McLean County, Illinois - Chapter 21: Medical Profession, 1924

TREATMENT OF PIONEER SICK - FIRST DOCTORS - MEDICAL SOCIETY ORGANIZED - EARLY MEMBERS - rHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF FORMER YEARS^- PRESENT MEMBERS OF COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY' - PHYSICIANS IN WORLD WAR.

In the very early times of the county, the settlers had to do without the services of a professional physican, and some of the settlers themselves, especially the women, developed considerable skill and perhaps some science in the matter of treating the common ailments to which the flesh is heir. Aunt Jane Hendrix and Aunt Ann Dawson were women of this kind. Mrs. Gardner Randolph was another. Their materia medica was of simple proportions ; sweating and the use of native herbs were their main reliance.

The first doctor known to have visited the county was Dr. Herrington of Springfield, who was called to Blooming Grove in 1825 to attend a sick man at the home of John Wells Dawson, he being a U. S. surveyor. Dr. John Anderson settled here in 1833, Dr. Thomas H. Haines soon afterward, Dr. John F. Henry in 1835, Dr. David Wheeler in 1836. According to some authorities among the early settlers, Dr. Wheeler came even before Dr. Anderson ; at least he was among the very first physicians who located in the settlement. Dr. Haines died in 1838 and Dr. Anderson in 1842, both believed to have succumbed to overwork in the hard conditions and much sickness of the time. Dr. Wheeler lived to the age of 89 and died at Waynesville. Dr. Henry removed to Burlington, Iowa. Dr. Jarvis Gaylord and Dr. E. M. Colburn were other early physicians who

The McLean County Medical Society was organized in 1854, with the following as its first officers: President, Dr. A. H. Luce; vice-president, Dr. H. Noble; corresponding secretary, Dr. E. R. Roe; recording secretary, Dr. W. A. Elder; treasurer, Dr. T. P. Rogers. The society continued from that time until the present, and has never neglected to hold occasional meetings and keep up its organization.

The pioneer physician was a man of strong type, mentally and physically, for he could not have practiced his profession under the trying conditions of that time unless he had been strong. The last survivor of the charter members of the medical society was Dr. Charles R. Parke, who wrote a history of the society which was published in 1905. Dr. Parke graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1848, the same year went overland to California, came to Bloomington in 1852, was surgeon in the Russian army 1855-56, returned to Bloomington in 1857 and remained here until 1902, when he retired and removed to Louisville, where he died. He was surgeon-in-chief of St. Joseph's Hospital for twenty years.

The McLean County Medical Society celebrated its golden or fiftieth anniversary with a banquet at the Illinois Hotel in Bloomington on April 7, 1904, at which there were present about 50 members and former members and their families. Among the guests of honor was Dr. Charles R. Parke, one of the charter members and the eighth president, who came from his retirement in Louisville to be present on this occasion. There were visitors from many cities. Some brief statement of facts about the more prominent members of the society during its long years of history, most of whom have passed on or have retired, may be made at follows:

Dr. T. W. Bath, born in Wales, located first in Normal and then went to the Philippine Islands as an army surgeon. After again locating here he practiced several years, then departed for the far west.

Dr. A. T. Barnes was a superintendent of the Illinois Hospital for Insane at Anna before coming to McLean County; he was president of the County Medical Society, and prominent Republican politician in addition

Dr. N. B. Cole located in Bloomington in 1865, was physician at the Soldiers Orphans' Home until shortly before his removal in 1896 to Phoenix, Ariz., where he died several years later.

Dr. E. K. Crothers located in Bloomington in 1850 and was a leading physician until his death in 1893. He was the father of Rachel Crothers, the famous playwright.

Dr. William Cromwell, graduate of University of Maryland, located here in 1858, was appointed postmaster of Bloomington in 1867 and served four years. Died in 1874.

Dr. Samuel L. Chapin, native of DeWitt County, graduate of Jefferson Medical College, practiced in Holder and Saybrook between 1875 and 1904. On Aug. 18 of the latter year he was murdered by an insane man as he was returning to his office.

Dr. J. E. Covey, born near Leroy, graduated from Rush, spent five months in Germany, and practiced in Bloomington from 1904 to 1907, when he died.

Dr. A. T. Darrah, native of Ohio, graduated from Rush in 1865, and was located in Bloomington from 1883 until his death in 1889. He was prominent in Masonry, and the father of Delmar D. Darrah, afterward Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Illinois.

Dr. F. H. Godfrey, graduate of Miami Medical College, practiced in Bellflower, and in 1890 came to Bloomington, where he practiced until his death. Served many years on the city board of health.

Dr. William E. Guthrie, one of the eminent surgeons of his time, served as chief surgeon for Lake Erie and the Chicago & Alton Railroads ; was on staffs of St. Joseph's and Brokaw Hospitals and devoted himself exclusively to surgery from 1900 to the time of his death.

Dr. William Hill, native of Ohio, surgeon 48th Illinois Regiment in Civil War ; located in Bloomington at close of war and practiced here until time of his death.

Dr. Silas Hubbard, native of New York, graduate of Castleton Medical College, Vermont; practiced at Hudson from 1858 to 1900, when he removed to East Aurora, N. Y., to be with his son, Elbert Hubbard, the famous writer. Dr. Hubbard and his son are both deceased.

Dr. M. D. Hull, graduate of Louisville Medical College, practiced at Arrowsmith for many years, and after 1894 in Bloomington, until his death.

Dr. F. 0. Jackman, graduate of Northwestern University Medical College, served on staffs of insane hospitals at Topeka, Jacksonville, and Mt. Pleasant, Iowa ; now retired, living in Bloomington.

Dr. Jehu Little, native of Indiana ; graduate of Belleville Medical College; served as surgeon in Civil War; was prisoner in Libby Prison; practiced in Leroy and Bloomington from 1866 to death ; served as president, secretary and treasurer of McLean County Medical Society.

Dr. A. H. Luce located in Bloomington 1842 and practiced until his death in 1893. Was charter member and first president of County Medical Society.

Dr. Ernest Mammen, graduate of Rush, studied in Europe on several occasions ; served as county physician ; practiced surgery many years in Bloomington; now in China delivering lectures at medical colleges.

Dr. Nelson K. McCormick, graduate of Chicago Medical; located in Normal in 1889 ; served as physician at Soldiers Orphans' home ; was chief of staff and one of the main promoters of Brokaw Hospital ; now deceased.

Dr. Harrison Noble, graduate of Ohio Medical and Rush, located in McLean County in 1832; was member of Legislature in 1864-65; died in 1870.

Dr. Thomas P. Rogers came from Philadelphia, located in Woodford County, then in Bloomington; elected to Legislature 1872-80; is now deceased.

Dr. Lee Smith, graduate of Rush Medical ; served as surgeon in charge of army hospital in Washington, 1862-63 ; practiced in Bloomington afterward until his death.

Dr. A. E. Stewart, native of McLean County ; graduate of Jefferson Medical ; was assistant surgeon 94th Illinois ; elected to Legislature 1872- 76; died 1899.

Dr. J. L. White, graduate of Harvard Medical College, located in Jerseyville and later in Memphis ; came to Bloomington in 1870 ; served as member of Legislature 1894-96; died in 1902. Was head of staff of St. Joseph's Hospital for many years.

A list of many of the other prominent physicians and surgeons of McLean County of former years who have either died or removed to distant places would include the following:

Dr. W. H. Gardner, one of the younger physicians of the city, carried on his practice for several years in connection with the Kelso Sanitarium, and then went into military service in the World War. He made a fine record, taking part in the operations of the Argonne. After the war he gave up practice and engaged in business with his father and brothers.

The list of McLean County physicians who saw active service in the army or navy during the World War was as follows: Dr. Harry Howell, Dr. R. A. Noble, Dr. Wilfred Gardner, Dr. A. E. Rogers, Dr. J. W. Wallis, Dr. T. D. Cantrell, Dr. J. K. P. Hawks, Dr. L. B. Cavins, Dr. Frank Sayers, Dr. Fred Brian, Dr. F. C. Vandervort, Dr. G. H. Galford, Dr. W. W. Gailey, Dr. L. L. Irwin, Dr. A. E. Behrendt, Dr. A. J. Casner, Dr. J. L. Yolton, Dr. H. A. Elder, Dr. W. L. Penniman, Dr. D. D. Raber, Dr. E. R. Hermann (Stanford), Dr. A. R. Freeman, Dr. Paul Greenleaf, Dr. C. E. Schultz, Dr. Frank Deneen, Dr. L. 0. Thompson (LeRoy), Dr. 0. A. Coss, Arrowsmith.

In the last 15 years, Bloomington has become the location of several physicians of the newer schools of practice. There are now eight different practitioners of the osteopathic method, and they have become recognized among the substantial professional class of the city. The names of the osteopaths listed in the 1923 directory were Warren E. Atkins, Mrs. Annie B. Bunn, Ethel L. Burner, John D. Cunningham, Daugherty & Mantle, Charles P. Hanson and Eugene Pitts.

Chiropractors are another class of practitioners who have become established in the county seat, there being listed in 1923 the following: Frank J. Esper, V. Emil Lambeau, E. Russell Scott, Alfred T. Spath.