My Genealogy Hound

Dr. Vincent S. Vestal was born in Andrew County, Mo., December 7, 1850, and is a son of Daniel and Mary J. (Snelling) Vestal. The father was born in North Carolina, and in an early day immigrated to Platt’s Purchase in Northwestern Missouri. This occurred when he was twenty-one years of age, he having been born September 9, 1815, and emigrating in 1835. In 1849 he went to Andrew County, and there died February 24, 1864, from the effects of army exposure. He was a soldier in the Union army. The mother was born in Kentucky April 20, 1823, and when very young went to Buchanan County, Mo., where she was reared and married. She is now living in St. Joseph, Mo., at the advanced age of sixty-five. To Mr. and Mrs. Vestal eleven children were born, nine of whom are living: Margaret E., Sarah F., Adelia E., Mary H., Vincent S., Elvira B., Daniel M., William H. and Dora H. Those deceased are David and Martha E. John Vestal, the grandfather, and his wife, Margaret, were natives of North Carolina, and died in 1830 and 1848, respectively. Vincent Snelling, the maternal grandfather, immigrated from Northwestern Missouri to Oregon in 1851, and died November 7, 1855. Our subject was reared in Andrew County, Mo., received a good rudimentary education in his boyhood at Rochester, Mo., and after 1868 completed his academic course at McGee College, Macon City, Mo. In 1871 he began to read medicine with F. H. Simmons, of St. Joseph, Mo., and two years later commenced to practice. In 1880 he went to Northwestern Medical College, St. Joseph, Mo., from which he graduated in 1881. Dr. Vestal first came to Arkansas in 1875, living at Evansville, Washington County, until 1877, and then moved upon his present place. He is now engaged in farming upon 283 acres, ninety of which he has cultivated, in connection with his medical practice, which is quite extensive. In 1882 Dr. Vestal was married to Miss Nannie E. Pride, youngest daughter of Dr. Samuel E. and Letitia J. Pride, natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Vestal was born in Crawford County. Dr. Vestal is the father of three children: Dora V. (deceased), Mary L. and Grace B. Mrs. Vestal belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the Doctor to the Missionary Baptist. The latter is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F.