EDWARD A. SICKELS
One of Dixon's early physicians was Edward A. Sickels. He was
born at North Dixon on Oct. 3, 1866 to the Rev. Edward C. Sickels and
Caroline (Dunham) Sickels. Reverend Sickels took charge of the First
Presbyterian Church in Dixon during December of 1862 and was its
resident pastor, a position he held for some thirty-three years,
longer than any other pastor of the church.
Edward Allen, being one of seven children of Rev. and Mrs.
Sickels attended North Dixon Public Schools and graduated from high
school at the age of seventeen. He later attended the Dixon Normal
School for five years, graduating from the commercial and scientific
departments. During the time of being enrolled in the business
college, he worked at the brick and tile factory located in Morrison
to help pay his school expenses.
In 1887 he began working in the railway mail service, a position
which he held for ten years. It was during the later part of his
tenure with the mail service that Dr. Sickels also attended the
Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago and would go on to graduate with
honors in 1893. In that same year he had resigned his position with
the railway mail service and began working as an intern at the
Hahnemann Hospital in Chicago. After just over a year of internship,
his interests were in returning to Dixon and opening an office to
begin his practice as a physician and surgeon.
On Sept. 25, 1901 he married Jeanne Wood of Des Moines, Iowa.
Miss Wood had been teaching German and music classes in the Polo
Schools prior to the wedding. A large contingent of Dixon area
citizens traveled to Des Moines to attend the wedding which took
place in the home of the bride's sister. The love that the newly
wedded couple had for the outdoors was evident in their honeymoon
plans to travel the country. Their journey which lasted almost a
month took them through many parts of the northwest United States and
Canada. In returning to Dixon they made their home at 421 Boardman
Place.
As his practice of medicine began to prosper, Dr. Sickels often
sought relaxation through his favorite hobby. He was an ardent
sportsman and hunting and fishing were his treasured pasttime. He
made many hunting expeditions to various parts of the United States,
Canada and Mexico and had a large collection of game trophies - one
that was unequaled in this vicinity. In his later years he would
spend all of his vacation time at his home in the northern woods of
Minnesota.
On Aug. 2, 1920, Dr. Sickles in a quiet wedding at DeKalb married
Vivian Stiles. Miss Stiles had been a teacher in the sixth grade the
previous year in the North Dixon schools. The 1920 Dixon City
Directory lists Dr. Sickels office at 123 E. First Street. He was
cateragized as a skillful surgeon and a keen diagnostician.
Additionally he was well informed on a variety of subjects relating
to the field of medicine. He was often referred to as a man with a
brilliant mind and great attainments.
Dr. Sickels was a member of the Lee County Medical Society, Rock
River Institute of Homeopathy, the Illinois State Homeopathic Medical
Society and the American Institute of Hospitals, American College of
Surgeons and the American Medical Association. In the community his
membership and interests were in the Elks, Masons and the
Presbyterian Church.
In November of 1932, Dr. Sickels passed away in his home which
was then located at 623 E. Fellows Street. His death came as a result
from a suffering illness that had lasted more than a year, one which
it was said he bore with great courage and fortitude. During his many
years of dedicated service to the citizens of Dixon as a physician
and surgeon, his concern was always for his patients well being.
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