McHenry County, Illinois - Chapter 10: Medical Profession, 1922

Society

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 ' ' Medicine .Men." From the days when his prototype wa9 the only recourse for the sick, until these enlightened days when the physician and surgeon is able, through his science 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 medical 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 engaged 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

soon followed, however, by Dp. A. B. Cornish. In order to give the reader a clearer account ol the semes of physicians who have from time to time practiced in this COUnty, thej will be treated hy towns, villages and cities in which they liave resided, or are now practicing.

Dr. I). S. McOonigle was the first to practice medicine in Alden, he locating: there in 1^4"). Dr. Allen C. Bingham was in practice here from 1S57 to 1S65, 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 practice to Dr. G. Ballanger. Other physicians have come and gone from this section of the county, some of whom are mentioned in the biographical section of this work.

The first physician of Algonquin was Dr. David Burton, who located here in 1844, and continued to practice until his death, when he was succeeded by Dr. H. C. Tenvilliger. 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 Chemung

Doctor 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, hut in 1863 he, too, moved to Harvard. Dr. Devine came in 1862, but in 1867 moved away. In 1875 Dr. Chase established himself here, continuing in practice for many years. The medical practice of this community is now attended to chiefly by physicians of Harvard.

Coral

Doctor Hungerford came to Coral in IS.".:!, moving to I'nioii, the railroad station, after about three and one-half years. Dr. A. McWright came in 18")."); Dr. Suiter in IS.'ili, and Dr. Snow in 1S.">S. Dr. Klvin Briggs practiced medicine here from 1S40 to 1881. Dr. E. L. Sheldon ami 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 18">7. The second doctor was a man named Smith; he died while engaged in practice at Crystal Lake. Drs. Beers, Ballou, 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 McCay, 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 Doctor 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 community. Here several physicians have practiced, but usually were residents of some near-by village.

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.

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. H. W. Richardson, hut after a very few years lie moved to Marengo, where he died. Dr. C. A. Bingham was third to enter tins field for the purpose of practicing medicine. About the same time Dr. B. A. Wade, Dr. A. C. Bingham. II. T. Woodward, ('. .M. .Johnson and Charles Goddard arrived, and some of them remained for many years.

Dr. Royal Sykes came from Vermont and located in Hebron in 1848. lie was successfully engaged in medical 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 remained but a short time. In the autumn of 1865, Dr. E. 0. 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 Hebron prior to, and some of them after, 1883.

The first physician to locate for the practice of his profession in Huntley, was Doctor Ainsworth who came in 1S5"_', but died a few years thereafter of cholera, contracted while attending upon a stranger who had just arrived in the village. His successor 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 medicine in the county. We refer to Dr. Christy G. Wheeler, who soon left the practice of his pro- fession ami embarked in mercantile business here. Dr. Luke Hale was his successor and he in turn was followed by Doetor 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 ;i professional career. The fourth to practice medicine in McHenry was

Doctor McAllister. He continued for four years, and then moved to Oshkosh, Wis. Doetor Coleman remained at McHenry four years, and was soon followed by Doetor Flavel, and Doetor Ballon, who were here for the same length of time. Doetor 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 physicians at McHenry prior to the nineties, as well as Doctor Anderson now of Woodstock. .Many changes have been wrought out in McHenry, doctors have come and gone, leaving the present practice in the hands of Drs. A. I. Froehlieh, D. G. Wells, and X. .1. 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. YVeinham, 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 have 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.

Dr. Almon King, who settled at Woodstock soon after the founding of the village, was its first physician. Following him came 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. Buck, V. B. Anderson and William W. Cook were among the earlier physicians of Woodstock.

Common Disorders Of Kahi.Y Years

Fever and ague was the chief complaint in the homes of pioneers in McHenry, as in almost all the other western counties. Especially was this true along the valley of the Pox River. Aside from this disease, there was but little sickness. The early settlers were usually men and women of strong, robust bodies and had plenty of outdoor exercise and not much rich food, hence were seldom ill enough to call 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 could escape, the fever and ague was not seen to any great extent, but this condition lasted at least until 1S"«0, giving the real pioneer band plenty of genuine "shakes." The doctors who visited the homes of Mellenry 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 act as surgeons.

Sidelights On Early Physicians

Dr. Christy 0. Wheeler, although not strictly speaking a physician. was the first who bore the title of "Dr." at the old county seat of Mc- Henry. He was born in Dunbarton, N. H., in 1811. His 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 McHenry. The following May, the decision was made fixing McHenry as the county seat. Mr. Wheeler paid $100 for surveying the town site. He purchased a small store and had general merchandise, and was also postmaster, keeping the fust post office in McHenry County. Subsequently, he was recorder of deeds, which office he held until the time of his death, March 28, 1842.

Dr. V. B. Anderson was born in Girard, Penn., in 1847, and accompanied his parents to Woodstock, 111., in 1854. lie attended the public schools, read medicine under Dr. J. Xortkrup, 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 McHenry. this county and here remained

Dr. S. Fillmore Bennett, of Richmond, was bom in Erie County. X. Y., in 1836, and was brought to Illinois when two years of age, by his parents. At the age of eighteen years, he commenced 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 public 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 1 s? i, and at once commenced the practice of his profession at Richmond. Por years he was United States pension examiner and surgeon. At one time he was consul to Hamilton. Canada. It was at Elkhorn, Wis., that lie became associated with J. P. Webster, author of that famous song book "The Signet Ring." He was publisher of hundreds of excellent Bongs and hymns. Doctor Bennett composed "The Sweet Bye and Bye," and Mr. Webster set the words to music and since then it has been translated into many foreign languages. Doubtless Doctor Bennett will be remembered more as a musical composer than as a medical man, excellent 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 Avers was the only man living in the vicinity. Dr. Johnson was born in Xew York City, December 16, 1810. He was graduated at Rutgers College, Xew Brunswick, X. J., and became an excellent physician, practicing first in the City of Xew York. In 1836 he came West, locating at Kenosha. Wis., and there he remained until he came to Harvard where he continued to practice medicine until his death, February 24, 1871. He was the leading physician in this county of his day. His son, Dr. C. M. Johnson, is a medical practitioner and conducts a hospital at Harvard.

Physicians Of A Later Date

Of the regular-school practitioners since 1884 may be mentioned : Dr. H. T. Woodruff, who practiced until his death, at Harvard ; Dr. A. C. Bingham, who also practiced at Harvard, and died there a few years ago; Dr. B. A. Wade, who practiced until his death, at Hot Springs, S. D.

Origin, and by many was not looked upon with favor, hut 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

The present buildings are modern in all fittings, supplied with steam heat, electric lights, electric call hells, 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, unsurpassed 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 city hospital. The real homelike air and the genuine courtesy and consideration 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 eases 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.

Woodstock Hospital Association

In 1906 there was a private hospital established in the city of Woodstock by Dr. J. E. Guy, and he continued to operate it until 1912, when it was taken over by Dr. Hyde West, who also conducted it as a private hospital until 1914, when the Woodstock Public Hospital Association was formed and incorporated. This association took over the manageincut ami converted this private hospital into a public hospital. It was originally on Clay Street, but in 1915 was moved to West South Street, where the old homestead of the late Judge Murphy was purchased and remodeled for modern hospital work.

This hospital is a great accommodation for all surgical and medical cases in the vicinity of Woodstock. It is located in a beautiful, quiet and attractive part of the city, away from the noise and unpleasant surroundings found nearer the city's center.

Present Physicians Medical Society

The McHenry County Medical Society was organized at Woodstock in 1910. Its first officers were: president, Dr. C. M. Johnson, Hanard; secretary and treasurer, Dr. John F. Guy, "Woodstock. The present officers are: president, Dr. E. Windmueller, Woodstock; secretary and treasurer, Dr. Howard D. Eaton, Han-ard.

There are at present about forty-two physicians in the county, and of this number all but seven are members of this society. This society meets at various places within the county, each month, and at times has open meetings to which anyone is welcome.