VAIL, GEORGE W. – Cleave’s Biographical Cyclopædia of Homoeopathic Physicians and Surgeons By E. Cleave

AIL,
GEORGE W., M. D., of Bowling Green, O., was born in Twinsburg,
Summit county, O., January 4th, 1830. He was educated at Twinsburg,
under the Rev. Samuel Bissell, and also at Findlay, O. He never took a
regular collegiate course ; however, until he studied medicine. He
commenced the pursuit of his chosen profession under the direction of
Dr. C. H. B. Kellogg. While waiting to be sufficiently prepared to
graduate, the Southern war broke out, and dropping everything else, Mr.
Vail was prompt to enlist for the defense of his country. His military
record is in the highest degree honorable. He enlisted August 6th, 1861,
as a private in the 49th Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. At the battle of
Murfreesboro’, December 31st, 1862, he was captured by the rebels. While
in confinement he treated several hundred cases of sickness (but one of
which died) among his fellow prisoners. He was enabled to do this amount
of good by having a quantity of homœopathic medicine with him. Upon
being exchanged, and released from the military jail, Mr. Vail returned
to his regiment, and was engaged in all the battles of that and the
succeeding campaigns in the West. His term expiring on the 29th of
February, 1864, he re-enlisted for three years more. On the 27th of the
following May, at the battle of Pickett’s Mills, Ga., he was grievously
wounded by gunshots in the right thigh and leg. During the winter of
1864-’65, he was in the hospital at Cleveland. While he was in hospital
he was promoted to be First Lieutenant of his company. He also improved
his time by attending medical lectures at Cleveland while recovering
from the effects of his wounds. On the 10th of February, 1865, on the
day of his well-merited promotion, he was able to return to his
regiment. He remained with it until regularly discharged from the United
States service, which event took place at Camp Chase, O., November 1st,
1865. He has since that time given his undivided attention to the
practice of homœopathy in Bowling Green and its vicinity. He became a
member of the Ohio Homœopathic Association at its annual session in
1869, and is one of the most honored and influential members of that
body.

     Dr. Vail was married,
November 18th, 1851, to Miss Martha A. Witherbee, of Twinsburg, O. It
may be fairly said of him that his military career gives a good idea of
his qualities as a physician : vie., that he is conscientious,
self-sacrificing, able and determined. He was promoted in the army, and
he is being continually promoted in medicine.

Source
: Cleave’s Biographical Cyclopædia of Homœopathic Physicians and
Surgeons By Egbert Cleave