Biography - DR. C. RUTHERFORD. M. D.
Natural
ability, thorough study and long experience have placed Dr. C. Rutherford in
the very front rank of successful professional men of Douglas county. He is
a native of Illinois and the son of Dr. and Mrs. H. Rutherford, of Oakland,
Illinois, being born in the present family residence in Oakland, August 14,
1850. After the completion of a common school education he taught school in
and near Oakland for three years, during which time he was engaged in the
study of medicine. After this he attended lectures and graduated at the
University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the 12th of
March, 1877. He returned to Oakland and began the practice of medicine,
which he continued until he came to Newman, September 27, 1877, and has ever
since been actively engaged in his chosen profession, building up as he has
a large and lucrative practice.
Dr. Rutherford was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. McIntyre on the 22nd
of September, 1885, and together with his family occupies a very neat
residence in the south part of the city. To Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford have
been born two children, Eugenie, born June 29, 1892, and Florence, born July
8, 1894. He has served on the school board twelve years and was elected the
first president under the new organization of seven members, having been
re-elected each year since, which is conclusive evidence that he serves the
people honorably in that capacity.
When the people of Newman desired to convert Newman into a city, he was
chosen as the proper man for the mayoralty and was elected. He is a
prominent member of the Masonic and K. of P. lodges of this city. His
medical skill has been the means of him being selected as a member of the
board of pension examiners and also elected county coroner for four years,
although his extensive practice kept him for serving as coroner. Dr.
Rutherford has always been a great promoter of Newman's interests and in
1890 in partnership with R. Thomas was the designer of the beautiful Newman
cemetery. A city full and running over with such men as Dr. Rutherford could
not help but advance. "God made the country and man makes the town" as the
old saying goes; and it is a true one. Every town is just what its
inhabitants make it, is dead or alive according to the composition of its
men. Of course all cannot be leaders; some have not the talent, others have
not the time. But when the leader arises, then the duty of the ordinary
citizen is to follow in the wake of his advancing footsteps. Dr. Rutherford
possesses honest qualifications and so varied are his gifts that many men
naturally seek his companionship for consultation. Noble models make noble
minds.
Extracted 22 Jul 2019 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, pages 222-223.
