DR. W. H. SHIRLEY, physician, Xenia, was born in Union County, Ky., to S. P. and Clarissa (Sigler) Shirley. The father was a native of Caldwell County, Ky., born about 1826. For years he was a member of the firm of Blackwell & Shirley, who carried on a large tobacco house in Louisville, Kentucky. During the civil war, it was all destroyed by fire. In 1875, Mr. Shirley went to Texas, where he is now engaged in farming and stock-raising. The mother died in Webster County, Ky., in 1864, and soon after her death our subject came to Xenia, and was reared by his uncle, Dr. E. S. Shirley, whose sketch appears. His early life was spent in attending school and assisting in his uncle's drug store. He continued in the store, and in the study of medicine under the instruction of his uncle till 1877, when he went to the St. Louis Medical College, and for two years attended lectures, graduating in March, 1879, when he went into partnership with his uncle in the practice of medicine, this partnership lasting for three years, when, in September, 1882, he went to Texas, where he practiced his profession for eight months at Mineral Springs, Palo Pinto County, and Henrietta, Texas. On the last day of March, 1883, he returned to Xenia, Ill., and has had a successful practice since. May 14, 1883, he was married in this county to Miss Honora Finty. She was born in Ireland, but came with her parents to America in 1868. She is the daughter of John Finty, a merchant of Xenia. In politics, Dr. Shirley is an active working Democrat.
Extracted 28 Dec 2017 by Norma Hass from 1884 History of Wayne and Clay Counties, Illinois, Part IV, page 167.
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