USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 52
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Dr. Welch was elected president of the American Veterinary Medi- cal Association at its annual meeting held in St. Louis, Aug. 28, 1922. He has served as secretary of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Associa- tion from 1901 until 1906, and was honored by his colleagues with the
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presidency of that association in 1906, and under his administration the state association increased its membership from 70 to 300. In connec- tion with his practice, Dr. Welch took up the breeding of Percheron horses and continued in this line until 1916. His farm was the home of "Apollon," considered by many as the greatest son of "Besique." Dr. Welch still owns a farm of 242 acres in Hardin County, Ohio, but sold his farm in Livingston County, Ill., in 1912.
Dr. Welch is a Republican and has served as a member of the school board for 15 years and also as a member of the city council. He served as mayor of Lexington for two years and is a very active member of the Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Welch is vice-president and booster of the local chautauqua association. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Methodist Church, and is greatly interested in boy scout work. He is prominent in Masonic circles as a member of the Consistory, Chapter and Council, has held a commission as grand lecturer for six years and served as district deputy grand master for two years, and has been past worshipful master of his lodge.
Dr. Welch is one of McLean County's broad-minded and public spir- ited citizens.
Dr. Charles E. Chapin, a widely known physician of McLean County, who has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Bloomington for over 26 years, is a native of Illinois, and a member of one of the pioneer families of this state. He was born in DeWitt County, Jan. 29, 1866, a son of Stillman A. and Susan (Lafferty) Chapin.
Stillman A. Chapin was born in Madison County, Ill., in 1821 and his wife was a native of Ohio, born in 1823. Mr. Chapin was engaged in farming for many years in DeWitt County, Ill., and in 1892 removed to Holder, McLean County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: John, who died at the age of four years; Dr. Hiram S., deceased; and Dr. Samuel L., deceased, both of whom were physicians; Mary H .; William A., died in infancy ; Finis Ewing, died at the age of three years; and Dr. Charles E., the subject of this sketch.
Dr. Charles E. Chapin was reared on his father's farm in DeWitt County and received his education in the district schools and the Clinton
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DR. CHARLES E. CHAPIN.
DR. EDSON B. HART.
DR. JOSEPH K. P. HAWKS.
DR. HARLEY H. HART. Died April 2, 1924.
THE FIRM OF CHAPIN, HART, HAWKS AND HART, PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, BLOOMINGTON, ILL.
RY
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High School. He entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, where he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1891. He then engaged in the practice of his profession at Melvin, Ill., for three years. Later he served on the medical staff of the Hospital for the Insane at Jacksonville until 1897. He then came to Bloomington, where he has since been engaged in practice, meeting with uniform success until he has become one of the leading physicians of this section of the state.
Dr. Chapin was married May 8, 1889, to Miss Elizabeth Sterling, a native of McLean County, and a daughter of Smauel and Martha (West) Sterling, early settlers in the vicinity of LeRoy, McLean County. To Dr. and Mrs. Chapin has been born one child, Arnett Sterling Chapin.
Dr. Chapin is a Democrat and he and Mrs. Chapin are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the County, State, and American Medical Association.
Dr. Edson B. Hart has been a successful and well known physician and surgeon of Bloomington for the past 21 years. He was born at El Paso, Ill., in 1868, and is the son of Allen and Martha A. (Baldridge) Hart.
Allen Hart was a native of New York city. When he was a young man he went to Zanesville, Ohio, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He was among the early settlers of Woodford County, Ill., having come here before the Illinois Central Railroad was built. He pur- chased land four miles west of Kappa. He died at El Paso in 1880. Mrs. Hart, who was born in Ohio, lives at 1112 Fell Avenue, Bloomington. To Mr. and Mrs. Hart seven children were born as follows: Harvey, an attorney, who died five years ago; Laura M., lives at 1112 Fell Ave., Bloomington; W. A., LaJunta, Colo .; Clara Kennedy, lives at Normal, Ill .; John H., lives at 401 Phoenix Ave., Bloomington; Dr. Edson B., the subject of this sketch; and Esther Hawks, who lives with her mother and sister.
Dr. Edson B. Hart was reared on his father's farm in Woodford County and was graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and from Northwestern University Medical School in 1900. His graduate work was taken at Lincoln hospital in New York city in 1902. Dr. Hart then came to Bloomington and took up the practice of medicine and surgery. (38)
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He has been a member of the Brokaw hospital staff since 1903 and is known throughout the county as a thoroughly competent physician and surgeon.
In 1911 Dr. Hart was married to Miss Louis Howell, a native of Arrowsmith, Ill., and the daughter of Vinton and Frances (Hill) Howell, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Vermont. Mr. Howell died in 1911 and his wife died in 1903. To. Dr. and Mrs. Hart four children have been born: Jane, Ruth, Edson and Harvey.
In politics Dr. Hart is a Republican, but in local affairs is an inde- pendent voter. He is a member of the Grace Methodist Church and his wife belongs to the Episcopal Church. Dr. Hart says the only fine ever paid by him is his income tax, which he considers a penalty imposed on thrift.
Dr. Joseph K. P. Hawks, who has practiced his profession in Bloom- ington for over 23 years with honor and exceptional ability, is a veteran of the World War. He was born in Bloomington, Aug. 9, 1873, and is a son of Samuel L. and Emeline (Preston) Hawks.
Samuel L. Hawks was born in Scotland, March 7, 1832, and his wife was born at Beverly, Mass., Aug. 29, 1840. In 1856 they came to Bloom- ington where Mr. Hawks was employed as engineer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. Later he was appointed superintendent of air brakes. He was the engineer on the train that took the Bloomington fire depart- ment to Chicago during the big fire in that city in 1871. Mr. Hawks died Jan. 2, 1905, and his wife died Dec. 15, 1916. They were the parents of one child, Dr. Joseph K. P. Hawks, the subject of this sketch. By a former marriage Mr. Hawks had two sons, Robert E., and Lute B., both de- ceased.
Dr. Hawks was reared and educated in Bloomington and is a gradu- ate of Illinois Wesleyan University and of the medical school of North- western University. He has practiced his profession in Bloomington since 1900, and for 13 years was associated with the late Dr. W. E. Guthrie, and since then has been associated with Drs. C. E. Chapin and E. B. Hart. From 1908 to 1918 Dr. Hawks was attendant physician of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Normal. He is a member of the staff of Brokaw Hos-
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pital and specializes in surgery. Besides his extensive private practice, Dr. Hawks is surgeon for the Illinois Light & Power Company, the New York Central Railroad and the Nickel Plate Railroad.
During the World War Dr. Hawks volunteered for service in May, 1918, and received his commission as captain in the medical corps, Aug. 31, 1918, with orders to report to the Medical Officers Training Camp at Camp Greenleaf, Ga. After a few weeks in the training camp, he was ordered to report to Evacuation Hospital No. 46 for service over- seas. This unit was not sent across and he remained with it until it was demobolized, receiving his discharge, Dec. 24, 1918. Dr. Hawks' offices are located at 212 Griesheim Building.
On Feb. 3, 1912, Dr. Hawks was married to Miss Esther D. Hart, a native of Kappa, Ill., and the daughter of Allen and Martha Anne (Baldridge) Hart, former a native of New York and the latter of Ohio. Mr. Hart died in 1879 and his widow resides in Bloomington. To Dr. and Mrs. Hawks two children have been born: Esther Josephine, a stud- ent, and Allen Hart, now three years of age.
Dr. Hawks is a Republican and a member of the First Presbyterian Church. His wife belongs to the Grace Methodist Church. He is a member of Wade Barney Lodge No. 512, A. F. & A. M., DeMolay Com- mandery, Knight Templars, and Bloomington Consistory. Dr. Hawks is interested in agriculture and both he and his wife own and operate farms in McLean County.
Dr. Harlan H. Hart is a prominent young physician and surgeon of Bloomington, where he was born May 20, 1894. He is a son of Harvey and Gertrude (Carlock) Hart.
Harvey Hart was born on a farm west of Kappa, Ill., where he spent his boyhood. He taught school in La Junta, Colo., in early life after finishing college at Illinois Wesleyan. He later returned to Bloomington and studied law, graduating from Wesleyan Law School in 1892. After being admitted to the bar Mr. Hart practiced his profession in Blooming- ton until the time of his death, Aug. 22, 1916. He was a Republican and held the office of Master in Chancery at the time of his death. Mr. Hart was a law partner of R. L. Fleming. Mrs. Hart, who was born
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on a farm north of Carlock, Ill., now lives at 1113 East Monroe Street, Bloomington. There were two children in the Hart family: Dean C., born in December, 1890, died in July, 1911; and Dr. Harlan H., the sub- ject of this sketch.
Dr. Harlan H. Hart attended the public schools of Bloomington and Illinois Wesleyan University. He was graduated from Northwestern Uni- versity Medical School in 1920 and served his internship in Lakeside Hos- pital, Cleveland, Ohio. On Aug. 1, 1921, Dr. Hart began the practice of medicine and surgery in Bloomington, where he is associated with the firm of Hart and Hawks.
On Sept. 27, 1919, Dr. Hart was married in Chicago to Miss Rachel Harber, a native of Bloomington, and a daughter of Edgar and Fannie (Price) Harber, natives of Illinois. Mr. Harber died in 1906 and his wife died four years later.
In politics Dr. Hart is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the Christian Church and is a progressive man in his pro- fession.
Tilden M. Patton, well known mayor, prosperous farmer and insur- ance writer of Lexington, is descended from one of McLean County's oldest and most prominent families. He was born at Lexington, Ill., Sept. 20, 1886, and is the son of William and Anna (Woodard) Patton.
The Pattons were the first white settlers of Lexington Township and John Patton, great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, built the first log cabin in Section 22, Lexington Township, which, still stands. It was built in 1820 and John Patton was the only white man in the town- . ship that attended the log raising. Shortly afterward his family built a log Methodist Church at Pleasant Hill, which was one of the earliest churches of the county. William Patton was a prominent pioneer farmer of McLean County and he married Miss Kate Cane, a native of Indiana, and to this union several children were born, among them being William, father of the subject of this sketch.
William Patton was born Aug. 11, 1852, and died March 20, 1912. He was a successful farmer like his father William and grandfather John, and owned one of the well improved farms of Lexington Township.
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Tilden M. Patton's maternal grandfather, James Woodard, was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and received his education in the rural schools. He remained with his parents until he was 23 years old, when he was married to Miss Luana Evans, daughter of Samuel Evans of Mor- gan County, Ind. After his marriage he settled on a farm six miles south- east of Lexington, owned by Mrs. Smith, which consisted of 98 acres, which he afterward purchased. At this time Mr. Woodard had but little means and went in debt for two-thirds of the little farm he purchased. To this he added 1700 acres more of McLean County land. At his death, in addition to his land, he was a large stockholder in the Peoples Bank and owned something over $100,000 worth of personal property. He died in 1913, and his wife 1909. He and his good wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In the year 1875, on the 18th day of March, William Patton was married to Miss Anna Woodard, the oldest daughter of James and Luana Woodard. Anna Patton was born in Morgan County, Ind., Dec. 1, 1856. She is now one of Lexington's large land owners and a stockholder in the Peoples Bank. To them were born three children, of whom only our subject, Tilden, is living. When Tilden was five years old his parents moved to Clinton, Mo., where he spent his first eight years of schooling. From there they moved to Jackson county, Ore., where he finished his education by graduating from the high school of Central Point, Ore., and he also attended business college at that place.
In his early manhood he was employed in the gold mines of the western coast. In the year 1907, Tilden, with his parents, moved back to Illinois on their farm, five miles southeast of Lexington, at which place he was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until 1915 when he moved to Lexington and engaged in the insurance business. Mr. Pat- ton is a large land owner in Lexington Township and owns 160 acres in Indiana, and is one of the largest stockholders in the Peoples Bank of which he is a director. He was elected mayor of Lexington in April, 1923, and since the beginning of his administration much has been done in the way of local improvements for Lexington. The streets are to be paved and other important plans for the betterment of the community will be carried out.
On July 27, 1909, Mr. Patton was married to Miss Rachael Bishop, a native of Lexington, born May 15, 1892, and the daughter of George W.
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and Kate (Hill) Bishop. Mr. Bishop lives on his farm in Lexington Town- ship and his wife is deceased. Mrs. Patton died June 15, 1920.
After the death of Mrs. Patton, Mr. Tilden Patton adopted a child, Helen, born July 7, 1911, which he desires to raise as his own child. He and his mother, together with his adopted daughter Helen Patton, are living together at their home in Lexington.
Mr. Patton is a director of the Peoples Bank of Lexington and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, where he devotes most of his interests, and is a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner. He is one of the enterprising and public spirited men of McLean County. Mr. Patton is a Democrat, a member of the school board and has served as alderman since 1915.
Dr. L. M. Magill, a well known and successful dentist of Lexington was born there, Nov. 26, 1871, the son of M. and Frances Susan (Max- well) Magill.
M. Magill was a native of Erie County, Pa., born in 1821, and he came to Lexington, Ill., in the early forties, where he worked at his trade of blacksmith and wagon maker. Some of the wagons made by Mr. Magill are still in use in McLean County. He was married the first time in Penn- sylvania to Miss Mary Luce, who died shortly after they came to Illinois. To that union four children were born, all of whom are now deceased. Mr. Magill later married Mrs. Frances Susan Maxwell Shade, a native of Hagerstown, Md., born in 1831. By a former marriage to Lewis Shade, Mrs. Magill had four children, one of whom is now living, William P., who lives at Decatur, Ill. To M. and Frances Susan (Maxwell) Magill two children were born, as follows: Garnett, married C. G. Heuring, lives in California; and Dr. L. M., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Magill died in 1895 and his wife died in 1892.
Dr. L. M. Magill was reared in Lexington and received his education in the public and high schools there, after which he attended the Chi- cago College of Dental Surgery. After receiving his degree, Dr. Magill practiced dentistry at Wenona, Ill., for 13 years and in 1909 located at Lexington, where he is now located. He has an extensive practice and is efficient in his work.
On June 8, 1910, Dr. Magill was married to Miss Katharine Calhoun, a native of Iroquois County, Ill., and the daughter of Rev. J. D. and Vina
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(Robinson) Calhoun. Rev. Calhoun served as pastor of Methodist Churches for 50 years and is now pastor of the Federated Churches at Metamora, Ill. To. Dr. and Mrs. Magill one child has been born, Lewis Malcolm.
Dr. Magill is a Democrat and is secretary of the Smith Library at Lexington. He is a member of the Methodist Church and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a 32d degree Mason and Shriner. He has long been associated with musical interests of his home town, having been an active member of the Lexington band and serving several terms as president of the Music Club. Dr. Magill is a substantial citizen and stands high in his profession.
John L. Langstaff, well known retired banker of Lexington, and a leading citizen of McLean County, was born on a farm in Licking County, Ohio, June 14, 1841, the son of Henry and Elsie (Wintermute) Langstaff.
The Langstaff family came to Illinois in 1841 from Licking County, Ohio, where Henry Langstaff was born. He worked as a machinist and pattern maker and helped make the first reaper used in this part of the country, which was made by Flag and Ewing of Bloomington. Mrs. Lang- staff was born near Brownsville, Fayette County, Pa., and she and her husband, now deceased, are buried in the Evergreen Cemetery near Col- fax, Ill. They had five children, two of whom are now living, as follows: John L., the subject of this sketch; and Dr. Henry W., a physician, lives at Colfax, Ill.
John L. Langstaff lived in Bloomington until he was 14 years old, and his family then moved to a farm in Martin Township, McLean County, where Mr. Langstaff lived until he was 17 years of age. He received his education in the district schools and attended Wesleyan University at . Bloomington and Bryant and Stratton College in Chicago. After finish- ing his school work, Mr. Langstaff was employed as bookkeeper for Charles E. Brown, a contractor of Evanston, Ill., where he remained for seven years. In 1870 he came to Lexington and was engaged as bookkeeper in the Harness and Van Dolah Bank and later as assistant cashier. Mr. Langstaff continued in the employ of that bank for 25 years and after the death of Mr. Harness he was made cashier of The State Bank at Lexing- ton, which office he held for nine years, retiring from the banking busi-
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ness in 1908. He was one of the organizers of The Peoples Bank of Lex- ington and also served as cashier for one year. Since the time of his retirement Mr. Langstaff has lived in his beautiful home at Lexington. He has been among the successful business men of the county and is a pioneer banker.
On Jan. 28, 1864, Mr. Langstaff was married to Miss Isabella J. Pow- ell, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of Harper and Margaret (Jones) Powell, natives of Ohio, and early settlers of McLean County. Mr. and Mrs. Langstaff had four children, as follows: Louie, Irene and Asa, de- ceased ; and Margaret, married B. C. VanLeer, lives at Bloomington. Mrs. Langstaff died in 1919 at the age of 70 years.
Mr. Langstaff is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Church, and belongs to the Masonic Lodge. He is one of the interesting men of his community, and a highly respected citizen of McLean County.
Louis C. Hay, attorney of Bloomington, is recognized as one of the representative members of the bar of McLean County. He was born in Montezuma, Pike County, Ill., Feb. 10, 1866, and is the son of John L. and Maria (Kinman) Hay.
John L. Hay was a native of Winfield, N. Y., born in 1836, the son of John and Hannah (Ferguson) Hay, the former a native of Winfield, N. Y., and the latter of Montpelier, Vt. John Hay, great-great-grandfa- ther of Louis C. Hay, was born in Cassel Hessen, Germany, and came to the United States the first year of the Revolutionary War. He joined the Continental army and after the close of the war settled in Win- field, N. Y., where the Hay family lived for four generations. John Hay, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a blacksmith and wagon maker at Winfield, N. Y., and was killed in his power mill when his son, John L., was but four months old. His wife was later married to Abner Waters.
John L. Hay was a school teacher for several years and later en- gaged in farming in Green County, Ill. He died in 1867. There were two children in the Hay family: Nellie, who died at the age of three years; and Louis C., the subject of this sketch.
Louis C. Hay was reared by his father's oldest brother, Albert R. Hay, a farmer of Champaign County, Ill. Mr. Hay received his educa-
LOUIS C. HAY.
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tion in the district schools and at the age of 16 years came to Bloom- ington. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University and was graduated from the law department in 1888. Since that time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession there. Mr. Hay was located in the Peoples Bank Building until 1909 when he moved to the Panta- graph Building.
Mr. Hay is a Republican, a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, is a 32nd degree Mason, and a member of the Shrine of Peoria. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Elks lodge of Bloom- ington. He is unmarried.
George E. Brown, popular garage owner of Lexington and authorized Ford dealer, is a native of McLean County and one of its prominent and successful business men. He was born on a farm in Money Creek Town- ship, Aug. 30, 1868, the son of Asa and Elizabeth (Swoortwood) Brown.
Asa Brown was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1840 and died in 1919. He was among the earliest settlers of Ilinois and settled on a farm in McLean County in 1854. His wife, a native of Monroe County, Ohio, died in 1919 at the age of 74 years. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had eight children, one of whom is deceased. George E., the subject of this sketch, is the second in order of birth.
George E. Brown grew up on his father's farm and received his edu- cation in the district schools. He worked as a farm hand for five years and then rented land in McLean County for 18 years. In 1903 he pur- chased 160 acres of land in Money Creek Township, which he still owns. He was widely known as a breeder of pure-bred cattle for 20 years and brought his stock to Lexington, from where he shipped to Chicago twice each week for 15 years. In 1908 Mr. Brown moved to Lexington and engaged in the meat business with L. C. Wheaton for three years, at which time Mr. Brown sold his interest in the business to Mr. Wheaton. He has had the agency for Ford automobiles and tractors since 1913 and has been in his present location since 1917. Mr. Brown has been very successful with his business and is well known throughout the county.
Mr. Brown was married on March 12, 1890, to Miss Margaret Ran- kin, a native of Money Creek Township, McLean County, and the daugh- ter of John and Mary Jane (Moats) Rankin, the former a native of Ohio
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and the latter of McLean County. To George E. and Margaret (Rankin) Brown two children have been born, as follows: Bernard, engaged in business with his father; and Zelda, married Lloyd Worth, lives in Chi- cago, and they have two children, George William and Junior Worth.
Mr. Brown is identified with the Democratic party in politics and for the past nine years has served as township assessor of Lexington Town- ship. In 1915 he was elected mayor of Lexington, held the office for two years, and in 1919 was again elected for a term of four years, having completed his term of office in 1923. Mr. Brown was supervisor of Money Creek Township from 1905 until 1907, and was also for nine years assessor of the same township. He has served as school director and was instru- mental in having the new school in district No. 211 built. He is a director of the Peoples Bank of Lexington and belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Brown is a member of the Christian Church and a substantial citizen.
Dr. L. W. Moore is a prominent veterinary surgeon of Lexington and a member of one of Bloomington's oldest and most prominent families. He was born at Bloomington, June 11, 1876, the son of Dr. D. O. and Eliza- beth (Wakefield) Moore.
Dr. D. O. Moore, a leading physician and surgeon of Bloomington for many years, was born on a farm in Harrison County, Ohio, and studied medicine at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1858 he came to Bloomington and took up the practice of medicine and he became one of the most successful physicians of his time. Dr. Moore did much to help in the development of the water works at Bloomington and during his life was a prominent citizen. He served as alderman of Bloomington during the early days and died in 1901 when he was 62 years of age. Beside his practice of medicine Dr. Moore conducted a drug store at Bloomington. He was a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Moore now lives at 401 East Grove Street, Bloomington. They were the parents of four children, as follows: William, deceased; D. D., a druggist at Bloom- ington, Ill .; Dr. L. W., the subject of this sketch; and Edna May, lives at Bloomington.
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