History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 157
He supplemented his public-school training by a course in the
Normal School of Bureau county, Illinois, from which he was
gi"aduated, and next entered the Northwestern University as a
medical student, completing his professional training there in
1890. He afterward spent a year as resident physician and surgeon
in St. Luke's Hospital of Chicago, thus gaining a practical
experience and training such as can be obtained in no other way
than through hospital practice. In 1891 he arrived in Dixon and
has here since remained. His knowledge of the principles and
science of medicine is comprehensive and exact and his training
and interest in his profession have well qualified him to deal with
many of the diseases to which flesh is heir. He has done considerable
surgical work and specializes along this line, in which he has
gained marked proficiency. He belongs to the local, state and na-
tional medical associations and thus keeps in touch with the advanced
thought of the profession.
In 1894 Dr. Owens was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor
Isett, a native of Pennsylvania, and unto them have been born
two children, Elizabeth and Katherine. Dr. Owens votes with the
republican party and keeps well informed concerning the significant
and vital questions of the times. He and his wife hold mem-
bership in the Presbyterian church and during their residence in
Dixon they have gained many friends among the church people
and in social circles at large.
WILLIAM J. Mccarty.
William J. McCarty, a representative of an honored pioneer
family of Lee county, devotes his attention to general agi'icultural
pursuits with excellent success, operating a valuable farm of three
himdred acres, known as Clear View Farm, on section 14, Marion
township. His birth occurred on this farm on the 25th of September,
1876, his parents being William R. and Ruth A. (Conderman)
McCarty. The father, who passed away on the 28th of December,
1898, lies buried in the Prairie Repose cemetery of Amboy,
but the mother survives and makes her home with our subject.
William J. McCarty attended school in his native county un-
til sixteen years of age and subsequently spent his entire time in
assisting his father with the work of the home place. Since the
time of the latter 's demise in 1898, our subject has remained at