Biography - George Bratton
GEORGE BRATTON, M. D., one of the most prominent and successful physicians of Johnson County, Ill., was born in Adams County, Ohio, March 9, 1832. His father, James Bratton, was also born in Adams County, March 21, 1808, and his father, Jacob Bratton, from the best information obtainable, was a native of Pennsylvania. He was one of the pioneer settlers in Adams County, where he secured a tract of Government land, and upon this farm spent his last years. James Bratton was an iron master, and owned an interest in a foundry in Lawrence County, where he lived during the latter portion of his life. He died April 19, 1846. The maiden name of his wife was Charity Hoop, and she was born in Highland County, Ohio, March 3, 1809. Her father was born in Germany, and the name was originally spelled Hoeppe. She died in Lawrence County January 22, 1848, after rearing three children, George, Jacob and John.
George received his English education at Burlington Academy, and afterward at Hillsboro College, from which latter institution he graduated when but seventeen years old. He then returned to Burlington, and began the study of medicine with Dr. Camillus Hall. He attended medical lectures at the Western Reserve Medical College, at Cleveland, Ohio, and later he entered the Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, graduating from this latter institution when he was twenty years of age. Under the laws of the State he could not receive a diploma at that age, but he received a certificate from the President of the college, setting forth what he had accomplished. He then entered a medical college at Philadelphia, and graduated from that institution March 9, 1853. He immediately established himself in the practice of medicine at Vienna, and has been engaged there ever since. His practice is very large, and he is one of the leading physicians in the county.
Dr. Bratton was married in 1858 to Elizabeth J. Bridges, who was born in Vienna and who is a daughter of David Y. and Lucretia (Chapman) Bridges. Dr. and Mrs. Bratton have three children living, viz: Suda, William Harvey and Bertie. Charlie M., the first child, met his death accidentally at the age of twenty-one. Mrs. Bratton is a member of the Baptist Church, and Dr. Bratton is a member of the Southern Illinois Medical Society, and of Vienna Lodge No. 150, A. F. and A. M. He is also a member of Vienna Chapter No. 67, R. A. M.; of Gethsemane Commandery No. 41, K. T.; of Vesta Lodge No. 340, I. O. O. F.; and of Vienna Encampment No. 53.
Extracted 16 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, page 526.
