Vest, John W. H., M.D.

VEST, PHIBBS, MCDONALD, WILSON

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 2/8/2013 at 08:27:49

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

VEST, JOHN W.H., M.D.—Jackson Twp—pg 667-8. Prominent among the physicians of Poweshiek county, no one has a better reputation for skill than the subject of this sketch. Was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, May 17, 1822. He is the son of John and Elizabeth Price Vest. His father was soldier in the War of 1812. They were plain farming people. When young Vest was ten years old his parents moved to Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio. He here attended the Hillsboro Academy, and prepared himself for college. At the age of twenty-two he read medicine with Dr. J.B. McConnell, of Rushville, Ohio, and attended lectures during the winters of 1846-7, at Sterling College, Columbus, Ohio, and in the spring commenced the practice of his profession in New Market, same State, where he continued until 1854, when he removed to New Vienna, Ohio. Here he remained but a short time. In the fall of 1855 the Doctor took another course of lectures, and graduated from the Sterling Medical College in March, 1856. He then came West and located in Montezuma, where he has since made his home, being the oldest medical practitioner now living in the county. On the 22d of August, 1862, he tendered his services to the United States, and was appointed surgeon of the Twenty-eighth Iowa volunteers, and was with that regiment until December 4, 1864, when he resigned. Thinking his medical education not yet complete he attended the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, and graduated from that institution in the spring of 1865. Soon after going South he was made surgeon-in-chief of the third division Thirteenth army corps, on General McGinnis’ staff. When the Thirteenth and Nineteenth army corps were united he became medial director of the staff of Gen. Ransom, and was subsequently transferred and made medical director on Gen McClernand’s staff. Still later he was relieved of this duty, and placed in charge of Gen. McClernanad, who was taken ill, taking him from Alexandria, La., to New Orleans, and thence to Alton, Ill. He was president of the operating board at Magnolia Hill, Champion’s Hill, also, at Black River, Vicksburg, and through the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, making a brilliant record as a surgeon. This, in brief, is the Doctor’s war record, and it is almost needless to say that he has a high standing among the medical men of the State. He belongs to both the county and State medical societies, and was president of the former body in 1875. In politics he is a staunch Republican. Is a council member of the Masonic order, and also belongs to the Encampment of Odd Fellows. He is well known throughout the county, and the respect shown him is as wide as his acquaintance. He is as much of a student now as he ever was, and devotes his leisure to reading his medical periodicals and other scientific works, and has the largest library in the county, consisting of over 300 medical volumes, and hence is constantly progressing in knowledge, and as a practitioner, in the confidence of the people. He was united in marriage, on the 23d of December, 1847, to Miss Margaret Phibbs, of Adams county, Ohio. They have four children living, and lost two: Myrtie (the youngest, died at the age of ten years, in 1863), and Mary E.(widow of John McDonald, who died in May, 1875). John W. lives on the Doctor’s fine farm, one mile and a quarter east of town, consisting of 480 acres of Poweshiek’s best soil, under good cultivation—contains 600 apple trees, five miles and a half of good hedge, and all other necessaries that go to make a good farm. Martha W. (wife of L.W. Wilson, Deputy Treasurer, and at present Republican candidate for Clerk of the courts). Dr. W.E., the present partner of his father. This gentleman prepared at the Iowa College, of Grinnell, and the University, of Iowa City, and is a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, and also of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa. Fred E., student of the Iowa College. The Doctor’s children have all been students of the Iowa College except Myrtie.