CHAPTER II.

THE PIONEER PERIOD.

A FEE TABLE OF 1850.

Mr. II. D. Barrows of Los Angeles, whose contributions to the Southern California Historical Society have been so valuable, gives the following interesting account of some old papers, particularly a fee table of the year 1850, with remarks on some of the Los Angeles physicians of that period, whom he personally knew.1

"In turning over to the Historical Society the accompanying brief historical document, (which I lately received from Ex-Sheriff Wm. R. Rowland,) containing the signatures of four early physicians of Los Angeles, I have thought that some account of two of the signers whom I knew quite well, would be of interest to the members of our society.

"The document referred to, which Ex-Sheriff Rowland found among old papers of the Sheriff's office, was a public notice or "Aviso," of the scale of charges, (in Spanish,) by the doctors of that period, (January, 1850,) for their professional services, as follows:

"Dr. Guillermo B. Osbourn, one of the signers, who was a native of New York, came to California in 1847 in Col. Stevenson's regiment. He established the first drug store in Los Angeles in 1850, which was succeeded in '51 by that of McFarland and Downey. Daguerreotypes were first taken in Los Angeles by Dr. Osbourn and Moses Searles, on Aug. 9, 1851. In fact Dr. Osbourn's versatility was something remarkable. It is not easy to recount all the official positions he filled, or the numerous important public functions he performed. In those early days immediately after the change of government, by means of his rare intellectual ability, together with his knowledge of the Spanish language, he made himself a very useful citizen in various capacities. When, as

often happened in that period, an acquaintance with Spanish was a necessity, he often acted as Deputy Sheriff. In 1853 he was appointed Postmaster of this city by President Buchanan. In 1855 he projected the first artesian well in Southern California, at the foot of the hills not very far from the present junction of First street and Broadway. It reached a depth of about 800 feet in June, 1856, being still in blue clay, when it was abandoned for want of funds. "In 1852 fruit grafts of improved varieties had been introduced by Mayor J. G. Nichols. In 1855 Dr. Osbourn imported from Rochester, a grand collection of roses and other choice shrubbery as well as many varieties of the best American fruit trees, which up to that time were almost unknown here. He was the first, too, in October, 1854, to ship East, fresh Los Angeles grapes, which were exhibited and commanded admiration at a meeting of the business committee of the New York Agricultural Society at Albany. And it is worthy of mention in this connection, that as late as November, 1856, when Matthew Keller sent a like specimen, it was almost doubted at the U. S. Patent Office, 'if such products were common in California.'

"Henry Osbourn, a son of the doctor by his first wife, was for years and until recently, an interpreter in our local courts. He lost his life through an accident not very long ago.

"Dr. Osbourn's second wife, who was a native Californian, is, I believe, still living in this city.

“Dr. Osbourn with all his versatility, was not always overscrupulous as to the means he sometimes employed in carrying out his schemes. He once recounted to me, without even a semblance of self-reproach, but on the contrary with a palpable chuckle because of his success, how he took an active part on a certain occasion in a political contest. Sometime in the early '50's, when an election was on for a State Senator, and San Bernardino was a part of Los Angeles county, he was exceedingly anxious to carry the precinct of Agua Mansa, which was mostly settled by Mexicans, who knew very little or no English. So he went to the Padre who had more influence in his parish than any other person, and used his most suave methods of electioneering with the Dominie in behalf of his candidate; and then to clinch the matter, he asked the Padre to pray for the repose of the soul of his mother-who was then alive and well in New York State. And on the next feast day the wily doctor was on hand at the church and on his knees, joining the Padre and his flock, in praying for the repose of his mother's soul. He added with just a shade of exultation, that his candidate was elected.

"Drs. Blackburn and Dodge, two other signers of the accompanying document, I was not acquainted with.

"Dr Charles R. Cullen I knew intimately, as he was my room-mate for a considerable portion of the time, from my arrival in Los Angeles in 1854, till he left for his home in Virginia in the latter part of '56.

"Dr. Cullen was a native of Virginia and a graduate of Brown University. He and his brother John came to California soon after the discovery of the mines. The doctor was a cultivated and genial gentleman whom all who made his acquaintance, could not help liking. The Spanish-speaking portion of our community of that period were especially attached to him, both as a sympathetic friend and as a physician; and for years after he went away, I remember that if his name was mentioned in the presence of those native Californians who had made his acquaintance, they would invariably manifest pleasure at the recall of his memory and would exclaim: Ay Don Carlos! donde esta el?' or, 'Que buen hombre era!' or similar expressions of kindly feelings towards him. When the San Francisco Bulletin was established, Mr. C. O. Gerberding, (father of several persons of that name in California, and also, I believe, of

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Mrs. Senator Bard,) was the business manager, and James King of William was the brave and accomplished editor. Mr. Gerberding and Dr. Cullen had been old friends in Richmond, before they came to California; and as the management of the paper desired to have a permanent resident correspondent at Los Angeles, they entered into an engagement with Dr. Cullen to fill that position, paying him at the rate of ten dollars a column. Late in November, '56, Dr. Cullen concluded to return East, and stopping on his way at San Francisco, it appears he recommended me, without my knowledge, as his successor as correspondent of the Bulletin; and accordingly he wrote me at their request, asking me to keep up the correspondence, on the same terms, etc., which I did for several years thereafter, writing generally by each semi-monthly steamer, giving a general resumé of current events in Southern California. The doctor's letters, as were mine, were headed in the columns of the Bulletin-in small capitals: "Letter from Los Angeles" "From Our Own Correspondent," and were signed "Observador." This signature, however, I soon dropped. My first letter was dated Dec. 6, 1856. I would like to add that in all my dealings with Mr. Gerberding, the business manager, I found him to be a thorough gentleman and a good friend.

"Before I had any connection with the paper, the assassination of James King of William, had given the paper much prominence, and it had already become and it long remained the leading journal of the Pacific Coast. It was very ably edited ostensibly by a brother of James King, of William, but in reality by Mr. James Nisbet, a Scotchman, one of the most industrious and the finest literary journalists whom I ever had any acquaintance with. Afterwards, Dr. Tuthill was associated with Mr. Nisbet and they made a very strong editorial team.

"In 1857 I made a trip East, and I went to Richmond to visit Dr. Cullen. I found his mother and sisters and also his uncle, the widely known and venerable Dr. Patrick Cullen, by whom I was very cordially welcomed. Dr. Charley Cullen was then located and practicing his profession near Hanover Court House, a very few years afterwards the locality of some terrific fighting in the great Civil War.

"In after years I kept up a more or less intermittent correspondence with the doctor, till his death several years ago.

"Dr. Cullen was a thoroughly conscientious man and a religious manco-operating with Parson Bland, Rev. Mr. Brier and Woods as they came and made brief stays in all sincerity, in which he differed widely from Dr. Osbourn, whose only church affiliation, so far as I knew, was that serio-comic episode at 'Agua Mansa.'

"When the late Dr. J. C. Fletcher first came to Los Angeles, Dr. Cullen wrote me asking me to hunt him up, which I did, and I found him to be a very cultivated and widely-traveled gentleman. He told me that he had resided for a lengthy period at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he had made the personal acquaintance of Don Pedro, the venerable Emperor of Brazil, and also that he had lived at Naples, Italy, 18 years.

"Dr. Cullen and Dr. Fletcher were classmates and graduates of Brown University."

SOME PIONEER PHYSICIANS.

And in an interesting account of pioneer physicians of Los Angeles by the same writer, most interesting sketches of Doctors John Marsh, Richard S. Den and John S. Griffin are given.

The first three educated physicians who practiced their profession in Los Angeles for longer or shorter periods, of whom we have any record, were: Dr. John Marsh, who came here in January, 1836;

Dr. Richard S. Den, who arrived in California in 1843;

Dr. John S. Griffin, assistant surgeon, U.S.A., who arrived in 1846.

A brief account of each of these trained physicians and surgeons ought to be of interest to the present generation.

#

Dr. Marsh was a native of Massachusetts, and a graduate of Harvard College, and also of its medical school. He came to Los Angeles by way of Santa Fé. In the Archives of this city, Translations, Vol. 2, p. 113, (session of the Ayuntamiento or Town Council, of 18th February, 1836) the following record is found:

A petition from foreigner, Don Juan Marchet (John Marsh; the sound of sh at the ending of a word is unknown to the Spanish tongue;) a native of United States of the North, was read. He asks that this illustrious (honorable) Ayuntamiento consider him as having appeared, he declaring his intention of establishing (locating) in this city, and also that he is a physician The Ill. Ayuntamiento decided, in conformity with the law of April 14, 1828, Art. 3, as follows: Record and forward the certified copy, colicited, reminding said Marchet (Marsh) that he cannot practice surgery until he has obtained permission from the Ayuntamiento." (Minutes

of this meeting were signed :) "Manual Requena, Pres. ; Tiburcio Tapia, Rafael Guirado, Basilio Valdez, José Ma. Herrera, Abel Stearns, Narcisco Botello. (Each with his proper Rubric attached.)

occurs:

At page 117 of Archives (session of 25th February, 1836,) this minute "A petition from Mr. Juan Marchet (Marsh) asking to be permitted to practice his profession, was read. The Ill. Body decided to give him permission to practice medicine, as he has submitted for inspection his diploma, which was found to be correct, and also for the reason that he would be very useful to the community."

His diploma being in Latin, it is said that, as no one could be found in Los Angeles who understood that language, the document had to be sent to San Gabriel for the Mission priest to translate, and which, as noted, was found correct.

He entered upon the practice of his profession, but as money was an almost unknown quantity in the old pueblo, he had to take his fees in horses, cattle and hides, a currency exceedingly inconvenient to carry around. So early in 1837 he abandoned the practice of medicine, quitted Los Angeles and went up north to find a cattle range. Yerba Buena, now San Francisco, at the time the letter was written, contained two houses. He located on the Rancho Los Medanos, near Monte Diablo, where he lived until he was murdered by a Mexican in 1856. A letter written by him descriptive of California, and published in a Missouri paper in 1840, was instrumental in causing the organization in the spring of 1841 of the first immigrant train that crossed the plains to California. YERBA BUENA, March 27, 1837.

J. M. GUINN :

DEAR SIR: I have been wandering about the country for several weeks and gradually becoming acquainted both with it and its inhabitants. This is the best part of the country, as you very well know, and is in fact the only part that is at all adapted to agriculturists from our country. Nothing more is wanted but just and equal laws and a government-yes, any government that can be permanent and combine the confidence and good will of those who think. I have good hope, but not unmixed with doubt and apprehension. News has just arrived that an army from Sonora is on its march for the conquest and plunder of California. Its force is variously stated from two to 600 men. This, of course, keeps everything in a foment.

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I have had a choice of two districts of land offered to me, and in a few days I shall take one or the other. A brig of the H. B. Co. (Hudson Bay Co.) is here from the Columbia with Capt. Young (who has come to buy cattle) and other gentlemen of the company. I have been at the headwaters of the Sacramento and met with near a hundred people from the Columbia; in fact, they and the people here regard each other as neighbors. Indeed, a kinder spirit exists here and less of prejudice and distrust to foreigners than in the purlieus of the City of Angels.

It is my intention to undergo the ceremony of baptism in a few days, and shall shortly need the certificate of my application for letters of naturalization. My application was made to the Most Illustrious Council of the City of Angels, I think in the month of January, last year (1836). I wish you would do me the favor to obtain a certificate in the requisite form and direct it to me at Monterey to the care of Mr. Spence. Mr. Spear is about to remove to this place. Capt. Steele's ship has been damaged and is undergoing repairs, which will soon be completed. His barque is also here. I expect to be in the Angelic City some time in May.

Please give my respects to Messrs. Warner and William M. Prior and all "enquiring friends."

Very respectfully,

Your ob't. servant,

JOHN MARSH.

Dr. R. S. Den was born in Ireland in 1821: After receiving a thorough education as a physician, surgeon and obstetrician, he was appointed surgeon of a passenger ship bound for Australia in 1842. From thence he came via Valparaiso to Mazatlan, where he received with delight news from his brother, Nicolas, from whom he had not heard for some years, and who was then living at Santa Barbara. Resigning his position as surgeon, he came to California, arriving at San Pedro August 21, and at Santa Barbara September 1, 1843, at the age of 22 years.

In the winter of 1843-4, Dr. Den was called to Los Angeles to perform some difficult surgical operations, when he received a petition, signed by leading citizens, both native and foreign, asking him to remain and practice his profession. And so, in July, 1844, he returned to Los Angeles. From that time on, till his death in 1895, he made his home here, with the exception of a brief period in the mines, and about twelve years, from 1854 to 1866, in which he had to look after the interests of his stock rancho of San Marcos, in Santa Barbara county.

A much fuller account of Dr. Den and his long and honorable career in Southern California during the pioneer times, may be found in the "Illustrated History of Los Angeles County," published in 1889, pp. 197-200, which also contains a steel engraving and good likeness of Dr. Den.

In the Medical Directory of 1878 the following paragraph appears: "It is of record that Dr. R. S. Den, in obedience to the laws of Mexico relating to foreigners, did present his diplomas as physician and surgeon to the government of the country, March 14, 1844, and that he received special license to practice from said government." The document here referred to, Dr. Den, in the latter years of his life, showed to me. It was signed by Gov. Micheltorena; and, as it was an interesting historical document, I asked that he present it to the Historical Society, which he promised to do. At his death, I took considerable pains to have the paper hunted up, but without success. His heirs (the children of his brother Nicolas) apparently had but little idea of the historical value of such a document, and therefore it probably has been lost.