For nearly forty
years an eminent member of the medical profession of Southern Illinois,
Dr.
Isaac Monroe Asbury, of McLeansboro, well merits the esteem in which he is
held by the people of this section, and is able to fill the high position
which he now holds, that of medical director for the Grand Army of the
Republic for the state of Illinois.
Dr. Asbury was born in Hamilton county,
July 6, 1848, and is a son of Wesley and Susan M. (Mitchell) Asbury.
Wesley Asbury, who was born
July 5, 1805, in North Carolina, was a tanner by trade, and came to Hamilton
county, Illinois, in 1838, where he continued to follow the tanning business
for twenty years. For about ten years he was engaged in school-teaching near McLeansboro, and was also engaged in farming to some extent, purchasing a
place about four miles southeast of McLeansboro. He died near McLeansboro
in 1897. He was a stalwart Republican in his political views, and belonged
to Polk Lodge, No. 137, A. F. & A. M., of which he was the last charter
member at the time of his death. He and his wife were faithful members of
the Baptist church, in which they reared their children. Wesley Asbury
married, October 1, 1844, Susan M. Mitchell, daughter of Ichabod and Mary
(Lane) Mitchell, the former of whom settled in Hamilton county in 1818, and
the latter also a member of a pioneer family. Mrs. Asbury was born July 10,
1822, on her father’s farm three miles east of McLeansboro, and her death
occurred November 24, 1876, on a property four miles southeast of that
city. She and her husband had the following children: John M., who died
while serving in the Union army during the Civil war; Mary
and Elizabeth,
who died in infancy; Isaac Monroe; Wesley L., who married Nancy Coker
P. 1418 and died September 15, 1895; Rowena, living in Oregon, who married Edward Pratt, of McLeansboro; Isabelle,
who was married in Oregon to W. H. Hutchinson;
Martha, the wife of Rev. N. Crow, of Fairfield, Illinois; Daniel I.,
who resides in Oregon; James T., a resident of Los Angeles, California; and Elizabeth,
who died in
infancy.
Isaac Monroe Asbury attended
the common schools of Hamilton county until he was fifteen years of age, and
in March, 1864, enlisted in Company H, Sixtieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, from which he received his honorable discharge July 31, 1865. He
saw active service during the Atlanta campaign, and participated in Sherman’s
famous march to the sea, returning, through the Carolinas. He had
an excellent war record, and his record since he has settled down to the
pursuits of peace has been just as admirable a one. He returned to his
studies for a time and then taught school until 1871, in order to secure the
means to pursue his medical studies, having decided to follow that
profession as his life work. In 1871 he entered the Eclectic Medical
Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated May 19, 1873,
and he at once entered into practice in Gallatin county, Illinois. There he
spent the next thirty years of his life, building up a large and lucrative
practice, and becoming widely known for his ability in his profession, as
well as for his kindliness of manner and sympathetic nature. In 1902 he came
to McLeansboro, to live a retired life, and at the last state encampment of
the G. A. R. he was elected medical director for the state of Illinois. He
is a stanch Republican in politics, but his activities have been devoted to
his profession, and he has found little time to engage in public affairs.
Fraternally he is a well-known Mason, and is serving as secretary of the
local lodge.
On January 1, 1877, Dr. Asbury was united in marriage with
Mary E. Webb, who
was born in March, 1850, near McLeanshoro, daughter of John and
Sarah (Mitchell) Webb. They have had no children. Dr. and Mrs.
Asbury are
consistent members of the Methodist church, to which they are liberal
contributors, and both have been active in religious and charitable work.
Dr.
Asbury‘s standing is high both in and outside of his profession, he has the
esteem and respect of his entire community, and is eminently fortunate in being
the possessor of a host of warm, personal friends.
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