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 601–603; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Horace L. Wilson, M. D. The publishers of this Album would
fail in their object of presenting to their readers an outline of the
lives of the best citizens of the county were they to omit that of the
gentleman above name. He is located at London Mills, in and about
which place he has an excellent practice, his calls extending over a
radius of fifteen miles. This includes the northern part of the
county and the southern part of Knox County. Dr. Wilson is also
prominent in the social orders, active in church and temperance work,
and popular in society. He is well educated and his extensive
information is not confined to matters pertaining to his vocation, but
includes all topics of general interest and literary merit.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was born near Belfast,
Ireland, came to America and served in the War of 1812. For his
services he obtained a land grant on which he secured a tract in
Venango County, Pa., making that his home during the remained of his
life. There Samuel Wilson, the father of our subject, was born
and reared. At the age of eighteen years he assumed the duties of
a school teacher, following the profession several years. About
1845 he came to Hermon, Knox County, Ill., where his brother-in-law,
Dr. Hamilton, had located. While pursuing his professional labors
he studied medicine under Dr. Hamilton and in the fall of 1847, when
Rush Medical College in Chicago was opened, he attended the first
course of lectures there. He then began to practice medicine in
Rock Island County and remained there until 1850.
At that time Dr. Wilson, in company with his brother-in-law and
a few others, started overland to California. The train went
through without being greatly molested by the Indians, although the
members of the one which had immediately preceded them had been
massacred and one of the number skinned alive. The Wilson party
came across another that was out of provisions and having divided with
it, ran short before reaching a settlement. While crossing the
mountains and desert the men suffered extremely from hunger, but after
enduring privations and famine they finally reached the
settlements. The two physicians practiced and also engaged in
mining for two years, making only a bare living. Dr. Hamilton
sickened and died and Dr. Wilson then went in with another party in the
project of turning a river, in whose bed they thought gold would be
found. They were successful and in a few weeks Dr. Wilson’s share
amounted to $2,000.
With this sum Dr. Wilson returned home via Panama and New York,
and in the fall of 1853 began practicing medicine at Hermon. In
1864 he entered Rush Medical College a second time, receiving his
diploma the following spring. He then made Abingdon his home two
years, after which he removed to Montezuma in Poweshiek County, Iowa,
where he combined agriculture with his professional work. In 1875
he returned to Hermon, practiced there until 1881, then removed to
Clark County, Iowa, and bought a farm near Osceola. There he
practiced and farmed until four months before his death, when he came
to London Mills and breathed his last at the home of his son, Dr.
William Wilson, in 1887. As one of the pioneer physicians of Knox
and Fulton Counties Dr. Wilson rode all over the country in the early
days. He was an easy-going, liberal-minded man, who secured the
confidence and respect of the people and was prominent and influential
among them. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, the Democratic
party and the Presbyterian Church. The maternal grandparents of
our subject were William and Catherine (Bowden) McFarland, natives of
Maryland who removed to Ohio in an early day. They finally
removed to this State in 1838, settling in Chestnut Township, Knox
County, where Mr. McFarland became a very wealthy farmer. He was
a strong abolitionist and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He was a grandson of Landers McFarland, a Scotchman, who
came to America with Lord Dunmore, who had a grant of land in
Maryland. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of
Mahala McFarland, who was born in Maryland and accompanied her parents
to the Prairie State. She died in Iowa, August 18, 1886, her
dying hours cheered by the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of
which she had long been a member. Her children are: Dr.
William Wilson, represented else where in thus volume; Mrs. Laura
Farmer, of Montezuma, Iowa; John, Postmaster and merchant at Hermon,
Knox County, and he whose name introduces this sketch.
Dr. Horace L. Wilson was born in Hermon, Knox County, August 9,
1861. He spent a few years in his native place, then sojourned in
Abingdon two years and in Iowa during the remainder of the time until
he was fourteen years old. During his boyhood he had the
educational advantages of the district school. In 1875 when the
family returned to Hermon he and his brother John drove in an open
wagon from Montezuma, Iowa They were ten days en route and had a
very cold ride, as the removal was made in the winter. The lad
remained at home, spending his summers on the farm and attending school
in the winter until he was seventeen years old. He wished to
study medicine but his father advised him to teach school first, saying
that teaching would be a good experience and he would have time later
on to study medicine.
Our subject therefore entered Abingdon College of which F. M.
Bruner was then President, and under that able instructor pursue his
studies two years. The school was then discontinued and young
Wilson entered Hedding College. After studying in that
institution for one year he began teaching, making his home in London
Mills and studying medicine with his brother William while discharging
the duties of a pedagogue. In 1883 he entered Rush Medical
College, Chicago, from which he was graduated in the sprung of
1885. He at once began practice with his brother William, with
whom he was associated two years, after which he went to Hermon an
labored in his father’s former field. A year later he located in
Knoxville, but in August, 1889, he returned to London Mills, where he
at once had professional calls.
Dr. Wilson bought two lots, built a residence and outbuildings,
where he and his family are surrounded by comforts and
conveniences. The lady who presides over the household economy
became his wife October 25, 1887, the marriage ceremony being performed
in Pontiac, Vermilion County. She bore the maiden name of Julia E.
Combs, was born in Prairie City, February 18, 1867, and there grew to
the age of sixteen years. In 1885 she went to Texas whither her
father removed and attended Alvarado Academy a twelvemonth, after which
she returned to the North. She is cultured and refined, devoted
to her home duties yet finding time to bear a part in society and
benevolent work. Doctor and Mrs. Wilson have one child, a
daughter, Lizzie F.
The father of Mrs. Wilson is Robert Combs, a native of Ohio, who
came to this county with his parents when a child. His father,
Joseph Combs, was a pioneer farmer here, but removed to Texas when
Robert was nineteen years old. After his death the son returned
to thus State, soon afterward embarking in the livery business at
Prairie City. He was also engaged to some extent in
farming. He married Hannah Cook, who was born in Pennsylvania and
accompanied her father, Mills, to this county in the early days.
Dr. Wilson belonged to the Village Board two years, resigning
his position when he moved away from the place. In August, 1885,
he received the appointment of Postmaster and on his removal resigned
in favor of the wife of his brother William. He belongs to London
Lodge, No. 734, I. O. O. F., holding the office of Past Grand and is to
represent the body in the Grand Lodge at Springfield this fall
(1890). He also belongs to Lodge No. 1410, M. W. A., in which he
is clerk and physician, and and is Chief Templar in Lodge No. 210, I.
O. G. T. He is examining physician for the following insurance
companies: The Mutual Benefit, of New Jersey, Mutual, of New
York, New York Life, Aetna, New England, of Hartford; Hartford Life and
Annuity, Northwestern, of Milwaukee, and others. Dr. Wilson is a
Democrat and has frequently been a delegate to county
conventions. He belongs to the Military Tract Medical
Society. He is an Elder in the Christian Church and rendered
valuable aid in building the house of worship.
