Alameda County
Biographies
RAWDON ARNOLD, M.D.
Was born in Romeo, Michigan, July 4, 1830, and is descended from the good old Puritan stock, his parents being both the offspring of English people, whose genealogy is traced to the days of long ago. Having received his preliminary education in the Armada High School, and the Michigan Normal School, he subsequently, in 1857, graduated from the Medical College of St. Louis, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession in the State of Missouri. In 1864 he embraced Homeopathy, and has since devoted himself to it, without once regretting the change from Allopathy. In 1871 he came to California, and after practicing with much success in Marysville, in 1877, moved to Oregon, located in Portland, and was in practice there till October, 1881, in which year he returned to California, and settled in Brooklyn, Alameda County. In 1882 Dr. Arnold returned to the East, attended a course of lectures at the Kansas City Hospital Medical College, and in February, 1883, returned to Oakland, and opened his present office at No. 1068 Broadway, making a specialty of nervous diseases. On the breaking out of the war Dr. Arnold was a resident of Missouri. He lost at the time all his property and had to begin life again with nothing. He entered the army, and followed the fortunes of the Federal forces till the close of hostilities. He has been twice married. Firstly, in 1859; and, secondly, in 1870, to Miss Martha A., daughter of Charles Fergusson, of Mexico, Missouri, and has four children, viz.: Edwin M., Charles A., Leona A., Nellie Custer.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 1001
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
SOLOMON M. BABBITT
Was born in Austinburgh, Ashtabula County, Ohio, August 7, 1824, and is the son of David and Eunice (Curtis) Babbitt. Having been taken by his parents to Saybrook, in the same county, he there resided until 1837, in the spring of which year he accompanied his parents to Naperville, Du Page County, Illinois, where he lost his mother, after whose death he concluded to come to California. Traveling by way of the plains he reached Hangtown, where he engaged in mining for a year, then returned to Illinois, purchased his father’s farm and that adjoining, which renting he established himself in business in Algonquin, McHenry County, in the same State, and during the Rebellion served as United States Marshal there. He now added the lumber trade to his other affairs, and followed it until 1869, when he moved to Elgin, Kane County; but in November, 1874, once more came to California, bringing his wife and family with him. Locating in Oakland, he established himself as a wholesale commission merchant, and is now the senior partner in the firm of Babbitt, Manuel & Gilpin, at NO. 471 Eleventh Street. Mr. Babbitt was elected to the City Council of Oakland for the Second Ward, in March, 1883. Married, in Naperville, Miss Lucinda Balch, and has two children, viz.: Mary (now Mrs. Z. T. Gilpin), and Hattie.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 1001
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
SAMUEL K. HASSINGER
Was born in Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, April 27, 1826, where he resided until he reached the age of twenty-two years, his boyhood having been passed on his father’s farm. He then learned the carpenter’s trade and followed it until 1849. In the month of March of that year he emigrated with his wife and family to Marion County, Missouri, where, working at his trade, and farming, he resided three years. In April, 1852, accompanied by his wife, he started with ox-teams across the plains to California, arriving at Stockton six months afterwards. Here Mr. Hassinger located for about three years and a half, subsequently removing to where now is the town of Copperopolis, and there engaged in mining for about a year, at the end of which he transferred the field of his operations to Knight’s Ferry, there mining also. While a resident of this place, in 1857, he held the office of Justice of the Peace, being afterwards Deputy Sheriff. In 1862 he left the place for San Francisco, and followed his trade until 1867, when he came to Oakland, where he now resides. Mr. Hassinger has filled the office of Deputy Township Assessor under the administration of Messrs. Whetcher and Robinson, and in October, 1881, was elected to the position of Sanitary Inspector of the Health Office, which he held for eighteen months. His present residence, No. 611 Seventeenth Street, he built in 1872.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 1001
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler