Edward Wilcox

Background

Edward A. Wilcox was born in Wattsburg, Pennsylvania on September 8, 1830.

Education

Coming to Illinois at a young age with his family, Wilcox attended both public and private schooling before matriculating at Rush Medical College.

Career

He established a practice in Minonk, Illinois in 1858 which he operated until his death in 1910. He served two two-year terms in the Illinois Senate starting in 1872. He co-founded the North Central Illinois Medical Association in 1874.

He was the eldest child born to Doctor Levi Wilcox, who practiced medicine and was later a United States. Consul to Kankow, China.

Two of Wilcox"s uncles were also physicians, and one of Wilcox" brothers would also pursue that profession. In 1837, Wilcox"s family moved to Lacon, Illinois.

Wilcox attended public school there and later attended private schooling at Mount Morris Academy. Wilcox matriculated at Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois, graduating in 1857.

He returned to Lacon to practice for a year, then moved to Minonk, Illinois.

He practiced there until his death. Wilcox was thrice named mayor of Minonk and served two terms on its school board. He was postmaster for eight years and sixteen years on the Woodford County Republican central committee.

Foreign twelve years, he served on the Illinois Republican Central Committee, four on its executive committee.

He was twice a delegate to the Republican National Convention. In 1872, Wilcox was elected to the Illinois Senate, where he served two consecutive two-year terms.

He was the only physician in the Senate at the time and thus focused on charitable institutions. Rush presented Wilcox with an honorary degree in 1874.

Wilcox married Caroline Mathis on June 23, 1857.

They had eight children. Wilcox and Boyle had another five children. Son Frederick West. practiced medicine in Minonk.

Son Alfred R. (Twin Falls, Idaho) and Brainard (Minonk) practiced dentistry.

Wilcox served with the Illinois Medical Society and the Woodford County Medical Organization. He co-founded the North Central Illinois Medical Association with fourteen other physicians in 1874.

Wilcox died in Minonk on September 23, 1910.

Politics

Wilcox was also active in politics as a member of the county and state Republican Parties.

Connections

Partner:

Robert Boal