Franklin County IL Archives Biographies.....Vise, Hosea August 1881 - 
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Author: George Washington Smith (1912)

   DR. HOSEA AUGUST VISE. The annals of Southern Illinois would not be complete
without mention of the name of the Vise family and chronicles of the part the
pioneers of that family took in furthering the progress and development of this
section of the country. Hosea Vise was one of the most renowned and learned
Baptist ministers who ever preached in Southern Illinois, beginning his ministry
in this section nearly a hundred years ago. This sturdy pioneer was born in
South Carolina, in the eighteenth century, and when he struck out for the then
western wilderness and Indian infested country there was no public means of
transportation for passengers, and his first journey to Illinois he accomplished
on foot. This was in 1830. He later returned to South Carolina in order to
conduct his wife to his new field of labor, and on this journey Mr. Vise again
walked, while his wife rode back with him on horseback. Hosea Vise was a man of
strict principles and great independence of thought and action, and it is stated
that when he lived in South Carolina he was the only prohibitionist in the
county of which he was a citizen. During his lifetime he traveled all over the
southern part of Illinois preaching the gospel wherever he went and was known by
nearly every family in that section where he was familiarly, and lovingly known
as Uncle Hosea. In his early life he taught school for a time and prepared his
own text books, writing them with a quill pen. In later years he of course
adopted printed books, but the library of old volumes which he left to his
great-grandson, the present Dr. Hosea August Vise, is a valuable one, computed
to be worth several hundreds of dollars. The Reverend Vise was moderator of the
Franklin Baptist Association for thirty-one years. He lived to an extremely old
age, his death occurring on February 11, 1893. Lafe Vise, his son, was born in
Franklin county, Illinois, where he followed the pursuit of an agriculturist.
This son in turn became the father of Harvey Vise, who was born in Franklin
county in 1856 and is now one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of
this section of the state. He possesses exceedingly large and valuable land
holdings and also owns and conducts one of the biggest mercantile establishments
in the county. Harvey Vise is a self-made man who started in commercial life
with a horse and wagon and the grit to establish a little store at Macedonia in
1874, when he was only eighteen years of age. He prospered greatly, however, and
soon became a man of great influence and power in his community. His public
spirit and liberality are of the highest and most generous character and to him
in large measure is due the credit of building the Baptist church at Macedonia,
and since its erection he has continued to contribute most generously to its
support. In political matters also he exerts great influence. He is a Republican
and a large following in Macedonia looks to him as a guide in forming and
expressing their views on public matters.

   Dr. Hosea August Vise, of Benton, was born in Macedonia, Franklin county,
Illinois, on August 10, 1881, the son of Harvey and Sarilda (Plasters) Vise. His
mother died when he was but four years of age and he has accordingly missed the
boon of a mother's love and care. After completing his studies in the grade and
high schools of his home county he matriculated at Ewing College and graduated
from that institution of learning after a four-year course. He afterwards
attended Washington University, at St. Louis, and in 1905 graduated from the St.
Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons.

   Dr. Vise began active practice immediately after receiving his degree,
locating first at Thompsonville, where he remained for two years. That field did
not offer sufficient scope for his ambition and abilities, however, and he
accordingly moved to Benton, and from the time when he first opened his office
here, three years ago, he has enjoyed a large and lucrative practice both in
Benton and throughout the county.

   On February 28, 1906, Dr. Vise was united in marriage to Miss Grace Mitchell,
daughter of George O. Mitchell, a resident of Marion, Illinois, and manager of
the Black Diamond Railroad. Mrs. Vise is a woman of charming personality and
superior education, having attended the Carbondale Normal School for three
years. One daughter has been born to bless the home of Dr. and Mrs. Vise,
Marguerite Eller.

   Dr. Vise is active in social affairs as well as professional life in Benton
and is a leading member of the Elks lodge and of the Masonic order. He is a man
of keen intellect and progressive tendencies and keeps in touch with the latest
developments of medical science and activities through his membership in the
American Medical and the State Medical Associations. He is a member of the
Baptist church, a man of high moral rectitude and unimpeachable personal
integrity and justly enjoys the confidence of a large circle of friends and
acquaintances m this section of the state.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People, and its Principal
Interests

BY
George Washington Smith, M. A.
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1912

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