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 34

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 34

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Dr. Harrison was born in 1841, and at twelve years of age went into a drug store to learn the drug business, which he afterward carried on successfully on his own account in the Crescent City for many years. In March, 1862, young Harrison entered the Confederate army as a member of the famous Crescent Regiment, Louisiana Volunteers, and afterward served with the Twentieth Louisiana Infantry, a part of General Hardee's corps. For about nine montlis of the Doctor's three and a half years' service he was assistant to Medical Purveyor at Atlanta, Chattanooga, and other points. Dr. Harrison studied medicine in New Orleans, and in 1869 finished a course of lectures in the New Orleans School of Medicine, and took a diploma as Doc- tor of Pharmacy, although entitled to the de- gree of M. D. Being urged by his friends to enter regularly upon the practice of medicine, he attended two courses of lectures in the Medi- cal Department of the University of Louisiana, where he graduated in March, 1882, and opened

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

an office in the city and devoted his entire atten- tion to his profession, his drug business being in charge of an assistant. He enjoyed an ex- tensive practice until the spring of 1888, when he decided to move to California. Arriving with his family in Los Angeles on March 13 of that year, he opened an office at No. 132 North Main street, near Commercial avenne, on the 1st day of April, and is already doing quite a fine business. Though engaged in a general prac- tice, Dr. Harrison has always had a preference for surgery. Of late years he has paid particu- lar attention to chronic and rectal diseases, and has had marked success in the treatment of them.

In one of the engagements in front of Atlanta, Georgia, the Doctor was severely wounded, and just before the close of the war Dr. Ifarrison was joined in marriage with Miss Mary J. Latt- ner, danghter of a prominent and one of the oldest citizens of Chattanooga, Tennessee. They are the parents of nine children, seven deceased. The two living daughters are Daisy, nine, and Ray, two years of age.

JAMES S. OWENS, M. D., though one of the youngest physicians in Los Angeles, is one of the leading practitioners of his school of medi- cine in Southern California. He is a native of Illinois, born December 26, 1855. Losing his father when fourteen, he became self-supporting at that age; and starting out to earn his own livelihood, he obtained a situation in a drug store to learn the business, in Terre Hante, In- diana, beginning on a salary of $3 a week. By diligent application he made such rapid progress that in eight months he was receiving $8 a week, and in less than two years his salary was increased to $18 per week.

Having been named for a favorite physician of his parents' acquaintance, he had resolved in early boyhood to become a doctor, and worked and studied with that end in view. When he graduated at Ilalınemann Medical College in Chicago in 1878, he was the youngest member of his class. . After graduating, Dr. Owens opened an office for practice in Kansas, Edgar County, Illinois, continning nearly two years;

then removed to Rensselaer, Indiana, remain- ing about the same length of time. Leaving there, he attended a special course of lectures at the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, then he spent a few months in Joliet, Illinois, when he sold out a promising professional busi- ness and came to California, settling at once in practice in Los Angeles, where he arrived in Feb- ruary, 1883. From the first he did a paying business in this city, and it has steadily in- creased from year to year until now his practice ranks among the largest. Dr. Owens has rather a preference for surgery, and lias a large snrgi- cal practice. He is a devoted student of his profession, is thoroughly in love with it, and to achieve success in it is the only aim and ambi- tion of his life. Ile is one of those affable gen- tlemen who makes a friend of every acquaintance. Dr. Owens was one of the prime movers in or- ganizing the Los Angeles County Homeopathic Medical Society, and is one of its active and most influential members.

On September 21, 1887, Dr. Owens was united in wedlock with Miss Minnie Hance, a native of Missouri, and danghter of C. II. Hance, of Los Angeles.

WILLIAM DODGE, M. D., is the son of Dr. Jolin Dodge who emigrated from Dutchess County, New York, his birthplace, to Wisconsin in 1836, being one of the pioneer settlers in Grant County, where the subject of this sketch was born thirty-two years ago. Dr. John Dodge was one of a family of seven brothers, three of whom were physicians and three were lawyers. Hon. J. E. Dodge, an elder brother of Dr. John Dodge, was a member of the Wisconsin Legis- lature in early times, and was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. After receiving a good English education William Dodge studied mnedi- . cine and entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, and later attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Keokuk, Iowa, graduating at the latter in 1878. In July of that year he opened an office for practice in St. James, Minnesota. Three years later he moved to Le Sneur, in that State, where he carried on an extensive and suc.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

cessful practice seven years. His professional work involved much driving in the country, and in winter he frequently traveled a hundred miles a day over the snow, with the temperature twenty to forty degrees below zero. The rig- orous Minnesota climate was very trying on the health of his family as well as his own, and he resolved to seek a home in a less frigid and more sunny clime. Leaving there in November, 1888, he came with his family to Los Angeles, where they expect to reside permanently, as they are delighted with Southern California. Dr. Dodge has a cozy snite of office rooms at No. 220 South Main street, and is already en- joying a fine professional business. While he does a general practice, he has given special attention to diseases of women and children. He is a member of the Los Angeles County Melical Society, the California State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, also the State and other local societies in Min- nesota, where he practiced for ten years prior to coming to California.

Dr. Dodge has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Rosa A. Simpson, a native of Yorkshire, England, whom he wedded in 1877. She died in July, 1833, leaving two children- William Dodge, Jr., born in June, 1878, and Laura I., born in November, 1880. In 1884 the Doctor was joined in marriage with Miss Lydia L. Smith, a Minnesota lady: One child is the fruit of this union-Alina, born in June, 1885.

MATHEW MARK KANNON, M. D. Few men in the medical profession are so thoroughly equipped by educational training for the dis- charge of its duties as the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in New York State in 1857, and was educated in Mc- Gill and Bishops universities, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Canada, graduating at the latter in 1879. He then went to England and spent two years in the Royal College of Physicians, London, in which the famous Dr. Moral Mckenzie and Sir Andrew Clark were protessors. On his return to the

United States in 1881, Dr. Kannon opened an office and commenced practice in the city of New York, afterward in Canadi. Deciding to cross the continent, he came to Los Angeles in 1886, and has been carrying on an active and prosper- ous medical practice in the city ever since. In February, 1836, Dr. Kannon was appointed Assistant Health Officer, and spent six months in the city pest house, in charge of the small- pox patients during the prevalence of the dis- ease that year. The first of January, 1888, he became physician to the Los Angeles Infirmary -Sisters' Hospital-which position he still fills very acceptably, besides attending to his fine private practice. He is examining physician for the Northern Legion of Honor, for the Young Men's Institute, and for the Catholic Benevo- lent Legion, and is a member of the Los An- geles County Medical Society.

In October, 1844, Dr. Kannon married Miss Josephine Boyd Delano, a descendant of a very old New York family, who have lived for over a century in Troy, that State.

CHARLES EDGAR SMITHI, M. D., is the son of an intelligent, well-to-do Verinont farmer, who, previous to the Doctor's birth, settled in West- ern New York, where the subject of this narra- tive was born in November, 1849. His parents removed to Coldwater, Michigan, when he was fifteen years of age. After attending the schools of the city he spent a year and a half in La- grange Collegiate Institute at Ontario, Indiana. In the winter of 1869-'70 he traveled through the Southern States; and, returning to Cold- water in the spring of 1870, he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. James M. Long, a man of mark and an old practitioner in the place. After a course of reading, Mr. Smith entered Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital Medi- cal College, where he gradnated in 1874. He at once commenced practice as a partner with his preceptor in Coldwater, continning in this relation two years. Dr. Smith then went to Cleveland and became associated as assistant with Dr. N. Schneider, Professor of Surgery, in his alma mater. Dr. Schneider was surgeon

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of the Lake Shore Railroad at the time of the famons Ashtabula disaster, and Dr. Smith being with him, had a memorable and valnable experi- ence in the treatment of the many wounded in that historic event. After a year of association with Dr. Schneider in his extensive surgical practice, Dr. Smith returned to Coldwater, bear- ing with him a very flattering testimonial letter by Dr. Schneider, in which he speaks of his re- tiring associate in high complimentary terms, both as a physician and as a gentleman. Dr. Smith resmined practice in the city of his early adoption, in the latter part of 1877, and enjoyed a prosperous business there until the spring of 1883. In the latter year he came to the Pacific Coast, reaching Los Angeles in October, and there opening an office. At the termination of the first six months he had abont all the pro- fessional work he could attend to. He also owns Sunny Side Driving Park, situated on Vermont avenne, eight miles from the city, containing 320 acres of fine land; on this the Doctor has had built a club-house and one of the best half-mile tracks in the State. Ile owns several fine horses, among which is Sultandin, a very promising four-year-old stallion, also a full brother and sister to Sultandin; these are by Sultan, the sire of Stamboul.

Dr. Smith has had a number of successful transactions in real-estate during the past two or three years, and now owns some valuable property in the immediate vicinity of the city. The Doctor is a gentleman of refined feelings and tastes, and one of those suave, courteous natures whom it is pleasant to meet and know. His parents both died before he attained to the years of man's estate.

CHARLES A. MCDONELL, M. D., proprietor of one of the finest drug stores in Southern California, came from Arizona, where he had been several years in business, to the " Angel City " in 1883, for a temporary stay and rest from overwork. Being pleased with the city and seeing a good opportunity to start a drug store, lic opened his present store at 271 North Main street, that year, and has done a prosper-

ous and profitable business ever since. His stock comprises everything in the way of phar- maceutical and toilet goods demanded by his large prescription and retail trade, which gives employment to two experienced pharmacists besides himself. Dr. McDonell was born in Cleveland, Ohio, thirty-five years ago his last birthday, and descends from Highland Scotch parentage. He studied medicine and gradnated at Rush Medical College in 1875. After spend- ing a year in Europe in the hospitals of Vienna, he located in Wisconsin, where he practiced his profession several years. He then moved to Globe, Arizona, purchased an interest in a drug store, and carried on the drug business and also practiced medicine. A year after settling there Dr. McDonell became interested in a copper mine and smelting works which he still retains. He owns a bearing vineyard of wine and table grapes five miles southeast of Los Angeles. A number of years ago the Doctor was joined in marriage with Miss Leavitt, a native of New Hampshire.

ANDREW FRANCIS DARLING, M. D., was born in Carrollton, Kentucky, May 16, 1846. His father, Robert Darling, was a native of Scotland, and for many years a merchant of Carrollton. His mother, nee Mary E. Giltner, deceased, was a native of Carrollton and of Dutch descent. The Doctor was educated in the Carrollton Academy until the age of eighteen years when he hegan the study of medicine with Dr. Pren- tiss. He graduated as M. D. from the Belle- vne Hospital Medical College, New York City, in 1868, after taking two courses of lectures, he having also taken one course previously at the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio. He then practiced at Circleville, Indiana, being associated with Dr. James Adrian until 1870 when he went to Vevay, Indiana, where he con- tinued his practice nntil 1880. Since coming to Los Angeles he has made a specialty of the eye and ear, having attended, from 1877 to 1880, eye and ear infirmaries in New York City. Dur- ing the years of 1878 and 1879 he was presi- dent of the Switzerland County Medical As-

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sociation of Indiana. In 1885 he was made professor of ophthalmology and otology in the medical department of the University of South- ern California and still occupies that chair. He is a member of the Los Angeles County Medi- cal Society and also of the State Medical Society of California. ·

Dr. Darling was married in 1870 at St. Paul, Minnesota, to Miss Amy Rhodes, a daughter of William Rhodes, of that city. They have four children: William R., Mary E., Ella E., and Andrew F., Jr.

DAVID C. BARBER, M. D., one of the rising young physicians of Southern California, was born in Indiana, but passed inost of the years of his boyhood, youth and early manhood in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. His literary and medical education was obtained in the Queen City and in New York. Graduating at the Miami Medical College in 1886, after four years of study in that institution, Dr. Barber found his health much broken from overwork; and on that account, soon after leaving college, came to California. He spent a few months traveling over the State, and being very strongly impressed with the beauties of the climate and country of Southern California, he settled in Los Angeles, opening an office for the practice of his profes- sion on the corner of First and Louis streets, Boyle Heights, where he enjoys a fine practice. In the fall of 1886 he accepted the chair of pathology, histology and microscopy in the Col- lege of Medicine of the University of Southern California, which he still fills. He is an able instructor and one of the most popular profes- sors in the faculty of that young growing institu- tion. Dr. Barber is a member of the Los An- geles County Medical Society, of the Southern California District Medical Association, and the California State Medical Society. He is medi- cal examiner for the Union Central Life Insur- ance Company, of Cincinnati, for this part of the Pacific Coast.

Dr. Barber was twenty-seven years of age his last birthday, and few young devotees to the heal- ing art have as promising a future before them.

JAMES MILTON DOWNS, M. D. The medical fraternity has not, in the bounds of Los Angeles County, a more popular and successful member than is he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. Ile is a native of Knox County, Ohio, born September 3, 1856, and the son of Theoph- olus Downs, an iron manufacturer in his early life, but later a farmer. He moved from Ohio to Fulton County, Illinois, when the subject of this sketch was only a year old, and was a suc- cessful farmer there until his death, which oc- curred in 1871.

Dr. Downs received the ordinary comninon- school education in Fulton County, and in 1876 and 1877 attended Westfield College in Clark County. From 1877 to 1879 he was engaged in business. In 1880 he began the study of medicine at the State University of Iowa, grad- uating in 1882. He at once began the practice of medicine in Swedesburg, Iowa, and continued there until the fall of 1883, at which time he went to Hahnemann College and Hospital at Chicago, Illinois, where he graduated in Feb- rnary, 1884, with the degree of M. D.

On the 31st day of March, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Ida Shields, of Canton, Illinois. This lady is the daughter of James Shields, who was one of the pioneers of Canton, Illinois, and who died in Los Angeles, July 16, 1888. After his graduation at college in 1884, the Doctor moved his family to Canton, where he practiced his profession until Novem- ber, 1886. Then he turned his face westward, and located at Compton, in the "county of the angels." Here he has built up an extensive and lucrative practice, and being yet a young man, bids fair to become one of the leading members of the medical profession. The citi- zens of Compton have honored him with a place in the city council. Socially he is an I. O. O. F., a member of the O. N. A. M., and of U. S. Grant Council, No. 7. His office is located on Main street, and suffering humanity will always find the Doctor ready and willing to administer the healing art, and in him they will find a friend, kind, sociable and obliging.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

DR. WILLIAM FRANCIS EDGAR is a native of Kentucky. His ancestors on his mother's side were of English extraction. His father, Will- iam H., was a Virginian, but of Scotch-Irish parentage. The subject of this sketch when a small boy accompanied his family to Missouri, where he spent the greater part of his minority, when he returned to Kentucky and commenced the study of medicine under the late Prof. Samuel D. Gross, and after graduating in the Medical Department of the University of Lonis- ville in 1848, he, on invitation of the Secretary of War, went to New York City, where he was examined for the position of Assistant Surgeon in the army, and was commissioned as such after passing a successful examination, March 2, 1849. He immediately reported for duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, from whence he accompanied a detachment of dragoons to Fort Leavenworth, where he was transferred to the Regiment of Mounted Rifles, then under orders for Oregon. The regiment in its march across the plains was never out of sight of emigrants to the newly discovered California gold fields (the rush was so great that year), until its ronte diverged from the California route, west of the Rocky Mount- ains. Two companies were detailed to build and garrison a military post at Fort Hall, on Lewis Fork of Columbia or Snake River; and to this command Assistant Surgeon Edgar was" assigned. This post was in the heart of the country of the Shoshone or Snake Indians, and was intended to protect emigrants on the Ore- gon trail. But it was so difficult of access, and the winters were so severe -- the themometer frequently falling to 28° and 30° below zero, causing a loss to the command that winter of over 1,000 head of oxen, mules and cavalry horses-that the post was abandoned the follow- ing spring by order of the War Department, and the command marched to Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River, where they arrived in July, 1850. Their ronte was through the Cas- cade Mountains and near Mt. Hood. Dr. Ed- gar remained here a few months, and then was stationed at "The Dalles" until the following

year. From thence the officers were ordered East on recruiting service, and from there to Texas. What remained of the regiment was transferred to the First Dragoons, with Major Philip Kearny in command, who had orders to organize an expedition by land to California, and also look after the Rogue River Indians en route, from whom bad reports had come through some of the old Oregon pioneers, such as New- ton Craig, and the old bear-fighter, Colonel Joe Meek. The expedition marched from Van- couver in April and came in conflict with the Indians in June. Many Indians were killed, and of the command a number of horses and soldiers were wounded, and Captain Stuart was mortally wounded. Finally, after chasing the Indians from one stronghold to another, and being joined by some forty volunteers under General Joe Lane, an understanding was had with the chiefs, and peace established, and the command proceeded on its way to California On the 4th of July, 1851, it camped near the foot of Mt. Shasta. Its provisions were reduced to hard-tack and a small quantity of salt pork. So the officers con- cluded to lunch that day on a big, fat rattlesnake that had been decapitated by the sabre of one of the Sergeants. Early 'in the afternoon Major Kearny had remarked that he had often been asked if he had ever eaten rattlesnake, and that the next time he was asked he wanted to be able to say that he had. So after some opposition from the cook, the snake was skinned and fried with pork, but there was more snake than pork left after lunch, one of the messmates remarking that the snake swelled so in one's month that it went further than they had supposed. Dr. Ed- gar says that it tastes very much like an eel. But a fine grizzly bear was killed and barbecued in the afternoon, which made a satisfactory ban- qnet for the whole command.

On . the 5th the march was resumed, and about the last of July the command reached Benicia, California, from whence it went and joined the force at Sonoma, where were stationed then, among others, Captain (afterward General) Joe Hooker; Major (afterward General) Philip

Very Respectfully M J. Edgar

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Kearny; Lieutenant Derby (Squibob), anthor of ".Phoenixiana," and other afterward famous men, together with two old Los Angeleños who still hold out, namely: Lieutenant, since Gen- eral and Governor, George Stoneman and Dr. John S. Griffin. Later in the year (1851) Dr. Edgar was ordered to camp, since Fort Miller, on the headwaters of the San Joaquin River, where were stationed two companies of the Second United States Infantry. The post was afterward completed, and held in check all the Indian tribes between the Merced and Kern rivers. Next spring this command was sent up into the famous Yosemite Valley to punish the Indians there, who had massacred a party of miners. After pursuing them some time, amid many difficulties, a large number were made prisoners, and some of the guilty ones, after in . vestigation, were shot. The old chief, who also expected to be shot, said through the interpreter: " Ah! You have me at last, and you may kill me, but my voice will ring through these mountains for a long time to come!" But on his promise to keep his people from committing any more murders, his life was spared. The troops returned to Fort Miller just in time to suppress a war between officious whites and the Indians of the Tulare country, growing out of the killing by Major Harney of John Savage, a pioneer trader and noted Indian controller. Another stirring event occurred some monthis later, to-wit, the killing of the noted bandit, Joaquin Murieta, and his companion, "Three- fingered Jack," by Captain Harry Love's Califor- nia Rangers. Joaquin's head and Jack's head and three-fingered hand were severed from their bodies and put into a barley sack and brought on horseback by John Sylvester, one of the rangers, who swam King's River slough, to Dr. Edgar, surgeon at Fort Miller, to be preserved. As the facilities for embalming in those days and localities were somewhat limited, the heads and hand were put into a keg of whisky with arsenious acid-which was supposed to have been effectnal, as it was understood that the specimens were subsequently exhibited in various

parts of the State. During a considerable period after the execution of Murieta, the band of out- laws, of which he had been the leader, infested the country around Tulare Lake, ostensibly to catch "mustangs," or wild horses, but really to have a pretended occupation and a secure and unfrequented locality to retreat to after their forays as highwaymen. They erected high cor- rals with wings on either side like a partridge decoy pen, into which the mustangs were driven. Here they could be lassoed, and after a little handling they were disposed of for whatever could be obtained. In 1852 and 1853 the whole region referred to swarmed with mus- tangs, elk and antelope. Large bands of the latter were seen and hunted by Dr. Edgar and others on the plains where the city of Fresno now stands. Dr. Edgar relates the following amusing incident in this connection: A hunter who made his living by supplying the mining town of Millerton with elk and antelope meat, that being the most easily obtained meat in that part of the country, had a hunting-dress made of cotton cloth, painted in imitation of an ante- lope skin, which, with an antelope's head, made him look very like the real animal, and when he got among them he could slanghter them at his leisnre. One day, the hunter having donned his rig, got near the herd of antelope; and a young man, lately arrived in the country, ap- proached the same herd on horseback, from an opposite direction, and, drawing a revolver, was about to fire when the bogus antelope (hunter), fearing that he might be the victim of his own ruse, raised his hand and motioned the young man to desist, which he did for a moment, from astonishment, and then raised his revolver again. Just as he was about to fire the bogus antelope took off his head and waved it at the young man, who, seeing this, put spurs to his horse and fled for his life toward Millerton. When asked what was the matter, he excitedly replied: "Matter, well ! I've just seed the d-est sight right out here on the plains that ever I seed before: why I come across a big band of antelopes right out yonder and I

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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