Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Casper WISTER
Caspar Wister, M. D., eldest son of Charles Wister, by the second marriage with Sarah Whitesides, was born September 15, 1818. He was a student at Germantown Academy until his fifteenth year, and was then sent to Dr. Bolmer's French School at West Chester, Pennsylvania. He completed his academic education at Samuel Gummere's Academy at Burlington, New Jersey, and became a civil engineer. Several years he followed a roving life. Going to Texas, he served with the Texan patriots in their struggle for independence, under Gen. Sam Houston, in the Texas Mounted Rifles, all through the desperate conflict. He later came east and travelled back and forth several years, meeting with many adventures and hair-breadth escapes. He finally gave up his wanderings and entered the Medical Department of University of Pennsylvania, received degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1847, and settled down to the practice of his profession in Philadelphia. He became one of the foremost successful physicians of the city. He was president of Rittenhouse Club, formerly Social Art Club, director of Philadelphia Library Company, president of Board of Inspectors of County Prison, manager of House of Refuge, director of Philadelphia Savings Fund Society, Examining Surgeon of New York Life Insurance Company, member of American Philosophical Society, as well as member of a number of other scientific, philanthropic, social and business societies and associations.
Dr. Wister was struck down at the Pennsylvania Railroad station, 1879, and his skull fractured, but he recovered and resumed his life work, though a large part of the frontal bone had to be removed on the right side of his forehead, so that the pulsations of his brain were plainly visible. Though he lived for nine years after the accident, his death is thought to have been due to the injuries then received. He died December 28, 1888.
A testimonial of him adopted by the government of the Rittenhouse Club says of him: "Open, frank, decided, and truthful, his convictions, from their sincerity, impressed themselves upon every one he met, and, though you might not agree with him, it was impossible not to respect him. With the sternest sense of honor, he had the gentleness of a woman towards those whose weaker nature had been their cause of deviation from the path of rectitude. While he could not understand it, he could always pity it. To the young and the old, to the man of business, and to the man of leisure, at the hospital and in the prison, his presence was always welcome as at the play-ground, where he mingled with the most youthful of his friends."
Dr. Wister married (first), July 20, 1846, Lydia H. Simmons, who died in 1848, leaving a daughter, Lily Wister, who married, October 31, 1878, Clifford Rossel. Dr. Wister married (second), June 26, 1854, Anna Lea, daughter of Rev. William H. Furness, D. D., who survives and is an eminent translator.
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