Walking Tour of Medical Pioneer Gravesites - Sacramento Historic City Cemetery

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SACRAMENTO-EL

DORADO

Historical

MEDICAL

SOCIETY

Committee

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I n t r o d u c t i o n

About

the

Medical

Pioneers

The MAP

The influence of Sacramento’s pioneer physicians went far beyond caring for the sick and injured. Most were uncommonly public spirited.

numbers REFER

FOLLOWING AND

POINTS

on TO

the THE

G R AV E OF

SITES I N T E R E S T:

Their numerous and substantial contributions made Sacramento and the

State amore healthful, pleasant and prosperous place to live.

According to the burial records at the cemetery, about 55 persons with adesignation of M.D. or “Doctor” are interred in the City Cemetery. This number does not include 16 out of the 17 physicians who died of cholera while caring for victims of the 1850 epidemic. Only one of the 17 is buried in this cemetery and is included in this tour. Records indicate that the other

1. Frederick Hatch, MD 2. Charles Duncombe, MD

3. Joseph Montgomery, MD 4. Theodora Purkitt, MD 5. Dr. Anson Bruce

16 physicians are buried under the City Cemetery, but the location is

6. Elizabeth Ewing, MD; George Ewing, MD

unknown. Perhaps they are buried under Broadway since apart of the

7. Memorial plaque for the

cemetery was taken to widen the street.

Of the 55 doctors buried here, six (11 percent) are women. Most practiced in or near Sacramento sometime between 1849 and 1900. Some of these female pioneer physicians held political offices, some were active in establishing the public school system, while others began the public health agencies for the City and State.

Of the twelve founding members of the Sacramento Society for

physicians who died while

caring for victims of the cholera epidemic of 1850 8. Memorial for victims of the

cholera epidemic at mass grave site.

9. Chapel

Medical Improvement, eight are buried in this cemetery. This society, now

10. Gustavus Simmons, MD

known as the Sacramento-El Dorado Medical Society, was incorporated March 17, 1868, and is the oldest continuously operating county medical

11. Pliney Green, MD

society in the state.

About

the

12. Joseph Fry, MD 13. Alexander Nixon, MD

tour

Seventeen medical pioneers are included in this tour along with three special sites. They were selected to provide arange of historical vignettes

14. Ira Oatman, MD 1 5 . D r. S i l a s C r a n e

16. Louise Heilbron, DO

about the beginnings of medicine in this state and city. One of the pioneer

17. Henry Nichols, MD

physicians on the tour was afounder and president of the American

18. Thomas Logan, MD

Medical Association and four served as president of the California

19. Harvey W. Harkness, MD

Medical Association. Others were experts in avariety of non-medical pursuits from agriculture to meteorology.

The route for this tour is shown on the cemetery map on the facing page. It starts at the gate, stops first at grave site number 1and proceeds around the cemetery following the numerical order of the sites to be visited. Number 18, which is in the state plot, and number 19 are just south of where the tour begins.

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Sacramento-El

About

the

Dorado

publisher

Medical

Society

conditions. They worked tirelessly to establish medical and pubUc

Many of these pioneers are buried in Sacramento’s Old City

the Sacramento-El Dorado

health agencies and legislation to

Medical Society takes pleasure in

control disease, care for the sick

Cemetery. An interesting way to learn about them is by visiting

researching and presenting various

and clean up the environment.

their graves using this guide,

facets of the unique history of

Because of them, Sacramento was

which will tell you about who they

local medicine.

the early medical center of

were and what they were doing

California.

one hundred or more years ago.

The Historical Committee of

Beginning with Sutter’s Fort and increasing with the Gold Rush

—Robert LaPerriere, MD

of 1849, medical pioneers joined

Chairman,

the gold seekers coming into the

Historical Committee

Sacramento area. They found

Sacramento-El Dorado

deplorable sanitation, rampant

Medical Society

disease and wretched living

Sacramento

About

the

City

Cemetery

The Sacramento City Cemetery began as apublic graveyard in 1849 when John Sutter donated ten acres between 9th and 10th

streets south of YStreet (now

Broadway) to the City. It was

Cemetery

this Cemetery has been aState

entrance is open 2to 3p.m.

Historic Landmark.

weekdays. Most of the time,

The plots in the Cemetery are

visitors may park in the cemetery

privately owned, but the grounds are administered by the City

if they do not block roadways. A

Parks and Community Services.

cemetery’s history, the burial

The gate at 10th &Broadway

called Sand Hill Cemetery.

opens at 9a.m. and closes at 4:30

Because of its elevation, it also

p.m. every day. The office at the

chapel contains exhibits of the records, and assistance to

researchers. It is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Phone 448-5665.

served as asanctuary for those who were able to reach it by boat during the flood of 1850 when S a c r a m e n t o w a s u n d e r w a t e r.

Va r i o u s a d d i t i o n s a n d d e l e t i o n s

bring the current acreage to 48.

Among the 23,000 or more buried here are the Who’s Who of

Sacramento’s history. Since 1957,

SACRAMENTO

CITY

CEMETERY

RESTING PLACE Or CALIFO HEERS.THIS CE E T E R V W A S E S T A B L I S H E D I N .1 8 5 0 . M l lY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE C A E P I D E T H AT Y E A R A R E BURIED HERE. INCLUDED AMONG THE 6 'tS OF ILLUSTRIOUS CAUFORNIANS A E T H O S E ;RNORS JOHN BIGLER. NEWTON BOOTH ILL G E O R G E W R I G H T. H E R O THE MEXICAN R K H O P K I N S . C O - B U I L D E R O F T H E C E N T R A L PA C I F I C I L ROAD, GENERAL ALBERT I N N . F O U N D E R O F T H E N AT I V E S O N S O F T H E G O L D E N W E S T; H A R D I N B l M AY O R SACRAMEN )N. SON O F A L E X A N D E R H A M I LT O N . E i C R O C K E R .

CROCKER ART L L E R Y. A N R E V E R E Nio O. CWHEEL ORGANIZER IN 1850 ;FIRST b;

REGISTERED HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. 566j

1.

Frederick

Winslow

Hatch,

MD

(1821-1888)

Dr. Hatch served as the first

work. An accomplished writer

president of the Sacramento

and speaker, his words survive in

Society for Medical Improvement

the State Health and Safety Code,

and was re-elected five times.

for he had abig hand in writing

Physicians had estabUshed

early legislation. He was also a

medical organizations in Sacra¬

professor in the Medical Depart¬

mento three times since 1850, but

m e n t a t U C S F. Education was one of his

they all fell by the wayside. In 1868, with Dr. Hatch at the helm,

primary interests. He was Commissioner of Schools, City

the group survived.

ig

D r. H a t c h ’s h o m e w a s i n

Dr. Hatch was the first

and County Superintendent of

president of the City Board of

Schools, and amember of the

Health and served on the Board

Board of Education.

D r. H a t c h m a i n t a i n e d a n a c t i v e

for 22 years. He was elected

Charlottesville, Virginia, just two

secretary of the State Board of

practice until his death from

miles down the road from Thomas

Health in 1876 and served until his

J e f f e r s o n ’ s f a r m . D r. H a t c h ’ s

death. These positions involved no

complications of tuberculosis on October 16, 1888, leaving his wife

father was an Episcopal clergy¬

pay but required much time and

a n d fi v e c h i l d r e n .

man who served as chaplain to the

U.S. Senate for twelve years.

I

When Dr. Hatch was atoddler, his father held him on his shoulder

so he could see Thomas Jefferson,

General Lafayette and other famous Revolutionary figures as

i .

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they passed by the house.

An outstanding scholar, he

.

.

received his Master’s degree at 19 and amedical degree from New York University at 23. He

practiced medicine in Wisconsin before coming to Sacramento in 1853 with his wife and family. On the way, they lost all their possessions in ashipwreck near Bolinas Bay. He established a prosperous practice at 56 KStreet.

O ' , ;

-

2.

Charles

Duncombe,

IMD

(1787-1862)

whereupon “Aunt Nancy” shouted

had rallied arebel force at

D r. D u n c o m b e w a s t h e fi r s t

physician on record to come to Sacramento. Anative of Stanford,

Connecticut, he moved to Upper

Scotland, south of Brantford, spent

‘Go back and tell your Com¬

one night hidden in abed between

mander you have just piloted Dr.

afarmer and his wife. Another

Duncombe across the river!’”

night, after friends put him to bed

[From Heritage Canada,

dressed as “Grandma,” he

Reader’s Digest Association,

received respectful goodnights

Canada Ltd. and Canadian

from aposse tramping through the

Automobile Association, 1978,

house in search of him. After a

four-week flight, he reached his

pp. 194-203.]

Dr. Duncombe found his way

sister in London, Ontario.

to Sacramento in about 1843

Disguised as “Aunt Nancy,” he

although there is no record of his

was taken by sleigh to the border post at Sarnia. Militia guards

practicing medicine until 1851. He was active in Masonry; in fact, he

escorted him across the St. Claire

was one of its founders in Upper

River to the American shore.

Canada.

Upon his death, his friends

Canada (now Ontario) to become

erected amonument with the

alandowner and amember of

inscription “A Friend of Liberty.”

P a r l i a m e n t . O n t a r i o ’ s fi r s t m e d i c a l

This monument is in the old

school, the Talbot Dyspensary at

Masonic plot in the City Cem¬

St. Thomas, was established by

etery. His wife, Lucy, is buried

D r. D u n c o m b e a n d a D r. R o l f .

beside him. Far away in Scotland,

Both physicians became leaders of u

the William Lyon Mackenzie

ing Dr. Duncombe at the location

rebellion of 1837. This group of reformers tried unsuccessfully to unseat the system wherein the

where he rallied arebel force in <

December 1837. Near St. Thomas, Ontario, his old house has been

British governor and appointed

made into amuseum displaying

administrators could overrule the

medical equipment.

elected assembly.

The rebels were hunted down

as traitors and many found their way to the United States. Dr.

Duncombe’s escape was described as follows:

“Dr. Charles Duncombe, who

Ontario is aplaque commemorat¬

f

!

3.

JOSEPH

F.

M o n t g o m e r y,

MD

(1812-1883)

University of Pennsylvania in

He was appointed to the State

1834. He practiced in Jackson,

Board of Health in 1870, and to

Mississippi for several years. Dr.

the State Board of Medical

Montgomery was practicing in

Examiners in 1876.

Sacramento during the cholera o * % .

^ged’^S Yrs

epidemic of 1850 and distinguished himself taking care of the

He wrote and presented papers on

victims.

the subject at every opportunity

Dr. Montgomery became

life..:-

Dr. Montgomery was deeply concerned about medical ethics.

and insisted on the highest

active in civic, public health and

standards in every organization in

m e d i c a l a ff a i r s . H e w a s a c h a r t e r

which he participated.

Dr.Montgomery never

member of the Sacramento

Society for Medical Improvement

married. He was very active in

and became its second president.

Masonry and chose to be buried in

Sacramento in 1849 from Virginia

He was amember of the Sacra¬

the old Masonic Section of

where he had received his medical

mento Board of Health and served

City Cemetery following his death

training from the State University.

as its president in 1866. In 1853,

on October 8,1883.

He received another MD from the

he was appointed City Physician.

Dr. Montgomery came to

4.

Theodora

tiffee

D r. P u r k i t t w a s b o m n e a r

Purkitt,

MD

the

(1856-1923)

Sacramento Seminary. In 1873,

then moved to San Francisco to

Petaluma and was raised by her

she married George Purkitt, an

prominent pioneer family on their

engineer and surveyor. Mr.

attend Cooper Medical College, from which she was graduated

ranch in Glenn County. Her father, John Richard Tiffee, came from

Purkitt’s family also had historic roots. His Boston ancestor, Henry

Kentucky to the gold mines of

Purkitt, was reported to have

Placer County but soon moved to

participated in the Boston Tea

Sonoma County where he became

Party.

a s u c c e s s f u l s t o c k r a i s e r. H e t h e n

T h e P u r k i t t ’s l i v e d o n t h e

acquired 2500 acres in Glenn

Tiffee ranch, which she inherited

County where he built the family

f r o m h e r f a t h e r.

home and ageneral store.

M r . T i f f e e w a s a fi r m b e h e v e r

Six children were bom to them. In order to educate and care

in agood education for his three

for these children, she sold the

children. Theodora attended the

ranch and moved to Willows. She

with honors in 1894. She opened

its history in arecent letter to the

achain hoist failed and almost

her office in Willows, joined the

Colusa County Historical Society:

toppled on him. After many tries

California Medical Association,

The stone is arectangular-based

at moving it, ahydraulic jack,

and made numerous contributions

pyramidal-shaped slab weighing

used to lift derailed steam

to medical journals. She continued

18 tons. It served as alocal

locomotives, was borrowed from

her agricultural and stock-raising

landmark on aroadside near the

the railroad. The slab was finally

interests and joined the Daughters

quarry at the town of Sites. The

placed on amany-wheeled low-

of the American Revolution in

slab came to Sites when it fell

bed trailer and began its journey to

1921.

f r o m a r a i l r o a d fl a t c a r a s t h e t r a i n

Sacramento at 18 miles-per-hour

was rounding acurve, wrecking

and $25-per-hour both ways. At

paid her this tribute: “One of my

the car and landing alongside the

the cemetery, hoisting equipment

pleasant early memories is of

road.

placed the slab on rollers over

Dr. Etta Lund, afriend, later

Dr.Theodora Purkitt. She paved the way for me, eased the

how this landmark was selected

narrow cemetery roads to the

situation, made life pleasant all the

for aheadstone, but he did

family plot.

way around, for she had fought the

describe its removal to the

prejudice against woman doctors

cemetery in far away Sacramento.

[From History of California,

and had been accepted because of

Among other difficulties, one of

Sacramento Valley by J.M Guin.

her fine competence. She was

the movers was nearly killed when

Chapman Publishing Co, 1906.]

never too busy to give assistance or to explain to an inexperienced young doctor fresh from the city.”

[From Wagon Wheels, vol. IX, February I960.]

Alarge, unusual stone serves as amarker for her grave and those of other family members. A grandson, John Knight, explained

The grandson did not explain

which it was moved through the

6.

Elizabeth George

Wilson

Vernon

Ewing,

Ewing,

MD

MD

(1839-1890)

(1831-1894)

Dr. Elizabeth Ewing came

College in 1884. She and her

Cleveland in 1852. He came to

from Pennsylvania but moved to

husband came to Sacramento

Sacramento via Amador County in

Ohio where she trained as a

where they built alarge practice in

1884 with his second wife,

teacher. It was here she met and

surgery and female diseases.

Elizabeth, who joined him in a

married Dr. George Ewing in

Dr. George Ewing was bom in

busy practice.

1870. She travelled to Chicago,

Hayesville, Ohio and received his

[Erom Illustrated History of

where she was graduated from

medical degree from Western

Sacramento County by Winfield

Woman’s Hospital Medical

Reserve Medical College in

Davis, 1890, p. 494.]

5.

Anson

Bruce

( 1 8 1 8 - 1 8 4 9 )

)

Dr. Bmce’s headstone, which

has tumbled to the ground, is the second oldest headstone in the

cemetery. It is in need of r e s t o r a t i o n . D r. B r u c e ’ s m e d i c a l office was aboat on the Sacram e n t o R i v e r. f

I

7 .

Commemorative

Plaque

for

CHOLERA

physicians

EPIDEMIC

OF

m » t e M o n y o r

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who

during

the

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died

1850

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Seventeen physicians died from cholera while caring for the victims of the devastating epidemic of 1850. While most of Sacramento’s citizens fled in panic, leaving the sick and dying, not one of the physicians left. They worked day and night to administer to the stricken. When it was all over, one-third to one-half of the doctors had died.

Their average age: 33. They had the highest mortality record of any doctors caring for victims of an epidemic.

The Historical Committee of the Sacramento-El Dorado Medical Society erected this plaque to honor those medical pioneers who lost their Uves while upholding the most noble of medicine’s traditions;

Dr. W. Carpenter (26)

Dr. Horatio Cobb (30)

Dr. R.S. Girard (35)

Dr. Pliney P. Green (41)

Dr. R. L. Grisard (33)

Dr. R. H. Hale (26)

Dr. George W. Held (34)

Dr. Henry F. Herr (26)

Dr. A. Holmes (47)

Dr. George Knoble (30)

Dr. George H. Mason (23)

Dr. Robert McMamee (27)

D r. M e t c a f f ( 6 0 )

Dr. Robert M. Stansbury(?)

Dr. T.P. N. 'WTiittaker (26)

Dr. George Yearly (36)

Dr. (name unknown)

.Memorial

for

victims

One of the worst epidemics of

of

the

1850

epidemic

would mean about 30,000 deaths

Asiatic cholera anywhere occurred

in three weeks, including at least

in Sacramento in 1850. At that

200 of the city’s physicians. An

time, no one knew what caused

additional 30,000 would be

cholera or how it was transmitted,

stricken but survive.

but there was no mistaking what it

cholera

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%

With few exceptions, victims

was. Avictim would be well, then

were buried in mass graves. There

suddenly collapse with abmpt

were several, the largest at the

onset of profuse watery diarrhea

New Helvetia Cemetery. Because

followed by death in afew hours

of mass flooding, these burials

from dehydration and acidosis.

On October 8, apassenger on a

were transferred to the City Cemetery where they are beheved

ship docked in Sacramento

to be under the military graves.

emerged and collapsed on the wharf, sparking an epidemic that

The monument was erected in

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1852.

killed 800-1000 people in less than three weeks. Thousands fled

9.

The

Chapel

in panic, leaving the stricken behind, but the physicians

remained, working day and night to care for the sick and dying. Of the 40-80 physicians practicing in Sacramento at the time, 17 died,

making the highest mortahty on record for physicians caring for victims of an epidemic.

In order to understand the

impact of this epidemic, consider what it would be like if asimilar

event fell on Sacramento today. It

This chapel was recently

It is open between 10 am and 3

refurbished to serve as amuseum

pm Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

of historical information about the

Phone 448-5665.

cemetery, aplace where the burial records can be studied and

researched, as well as acool place for visitors to rest during tours and

other occasions. The Old City Cemetery Committee of the Sacramento County Historical

Society, in cooperation with Parks and Community Services Department of the City, has launched many projects like this chapel to improve and protect the cemetery and encourage citizen involvement in the use of this historic resource.

10.

Gustavus

Lincoln

Simmons,

MD

C1832-1910)

across the street, where the State

first secretary and was elected

Library now stands. He owned a

president in 1878. He was elected

ranch in Orangevale and was

president of the California

considered an expert on trees,

Medical Association in 1894.

vineyards and orchards. His civic

surgeon to ligate the common

the City Board of Health in 1868

carotid artery and have his patient survive (1864). He was the first

and to the State Commission of

I

D r. S i m m o n s w a s t h e fi r s t

offices included appointments to

Lunacy for 20 years. He was elected to the City Board of Health

West Coast physician on record to use silver wire to repair the

in 1868.

Achilles tendon.

The organizational meeting of

Dr. Simmons died October 4,

the Sacramento Society for

1910. His funeral cost $590 and

when he first came to Sacramento

Medical Improvement was held in

had one of the largest corteges

in 1850. He worked for his

his office at 46 JStreet. It was Dr.

ever seen in Sacramento. He was

brother-in-law. Dr. Henry May,

Simmons who suggested the name

survived by his wife, adaughter

who ran the Old Boston Dmgstore

for the Society, borrowing from a

and two sons, both of whom

at 48 JStreet. He returned to

very early medical organization in

graduated from Harvard Medical

Boston and became the first

Boston. He became the Society’s

School.

D r. S i m m o n s w a s s e v e n t e e n

student from California to enroll

in the Medical Department of Harvard University. Oliver We n d e l l H o l m e s w a s o n e o f h i s

teachers. After his graduation in 1856, he returned to Sacramento

where he practiced for 40 years.

Dr. Simmons was among the most civic-minded of the pioneer physicians. Among his many contributions are the Italian Stone Pine trees best seen on the 10th

Street side of Capitol Park. He and afriend purchased the young trees in 1871 in Italy and tended them every day on the return voyage.

Two of the Italian Stone Pine

They were planted where he could

Trees planted in Capitol Park by

supervise their care from his home

D r. S i m m o n s .

11 .

Pliney

MD

Green,

12.

JOSEPH

Miller

F r e y,

MD

(1818-1888)

(1808-1850)

Dr. Frey came to California from New York City after

in education, becoming president

doctors who died of cholera while

receiving his medical degree from

of the Board of Education in 1859.

taking care of victims of the 1850

New York University in 1841. He

H e a c c u m u l a t e d a fi n e m i n e r a l

epidemic. He was the only one

joined the gold seekers, coming to

collection which he eventually

among them with his own grave

Rattlesnake Bar near Newcastle.

sold to the State. This collection

and headstone.

He did not do well at mining so

migrated from the State Library to

came to Sacramento in 1856 to

the Division of Mines in the Ferry

open what proved to be avery

Building in San Francisco to

successful practice.

Sacramento City College.

Dr. Green was one of the 17

Dr. Frey was active in medical

S' ■v s K t "! 1

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In about 1870, he bought 12

affairs, becoming acharter

acres near Newcastle and built a

member of the Sacramento

large home with extensive gardens and became afarmer. He practiced

Society for Medical Improvement.

■■ m

Dr. Frey took an active interest

He presented the first original paper heard by the Society. His

horse and buggy medicine part

paper proposing arelationship among erysipelas, diphtheria and

research, winning many prizes for his citrus and other produce. He

scarlet fever was much ahead of

died abachelor July 12,1888.

time and turned to horticultural

its time. It was severely criticized,

and Dr. Frey was deeply hurt.

When he also pointed out that quinine could cause deafness, his colleagues remained unreceptive.

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13.

Alexander

B.

Nixon,

MD

(1820-1889)

14.

MD

iRA

E.

Oatman,

(1819-1888)

earned areputation as an outstanding surgeon. He was also noted for his regal bearing and impeccable dress, with his silk hat and Prince Albert coat.

Dr. Nixon was active in the

formation of the Republican Party in Sacramento. During 1862-63, he represented Sacramento County in the State Senate. In later years, h e i d e n t i fi e d w i t h t h e P r o h i b i t i o n

movement and ran for mayor of Sacramento on this ticket. He D r. N i x o n c a m e o v e r l a n d f r o m

Ohio to mine gold at Coloma in 1849 and returned to Ohio before

coming to Sacramento to practice medicine in 1852. He was a

graduate of Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati.

Dr. Nixon was one of the twelve founders of the Sacramento

Society for Medical Improvement.

served on the Sacramento Uni¬

tarian Society Board of Directors.

Dr. Nixon died November 2,

Dr. Oatman came to Sacra¬

mento by the overland route in

1889. He was survived by his

1849 from Illinois. He had

second wife, three sons and a

received his medical degree from

daughter. His widow, Arme

Rush Medical College in Chicago

Wisewell, obtained her medical

in 1845. He mined for gold before

degree from Cooper Medical

estabUshing his practice in

College in 1892.

Sacramento in 1852.

D r. O a t m a n w a s a c h a r t e r

He served as its secretary in 1870

member of the Sacramento

and as president in 1875. He

Society for Medical Improvement

became the second president of

and served as President 1876-79.

the California Medical Associa¬

He was an original member of the

tion in 1875. It was during his

Sacramento Board of Health and

presidency that he broke atie vote

served as president 1871-79. He

in favor of admitting women

was the fourth president of the

physicians. With his vote, the first

California Medical Association.

five women physicians were admitted to the Association.

In 1869, Dr. Nixon was

appointed Chief Surgeon of the

The basic health legislation for California was written by him and afew other physicians.

D r. O a t m a n w a s C o m m i s ¬

Central Pacific Railroad Hospital.

sioner of Insanity for five years.

During his 16 years of service, he

Assistant Surgeon for the Fourth

Regiment of Infantry, California

15.

DR.

Silas

Seymour

Crane

(1822-1881)

Militia and United States

recruiting surgeon. He was a Dr. Silas Crane and his

kindly and honored citizen. His portrait hangs in the California

associate. Dr. L.P. Crane, were the

Room of the State Library.

first to advertise their practice in Sacramento (in the Placer Times,

Dr. Oatman died December 19,

1888, survived by his wife, three

1849). They came from New York

sons and adaughter. One of his

and offered for sale “quality New York dmgs” at their office at 44

sons married the daughter of Dr.

F r o n t S t r e e t . D r. C r a n e d i e d o f

Henry Nichols.

lung cancer.

.LOUISE

C.

Heilbron,

DO

(1873-1933)

D r. H e i l b r o n w a s t h e b e s t

to time. Her father was awell-

known osteopath in the state, not

known historian and pioneer in

only because of her successful

San Diego.

practice but because of her

Dr. Heilbron was avery tall,

prominent pioneer family and

slender green-eyed woman with

contributions to the civic life of

curly red hair. She never married,

both Sacramento and San Diego.

but not for lack of suitors. She is

She was bom in Sacramento

alleged to have discouraged more

but moved to San Diego at 15. She

than one by insisting that they pass

was the oldest of ten children. Her

aphysical examination. She always wanted to be adoctor and

father, John Henry Fred (young Fritz) Heilbron, came from

attend aregular medical college,

Hanover, Germany in 1866 to join

but the death of her father when

his brothers who were in the

her youngest sibling was an infant

cattle, meat and other businesses

forced her to remain close to home

in Sacramento. Among their

in order to help her mother. She

enterprises was the Buffalo

opted to attend the California

Brewery. Her uncle, August

College of Osteopathy at Irvine,

Heilbron, owned the magnificent

where she was graduated in 1900.

Victorian house at 7th and O

She began her practice in San Diego, moving to Sacramento and

Streets, where she lived from time

T T T

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Bpy

fsEi;Tv[.wi

then to San Francisco just in time

was state president of the Grand

to lose her house and office in the

Parlor in 1929. She organized the

1906 earthquake. She returned to

PTA of San Diego and was a

Sacramento where she attracted a

charter member of the San Diego

busy practice until her untimely

Business and Professional

death from amptured appendix.

Women. She was co-founder of

Sacramento Soroptimist Interna¬

Wherever she went, she

became involved in community

tional. Dr. Heilbron also served as

activities. She was acharter

chairwoman of public health for

member of the San Diego

the State Osteopathic Association.

Daughters of the Golden West and 1 7 .

Henry

Lambard

Nichols,

MD

at 2nd and IStreets. He was one of

Director of the State Library,

the founders of the Sacramento

Secretary of the State Board of

Society for Medical Improvement

Health, Secretary of the Sacra¬

and served as president in 1885.

mento Board of Health, City

The early meetings were often

Physician, Emergency Hospital

h e l d a t D r. N i c h o l s ’ h o m e w h e r e

Surgeon, and City Health Officer.

t h e m e m b e r s w e r e t r e a t e d t o a fi n e

New England dinner prepared by

Sanitation was of great interest to him. His essay “Water Supply of

his wife, daughters and servants.

Sacramento” prodded the City to

D r. N i c h o l s w a s a c o n s e r v a t i v e Democrat and was instrumental in

D r. N i c h o l s c a m e f r o m

Augusta, Maine. His father was an attorney and had been Secretary of

Bowdoin College in Brunswick in 1845. He came to Sacramento by way of Panama to join an uncle with whom he associated in a

prosperous iron works and flour mill. From his Sacramento Iron

Works came the driving wheels of t h e fi r s t l o c o m o t i v e i n C a U f o m i a .

Dr. Nichols began his practice

improve the water system.

From 1868 to 1915, he served

bringing the party to prominence

as president and trustee on the

in Sacramento. He was president

board of the Sacramento Unitarian

of the Board of Supervisors and

Church, where he is considered a

Mayor of Sacramento in 1858.

founding father. He died at age 91

D r. N i c h o l s w a s e l e c t e d

State. Dr. Nichols was graduated from Maine Medical School of

(1823-1915

Secretary of State for 1867-71.

During his term, the State Capitol Building was completed. He climbed to the top of the dome and placed the golden ball into

position. He also helped select the location for the University of

California at Berkeley.

Among other offices he held were State Prison Director,

on February 16, 1915.

18.

Thomas

Muldrup

Logan,

MD

(1808-1876)

California’s public health

and KStreets, still stands in Old

legislation and practices.

Sacramento.

California’s first meteorologist,

Dr. Logan participated in the

Dr. Logan kept scientific weather

founding of the American Medical

data beginning in 1850, which

Association (AMA) in 1847. In

were later adopted by the US We a t h e r B u r e a u w h e n i t w a s

1871, he was responsible for the first AMA meeting held in the

established in 1870. He kept the

west. Delegates came from many

first detailed mortality data for the

states to San Francisco on the new

West Coast and became an expert

transcontinental railroad. In 1872,

on topography, all in an effort to

he was elected president of the

understand epidemics.

AMA. It was at this meeting that

Dr. Logan received his medical degree from the Medical College

He was aprime mover in establishing the city and state

Dr. Logan presented aresolution to acknowledge the right of

o f So u t h C aro li na i n 18 2 8 . He

boards of health. He was

women to study and practice

practiced medicine in Charleston

appointed permanent secretary for

medicine in all its branches. The

and New Orleans. In 1850 he

the State Board of Health in 1869.

resolution failed to pass.

came to San Francisco from New

It was in Dr. Logan’s office that

Orleans on astormy, nine-month

the first meetings of the State

1876. He was survived by his

boat trip. He mined gold in

Board of Health were held. This

second wife and ason, who

Coloma before coming to

office, the Fratt Building at 2nd

practiced medicine in Alabama.

Dr. Logan died Febmary 13,

Sacramento to help during the cholera epidemic. (Dr. Logan had conducted studies of this

catastrophic disease during his medical investigations abroad.)

Dr. Logan wrote the first medical history of Sacramento, and became the most widely known physician in the West,

primarily because of his numerous contributions to medicine and

public health. Public health really began in California when Dr. Logan arrived. His interest in epidemics fostered many of his activities on which were based

. > /

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19.

Harvey

Wilson

Harkness,

IVID

(1821-1901)

apprenticeship with Drs. Barrett

Harkness Elementary School,

and Thompson at Northampton,

which still stands at 2147 -54th

Massachusetts. He then came to

Avenue, was named after him.

California hoping to improve his own health.

Dr. Harkness was one of the

many physicians who came overland to California during the

Because he was asuccessful

gold miner and put his money into

He began avery successful

astute real estate investments, he

medical practice in Sacramento in

was able to retire comfortably at

1850. He was the physician to,

4 8 . H e m o v e d t o t h e P a c i fi c U n i o n

and friend of, Leland Stanford,

Club in San Francisco to devote

Charles Crocker, Collis Hunting-

full time to his study of Pacific

ton, Mark Hopkins and other

Coast fungi. He became president

notables. He was atrustee for the

of the California Academy of

grant by Governor Stanford to

Sciences (1887-1896), which

establish Stanford University.

published his findings on fungi in their bulletins. Acatalog of 2(XX)

D r. H a r k n e s s w a s a m e m b e r o f

Gold Rush of 1849. Unlike most

S a c r a m e n t o ’ s fi r s t B o a r d o f

of his medical colleagues, he

Health in 1862. He was one of the

genera and species he prepared with J. P. Moore, along with his

profitted from gold mining. He

12 founding members of the

collection of 10,(XX) species,

m i n e d a t B i d w e l l ’s B a r o n t h e

Sacramento Society for Medical

attracted attention throughout the

Feather River where he also

Improvement where he was an active participant presenting many

world.

original scientific papers. He was Sacramento’s first microscopist.

1901. Funeral services were held

practiced medicine.

He was bom in Pelham,

Massachusetts, in 1821 into apoor farming family of seven children.

His primary avocations were

Dr. Harkness died July 10, at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in San Francisco. His cremated

education, fungi and finance. He was president of Sacramento’s

remains are buried in

t u b e r c u l o s i s w h i l e D r. H a r k n e s s

was still ayouth. He married

fi r s t B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n i n 1 8 5 3 .

bu t n o he ad st one su r vi v es.

All but one brother died of

Ameha Griswold in 1854 only to have her die within ayear. He never remarried. He was described

as unusually tall, handsome, welldressed and astudious intellectual.

D r. H a r k n e s s r e c e i v e d h i s

medical degree from Pittsfield Medical College after serving an

Sacramento’s Old City Cemetery,

S o u r c e s

Most of the information on

Drs. Frey, Harkness, Hatch, Montgomery, Nichols, Nixon, Oatman and Simmons came from

J. Roy Jones’ Memories, Men and Medicine, published by the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement in 1950. Photographs of all but Montgomery were taken from this source as well.

I n f o r m a t i o n o n D r. H e i l b r o n

came from her obituary in the Sacramento Union (11/21/33); John H.F. Heilbron’s History of San Diego County, and personal communication with Sara-Louise Heilbron Faustman.

The sketch of Dr. Nichols is by Rodney Cobb, former historian of the Sacramento Unitarian-

Universalist Society.

The sketches of Drs. Heilbron, Purkitt and Duncombe come from

the publications listed at the end of

their biographical sketches.

Cemetery photographs from were taken by the author.