Biography - William Wymore
WILLIAM S. WYMORE is a farmer and stock-raiser of Vienna Township, Johnson County. His father, Dr. Peter Wymore, was a son of George Wymore, a brick mason by trade, who removed from Lexington to Calloway County, Ky., at an early day and there died. Peter Wymore was born in Kentucky, and was reared on a farm, in early life becoming inured to habits of industry and economy. Notwithstanding the adverse circumstances of his youth, he managed to secure a good education in the common schools; but not being satisfied with the small amount of information thus obtained, he studied various works, and later gave his attention to the study of medicine. Still later he attended the Louisville Medical College, at Louisville, Ky.
For a number of years, Mr. Wymore followed his chosen profession in his native state, but desiring a larger field for practice he removed, in 1860, to Johnson County. While passing through the county in search of a location he camped under an oak tree on section 25 of what is now Vienna Township. While thus in camp he had occasion to treat some of the sick in the vicinity, and, being a man of ability and pleasing address, it at once became generally known that a good physician was in the neighborhood. He was frequently called upon to visit the sick, and a good practice soon sprang up, which influenced him to locate at that place. He remained there for four years, and during that time enjoyed a large practice, when desiring additional knowledge in surgery, and anticipating work in the army, he went to Chicago and attended Rush Medical College for the purpose of perfecting himself in that particular branch. On January 8, 1865 following, however, he died of smallpox, and his career of usefulness was thus cut short. He was married in Kentucky to Nancy Peyton, who is still living in Johnson County. Dr. and Mrs. Wymore had five children, viz: James A., Barbara A., George, John and William S. The first four are deceased.
Our subject was born in Kentucky, near Mt. Sterling, August 30, 1854. He was nine years old when his father died, and he afterward lived with his mother and worked on the farm. He secured a good common-school education, after which he continued his studies at Emory College and Southern Normal College at Carbondale for one year. He taught school for four terms in Johnson County, making his home with his uncle, the famous Col. Wymore, who was a member of the legislature and a lawyer by profession. This uncle had a very fine law library, and was anxious for William S. to enter the legal profession. Subsequently this library was given to our subject, but it was most unfortunately destroyed by fire in his house. He had a medical library which was also burned at the same time.
William S. studied law with his uncle for some time, but disliking the profession he never entered upon its practice. In 1880 he left Carbondale, and on September 8, 1881, he was married to Isabel Dow, a native of Vermont. Her people moved to Illinois, and are now living in Dubois, Washington County, this State. After he was married, Mr. Wymore taught school that winter, and also the succeeding winter. He then began farming and also engaged in raising and dealing in stock. In 1882 he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, which happened to be just where his father had camped years before, and began the practice of medicine, as narrated above. He has continued to improve the place and is now building a large, frame residence with modern improvements, which is one of the best houses in the county. The farm contains two hundred and two acres of land. Mr. Wymore has been very successful in both farming and stock dealing. Notwithstanding he was never admitted to the Bar, yet occasionally, when called upon, he practices before Justices of the Peace, and is familiar with the law, but his work in this line is undertaken and performed merely as an accommodation to his neighbors.
The first wife of Mr. Wymore died in 1888. By her he had three children, viz: Gertrude, who is living with her grandfather, D. D. Dow, at Dubois; Nellie, who is at home, and Mary, who resides with her grandfather at Dubois. Mr. Wymore was married the second time, choosing as his wife Miss S. A. Boyt, of Vienna, Johnson County, by whom he has one child, Jessie. Through his stock-dealing operations, Mr. Wymore is a very valuable citizen to Johnson County. He deals in cattle, hogs and other stock. He keeps on hand in the winter about one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle, and thus supplies a market for all the feed his neighbors have to sell. He also buys their stock of all kinds, and thus keeps money in circulation. He always pays fair prices for what he buys and thus a market for all kinds of cattle and feed is open the whole year round. He might, if he chose, occupy positions of honor and trust, or he might be admitted to the Bar and practice law, but he prefers an open air life and freedom to confining work in an office. He is naturally a trader and this is perhaps the explanation of his choice of occupation.
Extracted 16 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 507-508.
