Biography - James Blackwelder
James F. BLACKWELDER, physician, Litchfield. The BLACKWELDERs were originally from Germany, and settled in North Carolina before the Revolutionary war. The family namesignifies "black forest." Peter BLACKWELDER was born near Concord, Cabarrus Co., N. C., in 1810, and came to Illinois in 1832, accompanied by a cousin, Alfred BLACKWELDER; they settled in Hillsboro, and came all the way on horseback. They purchased land, and Peter at one time owned a half-section in North Litchfield Township; by trade, he was a carpenter, and, in addition to this, he engaged in farming. He was a Lutheran, and was the first Superintendent of the Sunday school organized at the Long Branch Schoolhouse. This was long before the city of Litchfield was planned and laid out. He was a quiet, unassuming, worthy man, and, politically, was a Free-Soil Democrat. He married Mrs. Nellie WAGONER, daughter of Frederick SCHERER, of this county; she bore him four sons and three daughters, all of whom are living except the youngest daughter, who died in infancy. Peter BLACKWELDER died in 1855, and his wife in 1853. They were the parents of our subject, Dr. James F. BLACKWELDER, who was born in Montgomery County, Ill., in what is now North Litchfield Township, on August 2, 1841; he was educated in the Lutheran College building, which was then known as Hillsboro Academy. In 1861, he began the study of medicine under Dr. I. W. FINK, of Hillsboro, where he read until he entered the St. Louis Medical College, taking his first course in 1863. The following year, he entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, from which he graduated in June, 1864. A few days later, he entered the army of Gen. SHERMAN, and was assigned to duty at Marietta, Ga., as Acting Assistant Surgeon in hospital service, and for four months served there and at Atlanta, Ga. He was next Assistant Surgeon for the Thirty-second Illinois Infantry, and followed its fortunes on the memorable march to the sea; he continued until mustered out, at Washington D. C., in 1865. On his return from the army, he practiced at Hillsboro, Ill., for some three years, and at Moro, Madison County, for about the same length of time. In June, 1871, he located permanently at Litchfield, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice. He is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, of which he has been Secretary, and has also a membership in the District Medical Society. The Doctor has two sons.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, page 127.
