It is said that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country." Old sayings, however, are not always true, and a living illustration of this is the subject of this sketch, who has been "man and boy" in Jefferson Township, and is now a respected physician and surgeon in the village of Loran. Dr. Aurand is the son of Joel & Susannah (Getgen) Aurand, who were natives of Union County, PA. They came to Illinois in 1822, when settlements were sparse and neighbors many miles apart. They were attracted by the appearance of the country included in Stephenson County, and settled in Jefferson Twp., where they remained until about 1865, when they removed to Carroll County. The father died in August 1867. In 1861, when President Lincoln was calling upon the State and Gove. Yates was calling upoin the counties of IL for volunteers to serve in the army and assist in crushing the Rebellion, which was then in its inception,Joel Aurand heeded the call and enlisted in Co. F. 92nd IL Vol. Inf. During his term of three years he served faithfully and honorably. While the regiment was located in TN he contracted a disease from which ne never recovered and which was the final cause of his death. The mother survives and resides in Loran. They had a family of 10 children, nine of whom are living.

The subject of this sketch was the sixth child of his parents. He was born in Jefferson Twp. Stephenson Co IL on 26 October 1854. When quite young he commenced attending the common schools of stephenson and Carroll Counties, and continued up to the age of nineteen years. In the spring of 1874 he entered the Wesleyan University of Mt. Pleasant Iowa, where he remained one term. In the summer of 1875 he taught his first school, and followed this calling 10 terms. He worked his way along and managed to teach two terms and attend school terms in the year until the spring of 1881, when he was graduated from the Academic Department of Mt. Morris College. He subsequently taught school one winter and one summer and during this time he began the study of medicine. In September 1882 he entered Hahnemann College at Chicago, and was graduated in the spring of 1884, securing his diploma. With this document in his pocet and with his mind well stored with the most modern ideas of medicine, he returned to his home at Loran and commenced the practice of medicine in July 1884. Having the confidence of the people on the score of competency and their esteem because of his worth, he at once started ona career of prosperity, which assumes increased proportions as they years go by.

On the 11th ofMay 1887, Dr. Aurand was married in Jefferson Twp. to Maggie Tollmeier, daughter of Simon Tollmeier. Mrs. Aurant was born in Jefferson Twp. on 21 July 1866. She is a lady of much intelligence and a member of the German Evangelical Church.

Dr. Aurand was elected Justice of the Peace, but he found that to perform the functions of that office would interfere too much with his duties as a physician and accordingly after a short term of service he resigned. He is a Republican in politics and does whatever he can to further the interests of his party.

Transcribed by Christine Walters
History of Stephenson County 1888 Portrait & Biographical Pg 191