San Bernardino County
Biographies
DUDLEY R. DICKEY, M. D.,
is a California pioneer of 1850, and the longest in the medical practice of all physicians in San Bernardino County. He is a Buckeye by nativity, born in Washington County, Ohio, January 11, 1829. His paternal grandfather, who had been a soldier in the Revolutionary war, settled in Athens County in that State soon after the birth of our republic, and there the Doctor's father, Thomas Dickey, was born. He moved from Washington County and settled in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, in 1836, when that State was a part of Wisconsin Territory. Dr. Dickey was educated in the schools of Iowa; studied medicine and graduated from McDowell Medical College, University of Missouri, in 1849. His father having come to California the previous year, the Doctor started from Fairfield in the spring of 1850 to cross the plains, and arrived at Hangtown in July of that year. From there he went to Oskaloosa bar, on the middle fork of the American river, where he joined his father in some mining interests. In the spring of 1851, he went to Rough and Ready mine near Shasta City; that summer he went to Monterey, and in the fall came down to Los Angeles, reaching there in October, 1851. He settled in El Monte and there divided his time between the practice of his profession and farming until October, 1855, when he located in San Bernardino, which has been his home ever since. The first two years of his practice here was largely among the Mormon settlers, a majority of whom returned to Salt Lake in 1857 in obedience to a summons from Brigham Young. Since settling in San Bernardino Dr. Dickey has alternated the practice of medicine with other lines of business. He has considerable land interests; owns a ranch three and a half miles east of the city on City creek, and owns a half interest in what is known as the Harrison ranch, of 113 acres, about six miles north of the city and a mile from Arrowhead springs. This place is in the warm or thermal belt, and is admirably adapted to the cultivation of semi-tropic and small fruits. Bananas flourish and bear without extra attention, and the Doctor and Mr. Harrison are trying the experiment of growing pineapples, with promise of success. A portion of the place is being cultivated to strawberries, and ripe fruit is picked from the vines every month of the year. Mr. Harrison reports that there has been but one killing frost there in twelve years.
During the war of the Rebellion Dr. Dickey was an ultra Union man, and to his shrewd tactics and timely action more than any other man's, perhaps, was due the averting of a bloody civil war on the Pacific coast, by exposing and thwarting the plot laid by the Knights of the Golden Circle for precipitating an outbreak on the 9th of May, 1862, the avowed purpose of which was to rob and pillage all Union men and turn over the property to the authorities of the Southern Confederacy. Dr. Dickey and a few loyal men who possessed the courage of their convictions averted this calamity by a timely effort and at considerable expense, especially in the Doctor's case, as the exposé cost him between $400 and $500. His radical loyal sentiments and active interest in behalf of the Union cause came near costing him his life, as a desperado named Henry watched his house six nights for the purpose of assassinating him. This Dr. Dickey learned afterward from a friend of Henry, who advised the latter to desist from committing the bloody deed. Henry was afterward killed while resisting his arrest by the sheriff for some crime of which he had been guilty. During the early part of the war of the Rebellion Dr. Dickey was employed by contract as assistant surgeon for the troops sent down to San Bernardino to avert the threatened outbreak. He was relieved by the arrival of Dr. Prentis, the regular army surgeon.
Dr. Dickey married Miss Crandall in El Monte in 1854. Her father, J. W. Crandall, came to California and settled in San Diego in 1851. Four children, three sons and a daughter, comprise the Doctor's and Mrs. Dickey's family. Their eldest son, Dr. Clarence Dickey, is a practicing physician in company with his father, having been graduated M. D. from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1886. He is now filling the office of county physician. The subject of this sketch expects to retire from active practice the coming year and take life easier. He is a fancier of fine horses, and owns a number of promising thoroughbred colts. In 1887 Dr. Dickey built the elegant brick residence the family occupies on Fifth street between B and C streets. It is one of the finest dwellings in San Bernardino.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 526-527
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOHN ABERDEIN
established his residence in Riverside in 1880, and in 1881 purchased the block between Fifth and Sixth and Lime and Lemon streets. His block contained two and one-half acres, and was devoid of any horticultural or building improvements. Mr. Aberdein immediately commenced the planting of citrus and deciduous fruit trees and the erection of his residence, and has now one of the representative homes of Riverside. His orange grove contains the choicest varieties of budded fruits, Washington Navels, Mediterranean Sweets and Malta Bloods. He also has a variety of deciduous fruits for family use. A well-arranged two-story residence and suitable out-buildings, surrounded by ornamental trees and beautiful flowering plants, render his home one of the most pleasant and attractive character. Mr. Aberdein is a native of Scotland, born near Aberdeen, in 1821. His parents were John and Mary (Leighton) Aberdein, natives of Scotland. His father was a farmer by occupation and reared his son to that calling, giving him the advantage of a good education in the good public schools. Mr. Aberdein also devoted considerable attention to landscape gardening.
In 1853 he decided to try his fortunes in the new world and emigrated to the United States, locating in Knox County, Illinois, where he was engaged as a book-keeper and clerk in a mercantile business until 1861. In that year he responded to the call of his adopted country and entered the military service as a private in Company C, Forty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Captain Walworth, Colonel Webb commanding the regiment. Mr. Aberdein's good conduct and soldierly qualities gained him promotion to the noncommissioned staff, and he was made a Sergeant. He participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the West, among them the battles of Corinth, Island No. 10, Nashville and. Stone river. In the latter engagement he was severely wounded, being struck no less than four times. His wounds were of a serious character and disabled him for further service, and in the spring of 1863 he was honorably discharged. He then returned to Knox County and was employed in the drug business until 1864. In that year he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court of Knox County, and held that important office for four years. He then engaged in mercantile pursuits until he came to California in 1880.
He has belonged to the Republican party ever since he cast his first vote in this country. He is a member of Riverside Post, No. 118, G. A. R. In 1868 Mr. Aberdein was united in marriage with Miss Candace M. Johnson, a native of Ohio. Of their four children only two are living. viz.: Blanche and Genevieve.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 527
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler