost on the wide prairie, and aften floun- dered through sloughs. Often in the muddy days of spring or fall, he found, on emerging from some particularly miry place, that his girth was broken, or some equally important part of the har- ness damaged, and alone on the wide
expanse of wind swept prairie, with night coming on, he must stop and re- pair it, with fingers numbed with the cold and energies exhausted by a hard day's labor.
The medical profession is an honor- able one if conducted in an honorable manner. John Quincy Adams called it "the most honorable of the professions." And one of our eminent physicians in speaking of it, uses the following words:
"The doctor certainly feels proud to relieve the pain and distress of his pa- tients; to soothe the dying pillow, and to comfort the afflicted friends. But the people are sometimes imposed upon by pretenders, who claim to cure all the 'ills flesh is heir to,' and to raise the dead, but we think the days of miracles have passed-are there too many doc- tors, or has the profession lost all honor? The people seem to be growing weaker and wiser, but at the expense of vigor-
24
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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
ous health-the system of cramming in school does not fit the young man for a useful life, nor the young woman to be a good staunch helpmate. Was the boy bright and clever, that was sufficient rea- son for the forcing and cramming him- so far, however, as that goes, the boys have a certain conservatism about them that prevents them from committing sui- cide by excessive brain work. The poor girls, with their finer organizations are the unfortunate victims. How often does the doctor have interesting lady patients, who talk beautifully, as they recline upon the sofa, but who, when married and mothers of a single child, probably are unequal to the task of a household, or the care of a family.
"Our great grandmothers got their schooling during winter months, and let their brains lie fallow for the rest of the year. They knew less of Euclid and the classics, than about housekeeping, and about how housework should be done, but they made good wives and mothers, and bore sturdy sons and buxom daughters, and plenty at that.
"From the age of eight to fourteen our daughters spend most of their time, in the unwholesome air of the recita- tion room, or poring over their books, when they should be at play. When re- leased from school, within a year it may be she becomes engaged to some unwary youth, who, bewitched by her face, and charmed by her intelligence, sees not the frail body and butterfly down, he weds her, to find she has brought him a dower of ill-health, with a large outfit of head- aches and spineaches. Unequal to the task, she at first tolerates, and then loathes the domestic ties; the trouble
follows, both are unhappy whether they remain together or not, or obtain di- vorces, and change mates, the doctor be- ing a perpetual witness to the vices and follies, and their fatal results. Some may say doctors are opposed to educa- tion. Not so. But we do not believe in educating the mind at the expense of the body, thereby producing a weak and effeminate race of people. Therefore, less cramming in school, more out-door exercise, and riding on horseback and walking, also invigorates the body, de- velops the muscular system, strengthens the nerves, promotes the health and ap- petite, and is a great pleasure to the per- sons so inclined. Planting trees, shrub- bery, and otherwise beautifying our homes, than which nothing can be more pleasing and satisfactory to ourselves, and to those who admire such things- and who does not?"
The people owe certain duties to the physician, and the physician owes cer- tain duties to the people, and the way these duties are performed, stamps the standing both of the practitioner and the people.
In all ages of the world, among civil- ized and uncivilized people, the medical profession has been held in high esteem. Whether it be the learned professor, who has studied the science of medicine in all of its branches, or the "great medi- cine man" of the untutored savages, who from actual experience has made discov- eries of the healing powers of herbs and roots, honor awaits him upon every hand, while the life and death of every human being is virtually placed in his keeping. The weary patient lying upon a bed of pain, and the no less weary
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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
watcher by his side, wait anxiously for the coming of the "good doctor," and, on his arrival, note his every movement and every expression of countenance for a ray of hope.
The medical fraternity of McDonougli county have, with few, if any exceptions, been an honor to the profession. They have ever been ready to respond to the call of duty. The winter's cold, the summer's heat, or the rains of spring and autumn, could not keep them back when the cry of distress reached their ears. Not a physician in the county, especially among those who settled here at an early day, but has experienced sufferings that would have deterred those in any other profession, in re- sponse to a summons to attend the bed- side of a sick and suffering one. They have been compelled to cross trackless prairies, to face blizzards from the north, often with no hope of fee or reward, but only, if possible, to relieve those who plead for their care. All this has been done by the physicians of McDonough county without complaint. If the good deeds of the profession are not remem- bered by those who have received aid, a time will come when they will be rec- ollected.
In the following review of the medical profession in the various towns and cities of the county, some of the most promi- nent doctors, who have practiced only for a short time, will be noticed first, and then the representatives of the profes- sion in 1885.
PHYSICIANS OF MACOMB.
The first disciple of the healing art that came to Macomb to locate, was a
Doctor J. L. Shuff, who was also the first in the county. He came here either in the fall of 1831, or the spring of 1832. He was of the old allopathic school, a regular graduate of Transylvania univer- sity, of Lexington, Kentucky, and a fair practitioner. This country proving en- tirely too healthy for him he only re- mained a short time, leaving here in the spring of 1833.
He was succeeded by Dr. Jason Dun- can, a man of good attainments, who is now practising his profession in Knox- ville, Illinois.
Dr. Charles Hays, one of the most eminent of the practitioners of the earlier days of the county, came to McDonough county in 1833, purchasing a farm in what is now Scotland township. In 1835, he removed to Macomb, and open- ing an office, entered upon the duties of his profession, and for nearly 40 years practiced in that village and city. This was no sinecure, for often he had to make long journeys across the prairies to see some suffering wretch, amid storm and snow, or rain and mud. He was a native of Virginia, born in 1790, but early in life moved to Kentucky, where he studied medicine under some of the best physicians of that time and state. He practiced some years in Kentucky, but came to this locality directly from there. He is spoken of as somewhat rough in his manner, but a most excel- lent physician. He died in Macomb, on the 21st of September, 1870.
Dr. W. A. Huston was a native of In- diana, and came to McDonough county at a very early date. He located first at Blandinsville, but in 1862 came to Ma- comb, and entered into practice. In
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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
June, 1864, he entered the service of the United States government, as surgeon of the 137th infantry, and died on the 25th of June of the same year, at Mem- phis, Tennessee, just 20 days after the date of his commission.
Among the early physicians of the county was Doctor Meredith C. Archer. His father settled in Bethel township in 1832, where the future doctor worked at the anvil as a blacksmith. He was born in Casey county, Kentucky, in March, 1818. While engaged at his work, he studied hard and finally fitted himself for his profession. In 1860, he married Caroline Hotchkiss. He opened an of- fice in Colchester, but removed to Ma- comb some time in the early thirties. He died in the latter city June 22, 1882.
The first physician of the homœopathic school to locate in the city of Macomb was Dr. R. H. McFarland, who came there about 1854. After practicing there for a time he removed to Prairie City, where he resided until the breaking out of the war, when his sympaties being with the confederate government, he re- moved to Kentucky, his native state. He is now a resident of Florida.
Following him, the next to practice medicine by the rules of this school was Dr. Beverly R. Westfall. He was born in Troy, Ohio, August 11, 1824. In 1846, his parents removed to this county and located upon a farm in Macomb town- ship. Beverly came to Macomb the same year, where he taught school, and at the same time studied medicine. In 1847, he was united in marriage with Ellen Hays, daughter of Dr. Charles Hays, one of the leading physicians of the county, and returned to Thornton, Indiana,
where he had once lived and practiced medicine according to the allopathic school. In 1848, he returned to Ma- comb, and practiced as an old school physician, attending the Rush medical college, of Chicago, at the same time, and obtained a certificate of graduation. In 1855, after having given the subject much thought and a thorough investi- gation of the principles governing, the doctor changed his course of treatment, adopting the homeopathic method, which for many years he successfully practiced in Macomb, having a practice second to but few in the state, and extending throughout this and adjoining counties. As a physician he met with remarkably good success, especially after he adopted the homeopathic method of treatment, and no physician in this part of the state ranks higher in the profession, or among the masses of the people. In order to perfect himself in the surgery and be- come more thoroughly posted in the great improvements being made in the medical world, in 1867 he attended a course of lectures in Hahneman medi- cal college, Chicago, and from that in- stitution received a diploma of doctor of medicine.
Realizing the necessity existing for the improvement of our stock, especially the farm horse, Dr. Westfall was the first from the county to engage in the im- portation of blooded horses from the old world. In 1870, he crossed the ocean to France, and in that country secured four as fine animals as were ever im- ported into the country. In securing these horses, he experienced the good fortune in having them purchased and placed upon the vessel just a day or two
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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
before the Emperor Napoleon issued his order forbidding any further exporta- tion, and just before the war occurred which occasioned the overthrow of the empire. Again, in 1873, the doctor re- turned to Europe, securing three more equally as fine and perfect as those first imported. In this we have the begin- ning of the importation of fine stock from the old world, and an enterprise which has been taken up by others until Mc- Donough county now ranks among the first in the state, with respect to blooded stock.
In the summer of 1884, Dr. Westfall and family removed to Spokane Falls, Washington territory, on account of the ill health of his daughter. He is a res- ident of that place still.
The third was a Doctor M. J. Chase, who remained here about two or three years, when he left. He is now engaged in practice in Galesburg, this state.
The next was a Doctor Baker, who came from St. Louis. His stay was not protracted, he remaining but a short time, going to Adrian, Michigan.
Doctor W. O. Blaisdell was the next in this school to locate in Macomb, and is still a resident of that beautiful city.
Dr. James B. Kyle, (deceased), was among the early physicians of the county, having come here January 10, 1835. He was a native of Ohio, and was born in Miami county, September 20, 1808, which at that time was a frontier county, of a frontier state. His advan- tages for obtaining an education were limited, for at that early day, the public school system was not the same as is now enjoyed. He nevertheless through industry, perseverance and personal ap-
plication, managed to acquire a good English education, so that he became, before arriving at his majority, a com- petent school teacher, and found em- ployment as such, by means of which he was enabled to pay his expenses, while preparing for the medical profession to which he devoted his life. He read medicine for three years 'with Uriah Farquhar, at New Carlisle, Clark county, Ohio ; attended lectures at the Ohio medical college at Cincinnati; gradu- ated at Kemps college, St. Louis, Mis- souri; practiced one year at Carlisle, and then came to this county. He was mar- ried to Sarah P. Rice, July 19, 1836. She is a daughter of Benjamin Rice, of Greene county, Kentucky. They had six children, three sons and three daugh- ters. July 24, 1862, he was appointed surgeon of the 84th Illinois volunteer infantry, and remained in the service until his regiment was discharged, June 17, 1865. Such was his skill as a phy- sician, that during his term of service, he was detailed both as brigade and division surgeon, and at one time had charge of one of the general hospitals at Nashville. With the exception of the time that he was in the army, and a short time at Monmouth, he resided, and practiced medicine in this county, and was esteemed as a first-class practicioner. Dr. Kyle was a kind hearted man, ever ready to minister to the afflicted. When called to the bedside of the sick he stop- ped not to inquire as to the probability of getting paid for his services. He went wherever and whenever humanity called, and the rich and poor fared alike at his hands. By this kind and humane course, pursued in his practice, he
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doubtless lost many more thousand of dollars, than his estate was worth at the time of his death, and yet he always had enough, and to spare of this world's goods, and he left his family a hand- some property. For 43 years, he was an energetic citizen of Macomb, always taking an active part in every enterprise which promised to advance the interests of the county. In 1852 he made, with others, an active canvass in favor of the railroad, making speeches in every pre- cinct of the county, and the success of that measure was, in a great degree, owing to the able manner in which he presented the matter to the people. In political matters he always took an active interest, and was governed by his con- victions of right, rather than by motives of policy or pecuniary benefit. He came to this state a whig, and continued to act with that party until it was dis- banded in 1856, at which time he gave his influence to the support of Fillmore, and was a candidate of that party for congress. He subsequently became a re- publican, and continued to support the measures of that party through the re- mainder of his life. In 1861 he was elected mayor of the city of Macomb, and some years afterward represented the city on the board of supervisors, and was a member when the new court house was built. Thus it may be seen that Dr. Kyle was a man of considerable influence in this city and county, and his death, which occurred June 1, 1878, was mourned by a large circle of friends. He was buried in Oakwood cemetery with Masonic honors, having been a member of that order many years. His widow still survives him, and at this
writing ( April, 1885,) resides in the city of Macomb.
Doctor Richard D. Hammond came to Macomb in November, 1862, and prac- ticed his profession for several years. He was born in Claiborne, Monroe county, Alabama, on the 24th of July, 1826. In 1840 the family moved to Ohio, and in 1841 Richard entered the Marietta college, of that state, graduat- ing therefrom four years later. After that he came to Illinois, and locating at Monmouth, Warren county, entered upon the study of medicine with Dr. Young. Afterward, entering the med- ical department of the University of Missouri, he graduated with honors in 1852. He opened an office in the village of Greenbush, Warren county, but in 1853 removed to Blandinsville, where he engaged in practice until coming to Macomb. After several years' labor in this field he returned to Blandinsville. In 1876 he met with a severe accident, being thrown from his horse which caused his death in a few years.
The medical profession is represented in Macomb at present by the following practitioners: Drs. Edgar Bolles, I. M. Martin, W. O. Blaisdell, B. I. Dunn, W. F. Bayne, P. H. Garrettson, R. Harris and E. S. Cooper.
Edgar Bolles, M. D., is a native of Sandusky county, Ohio, born January 12, 1837. He is a son of William K. and Sarah (West) Bolles, the former a na- tive of New London, Connecticut, and the latter a native of Hillsdale, Colum- bia county, New York. They were both born in the year 1807, there being but a few months difference between their ages. When Edgar was but six weeks
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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
411
old, thinking it for their best interest, his parents emigrated to Lagrange county, Indiana, traveling the entire dis- tance in an old-fashioned lumber wagon drawn by oxen. In 1852,, suffering greatly from chills and fever, character- istic of many districts throughout that malarious state, the family returned to the native county of Mrs. Bolles. Here they remained about a year, when they came west to Illinois in 1853, settling in Blandinsville township, and afterward removed to Emmet township in 1866.
The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm, acquiring strength of body and mind, which fit him for the discharge of the duties of his chosen profession. From the time he was old enough he labored upon the farm during the agri- cultural season and attended the district school in the winter time. As soon as he attained his majority he at once made preparations to attend the seminary at Blandinsville, an institution of some promise at that time. Here he pursued his studies for two years and afterward engaged in teaching and other employ- ment until he had obtained means whereby he might prosecute the princi- pal object he had in view from the first -the study of medicine. In August, 1863, he began to read medicine with Huston and Hammond, in Macomb. In the spring of 1868, he attended lectures at Long Island college hospital, Brook- lyn, New York, where he remained dur- ing the term. He next entered the De- troit medical college, which was a more thorough and suitable institution, from which he received the degree of doc- tor of medicine and surgery, in the
spring of 1869. On graduating, he re- turned home, taught school another
term and returned to Detroit in the spring of 1870, assisting Professors Weber and Jenks during the college
term, in the chairs of anatomy and dis-
eases of women and children. At the
close of the term he concluded to re-
main a short time in Detroit, and entered
the office of Dr. Jenks as assistant, re-
tice he has attained an enviable reputa- years of successful and continued prac- where he yet remains. By his many July, 1881, when he removed to Macomb, county, where he continued practice until located at Pennington's Point, in this turned to Illinois in the fall of 1870, and benefit of his experience. He then re- ing with him some months obtaining the
tion of being one of the foremost and leading practitioners of McDonough county, calling into demand his services
rose, of Macomb. Two children have married May 15, 1872, to Fannie Pen- almost night and day. The doctor was
been born to them, one of whom is de- ceased; the other, a son-Howard W.
ness previous to his mother's death, she kind to his parents. During the sick- Mr. Bolles has always been exceedingly
desired to remove to Macomb, so that she might be near her son for treatment, and accordingly the doctor purchased
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