Biography - Humphrey Hood
HON. HUMPHREY H. HOOD, M. D., is one of the leading insurance agents of the city of Litchfield, Ill., and also Secretary of the Oil City Building and Savings Association. Dr. Hood has been a resident of this city since 1853, and was born in Philadelphia, Pa., September 19, 1823, being the son of Lambert and Sarah (Hughes) Hood. The father was a mechanic and his ancestors had been residents of that place for three or four generations. The father was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Our subject received his education in Philadelphia, read medicine when twenty-five years old, and in 1851 was graduated from Jefferson Medical College. He then came West looking for a location, settling first in Jersey County, Ill., where he remained one year, and then came to this city, in 1853, practicing here until within the past three or four years. He went out as Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, serving ten months, and was then made Surgeon of the Third United States Heavy Artillery, colored, with which he remained two years and eight months, being stationed all of the time at Memphis. His entire service stretched through three and one-half years, and after the war he resumed his practice.
In 1884 he received the nomination for the Legislature on the Republican ticket and was elected. After his return from Springfield he went into business. At the time of the organization of the Oil City Building and Savings Association he was the active mover in it, and was at that time made its President, the capital being $500,000, which was afterward increased to $1,000,000, all of it taken up. A proposition is now before the stockholders to increase it to $3,000,000. The first series will soon be due. The association charges nothing for membership or books, and fifty cents per month on shares. There are six hundred stockholders, and the company has been the means of much saving to poor people.
Dr. Hood bought out an insurance business at the time of retiring from practice, and has been a member of the City Council, Supervisor of the county, and a member of the School Board. He built and owns the Masonic Block, beside other business and residence property in the city. Dr. Hood was married to Miss Malilda Jackson, of Philadelphia, to whom were born three children who now survive her: George P., who is station agent for the Jacksonville & Southeastern Railroad; Frances and Anna. Dr. Hood again married, this wife being Abigail E. Terry, to whom were horn two children, Harold and Louis. Our subject is a Trustee in the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a very prominent member. He is also a popular member of the Grand Army of the Republic. At one time he was a, member of the County and Central Medical Associations, but has not attended recently.
Extracted 12 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, page 505.
