Dr. Joseph M. Wishard, a prominent physician of Greenwood, was born in White River Township, this county, January 1, 1828, and was the son of John and Agnes H. (Oliver) Wishard, the former of whom was born in Red Stone Fort, Penn., in 1792, of Scotch-Irish descent, and the latter was born in a fort, on the present site of Lexington, Ky., in 1793, of Scotch descent. He was reared on a farm in his native township. He received a common school education, and in the fall of 1849, entered Wabash College, where he remained nearly two years. He was married to Rachel A. Lyons, April 14, 1852. She was born in Pleasant Township, this county, in February, 1826, and was the daughter of Robert R. and Jane (Vanarsdall) Lyons, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. In 1852, they located on a farm in White River Township. They removed to Greenwood in 1854, where our subject entered upon the study of medicine, with his brother, Dr. W. H. Wishard, now of Indianapolis. During the winter of 1855-6, he took a course of medical lectures in the Rush Medical College of Chicago. During the winter of 1856-57, he took his second course of lectures in the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, graduating in March, 1857. Dr. Wishard, entered upon his professional labors in this county, and soon won a lucrative practice. His labors as a physician have nearly all been performed in Greenwood and vicinity. In October, 1862, he entered the service of the Union Army in the capacity of assistant surgeon. In the fall of 1863, he was promoted to the rank of surgeon, and served as such until the close of the war. He was captured July 31, 1864, near Macon, Ga., and was a prisoner for five weeks. At the close of the war, he resumed his practice at Greenwood, where he was continued ever since. His first wife died July 31, 1871. On the 27th of June, 1877, Dr. Wishard was married to Mrs. Vandalina L. E. Creasey. She was born in Pleasant Townshp, and was the daughter of John and Ellen (Smock) Shortridge. In 1858 she was married to Richard Ferree, who was killed in the battle of Resaca, Ga. In 1864 she was married to Lawrence P. Creasey, who died in 1873. The first marriage of Dr. Wishard resulted in the birth of eight children; Laura Ella, Robert Wilbur, John Watson, Harvey Hadley, Jennie, Joseph Ellis, William Arthur and Maggie, all of whom are living, except Harvey and Hadley. One child was born to the first marriage of Mrs. Wishard, and two children were born to her second marriage. Their names are: Charles Anderson, Ollie and Aurilla Bertha Corilla, all of whom are living. Dr. Wishard and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. The former is a member of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. lodges. He is a successful physician, and has a creditable rank among the leading practitioners of the county. He has held the position of elder of the Presbyterian Church for a period of twenty-five years.