BIO:  John Wiest, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
_______________________________________________ 

History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________ 

Part II, Biographical Sketches, Supplemental Biographies, Pg 206

DR. JOHN WIEST, the subject of this sketch, was born in Paradise, now Jackson Township, 
February 24, 1846, being a direct descendant from one of the oldest families in the county; his 
great-grandfather, Jacob Wiest, having emigrated from Switzerland, and having located about 
nine miles west of York previous to 1740.  Dr. Wiest worked on his father’s farm until he was 
fifteen years old, when he entered the York County Academy, and took a classical course at this 
institution.  After teaching school for two successive terms in Jackson Township and one term 
at the York County Academy, he commenced the study of medicine at the Jefferson Medical College 
in Philadelphia and graduated at the University of Michigan on the 27th of March, 1867.  When he 
was twenty-one years of age he commenced to practice medicine near Spring Grove, York County, 
and at once acquired a large and lucrative practice.  In 1878 he went to Philadelphia and took 
a special course in the treatment of eye diseases at Will’s Hospital.  In 1879 Dr. Wiest moved 
to York and opened an office for the treatment of eye diseases and the adjustment of 
spectacles.  His practice in the specialty rapidly increased, and at present his reputation as 
a successful eye doctor is known all over the county.  His practice in the treatment of eye 
diseases and adjustment of spectacles now extends all over the county and into Adams and 
Lancaster Counties, and Carrol County, Md.  Dr. Wiest was one of the first directors in the 
York Hospital and Dispensary Association, and was the originator of the West York Eye, Ear and 
Throat Dispensary.  He is a regular attendant at the Eye, Ear and Throat Dispensary, and gives 
one hour every day of his time to the poor gratuitously.  The Doctor is a member of the County 
Medical Society since its organization; a member of the State Medical Society since 1871, and a 
member of the National Medical Association since 1883.  Dr. J. Wiest, at an early age, took an 
active interest in politics, and an active part since he is a voter.  He has frequently been 
elected delegate and committeeman to the county conventions and State convention.  In 1878 he 
was nominated and elected by the Democrats to the legislature, and was re-elected in 1880.  He 
took an active part in the legislature, served on all the important committees, and introduced 
and has passed a number of important measures; among them was a law to compel school directors 
to grant teachers the time to attend the county institute, and one to repeal an act allowing 
constables, justices of the peace and district attorneys to draw their fees out of the county 
in certain cases.  The repeal of this law saves the tax payers of York County thousands of 
dollars annually.  Dr. Wiest was a member of the revenue commission in 1881 and advocated the 
release of property covered by mortgages or judgment from taxation, and advocated the taxation 
of corporate property for local purposes in the towns and townships in which it is located.  In 
1885 Dr. Wiest was appointed one of the pension examiners of York County under President 
Cleveland’s administration; subsequently he was elected president of York County pension board.