DR. JOSIAH L. WILCOX, who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Springfield, was born in Sangamon County on the 26th of November, 1836, and is a son of Ellis and Ann (Lewis) Wilcox, who were natives of Tennessee and South Carolina respectively. During their childhood they removed with their families to Kentucky, where they became acquainted and were married. The year 1829 witnessed their arrival in Illinois and Sangamon County was chosen as a favorable location. This was two years prior to the winter of the deep snow which was without a parallel in the history of the county, and which will never be forgotten by those who were here at the time. The family of Ellis and Ann Wilcox numbered ten children, but four died in infancy. Of the six who grew to mature years the following are yet living: Thomas, a farmer of Morgan County, Ill.; Josiah L., of this sketch; John F., of Kansas; and Charles H., of this county. The mother died in 1878, at the age of seventy-eight years and the death of Mr. Wilcox occurred January 22, 1890, he having attained to the very advanced age of one hundred years, four months and ten days. He followed various pursuits during life, but made farming his chief occupation. On his one hundredth birthday his family, neighbors and friends met to celebrate the event, and on that memorable occasion about one thousand were present.

The Doctor has been liberally educated both in the literary and medical sciences and is ably fitted for the life work which he has chosen. After attending the common schools of the county he pursued a year's course of study in Shurtleff College, and for two years was a student in the Illinois College. Under the directions of Drs. Gibson & Wilson, of Berlin, he entered upon the study of medicine and in the winter of 1857-58 attended a course of lectures in Rush Medical College, of Chicago. The following year he was graduated from the St. Louis Medical College and entered upon the practice of medicine in Leadville, Colo., where he remained nine months, when he removed to Manito, Mason County, Ill. His labors at that place were interrupted by his enlistment in the service of his country in May, 1862. He was appointed Surgeon of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, and in that capacity served until October, 1865, participating in all the campaigns in which his regiment was engaged. When the war was over he located in Loami, Ill., where for about eighteen years he was successfully engaged in the prosecution of his profession. He dates his residence in Springfield from 1884.

Dr. Wilcox has been twice married. In 1861 he wedded Miss Alice V. Parker who died ten months later, leaving an infant son, Joe Allison, who is now living in Morgan County, Ill. The present wife of Dr. Wilcox was in her maidenhood Miss Jean F. Patteson and their union was celebrated in November, 1865. Unto them have been born three children - Dwight, a clerk for a railroad contractor now of Clifton Forge, Va.; Augustus Patteson, who is employed as a salesman in one of the mercantile establishments of Springfield; and Annie L., at home.

Dr. Wilcox is now serving his sixth term as City Physician of Springfield, which fact is certainly indicative of his ability. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and an adherent to the policy of Jackson that "to the victor belong the spoils." In 1874 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Legislature, in which Senators Cullom and Geering were his colleagues. During President Cleveland's administration he served as Pension Examiner. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is held in high esteem in social and business circles.