Cook County Medical Examiner

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The Cook County Medical Examiner is the coroner of Cook County, Illinois. Occupants are credential medical examiners, appointed by president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, subject to confirmation by the Cook County Board of Commissioners. The office was created in 1976, replacing the previous office of Cook County Coroner.

Contents

The office of Cook County Coroner existed from 1831 to 1976, and from 1836 was an elected position. County voters, in 1972, elected to replace the office of coroner with the current office of medical examiner.

Former position of Cook County Coroner

Cook County Coroner
Inaugural holder John Kinzie Clark
FormationApril 1831
Final holder Andrew J. Toman
AbolishedDecember 6, 1976

The Cook County Coroner was the coroner of Cook County, Illinois until the position was abolished in 1976. The office of existed as an elected position from the early history of Cook County's government until its abolition in 1976.

The first Coroner of Cook County was John Kinzie Clark, who was appointed in April 1831. [1] The first elected coroner, Orsemus Morrison, [2] assumed office in 1836. [3]

From the inception, the coroner's office was a department riddled with patronage and corruption. Ernst Schmidt, elected in 1862, resigned due to protest of interference with his job in January 1864. [4] In its later years, occupants of the office and their inquest jurors often acted a rubber-stamp to the findings of the police and prosecutors. [3]

In 1972, Cook County voters strongly voted by referendum in favor of eliminating the elected position of county coroner, replacing it with an appointed medical examiner. [5] [6] Several notable incidents which took place in the 1960s spurred this [3] This was the last time that voters in Cook County would vote on whether to eliminate an office until 2016, when they voted to eliminate the office of Cook County Recorder of Deeds and merge its duties into the Cook County Clerk's office. [5] The office was eliminated on December 6, 1976. [6] It was replaced by the appointed position of Cook County Medical Examiner. [6]

List of Cook County Coroners

ClerkTerm in officePartyNotesCite
John K. Clark Portrait.png
John Kinzie Clark 1831–1832 [1] [7]
Elijah Wentworth Portrait.png
Elijah Wentworth 1832–1834 [1] [7]
Ashbel Steele 1836–1838 [1] [7]
Orsemus Morrison (1) (a).png
Orsemus Morrison 1836–1838 Democratic First elected Coroner [7] [2] [3] [1]
John K. Boyer 1838–1840 [1] [7]
Edward Murphy 1840–1844Elected in 1840 and 1842 [1] [7]
Orson Smith Portrait (1).png Orson Smith 1844–1846 [1] [7]
Patrick Kelley 1846–1848 [1] [7]
Nicholas Burdell 1848–1852Elected in 1848 and 1850 [1] [7]
Austin Hines 1852–1854 [1] [7]
James S. Beach 1854–1856Simultaneously ex officio Sheriff of Cook County, April 1855 – November 1856 [1] [7]
George P. Hansen 1856–1858 [1] [7]
William James 1858–1862Elected in 1858 and 1860 [1] [7]
Ernst Schmidt Portrait.png
Ernst Schmidt 1862–1864Resigned in January 1864 [1] [7]
William Wagner Portrait.png
William Wagner 1864–1869 Republican Elected in 1864 and 1865 [7] [8]
Benjamin L. Cleaves 1869–1870Simultaneously ex officio Sheriff of Cook County, April 1870 – November 1870 [9]
John Stephens 1870–1874 Republican Elected in 1870 and 1872 [1]
Dietzsch-Portrait (cropped).jpg
Emil Dietzsch 1874–1878 Republican Elected in 1874 and 1876 [1]
Orrin Mann Portrait.png
Orrin L. Mann 1878–1880 Republican Elected in 1878 [10] [11] [12] [13]
Canute Matson.jpg
Canute R. Matson 1880–1882 Republican Elected in 1880 [14] [15] [16] [17]
N.B. Boyden 1882–1885 Democratic
Henry Hertz Portrait.png
Henry L. Hertz 1885–1892 Republican Elected in 1884, 1886, 1888, 1890 [18] [19] [20] [21]
James McHale 1892−1896 Democratic (switched to People's Party while in office)Elected in 1892; defeated for reelection in 1896 [22] [23] [24] [25]
George Berz 1896–1900 Republican Elected in 1896; defeated for reelection in 1900 [25] [26]
John E Traeger Portrait.png
John E. Traeger 1900–1904 Democratic Elected in 1904; defeated for reelection in 1904 [26] [27] [28]
Peter M. Hoffman (a) (1).jpg
Peter M. Hoffman 1904–1922 Republican Elected in 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, and 1920; resigned to assume office as Cook County sheriff [27] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33]
Oscar Wolff (1).jpg
Oscar Wolff December 4, 1922–December 1928 Republican Appointed by Cook County Board of Commissioners on December 4, 1922; elected in 1923 and 1924 [33] [34]
Herman Bundesen 1925 (1).jpg
Herman Bundesen December 1928–November 18, 1931 Democratic Elected in 1928; resigned to become Chicago City Health Commissioner [35] [36] [37]
Frank J. Walsh November 18, 1931 – February 12, 1940 Democratic Appointed by Cook County Board of Commissioners on November 18, 1931; elected in 1932 and 1938; died in office [37] [38] [39] [40]
A. L. Brodie February 14, 1940–December 1952 Democratic Appointed by Cook County Board of Commissioners on February 14, 1940; elected in 1940, 1944, and 1948 [38] [41] [42] [43]
Walter McCarron December 1952–December 1960 Republican Elected in 1952 and 1958; defeated for reelection in 1960 [44] [45]
Andrew J. Toman December 1960–December 1, 1976 Democratic [44] [46] [47] [48]

Cook County Medical Examiner (since 1976)

The medical examiner and medical examiner's office took over the duties of the coroner and coroner's duty in 1976. [3] The occupant of the office is a credentialed medical examiner. [3] The office is appointed, rather than elected, with the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners nominating appointees, and the Cook County Board of Commissioners confirming them. [49]

By the turn of the 21st century, the medical examiner's office was tasked with investigating roughly 5,000 deaths annually. [3]

The medical examiner's office is located on the West Side of Chicago. [3]

List of Cook County Medical Examiners

Medical ExaminerTerm in officeAppointed byCite
Robert J. Stein 1976–1993 George Dunne
Edmund Donoghue 1993–2006 Richard Phelan
Nancy Jones 2007–2012 Todd Stroger
Stephen Cina 2012–2016 Toni Preckwinkle
Ponni Arunkumar 2016– Toni Preckwinkle

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 History of Cook County, Illinois: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time. A.T. Andreas. 1884. p. 352.
  2. 1 2 "A History of the City of Chicago: Its Men and Institutions. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens". Inter ocean. 1900. pp. 440–441. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Tassava, Christopher James (2005). "Cook County Morgue". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago History Museum and the Newberry Library. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  4. ↑ Bonner, Thomas Neville (1991). Medicine in Chicago, 1850-1950: A Chapter in the Social and Scientific Development of a City. University of Illinois Press. p. 178. ISBN   0252017609.
  5. 1 2 Dardick, Hal (November 4, 2016). "Cook County voters to decide fate of recorder of deeds office". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Medical Examiner | CookCountyIL.gov". www.cookcountyil.gov. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Officers of Cook County The Names of Officer-Holders from the Beginning" . Chicago Tribune. December 12, 1867. Retrieved February 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ History of Medicine and Surgery, and Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago. Biographical Publishing Corporation. 1922. p. 69.
  9. ↑ Fergus' Historical Series, Issues 1-10. Fergus Printing Company. 1876. p. 598.
  10. ↑ "The KNETCH MURDER" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. November 9, 1878. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  11. ↑ "THE CITY" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. December 11, 1878. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  12. ↑ "GENERAL O. L. MANN" . Newspapers.com. The Inter Ocean (Chicago). November 1, 1880. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  13. ↑ "LOCAL POLITICS" . Newspapers.com. The Inter Ocean (Chicago). October 16, 1878. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  14. ↑ Students of Milton College. Canute R. Matson. The Milton College Review, 1902, Volumes 4-5, page 17.
  15. ↑ "Canute R. Matson". Political Graveyard. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  16. ↑ "LOCAL POLITICS" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. October 6, 1880. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  17. ↑ "THE CITY" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. December 28, 1882. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  18. ↑ "THE CITY" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. December 9, 1884. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  19. ↑ "FIFER's VICTORY" . Newspapers.com. The Inter Ocean (Chicago). April 29, 1892. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Both Reports Laid Over" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. December 21, 1892. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Hard On Hertz" . Newspapers.com. The Appeal (Saint Paul, Minnesota). October 20, 1888. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Wants Hertz's Job" . Newspapers.com. The Inter Ocean (Chicago). November 7, 1892. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Counting the Votes" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. November 19, 1892. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Chicago Is In Line" . Newspapers.com. The Chicago Chronicle. November 4, 1896. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  25. 1 2 "FIND ERRORS IN COUNT" . Newspapers.com. 15 Nov 1896. November 15, 1896. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  26. 1 2 "COOK M'KINLEY'S BY 17,835 VOTES" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. November 8, 1900. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  27. 1 2 "OFFICIAL FIGURES ON GENERAL ELECTION IN COOK COUNTY: TOTAL VOTE OF STATE ON PRESIDENT AND OTHER OFFICERS" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. November 27, 1904. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  28. ↑ "FIGHT ON COUNTY TICKETS" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. November 6, 1904.
  29. ↑ "STEVENSON'S County PLURALITY IS 1,397" . Newspapers.com. The Inter Ocean (Chicago). November 5, 1908. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  30. ↑ "BARTZEN BEATED; M'CORMICK WINS BY 12,940 VOTES" . Newspapers.com. The Inter Ocean (Chicago). November 7, 1912. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  31. ↑ "EIGHT COUNTY OFFICIALS GO ON THE JOB TODAY" . Newspapers.com. The Day Book (Chicago). December 4, 1916. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  32. ↑ "COUNTY G.O.P. SLATE ROMPS IN 200,000 VICTOR" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. November 3, 1920. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  33. 1 2 Brown, Parke (December 5, 1922). "RAISE PROTEST AGAINST WOLFF AS NEW CORONER" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  34. ↑ "MARY BARTELME ONE OF WINNERS; PARTIES DIVIDE POSITIONS" . Newspapers.com. Forest Park Review (Forest Park, Illinois). November 10, 1923. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  35. ↑ Biles, Roger (2000). "Bundesen, Herman Niels (1882-1960), physician, author, and politician". American National Biography. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0600075. ISBN   978-0-19-860669-7 . Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Independent Voters Score Big Victory" . DuPage County Register. November 9, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved December 30, 2020– via Newspapers.com.
  37. 1 2 "Chicago Daily Illini, Nov 18, 1931, p. 1". NewspaperArchive.com. Chicago Daily Illini. November 18, 1931.
  38. 1 2 "COL. A. L. BRODIE, PARK SECRETARY, NAMED CORONER" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. February 15, 1940. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  39. ↑ "DEMOCRATS GAINERS BY 'REVOLUTION'" . Newspapers.com. Palatine Enterprise. November 11, 1932. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  40. ↑ "COURTNEY LEADS DEMOCRATS TO A COUNTY VICTORY" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. November 9, 1932. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Leaders in County Contests" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. November 6, 1940. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  42. ↑ "All Democrats Far Ahead in County Races" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. November 8, 1944. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  43. ↑ Howard, Robert (November 4, 1948). "BOYLE PLEDGES TO START HIS WAR ON CRIME" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  44. 1 2 "Dr. Toman Wins Coroner Job" . Newspapers.com. Berwyn Life (Berwyn, Illinois). November 11, 1960. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  45. ↑ "Walter McCarron, 85, former county coroner" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. September 27, 1985. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  46. ↑ Unger, Rudolph (November 3, 1976). "Coroner office 'dies' on Dec. 5" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  47. ↑ "County Morgue Changes Name, System Focus" . Newspapers.com. Arlington Heights Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). December 7, 1976. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  48. ↑ "Here Are Contenders for Top State, County Offices" . Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. October 29, 1960. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  49. ↑ Ford, Quinn (July 10, 2012). "Preckwinkle appoints new medical examiner". WBEZ Chicago. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
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