County of Christian, Kentucky. Historical and Biographical. Edited by William Henry Perrin. F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1884, pp. 372-374. DANIEL J. GISH, M. D.. "America boasts of her self-made men." The career of Garfield from the tow-path to the Presidency, from poverty to honor, loses none of its interest in the fact, that it is but a brilliant type of what is frequently accomplished in the more limited and humble sphere of private life. The subject of this sketch belongs emphatically to the class of self-made men, and no citizen of the county, perhaps, deserves more creditable mention than he. Born amid humble surroundings, and deprived by poverty of even the limited educational advantages common in the days of his youth, but by honesty, industry and economy, he has overcome the obstacles in his pathway, and achieved a success in life of which he may justly be proud. Of delicate frame, and for many years subject to ill health, yet he has had as large a practice in his profession as any physician in the country, and it can be said to his credit, that during his busiest years the needs of the poor were never forgotten, and his kind ministrations at the bed side were always freely given, regardless of the ability of his patient to pay. Dr. Gish, as his name indicates, is descended from a German family, inheriting therefrom the honesty and rugged independence which is a national characteristic. His grandfather, Christopher Gish, was one of the earliest settlers of south Kentucky, coming from Virginia in the latter part of the seventeenth century. His son, Joseph Gish, the father of Dr. Gish, was born while his father lived in Virginia, and grew to manhood in Kentucky; he was married to Sarah Sandes, a Virginian by birth, and to them were born four children, of whom Daniel J. was the eldest. He was born in Muhlenburg [sic] County, Ky., July 16, 1816. The early death of his father required him as soon as possible to lend his assistance to the maintenance of the family, and his early years were spent in the hard labor of the farm, depriving him of any educational advantages, a loss that he made up by attending night schools and employing every leisure hour in scholastic pursuits. When sixteen years old he came to Hopkinsville, and for two and a half years served as an apprentice to the tailor's trade, in which time he so impaired his health as to necessitate his return to farm life. After regaining his health he returned to Hopkinsville and secured a position as bank clerk in the old Bank of Kentucky, under the presidency of R. R. Rowland, which he filled until again compelled to try country life in the open air. Notwithstanding these experiences, his native energy and determination to achieve success in life induced him to accept a situation as a student under Dr. Lindsay, to whose memory he often pays tribute for the kindness shown him. He graduated from the Medical College of Columbis, Ohio, in 1840, and immediately opened a practice in Hopkinsville, meeting with merited success, although opposed by some because of his medical, political and religious views, all of which were unpopular in the county at that time. He was a Jacksonian Democrat at the time the county was intensely and bitterly Whig in politics. Adopted the Eclectic system of practice only to meet the bitter opposition of the entire medical fraternity, and became a member of the Christian Church, when the denomination was opposed by all existing religious parties. In this his characteristic independence of thought was manifested, no opposition of foes or entreaty of friends could swerve him from a course of action when once approved by his conscience. He followed the Union sentiment during the war, and has been identified with the Republican party since, but always reserved the right to "scratch" any name, or disapprove of any action of his party that did not harmonize with his ideas of right. After a practice of fourteen years he became satisfied of the superiority of the Homoepathic system of medicine, and in 1852, graduated from the Cleveland homoeapathic College of Ohio. Notwithstanding a change so radical he succeeded in retaining his former patrons to whom he added a number of the best families of the city. His still does an office practice, the general practice being performed by his partner, Dr. James A. Young. In 1844 he was married to Miss Eliza C. Garnett. She was born in Christian County, and died in Hopkinsville, in 1850, leaving one child - Eliza C., wife of R. R. Donaldson, of Hopkinsville. His present wife, to whom he was married in 1851, was Mrs. Ellen D. Young, widow of Rev. James Abner Young, and daughter of Rev. John Kerr, a noted Presbyterian minister of Newry, Ireland. She came to the United States at the age of thirteen. They have two children - Cora E., wife of Rev. L. H. Stine, of Illinois, and Elizabeth C., wife of Dr. Andrew Seargent, of Hopkinsville. Dr. Gish is also the head of the firm of Gish & Garner, the leading drug firm in the county; he is an Elder of the Christian Church, and has been prominently identified with educational interests in the past. No man has the confidence of the community to a greater extent, and his career should be an incentive to all young men. Let him imitate his example in honesty, industry and economy, adopt his motto learned from his mother, "Do unto others as you would be done by," and they may reasonably expect equal honor and wealth. Gish Sandes Rowland Lindsay Jackson Young Garnett Donaldson Young Kerr Stine Seargent Garner = VA Muhlenberg-KY OH Ireland IL http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/christian/gish.dj.txt