Biography of Dr. J. A. Edmiston, DeWitt County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Earliene Kaelin Source: People from the Histories 1882 History DR. J. A. EDMISTON Was born in Logan county, Ohio, February 6,1839, where his grandfather, Robert EDMISTON, had located in an early day, being one of the pioneers of the county. He in turn hailed from Kentucky. The EDMISTON ancestors were originally of Scotch-Irish extraction. Robert EDMISTON, the father of the subject of this biography, was a farmer by occupation. John A. received a common-school education, which was supplemented by a partial academic course of instruction at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Paris, Edgar county, this state. At the age of seventeen years he struck out to make his own livelihood, and found it in teaching. The great west, as Illinois was then known, had its attractions for him, and thither he came; remained awhile in Edgar county, and in 1857 came to DeWitt, where he entered upon the study of medicine with Drs. GOODBRAKE and an uncle, T. K. EDMISTON. During the years 1858-9 he attended a course of lectures in Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, and returned to Ohio, where upon the breaking out of the war he volunteered, in April, 1861, in the 13th Regiment Ohio Vols., for three months' service. At the expiration of this time, he filled with enthusiasm in the cause of the Union, made his way to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he joined the 20th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as a private. He soon after became hospital steward, under his old preceptor, Surgeon GOODBRAKE. Immediately after the battle of Fort Donelson he was appointed 1st lieutenant, Co. E; went on duty in this capacity the morning of the Shiloh fight; in August was appointed captain, and remained so until the close of the war. After the war he returned to Clinton, and in 1865-6 attended another course of lectures in Rush Medical College, from which institution he graduated February 24, 1866. Soon after he formed a partnership with his uncle in the practice of medicine, which continued until 1870. He then engaged in the drug business, which he followed for five years, and since which time he has practiced his profession. He is an active member of the DeWitt Co. Medical Society, of which he has been several years president. Politically, he is an ardent, outspoken Republican; he is a member of the Masonic order; religiously, is a Presbyterian. He was united in marriage December 17, 1867, to Miss Mary HAYNIE, a most. accomplished lady. Mrs. Edmiston has been for fifteen years leader of the singing in the Presbyterian church, a position for which her talents have pre-eminently fitted her. ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Earliene Kaelin