Biography - JAMES L. REAT, M. D.
James L. Reat, M. D., one of the most distinguished physicians and
surgeons of Illinois, and who has been long and honorably connected with the
professional and industrial interests of Douglas county, was born in
Fairfield county, Ohio, January 26, 1824. The Reat ancestors are traced back
to Scotland, where the name was pronounced in two syllables, with the accent
on the last. Two brothers emigrated to this country during the war of the
Revolution, one of whom espoused the cause of the rebels, the term by which
the patriot colonies were then known, and served through that struggle with
Washington's forces. The other brother sided with the Tories, in consequence
of which the two brothers became alienated and a total separation occurred
between the two branches of the family. Dr. Reat is descended from the one
who cast his fortunes with those of the patriots and who, after the war,
settled in Frederick Town, Maryland. At this place James Reat (father) was
born and subsequently found his way to Ohio, where he married Susanna
Rogers, a Virginia lady, and with her settled in Fairfield county, Ohio.
When our subject was five years old, his parents removed to Coles county,
Illinois, where the father purchased a farm on which they resided for a
time, then removed to Charleston and lived there up to the time of his
death, in 1868.
Dr. Reat's early education was derived from the meager advantages offered in
the neighborhood schools of that day and later attendance at the seminary at
Charleston. That institution was conducted under eminent professors and here
Dr. Reat received a good collegiate education and later took up the study of
the languages, becoming familiar with Latin and German, and at the same time
teaching school a number of terms. His natural taste and talent were those
of his chosen profession and he soon thereafter took a regular course of
studies at the Medical College at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in the
class of 1858; he later attended the Rush Medical College at Chicago and
there graduated. After leaving college, he was engaged for a time in the
drug business at Charleston, but soon sold his interests and in 1859 took up
his residence at Tuscola. In the fall of 1862 he received an appointment as
assistant surgeon in the war of the Rebellion and was assigned to a post at
Louisville, where he remained for some time in charge of a hospital. On
March 1, of the same year, he was commissioned first assistant surgeon of
the Twenty-first Regiment Infantry (Grant's old regiment). On July 22, 1864,
he was promoted surgeon of the regiment. He returned to Springfield at the
close of the war and was mustered out in January, 1866. He then returned to
Tuscola and resumed his regular practice.
In 1861 he was married to Miss Sallie C. Callaway, of Jacksonville, a lady
of fine literary attainments and of Christian virtues. She was born in
Kentucky and was a graduate of Berean College. Her father was the late
well-known Rev. S. T. Callaway, a Baptist clergyman. They have had three
children, all of whom are living: A daughter Lois, who is the wife of Hon.
Theodore Brantley, at present chief justice of the supreme court of Montana;
Samuel C., who with his cousin, Harry R. Caraway, were proprietors and
editors of the Tuscola Journal. He is now in Washington, representing a
number of metropolitan newspapers. He is a graduate of Union Law School, at
Chicago, and is taking a post-graduate course in literature. Fred, who
graduated from the Illinois State University, and is now proprietor of the
Tuscola Republican.
Dr. Reat is a member of the Military Loyal Legion of the United States and
the Illinois Army and Navy Medical Association. He and wife are members of
the Methodist Episcopal church of Tuscola. Both have taken an active part in
the temperance cause. He has always manifested public spirit and through his
entire life has been a man of abstemious habits and consistent morals. For
three years he was clerk of the board of education of Tuscola and while
occupying that office took deep interest in the erection of a public school
building, which is surpassed by few in this section of the state. Dr. Reat
is widely esteemed for his many good qualities of mind and heart.
Extracted 16 Jan 2020 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, pages 260-262.
