San Diego County
Biographies
ANDREW CASSIDY.
One of the
pioneer residents of San Diego is Andrew Cassidy, a native of county Cavan,
Ireland. When seventeen years of age he emigrated to the United States,
landing at Boston. Having had the advantage of an excellent education in his
native land, he was well prepared to accept of a position which was offered him
in the Engineer Corps at West Point, under the immediate direction of George B.
McClellan. He remained at this point for three years, and from there went to
Washington, where he was employed in the Coast Survey office, under Professor
Bache. He remained in that position about a year, when he was ordered out to the
Pacific coast with a party of five others, under Captain W. B. Trowbridge, of
the Engineer Corps, U. S. A. The party came by way of the Isthmus, and landed at
San Francisco in July, 1853. They were there engaged for about two months in
putting up a self-registering gauge at Fort Point. Leaving one man in charge,
the others started for San Diego. They chartered a schooner and made a series of
observations on the way down the coast. They entered the harbor of San Diego,
and landed at Point La Plaza, where they put up another gauge, and Cassidy was
left in charge. He was stationed here in charge of meteorological and tide
observations for seventeen years. During this period he made Old San Diego his
headquarters the greater part of the time. In 1864 he saw an excellent
opportunity to engage in stock-raising, and availed himself of it; he employed a
man to take charge of the details, and only exercised a general supervision
until he resigned his position in the coast survey. His ranch, which was then
known as Soledad, situated twelve miles from Old Town, contained 1,000 acres of
exceedingly rich land. He had on this place at times 1,000 head of cattle. The
present town of Sorrento is upon this ranch.
Mr. Cassidy continued in the stock business from 1864 to the beginning of the year 1887. He then sold out all his stock interests and subdivided his ranch, realizing a handsome sum from the proceeds of his land sales. Besides his interests at Sorrento he owns considerable city and suburban property. He served one term as City Trustee in 1865, and again in 1871 was elected County Supervisor for two terms (four years).
In 1853 Mr. Cassidy began a collection in natural history, composed of birds, fishes, reptiles, moths, and all live animals of the smaller species. The collection of fish was particularly valuable, coming as it did from the Pacific ocean, the Colorado river and the Gulf of California. This collection was forwarded to the Smithsonian Institute, at Washington, District of Columbia, where his friend, Professor Henry, then held a position.
Mr. Cassidy has been twice married, but is now a widower. He has one daughter, born to his second wife. Besides conducting his large farm interests Mr. Cassidy has been a true friend of San Diego, contributing his share toward the city's material advancement. Personally he is very courteous, and his address marks him as one who has mingled much with men of the world. He is extremely popular among his acquaintances, and everywhere regarded as at once a progressive and substantial citizen.
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.- 323-324
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
DR. JOHN RANKIN DOIG,
of San Diego.—About the middle of the last century, Mr.
Robert Doig came from Scotland to America and settled in Washington County, New
York. In 1810 there was born to him in Washington County a son, whom he named
James R. He gave this boy a most liberal education, and for many years he held
the professorship of languages in Mound College, Illinois. In 1843, he was
united in marriage with Miss Grace Rankin, who was also of Scotch descent. Their
union was blessed with a family of nine children. He died in 1883, at the
age of 73. The eldest of their family was John Rankin Doig, born in Wayne
County, Ohio, in 1846; he obtained his literary education at Washington College,
Iowa. In 1862, when only sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Company C,
Nineteenth Iowa Regiment. At the end of his year's service, in 1863, he was
discharged and immediately re-enlisted in the Second Iowa Cavalry, and was with
the Army of the Tennessee, in General A. J. Smith's command. General Coon was in
this department. The Doctor participated in the battle of Prairie Grove,
Arkansas, at the siege
of Vicksburg, and at the battle of Nashville. He was mustered out in
October, 1865, at Selma, Alabama. When he returned home he began the study of
medicine and graduated in 1867, at Iowa University, and later graduated at the
College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago. He practiced for some time
at Williamsburg,
Iowa, and at Des Moines. Then he practiced at Newton, and in 1879 removed to
Ellsworth, Kansas, and practiced there until 1886, when he came to San Diego.
He has invested here, has a nice home near Florence Heights, and a good office
on the corner of Fourth and C streets. He is very nicely situated and has come
to San Diego to stay. He is a member of the San Diego Medical Society, and
belongs to the Masonic fraternity in both Temple and Shrine. In 1881 he was
united in marriage with Miss Nellie Seaver, born in Canada in 1857. The Doctor
is well versed in his profession, has a good practice and enjoys the confidence
and respect of his fellow-citizens.
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.- 324
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler