Biography - WILLIAM THOMAS EASLEY, M. D.
One of the leading physicians and surgeons of Southern Illinois, William
Thomas Easley, M. D., of Greenville, is a practitioner of much experience
and a close student of the science which he wisely chose as a profession.
Keeping abreast of the times in this era of progress, when the diseases that
manifest themselves in the different organs of the human body demand special
treatment, he has made special study of the eye and ear, making these his
specialty, and his practice along these lines has so constantly increased
within the past few years that it now requires a large share of his
attention, eliminating to a large extent his general practice.
Born in Montgomery county, September 1, 1857, Dr. William T. Easley was
brought up on the home farm and acquired his rudimentary education in the
rural schools of his native district. Ambitious to further advance his
studies, he attended Hillsboro Academy the two years prior to attaining his
majority, after which he taught for awhile in the old schoolhouse in which
he received his early training. He subsequently studied medicine with a
country physician, Dr. Baxter Haynes, and in 1880 entered the Saint Louis
College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he was graduated with the
degree of M. D. in 1883. The ensuing eighteen months Dr. Easley was engaged
in the practice of medicine at Smithboro, Bond county, from there coming to
Greenville, where he has since enjoyed an extensive and remunerative
practice, being now the longest-established physician in the place. Wishing
to specialize in regard to diseases of the eye. Dr. Easley took a course of
study at the South Western Optical College, Kansas City, Missouri, where he
received the degree of Doctor of Optics, after which he studied in Chicago,
there receiving the degree of Doctor of Ophthalmology. In addition to his
special work, the Doctor is often called upon to do delicate and difficult
surgical work, and is now serving as surgeon for the Vandalia Railroad
Company. He is very prominent and influential in professional circles, being
president of the Bond County Medical Society and an active member of the
Illinois State Medical Association. For several years he served as coroner
of Bond county.
On September 28, 1882, Dr. Easley was united in marriage with Minnie
DeShane, of Coffeen, Illinois, who is of French parentage and ancestry and
they have two children, Grace and Charles Euclid. Politically the Doctor '
is identified with the Republican party, and is ever interested in advancing
the public welfare. For nine years a member of the Greenville Board of
Education, he served as its president two years, and was largely influential
in having erected one of the largest school buildings in the city. A valued
member of the Methodist church, he is chairman of its Board of Stewards, and
a liberal contributor towards its support.
Extracted 10 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, volume 3, page 1324.
