William Thomas Grove, M. D. Doctor Grove had been one of the foremost physicians and surgeons of Eureka for twenty-two years. He is a man of high attainments in the profession. While most of his work had been in general lines he is a recognized expert in diseases of the eye, car, nose and throat and had largely specialized in that department of practice. His standing as a citizen is not less than that he enjoys in his profession.
Doctor Grove found the road to a professional career somewhat uneven and punctuated with difficulties. He began working for his own living when a boy, and had experiences as a farm hand, teacher, clerk and in various other lines before he reached the goal of his ambition.
He was born in Everett, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1867. His ancestors came originally from Holland in colonial days. There were three Grove brothers, one of whom settled at York, Pennsylvania, another in Maryland and another in Virginia. Doctor Grove is descended from the Pennsylvania branch. His grandfather was born in Pennsylvania, and died at York in that state, where for many years he kept a tavern.
Robert C. Grove, father of Doctor Grove, was born in Pennsylvania in 1842, was reared and married in that state, and at the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment of infantry. After his career as a soldier he became a school teacher, and had followed that profession for fully half a century. Soon after the war he moved to Gallatin, Missouri, where he taught school, and is now a resident of Springfield, Missouri. In politics he is a republican. Robert C. Grove married Harriet Hannah Jane Woodcock. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1839. Doctor Grove was the second in a family of three children. His older sister Sadie E. is the wife of James A. Deavor, who is a stationary engineer by trade and is in the emp [p.2096] Jesse Amos, the only brother of Doctor Grove, was formerly at Amaranth, Pennsylvania, but is now living at Eureka, Kansas.
Doctor Grove spent part of his youth at Princess Ann, Maryland, where he attended the public schools five years. On leaving school he worked for three years on a farm at Salisbury, Maryland, and during that time he had the privilege of attending school during the brief winter months. His next instruction came from the public schools of McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained two years. He also spent a year in the County Normal School there. With this preparation he became a teacher, working in that occupation for a year in Fulton County, Pennsylvania. He then was one year on the home farm and then for one year was clerk in a store at Clear Ridge, Pennsylvania.
When Doctor Grove came to Kansas his first location was at Virgil, where he arrived November 4, 1887. He spent three months on a farm, then taught a spring term of school and for two years was in the country district schools near Virgil. In the meantime he attended Baker University for one year.
All these experiences were merely preparatory to his real career. Doctor Grove was a student in medicine at Rush Medical College in Chicago for one year, and the following year entered St. Louis University, where he graduated M. D. March 26, 1893. Since then he had taken a considerable amount of post graduate work. He spent some time in the Manhattan Eye and Ear Infirmary of New York City, in the Chicago Eye and Ear College, and had considerable experience in the West Side Hospital of Chicago. He had also taken general courses in the St. Louis University, but wherever possible had enlarged his knowledge and ability of his specialties.
From 1893 Doctor Grove practiced at Virgil, Kansas, for 2½ years, and since then his home and office have been in Eureka. His offices are at the corner of Third and Elm streets, a block east of the Hotel Greenwood.
Doctor Grove had been prospered in a business way, and besides his home at First and Mulberry streets he owned two farms aggregating 380 acres in the State of Oklahoma. He served a number of years as health officer at Eureka, and is now in his second term as county coroner. He was first elected in 1912 and re-elected in 1914, his present term expiring January 1, 1917. He is a member of the Lyon County, the State and Southwest Medical societies and the American Medical Association.
Doctor Grove is a republican in politics. He takes much interest in fraternal affairs. He had served as senior deacon of Fidelity Lodge No. 106, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is a member of Eureka Chapter No. 45 Royal Arch Masons, had held offices in Eureka Commandery No. 54, Knights Templar, belongs to Wichita Consistory No. 2 of the Scottish Rite, and he and his wife are members of Queen Bess Chapter No. 56 of the Eastern Star. From 1902 to 1907 Doctor Grove was head physician for the State of Kansas of the Modern Woodmen of America. His local membership is in Beetle Camp No. 858. He also belongs to the auxiliary of that order. In 1893 at Virgil, Kansas, he was initiated in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and had been left support of the Vice Grand and right support of the Noble Grand in that organization. Doctor Grove is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Eureka.
On August 31, 1893, at Virgil, Kansas, he married Miss Minnie I. Dalton, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Osborn) Dalton, both of whom are now deceased. Her father was an early farmer settler near Virgil. Doctor and Mrs. Grove have five children: Gladys is now a senior in the State Agricultural College at Manhattan. Harold Thomas is in the junior class of Baker University. William Paul is a bill clerk in the freight office of the Santa Fe at Wichita. Harriet Elizabeth is in the second grade of the public schools at Eureka. The baby of the family is Wendell Dalton.