From: KyArchives [Archives@genrecords.org]
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 2:03 PM
To: Ky-Footsteps
Subject: Hiestan.Oliver.P.1827.Casey-Taylor-Green.BIOS


Oliver P. Hiestan January 15, 1827 - unknown
Casey-Taylor-Green County KyArchives Biography

Author:  Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, Volume 5

OLIVER P. HIESTAN, M.D., was born in what is now Taylor (then Green) County, 
Ky., January 15, 1827, and is one of a family of nine children born to Jacob 
and Evy (Landis) Hiestan, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and 
the latter of Virginia, both of German descent. Jacob Hiestan was born in 1787, 
and received an ordinary English education at the common schools of his native 
State. He very materially added, however, to his early training by his own 
exertions and diligent application to study after attaining to manhood's years, 
and was all his life a consistent, close and careful reader, being well 
informed not only on the current topics of the time, but also in both ancient 
and modern history. When a young man he removed to Virginia, where he was 
married and soon after that event came to "the dark and bloody ground," 
settling near Campbellsville, in what is now Taylor County, where he 
established a tanyard, having learned the tanner's trade in early life, and 
continued to follow the business for many years. Afterward he bought a farm near Campbellsville where he was extensively and successfully engaged in farming, stock raising and the distilling business until his death, in 1848. For many years he was a colonel in the old State militia. He belonged to no church, but was a bright member of the Masonic fraternity. He was a man of great energy, and by honesty, integrity and industry, amassed a handsome fortune. His father was from Germany, and spelled the name Hiestand, and so it was spelled and is still spelled by all his relations and by all his sons, except Jacob and his descendants, who dropped the final d. Mrs. Evy (Landis) Hiestan was born in 1788, and departed this life in 1849. She was a life-long member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Her father, Abraham Landis, was a native of old Virginia, where, most of his life, he was successfully engage din agricultural pursuits. In his old age, however, he removed to Green County, where his death occurred on the Green River at the ripe old age of seventy-one. Dr. Oliver F. Hiestan received an excellant common school and academic education in youth. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when he commended the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Jas. A. Shuttlesworth, of Campbellsville, Ky., and after under the preceptorship of Dr. L. J. Frazee, of Louisville, Ky. He graduated with high honors at the Kentucky Scho0ol of Medicine of Louisville, in the class of 1851, after which he practiced his profession to some extent at Campbellsville until the spring of 1854, when he removed to Texas, locating at Kentuckytown, Grayson County, where he continued to practice until the fall of 1857, when, in consequence of the loss of his eyesight, he returned to Louisville, Ky., where he was treated by Dr Samuel D. Gross for a time; thence he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where, for about nine months, he was treated by Drs. Talliferro, Potter and Williams, who gave him some little relief, after which he went to Boston, Mass., and was treated by Dr. Dicks, who succeeded in restoring him to partial, though very imperfect sight. In 1860 he returned to Grayson County, Tex., and resumed the practice of his profession with the most gratifying and unvarying success, although unable to distinguish the most intimate acquaintance five steps away, or to read the coarsest print. In July, 1866, he came to Kentucky again and located in the western part of Casey County, near the Adair line, where he has continued to practice his profession with his usual abundant and unvarying success. He is also quite successfully and extensively engaged in farming and stock raising, owning three farms, aggregating some 450 acres. The home farm is well improved, one of the best in the neighborhood, and is in a high state of cultivation. Although he has sustained numerous and severe reverses by which, and in the almost fruitless search for sight, he lost or expended his entire fortune, being thus compelled, though nearly blind, to begin the battle of life anew without a dollar, yet, by his indomitable energy and persistent industry he has not only carved out for himself a place at the head and front of his profession, but has also acquired a handsome property. Though unable to recognize his most intimate friends a few steps away, he yet rides almost constantly through the woods and brush and over a rough and hilly country in the discharge of his professional and other duties, and although unable to read even the coarsest print, yet, through the assistance of his family, and especially by the aid of his estimable wife, who finds time from her household cares to read to him, and who is by the way, an accomplished lady, a most excellent reader, and a thorough scholar, he keeps fully up, not only with his professional reading, but also with the current literature of the day. The Doctor married, July 8, 1860, Miss Maria J. Mercer, a native of Taylor County, Ky., born June 18, 1840. She is a daughter of James O. And Rosalinda (Eades) Mercer, natives of Kentucky. The father of James O. Was Joseph Mercer, and the father of Joseph was John Mercer, of Scottish descent. Mrs. Rosalinda Eades was of English descent. Eight children have blessed this union: Evy (now Mrs. Hezekiah Lainhart), Thorton, Morgan, Araminta, Perry, Jacob, Etsel and Maria. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, and one of the most successful, prominent and influential professional and business men in the county and district.



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