Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 667–668; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
John A. Logan, M. D. The medical profession has many
representatives in this county, men of intelligence in their chosen
field of labor and in general topics of interest, good judgment in the
application of theoreitical knowledge, and an established reputation as
practitioners. One of this class is the subject of this brief
notice, who is a landowner in Banner Township. The office of Dr.
Logan is at Breed’s Station, but his home is in Monterey, two and a
half miles distant, near which he owns two hundred acres of fine
land. He has a successful practice, and is going in
popularity. He is County Physician this year for Fulton County.
The birthplace of Dr. Logan was Genesee County, N. Y., and his
natal day November 29, 1846. His parents were Thomas J. and
Esther (Allen) Logan, now deceased. He was reared on a farm until
he was eighteen years of age, attending the district schools, and then
receiving private instruction from H. J. Bentor, Esq., who was
afterward Superintendent of Schools of this county. We next find
the young man enlarging his fund of information in Hillsdale College,
at Hillsdale, Mich., during the terms of 1867-68. School-teaching
was adopted by him as a temporary expedient for maintenance, and while
instruction others three years, he pursued the study of medicine under
John Bacon, M. D., of Ipava, this county.
During the fall and winter of 1871-72 Dr. Logan attended medical
lectures, then began the practice of his profession at Liverpool, and
after an experience of a few years, took up his study again, enjoying
an advance course of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago.
He was graduated from that well-known institution in 1878, after a
short attendance, and resumed the practical duties of a
physician. He constantly endeavors to improve in his conception
of the needs of the human system, to keep himself acquainted with the
latest investigations of anatomists and chemists, and to use
judiciously the remedies that are already known as well as the new
combinations that prove worthy of acceptance.
The first marriage of Dr. Logan took place at the bride’s home
in Galesburg, Ill., January 13, 1875, his companion on the interesting
occasion being Miss Laura Despain. William Despain, the father of
the bride, was an early settler in the Prairie State, and was
frequently employed by the United States Government as a private
detective. Mrs. Laura Logan breather her last November 17, 1880,
leaving three children, namely: William J., born May 24, 1876;
Jay Augustus, June 15, 1878; and Ettie, January 23, 1880. The
last named lives with her grandmother Despain at Galesburg; the others
are with their father. The present wife of Dr. Logan bore the
maiden name of Mary C. Spencer, and became his bride October 31,
1881. This lady is well known throughout the county, in which her
father, George Spencer, was an early settler. She was carefully
reared by worthy parents, and is a capable, efficient woman,
intelligent and courteous. The last marriage of the Doctor has
resulted in the birth of one child, Laura Belle, born October 27, 1883.
Dr. Logan is quite interested in social orders, as is evinced by
his membership in Morning Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Canton, and
Banner Grange, P. of H. He is a Democrat from conviction, and an
active worker for the party policy, not only supporting it by his
ballot, but by his influence and presentation of its principles to his
acquaintances.
