William H. Fanning, M. D. 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. 1037

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

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WILLIAM H. FANNING, M. D. We here present a sketch of another member of 
that profession which cares for the physical well-being of humanity, 
one who has made his mark in Lapeer and has built up for himself a good 
practice here. He was born in Elgin County, Canada, not far from 
London, on July 16, 1843. He is the son of Edward and Elizabeth 
(Garman) Fanning, the father being a native of Ireland who came to 
Canada when about twenty years of age and the mother was a Canadian by 
birth, having been born and brought up in the city of Montreal.

   A deep affliction befell this family when our subject was only eight 
years old. The father died leaving the mother in limited circumstances 
with the care upon her of five children, all of them young. The mother 
never married again but devoted herself unflinchingly to the care and 
support of her children and managed to keep them together until they 
were old enough to earn their own living. William did what he could to 
earn money to help support the family and eagerly gleaned what 
education he could pick up.

   The young man began the study of medicine when eighteen years old, 
under Dr. Clark, of Aylmer, of Ontario, and at the same time earned his 
board by taking care of the Doctor's office. He remained with his kind 
friend about six years except while absent attending lectures. He took 
one term at Cleveland in the Western Homeopathic College and the next 
term at Chicago at the Hahnemann College, from which he graduated in 
1869. He came to Lapeer and located for practice and here a singular 
coincidence of disasters deprived him of his credentials. His office 
was burned out in 1871 and he thereby lost his diploma, and during the 
great Chicago the records of the College were destroyed. He finally 
decided to pass another examination and obtained a second diploma which 
bears the date, 1879, although he really completed his course in 1869. 
He passed one year in North Branch in this county.

   Dr. Fanning was married in Lapeer, March 14, 1875 to Miss Isabel 
Woods of this city who was born at Zanesville, Ohio, in June, 1853. One 
son, Willoughby, was born in Lapeer, January 14, 1877, and although he 
did not attend school until the age of eight, he is now in the eighth 
grade and is known as a good and truthful boy. The Doctor is a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also of the Knights of 
Pythias. His political convictions make him a Republican, but he has 
never been an office-seeker. He has met with a high degree of success 
so much so that he has been obliged to cut off his practice in certain 
directions. His success does not make him unmindful of those who are 
struggling and he is ever ready to extend a helping hand to the needy. 
His pleasant and genial manners add to the popularity which his 
professional skill has given him.



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