Among the distinguished physicians of Buchanan county, Dr. Bishop 
stands prominent.  He has been engaged in the active pursuit of his 
profession for nineteen years in Platte county, and for fifteen years in St. 
Joseph.  His birth occurred in Somerset, Pulaski county, Kentucky.  His 
ancestors were of English descent, and, in colonial times, were residents of 
New Hampshire.  Members of the Bishop family fought in the Revolutionary 
War, and in 1783 settled in Virginia.  Galen's father, who was born in 
Virginia, removed from Kentucky to Missouri in 1843, settling in Platte 
county, where he died in 1851.  While compartively young, Dr. Bishop had 
resolved on medicine as his profession.  As soon as an opportunity offered, 
he began his medical studies, pursued them with dilligence and first 
established himself in practice at New Market, Platte county, Missouri, in 
the spring of 1846.  He followed his chosen calling in that county for 
nineteen years, when on account of threatened lung disease, induced 
by exposure incident to a rough country practice, and also with a view of 
securing a more central location, he determined to move to St. Joseph.  
Accordingly, he located in this city in the spring of 1865, and established 
himself in an office and general practice, making his specialties surgey and 
chronic diseases.  To accommodate his increasing practice, he built his 
infirmary on Third Street, which is beautiful in architectural design.  He
has one of the finest libraries in the western country, and on his long rows
of shelving, ancient and modern authors stand side by side, and there can be
found the best works of the leading writers of all schools.  Dr. Bishop was
originally an allopathic physician, but has thoroughly acquainted himself
with the principles of the different leading schools and systems.  Naturally
liberal in his tendencies, his practice is not hampered by the restrictive
dogmas of any practicular system.  But he believes that some good and some
foundation of truth exists in all systems, of which every physician should
avail himself in his practice.