[IMAGE]
Joseph L. Eyeman, M. D.

Joseph L. Eyman, M. D., a well known, successful physician and surgeon in El Dorado, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born at Kittanning, Armstrong county, February 23, 1860, and is a son of J. W. and Rebecca (Richie) Eyman, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Pittsburg and the latter of Templeton, Armstrong county. The Eyman family is of German descent and was founded in this country prior to the Revolutionary war by three brothers, Abram, Isaac and Jacob. Abram located at Wellsville, Ohio; Jacob in Pittsburg, Pa., and Isaac was a frontiersman who never located definitely in any place. Dr. Eyman is a descendant of Jacob, who was his great-great-grandfather. Jacob served in the Revolutionary war, and his son, Jacob, Dr. Eyman's grandfather, served in the War of 1812, and Dr. Eyman's father was a member of the Sixty-third regiment, Pennsylvania infantry, and served in the Civil war, with the Army of the Potomac. He came to Kansas with his family in 1867, and located in Atchison, where he remained one year; they then moved to Granada, Nemaha county, where the father took a homestead, and resided on it until 1905, when he sold his property there and removed to El Dorado, where Dr. Eyman could give medical attention to his mother, who was in poor health. The father died July 8, 1912, aged eighty-two years, and the mother now resides in El Dorado at the advanced age of eighty-three. They were the parents of eight children, as follows: G. M., Kansas City, Kans.; Joseph L., the subject of this sketch; J. H. and W. H., twins, reside at Moline, Kans.; Ella, married Genoa Reeder and resides in Oklahoma; Neta, wife of M. B. Hitchcock, Kansas City, Mo.; Ida, died in 1894, and Mollie, died in 1895.

Dr. Eyman was six years of age when his parents came to Kansas. He attended the public schools in this State until 1874, when he returned to Pennsylvania and attended Dayton Academy, Dayton, Pa. After remaining there four years, he returned to Kansas and taught school in Wabaunsee county for two years. He then entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., and later entered the Northwestern Medical College, Chicago, Ill., where he was graduated February 25,

1887, with a degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then went to Marshall county, Kansas, and practiced four years at Bigelow, and three years at Frankfort. In 1895, he went to Sun Dance, Wyo., and from there to Ekalaka, Mont., and was engaged in professional work for the Government until 1900, when he returned to Frankfort, Kans., and practiced until 1904. He then came to El Dorado and bought a ranch west of town and was engaged in the cattle business in partnership with his son for two years. He then engaged in the practice of his profession at El Dorado, where he has built up a large general practice, and also does a great deal of surgical work. He is local surgeon for the Missouri Pacific railroad and is a member of the United States Board of Pension Examiners, of which he is secretary.

Dr. Eyman has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Harriet F. Smarr, of Granada, to whom two children were born, one of whom is living, Charles, a dentist, at Bismarck, N. D. Dr. Eyman's second marriage took place in Wichita in 1906, to Miss Amanda F. Smarr, of that city. Dr. Eyman reared an adopted daughter, Sylvia Eyman. She possessed unusual musical talents, and she was given every advantage, and obtained a finished musical education. Before her marriage she taught music in the high school at Springfield, Mo. She is now the wife of John Howard, of Sylvia, Wis. Dr. Eyman is a member of the American Medical Association, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church.

Previous | Main Page | Biography Index | Next

Pages 560-561,