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ISAAC MONROE ASBURY, M. D.
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
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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.