William E. Best Biography, Lapeer County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 995-996


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

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WILLIAM E. BEST, M. D., of North Branch Township, Lapeer County, was 
born in Oxford County. Dereham Township. Canada, January 20, 1840, and 
is the son of Conrad and Catherine (Looks) Best. The father was born 
and reared in Germany and the mother was a native of the Green Mountain 
State. Conrad Best came to this country when only a lad and here 
undertook farming and it was upon his father's farm that our subject 
had his early training and education, attending first the common-
schools and when twelve years of age entering Victoria College at 
Coburg, of which institution his father was one of the founders. A year 
later he entered the University of Toronto where he went to prepare 
himself for the ministry, but after two years in that institution he 
came to the decision that he was not a fit subject to undertake the 
sacred duties of the profession and changed his object in life.

   The young man now took a course of study at Ralph's Medical School 
in Toronto after which he entered the University of Philadelphia whence 
he graduated in 1860, being then less than twenty-one years of age. 
Having now received his degree of Doctor of Medicine, he returned to 
Canada, and as his father had died during the year he devoted himself 
for some time to settling up the estate and remained there for two 
years. In 1863 he returned to the States and took a position as 
Assistant Surgeon at St. John's Hospital in Little Rock, Ark., where he 
was retained for six months, but as he was dissatisfied here he sought 
and obtained another position as Assistant Surgeon in the United States 
Navy which he filled until the close of the war.

   In the fall of 1865 the young doctor came to North Branch and began 
the general practice of medicine which he has since continued here 
without change of residence. He was married February 22, 1868, to 
Elizabeth Dunham of North Branch, a daughter of Nathan Dunham, of this 
place. To her was born one child-Elizabeth B., but when this 
unfortunate little one was but three days old it was bereaved of a 
mother's love and care, as Mrs. Best died April 5, 1870. Dr. Best's 
second marriage took place December 25, 1871, and she who became his 
wife was Rachel Jane Lammerman of North Branch. She is now the mother 
of one child-Alena Maud, who was born March 14, 1873. They have lost 
three children, all dying in infancy.

   The doctrines of the Republican party are those which Dr. Best 
considers most conducive to the ultimate prosperity of the country. He 
now holds the office of County Physican of Lapeer County, besides being 
Inspector of Schools, and Pension Examiner for the Government. Every 
one of the minor offices in the gift of the people of this place has 
been given him, and his popularity is undoubted. On two different 
occasions he has lost nearly all his property by fire, at one time his 
residence, barn, opera house, etc., being destroyed and the second time 
he lost his office, library and instruments, but he has rallied from 
these misfortunes and is a successful man.




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