Dr. William Thomas Jefferson (1864-1925) was born on 4 August 1864 in Washington, D.C. Later, his family moved to Derby, Connecticut. In 1886, he began studying dentistry under Dr. Frederick B. Merrill at Birmingham4
, Connecticut. In the fall of 1889, he entered Howard University's dental department in Washington, D.C., but, in March 1890, he transferred to the American College of Dental Surgery in Chicago, graduating on 24 March 1891. He then established a practice in Chicago. After joining the Knights of Pithias, on 1 April 1895, Dr. Jefferson became a member of Company "D," 9th Battalion. He was unanimously elected a second lieutenant on 1 May 1895 when the battalion became a part of the Illinois State Militia. Dr. Jefferson entered the Illinois National Guard as a first lieutenant on 4 November 1895. On 28 June 1898, with the onset of the war, the battalion was reorganized into the 8th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Dr. Jefferson was appointed the captain of Company "D" on 21 July 1898. Unfortunately, two months later, on 21 September, he was hospitalized for malaria. Still, he served with his regiment in Cuba and was stationed at San Luis De Cuba in February 1899. Dr. Jefferson, in addition to his command responsibilities as a line officer, also found time to provide dental care for his regiment. He described his wartime dental experience: "While in the service, seeing the necessity of a dentist, I gave my services free in the hospital to the officers and soldiers of the 8th Illinois, 23rd Kansas and 9th Louisiana, U.S.V." Possibly, Dr. Jefferson was the first dentist of his race to perform dentistry in the U.S. military. He was discharged with his regiment at Chicago on 3 April 1899. Dr. Jefferson continued his military career with the Illinois National Guard and was appointed inspector of rifle practice with rank of first lieutenant, serving on the staff of Colonel John R. Marshall in the 8th Battalion, Illinois National Guard.
On 3 September 1899, Dr. Jefferson, now back in practice in his office on State Street in Chicago, and advertising "Gold Crowns and Bridge Work A Specialty" on his letterhead, wrote to his senator, William E. Mason, asking endorsement for his application for a commission in a new "Colored Volunteer Regiment" to be formed for service in the Philippines. The senator endorsed Dr. Jefferson's application and forwarded it to the War Department. On 2 October 1899, the Secretary of War (1899-1904), Elihu Root, notified Mr. Mason that "every appointment of this character" for the volunteer regiments being formed was already "provided for" and that, therefore, Dr. Jefferson's application could not be considered at that time. However, he continued to serve in the Illinois Guard until 1916. Dr. Jefferson died in Chicago on 26 October 1925.
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