My Genealogy Hound

DR. C. WAKEFIELD, Bloomington; was a native of Watertown, N. Y., and was born July 12, 1815; he is a direct descendant of Th. Wakefield, who emigrated from England about the year 1680; his father, Joseph Wakefield, was a native of Rutland, Vt., and was one of the first party of emigrants to Watertown, N. Y.; here he improved a farm, married Susan Sawyer, who emigrated from New Hampshire, and raised a family of six children, viz., Betsey, Elisha, Orion, Zera, Cyrenius and Egbert. Cyrenius served out his minority with his brothers on his father’s farm, working during the summers, attending and teaching school during the winters. In the spring of 1837, in his 22d year, he emigrated to Bloomington, Ill., going by steamer around the lakes; at Chicago he took stage to La Salle; in the night he was aroused by a horn announcing the arrival of a steamboat, on which he took passage to Pekin, Ill.; from this point there was no public conveyance to Bloomington; he got his trunk carried on a load of merchandise and reached Bloomington himself very comfortably in two days by his pedestrian ability. He lived in this vicinity two years and taught a large school three miles south of the town for fifteen months. The schoolhouse had an immense fire-place in one end, as stoves were a rare article in the West at that time. He then bought land west of Farmer City, in DeWitt Co., and commenced the labors of improving a farm. By teaching school winters and improving his land summers, he, in four years, had a good farm, with a comfortable frame house upon it. This must have suggested the need of a housekeeper, for he then took another tour over the lakes back to Watertown, N. Y., and, on the 17th of August, 1843, was married to Miss Harriet Richardson, who had been, for many years, his old schoolmate. Another trip over the lakes and across the then prairies, and they reached their cozy farm-house, where they commenced the duties and experiences of domestic life. His plan was to enter into an extensive stock-raising business as soon as he could. In June, 1845, Dr. Zera Wakefield, who graduated in Cincinnati, and had, for ten years, been doing an extensive practice in Arkansas, came North to visit his brother. He liked the country so much better than the South that he concluded to settle here. After visiting his friends East, he returned to Arkansas, settled up his business there during the winter, and, in May, 1847, arrived for a permanent location. He and Cyrenius then formed a business partnership; he advanced money against Cyrenius’ farm and stock; they then started a country store, which was quite successful under the management of Cyrenius, while Dr. Z. Wakefield entered immediately into the practice of his profession. After about two months, the miasmatic fevers commenced and were of unusual prevalence and severity. With his accumulated skill in subduing the violent congestive fevers of the South, he was able to break up the most severe cases here in a few hours. His wonderful success created a great sensation, and his fame soon extended fifty miles around. With the aid of a driver and a change of horses, he was quite unable to fill all of the demands upon him. When they could not get him, they wanted some of his medicine, and this necessitated keeping it prepared, with directions, to supply the demand. He prepared concise recipes of the compound he used, and instructed Cyrenius in all of the arts of compounding, so that he was able to supply the demand. This soon necessitated printed directions and a uniformity of bottles, and thus originated the highly-celebrated Wakefield’s medicines. During the summer of 1847, some demand for agencies arose in the surrounding country, which was supplied to the extent of forty or fifty. This condition of events gradually changed their country store into a medicine laboratory. In June, 1848, after two years of practice here, Dr. Z. Wakefield took a violent congestion of the lungs, which caused his death in thirty-six hours. This was a heavy stroke on Cyrenius, who was greatly attached to his brother. The demand for these medicines was great, and, much of his means being invested in it, he wisely bought his brother’s interest and continued to extend their usefulness. He sold his farm and moved to Bloomington in February, 1850, in order to get better postal and express facilities. He applied himself diligently to the study of medicine and pharmacy to prepare himself for a more extensive work, and here gained the title of Doctor. During his first few years in Bloomington, he did quite an extensive drug business in company with Robert Thompson. His medicine laboratory was then in the rear of the drug store. In 1856, he built a brick laboratory near his dwelling-house, and to which subsequent additions have given its present extensive proportions. In 1857, he retired from the drug trade, and gave his whole attention to his medicine business. He has pursued his business with wonderful energy until now (1879) he has extended the local agencies over all of the Western States and accumulated quite a large capital. But his pathway has not all been sunshine, for, in February, 1853, he lost, by fire, his new two-story dwelling-house, which he had built the fall before, with much of his furniture, and with no insurance. In the great fire of Oct. 16, 1855, he lost, in addition to his half of the drug store and building, his medicine factory and a three-story brick building, with small insurance. He has lost heavily by security debts and insurance companies, all of which he waded through without faltering. In 1871, Dr. Wakefield took in partnership his son Oscar, and his brother-in-law, C. S. Jones, and surrendered to them the most of the labors and perplexing cares of his extensive work, that he might improve his health and enjoy more completely the fruition of his many years of toil. Since his retirement from active duties, he has spent considerable time in traveling. In 1874, he spent the spring in Florida and other Southern States, and the summer in Colorado; the summer of 1876 he spent with his family at Atlantic City and the Centennial, and in the summer of 1878 he, with his family, traveled four months in Europe. He has raised a family of four children, viz., Emma, Oscar, Hattie and Homer; Emma is now Mrs. A. S. Eddy, and resides in Bloomington; Oscar is married and occupies the Doctor’s former residence, and he occupies his fine stone residence, which he built in 1871; Hattie and Homer are yet in their teens. Dr. Wakefield is a man of very firm and decided principle; politically, he is a Republican. After the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, he was among the foremost in advocating the formation of a new party, and he was one of those who organized the Republican party in Bloomington, at the first meeting, Sept. 9, 1854. He is decided in his religious views, and follows his convictions to their legitimate results. He is at present a very liberal supporter of the Free Congregational Church of this city; in fact, he is one of the most liberal citizens of Bloomington, ever ready to assist those who are in real distress; during the past winter, he gave much time to the work of charity, being at the head of the Public Committee on Distribution, and, at the same time, was a liberal subscriber to the cause. Dr. Wakefield is a man of quiet, retiring manners, never seeking public office or any kind of notoriety. He was sought by the public, a few years ago, as a member of the City Board of Education, which position he filled very ably, and declined re-election. As a citizen, he stands among the foremost of the best known of the many public-spirited men of our city, having a fame that extends outside the city, county or State, being, in fact, a man of national reputation.