Bernhisel, John Milton

23 June 1799–28 Sept. 1881. Physician, politician. Born in Sandy Hill, Tyrone Township, Cumberland Co. (later in Perry Co.), Pennsylvania. Son of Samuel Bernhisel and Susannah Bower. Attended medical lectures at University of Pennsylvania, 1818, in Philadelphia. Practiced medicine in several western states, setting up temporary residences in Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama, 1820–1825. In 1826, returned to Philadelphia to continue his medical education; graduated in 1827. Practiced medicine in New York City, by Feb. 1828. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Nov. 1840. Ordained an elder, Nov. 1840, in New York City. Ordained a bishop, 15 Apr. 1841, in New York City. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by May 1843. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 11 Mar. 1844. Appointed traveling bishop, 14 Feb. 1845. Appointed one of five trustees responsible for financial and temporal affairs in Nauvoo, 1846. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley, 1848. Served as territorial delegate to U.S. Congress from Utah, 1851–1859, 1861–1863. President of Board of Examination of Physicians, in 1860s. Served as regent of University of Deseret (later University of Utah). Vice president of Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution, by 1871. Died in Salt Lake City.