Bernhisel, John Milton, 1878-1957

John Milton Bernhisel III (1878-1957) was born in Lewiston, Utah. In 1908-1910 he served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints in Liverpool, England. During his life Bernhisel practiced dentistry in Lewiston. He also served three terms as mayor of Lewiston and as the town's postmaster for fourteen years.

From the description of John Milton Bernhisel III missionary diaries, 1908-1909. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 71645820

John Milton Bernhisel (1799-1881) served as personal physician to Joseph Smith. He was briefly imprisoned with Smith at Carthage in 1844, and following Smith's death he traveled to Salt Lake City with Brigham Young. Bernhisel continued his practice of medicine and was the first delegate from the Utah Territory in the House of Representatives (1851-1859, 1861-1863). He was also a regent of the University of Utah.

From the description of Letter to Franklin Pierce, 1853, March 23. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 772470152

John Milton Bernhisel III was born in Lewiston, Utah; March 2, 1878 to John Milton and Henrietta Harris Bernhisel. Although John M. Bernhisel III was the third member of his family by this name (his grandfather was the Utah Territory's first congressional representative and his father was one of the original settlers of Lewiston), he was commonly known as John Milton Bernhisel, Jr. In 1898 Bernhisel enrolled in the Brigham Young College at Logan, Utah and graduated with a B.A. in 1902. On March 2, 1902 Bernhisel married Ruey Pond in the Logan LDS Temple, and they later had six children together. From 1905-1908 Bernhisel served as the principle of the Lewiston School. In 1908 Bernhisel was called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints in Liverpool, England, and served a total of two years. Upon returning to the United States, Bernhisel enrolled in the Northwestern University School of Dentistry in Evanston, Illinois. After graduating, Bernhisel returned to Lewiston and practiced dentistry for the remainder of his life as a partner in the dental firm Jamison & Bernhisel. During the course of Bernhisel's life in Lewiston he served three terms as mayor and served as the town's postmaster for fourteen years. He was also involved with the Cache Valley Historical Society and was a member of the Lion's Club. He died on February 11, 1957 in Lewiston.

Source: The Herald Journal, February 12, 1957.

From the guide to the John Milton Bernhisel III missionary diaries, 1908-1909, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)