George A. Zeller, M. D. Capt. Asst. Surgeon U. S. Vol. 1899 Graduated Washington Univ. St. Louis, Mo. 1879 Donor of Jubilee College State Park He abolished mechanical restraints in the care of the mentally afflicted in a state service of 37 years.

Sophie Kline (wife of George A. Zeller, M. D.) St. Mary's School Knoxville, Illinois 1878 Donor of Jubilee College Chapel Photo by Janine Crandell

 

Backward Glance:George Zeller
(written by Janine Crandell & published in the Jubilee Advocate in 2005)

     Many articles continue to be written about the state hospital in Bartonville, but what do we know about Dr. George Zeller (1858-1938), the man behind the scene?
     After researching his life as chronicled in the newspapers and reading his autobiography, I was struck by how much Dr. Zeller believed in his vision, a vision that was ridiculed by many people of his day. To put it simply, Dr. Zeller believed in treating people with mental illness in a kind and caring manner. That may not seem so revolutionary now, but in those days, patients were locked up in small, dark rooms with bars on the windows, shackled with chains or handcuffs and often subjected to severe floggings.
     The first state hospital built near Peoria looked similar to a castle, massive and imposing. Unfortunately, it was built right over an abandoned coal shaft and had to be razed because it was structurally unsound. Also the design of the building didn’t lend itself to the new methods of treatment which were beginning to be accepted. Dr. Zeller had been appointed, without pay, as the superintendent of this first doomed hospital, and upon realizing how long it would take to build another hospital, he volunteered in the U. S. Army and was ordered to the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. He was promoted to Captain and Assistant Surgeon where the doctor battled the cholera epidemic and after an extension of his service, he eventually stamped it out. Upon arriving back in Peoria, the doctor assumed his role of superintendent of the Peoria state hospital in Bartonville once again (with pay this time) on November 1, 1902.
     One of Dr. Zeller’s first acts was to order all bars on the windows and doors to be removed. The bars were instead used to form an enclosure in a nearby ravine where deer, bears and coyotes were kept. This “animal park” was enjoyed by both patients and visitors alike. The doctor also insisted that all doors should be kept open; no solitary confinement for his patients. The hospital was built using the “cottage plan” design whereby the patients would feel as if they were in home-like surroundings. He often said people suffering from insanity were sick and should be treated in the same manner as other sick people. They were not criminals and should not be kept behind bars.
     Dr. Zeller also shocked the mental health authorities by removing all mechanical restraints and banning the use of narcotics to subdue patients.  This was the first institution in Illinois to require only eight hours of work a day for all of its employees and it was the first to place women workers in the male wards.
     As a gentle reminder of the progress that had been made, Dr. Zeller commissioned a sundial to be made. On this ornament, the sculptor carved these words on the four respective faces of its stone base: “Eight Hours Labor”, “Non-Imprisonment”, “Non-Restraint” and “Non-Resistance”.
   There were many other innovations, large and small, which had a tremendous impact on the patients' lives. The doctor segregated the tuberculosis patients, “colonized” its epileptics, researched the cause of the skin disease, pellagra, started a hair salon for women and a barber shop for men. Dancing and music were introduced. These simple joys that we take for granted were given back to these "incurables".
     Even though his innovations were scoffed at in the beginning, the derision disappeared once his patients were being cured. As time went by, Dr. Zeller became nationally and internationally known, with scientists travelling from great distances to visit the state hospital and see how the "Zeller treatment" was being used. The doctor was always looking for better ways to treat his patients, even travelling to Copenhagen, Denmark, to learn about color therapy.
     Dr. Zeller wasn’t always working at the state mental hospital in Bartonville, though. Because his employment was dependent upon the current governor at the time, his position became precarious in 1912 when a Democrat was elected to this office and he was an outspoken Republican. The doctor applied for the job of state alienist (doctor who treated mental patients) and fulfilled the obligations of this position from the years 1913 to 1917. Then during the years 1917-1921, Dr. Zeller organized and supervised the new state hospital at Alton. Afterwards, he was transferred back to the state hospital near Peoria and continued to work there until his retirement. The doctor and his wife, Sophie Kline Zeller (they had no children), lived on the grounds while the doctor was superintendent and they continued to live there after he retired.
     Dr. Zeller had quite a few varied interests, including writing historical articles and short stories. It was because of his interest in history which prompted him to purchase Jubilee College which he eventually turned over to the state of Illinois.
     As it stands, this article doesn't do justice to Dr. Zeller and his outstanding accomplishments. If nothing else, long after we forget the facts of Dr. Zeller's life, let us remember this...he was a kind and compassionate man.

 

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An unusual monument for Norman Purple and his wife
Photo by Janine Crandell

Norman Purple was an early Peoria attorney and judge who was appointed Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court in 1846 by Governor Ford. He died on August 9, 1863 at the age of 57 years. Judge Purple's wife, Ann E., died March 07, 1899, at the age of 85 years. (See published bio)

(Peoria  Daily Transcript, Tuesday, August 11, 1863, submitted by J. Crandell)

Death of Judge Purple

     It is with pain that we record the death of Hon. Norman H. Purple of this city, which occurred at the Sherman House, Chicago, on Sunday morning. The Judge was in the 57th year of his age. His funeral will take place from the family residence at ten o'clock, this morning.
     Judge Purple was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, and with his father removed to New York, near the Pennsylvania line, where he remained until he arrived at the age of manhood. He then began the study of law in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, was admitted to the bar, and in 1836 removed to Illinois and settled in Peoria. In 1837 he was appointed prosecuting attorney for the 9th judicial circuit which then included almost the whole county northeast of Peoria to the State line . He continued on the practice of his profession and stood as one of the first lawyers of the day, when Gov. Ford on the 3th? of August 1845 appointed him Judge of the judicial district, which then composed all the counties lying west of Peoria, his residence whilst Judge being at Quincy, Illinois. At the time of his appointment as judge, the Supreme Court was composed of all the district judges under the old constitution, being then ten, and a portion of the time but nine in number, and were required to perform a large amount of labor. The opinion of the Judge whilst on his bench were distinguished for their legal learning, clearness and deep research, and no Judge has ever sat upon the Supreme bench of this State whose opinions and decisions are entitled to or receive from the bench and the bar more credit and esteem than those of Judge Purple. He continued upon the bench until the new Constitution was adopted and went into effect, which was on the first of April, A. D. 1848, when he returned to Peoria, and resumed the practice of his profession, and so continued until his death. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention which met in Springfield to frame a new Constitution in 1860. In 1848 he compiled the real estate statutes of Illinois, and in 1857, compiled the general statutes of Illinois denominated "Purple's Statutes," and has been since that time engaged in compiling and arranging the general statutes of this Sate passed subsequently to the year 1857 including the sessions of the legislature of 1861, 1862 and 1863. He has bestowed ? and care in making an entire new index to all the laws now in force, and it is expected that the same will be ready for the press at an early day. No man ever enjoyed a higher reputation as a man or a lawyer than Judge Purple.
     For the last eight or ten years he has been in constant attendance at the terms of the United States Circuit Court at Chicago, and the sittings of the Supreme court of this State, at Ottawa, where his clear legal mind, dignity of mien and unswerving integrity to his profession and clients, command the respect of all who saw and heard him, and placed him upon the topmost round of his profession.
     Although great in his profession yet he was none the less a lover of his country. He was a true patriot. When the war broke out he was among the first to place himself upon the side of his country. Eschewing all party, he always gave the administration his hearty support in all its measures to crush the rebellion - dealing death blows in all he said or wrote to the rebels and their sympathisers. Although prostrate with disease, yet he eagerly read the record of our late victories with a joyful countenance and feelings mingled with pride and satisfaction and manifested great desire to his friends that he might live to see the rebellion suppressed and the country restored to peace and quiet. He leaves a widow and five children to mourn his loss.