Lloyd Garrison Wheeler

Wheeler was the first African-American to practice law in the state of Illinois and was influential in the establishment of Provident Hospital of Cook County — a medical facility still extant in the 21st century.

His father was active in the Underground Railroad movement, providing secret accommodations for escaping slaves from the Southern United States en route to freedom in Canada.

[1] Gaining a position as the first black mail carrier in Chicago, Wheeler took advantage of his free time to begin studying for a career in law, reading in the office of local attorney George Bellows.

In Chicago Wheeler left the legal profession to take a job as a financial manager for wealthy investor John Jones, shortly before the latter's death.

[1] This enabled him to engage in philanthropic fundraising, and he was influential in helping establish Provident Hospital of Cook County — a medical enterprise which survived into the 21st century.