The blood of sturdy, patriotic New Englanders flows in the veins of the subject of this sketch, a leading physician of Utica, LaSalle county. His great-great-grandfather, Aaron Kimball, was a hero of the French and Indian war of 1757, and at the commencement of the notable struggle of the British colonies of this country against the parental government he was commissioned a captain, on account of his past experience and valuable services about a score of years previously. His commission, dated April 5, 1776, placing him in charge of a company of the Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, was the direct outcome, however, of the prominent part which he had taken on the 19th of April, 1775, at Lexington. His son, the greatgrandfather of the Doctor, was a member of the company commanded by Captain Aaron Kimball, at Lexington, participated in the battles of Bennington, Vermont, and Bunker Hill, and eventually became a captain in the regiment commanded by Colonel Wheelock. On the Leland side of the family the Doctor is a great-grandson of Eleazer Leland, who served in the war for independence, and took an active part in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, and grandson of Colonel Cyrus Leland, a prominent citizen of Grafton. Massachusetts.
Born in Ottawa, Illinois, November 4, 1857, Dr. K. W. Leland is a son of Judge Pardon Kimball and Elizabeth Margaret (White) Leland. He received excellent educational advantages in the schools of that locality, and, after completing his studies in the Ottawa high school, took up medical work under the preceptorship of Dr. A. E. Gibbs and Professor Olin, of Ottawa, in 1876. For the three winters following he attended the Bennett Medical College, in Chicago, and was graduated in that institution, March 27, 1879. The same year he came to Utica, where, for just a score of years he has been very successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. A thorough believer in progress in all lines, he endeavors to keep posted in all discoveries relating to disease and the treatment of the same, and in the winter of 1879 he pursued a special course in the Chicago College of Ophthalmology and Otology. He also graduated at Rush Medical College, in March, 1892. In 1892 the honorary degree of Bachelor of Science was bestowed upon him by the Northwestern Norman School, of Geneseo. Illinois. At present he is serving the LaSalle Medical Society as its president, and has long been one of its most esteemed and valued members. From 1879 to 1885 he was the city physician of Utica, and from 1879 to 1887 he served this township in a similar capacity. As a surgeon he has won special attention, as he has performed many exceedingly difficult and delicate operations. In connection with his regular practice he made a special study of the subject of drugs and their uses, and holds a diploma as a registered pharmacist.
Socially the Doctor is very popular. He belongs to the Masonic order, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree, and he also is affiliated with the Odd Fellows. His marriage to Miss Mary Louisa Crosair was solemnized October 24, 1883. She departed this life on the 17th of June, 1891, and left one child. Pardon Kimball, Jr. Dr. Leland is a member of the Utica Baptist church, and is a deacon in the congregation.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 355-356.
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