From: "Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and
Brown Counties, Illinois 1892", by Biographical Review Publishing
Company, Chicago, Illinois; pages 341-342, a reprinted by Stevens
Publishing Co., Astoria, Ill., 1971, is sold by the Schuyler County
Historical Society, Rushville, Illinois.
Dr. George A. Byrns was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 30,
1829. His father, John, was born in Pennsylvania, and his father,
Michael, was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry. He came to America a
young man and followed his trade of paper maker, and he met his death
in 1825, by an accident in the mill in which he was working. John
learned the same trade, followed the trade in Cincinnati for a few
years and then began clerking on a steamboat running on the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers. In a very early day he came to Illinois as a member
of a surveying party and assisted in making surveys in the middle of
the State. In 1840 he emigrated thither with his family and settled
four miles north of Mt. Sterling, bought a farm and followed farming
until 1849. He then started with others for California, and after six
months' travel with ox teams, landed there safely. He engaged there in
mining for seven years and then returned to Mt. Sterling and lived
retired until his death, in 1865. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.
His wife was Harriet E. Hobbs, born in Scott county, Kentucky, daughter
of Joseph Hobbs. She still lives in Mt. Sterling at the advanced age of
eighty-six years.
George was in his eleventh year when he came to Illinois with
his parents. He received his early education in the schools of
Cincinnati, advanced by attendance in the schools of Brown county,
Illinois. At the age of eighteen he began teaching, and three years
later began the study of medicine. In the winter of 1851-'52 he
attended lectures at Rush Medical College. He then commenced practice
at Cooperstown. In 1854 he returned to Rush Medical College and
graduated in the class of 1855, then resumed practice at Cooperstown
until 1862. In November of that year he entered the United States
service as Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois
Infantry, continuing in service until after the close of the war,
participating in all the marches and campaigns of his regiment. He was
honorably discharged and returned home and was in active practice at
Cooperstown, with the exception of two years, 1866 to 1868, when he was
in Mt. Sterling, until 1891, when he came to Mt. Sterling and has
practiced here since.
He married in 1854, Cynthia A. Henry, born in Cooperstown, Brown
county, Illinois. She was the daughter of Orris M. Henry, one of the
pioneers of Brown county, and for many years one of the most extensive
business men. Dr. and Mrs. Byrns have seven living children: John H.,
Robert A., Elmer, Susan, Candace, Kate and Hattie. William, the second
son, died at the age of thirty-three years. The Doctor is a member of
Isaac McNeil Post, No. 289, G.A.R., and of Hardin Lodge, No. 44, A.F.
& A.M.
