HENRY P. WHERRITT, M. D.

From the 1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 746-747:

Henry P. Wherritt, M. D.

(Physician and Surgeon, Schell City).

   A physician of nearly twenty years' standing, and of established reputation, as well as the oldest practitioner in point of residence in this place, Dr. Wherritt is by no means unknown to the many citizens of this portion of Vernon county.  It is eminently proper that a brief sketch of his career be inserted here, that it may be seen what his life has been, and also, perchance, to serve as an encouragement for any young man who might be struggling to reach the same point of recognition as has been accorded him.  A native of Sangamon county, Ill., he was the seventh of twelve children in the family of his parents, Barton and Margaret (Peacock) Wherritt, the former a farmer by occupation and a native of Maryland, and the latter originally from Richmond, Madison county, Ky.  Henry accompanied the family to Cass county, Mo., in 1852, where his father died in August, 1874, but his mother is still living.  His early life was spent on a farm until the outbreak of the war when, espousing the cause of the south, he entered the C. S. A., 1st Tennessee cavalry, under Gen. Forrest, and served four years, taking part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Corinth, first taking of Murfreesboro, Holly Springs, Chickamauga and Stone River, then following Gen. Forrest all through his campaigns.  Returning home from the war, Mr. Wherritt became engaged in reading medicine at Harrodsburg under the preceptorship of Dr. H. C. Spears, and later attended medical lectures in both Louisville and St. Louis.  In 1868 he embarked in practice at Pleasant Hill, Mo., living there occupied in following his adopted calling until 1875, when he came to this place.  This has since been his home and here he has attended closely to the numerous calls made upon him, gaining wide and extended acquaintance.  In 1868 Dr. Wherritt was married to Miss Mary E. Winters, of Claiborne county, Miss., and they have had five children:  Maud, Samuel E., Hugh, Henry C. and Velma G.  The Doctor and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder.  He belongs to the I. O. O. F.

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