Among Rock Island physicians none have a wider practice or a more successful one than the subject of this sketch, Doctor George L. Eyster, one of that city’s old established and prominent physicians and surgeons.
He was born May 14, 1853, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, his parents being William IF. and Lucretia (Gibson) Eyster. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Vermont. His father’s family was of German origin, the Eysters being among the early settlers in the colony of Pennsylvania. Doctor Eyster’s father was for many years a clergyman of the Lutheran Church, being also engaged in the educational work of that church. For some years he was president of the Hagerstown Female Seminary, a Lutheran educational institution located in Maryland. In 1876 he came to Rock Island, where for ten years he occupied the chair of English Literature at Augustana College. He afterward removed to Crete, Nebraska, where he lived a retired life.
After the removal of the Eyster family to Maryland, where the subject of this sketch received a public school and academic education, fitting himself to enter Pennsylvania College, an institution from which he graduated in 1871. He then entered the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania, and three years later he graduated. One year later he began the practice of his profession in Nebraska, but in 1876 he removed to Rock Island, which City has been his home ever since.
Doctor Eyster’s ability and skill both in the practice of medicine and surgery was recognized early in his professional life, and his practice has been a constantly increasing one. He is a member of the staff of St. Anthony’s Hospital, was County Physician of Rock Island County for about ten years, and for six years was Health Commissioner in the City of Rock Island. He is a member of several leading medical associations, among them being the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, the Illinois State Medical Society, and the Iowa and Illinois Central District Medical Association. He is also a member of the Rock Island County Medical Society, and from time to time has held several offices in that Society, and has contributed many valuable papers at its meetings.
February 17, 1876, Doctor Eyster was joined in marriage to Miss Fannie P. Wright, a daughter of John K. Wright of Philadelphia. Both the Doctor and his wife are prominent in the society circles of the tri-cities and frequently entertain. The Doctor is a genial host and his wife a charming hostess.
In politics Doctor Eyster has always been a Republican, and although having no disposition or time to engage in active conquest in the political arena he has been the recipient of several. appointive offices already mentioned requiring a specialist along medical lines. These he filled ably and with credit. Fraternally Doctor Eyster is connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. In his college days he was connected with the Sigma Chi, a Greek letter fraternity of national scope.
He is one of Rock Island’s best citizens, a man who enjoys the regard and respect of all who have ever had occasion to call him in a professional capacity as well as many others of his friends and acquaintances who know him to be a generous, kindly man.