Joseph A. Vervais

Name: Joseph A. Vervais Company: Field & Staff Assistant Surgeon--Resigned.
Birth Date: May 22, 1822 Place: Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada	Mustered In Date: September 3, 1862 Rank: Assistant Surgeon Age: 40 Residence prior to military service: Canada; Michigan; St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota Vocation prior to military service: Physician
Death Date: October 19, 1869	Mustered Out Date: April 3, 1863 Rank: Assistant Surgeon Age: 40 Residence following military service: St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota Vocation following military service: Physician

Joseph A. Vervais Biography and Civil War Narrative

Joseph A. Vervais was born in Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada, on May 22, 1822. His education consisted of a course of physics and surgery in McGill College, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1843 and classes at Geneva College, Geneva, New York, where he received his diploma as a medical doctor. (Geneva College was renamed Hobart college in 1852.) He returned to Canada in 1844 to practice medicine. About 1845 he married Mary, born about 1826-30 in Michigan. While living and working as a physician in Quebec, Mary gave birth to three sons: "Joseph" (also known as "Honeseum" sp? born about 1846), Theobald A. (born about 1848), and Edmund (born about 1854). About 1856, during a brief stay in Michigan, a daughter, Emma, was born. In 1856 he moved to St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, to establish his medical profession. Daughter Eugenia was born in Minnesota about 1858. In 1858-59 Dr. Vervais was the County Physician of Ramsey County. The 1860 U.S. Census shows 35-year-old G. A. Vervais living with his family in the 3rd Ward Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, on June 25. He is working as a Physician and living with his wife, Mary (age 32), and his five children: Honeseum (14), Theobald (12), Edmund (6), Emma (4), and Eugenia (2).

T. M. Newson, in his Pen Pictures of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Biographical Sketches of Old Settlers described Dr. Vervais as "tall, slender and of medium size, with a well-set head upon his shoulders and a gentleman of great urbanity of manners. . . he moved energetically about and promptly answered to the calls of his patients. He was very kind-hearted and obliging, and was much esteemed by those who knew him intimately."

On September 3, 1862, Dr. J. A. Vervais was mustered into the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment as Assistant Surgeon. He took the place of Dr. Vincent P. Kennedy who was promoted to Surgeon when Dr. Frank B. Etheridge resigned. The main battle he served during was the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi, on October 3-4, 1862. Dr. Vervais resigned his position due to ill health and was mustered out of the 5th Minnesota Regiment on April 3, 1863. Some time in 1862-1863 -- perhaps while Vervais was with the 5th Minnesota, another daughter, Oselia, was born. On January 12, 1864, Joseph Vervais was again mustered into military service, this time as Assistant Surgeon for the newly formed Second Regiment of Cavalry, Minnesota Volunteers. He was with the 2nd Cavalry on their Indian Campaign to the Missouri River, including the Battle of Ta-Ha-Kouty Mountain on the western border of the Badlands. He was dismissed on November 5, 1864, his position being filled by John A. McDonald.

Dr. Joseph A. Vervais died on October 19, 1869, at the age of 47, probably in St. Paul, Minnesota. Newsom stated that he left "a widow, three sons and a daughter." At the time of the 1870 Census, (Mrs.) G. A. Vervais lived with her three sons, "Hanyien" (age 25, Clerk), Thoe [sic] A. (age 23, Clerk), and Edmund (16, at school), and her daughter, Oselia (age 7). Apparently Emma and Eugenia had preceded their father in death. Ten years later, "Maria" (age 50) lived and worked as a Housekeeper with Arthimus Byatte -- a 53-year-old Priest -- at 29 East Tenth Street, near Cedar Street.

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