Martin H. Head, M. D., is the oldest practicing physician
and surgeon of Macoupin County, Illinois, and has been a resident of
Carlinville since the beginning of his professional career. He was born at
Middletown, 12 miles east of Louisville, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, May
3, 1827, and is a son of Benjamin and Margaret N. (Brengman) Head. His
father was born in Virginia of Welsh parents, and his mother came of German
parentage.
Benjamin Head in early life moved from Virginia to
Kentucky and made a comfortable fortune in the mercantile business. He later
disposed of this business and purchased a farm, upon which he spent the
remainder of his days. He was honored with an appointment to the office of
magistrate, the appointment at that time lying with the Governor and being
indefinite as to the length of time the incumbent should serve. It was
customary for the oldest magistrate of the county to be honored with the
office of sheriff, and this honor was also conferred upon him. He was a man
of the highest principles, an old line Whig in political affiliation, and a
man who had the confidence and good will of his fellow citizens almost
without exception. He died at the age of 56 years, in 1837, and was survived
many years by his widow, who died in 1891, aged 86 years and five months.
They were the parents of four children, namely: Margaret A., Benjamin A.,
Samuel R. and Martin H. Although reared to the Lutheran faith, Mrs. Head
became a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Martin H. Head was
educated in the private and subscription schools of Kentucky, also in the
college at Lagrange, Kentucky. Having decided upon a professional career, he
read medicine under the direction of Dr. James M. Bemiss of Middletown, with
whom he continued until his graduation from the Kentucky School of Medicine
in the spring of 1851. In October of that year, he came to Carlinville,
Macoupin County, his first field of practice, and has continued here up to
the present time. He became well established in practice and has had a most
active career. In April, 1861, he was appointed assistant surgeon of the
14th Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., with which he continued for one year. He then
entered Overton Hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, as assistant surgeon in the
United States Army, and served three years until the hospital was closed.
Dr. Head was then transferred to Crittenden Hospital at Louisville,
Kentucky. His duty was to transfer soldiers as they became able to their
respective homes, and he continued to perform this service until the
institution was closed in 1865. After the conclusion of the war, he returned
to Carlinville and resumed active practice. He is one of the best known men
of the county, and numbers among his patients many of its prominent
citizens. He has the confidence and respect of the people and of his brother
practitioners.
In 1853, Dr. Head was joined in marriage with
Margaret I. Blackburn, granddaughter of the famous Gideon Blackburn, who
founded Blackburn University at Carlinville. Two sons were born to bless
their home, namely: Eugene S., M. D., who is practicing medicine in
Carlinville; and Hadley B., a prominent citizen of Carlinville. Our subject
joined the Masonic fraternity in 1848, and is a member of Harry Hudson
Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M., at Middletown, Kentucky. Religiously, he is a
member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 214-215.
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