VAN SHEARS DEATON, M.D., is a prominent member of the medical profession of Miami County, located at Miami City, and is one of the foremost citizens of that locality. Progressive and public spirited, he has always been closely identified with the affairs of the community, and has often been called upon to serve in offices of high public trust. The Doctor was born near Addison, in Jackson Township, Champaign County, Ohio, August 1, 1849, and is a son of Nathan and Sarah (Scoby) Deaton.

George Deaton, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a resident of Virginia and died in that State. He married Susan Ream, who was born in 1787, and their offspring were William, Andrew, Samuel, George, Nathan, Levi, Mary, Martha and Susan, all deceased but Susan.

Nathan Deaton was joined in marriage with Susan Scroby, a daughter of William Scroby, of Champaign County, and their children were as follows: Van Shears; Lydia A., wife of Jason Cutler, of St. Paul, Kansas; Emory G., who married Ellen Hackett, and was a neighbor to the famous John Brown, in Kansas; Emma D., wife of John McMorran, of St. Paris, Ohio; William Dyke, who married Mary Stafford, of New Carlisle; and Charles, who died in infancy.

Van Shears Deaton became an orphan at the age of nine years. He was educated in the public school at Christianburg and the Honey Creek school, leaving the latter in 1864 to enter the army. He served with credit until near the close of the Civil War, when he returned to the home farm of Levi Deatou, in Clark County, Ohio. He worked on a farm, and for two years attended school in Lebanon, after which he engaged in teaching for several years, at the same time pursuing the study of medicine under Dr. Jonathan Thatcher, of Alcony. He taught the Hickory Grove School in Bethel Township, Miami County, two terms, and in Elizabeth Township two terms. He was graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1873, after a three years course, and immediately thereafter engaged in practice at Addison, where he continued for a period of four years. He then moved to Miami City, or Alcony Postoffice, where he has been engaged successfully in practice for thirty-one years, He is a thorough student and has kept abreast the rapid advancement made in the science of medicine, and has met with good results in the treatment of the many complicated cases which have come under his care during his long practice here. Although his profession has always been first and foremost with him, he has given much of his time to public service. He was coroner of Miami County two years; justice of the peace six years; a member of the Board of Education under the old law for sixteen years; and a member of the State Legislature two terms, from 1894 until 1898, serving during his second term as chairman of the Committee on Common Schools. He has been a member of the Board of Education four years under the new law, and is serving his second term as president of that body. He is now president of the Board of Pension Examiners, and formerly was a member of that board for four years during the administration of President Harrison. In addition to his property in Miami City, Dr. Deaton is the owner of a fine farm of 115 acres in Pike Township, Clark County, farmed by his son, Ross.

Van Shears Deaton was married March 1873, to Miss Laura E. Shidaker, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Shidaker, of EIizabeth Township, and they have two children: C. Ross, who married Loretta Moses, daughter of the late Samuel Moses, of Champaign County, by whom he has a son, Cecil Aquila, named in honor of Gen. Aquila Wiley, of Wayne County; and Dr. Ernest Heber Deaton, who married Mayme Deaton, daughter of Thomas Jefferson Deaton, of St. Louis, and is engaged in practice in that city. Fraternally the subject of this record is a member of Casstown Lodge, I.O.O.F., and has passed through all the chairs of that lodge. He also is a member of Coleman Post, G.A.R., at Troy. In politics he is unswerving in his support of Republican principles. Dr. and Mrs. Deaton attend the McKendree Methodist Episcopal Church of Elizabeth Township.