An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California. Containing a history of Los Angeles County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 31

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California. Containing a history of Los Angeles County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 31

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EDWIN BAXTER was born in the town of More. town, Washington County, Vermont. Ile was the sixth of fourteen children of Eber H. Bax- ter, thirteen of whom lived to an adult age. His father was a farmer and botanic physician, and at one time a member of the Legislature of Vermont. Ilis mother was a daughter of Captain Abner Child, of Moretown, and on hier mother's side nearly related to Hon. Matt II. Carpenter, who was United States Senator from Wisconsin.

Edwin Baxter's boyhood and youth were spent on a rocky, mountain farm in Vermont. His early education was obtained at a common school, supplemented by a terin at an academy, and a short term at Olivet College, Michigan. In 1851 he removed to Michigan and com- menced life by teaching a common school and " boarding round; " afterward spent some years in acquiring practical knowledge of several mechanical trades; then became bookkeeper, compositor, local editor and proof-reader in a newspaper office, and for some time a newspaper correspondent, meantime giving some attention to the study of law. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the " First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics," Colonel (afterward General) In- nes's Regiment, in the United States volunteer service. Was promoted to a Lieutenancy and served as company officer; also at times as act- ing Adjutant and Quartermaster. In 1864, having been totally disabled, he was discharged by order of a medical board. As soon as able he resumned the study of law. Was elected city clerk of Grand Rapids, Michigan, but declined re-election at the close of his term. He was admitted to the bar; afterward removed to Grand Haven, Michigan, where he served several terins as circuit court commissioner and injunction master and United States commis- sioner; also a term as probate judge. In 1880 was a prominent candidate for Attorney General of Michigan (before the Republican convention). In 1881 he came to Los Angeles, where he has since quietly practiced his profession, and has been four years court commissioner of the Su- perior Court, an office he has lately resigned. In politics Mr. Baxter has always been a Re- publican, having voted for Frémont in 1856 and every Republican candidate for President since, except when away from home during the war. Ile was a delegate to three Republican State conventions in 1880. Ile is never bitterly partisan nor a noisy politician.

Ile is a member of the Presbyterian Church, but is rather liberal than sectarian. Ile has been an active member of the Young Men's

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Christian Association. Has been president of the Los Angeles Young Men's Christian As- sociation. He is a trustee of the Los Angeles Occidental University and interested in other similar institutions. Judge Baxter is rather retiring and undemonstrative in disposition and habits. IIe has been twice married and has two children, a danghter, a teacher and assistant principal in one of the Los Angeles schools, and a young son. His oldest brother, Albert Bax- ter, was for thirty years political and managing editor of the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Eagle, and editor of a comprehensive history of Grand Rapids. Another brother, U. J. Baxter, was at one time acting commissioner of United States general land office and chief law clerk in the office of the Secretary of Interior for several years. Judge Baxter has always been an en- thusiastic student, thoroughly in love with his profession, in which he is a hard worker. IIe attends rather too closely to his business and you can always tell where to find him.

GENERAL JOIN MANSFIELD, a native of New York, and of Massachusetts ancestry, was a Colonel in the late war of the regiment which, before he had command of it, lost more men than any other in the war. He was twice wounded, the last time so severely that he was left in the field for dead. After the war he came to Los Angeles, where he edited the Morning Republican; was a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1879, and under the constitution then adopted was elected the first Lieutenant-Governor. He is now an attorney, his office being in the Temple Block.

LUCIEN SHAW, Judge of the Superior Court, was born in Switzerland County, Indiana, in March, 1845; gradnated at the Indianapolis Law School in 1869, practiced his profession at Bloomfield, Greene County, that State, until 1882, since which time he has been a resident of Los Angeles, except two years in Fresno. Was appointed to his present position in March, 1889.

COLONEL GEORGE II. SMITH, of the firm of Smith, Howard & Smith, was born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, of Virginia parentage; 13

admitted to the bar in 1855; practiced law in Virginia, Washington Territory and Baltimore; was Colonel in the late war; came to California in 1868, and to Los Angeles in 1869; was State Senator 1877-'78.

JUDGE HENRY M. SMITH, brother of the pre- ceding, was born near Arlington, Fairfax County, Virginia, in 1844; was in the Confederate serv- ic, three years, being Captain of a company for a time; was in Mexico 1866-'67; Jannary 2, 1868, reached San Francisco, and tanght school in Oakland Academy until May, 1869, since which time he has been a resident of Los An- geles, practicing law; was Superior Judge from March, 1883, to the following Jannary, filling Sepúlveda's nnexpired term.

FRANCIS B. GUTHRIE, of the firm of Wells, Guthrie & Lee, is a Pennsylvanian, who grad- nated at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar March 14, 1859, and practiced law at Warrer and at Titusville, Pennsylvania, and came to Los Angeles in the fall of 1888.

JUDGE ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, of the law firm of Houghton, Silent & Campbell, was born in the island of Jamaica, sixty-nine years ago; came to the United States when sixteen years of age; admitted to the bar in New York in 1842; practiced there till 1849, being district attor- ney of Kings County in 1847; came to Califor- nia in 1849, by way of Cape Horn; was county judge of San Francisco County, 1851-'53; member of the California State Constitutional Convention of 1878-'79, from Alameda County; member of the Legislature, 1861-62; practiced law in San Francisco till 1880, then in Arizona five years, since which time he has been in Los Angeles.

FRANK H. HOWARD, of the firm of Smith, Howard & Smith, was primarily educated for the medical profession, and was practicing in Mexico when, in 1869, his father, Volney E. Howard, was elected to the Supreme Bench, and he came to Los Angeles and studied law, was admitted to practice, and since then has been thus engaged. His father was an eminent law-

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yer, an independent Democrat, a conspicuous member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1878-'79, and died in May, 1889, at the age of eighty years.

CAPTAIN C. E. THOM came to Los Angeles in the spring of 1854, in the employ of the Govern- ment, for the purpose of taking testimony in land cases before George Burrell, Commissioner for this locality. Soon afterward he was dis- trict and city attorney. He was born in Cul- peper County, Virginia, in 1825; came to California in 1849; practiced law in Los An- geles for more than a quarter of a century, and several years ago retired from practice to look after the interests of his large estate.

WILLIAM PAUL GARDINER, of the firm of Lee, Gardiner & Scott, came to Los Angeles in 1877, immediately entering the practice of law. In April, 1887, he was appointed to the bench to succeed Judge A. Brunson. This position he resigned in November, 1888. Born in Ohio forty-two years ago, he was admitted to the bar in that State in 1876. The practice of the firm here in Los Angeles is confined to civil, land and corporation cases.

HENRY T. LEE. of the above firm, was born in New York in 1840; gradnated at the Column- bia Law School of New York City in 1869; practiced in that city until 1877, since which time he has been similarly engaged here. He was United States Commissioner in 1881-'85.

J. R. ScorT, of the same firm, was born in Los Angeles, a son of Jonathan R. Scott, who came here in 1849 or 1850; is now thirty-five years old, and was admitted to the Supreme Conrt Bar in April, 1880.

JAMES A. ANDERSON, senior member of the firm of Anderson, Fitzgerald & Anderson, was born July 11, 1826, in North Carolina; reared in West Tennessee; graduated at Jubilee Col- lege, Peoria County, Illinois, in 1846; studied law in Florida; admitted to the bar in Ten- nessce in 1848; in 1881 moved to Tucson, Arizona; moved his family to Los Angeles in 1885.

A. J. KING was born in Georgia in 1836;

came to Los Angeles in July, 1852; admitted to the bar in San Bernardino in 1858; was dis- trict judge; located in Los Angeles in the fall of 1859; member of the Legislature, 1859-60; was county judge in 1869; published the Los Angeles News, the first daily south of San Francisco, 1865-'72; is the oldest member of the Los Angeles County bar.

ADOLPHUS C. BRODERSEN, law, loan, real estate and general law business at Long Beach. was born in Germania, Potter County, Pennsylvania, May 24, 1865, and is the son of Christian C. and Frieda (Grambow) Brodersen, natives re- spectively of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Ham- burg, Prussia. His father was born April 24, 1836, and his mother March 21 of the same year. Christian Brodersen was educated in Denmark for a physician, but on account of failing health was advised to seek other em- ployment. In accordance with this advice he came to America, landing at New York. Later he made a trip West, and after going back to New York, went to Cuba, and subsequently re- turned to Potter County, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in oil and land speculation, and later became interested in the manufacture of vils, etc., and also served as professor of Ger- man, English and French in Potter County. He had a family of three children: Magdalena, wife of Herman Schwarzenbach; Adolphus C., the subject of this sketch, and Olga, wife of Earnest Brann.

Adolphus C. Brodersen was educated in his native town, in both German and English. He subsequently attended the business and law school at Almira. At the age of nineteen years he conceived the idea of going West, and in company with a friend and schoolmate, and without the knowledge of his parents, they set out on their westward journey. Having means from home, he visited many places en route, among others Buffalo, New York; Clay Center, Kansas; Springfield, Missouri; Little Rock, Ar- kansas; Vicksburg, Mississippi; Dallas, Texas; Wichita, Kansas, and Pueblo, Colorado. IIcre they bought a packing outfit, with four horses,

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and started overland for the Pacific Coast, ar- riving in Lake View, Oregon, after being on the way seven weeks.

At Lake View he entered the law office of Charles A. Cogswell and studied law. From here he went, in 1888, to Long Beach, Califor- nia, where he established himself permanently in the legal profession. Being a member of the church and living in accordance with his pro- fession, he enjoys the confidence and esteem of the best people of Long Beach, and of all who know him. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and socially is connected with the I. O. O. F. lodge.

JOHN C. MORGAN, attorney at law, Santa Monica, was born October 17, 1837, at Baton Rouge, Lonisiana, a son of David B. and Har- riet A. (Swift) Morgan; received an academic education, and in 1857 came to California, locating first in San Francisco, where he was for four years a clerk in the custom house during the administration of B. F. Washington as collector of that port. Studying law, he was admitted to the bar, and for eight years prac- ticed his profession in San Luis Obispo. After several years' residence in Sonoma County, he served one session of the Legislature at Sacra- mento as enrolling clerk, during the winter of 1867-'68, and was enrolling clerk again of the Legislature during the session of 1877-'78. Then during a residence of five years in Los Angeles he was deputy district attorney three years under Thomas F. Brown, and was city justice there two years. Since then he has been city attorney of Santa Monica three years, and deputy district attorney of Los Angeles County one year under J. R. Du Pey. He is now a member of the Board of Trustees of the city schools of Santa Monica; also a member of the Democratic State Central Com- mittee from this district, and a member of the Democratic County Central Committee of Los Angeles County. He continues the practice of law.

Mr. Morgan has been twice married. His first wife died in San Luis Obispo.

THE LOS ANGELES BAR ASSOCIATION.

The object of this organization, as stated in the constitution and by-laws, is as follows :-- "The association is established to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law; to increase its usefulness in promoting the due administration of justice; to cultivate social in- tercourse among its members, and when deemed advisable to procure and maintain a library for their use." Any attorney in good standing who has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of California is eligible to mem - bership by the payment of the regular admission fee of $20, and signing the constitution of the association. The officers are elected by ballot at the annual election holden on the first Tuesday in June of each year, and consist of president, senior vice-president and junior vice-president, recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, five trustees and a committee on admission, to consist of seven members. The first regular meeting of the association was held on the first Tuesday in June, 1888; and the constitution provides for monthly meetings to be held on the first Tuesday of each month. The association was organized with fifty charter members, embracing the leading attorneys of Los Angeles. The first officers of the associ- ation, all of whom were re-elected in June, ' 1889, are as follows:

President, Albert M. Stephens; Senior Vice- President, John D. Bicknell; Junior Vice-Pres- ident, Anson Brunson; Treasurer, Robert N. Bulla; Recording Secretary, James A. Ander- son, Jr .; Corresponding Secretary, C. W. Pen- dleton.

· Trustees -- John Haynes, H. T. Lee, J. A. Anderson, John S. Chapman, Stephen M. White. Committee on Admission-J. A. Graves, W. F. Fitzgerald, R. H. F. Variel, H. A. Barclay, Julius Brousseau, F. H. Howard, B. W. Lee.

Committee on the Amendment of the Law --- Stephen M. White, W. P. Wade, James H. Shankland, John S. Chapman, J. M. Damron. Judiciary Committee -- Alexander Campbell,

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

James A. Anderson, George H. Smith, Walter Van Dyke, Anson Brunson.

Committee on Grievances -- William F. Fitz- gerald, John D. Bicknell, J. A. Graves, John Haynes, George J. Denis.

Committee on Legal Education -- Lncien Shaw, F. H. Howard, John R. Scott, Bradner W. Lee, Samuel Minor.

Committee on Invitation and Reception-G. Wiley Wells, George S. Patton, Shirley C. Ward, J. D. Bethune, R. F. Del Valle.

THE LAW LIBRARY.

The law library of Los Angeles was estab- lished in 1886, as a private enterprise intended

for the benefit of the stockholders, but open to subscriptions. The shares are $100 each, of which about 100 are taken by eighty members. The library contains $10,000 worth of books, including all the State Reports bnt fonr, which are to be supplied in the near future. The library is situated in the Law Building on Temple street. The monthly dnes are $1 each per member, and are sufficient to cover enrrent expenses. The present officers are: James A. Anderson, F. H. Howard, Richard Dunnegan, Lucien Shaw, Albert M. Stephens, Trustees; Albert M. Stephens, President, and Il. C. Hor- ton, Secretary.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

CHAPTER XVI.

[FOR most of the facts in the following sketch the compiler is indebted to the pen of a gifted writer in the Overland Monthly of March, 1889. Some additions and corrections are made by the compiler, who has been thirty-five years a resident of Los Angeles.]

DR. RICHARD S. DEN, the Nestor of the med- ical fraternity of Los Angeles County, was born in. Garandara, County Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1821, and is the eldest surviving son of a truly noble family, whose pronounced views upon the Christian creed no member ever swerved fromn.

The Dens are of Franco-Norman and Anglo- Norman descent, and arrived in Ireland in the retinue of King Henry II., A. D. 1171. Their accession to power is a matter of history, and their deeds of valor and goodness will be handed down to futurity. The impregnable religious belief of the family, their loyalty to the English crown, and their adhesion to the unfortunate King Charles I., led to the confiscation of all their estates by Cromwell, who bestowed them upon his ruthless soldiers; but, despite of this monstrous injustice, of the infamous penal laws for ages in existence, and of the galling acts of unscrupulous officials, they still held fast to their cherished principles, and by counsel, pre- cept and example continued to do infinite good. Legends, for which the Irish people are famed, are to this day narrated at many tiresides of the conscientious victories of the Dens. Although

the latter branch of the family tasted of the bitter cup of adversity, they lost not one parti- cle of their faith or honor.

After receiving his preliminary education in Dublin, the subject of this sketch entered the City Infirmary and Leper Hospital of Water- ford, at that time in charge of Drs. Mackesy and Burkitt, two eminent practitioners, remaining there for six years during the summer sessions. Dr. Mackesy, who afterward became president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, was a warm personal friend of young Den, who in after years felt a desire to return home for the purpose of seeing his mother, his sisters, and his old friend, and of presenting to the latter in person some little souvenir of the warm place in his heart that well remembered him. In December, 1839, having completed the regular courses of instruction and practice of midwifery in Dublin, R. S. Den passed his examination, and afterward received his first qualifications as obstetrician; and in April, 1840, at a public examination of the students of the first-class, hield at the original School of Anatomy, Medi- cine and Surgery, in Dublin, the first certificate was awarded him in the three branches of his profession. Continuing to pursue his studies, and having attained his majority, he, in August, 1842, received his final qualifications. Then his friend, Sir John Pirie, Bart., Lord Mayor of London, and an eminent ship-owner and ship-

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broker, desired to place him on one of his largest vessels going to the East Indias, which, how- ever, would not sail for some time; but Dr. Den, desiring an immediate position, sought for and obtained the appointment as surgeon of the fine ship Glenswilly, of Glasgow, which left London doek August 29, 1842, bound for India, with special passengers for Melbourne, Austra- lia. Some of these passengers (who were men of wealth and influence, leaving England with their families, retainers and servants for the purpose of settling down in a new country), at first sight of the young doetor before starting thought him unfit for the responsible position; bnt, on learning from the Lord Mayor of the high honors received by him at his examination, and of the length of time he had devoted to his studies, they raised no further objection. Dur- ing the voyage they had every reason to be sat- istied with his services; and when they landed, December 3, 1842, at Melbourne, where the ship remained some weeks, the passengers were all in the best of health, and they were profuse in their thanks, and did everything in their power to persuade the Doctor to remain in the antipodes; but this not suiting his inclinations, he remained aboard the ship, at Port Phillip, the harbor of Melbourne; and while there Dr. Den was informned by the authorities of the port that he was the only ship surgeon who for a long period had landed his passengers in good health and without a single death having oc- enrred during the voyage.

After touching at Sydney and remaining there about a month, the vessel set sail, but her course was changed from India to Valparaiso, and arrived safely there. Stopping a few weeks at Valparaiso, the vessel came on to Mazatlan, arriving there July 23, 1843; and while in that port the Doetor received news of his brother, who was living at Santa Barbara, California, and from whom he had not heard for many years. Hailing this intelligenee with delight, he determined to start for his brother's home. Accordingly, resigning his position as surgeon of the Glenswilly, he took passage on the first

vessel bound for California, the bark Clarita, Captain Walter commanding, and Don Eulogio de Celis (whose family still reside in Los An- geles) acting as supercargo. Arriving at San Pedro August 21, he took passage on the ship California, in command of Captain Arthur, with W. D. M. Howard as assistant supercargo, and arrived at Santa Bárbara September 1, 1843, at the age of twenty-two years.

After paying his brother a short visit his in- tentions were to return home; but mouths passed without any vessel tonehing these then almost unknown shores, and the longer he re- mained the more he became attached to the country ; so he was prevailed upon by the court- eons, kind-hearted and hospitable residents to east his lot among them, his professional serv- iees being in demand by them. During the winter of 1843-'4, while visiting Los Angeles, whither he had been called to perform some difficult operations, a petition signed by all the leading people, native and foreign, was presented te him, inviting him to remain among them and practice his profession. In reply, he stated that he had not made np his mind to stay in the country; but if he should remain he would reside at Los Angeles. He then returned to Santa Bárbara on professional business, and shortly afterward went to Monterey, the seat of Government, to arrange some minor official matters. In the meantime he received several letters from his kind friends in Los Angeles reminding him of their invitation, and, eon- clnding to accept it, he returned to Los Angeles the latter part of July, 1844, and remained until the breaking out of the gold excitement.

From the Medical Directory of 1878, the following paragraph is taken: " It is of reeord that Dr. R. S. Den, in obedienee to the laws of Mexico relating to foreigners, did present his diplomas as physician and surgeon to the Gov- ernment of the country March 14, 1844, and that he received special license to practice from said Government."

In 1846-'47, during the Mexican war, he aeted as Chief Physician and Surgeon of the

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Mexican forces located in Southern California. Among the American prisoners confined in Los Angeles, he treated Don Benito Wilson and party, and Thomas O. Larkin, the only Ameri- can consul ever appointed in California while under Mexican or Spanish rnle. Becoming surety for Larkin, he secured his removal to inore healthful quarters and attended him through his illness. Governor Flores, Com- mander-in-chief of the military forces in the Californias, despite the reports to the contrary, Dr. Den insists was very considerate and humane to the prisoners. In behalf of those who were wounded, he sent an urgent request to Captain Gillespie, in command of the Ameri- can forces, for the services of a physician, and Captain Gillespie sent this request to Dr. Den, asking him to comply with it, which he did. The Doctor urged their removal to town, where they could have proper care. Flores not only readily consented to this, but he also acted on any suggestion offered by Dr. Den that would alleviate the condition of the prisoners. It may also be mentioned in this connection that Don Luis Vignes, long since dead, who was the pioneer of the French colony of Los Angeles, and who planted the extensive " Aliso Vine- yard," which also is a thing of the past, fur- nished comfortable quarters for Mr. Larkin, and did much for the wounded American prisoners. Dou Luis had a high adobe wall around his dwelling-honses, cellars, etc. During the war the wives and children of certain residents used to seek and receive hospitable shelter within Don Luis's capacious castle.

Throughout those stirring times Dr. Den assidnonsly and untiringly ministered to the wants of suffering humanity, irrespective of nationality, and he was loved and respected by all the good people. He permitted no preju- dice to overcome his zeal for his chosen pro- fession, the benefits of which, in a crisis like this, he held it was his duty to bestow on all alike. Consequently he remained nentral during this time, when a bitter feeling existed between the Americans and Californians, the latter of

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1092