BIO: Joshua Martin WIESTLING, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 355-356.
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  WIESTLING, JOSHUA MARTIN, M.D., son of Dr. Samuel Christopher 
Wiestling, was born February 28 1797, in now Susquehanna township, 
Dauphin county, Pa.; baptized at Shoop's church by Rev. Christian H. 
Kurtz, and died January 15, 1854, at Harrisburg, Pa.  In the year 1811, 
being then of the age of fourteen years, he moved with his parents into 
the town of Harrisburg, where he continued to reside until his death.  
Although afforded but limited facilities of acquiring an education by 
attending the schools of that period, yet, having the advantage of the 
instructions of his father, who was a man of thorough education and 
culture and being himself an indefatigable student, reading and 
studying whenever and however the opportunity presented, he grew to 
manhood with his naturally fine mental endowments admirably cultivated 
and liberally developed.  Of studious habits and love of knowledge, 
these characteristics adhered to him throughout his life.  A man of 
original thinking powers, and possessed of mental capacity of a high 
order, he gave, notwithstanding an extensive and laborious medical 
practice, diligent investigation to all the leading questions of the 
day, and careful study in the wide and diversified field of general 
knowledge.  He was, consequently, upon all the leading subjects of 
information, a natural scholar, and, throughout his whole life, was 
recognized by his fellow-townsmen as in the front rank of generous 
knowledge, and a man of very general powers.  His special field of 
usefulness, however, was that of medicine.  In his preparation for his 
profession his preceptors were his father, Dr. Samuel C. Wiestling, 
Sr., and an elder brother, Dr. Samuel C. Wiestling, Jr., both 
thoroughly educated physicians of skill and wide experience.  He 
attended the course of medical lectures of the University of 
Pennsylvania.  His father becoming disabled to continue in active 
practice by reason of a paralytic stroke in the year 1817, he succeeded 
him in his profession, first in partnership with his brother, Dr. 
Samuel C. Wiestling, Jr., which continued for a few years, and 
subsequently alone.  This was about the year 1821 or 1822.  Acquiring a 
large and extensive practice, both in town and country, he prosecuted 
the duties of his profession with a degree of faithful devotion and 
judicious skill, which won for him the admiration and high regard of 
the medical fraternity and the unlimited confidence of the whole 
community until his death.  In stature he was about six feet in height, 
broad shouldered, of large head, erect in carriage, full chested, 
rather stout in figure and person, and dignified in appearance.  He was 
of a cheerful disposition, affable in his manners, generous in his 
impulses, of sympathetic and benevolent habits, unselfish and 
forbearing, and, as a consequence, he was popular throughout his life.  
Dr. Wiestling married, January 22, 1824, Catharine Youse, born March 
24, 1800; d. March 4, 1854, at Harrisburg, Pa.; daughter of George and 
Mary Youse.