My Genealogy Hound

C. R. PARKE, physician and surgeon, Bloomington. Dr. C. R. Parke is another of the old reliable physicians of Bloomington; he is a native of Chester Co., Penn.; was born June 23, 1825, and began the study of medicine in 1844; in the spring of 1847, the degree of doctor of medicine was conferred upon him at the University of Medicine of Pennsylvania, located at Philadelphia; he practiced one year in Delaware Co., Penn.; in 1848 he came West, and located at Como, Ill., where he spent one year in practice; in the spring of 1849, he accepted the position of surgeon to the Como Emigrant Co., “en route” overland to California—they making a successful journey in 103 days; while there, he spent the time mining, prospecting and practicing his profession in Sacramento; in the winter of 1850-51, he returned to Illinois via Nicaragua and New Orleans, and located near Peoria; here he engaged in practicing his profession about one year; in 1852, he removed to Bloomington, where he remained until 1855, when he accepted an appointment as Surgeon in the Russian army of the Crimean war; resigning upon the declaration of peace, he traveled through different countries of Europe, returning to Bloomington in 1857, where he has since resided, except three years spent in Arkansas, from 1870 to 1873. The Doctor has spent much time in the study of his profession—especially of the eye, ear and general surgery—in the treatment of which cases he takes special pride.