Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, 1893 pp. 620-621 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 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 procecuted 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 ont he 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 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. And 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 chosen 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 the 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.




ANDREW J. EASTON, an enterprising general farmer, prominent citizen and Supervisor of Berrien Township, Berrien County, Mich., is a native of Indiana, and was born September 30, 1834. His father, Thomas Easton, a tiller of the soil by occupation and by birth a Kentuckian, who had removed from his early home, and located in Indiana, fought in the Sac Indian War. The mother, Mrs. Catherine (KING) Easton, was born in Virginia, and afterwards made her home in Kentucky, in which State the parents were united in marriage. They emigrated to Illinois in pioneer days, but subsequently removed to Indiana. In the fall they located permanently in Michigan, settling upon section 11, Berrien Township, on heavy timber-land, three miles from any settlement. The father entered forty acres from the Government, and in the fall bought forty more. Afterwards adding to his former purchases, he owned at the time of his death a homestead of one hundred and twenty finely cultivated acres. When the parents made their home in Berrien County, Indians abounded and wild game was plentiful. The father, in common with the majority of pioneer settlers, had but a very limited capital, and with the aid of his sons did the entire work of the farm, clearing the land, cultivating the soil and erecting as good buildings as he could afford. The parents, now both deceased, were blessed by the birth of eleven children, six of whom are living. The eldest, Nancy McCoy, is deceased, as is the first-born son, Dr. Berryman Easton; Oliver is residing in Niles Township; Thomas is a citizen of Dowagiac; Henderson lives in Pipestone Township; Mahala, widow of David RIGGIN, is a resident of Berrien Township; Jane WILLIAMS is at home in Pokagon, Cass County; Andrew J., our subject, is next in order of birth; William, George and Martha are deceased. The parents did the best they could to give their children an education, and, members of the United Brethren Church, brought them up to respect religion. The father, politically a Democrat, was an upright and industrious citizen, by hard work winning his upward way. Mr. Easton spent the days of youth upon his father's farm, but was only four years of age when he accompanied his parents to Michigan, and was obliged to walk three miles to the little log schoolhouse where he received the primitive instruction offered in those early days. At twenty years of age beginning life for himself, he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land where he now lives. At the time of purchase twenty acres had been cultivated, and there was only one improvement, a small house. In the fall of 1855, Andrew J. Easton and Miss Emmarillis P. WILLIS, a daugher of Billy Willis, were united in marriage. Mrs. Easton was born in 1836, in Ohio, but when young accompanied her parents to Michigan, where they were numbered among the leading pioneer settlers. Our subject with his estimable wife settled on his farm, which he industriously cleared and improved. Prospering, he has added to his original tract, now owning two hundred and thirty acres, of which one hundred acres are in a high state of productiveness. Aside from the culture of the soil and the raising of abundant harvests of grain, Mr. Easton is a successful stock-raiser,handling only graded stock, cattle and horses. Seven children brightened the home, and four yet survive. Marion Alva married Miss Adaline BECKER and lives on the farm. He and his wife are the parents of four children. James Willard, the second son, is single. Ida, the wife of Martin Becker, has two children, and resides in Cass County. Ella is the youngest surviving member of the family. Mrs. Easton is connected with the Christian Church, and has been active in religious and benevolent work. Fraternally our subject is a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, affiliating with the lodge at Berrien Springs, and is a member of the United Workmen at Eau Claire and has also been Master of the Grange. Officially he has been a member of the School Board, and, appreciating the advantages of an education, has materially aided in the development of a high grade of scholarship and instruction in the schools of the home district. Politically Mr. Easton is a strong Democrat and has served as Constable, and this spring elected to the responsible office of Supervisor, is now discharging the duties of his new position to the great satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen. The Easton family have been known as earnest and patriotic citizens, and the elder brother of our subject, Dr. Berryman Easton, was a skillful surgeon upon the battlefields of the Civil War.