biographies
MAIN  PAGE       Belgians in
the Civil War 		       Emigrants arrival        links 

    

  Sources 

BELGIANS IN AMERICA:    Biographies of Belgian settlers  

American Censuses
1850/1860/1870 :
link to the censuses by States  		 Distribution according
to the State of settlement :
link to the State of settlement

The settlers

 The Catholic Missions

FERNAND HENROTIN, M. D., one of the most eminent physicians of Chicago, and one who in the line of his profession may be said to have achieved a national reputation, was born in Brussels, the gay little capital of Belgium, a city which in its arts, its sciences, its civic pride and social life has been likened to Paris on a small scale.  His parents were Joseph F. and Adele (Kinsoen) Henrotin, both of whom were also natives of Belgium.   The father (for sketch of whom see other pages in this volume) achieved distinction in his native land and in Chicago in the same profession in which his son, the subject of this sketch, is bearing such honorable renown.   Not content with the limited possibilities of the Old Country, he emigrated to the United States, the year of his son Fernand’s birth (1848) witnessing the arrival of himself and family in this country.

Fernand Henrotin, who is to all intents and purposes a native Chicagoan, was reared in this city, receiving his earlier education in its public and high schools.  Having a decided taste for the study of medicine, inherited probably, as his paternal grandfather had also been a physician, on the completion of his high-school course he entered Rush Medical College, then as now one of the foremost institutions of its kind in the Northwest.   Here he pursued a thorough course of study, and in February, 1869, being then only twenty-one years of age, was duly graduated.   At once after leaving college he established himself in practice, and entered upon a career which has brought him both fame and fortune.  With the prestige of his father’s honorable name, combined with his own skill, energy and conscientiousness, it was not long before he came into prominence, and in 1872-73 he held the responsible office of County Physician, the first of a series of public and professional positions he has held and filled with most eminent success.

In no other profession or business does the individuality of a man appear to play so important a part as in the medical profession.   Endowed with a natural liking for the work he has chosen; of a singularly brilliant and receptive mind; gifted with the faculty of being able to reject the false and accept the true; conservative enough to cling to the proven beneficial; and progressive enough to stand alone, if need be, as the champion of any reform, it is not strange that in a city like Chicago, with its keen appreciation of men of genius, Dr. Henrotin has found his level and stands pre-eminent in his profession.

While never relinquishing his large private practice, he has yet found time to fill many outside positions of trust and responsibility, and was for some twelve years on the staff of attending physicians at the Cook County Hospital, for eight years was surgeon of the Alexian Brothers’ Hospital, was surgeon of the Chicago Police Department for twelve years, and for the past seventeen years has been surgeon of the Chicago Fire Department.  He is now Professor of Diseases of Women in the Chicago Polyclinic, is a member of the Chicago Medical Society, President of the Chicago Gynecological Society, Vice-President of the American Gynecological Society, Consulting Gynecologist to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Corresponding Member of the Philadelphia and Belgian Gynecological Societies, and Secretary-General for America of the International Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  He has also written a number of monographs on intestinal and uterine surgery, which have been widely read and are considered a boon by the members of the profession.

In his social life Dr. Henrotin is considered an all-round “good fellow,” and could he spare time from his many and arduous duties would be in constant social demand.  Added to an unusually fine physique are many engaging qualities of head and heart.  Exceedingly well-read, with an extended knowledge of all subjects of practical interest, not alone as regards his profession, but in the wider range of arts and sciences and in social and political economy; conscientious, warm-hearted, generous, a consistent believer in the Divine injunction to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, he is a man whose friendship is considered an honor by those who are fortunate enough to possess it.  For some years he has been a member of the Union Club, though in his busy life he finds little time to spare for its pleasures and recreations.  In politics he is a Democrat, but is not bound by hard-and-fast party lines, voting for men whom he thinks are conscientious enough to support correct principles.

In the spring of 1873 the Doctor married Miss Emily Prussing, a daughter of Charles G. Prussing, a well-known pioneer of Chicago.   Mrs. Henrotin is a woman of many accomplishments and graces of character, and has been a help and inspiration to her husband in a thousand and one ways.  Of an artistic temperament, she has distinguished herself especially as an amateur painter, and her home is famous for its beautiful surroundings, as well as for the genial hospitality which abounds within its walls.

Source: Album of Genealogy and Biography, Cook County, Illinois with Portraits 3rd ed. revised and extended (Chicago: Calumet Book & Engraving Co., 1895), pp. 45-46

FERNAND HENROTIN, the subject of this biography, a native of Brussels, Belgium, was born in 1848, and is one of a family of nine children. He is the son of Joseph F. and Adele Henrotin (née Kinson) both of whom were Belgians, The father was a prominent and successful physician. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1848, and settled in Chicago, where he was known as the"French Doctor." He was a familiar figure and rendered most valuable service during the cholera epidemic, and continued in practice until his death in 1875.

The paternal grandfather of our subject lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years, and for seventy-five years was a practicing physician. Harry Henrotin, the oldest brother of our subject, belonged to Taylor's battery, and was killed at the siege of Vicksburg during the war of the Rebellion. Charles Henrotin, another brother, is one of the leading and successful men of Chicago.He is Belgian consul, alsoTurkish consul, anti is one of the three men in Chicago who have been honored with decorations from foreign sovereigns inrecognition of valuable reports. A third brother, Victor Henrotin, is a coffee merchant at Havre, France.
Adolph Henrotin, the fourth brother, resides in Chicago as do also the four sisters, three of whom are married.
His father having settled in Chicago the same year that Fernand was born, he has crown up with the city and is, in every sense, a Chicago man. He was educated in the common and high schools of Chicago, and having decided to enter the medical profession, pursued a thorough course of study in Bush Medical College, graduating in February, 1869, being then twenty one years of age. He at once established himself in his profession, and for twenty five years has been continuously in practice. Dr. Henrotin has been known as a man of distinctive ideas, touching all matters pertaining to his profession, skillful, energetica nd conscientious. He soon came into prominence, and in 1872 and '73 held the office of county physician, which was but the beginning of a series of public professional positions he has held and filled with eminent success in connection with his constantly growing practice. He was for some eight years on the staffof attending physicians at the Cook county hospital, for eight years surgeon of the Alexian Brothers' hospital, surgeon of the Chicago police department for twelve Years and to the last seventeen years surgeon of the Chicago fire department. Dr. Henrotin is professor of diseases of women in the Chicago Polyclinic, is a member of the Chicago Medical Society, president of the Chicago Gynecological Society and secretary general for America of the International Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
He is a member of the Union Club, but owing to the urgent demands of his extensive practice, which ranks among the largest as well as the most lucrativeof any physician in Chicago, he finds little time for club life or social enjoyment outside of his own family.
In political sentiment, Dr. Henrotin, though a Democrat, is non-partisan, and in casting his ballot votes in favor of what he believes to be right principles and the men whom be believes will support them, regardless of party affiliations.
The doctor was married in the spring of 1873 to Miss Emily B Prussing, a daughter of Mr. Charles G. Prussing, one of the early settlers of Chicago. Mrs. Henrotin is a woman of artistic tastes, and is known among her acquaintances as an amateur painter of extraordinary ability. She is a woman of many personal charms, hospitable to her friends, and in nothing takes greater delight than in making it beautiful and full of good cheer.
Personally, Dr. Henrotin is a man of most estimable qualities. Added to his fine physical proportions and rugged constitution are qualities of heart and mind of a high order. Warmhearted, generous to a fault, high minded,conscientious and genial he is the center of a large circle of close friends and acquaintances, who honor and esteem him for his many manly virtues and genuine worth. In spite of his arduous labors be has found time to write a number of monographs on intestinal and uterine surgery,. which leave attracted attention and gained him a more than local repute. In New Fork, Philadelphia and other medical center his name is familiar and his friends numerous.

Source : (collective work) : A Biographical history, with portraits, of prominent men of the great West; Chicago, Ill.: Manhattan Pub. Co., 1894, 724 pgs.
 

The late Dr. Fernand Henrotin was one of the most skilled surgeons, learned physicians and genial and useful citizens of Chicago and the west, and commenced to come into prominence at the time that his father was about to retire.

Father and son, in fact, were representatives of the most cultured and successful element of the profession for a period of fully sixty years, and in 1907 the name was grandly perpetuated in this city by the opening of the grand Henrotin Hospital on LaSalle avenue, which had been erected as a continuation of the Chicago Polyclinic, in the founding of which twenty-one years before, the younger Henrotin had borne so great a part. Until the day of his death this institution had been the Doctor's professional pride, and he had contributed generously of his time, strength and professional and executive abilities. Dr. Henrotin did not live to see this cherished project realized, as the magnificent $1,000,00 hospital was not completed until six months after his decease. It was opened in November, 1907, without formal .celebration, as those who were so closely associated with him in the prosecution of the work did not care to celebrate without their leader and friend.

Dr. Henrotin was born in Brussels, Belgium, on the 28th of September, 1847, son of Dr. J. F. and Adele (Kinson) Henrotin, and soon after his birth the family came to Chicago, where the father commenced the practice of his profession and continued it almost uninterruptedly until his death in 1875. Fernand received his early education in Chicago, and after graduating from the high school commenced his preparation for the profession which had been honored both by his father and his grandfather. He was matriculated at Rush Medical College, and in 1868, after a three years' course, was graduated with his professional degree. For two years thereafter he was prosector at Rush Medical College, after which he served for a like period as county physician of Cook county. Then he became surgeon of the police and fire departments, being connected with the former for fifteen years and with the latter for twenty-one, for a number of years also serving as surgeon-of the First Brigade, Illinois National Guard. He was surgeon and gynecologist of Cook County Hospital for several years, and at the time of his death was surgeon
at the Alexian Brothers' Hospital, gynecologist at the Chicago Policlinic, consulting gynecologist at St. Joseph's Hospital and acting gynecologist at the German Hospital. Nothwithstanding that he held and filled all these official positions, and was so closely identified with the Chicago Policlinic in its educational work, he managed a large private practice (the bulk of which was surgical) with untiring faithfulness and consummate skill.

The deceased was a member of all the local and of the most prominent societies connected with his profession; was for many years secretary general for America of the International Gynecological and Obstetrical Congress; served in 1896 as president of the Chicago Medical Society, and, although unanimously re-elected the following year, declined to serve. Dr. Henrotin's monographs on professional subjects, chiefly on gynecological matters, have also earned him wide prominence. Among numerous articles which have appeared in the medical press may be instanced "Pelvic Septic Diseases in Women," which has been quoted the world over; "Estopic Gestation," in "Practice of Obstetrics by American Authors," and "Gynecology," in the "International Text Book of Surgery." One of his latest contributions, and which attracted unusual attention from the fact, perhaps, that the subject was treated in a somewhat popular style, was the small work entitled "Democracy of Education in Medicine."

In 1873 Dr. Henrotin wedded Miss Emile B. Prussing, and, although no children were born to their union, their married life was an unusually happy one, gladdened, as it was, by the high regard and warm affection of numerous and congenial friends and with the most harmonious personal relations. They resided for many years at 353 LaSalle avenue, which is still the home of the cultured and beloved widow.

Source : Waterman, Arba N. : Historical review of Chicago and Cook County and selected biography; Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1908, 1521 pgs.