STANDARD ATLAS
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1903
Geo. A. Ogle & Co.Publishers & Engravers
134 Van Buren St.
Chicago
Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough
Page 114
Dr. James Miner is the son of Edward G. and Sopronia (Alden) Miner, and was born in Winchester, Scott county, Illinois, January 16,1835. The Miners date their residence in America from Thomas Minor who came from Summerset county, England, and landed at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1630. His mother, Sophronia (Alden) Miner, is a lineal descendent (seventh generation) of John and Precilla Alden who came to this country from England on the Mayflower in 1620.
Dr. Miner received the rudiments of his education at Winchester. He then took four years at Shurtleff college, Alton, Illinois, entering the preparatory department. He came home in the summer of 1854 and in the winter of 1854-55 taught school at Griggsville, Pike county, Illinois. In the spring of 1855 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Clark Roberts, at Winchester, and in the winter of 1855-56 attended medical lectures at McDowell's college, St. Louis. (It was at that time, and is now, the medical department of the University of Missouri.) In the spring he returned to Winchester and resumed his studies with Dr. Roberts. In September, 1856, he located at Waverly, in Morgan county, and began the practice of medicine with Drs. Brown and Metcalf. Dr. Metcalf's health failed, and in the summer of '58 (August) Dr. Miner purchased Dr. Metcalf's interest in the business and entered into partnership with Dr. Brown. The arrangement continued one year, at the expiration of which time Dr. R. L. Metcalf of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was admitted to the partnership, and the three practiced together for one year. In 1860 this partnership was dissolved and Dr. Miner set up in the practice of medicine for himself. In November, 1860, he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he attended Jefferson Medical college and graduated from that institution in March 1861. From Philadelphia, he returned to Waverly and resumed his practice. In April, 1862, he was commissioned by Richard Yates, Sr., war governor of Illinois, as contract surgeon, and in August, following, when the 101st regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was organized Dr. Miner was commissioned first assistant surgeon. He served until January '63 and resigned on account of his health. He returned to Waverly, took up his practice, and, in April, 1868, moved to Winchester where he has since resided and practiced his chosen profession.
At Waverly, in April, 1861, Dr. Miner was married to Miss Matilda Eleanor Thomas, daughter of Judge and Mrs. J. R. Thomas. Mrs. Miner was born at New Orleans,, Louisiana, September, 1837. Her mother was a Hawthorne & dates her ancestry back to the Puritan fathers. Dr. and Mrs. Miner are the parents of seven children. Willard Alden, the eldest, died in 1865. The remaining ones are: Edward G., now living at Rochester, New York; Bertha Hawthorne, Helen Thayer and Clement Leon, now residents of Detroit, Michigan; Dana Marshall, who is in Chicago, and Earl Henry, who occupies a position in Frost and Hubbard's bank at Winchester.
Dr. Miner has been successful in his practice. He is a member of the American Medical Association; the Illinois State Medical Association; the Morgan County Medical Association; the Western Reserve Medical Society, and the Scott County Medical Society, of which latter organization he is president.
Politically Dr. Miner is a republican, believing firmly in the principles of that party. He cast his first presidential vote for Millard Fillmore in 1856. His views upon religious matters are very liberal and he extends unto all men the privilege of worshiping God in such manner as to them may seem fit and proper. Throughout the years of his practice he has been good to the deserving poor even in the face of urgent calls from paying patients. In educational matters he has taken a deep interest and has had considerable to do with the present educational standard in the Winchester schools. He is an affable gentleman, plain, straightforward, true, and has left his impress upon Winchester and Scott county.