USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 13
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141
HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
1870-73; Joseph P. Cheever, 1873-76; Ira R. Curtiss, 1877-84; A. B. Coon, 1884-96; V. S. Lumley, 1896-1900; L. D. Lowell, 1900-1908; David R. Joslyn, 1908-1916; V. S. Lumley, 1916.
PRESENT ATTORNEYS
The present members of the bar of Mellenry County are as follows : AAllen, C. T., Woodstock; Barnes, C. P. (county judge), Woodstock; Barnes, C. Percy, Woodstock ; Bennett, F. B., Woodstock ; Cairns, W. R., Woodstock; Carmack, M. A., Woodstock; Carroll, William M., Wood- stock ; Donovan, Panl J., Harvard; Donovan, Rupert D., Woodstock ; Eckert, Floyd E., Woodstock; Field, George W., Woodstock; Francis, Charles II., Woodstock; Hoy, E. R., Woodstock; Joslyn, D. R., Wood- stock ; Joslyn, D. R., Jr., Woodstock; Lumley, V. S. (state's attorney), Woodstock; Lowell, L. D., Crystal Lake; Manley, B. F., Harvard ; Mul- len, A. J. (master-in-chancery), Woodstock; Marshall, R. F., Harvard ; MeCauley, JJames I., Woodstock ; MeConnell, W. S., Woodstock ; North- rop, Charles S., Woodstock; Palmer, L. B., Harvard ; Pouse, Alfred H .. West Mellenry; Smiley, D. T., Harvard; Shurtleff, E. D. (cirenit judge), Marengo; Whittemore, C. B., Marengo; and Waite, E. II., Woodstock.
MC HENRY COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
The MeHenry County Bar Association was organized February 15, 1915, and elected offieers who are still serving, as follows: President, IIon. Charles Il. Donnelly; vice president, B. F. Manley ; and Paul J. Donovan, seerotary and treasurer. Nearly every member of the county bar belongs to this association. As it is still a somewhat new organiza- tion, there is but little history connected with it. The judges and law- vers throughout the entire portion of the state, acknowledge that Me- Henry County has an exceedingly strong bar and that no better trial lawyers can be found in the entire state than some of the members of the small bar of MeHenry County. They are often spoken of as "the fighting bar of MeHenry County."
CIRCUIT COURT OFFICERS
The officers of the MeHenry County Circuit Court, which is a part of the Seventeenth Judicial District, together with Boone, Lake and
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Winnebago counties, are as follows: Edward D. Shurtleff, Claire C. Edwards and Robert K. Welch, judges; Arthur J. Mullen, master-in- chancery ; V. S. Lumley, state's attorney; Charles F'. Ilayes, clerk ; and Roy T. Stewart, sheriff.
IN MEMORIAM
The MeHenry County Bar passed and caused to be spread upon the court records of this county the following resolutions on the death of Judge Frost, and a number of his fellow lawyers, the same being exe- ented by attorney JJ. F. Casey, and the committee of which he was chairman :
"Be it resolved. By the members of the Mellenry County Bar, and each of us, that with sad hearts, reverence and esteem, we assemble to- day, to pay a tribute, just and fitting to the memory of our departed professional brothers, citizens and beloved friends, Calvin J. Hendricks. John G. Cooney and Joseph I. Land, each of whom have been taken from us by the will and deeree of God; and yet we no less deplore their loss to their families, friends and professional brothers, each being called to answer the Divine summons of death in the power and vigor of his young manhood, at a time in life when most useful to all the duties, work and obligations to society and the world.
"Be it further resolved, By the members of the MeHenry County Bar, that each of our above mentioned professional brothers possessed excellent personality, good ambition and a trustworthy character, that each loved the law for its own sake, and practiced it with a true intent toward justice and the right in all cases which came to them for con- sideration and adjustment.
"Be it further resolved, That each was successful in the great pro- fession of the law, and that the same could not have been obtained with- out superior intelligence, energy and a high sense of duty, which each possessed in no small degree.
"Be it further resolved, That in the death of Calvin JJ. Hendricks, John J. Cooney and Joseph L. Lang, that the MeHenry County Bar has been deprived of three of its most valuable and efficient lawyers, whom we had admired, confided in and whose companionship we all enjoyed in life.
"Whereas it has pleased God to remove from our midst our late brother, citizen and jurist, Arthur H. Frost, of Rockford, Ill., and,
"Whereas, Be it resolved by the members of the MeHenry County Bar, that while we bow with humble submission to the will of the most
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High, we do not the less mourn for our distinguished brother, citizen and jurist, who has been taken from us.
"Be it further resolved, That in the death of Judge Frost, the members of the MeHlenry County Bar and each of us lament the loss of a brother whose heart and hand were ever ready to assist in bring- ing about our welfare and prosperity ; a friend and companion who was dear to us all; a citizen of whose upright and noble life was a standard to be followed by his fellow citizens; a lawyer of excellent ability and integrity, possessing a high sense of professional duty and ever striving to do it; a judge who in the trial of the eases before him endeavored to recognize ouly the law and the evidence and rendered his decisions accordingly.
"Be it further resolved, That the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois has suffered the loss of a jurist whose services on the bench did much to promote justice, and give confidence to our courts and to elevate the legal profession."
On the death of Attorney John B. Lyon, of Harvard, in July, 1915, Judge Donnelly paid the following fine tribute to the deceased :
"I regarded Mr. Lyon as a very able lawyer. He was the oldest member of the MeHenry County Bar at the time of his death; had a varied and extensive practice and combined with his legal knowledge, he possessed a wonderful fund of common sense. He was a careful advisor, a good and resourceful fighter, a legal adversary to be feared, and better than all, always fair and honorable with the court. The mem- bers of the bar as well as the courts will miss him as he was always a source of assistance to each."
After thirty years of continuous service on the Circuit Court bench, on account of ill health, Judge Charles H. Donnelly, of Woodstock, resigned in the month of December 1920, and Attorney Edward D. Shurt- leff, of Marengo, was immediately appointed by Governor Lowden to serve out Judge Donnelly's unexpired term.
At the January term of the Circuit Court of Mellenry County a large gathering of the lawyers and Judges of the Circuit was held at the Circuit Court room in the City of Woodstock to pay their respeets to Judge Donnelly on his retirement from the Circuit Court bench.
A large number of the Rockford, Waukegan and Belvidere lawyers and court officials were in attendance as well as other lawyers from Kane and adjoining counties, and on the occasion the following resolution was passed and ordered spread of record in the court over which Judge Donnelly had been the presiding Judge for so many years:
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"WHEREAS, the Honorable Charles H. Donnelly, of Woodstock, Illinois, after a service of thirty years on the Bench, has voluntarily retired as one of the presiding Judges of the Seventeenth Judicial Cir- cuit of the State of Hlinois;
AND WHEREAS, we, the present presiding Judges of the said Seventeenth Judicial Circuit and the members of the Bar thereof, have today assembled for the purpose of paying a just tribute of respect and Honor to Judge Donnelly upon his retirement;
AND WHEREAS, it is just that a proper recognition of his long and faithful service and a fitting acknowledgment of his many virtues should be publicly made;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the present presiding Judges and the members of the Bar of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, that in the retirement of Judge Donnelly we and each of us regret the loss to the Bench of this Judicial Circuit of a Judge who possessed legal qualifications of a high order, a true sense of professional honor and integrity, and who, while ever tempering justice with mercy, performed the duties of his office fearlessly and fairly, yet with a kind- ness of heart that has endeared him to all whose duties or profession brought them in contact with his Court throughout his long years of public service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in the retirement of Judge Donnelly the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois has suffered a loss of a jurist of signal ability, serupulous honesty and in- tegrity, whose service on the Bench did much to promote justice, increase confidence in our courts and elevate the legal profession.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the present Judges and mem- bers of the Bar of said Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, that our sincere and heartfelt thanks be and they are hereby extended to Judge Donnelly as a private citizen for the many professional and personal courtesies received by us and the kindly services rendered to us in the past with further assurance that our love, esteem and best wishes go with him in his retirement, together with the hope that he may be spared for many years to enjoy the confidence and respect of his fellowmen for his long and faithful services in their behalf, and that his twilight years be bright- ened by the consciousness of duties well done.
RESOLVED, that this resolution be spread upon the records of the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Ilinois, and an engrossed copy thereof presented to the Honorable Charles H. Donnelly."
CHAPTER X MEDICAL PROFESSION
BY DR. C. M. JOHNSON
TIIE HEALING ART-EARLIEST PIIYSICIANS-ALDEN-ALGONQUIN-CARY- CHEMUNG-CORAL-GREENWOOD-HARMONY-HARTLAND - HARVARD - HEBRON - HUNTLEY-MC IIENRY-MARENGO-RICHMOND-WOODSTOCK -COMMON DISORDERS OF EARLY YEARS-SIDELIGHTS ON EARLY PIIYSI- CIANS-PHYSICIANS OF A LATER DATE-COTTAGE HOSPITAL AT HARVARD -WOODSTOCK HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION-PRESENT PIIYSICIANS-MEDICAL SOCIETY.
THE HEALING ART
From the earliest ages until the present, the art of healing has been recognized as one of the most important agencies in the life of the people of any country, and even the savage tribes pay honor to their "Medieine Men." From the days when his prototype was the only recourse for the siek, until these enlightened days when the physician and surgeon is able, through his seienee and knowledge, to work what but a few years ago would have seemed an impossibility. But yesterday in the World War, in the midst of the thunder of mighty guns, when every device for the destruction of mankind was employed, it is the triumph for the medieal fraternity that the percentage of fatalities at the front was not so measurably higher than those of normal existence, because of the skill of the men who have risen to undreamed of heights in the healing art.
This county has contributed its quota to the noble band of men en- gaged in the work of counterbalancing the horrors of modern warfare, and from the beginning of its history it has been the boast of the county that its physicians and surgeons have ranked with the best of the country.
EARLIEST PHYSICIANS
It is believed that the first doetor to locate within MeHenry County was Dr. Christy G. Wheeler, who settled at MeHenry about 1837; he was
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
soon followed, however, by Dr. A. B. Cornish. In order to give the reader a clearer account of the scores of physicians who have from time to time practiced in this county, they will be treated by towns, villages and cities in which they have resided, or are now practicing.
ALDEN
Dr. D. S. MeGonigle was the first to practice medicine in Alden, he loeating there in 1845. Dr. Allen C. Bingham was in practice here from 1857 to 1865, and was very successful. Dr. D. C. Gilbert located here in 1868, and Dr. Woodworth in 1870. From 1874 to 1881, Dr. A. S. Munson was engaged in practice at Alden, and sold his praetiee to Dr. G. Ballenger. Other physicians have come and gone from this section of the county, some of whom are mentioned in the biographical section of this work.
ALGONQUIN
The first physician of Algonquin was Dr. David Burton, who located here in 1844, and continued to practice until his death, when he was suc- ceeded by Dr. H. C. Terwilliger. Dr. Reed came in 1850 and remained five years, when Dr. A. Hedger succeeded him. Drs. Winslow, Hunt, Johnston, William Winchester, Bentley and Hait were all engaged in practice at Algonquin for short periods each. Dr. Young was another early practitioner. Drs. William A. Nason, Robinson, Hill and D. H. Merrill were also physicians who located in Algonquin during the seventies.
CARY
But little can be learned of the early doetors of this locality. F. J. Theobold is the only physician praetieing in this village today.
CHEMUNG
Doetor Miller was the first physician to locate at Chemung ; he came in 1848 and remained until 1856. His successor was Dr. H. W. Johnson, who only remained a short time, and then removed to Harvard. In 1853 Dr. B. A. Wade came to Chemung, but in 1863 he, too, moved to Harvard. Dr. Devine came in 1862, but in 1867 moved away. In 1875 Dr. Chase
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established himself here, continuing in practice for many years. The medical practice of this community is now attended to chiefly by physi- cians of Harvard.
CORAL
Doctor Hungerford came to Coral in 1853, moving to Union, the rail- road station, after about three and one-half years. Dr. A. MeWright came in 1855; Dr. Suiter in 1856, and Dr. Snow in 1858. Dr. Elvin Briggs practiced medicine here from 1840 to 1881. Dr. E. L. Sheldon and Dr. Griffith were also among the pioneer doctors.
CRYSTAL LAKE
The first physician to practice at Crystal Lake was Dr. Erwin, who came in 1842 and remained until 1857. The second doetor was a man named Smith; he died while engaged in practice at Crystal Lake. Drs. Beers, Ballon, Lowell, Graves, Hayes, Hall and Crandall were all among the physicians who practiced here prior to and just after 1884.
GREENWOOD
The first doctor to locate at the village of Greenwood was Doctor MeCay, who was succeeded by Doctor White, who died while in practice. Doctor Ballinger was the third physician ; he remained until about 1884 and was succeeded by Doetor Hart and the latter remained here for many years and was well and favorably known and recognized as an excellent doctor.
HARMONY
Harmony was never a village, simply a country cross-roads com- munity. Here several physicians have practiced, but usually were resi- dents of some near-by village.
HARTLAND
Doctor Bennett was the earliest doctor in this place, and as the years have come and gone, others have cared for the ill of the community usually from Woodstock or Harvard.
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
HARVARD
Dr. II. W. Johnson was the first to practice medicine in Harvard. He arrived in 1856, and continued in active practice until his death, about twelve years later. The second physician there was Dr. II. W. Richard- son, but after a very few years he moved to Marengo, where he died. Dr. C. A. Bingham was third to enter this field for the purpose of prae- tieing medicine. About the same time Dr. B. A. Wade, Dr. A. C. Bing- ham, H. T. Woodward, C. M. Johnson and Charles Goddard arrived, and some of them remained for many years.
HEBRON
Dr. Royal Sykes came from Vermont and located in Hebron in 1848. He was successfully engaged in medieal practice until 1876, when he moved to Chicago. Dr. J. H. Giddings came here in 1858, and practiced until the beginning of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the Union army. His health failed under exposure, and he returned to Hebron, but re- mained but a short time. In the autumn of 1865, Dr. E. O. Gratton of New York, settled in Hebron, and here he was engaged in a successful practice for many years. Dr. J. M. Mansfield, Dr. H. R. Chesboro, Dr. Alfred Turner and Dr. Catherine Slater all practiced medicine in IIebron prior to, and some of them after, 1883.
HUNTLEY
The first physician to locate for the practice of his profession in Huntley, was Doctor Ainsworth who came in 1852, but died a few years thereafter of cholera, contraeted while attending upon a stranger who had just arrived in the village. Ilis snceessor was Dr. John Garrison and his partner Doctor Trough, both of whom died soon after coming to the place. Drs. Cale, Perry, Rodman, R. Turner, A. Griffith, Charles E. Cook and a number of others all practiced medicine at Hebron.
MC HENRY
Being the first county seat and among the first settlements in this county, naturally a physician was found among the pioneer band at Mc- Henry. He was also the first to practice medieine in the county. We refer to Dr. Christy G. Wheeler, who soon left the practice of his pro-
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
fession and embarked in mercantile business here. Dr. Luke Hale was his sneeessor and he in turn was followed by Doctor Bosworth, who later developed into a merchant. It is said he was a highly educated man and an excellent physician, but for some reason preferred a business to a professional career. The fourth to practice medieine in MeHenry was Doctor MeAllister. Ile continued for four years, and then moved to Oshkosh, Wis. Doctor Coleman remained at MeHenry four years, and was soon followed by Doctor Flavel, and Doctor Ballon, who were here for the same length of time. Doctor Mellendy practiced for ten years and went to California where he died. Drs. H. T. Brown, Polly, Cavens, Beers, Brown, Fegers, Howard and Childs were all well-known physi- cians at MeHenry prior to the nineties, as well as Doctor Anderson now of Woodstock. Many changes have been wrought out in MeHenry, doctors have come and gone, leaving the present practice in the hands of Drs. A. I. Froehlich, D. G. Wells, and N. J. Nye.
MARENGO
Dr. T. W. Stull was the first medical practitioner of Marengo. Other early and later physicians there have been: Drs. J. W. Green, S. C. Wernham, Edward L. Sheldon, Frederick L. Nutt, and C. C. Miller.
RICHMOND
The first physician to locate at Richmond was Dr. S. Fillmore Bennett who wrote the song "Sweet By and By." Physicians haye practiced here whose names are now not readily recalled by the present generation. However, it is known that Dr. Samuel R. Ward and Dr. Josiah Hyde were here many years, and both were excellent men and skilful physicians.
WOODSTOCK
Dr. Almon King, who settled at Woodstock soon after the founding of the village, was its first physician. Following him eame Dr. Luke Coon, who arrived and entered the practice of medicine in 1849, and remained for two years. Dr. A. F. Hedger came to Woodstock from Algonquin about 1851, and in 1853 Dr. A. F. Merritt settled at the county seat. Drs. George E. Stone, D. C. Green, W. H. Buek, V. B. Anderson and William W. Cook were among the earlier physicians of Woodstock.
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
COMMON DISORDERS OF EARLY YEARS
Fever and ague was the chief complaint in the homes of pioneers in MeHenry, as in almost all the other western counties. Especially was this true along the valley of the Fox River. Aside from this disease, there was but little siekness. The early settlers were usually men and women of strong, robust bodies and had plenty of outdoor exereise and not much rich food, henee were seldom ill enough to eall in a physician. When anyone was very ill they sometimes feared to trust the local doctor, who was usually not the best kind of a medical man to say the least, hence they would send into other counties to physicians on the east side of the Fox River. However, as soon as the county settled up and drains were excavated so that standing pools of filthy water eould escape, the fever and ague was not seen to any great extent, but this condition lasted at least until 1850, giving the real pioneer band plenty of genuine "shakes." The doctors who visited the homes of MeHenry County after the fifties were of a superior type of physicians. They were schooled in reputable colleges of medicine and were competent to do both doctoring and also aet as surgeons.
SIDELIGHTS ON EARLY PHYSICIANS
Dr. Christy G. Wheeler, although not strictly speaking a physician, was the first who bore the title of "Dr." at the old county seat of Me- Henry. Ile was born in Dunbarton, N. H., in 1811. Ilis health was failing in his native state, so he decided to move with his family to the West, and did so in the fall of 1836, his family being the first white family to locate at MeHenry. The following May, the decision was made fixing MeHenry as the county seat. Mr. Wheeler paid $100 for survey- ing the town site. He purchased a small store and had general mer- chandise, and was also postmaster, keeping the first post office in MeHenry County. Subsequently, he was reeorder of deeds, which offiee he held until the time of his death, Mareh 28, 1842.
Dr. V. B. Anderson was born in Girard, Penn., in 1847, and aecom- panied his parents to Woodstock, Ill., in 1854. He attended the public schools, read medicine under Dr. J. Northrup, and then entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which institution he was graduated in 1871. For two years he was engaged in practice in Ford County, this state; three years more were spent in Buchanan County, Iowa, and he then located at the village of MeHenry, this county and here remained
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
in practice till 1883, when he removed to Woodstock, where he is still practicing medieine.
Dr. S. Fillmore Bennett, of Richmond, was born in Erie County, N. Y., in 1836, and was brought to Illinois when two years of age, by his parents. At the age of eighteen years, he commeneed teaching school at Wauconda, and in 1858, entered the University of Michigan, from whence he came to Richmond, this county, to accept a position as teacher in the Richmond publie schools. He was connected with the newspaper business and served as a soldier in the Union army in the Civil War. Subsequently he was graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1874, and at onee commenced the practice of his profession at Richmond. For years he was United States pension examiner and surgeon. At one time he was consul to Hamilton, Canada. It was at Elkhorn, Wis., that he became associated with J. P. Webster, author of that famous song book "The Signet Ring." He was publisher of hundreds of excellent songs and hymns. Doctor Bennett composed "The Sweet Bye and Bye," and Mr. Webster set the words to musie and since then it has been translated into many foreign languages. Doubtless Doetor Bennett will be remembered more as a musical composer than as a medieal man, ex- eellent physician though he was.
Dr. Horace W. Johnson, deceased, was the first physician at Harvard, and came to the county in 1856, when a cornfield marked the present site of Harvard and John Ayers was the only man living in the vicinity. Dr. Johnson was born in New York City, December 16, 1810. He was grad- uated at Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J., and became an excellent physician, praetieing first in the City of New York. In 1836 he eame West, locating at Kenosha, Wis., and there he remained until he eame to Harvard where he continued to praetiee medieine until his death, Feb- ruary 24, 1871. He was the leading physician in this county of his day. His son, Dr. C. M. Johnson, is a medical practitioner and conduets a hospital at Harvard.
PHYSICIANS OF A LATER DATE
Of the regular-sehool practitioners sinee 1884 may be mentioned : Dr. H. T. Woodruff, who practiced until his death, at Harvard; Dr. A. C. Bingham, who also praetieed at Harvard, and died there a few years ago; Dr. B. A. Wade, who praetieed until his death, at Hot Springs, S. D.
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COTTAGE HOSPITAL AT HARVARD
Cottage Hospital, the first established in the county, was of humble origin, and by many was not looked upon with favor, but its founder, Dr. C. M. Johnson, one of the oldest and leading physicians of the city of Harvard, thought differently, and by his sagacity and skill he gained recognition for it, and now no one in, or outside of Harvard, has anything but words of praise for this loeal hospital.
The present buildings are modern in all fittings, supplied with steam heat, electric lights, electrie call bells, bed-side telephones, with well lighted, airy rooms and wards, beautiful private rooms and baths, suites with bath ; and has an efficient corps of cheerful trained nurses, unsur- passed by those of any institution. Registered nurses are contantly in charge. A well-equipped operating room done in tile, glass and enamel, with wash and private rooms in connection, is equal to that of any large eity hospital. The real homelike air and the genuine courtesy and con- sideration accorded near relatives of the sick, have added materially to the hosts of friends of this institution.
The founder and present proprietor, Doctor Johnson, is a son of the first physician who practiced medicine in Harvard, and he himself has practiced here for more than forty years. In cases where the patients are too poor to pay for services, necessary aid is given them if they are certified to by proper people in their home towns.
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