My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM W. EASTON, M. D., a practicing physician and surgeon of Dowagiac, was born four miles from this city, in Silver Creek Township, October 3, 1853. His father was one of the early settlers of this section of Michigan, while his paternal grandfather, Thomas Easton, was a native of Kentucky. His great-grandfather, also named Thomas Easton, served with valor during the entire period of the Revolutionary War, and shortly after the close of the conflict came to Kentucky, having formerly been a resident of Virginia. Grandfather Easton was a child of about ten years when he accompanied his parents to Michigan, and with them settled in Berrien Township, Berrien County, remaining there until his death, in 1867.

The father of our subject, Thomas Easton, was born near Bowling Green, Ky., on the 26th of November, 1826, and grew to manhood in Berrien County. In 1850 he chose as the site of his future home an unimproved tract of land in Silver Creek Township, in the midst of the woods and far removed from other pioneer settlers. In that township he married Miss Emily, daughter of John K. Hinchman, a native of West Virginia, who came from Logan Court House to Michigan about 1850. The young couple commenced housekeeping upon the eighty-acre farm which Mr. Easton had purchased, and by their industry and energy they added to their property from time to time until their landed possessions aggregated two hundred acres in Silver Creek Township. Of this tract Mr. Easton improved one hundred and twenty acres through his own unaided efforts. In 1888 he removed thence to Dowagiac, where he and his wife have since made their home.

The parents of our subject have had a family of four children: Dr. W. W., of this sketch; Mrs. Jennie M. Allen, who resides in Dowagiac; J. M., who is in Chicago; and E. W., a resident of Dowagiac. Politically, the father was a Democrat until the second term of President Lincoln, when his opinions underwent a radical change, and he has since that time affiliated with the Republicans. Our subject was reared in the parental home and enjoyed exceptional educational advantages. After having attended a course of study in the schools of Niles, he entered the University of Notre Dame, at South Bend, Ind., and prosecuted his studies there with diligence and success.

His literary studies concluded, our subject entered the office of Clendenin & Whitehall, at Niles, and commenced the study of medicine under their preceptorship. Later he entered the Bennett Medical College at Chicago, and was graduated from that institution on the 24th of June, 1877. He remained in Chicago for two and one-half years after graduating, and then returned to Dowagiac, where he has since conducted a general practice. In November, 1879, he married Miss Alma A. Johnson, who was born in Gottenburg, Sweden, and came to this country in 1872 at the age of sixteen years. Her parents had died in Sweden, and she accompanied an uncle and aunt to America, settling with them in Chicago. The union of Dr. and Mrs. Easton has been blessed by the birth of two children, William T. and Mabel.

As every public-spirited citizen should do, the Doctor takes an active interest in politics, and is an outspoken Republican, advocating the views of that party with all the enthusiasm of his nature

In 1888 he was choson delegate to the State convention, and he has served in other positions of honor and trust. Socially, he is identified with the Royal Arch Masons, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Knights of Pythias and the Legion of Honor, and is examining physician for the Order of Maccabees and Legion of Honor, also for the Masonic Mutual of Grand Rapids. He is a successful general practitioner of the eclectic system of medicine, and has an extensive practice both in Dowagiac and throughout the surrounding country. His home is one of the most beautiful in the city, being the residence formerly occupied by the late P. D. Beckwith.