Biography of
Homer W. Pitner, D. D. S.
p. 1643
HOMER W. PITNER, D. D. S.
Holding an admitted precedence in the dental profession and having a highly
creditable record as a public official, and one who has wielded wide
influence as a man of affairs, the service of Dr. W. Pitner, of Fairfield,
has been of much more than ordinary character to Wayne county, extending as
it has over more than a quarter of a century. He was born November 22, 1860,
at Clay City, Illinois, and is a son of Dr. F. R. and Sarah (Ridgeway) Pitner.
Michael Pitner,
the
grandfather of Dr. Homer W. Pitner,
was born in Tennessee, from whence he
enlisted as a soldier under General Andrew Jackson
during the War of 1812
and participated in the battle of New Orleans. He came to Southern Illinois
in 1822, and was here engaged in farming during the rest of his life, his
death occurring at Jacksonville.
Michael Pitner
married
Catherine Rube,
also
a native of Tennessee, and among their children was F. R. Pitner.
The latter
was born October 12, 1812, in Tennessee, and was ten years of age when he
accompanied his parents to Southern Illinois. As a youth he secured
employment as a clerk in a store at Salem, and after attending Lebanon
College he took up the study of medicine at Salem with Dr. Hull.
He was graduated from the medical department of Transylvania University,
P. 1644
Kentucky, in 1833, and
subsequently practiced medicine at Maysville, Jerseyville, Jacksonville and
Clay City. Dr. Pitner, who is a veteran of the ‘‘Days of ‘49” and the oldest
physician in Illinois, is now in his 100th year, but since his ninetieth
year has given up his practice to become proprietor of a drug business. A
faithful member of the Methodist church, he is deeply religious, and
attributes his great age to a life of strict temperance. He was a personal
friend of Abraham Lincoln, was for many years an active and influential
Republican, and prior to and during the Civil war represented his district
in the state legislature.
Dr. Pitner was married to Miss Sarah Ridgeway, of
Philadelphia, who died in 1888, and they had a family of six children, as
follows: Rev. J. L., a Methodist Episcopal minister of Fresno, California; Charles, a well-known merchant of Clay City, Illinois; Rev. W. F., pastor of
the Methodist Episcopal church of Trinidad, Colorado; Mrs. Lenora Huntley,
whose husband is in the wholesale hardware business in Waterloo, Iowa; Dr.
Homer W.; and James, who is deceased.
After completing the prescribed course in the public schools of his native
place
Homer W. Pitner
entered Cincinnati University, and was graduated from the literary department in
1882. He then took up the study of dentistry in the dental department of Ohio
University, graduating in 1884, and subsequently spent a short time in practice
in Clay City. On March 9, 1884, he came to Fairfield, believing that this
community offered superior advantages to a progressive young professional man,
and he has had no reason to regret his choice, for he has established a most
satisfactory professional business, his careful and skillful work having
given him a high reputation. From 1897 to 1902 he served as a member of the
Illinois State Board of Dental Examiners, and during this time served as
president of the body, being fearless and honest in the discharge of his duties.
He is a member of the Southern Illinois State and
Tn State Dental Associations, and
takes a decided interest in fraternal work as a member of the Masons, the
Odd Fellows, the Red Men, the Elks, the Modern Woodmen and the Tribe of Ben
Hun.
The doctor enjoys marked popularity and esteem in professional,
fraternal and social circles
and is recognized as an able and progressive business man, energetic and
public spirited. In political matters he is a Republican, and after serving
as alderman was elected mayor of Fairfield in 1909 by the largest majority
ever given a candidate for that office. He served until April, 1911, giving
the city an efficient and business-like administration, during which many
needed reforms were brought about. It is recognized by his confreres in the
profession that he possesses the essential attributes of thorough mastery of
the principles of the dental science and a delicacy and accuracy of
mechanical skill, and also that he has a high regard for the ethics of the
profession.
In 1887 Dr. Pitner
was married
to Miss Ida E. Davis, daughter of William Davis, of Clay City, and they have
three children: Mrs. Willena Swan, who has one son, Maxwell; Harry L., a
graduate of Fairfield high school; and Helen who is a student in that
institution. The family is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Biography Table of
Contents
Name Index
Memorial Library Illinois
Selections
USGenNet.org
- First & Only 501(c)3 Host for Genealogical & Historical Sites
Livingston County Michigan Historical & Genealogical Project
American
History & Genealogy Project
Home
© 2006~ Pam MARDOS
Rietsch pam@livgenmi.com