The WHITLOCKS were a substantial old Virginia family that sent out its sons to enrich various states of the West and thus left a good record wherever they settled. R. R. WHITLOCK, when a young man, left the Old Dominion to try his fortunes in Tennessee, but eventually went to Kentucky and finally pushed on to the promising younger commonwealth of Illinois. He arrived about 1856 and established a home in Field township Jefferson county where he ended his earthly career in 1874. For many years he held a position in the post-office department at Memphis, Tennessee, but was compelled to give this up on account of his health. He served as captain of a company during the Civil war and contributed five sons to the service of his country' during that great conflict.

His son, George L. WHITLOCK, who was born in Tennessee, spent some time in Kentucky, but found his way to Illinois in 1854, settling first in Marion county for a year and then removed to Jefferson county. He finally secured a farm in Field township and in this place he has been living since 1861. He enlisted in the Eightieth Regiment Illinois Cavalry and served honorably with that command during the Civil war. He married Margaret F. PATTON, a native of Kentucky while he was a resident of the state, and his bride came with him to the Prairie state, where their fortunes have been closely linked together for over sixty years. They have had ten children namely:

1. Robert B., who died in 1904;
2. Mrs. Lldora J. FROST, of Field township;
3. John T. the subject of this sketch;
4. Mrs. Doke LEUTY, of Farrington township;
5. George E., a resident of Mount Vernon;
6. Mrs. Sarah A. HOLTZCLAW, of Shiloh township;
7. William P., of Field township;
8. Mrs. Alta CARPENTER, of Johnson City, Illinois;
9. Mrs. Maggie BROWN, of Field township, and
10. Jessie B., also of Field township.

Most of these children lived in Jefferson county and nearly all on farms adjoining that of their father.

A short time after coming to the county seat he opened the Mount Vernon Hospital in connection with other physicians, but these he subsequently bought out and was sole manager for about three years and a half. Eventually he disposed of his interests and severed his connection with the institution and since then has devoted his entire time to his large general practice. Doctor WHITLOCK is a member of the Illinois State, Southern Illinois and Jefferson County Medical Societies and president of the last named. He is director of the Ham National Bank and owns a large farm in Dodds township, besides a cozy residence and office at 812 Main street. He has served four years as Coroner and was elected as a candidate of the Republican party. His fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen and Ben Hur.

Doctor WHITLOCK has been twice married, first in December, 1884, to Mary BILLINGSLEY, a Kentucky lady, resident for some years at Ewing, Illinois. She died in March, 1886, leaving one son, John Kelley WHITLOCK, six days old at the time of his mother's death, and now a farmer in Field township.

In August, 1894, Doctor WHITLOCK married Cora CLARK, a native of Jefferson county.

He stands high both in his profession and as a good, all-round citizen, reliable, enterprising and public-spirited.

His great-grandfather was Thomas WHITLOCK, who came to Illinois at a very early day, settling at Dix, in Jefferson county, where he kept tavern on the old Vandalia and St. Louis stage line. The family is perhaps the oldest in Jefferson county, as it has been represented here by six generations. The WHITLOCKS have been potential factors in the development and growing of this fine agricultural section.

Source:Walls History of Jefferson County, Il
By John A. Wall - 1909

Submitted by: Misty Flannigan