BRANDON, PARIS A., M.D., whose success as an eye and ear specialist proves the wisdom on the part of members of the medical profession in devoting their time and attention to specified branches of their calling. Dr. Brandon has made his name known in several Illinois cities, but is now located, his patients trust permanently, at Beardstown. He was born at Rochester, N.Y., October 22, 1830, a son of John and Margaret (Walker) Brandon. The father was born in Monroe County, N.Y., while the mother was a native of Virginia. Until 1844 the father was a farmer, but in that year went to Virginia, where he conducted salt works in Campbell County, that state, for five years. He then went to Bartholomew County, Ind., and bought a tract of land on which was a saw and grist mill, and was engaged in operating these mills until his death. which occurred about nine years later. His widow moved to Decatur, Ill., where she died July 2, 1806, at the extreme old age of ninety-nine years, ten months and seven days.

When he was twenty-one years old Paris A. Brandon was graduated from the Mann Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and began practicing at St. Omer, Ind. Two years later he went to Indianapolis. With the first call for troops for the Civil war he enlisted in April, 1861, and was commissioned by Governor Morton of Indiana as surgeon in the Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. In 1863, when the company was re-organized, he continued as surgeon, and remained in the service until September 9, 1865, when he was honorably discharged.

At the battle of Cheat Mountain he was shot in the head. He also participated in the battles of Martinsburg, Phillipi and others of lesser importance. After his discharge he went to North Grove, Ind., and began the practice of his profession, but a year later located at Decatur, where, with two brothers he specialized in diseases of the eye and ear, and conducted a large infirmary. This partnership continued nine years, and then Dr. P. A. Brandon went to Quincy, Ill., where he practiced five years. For the next year he was at Virginia, Cass County, and then located at Beardstown, where he has since continued devoting himself to diseases of the eye and ear.

Dr. Brandon was married in 1853 to Lodema Lee, a native of St. Omer, Ind., and they had seven children: John L., who is of Pana, Ill.; William S., who is of Lockport, Ill.; Margaret, who is deceased; Caroline, who is deceased; Ada, who is Mrs. Charles Peernot, of Kansas City, Mo.; Dora, who is Mrs. A. L. Coil, of Beardstown; and Jesse D., who is at home. After the death of his first wife, he married (second) Jane Rosenberger, widow of Judge Haykluft, and they had one son, Harry, who is of Pueblo, Colo. The second Mrs. Brandon died December 29, 1872. On January 14, 1902, he married (third) Victoria O. Coil, widow of Jacob Coil. By her first marriage Mrs. Brandon had six children, namely: Lacount, Joseph, Albert S., William Noah and Laura (Mrs. Foree), of Missouri. Dr. Brandon has always been a Democrat. He was made a Mason at Quincy, Ill., and has attained to the Royal Arch degree.