McDonough County Genealogical Society
William E. Zims of Macomb was the first medical patient admitted to St. Francis Hospital in April 1903. A few days later Fred Wiseman also of Macomb, underwent an appendectomy, became the first surgical patient in the new 25 bed hospital. As early as 1901, Dr. Joseph B.
Bacon, prominent surgeon, led a small group of Macomb citizens in seeking ways and means to secure a hospital. Father Francis G. Lentz Pastor of the St. Paul Church helped as he could. When the sisters of St. Francis at Clinton, Iowa agreed to come to Macomb, Dr. Bacon began a campaign to raise $10,000 dollars for erecting and equipping the hospital which was located on the Southwest corner of W. Grant and S. Johnson Streets. The building no longer exists.
Images of the Past furnished by Allen R. Nemec, of the McDonough County Genealogical Society, facebook.com/mcdcgs, www.mcdcgs.com, PO Box 202, Macomb, IL 61455
