Few men in Freeport were more widely known than Dr. DePuy, whose death occurred July 11, 1879. Belonging by descent to one of the old Huguenot families, whose name is variously spelled in this country, as DePuis, DePuy, DePugh and Depew, he was a man of strong personal character, deep religious convictions and great tenderness of heart. His parents were Dr. James B. and Sallie (DeLong) DePuy, of Onondaga County, N. Y. He was born at the old homestead near Syracuse, on the 18th of September, 1824. He was the fourth of a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. The sisters are still living, but Dr. De Puy was the last survivor of the brothers. His early academical studies were pursued at Cazenovia, N. Y., his medical studies in his father’s office and later with Dr. Waters, of Fulton, N. Y., and afterward at the Medical College of Rochester, N. Y. He then spent a considerable time in surgical studies in Bellevue Hospital, New York.

In 1849 the great rush to California aroused the enthusiasm of the young physician then twenty-five years of age, and he joined the throngs who went there, and spent the next three years in a varied experience of travel, medical practice and adventure in the mines. Not satisfied to settle in the far West, he returned to the Middle States with plans not fully determined, but intending to make a home in some of the new extending States of the interior. He attended a further course of medical lectures in Cincinnati, and in June, 1855, came to the then inconsiderable village of Freeport. Almost from the first day he determined to make this his home, and here, except for a brief interval of army service and travel for health, his home has been for twenty-four years.

On the 14th of October, 1856, Dr. DePuy was married to Miss Rhoda A. Butler, of Rockford, Ill., who survives him and mourns his death. Mrs. DePuy is a lady of culture and intelligence, and held in high esteem by all who know her.

Dr. DePuy was regularly engaged in practice until the breaking out of the war. He then accepted an appointment with the rank of Major, and for three years saw hard and continuous service. It was at Pittsburg Landing, while engaged in the discharge of his duty, that he was prostrated by the explosion of a shell, and received injuries to his spine from which he never recovered, and which were ultimately the cause of his death. He nevertheless continued to serve for some months until obliged to give up the severe labors of his position. Upon his return to Freeport, he was speedily elected Treasurer of Stephenson County by his fellow-citizens, which position he held for several years. At the close of this service, he practically retired from public life, practicing only occasionally in a few families to whom he had become especially attached, and frequently being consulted by other physicians in the city and county. About 1874 Dr. DePuy’s health began to seriously decline. At that time he sold his large and handsome residence in the suburbs of the city, and thereafter spent most of his time in various attempts, by travel and change of residence to arrest the progress of his disease. About a month before his death, he came back from his travels, as he said “to die among his old friends,” a prophecy too surely and speedily fulfilled. He passed away in much physical suffering, but in perfect peace of heart and mind, and victorious in faith.

Those who knew Dr. DePuy most intimately, loved him most warmly. He knew how to forgive an offender, as well as resent an offence (sic). He would move instantly to indignation by an act of meanness, and instantly melt to tears by a scene of suffering. In the discharge of his professional duties he carried the deep sympathies of a friend, while exercising a strict control over his feelings. In the church his pew was never vacant; in the prayer-meeting his voice was always ready to join in prayer or praise. He was passionately fond of out-door sports, but never lost the dignity of a gentleman. Having no offspring of his own, it was his delight wherever he was to caress and play with children, and it was a matter of pride with him that the little ones never withdrew from his approaches. For nearly twenty years his house was a home to different boys and girls, relatives, whose education he regularly provided for, three of them being permitted to stand around his dying bed, and by their kind ministrations endeavored to show their love and gratitude to him who was their friend and benefactor. His last days were full of peace, and his last utterances were words of rejoicing in a Christian hope. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, in which he had worshiped for many years. The Elders of the church acted as pall-bearers, and the physicians of the city, of both schools of medicine, attended his funeral in a body.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 344