Monthly Archives: February 2019

The Cottage Garden

Springfield banker Nicholas Ridgely (1800-88) turned his love of plants and gardens into a business in 1849 when he started the Cottage Garden and Nursery in the area roughly bounded by 13th, 15th, Washington and Reynolds streets. Ridgely, who owned … Continue reading

Posted in Agriculture, Buildings, Business, Early residents, Farming, Lincoln, Abraham, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

Doc Helm, photographer

Eddie Winfred “Doc” Helm, whose striking photographs documented African-American life in Springfield for 50 years, started his career as the man responsible for raising and lowering the flag over the Illinois Statehouse. Helm (1911-94), who grew up in Mount Vernon, … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Business, Media, Photos and photosets, Prominent figures, Social life, State government | 2 Comments

Dr. Don Deal

Dr. Don West Deal performed the first blood transfusion ever done in Springfield. See First blood transfusion. 

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First blood transfusions

This entry has been edited to fully identify transfusion recipient Julia Harney. Dr. Don Deal (1879-1952) performed Sangamon County’s first blood transfusion in 1914 – apparently successfully. The patient was Julia Matthews Harney (1867-1924), a farm wife from Middletown, who … Continue reading

Posted in Medicine, Public health | 2 Comments

Charles O. Stone

Charles O. Stone was Springfield humane officer from 1903 to 1907. See Humane officer report, 1904.

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‘Humane officer’ report, April 1904

Charles Stone (1847?-1911) was appointed Springfield’s first humane officer in November 1903. The position was part of the Springfield Police Department, and the humane officer had all the powers of any other police officer, but with the special duty of … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Children, Crime and vice, Law enforcement, Prominent figures, Social services | Leave a comment

Dorothea Grant

See Widow’s letter, 1841.

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Widow’s letter, 1841

Letters recently acquired by the Sangamon Valley Collection at Lincoln Library show how one Springfield widow struggled to make a living in the 1840s. The story of Dorothea Grant also illustrates how some employers treated their African-American servants at the … Continue reading

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