Dr. Joseph L. Wicks, a physician and surgeon of Evanston and vice president of the Stock Growers Bank of that city, was born in Polk, Ashland county, Ohio, December 24. 1870, his father being the late Christian Wicks, who was a native of Ohio and a descendant of one of the old Pennsylvania families of German lineage. Christian Wicks was a carriage builder by trade and resided for many years in Ashland county, Ohio, there remaining until called to his final rest. He was quite successful in his business affairs and thus left to his family a comfortable competence when in February, 1899, he passed away at the age of sixty-four years. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Summers and was born in Ohio, her death occurring in Polk, Ashland county, in May, 1913, when she had reached the age of seventy-two years. By her marriage she had become the mother of six children.
    Dr. Wicks, who was the fifth in order of birth, acquired a public school education in his native county and afterward became a student in Heidelberg University at Tiffin, Ohio. Later he entered the Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, in 1894, spending a year in that institution. In 1896 he entered the Ohio Medical University at Columbus and was graduated therefrom on the 5^th of April, 1898. He first entered upon the active work of his profession in Fairfield. Ohio, where he continued for six months, after which he removed to the west, making his way directly to Evanston, Wyoming. He arrived in that city an entire stranger on the 24^th of December, 1898, and entered upon active practice, being first associated with Dr. R. Harvey Reed, of Rock Springs, who was superintendent of the Wyoming State Hospital. After three months' service there Dr. Wicks returned to Evanston and has since been in continuous and active general practice, in which he has met with a substantial measure of success. He belongs to the Wyoming State and the American Medical Associations and something of his high professional standing is indicated in the fact that he was for several years elected to the office of treasurer of the former and at one time was chosen as its president. His colleagues and contemporaries accord him high professional standing and the public has given expression of its confidence in his ability in the liberal patronage accorded him. Aside from his profession he is well known in financial circles as vice president of the Stock Growers Bank.
    On the 28^th of June, 1899, in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Wicks was united in marriage to Miss Erma A. List, a native of Ohio and a daughter of George and Alice (Aid) List, early residents of Ohio and representatives of old families of Pennsylvania. Dr. and Mrs. Wicks have become parents of two children, both born in Evanston: Josephine, born July 22. 1902; and Lucille, born May 13, 1913.
    Politically Dr. Wicks is a republican and for two years he filled the office of coroner, to which position he was elected in 1900. He also serves as county health officer, having occupied the position since 1900. and he was a member of the state board of health from 1906 until 1910. He has always taken an active interest in politics and in civic matters and he served from 1913 until 1917 as a member of the city council of Evanston, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many well defined plans and measures for the public good. He is a prominent Mason, belonging to lodge, chapter, commandery and Mystic Shrine, being identified with the temple at Rawlins. He has filled all of the chairs in both the chapter and commandery and is a loyal exemplar of the craft. His family is connected with the Presbyterian church.
    Dr. Wicks and his wife occupy an enviable position in social circles and enjoy the warm regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact. He holds to high standards in professional service and by reason of his laudable ambition he has made steady progress along professional lines and today ranks with the most skilled and able physicians and surgeons not only of Evanston but of all western Wyoming.