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 38

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 38

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JAMES J. CHOATE, born in Jackson County, Missouri, was educated at Lee College and the State University, and graduated in medicine at the St. Louis Medical College, in 1879. Com- ing to California in 1885, he settled for a short time in Suisun, Solano County, and then located in Los Angeles. Is a member of the County and the National medical societies, and is now filling his second term as police surgeon for the city.

WALTER M. BOYD, a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, born in 1854, was educated at Berea College in that State, and received his medical diploma in 1883, from the Columbus Medical College, same State. Practicing at

Millersburg, Ohio, several years, he emigrated, in August, 1886, to the city of Los Angeles, where he is enjoying a good patronage; is a member of the County Medical Society, etc.

GEORGE L. COLE, who was born in Madison County, New York, twenty-eight years ago, was educated at Cornell University and graduated in medicine in 1886 at the Bellevne Hospital Medi- cal College in New York City. Has been practicing here in Los Angeles since the winter of 1886-'87. Was in partnership with Dr. M. Hagan, health officer of the city. Is a member of the County Medical Society, and a charter member of the Southern California District Medical Society.

NORMAN H. MORRISON, Police Surgeon of the city of Los Angeles, was born in Indiana in 1853, came to California in 1872, studied medi- cine at Santa Bárbara and San Francisco, and graduated at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons at Kansas City in 1880. Practiced at McPherson, Kansas, several years, interrupted by taking special courses at New York City, and since 1886 has been practicing in Los An- geles. Gives special attention to surgery and gynecology.

DR. CHARLES T. PEPPER, born in Kentucky in 1848, was educated in St. Paul's College, Palmyra, Missouri, and graduated in medicine at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in March, 1869; practiced his profession at Clarks- ville and St. Louis, Missouri, and Leadville, Colorado, and arrived in Los Angeles, May 1, 1888.

DR. EDWIN C. BUELL, born in Snminit County, Ohio, in 1853; educated at Oberlin College; studied medicine at the Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital College and the New York Homeo- pathic College, and elsewhere, graduating in 1876. He came to Los Angeles in September, 1888. He pays special attention to operative surgery.

THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MEDICAL SOCIETY

was organized in Los Angeles, June 8, 1888. For several years there had been a feeling among

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

the physicians of the southern part of the State that a district society which should embrace the leading medical men of this section would promote the best interests of the profession, and wonld in many ways be an advantage to the community as well.

This feeling assumed a definite form upon the adoption by the Los Angeles County Medi- cal Society (April 6, 1888), of the following resolution introduced by Dr. W. G. Cochran :

Resolved, That a committee of three be ap- pointed by the president to communicate with the regular physicians of Southern California, to ascertain their wishes in regard to the organ- ization of a District Medical Society.

The committee named, consisting of Drs. W. G. Cochran, II. G. Brainerd and John L. Davis, entered at once into communication with the regular physicians of the section-some 250 in number; and finally, by direction of the County Society, called a meeting for the purpose of or- ganization. Representatives were present from the following counties: San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Kern, San Bernardino and Los Angeles. The following officers were elected:

President, Dr. M. F. Price, Colton; First Vice- President, Dr. C. C. Valle, San Diego; Second Vice-President, Dr. C. A. Rogers, Bakersfield; Secretary, Dr. John L. Davis, Los Angeles; Treasurer, Dr. W. G. Cochran, Los Angeles; Censors, Dr. Walter Lindley, Los Angeles; Dr. W. R. Fox, Colton; Dr. R. B. Davy, San Diego; Dr. H. B. Lathrop, San Pedro; Dr. K. D. Shu- gart, Riverside.

The following are the sections represented by committees at the regular meetings:

1. Practice of Medicine.

2. Materia Medica and Therapeutics.

3. Obstetrics.

4. Surgery, General and Special.

5. Gynecology.

6. Diseases of Mind and Nervous System.

7. Opthalmology and Otology.

8. Skin and Venereal Diseases.

The aims and character of the society are in- dicated by the following articles of the consti-

tution: "The objects of this society shall be the advancement of medical knowledge, the ele- vation of professional character, the encourage- ment of social intercourse and harmony among the members of the profession." * * * *

" To entitle a person to membership he must be a graduate of a regular medical college; he mnst hold a registered certificate from the State Board of Medical Examiners and be of good inoral and professional reputation, and be a member of the County Medical Society in case such exists in his county."

Regular meetings are held semi-annnally the first Wednesday of June and December. The second meeting of the society was held in San Bernardino, December 5, 1888; the third mneet- ing, in San Diego, June 5, 1889. On all of these occasions many valuable papers were pre- sented and instructive cases reported. The society is growing rapidly and now numbers 112 members. The present president is Dr. W. N. Sinart, of San Diego.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

The Los Angeles Connty Medical Society was organized Jannary 31, 1871. The original membership consisted of Doctors William F. Edgar, Russell F. Hayes, Henry S. Orme, J. P. Widney, J. Kurtz, L. L. Dorr, H. H. Rose and John S. Griffin. These gentlemen were the originators of the society. The first officers were: J. S. Griffin, President; R. F. Hayes, Vice-President; H. S. Orme, Treasurer, and L. L. Dorr, Secretary. Board of Censors: Doctors Edgar, Rose and Widney.

The society held its meetings regularly the first Friday of every month. Papers and dis- eussions formed prominent features of the exer- eises. The growth of the society was not rapid until 1884, after which accessions to the mnem- bership were quite numerous. At present the organization has about seventy-five members.

The officers elected for the year 1889 are: W. Le Moyne Wills, President; J. H. Davisson, Vice-President; W. D. Babcock, Secretary; J. J. McCarty, Treasurer. Board of Censors:

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Walter Lindley, George W. Lasher and F. A. Seymour.

The following paragraph, copied from the records of the society, sets forth tersely and ex- plicitly its objects:

" The objects of this association shall be, first, the cultivation and advancement of the science of medicine by united exertion for mutual im- provement and contribution to medical litera- ture; second, the promotion of the character, interest and honor of the fraternity by main- taining the union and harmony of the regular profession of the county, and aiming to elevate the standard of the medical education; third, the separation of the regular from the irregular practitioners; and, fourth, the association of the profession proper for mutual recognition and fellowship."

THE LOS ANGELES HOMEOPATHIC SOCIETY.

In pursuance to a call of the homeopathic physicians, a meeting was held at the Young Men's Christian Association Hall in the Nadeau Block, Los Angeles City, at which inceting it was "Resolved, by the eighteen physicians present, that we proceed to organize a County Homeopathic Medical Society."

At an adjourned meeting held February 6, 1885, the physicians were present in full force, and by a unanimons vote the pioneer, Dr. A. S. Short, a graduate of the Pulte Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio,-the first homeopathic phy- sician to settle and practice in Los Angeles, -- was elected president of the society, and the following were his fellow officers for the first term: Drs. Kirkpatrick, Clarke, Chamberlain, Owens, Boal and Cook. The following, in their order, have filled the office of president up to January, 1889: Drs. Short, Kirkpatrick, Fel- lows and Lummis.

These first three may be truly called the pioneers in homeopathy in Los Angeles County. Dr. Short arrived in Los Angeles in the early days of 1873, and is still at his post. Two years later, in April, 1875, Dr. J. C. Kirkpatrick, from the Cleveland College, appeared on the

scene, and these two held the "fort" until joined by Dr. Isaac Fellows in November, 1878. Dr. Isaac Fellows practiced in Chicago, Illinois, and Fairfield, Iowa, previous to coming to Los Angeles, and after a brief visit in the North he returned, and since that date, February 22, 1879, he has been practicing in Los Angeles.

With increasing population, both patients and physicians soon became more numerous, and two years later, at the time of the organization of this society, there were more than twenty physicians, calling themselves homeopaths, in active practice in the city. True, many of those have since departed this life, but their departure seemed but a signal for the arrival of four or more to take their places. Thus the number of physicians increased rapidly, but the number of patients even more rapidly. To say that the number of homeopathic patients has increased in proportion to the population would indeed be the truth, but not the whole truth.

At the present time there are some thirty homeopathic physicians in active practice in this city alone, and almost every homeopathic col- lege in the United States has its representatives here. San Francisco, San José, Los Angeles and San Diego are the New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Chicago of the West.

There are now on the roll the names of thirty active workers,-names among which, for suc- cessful practice in medicine and surgery, general practice and special, are those who need not be ashamed to be compared with those of any eastern city of an equal population with Los Angeles.

Following is the representation from the re- spective colleges:

New York Homeopathic Medical College, 2; Ilahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia, 4; Hahnemann Medical College at Chicago, 6; Hahnemann Medical College at San Francisco, 2; Ilomeopathic Medical College of Missouri, at St. Louis, 2; Homeopathic Department Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, 2; Pulte Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, 1; Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, 1;

yours Truly Prace Fellows.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Pennsylvania Homeopathic Medical College at Philadelphia, 1; University of Buffalo, New York, 1; Medical College of Pacific, 1; Boston University School of Medicine, 1.

The society has regular monthly meetings, is actively engaged in its field of work, and is a source of great benefit to its members, who are working in harmony with each other for the greatest good to their patients and their fellow laborers. There may be exceptions, to prove the rule, but aside from such these physicians are men whose aim is to live out their code of ethics adopted by the National and all State and county homeopathic societies in the United States, the basis of which is," As yon would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them."

In January, 1889, Dr. J. Mills Boal, graduate of the New York Homeopathic Medical College, was chosen President; Dr. S. S. Salisbury, of the Ilahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, Vice-President; Dr. E. P. Mitchell, of Hahne- mann Medical College, Philadelphia, Secretary; Dr. J. W. Reynolds, of Hahnemann Medical Col- lege of Chicago, Treasurer; Board of Censors: Drs. E. T. M. Hurlbut and H. T. Wilcox.

Since that time some fifteen members have been added and a new impetus has been given to the work.

ISAAC FELLOWS, M. D., is a native of New Hampshire, and was born at Hanover, July 8, 1835. His father, Isaac Fellows, Sr., was of Scotch ancestry and a farmer by vocation. He filled many positions of trust and honor during his life-time, such as public administrator, jus- tice of the peace, and several times represented his district in the New Hampshire State Legis- lature. He died at Hanover, where he had lived for many years, at the age of eighty-four. His mother, nee Annie Porter Perley, was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, and was of Eng- lish parentage. Her grandmother was a sister of General Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame. She died at Hanover, at the age of forty- seven. From early life both were members of the Congregational Church.

The Doctor was reared at his birthplace, and

is one of nine children. At the age of nine- teen he entered Dartmouth College, but on account of ill-health, discontinued his course there after attending one year. He then, in 1855, went to Wiseonsin, where he taught one winter term of school. He returned to Han- over, where he taught school for several years, and January 1, 1862, married Miss Emma Howe, daughter of Joseph Howe. She was born at Danbury, New Hampshire, and is a graduate from the Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, New Hampshire, of the class of 1861. Soon after his marriage he went to Vineland, New Jersey, where for three years he successfully engaged in the real-estate business, and while there took an active part in the pub- lie affairs of the place, and held the office of township trustee. In 1864 he went to Chicago, Illinois, and later began the study of medicine, both the allopathic and homeopathic systems. He took two conrses of clinical lectures at Rush Medical College, and graduated as M. D. from the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital in 1876, after taking three full courses of lect- nres, having previously, in 1874 and 1875, taken one special course in physical diagnosis in the Cook County Hospital. Ile then prac- ticed for a short time in Chicago, when he went to Fairfield, Iowa, and there practiced until coming, in 1878, to Los Angeles. Before per- manently locating in this city, Dr. Fellows made a tour of the State. visiting all the princi- pal points of interest, and it is worthy of note that no locality impressed him as having the advantages of climate and elements of growth possessed by Los Angeles County, and he re- turned, better than before satisfied with his choice of a future home. From the time of Dr. Fellows's final location in Los Angeles he has enjoyed the fullest confidence of the public, both as a physician and a citizen. By the pro- fession he is held in the highest esteem, and his counsel is frequently sought. He is one of the originators of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Los Angeles County, and has served the or- ganization as its president. Twenty years in

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

the middle of life have been almost exclusively devoted to the practice of medicine, with an enthusiasın rarely surpassed, and few indeed have been the demands made upon him during all these years that have not found him at his post of duty.

Dr. Fellows is identified with various busi- ness enterprises of Los Angeles, among others the Southern California Insurance Company, an eminently successful institution, of which he is one of the originators, and is one of its stock- holders and directors. He is kind-hearted, whole- souled, under all circumstances approachable, a countenance ever lighted with a genial smile, the language of a soul always filled with love and human sympathy. These are the rare qual- ities Dr. Fellows possesses, and those of a true Christian gentleman, which have unconscionsly drawn about him a wide circle of admiring friends, which rapidly expands as time passes. Dr. and Mrs. Fellows are active members of the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. They have one ehild, a daughter, Miss Lillian, who is a young lady of personal graces, an ac- complished elocutionist and musician. We are pleased to present the numerous patrons of this work with a steel-plate portrait of Dr. Fellows, which will be found on another page.

THIE DENTAL PROFESSION.

DR. JAMES S. CRAWFORD, of the firm of Craw- ford & White, one of the oldest practitioners of dentistry in Southern California, first came to the State in 1862, and locating in San Fran- cisco, spent several years there in the practice, save the winters of 1863, 1864 and 1865, which he passed in Los Angeles. In 1866 he went East, and during a three years' stay in Mis- souri he married a Miss Benedict, a native of that State. On his return to California he set- tled in Los Angeles and has been continuously in practice in the city ever since. On the com- pletion of the Downey Block, at the junction of Spring and Main streets, he moved into their present offices, which he has occupied seventeen years. In 1877 Dr. Crawford took

in Dr. S. M. White as a partner and they have carried on a very large and successful business ever since. This firm ranks among the first on this coast, both in the quality and volume of its work. Although they make a specialty of fine operative dentistry, they employ two assist- ants in their laboratory on mechanical work.

Dr. Crawford was one of the prime movers in organizing the Southern California Odonto- logical Society, and was elected its first presid- ing officer. He has been one of the State Board of Dental Examiners for three years past, and is now serving in that capacity. He has also served a number of years consecutively as a member of the Los Angeles board of ednca- tion, of which he was president in 1888.

Dr. Crawford was born in the State of New York fifty-one years ago the 4th of last March. He set out to master the then crude science and art of dentistry at sixteen years of age. The adhesive quality of gold for fillings had not then been discovered: wooden pegs were used for pivots, and little was done in the way of pre- serving or restoring the natural teeth. Good- year not having discovered the vulcanizing pro- cess, rubber plates were not known, and gold and silver were the only materials used as plates for artificial teeth, and transplantation and im- plantation of teeth, all of which Dr. Crawford has successfully practiced of late years, and which are among the most marvelous achieve- ments of modern dentistry, were undreamed of in those days. Dr. Crawford being a man of progressive ideas, has kept abreast of the times in all the modern methods and discoveries in his profession, including the implanting of teeth, which he has successfully performed in several instances.

Mrs. Crawford died twelve years ago, leaving two children, one of whom has since followed her to the unknown shore. Dr. Crawford has never married again.

DR. ROBERT HI. BOAL, who ranks among the most experienced and skillful dentists on the Pacific Coast, was born in Marion County, Iowa, in 1884, his parents being Rev. John M.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Boal and Harriet J. (Hughes) Boal. (See sketch of J. Mills Boal). Of his three brothers and two sisters all bnt one, a sister, now live in Southern California,

Ilis parents having returned to Cincinnati in his infancy, he passed his boyhood and youth in that city. He prepared himself for his pro- fession under the tutorage of the late Dr. George W. Keely, of Oxford, Ohio, one of the most eminent dentists in America, and at one time president of the American Dental Asso- ciation, one of the directors of the Miami Uni- versity, etc. Dr. Boal spent four years in his office, during which time he enjoyed not only the extraordinary advantages of Dr. Keely's in- struction, but also constant contact with meu distinguished in the science and art of dentistry. After attending a course of lectures in the Ohio College of Dental Surgery Dr. Boal, in 1869, opened an office in Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, and there carried on a large prac- tice for eighteen years, standing at the head of his profession in that city and community. Having many relations in and about Los An- geles, Dr. Boal came with his family to this city in the fall of 1885. He did not resume professional work after arriving here until the 1st of Jannary, 1889, when, in connection with his brother, J. Mills Boal, M. D., their elegant offices in the new Bryson-Bonebrake Block were opened, at the corner of Spring and Second streets. For location, convenience of access and general attractiveness their apartments are not surpassed by any on the Pacific Coast.

Dr. Boal's specialty is in fine operative den- tistry, in which he is already enjoying a good and growing business. With a natural adapta- tion for his vocation, his several years of care- ful training, supplemented by twenty years of active snecessful practice, have placed him among the leading dentists of California. Previ- ons to leaving Ohio he was a member of the Mad River Valley Dental Society, and the Ohio State Dental Society.

In 1871 Dr. Boal was joined in marriage with Miss Zella M. Higgins, a lady of Oxford,

Ohio. Five daughters and one son constitute their family, all born in Ohio save one, who is a native daughter of the Golden West. The Doctor and his family are permanently settled in Los Angeles.

EMORY L. TOWNSEND, D. D. S., was born in Clinton County, New York, in 1855. His father, Dr. L. Townsend, is a dentist by pro- fession and practiced in New York, Wisconsin and Minnesota for many years. He now re- sides in Sonthern Oregon.

The subject of this memoir began the study of dentistry with his father, in 1873, in Minne- sota, and in 1875 began practicing in Lake City, that State, where he continned altogether seven years, but in the meantime attended the Penn- sylvania College of Dental Surgery, graduating in 1878, taking the second prize for the best specimen of gold filling. His health became so seriously impaired while in Lake City that he was compelled to abandon the practice of his profession, and expected to never be able to resume it. Concluding to try the climate of the Pacific Coast, he went to Sonthern Oregon, where he spent two years, then came to Los An- geles in 1885. In April, 1886, he was elected one of the clinical instructors in the College of Dentistry in the University of California. In 1887 he was selected to give a practical demon - stration in operative dentistry before the Inter- national Medical Congress, held in Washington City in September of that year. Dr. Townsend is a member of the Minnesota State Dental So- ciety, the International Medical Congress, the California State Odontological Society, and of the Southern California Odontological Society. He has been in active practice in Los Angeles about four years, and on April 24, 1889 was ap- pointed by the Governor a member of the State Board of Dental Examiners of California.

He is a man of progressive ideas, and, pos- sessing a genius for mechanical invention, has invented several important dental appliances which are extensively used by the profession, among which is his improved method of putting gold crowns on teeth. The Doctor is an en-

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thusiastic devotee of his profession, and mas- ter of his calling.

Dr. Townsend married a Miss Reynolds, of Minnesota. They have a family of two children.

DR. FRANK M. PALMER began the study of dentistry in the city of San José, California, in 1871, under the preceptorship of Dr. W. F. Gunkel, the oldest dental practitioner in that city. After spending two years with Dr. Gunkel he located in practice in Santa Cruz, where lic remained till 1876, when he moved to Los Angeles and has been actively engaged in his profession ever since in this eity, save seven months which he spent in Arizona. In 1886 Dr. Palmer entered into copartnership with Dr. W. R. Bird, which still continues, constituting one of the most skillful, popular and prosperous dental firms on the Pacific Coast, as they both occupy the front rank in the profession, and have a very large business, furnishing employ . ment for one or two assistants besides theni- selves. Dr. Palmer was one of the organizers of the Southern California Odontological Society, and was its first vice-president. After leaving New York State, where he was born forty years ago last March, he traveled extensively, crossing the continent in several directions before locat- ing permanently in California.

The Doctor is a zealous antiquarian, and has given much time and research to the collection of Indian relics in Southern California. The reward for his efforts during the past decade is the finest and most perfect collection of imple- ments, utensils and articles of handicraft of the prehistoric inhabitants of this portion of the Pacific Coast in existence, his eabinet being more complete in some important features than that of the Smithsonian Institute. To a lover of antiquities hours replete with pleasure and profit may be spent with the Doctor among his remarkable aggregation of rare and curious specimens-unwritten volumes so eloquently expressive of the lives, character and intellectu- ality of those aboriginal occupants of this suuny land.

In 1880 Dr. lahner took a life partner in the

person of Miss Kate Minerva Backman, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, and came to Los Angeles about fifteen years ago. Her father, Peter Backman, is a prominent con- tractor of Los Angeles. Dr. and Mrs. Palmer have two children: Marion Frances, six years of age, and Frank, less than one year old, ex- ceptionally bright and pretty children, an attractive feature of one of the happiest homes in Los Angeles.

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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