Brown County Biographies
From "The Annals of Brown County", Grant Harrington, 1903
William M. Shirley.
Prominent among the successful
business and professional men of
Hiawatha stands Dr. William M.
Shirley. He was born In Virginia,
Cass County, Ill , March 5, 1848. His
boyhood was spent on the farm and
when he was old enough he learned
the carpenter trade. He came to
Hiawatha in January 1868 and began contracting and building and
followed this business for seven years
when he went east and took a
dental course. Returning to Hiawatha In 1878 he opened a dental office and has devoted
his time exclusively to that business ever since.
For twenty-three years he has occupied the same rooms over the Morrill
and Janes bank. Competitors have
come and gone but the Doctor's business has always been successful and
lucrative. He has made an art of
his profession and the latest appliances and new discoveries have
always found In him a patron. He
is a member of the Kansas State
Dental Society and was the president
of the society in 1889-90. He helped
organize the Kansas City Dental
College and was one of its trustees
for many years. In 1885 he was appointed a member of the state board
of Dental Examiners by Gov. Martin
and re-appointed by Gov. Humphrey
four years later serving eight years
In all on this board.
Dr. Shirley has always taken an
active part In the public enterprises of
the community. He has served on
the city council. He helped organize
the Hiawatha Building and Loan
Association, was a director in it for
a number of years and its president
for two years. He helped organize
the Hiawatha Electric Light Co. and
was a director as long as he was a
stock holder. He was a stock holder In the old fair association and for
a number of years was financial Secretary of the Association. He was
one of the managers of the Lecture
Association in the days when Hiawatha boasted of the best lecture
association in the state. He is a
Mason, belonging to the lodge, the
chapter and the Eastern Star and at
the present time he is serving Hiawatha Lodge as its Senior Warden.
He has also been Worthy Patron of
the Star.
Dr. Shirley was married July 8,
1880 to Miss Ameda E. Ellis of
Hamlin. Their handsome home in
east Hiawatha was built in 1893. It
is one of the best of the many fine
homes In Hiawatha being modern In
style and equipped with all the
modern conveniences. Both Dr. and
Mrs. Shirley are members and active
workers in the First Presbyterian
church of Hiawatha and the Doctor
is one of the elders of the church.
Return to
Brown Co. KHHP
|
This website created Jan. 11, 2012 by Sheryl McClure.
� 2011 Kansas History and Heritage Project
|