CENTRAL HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE
Established under act of the Legislature passed March 1 1847 and located at Jacksonville, Morgan County.
Its founding was largely due to the philanthropic efforts of Miss Dorothea L. Dix who addressed the people from the platform and appeared before the General Assembly in behalf of this class of unfortunates.
Construction of the building was begun in 1848. By 1851 two wards were ready for occupancy and the first patient was received in November of that year.
The first Superintendent was Dr. J. M. Higgins who served less than two years, when he was succeeded by Dr. H. K. Jones, who had been Assistant Superintendent. Dr. Jones remained as Acting Superintendent for several months, when the place was filled by the appointment of Dr. Andrew McFarland of New Hampshire, his administration continuing until 1870 when he resigned on account of ill-health, being succeeded by Dr. Henry F. Carriel of New Jersey.
Dr. Carriel tendered his resignation in 1893 and after one or two further changes in 1894 Dr. F. C. Winslow who had been Assistant Superintendent under Dr. Carriel was placed in charge of the institution. The original plan of construction provided for a center building five and a half stories high, and two wings with a rear extension in which were to be the chapel, kitchen and employees quarters.
Subsequently these wings were greatly enlarged, permitting an increase in the number of wards, and as the exigencies of the institution demanded, appropriations have been made for the erection of additional buildings. Numerous detached buildings have been erected with in the past few years and the capacity of the institution greatly increased "The Annex" admitting of the introduction of many new and valuable features in the classification and treatment of patients. The number of inmates of late years has ranged from 1,200 to 1,400.
The Counties from which patients are received in this institution embrace:
Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Bureau, Putnam, Marshall, Stark, Knox , Warren, Henderson, Hancock, McDonough, Fulton, Peoria, Tazewell, Logan, Mason, Menard, Cass, Schuyler, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Brown, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon, Christian, Montgomery, Macoupin, Greene and Jersey.