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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
at Kaskaskia and afterwards at Jonesboro, in Union County; in 1823 went to Buffalo, N. Y., but returned west in 1827, arriving where Chicago now stands on July 4; in 1828 was living inside Fort Dearborn, but subsequently located several miles up the South Branch of the Chicago River, where he opened a small farm at a place which went by the name of "Heacock's Point." In 1831 he obtained a license to keep a tavern, in 1833 became a Justice of the Peace, and, in 1835, had a law office in the village of Chicago. He took a prominent part in the organization of Cook County, invested liberally in real estate, but lost it in the crash of 1837. He was disabled by paralysis in 1843 and died of cholera, June 28, 1849. -Reuben E. (Heacock), a son of Mr. Heacock, was member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1847, from Cook County.
HEALTH, BOARD OF, a bureau of the State Government, created by act of May 25, 1877. It consists of seven members, named by the Governor, who hold office for seven years. It is charged with "general supervision of the interests connected with the health and life of the citizens of the State." All matters pertaining to quarantine fall within its purview, and in this respect it is invested with a power which, while discretionary, is well-nigh autocratic. The same standard holds good, although to a far less extent, as to its supervisory power over contagious diseases, of man or beast. The Board also has a modified control over medical practitioners, under the terms of the statute popularly known as the "Medical Practice Act." Through its powers thereunder, it has kept out or expelled from the State an army of irregular practitioners, and has done much toward raising the standard of professional qualification.
HEALY, George P. A., artist, was born in Boston, July 15, 1808, and early manifested a predilection for art, in which he was encouraged by the painter Scully. He struggled in the face of difficulties until 1836, when, having earned some money by his art, he went to Europe to study, spending two years in Paris and a like period in London. In 1855 he came to Chicago, contemplating a stay of three weeks, but remained until 1867. During this time he is said to have painted 575 portraits, many of them being likenesses of prominent citizens of Chicago and of the State. Many
