Dr. William A. Brittin, of Virden, is a native of Illinois and was
born on a farm near Springfield, Sangamon county, January 19, 1866. He
has been in the practice sixteen years and his success in a profession
which calls for the best ability and the clearest judgment is evidence
that he made no mistake in the selection of a life pursuit. He is a son
of Henry and Nancy (Mallory) Brittin, also natives of Sangamon county,
where they spent their entire lives. The father died in 1900 and the
mother was called away at the age of sixty-three years, in 1902. There
were eight children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Brittin. namely: John
E., a resident of Cantrall, Illinois; H. E., who makes his home in
Springfield; Dr. A. L., a practicing physician of Athens, Illinois;
Roger E., of Arkansas City, Kansas; Dr. E. H., who is engaged in
practice at Auburn, Illinois; William A., of this review; Emma, who is
the widow of William Waldron, of Athens, Illinois; and Walter, who is
deceased.
Dr. Brittin spent the years of his boyhood and youth
on his father’s farm and early became imbued with the desire to perform
his part as a member of the great brotherhood of man and to gain
recognized standing in the world. After securing his preliminary
educational training he entered Brooks’ Institute at Springfield, where
he was graduated in 1888. He then attended the Chicago Medical College
for two years and subsequently entered the Marion Sims Medical College
of St. Louis, Missouri, graduating from the latter institution with the
degree of M. D. in 1895. After receiving his diploma he went to
Morrisonville, Illinois, where he practiced two years and then took up
his residence at Auburn, in which place he continued until 1907. For
four years past he has been located at Virden and is accorded a
prominent position in medical circles of this region. He is a man of
scholarly attainments and as he possesses sound judgment and well
developed faculties of discrimination as to the nature of diseases and
the best methods of treatment he has met with gratifying success.
On the 6th of November, 1889, Dr. Brittin was married to Miss Emma
M. Constant, of Buffalo Hart, Illinois. To this union three children
have been born: Margery J., who died in infancy; Hattie E., at home; and
William A., Jr. The mother of these children was called away in 1888 and
Dr. Brittin was married in 1961 to Miss Anna H. Painter, of Streator,
Illinois.
Politically, Dr. Brittin is an adherent of the
republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have no
attraction for him as his interest is concentrated upon the duties and
responsibilities of his profession. He is well known in fraternal
circles and holds membership in the Masonic Order, the Odd Fellows, the
Knights of Pythias and the Red Men. He is a firm believer in the
authority of the Bible and is a consistent member of the Christian
church. A constant student and a close observer, Dr. Brittin has
steadily progressed in knowledge of the healing art and is recognized as
one of the skilled physicians of Macoupin county. The high position he
occupies is the direct result of his earnest attention to a profession
for which he is eminently fitted by natural talents and by training.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 437-438.
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