Dr. John T. Whitlock, was born near Dix, Jefferson County, Illinois, November 15, 1860. After finishing his studies in the local schools, he spent nearly five years at Ewing College in Franklin County. From there he went to Shurtleff College at Upper Alton, taking the literary course and graduating in the class of 1887. After teaching a year in the Spring Garden high school, he began the study of medicine, later entered the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, and obtained his degree in 1890. He opened an office at Dix and carried on a successful practice there for twelve years,  meantime taking a post-graduate course at the Chicago Polyclinic College. After his location at Mount Vernon, he took a post-graduate course at the New York Polyclinic and altogether obtained a thorough and up-to-date medical education.

   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.