USA > Illinois > Mason County > The History and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 86
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A. R. HOUGHTON, farmer ; P. O. Petersburg; son of Chas. P. and Elizabeth (Vandeventer ) Houghton ; was born near where he now resides Feb. 7, 1825; he has followed farming, and served one year in the Mexican war. He married Miss Elvira Stevenson, of Menard Co., May 29, 1855, and shortly afterward settled where he now resides ; they have raised three children-James F., born Aug. 19, 1856, and died Feb. 12, 1877 ; William C., born Oct. 22, 1859; Mary A., April 23, 1862. His farm con- sists of 230 acres of land.
A. M. HOUGHTON, farmer; P. O. Lloyd ; son of Elijah and Catharine ( Mer- rill) Houghton, who came from Mason Co., Ky., in 1824, locating where A. M. now resides ; here this son was born Oct. 12, 1826, and here he has always lived on the old farm ; he is an enterprising and prosperous citizen and now owns 320 acres of fine land. His father died in 1852. Mr. Houghton married Miss Barbara A. Renshaw, of San- gamon Co., Ill., April 9, 1856 ; they have had two children-Ann M. (now Mrs. John S. Hury, of this county ), and Wyley P. (deceased ).
TARLTON LLOYD, farmer ; P. O. Lloyd; one of the first white settlers of Menard Co .; came from Rockingham Co., Va., where he was born May 9, 1784, and located where he now lives in 1820 ; here he has since resided, and is, beyond a doubt, the most active man of his age in Central Illinois. In 1800, he was married to Miss Nancy Hlunter; she died in 1834, leaving seven children. In 1837, he married Catharine
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Keltner, who died in 1876, leaving nine children. He is now, at the ripe old age of 95, residing with his youngest son, who works his farm, which consists of 173 aeres.
CATHARINE D. PURKAPILE, farmer; P. O. Petersburg; widow of the late James Purkapile ; was born in Mason Co., Ky., Oct. 14, 1817 ; daughter of Chas. P. and Elizabeth ( Vandeventer) Houghton ; her parents were among the first settlers of Menard Co., coming from Mason Co., Ky., in 1824. Her father died in 1835, and her mother in 1836. She was twice married-first, to Mr. T. J. Nance, Sept. 20, 1836, who was a prominent man of this county, and died in 1842, leaving three children, but one of whom is now living-Hon. Albert G. Nance; she married for her second hus- band, J. Purkapile, May 26, 1859; he was one of the prominent pioneers of this county, industrious, benevolent and highly respected ; he died Jan. 19, 1878; she had one child by this marriage-Mary E. Mrs. Purkapile owns and superintends her farm, which consists of 230 acres of land. Her residence is among the best in the county. J. H. SMITH, farmer ; P. O. Tallula; son of Samuel and Anna (Rhodes) Smith ; was born in Schuyler Co., N. Y., May 4, 1836; the same year, his parents came to Illinois, remaining until 1851, when they removed to Cass Co., Ill., where they died in 1877, his father in January, and his mother in June. In 1859, he went over- land to California, and remained some two years, and returned by water. Mr. Smith enlisted in the late war with the 51st I. V. I .; served about twenty-eight months, par- ticipating in many of the most severe battles, and escaped injury. After the war, he came to Menard Co., and, Aug. 22, 1865, married Miss Courtney A. Capper, of Cass Co .; they have two children-George H. and Addie R. He owns a fine little farm of ninety-five aeres.
E. B. YOAKUM, farmer; P. O. Lloyd; son of Matthias and Elizabeth ( McHenry ) Yoakum; was born where he now resides Nov. 10, 1837; his parents were among the first settlers of Menard Co., coming from Tennessee in 1820, and located where E. B. now resides ; here his father spent the remainder of his life, and died in 1855 ; his mother survives at the ripe age of 80 ; E. B. now owns ninety acres of the old home- stead farm. He married Miss Mary A. Cogdal May 19, 1857 ; she was born March 11, 1841 ; they have raised two children-Amanda J., born July 26, 1860, and John T., Jan. 12, 1863.
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MASON COUNTY.
HAVANA TOWNSHIP.
CYRENIUS W. ANDRUS, retired, Havana ; was born in Rutland, JJefferson Co., N. Y., Oct. 23, 1810, but removed, when about 16 years of age, with his father's family, to Watertown, N. Y., thence, in the spring of 1836, to Illinois. His first loca- tion was at Havana, then within the confines of Tazewell Co. Mr. Andrus, soon after his arrival, engaged in the mercantile business with the late Northrup J. Rockwell, and about three years later removed to Fulton Co., and became a tiller of the soil. In 1845, he returned to Havana, which has since been his home, and again engaged in merchandising. The condition of the country, and the methods of doing business on the arrival (and for many years after , of Mr. Andrus and other early settlers, will be fully set forth in another department of this work. Mr. Andrus served as Justice of the Peace at quite an early date in the history of the city, but declined all other invitations to publie honors. He is the oldest in the mercantile trade of any one now living in Mason C'o. He was married, in 1834, to Miss Lucy, daughter of Northrup Rockwell, and sister of the late Judge Rockwell ; she was born in Vermont ; died at Havana, in 1853. By this union there were five children, none of whom are now living. In 1855, he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Rutledge, daughter of R. Simms ; her native place was Virginia ; her death occurred in 1873. He was married to Mrs. Sigourney ( Clark , his present wife, in 1876 ; she was born in Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y.
HENRY BORGELT, SR., farmer, See. 23; P. O. Havana; was born in Han- over. Germany, Feb. 27, 1827; he came to America, in 1844, and first located in St. Louis, Mo. In 1850, he came to Mason Co., and the following year, with others, man- ufactured the brick used in the construction of the Court House, at Havana. He was married, June 7, 1852, to Miss Eliza Horstman, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Dec. 7, 1832 ; she came to America in 1837. Her father, Henry Horstman, settled near Matanzas, this county. They have nine children-Charlotte ( wife of G. B. Holz- grafe ). Ilenry, Jr., Frank, Lizzie, William, Charles W., Horace O., Mary and Yettic. Mr. Borgelt owus 130 acres of farm land, and seventy-three acres of timber.
JAMES BLAKELEY (deceased), Sec. 33; Havana; was born in Mon- mouth Co., N. J .. May 14, 1807, where he resided until 1834, then removed to Columbiana Co., Ohio, and two years later to Illinois, locating first in Sangamon Co. In April, 1838, he settled in Kilbourne Township, this county. For twenty-three years prior to his death, which occurred Sept. 19, 1870, his home was in Havana Township, where his widow naw resides with her son, James 11. In 1828, she was married to Mr. Blakeley, by whom she had nine children ; seven are now living-Jacob resides in Nebraska ; Aaron S., in Kilbourne Township ; Hannah and Sarah (twins), the former, wife of William Polland, lives in Fulton Co., Ill., and the latter, wife of B. F. Wallace, resides in Kansas ; John M. lives in Kilbourne Township; Lydia A., wife of P. O'Neal, resides in Missouri : JJames Il. resides on the old home place, in Havana Township; James, died Jan. 17, 1533; Mary, Opt 29. 1838. Mrs. Blakeley owns 130 acres of land in Havana Township. Jantes H. Blakeley was born in Havana Township, this county, Ang. 4. 1817. He was married, April 1, 1875, to Miss Caroline, daughter of C. Hurley , they have two children. Jarob C. and Ella JJ. Mr. Blakeley owns seventy acres of land in Mason Co., Ill, and 160 acres in Nebraska. Mrs. Hannah Blakeley is the eldest daughter of Anron Scott, who settled in Mason Co. in 1839; she was born in Salem, Salem Co., N. J., Feb. 8, 1509 ; although she is now past 70 years of age, her memory of events and dates is remarkably accurate and ready.
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HAVANA TOWNSHIP.
BENJ. F. BOWMAN, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Havana ; was born in Havana Township, this county, Dec. 29, 1846. His father, D. W. Bowman, who was born in Tennessee, came to Illinois in 1836, and settled in Greene Co., and in February, 1845, removed, with his family, to Mason Co., where they have since resided. His mother was Elizabeth Ballard. She was born in North Carolina. The subject of this sketch now resides on the farm, which has been his home since birth. He has served one term as School Trustee, owns eighty acres of farm land in Havana Township, this county. and forty acres of timber in Fulton Co., Ill.
SAMUEL BIVENS, Treasurer of Mason Co., Havana; was born in Pike Co., Ohio, Aug. 22, 1839, and is a son of William Bivens, a native of Salem, N. J. The subject of this sketch enlisted in the 117th Ohio V. I., in 1862, and remained one year, then, by order of Gov. Todd, proceeded to enlist men for the artillery. From these recruits Battery C, First Ohio Artillery, was formed, and Mr. Bivens commissioned Captain. He served until the close of the war, participating in all the battles from Chattanooga to Atlanta ; also the siege at Nashville. In August, 1865, he was mus- tered out of the service, and, in the following October, came to Illinois, locating at Lincoln, where, for one year, he was engaged in the live stock business, then came to Mason City, this county, where, for a term of six years, he was engaged in the hard- ware trade. In 1873, he was elected Treasurer of Mason Co., and is the present. incumbent. Mr. Bivens is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Mason City Lodge, No. 403; Hlavana Chapter, No. 86, and Damaseus Commandery, No. 42.
DE WITT C. BROWN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec 33 ; P. O. Havana ; was born near Schenectady, N. Y., May 19, 1822, but removed, in childhood, with his father's family, to Chautauqua Co., that State, and subsequently to Allegheny Co., Penn. In 1845, he removed to Illinois, locating in Havana Township, Mason Co., in the spring of that year. He fenced a forty acre tract by digging a ditch around it, which, to a person coming from a heavily timbered country, was a novelty. He now owns about 1,000 acres of land, a part of which is the original purchase made when he came to the State. Mr. B. has served a period of about twenty years as School Director. He was married, in 1851, to Mrs. Ann (Gibbs) Shelly, who was born in England. Her father, William Gibbs, was a powder manufacturer, and at one time was employed by Du Pont. They have three children-John, Charlie, and Josephine, wife of John Brent, who resides in Mason Co. Mrs. Brown has one child by her former marriage, Julia A., wife of John Mowder, who resides in Kansas.
HON. WASHINGTON HI. CAMPBELL, lawyer, Havana; was born in Bath, this county, Oct 12, 1847. His father and grandfather, George H. and P. W. Campbell, settled in Bath Township in 1842, and were from Tennessee. They were of Scotch descent, and men of talent and ability. George H. Campbell is at present a resident of Mason City, where he is engaged in the mercantile business. The subject of this sketch resided at Bath until 1857 (then 10 years old), when his father was elected County Judge, and removed to Havana. He entered Lincoln University in 1866, from which he graduated in 1869. He then entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. In the summer of 1870, he entered the law office of Dearborn & Son, and soon after his admission to the bar formed a copartner- ship with Hon. Luther Dearborn, the elder member of the above firm, which still exists. He has been admitted to the U. S. Dist. Court, the U. S. Circuit Court, also the several adjoining Circuit Courts and State Supreme Court, in all of which he has a large and increasing practice. In April, 1879, he was admitted to the United States Supreme Court, and went to Washington, D. C., where he has in charge, at this time, a case involving over $80,000, which he has gained in the lower courts. Mr. Campbell, after having graduated, kept up his studies as prescribed by Lincoln University, and in June, 1872, the degree of B. S. was conferred upon him, and, in 1873, he addressed the Alumni Society. It would seem almost superfluous to add that Mr. Campbell is one of the ablest lawyers in his judicial district. . He was married, March 23, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel C. and Mary A. Conwell, who was born in Havana. They have one child-Hillery E. Mr. Campbell is a member of Havana Lodge, No.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
88. A., F. & A. M. He was elected Mayor of the city of Havana in April, 1879. and is the present incumbent.
JOHN R. CHANEY, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. O. Biggs Station ; was born in Simp- son Co., Ky., Nov. 4, 1811, and is a son of Moses and Elizabeth Chaney, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Kentucky. The family removed to Tennessee when John R. was about 15 years of age. He removed to Illinois in 1837, locating first in Greene Co., and, in the spring of 1839, settled in what is now Crane Creek Town- ship, Mason Co. He came to Havana Township in the fall of that year, having located his claim the year previous, and now resides on the original claim, which has been his home for the last forty years. At the second election after the organization of Mason Co., Mr. Chaney was elected County Commissioner. He was married, May 8, 1834, to Miss Missouri Gregor, who was born in Summer Co., Tenn. They have had ten chil- dren by this union, nine of whom are now living-Sarah A .. wife of James Haynes. resides in Bourbon Co., Kan. ; James T. resides in Mason Co .; Elizabeth resides in Mason Co. ; Charity JJ. lives at home ; Catharine, wife of Daniel Clark, resides in Mason Co. ; Harriet, wife of William H. Williamson, lives in this county ; Martha C., wife of .J. R. Poland, resides in Mason Co .; John; Missouri A., wife of Albert Glyn, resides in Pike Co., Ill. ; Thomas HI. died Feb. 16, 1873. Mr. Chaney's father was one of the early settlers of Morgan Co., Ill., locating there as early as 1830.
WALTER L COON, farmer, See. 35; P. O. Havana ; was born in Quiver Town- ship, this county, Aug. 16, 1849, and is a son of George D. Coon, who was born in New Jersey, and settled in Mason Co. as early as 1842. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Emma J., daughter of Charles Howell, Feb. 19, 1874. They have two children-George C. and Ralph W. Mrs. Coon's father came to the county in 1837.
JOHN N. CARMAN, farmer, See. 13; P. O. Havana; was born in Hancock Co., Ky., Jan. 24, 1846 ; when about 10 years of age. he came to Peoria, Ill., and sub- sequently went to Princeville, Peoria Co. At the opening of the P., P. & J. R. R., he was employed as baggage-master, and checked the first trunk sent over the road. He was in the employ of the company three and a half years, and then engaged as clerk with Frankinfield & Solenburg, of Havana. and, subsequently, for J. R. Foster and Lang- ford & Griffith, in all about ten years. In 1868, he was married to Miss Luey Nettler. who was born in Havana Township, this county; her death occurred the same year. He was married to his present wife. Miss Ella Kelsey, in July, 1871; she was born in Steuben Co., N. Y. They have two children-Fannie and Frank.
JAMES COVINGTON, farmer, See. 1; P. O. Havana ; was born in Dearborn C'o., Ind .. Feb. 10, 1824, where he resided till he came West, in 1844, locating in Crane Creek Township, Mason Co., Ill., in the fall of that year, where he engaged in farming. After a residence in Crane Creek of about three years, he came to Havana Township, where he has since resided. He has served as School Trustee some three terms, and is the present incumbent. Married, April 1, 1851, Miss Sarah Wheeler, who was born in Logan Co., Ill. ; she died May 30, 1859. Three children by this union, two of whom are living-Arabella, wife of William Prettyman, and Susan P., wife of JJames Hen- ninger; Catharine, died March G, 1864. In 1865. he married Sarah Hole, daughter of Stephen Hole : she was born in Washington Co., Ind. ; her death occurred in May, 1870. By this union there are two children-William T. and Stephen H. Mr. Cov- ington owns 220 acres of farm lands, and 160 acres of timber.
GEORGE CORDES, farmer, Scc. 20; P. O. Havana ; was born in Hanover. Germany, in February, 1819; emme to America when twenty-one years of age, and first located at Baltimore, Md., thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there he removed to St. Louis, Mo. He subsequently went to New Orleans, and on his return to St. Louis, he enlisted in Col. Easton's Battalion, Ist Mo. Int., and served eighteen months in the war with Mexico, under Gen. Price. In the summer of 1848, after his discharge from the service, he located in flavana Township, this county, where he has since followed farm- ing. Owns 360 acres of land in this township. In 1853, he was married to Miss Ellen Woster, who was born in Hanover, Germany. They had four children-Lizzie, wife of
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HAVANA TOWNSHIP.
D. Kremer ; Lucy, wife of William Reipe; Mary J. and George J. Mr. Cordes is now serving his second term of Justice of the Peace.
SAMUEL C. CONWELL, attorney, Havana ; was born in Sussex Co., Del., Aug. 27, 1819, and is the son of George and Hannah (Gum) Conwell; when about 11 years of age, the subject of this sketch removed to Shelbyville, Ind. He received his early education in the common schools in Indiana, and had for a classmate Gov. Thomas Hendricks. Mr. Conwell says the students generally gave more thought to having a good time and enjoying the present, with little regard to the future; also, that their teacher, on account of the waywardness of the youth, or from some other cause, took to the woods and hanged himself. This tragedy closed the school and graduated the stu- dents. In about 1835, Mr. Conwell went to Zanesville, Ohio, where he served for a time as clerk in a store, and, in 1840, removed to Illinois, locating at Walker's Grove, this county. In 1848, he commenced the study of law with William Walker, at Havana, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1851 ; his license was signed by Samuel H. Treat and Lyman Trumbull. He is the oldest in the practice of his profession of any attorney in Mason Co., and served as the second School Commissioner of the county. In December, 1841, he was married to Miss Mary A., daughter of James Walker, of Walker's Grove. Her father settled there in 1837; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind. Eight children by this union, five of whom are living-Amelia L., wife of James F. Kelsey ; Henrietta, wife of F. Pollitz ; Charles A., now practicing law at Rawlins, Wyo- ming Ter. ; Elizabeth, wife of W. H. Campbell, and Fannie.
MARCELLUS E. COVINGTON, drugs, medicines, etc., Havana; was born in Havana Township, this county, April 14, 1854, where he has since resided ; his father, Robert Covington, settled in Mason Co. about 1845. The subject of this sketch has resided in Havana since 1862, and established his present business in 1873. He was married, June 18, 1879, to Miss Katie Kemp, who was born in this city. Mr. Covington is a member of Havana Lodge, No. 743, K. of H., and Prosperity Lodge, No. 114, A. O. U. W.
JACOB F. COPPEL, banking and insurance, Havana ; was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Aug. 17, 1833, where he resided until March. 1853, when he removed to Havana and engaged in the stove and tinware business until 1858; he then commenced the study of law with Walker & Dearborn, and was admitted to the bar in 1861, and com- menced practice ; in 1862, he formed a partnership with William Walker, which con- tinued until 1865, then engaged in insurance in connection with law, and, in 1866, commenced the banking business under the firm name of Kemp. Coppel & Co., until 1867, in September, when Mr. Kemp died, and the firm became McFadden & Coppel, and still so remains. Mr. Coppel served as Master in Chancery for about twelve years ; was Mayor in 1877-78; appointed United States Deputy Collector of Fourth District July 1, 187S, which office he still retains. He was married, in 1856, to Miss Mary L. daughter of Robert MeReynolds, a native of Columbia Co., Penn., but came to Mason, Co., Ill., when but 2 years old ; the result of this marriage is eight children-Clarence E., Frank M., Charley H., Myrtie L., Daisy D., Thusnelda, Clara E. (died in 1864), and Nellie F. (died in 1873). His father, Daniel Coppel, was born in Philadelphia iu 1787, and came to Adams Co., Ohio, when about 18 years old, and thence to Illinois ; he died in 1871 ; his wife ( Martha Whiteman) was born in Fairfax, Va., in 1791, and died in 1863. Mr. C. is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Havana Lodge, No. 88; Havana R. A. Chapter, No. 86; Damascus Commandery, No. 42; Mason Lodge, No. 143, I. O. O. F.
GEORGE W. CRAIG, SR., dealer in cigars and tobacco, Havana ; was born in Canton, Fulton Co., Ill., Jan. 28, 1845, where he resided till about 19 years of age ; he then worked at his present trade in different localities in the Western and Southern States, and, in 1868, located in Havana, his present home, where he engaged in his present business about eight years since. In December, 1871, he married Miss Annie, daughter of Henry Taylor; she was born in Washington Co., Penn .; they have two children-Frank F. and George W., Jr. Mr. Craig is a member of the follow- ing Masonic bodies : Havana Lodge, No. 88, and Havana Chapter, No. 86. He
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
enlisted in Co. E, 132d I. V. I., in the spring of 1864, and served till the fall of same year.
JOHN M. DEHM, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Havana; was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, May 20, 1832 ; he came with his father's family to America in 1851 ; they first settled in Tazewell Co., Ill., where they engaged in farming, and subsequently removed to Woodford Co. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Ann B. Lieb, who was born in Baden, Germany, Jan. 13, 1835 ; she came to America in 1859; they have one child- John W., born Nov. 27, 1861; in 1871, they came to Havana, but have resided some seven years in the State of Missouri.
JOHN II. DIERKER, retired farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Havana ; was born in Hanover. Germany, Aug. 17, 1799; in 1838, he came to America with his brother. John Henry : they made a short stay at New Orleans, La., and with their brother George, who had preceded them about three years, then came to Mason Co. in April of the same year ; George and John Henry settled in Bath Township, and the subject of this sketch on the farm where he now resides. In 1839, he was married to Miss Mary C. Heye, who was born in Hanover, Germany ; her death occurred Dee. 10, 1874 ; they had four children, two of whom are now living-Maggie (wife of Louis Hahn), and Hannah (wife of' Henry Hahn ). Mr. Dierker has been identified with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Havana since its organization, and has contributed liberally in time and money in building up the society.
WALTER S. DRAY, loan business, Havana ; was born in Allegheny City, Penn., Sept. 20, 1838, but removed, when about 1 year old, with his father's family to the Territory of Iowa ; thence, in 1815. to Pike Co., Mo., and, three years later to Vermont, Fulton Co., Ill. Prior to his leaving Iowa, his mother died, and, as his father was then in California, he became the protege of his grandmother. In 1857, he removed to Cleve- land, Ohio ; but, two years later, returned to Illinois and located in Canton, Fulton Co., and engaged in the jewelry business. He removed to Havana, his present home. mn July, 1861, and embarked in the same line of trade. In 1868, Mr. O. C. Town, who had been with the establishment since 1864, became a partner in the business, which continued till 1875. Mr. Dray then sold out to Mr. Town and gave his especial atten- tion to other interests. He was married, in 1864, to Miss Louisa F., daughter of Hon. William Allen, of Havana; by this union there were three children, only one of whom is living-Gail, a bright and interesting lad of 7 years, who lives with his grand- mother Allen; Roy, who was born in JJuly, 1866, died Nov. 12, 1872; George W. died in infancy. Mr. Dray is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Havana Lodge, No. SS; Havana Chapter, No. 86, and Damasens Commandery, No. 42. He has been a member of the Board of Aldermen during the last four years, serving as President of the Finance Committee during that period.
PHILIP L. DIEFFENBACHER, physician and surgeon, Havana; born in Northumberland Co., Penn., Feb. 6, 1830. He is the eldest son of Daniel and Cath- aring ( Long) Diefenbacher ; his parents removed to Illinois in 1837, and settled in what was then a part of Tazewell (now Mason ) Co. He remained at home and helped improve a new farm until 1849, when he returned to Pennsylvania for the purpose of attending school. He entered the Newville Academy, a preparatory school to the Jef- ferson College, at Cannonsburg, where he finished his preparatory education. He then came to Mason Co. and taught in the schoolhouse he helped to build, known as the Dieffenbacher Schoolhouse, situated about six miles cast of Havana. In the summer of 1851, he returned to Pennsylvania and commenced the study of medicine in the office of Drs. P. H. & S. HI. Long, of Mechanicsburg, that State. He entered the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, in 1853, and graduated at that institution in the spring of 1855 ; during the winter of 1854-55, he attended clinical lectures and prac- tice of Blockley Hospital, West Philadelphia. After graduating, he established his office at Mount Joy, Lancaster Co., Penn., and there began the practice of his profession. In the spring of 1856, he returned to Illinois, locating at Havana, and the following year was married to Miss Frances A. Parmelee, of Lockport. N. Y. In August, 1862, he colisted in the United States Service as First Assistant Surgeon of the 85th Illinois
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