- SAMUEL H. GISH, the oldest dentist in years of practice in
Janesville, established business in
- this city in 1866. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa.,
April 27, 1819, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (KENYON) GISH.
The ancestry of the family can be traced back to the old GUISE
family of Europe, and was founded in America by three brothers
of that name, who came to this country prior to the Revolutionary
War, and settled in Lancaster County, Pa., one of the three brothers
being with Gen. Washington as a scout at Fort Pitt, at the defeat
of Gen. Braddock. Our subject is a direct descendent from one
of those brothers. His father, Jacob GISH, Sen., was super-cargo
of an America ship for six years, visiting, in that capacity,
the ports of St. Petersburg, Russia; London, France, South America
and the West India Islands. His youngest brother, J. W. GISH,
of the firm of GISH, GEIGER & Co., was editor and one of
the proprietors of the first newspaper ever published in California
- a daily which sold at twenty cents a copy - a weekly and a
large sized pictorial month, publicized in San Francisco before
the big fire there; after that editor and proprietor of the Democrat
State Journal until after the death of his friend, Senator BRODERICK.
The mother of Dr. GISH was of Welsh origin.
- The subject of this sketch received his primary education
in the schools of Lancaster County, Pa.,
- completing his literary studies at the Stroudsburg Academy
of Monroe County, Pa. Deciding upon the medical profession as
his life work, he became a student of a Philadelphia Medical
College, graduating from that institution in the class of 1851.
He at once entered upon the practice of his profession in Elizabethtown,
Lancaster Co., Pa., together with that of dentistry, and also
carried on a drug business until the time of his removal to the
West. On coming to Janesville in 1866, he opened a dental office
and also established a boot and shoe store, which he sold out
the following year, and has since devoted his time exclusively
to the practice of dentistry. He has gained a wide reputation
for skill, and has built up a large and lucrative practice.
- Dr. GISH was married in Monroe County, Pa., in 1849, his
union being with Miss Sarah
- FREDERICK, who was born in Stroudsburg, Pa., 1818, and was
a daughter of Peter FREDERICK. They became the parents of five
children, three sons and two daughters, namely: Emily, who is
now the wife of Jerry HARDING, of Doland, Spink Co., Dak.; Hester,
who wedded George BOGGS, and is living in Elizabethtown, Lancaster
Co., Pa.; Frank, unmarried, and an engineer in Southern Dakota;
Dr. Charles L., who married Miss Laura BUTLER, and is now living
in Wellsville, Allegany Co., N.Y., and George W., who is now
engaged in business in Chicago. The mother of these children
was called to her final rest in 1864, and Dr. GISH was again
married in Janesville, in the fall of 1868, his second union
being with Miss Jennie McNEIL, who was born in Canada.
- The Doctor and his wife are consistent members of the Court
Street Methodist Episcopal Church,
- and in politics he is a Republican, stanch in support of
the party principles. He is a non-affiliated Odd Fellow, holding
a withdrawal card from Fort Penn Lodge No. 134, of Stroudsburg,
Pa. Dr. GISH is a prominent and representative citizen of Janesville,
and is a man well informed on all the leading questions of the
day. He has also made a special study of ancient history and
chemistry, and has a thorough knowledge of these two sciences.
He is also deeply interested in the researches and discoveries
among the old ruins of Southern Europe, the Holy Land and Egypt.
By his many friends throughout the county he is held in the highest
regard, his honorable, upright life winning him the confidence
and love of all with whom business or pleasure have brought him
in contact.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 790-791.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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