The Biographical record of Livingston and ... - University Library

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.4S5physicians, namely : Dr. Thomas P., ofBloomington, Illinois; Dr. R. B.. of Lacon.Illinois: Dr. David, of Missouri, and Dr.Alexander, of Ohio. John and Samuelwere farmers of Marshall and Woodfordcounties, and George became a resident ofOregon. Mrs. Wilcox spent her last yearsat the home of her son, E. A., and departetlthis life, in March, 1888, when in her eightysixthyear. She had given one of her bravesons to her country, and had reared all of herchildren in liigh principles of honor and patriotism.Alfred R., who held the rank offirsl lieutenant of Company D, EleventhRegiment of Illinois Infantry, was mortallywounded at the battle of Fort Donelson, andbeing sent to the home of our subject, dieda few weeks later, surrounded by his lovedones. Another son. Dr. Levi S., formerlyinterna! revenue collector and one of theIllinois central committee, and resident ofChampaign. Illinois, was appointed by thepresident to the United States consulship atHankow. China, and as this place is .in theheart of that empire, of late grave fears havebeen entertained for him and his wife, whoaccompanied him. His sisters, Sophroniaand Cynthia, are deceased, while Elizabeth,widow of Henry C. Dent, is the postmistressof Marietta, Indian Territory. Sophroniawas the wife of Ezra Warren, and died inTiskihva, Illinois, and Cynthia, wife ofJames D. Varna, died in Lacon, Illinois.Born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, Sejiteniber8, 1830, Dr. E. A. Wilcox spenteighteen months of his life there, and thencame to Ohio, where he resided until eight)'ears of age, when he came with his parentsto Lacon. Illinois.It is not strange that heevinced a strong liking for the medical profession,in view of the fact that so many ofhis near relatives were associated with thatclass of workers, and, under the tutorshipof his father and uncle, R. B. Rogers, theyoung man laid the foundations of his medicalknowledge. In 1857 he was graduatedin Rush Medical College, in Chicago, and.after practicing for a year in Lacon. Illinois,came to Minonk, where he steadily rosein his chosen calling. Not less has he succeededas a financier and investor, for he hasdisplayed rare sagacity in the disposal of hismeans.Toda}' he owns one tliousand acresof fine land in Illinois, and fourteen hundredacres situated in Nebraska and Texas.He is- a member of the State Medical Association,and of the ^^''oodford CountyMedical Society.Called by the people of Minoi.k to theoffice of mayor, the Doctor served efficientlyfor three years in that capacity.For morethan two-score years he has been one of theleading representatives of the Republicanparty in this county, and for twelve years wasa member of the state central committee, andfor about the same length of time served aschairman of the county central committee.Though this congressional district wasstrongly Democratic, he was elected to thesenate in 1872, receiving an overwhelmingmajority—a fact which well attested to hispopularity. He made an enviable record asastatesman, and for the four years of his.term he labored earnestly for the welfare ofhis people. He was the author of the bil!which relates to the regulation of our publicinstitutions.The first marriage of the Doctor was solemnizedJune 23. 1857, when Carrie, daughterof Caleb Mathis, became his bride. Shewas a native of L'rbana, Ohio, and whenshe was in her forty-sixth year, on the nthof March. 1877, she was summoned to thesilent land.She was a member of the Meth-