W. N. SUTTON. - W. N. Sutton, at the head of the health department of Springfield, has done effective and beneficial service for the public and is proving himself a most capable and trustworthy official. He was born in Auburn, Sangamon county, April 14, 1868, a son of J. M. Sutton, a cement contractor of Springfield. The father was a native of Michigan. During the Civil war he served as a volunteer of the Union Army for two years and eleven months, belonging to the Michigan Heavy Artillery. At the close of the war he removed to Sangamon county, settling first at Springfield and afterward removing to Auburn, where he worked at his trade of blacksmithing, opening a blacksmith and carriage shop, which he conducted for many years. He was afterward engaged in the restaurant business in Springfield from 1891 until 1898, when he turned his attention to the business of laying cement walks, which now claims his time and attention. He was married to Margaret J. Brownell, a native of Illinois. She was born November 24, 1848, in Sangamon county, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Bridges) Brownell. Her father was born in Sangamon county, December 10, 2822, and was married January 20, 1848. His wife died February 17, 1869. His daughter Margaret became the wife of John M. Sutton, November 3, 1866, and they were the parents of three children: William N., Della M. and Bert E. Sutton.

W. N. Sutton acquired his education in the public school of Auburn and in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, at Chicago. he entered upon his business career in his father's restaurant, with which he was connected from 1891 until 1898, and then began dealing in real estate, in which line he was very successful. He handled considerable property, managed some important realty transfers, and, in fact, had secured a good clientage when he was appointed to his present position as head of the health department, by Mayor H. H. Devereux. He has always been a stanch Democrat, but had never before sought public office. He is now in charge of the city health office. Previous to this administration the health and plumbing-inspection departments were under one head an both were considerably neglected, but the health department was placed under separate control and Mr. Sutton is at its head, with Franz Helmle as his assistant. The other officers are C. M. Davis, W. B. Clifford, Benjamin Nusbaum, W. E. Smith, meat inspector, and E. A. Anderson, plumbing inspector. The health department used only half as much money as had been expended the previous year and more work has been accomplished. The smallpox cases reported the previous year cost the city from fifty to seventy-five dollars each, and since Mr. Sutton has been health officer these cases have cost the city only twenty-five dollars each, as the records show. There have thus far been five hundred scarlet fever cases reported. More milk has been inspected than under previous administrations, and Mr. Sutton is filling the office in a most capable, trustworthy and efficient manner, keeping a record of all business and doing excellent service for the sanitary conditions of the city.

Mr. Sutton is a member of th Improved Order of Red Men, the Loyal Americans, the Bicycle Club and the Musicians' Union, which is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, to which body he has been sent as a delegate.

On the 16th of April, 1903, Mr. Sutton was married to Miss Pearl G. Correll, a daughter of W. F. Correll, a banker of Illiopolis, where she was born, reared and educated. Mr. Sutton owns city real estate and resides at No. 214 South Walnut street, where he has built a pretty home, which their many friends find to be a most hospitable one.