Biography:

Dr. William Henry Tye was born in Thamesville, Ontario on the 12th of July, 1870.  Dr. Tye was the 5th of 8 children born to Dr. George Archer Tye and the former Hannah DeCow.  At the time of his birth, Dr. Tye’s father was a respected family physician in Thamesville.  His siblings were; Maud Mary Tye, Emily Elmina Tye, Kathleen Lillian Tye, George Walter Tye (who died when he was 4 years old), Sarah Tye (who died in childhood), Alfred Tennyson Tye and Anna Tye (who died in infancy). When Dr. William Tye was 7 years old, his mother died at the age of 37. His father married Laura Louisa McIntyre in 1878 and they had a daughter named Sarah Laura Tye.

Dr. Tye’s family moved to Chatham, Ontario in 1881.  Dr. Tye’s father had his residence and his medical practice at the corner of Wellington and  Fifth Streets.  Dr. William Henry Tye attended schools in Chatham before going to The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, graduating M.B. in 1892. He joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 31st of May, 1892.  Dr. William H. Tye began his medical practice in Dover Centre, (Chatham-Kent), Ontario.

Dr. Tye married Jessie Eleanor Oaks on the 25th of September, 1894 in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on the 28th of February, 1871 in Ennisville, Pennsylvania.  She was the youngest of 11 children born to William “Ashbury” Oaks and the former Elizabeth Rebecca Mitchell.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; John M. Oaks, Sarah Oaks, Thomas Mitchell Oaks, Laura Janet Oaks, Alice Isabelle Oaks, James Stewart Oaks, Emory Waters Oaks (who died at the age of 14), Mary Elizabeth Oaks, Josephine Ada Oaks and Robert A. Oaks.

Dr. and Mrs. Tye had two children.  Their daughter, Marjorie Bell Tye was born in Chatham on the 16th of December, 1895 and their son George Archer Tye was born in Chatham on the 13th of March, 1897 (and named after Dr. Tye’s father).  Dr. Tye was listed in the 1896 Chatham City Directory as being in partnership with Dr. William Robert Hall and their office was located at 181 King Street.  Dr. Tye belonged to the 24th Regiment in Chatham.

In October of 1904, Dr. Tye sold his practice in Dover Center to Dr. Mary Agar and her brother Dr. John Agar.  In January of 1905, the Tye family moved to Kansas City, Missouri where Dr. Tye set up his medical practice for a brief period of time.  Dr. Tye and his family lived in Mexico for 22 years before moving to Los Angeles.

Dr. and Mrs. Tye moved to Los Angeles (L.A.), California in October of 1927.  While in L.A., he continued to focus on the care of the Mexican population.  Dr. Tye belonged to the Mason organization.  According to the 1940 U.S. Census, Dr. and Mrs. Tye were living at 448 South Humphrey Ave., in Los Angeles, California, with his sisters Maud and Emily and Mrs. Tye’s sister, Alice Oakes.

Dr. Tye died on the 1st of December, 1946 in Los Angeles.  Mrs. Tye died in Los Angeles on the 26th of November, 1950.  Dr. and Mrs. Tye were buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

*Dr. Tye’s father Dr. George Archer Tye and his uncle, Dr. Abraham DeCow are also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.  Dr. William Robert Hall, Dr. Mary Louisa Agar and Dr. John Samuel Agar are also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.

*Dr. Tye’s son, George Archer Tye served with the United States military during WWII.  He survived the war and died on the 2nd of July, 1970 in Los Angeles, California.