In his fourth year he went to school with a board 6x16 inches suspended from his neck by a leather string, upon one side of which was the alphabet in glowing colors, and words for spelling, and upon the other side figures and multiplication table, interspersed with verse. A year later he fell, while playing "tag," upon the steps of his father's residence, receiving a severe wound in the forehead. From the care and attention of his parents, he soon made rapid progress towards recovery.

Soon, after this his parents moved to Columbus, Ohio. Here young Gabriel attended the city schools, and made rapid progress in his studies. In 1845, while playing hat ball at school, he came near losing his life. When he dropped the ball into one of the hats, he started upon the retreat, and ran beneath one of a six horse team that was drawing a wagon loaded with limestone for the construc- tion of the present State House. A gentleman saw the accident, and "Whoa!" rang out upon the air, and the team was stopped just in time to save him.

In 1848 his parents located in Greenville, Dark county, Ohio, landing there June 2d, after making a distance of ninety- six miles in two and one-half days, by wagon, hauling their household goods with them. At this place young Gabriel became popular for his musical ability, and classes were soon organized by him for the study of music, many of whom can testify to his success as a teacher.

At the age of thirteen he began to establish a menagerie from the forest near by, together with a museum of native animals, birds, reptiles, fishes, a large collection of geological specimens, Indian relics, etc. The birds were of many varieties, the most prominent being the bald eagle, and white and gray cranes and loons. This miniature show was well patronized, at an admission fee of ten cents. During the same season P. T. Barnum's great menagerie arrived. Ere the day passed Mr. Barnum noticed the sign over the door, "Gabriel Miesse's happy family of wild animals and birds," and soon retraced his steps to the hotel and returned in company with Tom Thumb and others, purchased tickets, and entered the show, with which they were much delighted, and were amused to see the porcupine cast its quills. Several times in the presence of, and to the surprise of the great showman, young Gabriel fondled the animal of feathers. In return for the pleasant surprise Mr. Barnum placed a complimentary ticket to his mammoth show in the hands of the young showman. This afforded him a great pleasure, and he was also permitted to ride with Tom Thumb upon one of the elephants.

At the age of sixteen years he frequently gave musical entertainments to the delight of all in attendance. Often upon these occasions his parents were obliged to stretch a rope across the room to protect him during his renditions upon the piano. The long winter evenings were usually of great pleasure to the family.

At the age of sixteen he frequently lectured to his many friends upon anatomy, often reciting whole pages from memory, and by the use of the blackboard illustrated the various structures of man. At this time he also became proficient in the use of the knife in removing many cancers, tumors, etc. Upon one occasion a middle-aged farmer came to Dr. Miesse's father for the treatment of scurvy, who gave the patient into the hands of the young physician, with instructions to remove the encrustations from the teeth of the suffering man. He proceeded to the task, and finding the teeth so very loose that it was difficult to work at them with- out removal, he extracted ten of them with his fingers, cleaned them, replaced them in their proper sockets, and pressed them home. The patient, well pleased with the work, returned home, and three months afterward reported cured, the teeth having become firmly attached in their places. This method of transplanting teeth has been successfully followed by the Doctor up to the present time.

The subject of this sketch studied medicine with his father. Dr. Gabriel Miesse, Sr., graduated with high honors, and received a diploma from one of the leading medical colleges in 1856. Since graduating he has been in constant practice of his profession. In 1857 he located in Sidney, Ohio, and with the assistance of his uncle, Jacob Miesse, they established a fine practice. In 1858 he returned to his father's home, on account of poor health, where he remained, assisting his father until the spring of 1862.

He was married May 14, 1862, to Miss Caroline, daughter of David and Rose Ann (Kemmerer) Kemmerer. She was born March 16, 1840, near Lancaster, Ohio. They have one child, Leon Edgar, born June 12, 1864, in Bremen, Auglaize county, Ohio. David Kemmerer was born October 24, 1813, near Emaus, Pennsylva- nia, and moved to Ohio, where he became a wealthy farmer, and an influential man in his community. He departed this life September 5, 1866. Rose Ann Kemmerer was born March 19, 1820, near Dumonts- ville, Ohio, and was married May 31, 1838, to David Kemmerer. They became the parents of two children, Caroline, and Sarah, wife of George W. Beck, cashier of the First National Bank, of Lancaster, Ohio. Mrs. Kemmerer is still living.

In June, of 1862, Dr. Miesse located in Wapakoneta, Auglaize county, Ohio, where he met with wonderful success, curing many obstinate cases of chronic diseases, which brought him a large practice. In 1863, through the earnest solicitations of his sister, Mrs. Sophia (Miesse) Koop, and his many friends, he moved his family to New Bremen, same county. Here his success was continued, many from adjoining counties calling upon him for medical treatment.

In 1864 he removed to Lancaster, where he still lives, and enjoys an excellent practice, giving special attention to chronic diseases. His books show over thirty thousand patients suc- cessfully treated, and he refuses to make public the hundreds of testimo- nials from patients scattered all over the country.