San Diego County Biographies

DR. D. CAVE

Submitted by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


	One of the most promising signs of the healthful condition and 
assured permanency of the Republic is the deep interest manifested in its 
institutions by our adopted citizens. Many of the most progressive members 
of the body politic are men who were born under monarchial Governments.
When transplanted to the free soil of America they seem to imbibe the spirit 
of our institutions intuitively and become leaders in every social and busiess 
enterprise. A good type of this class of citizens is the subject of this sketch.
	Dr. D. Cave was born in Strasburg, France, in 1846. When a 
child he removed with his parents to Vienna, Austria. At the age of twelve he 
began work in mercantile business, in which he continued till he was eighteen 
years old. Then, having a taste for natural science and mechanical work, he 
commenced the study of dentistry. At the age of twenty-three he began the 
practice of his profession and continued with success for about four years,
when a bronchial affection which he had contracted compelled him to 
abandon practice and he began to travel for his health.
	He visited Americaf or a twofold purpose�first, in search of health,
and secondly, for the purpose of seeing the cradle of scientific dentistry, and 
to satisfy his desire for improving himself in his profession. Ill health compelled 
him to cut short his stay in the principal Eastern cities, and he soon started 
for the Pacific Coast. Upon arriving in SanFrancisco he consulted with several 
acquaintances as to his future movements. They advised that he go by steamer 
as far as LosAngeles, as it was a good locality for business and an excellent 
climate for throat troubles. They also told him that San Diego had a good 
climate, but that the place was dead; that there was nothing but sand hills 
there, and that jackrabbits fed in the streets. He determined, notwithstanding 
their reports, to go as far as San Diego, and then if he did not like it he would 
return to Los Angeles or Santa Barbara. He accordingly purchased a ticket 
for San Diego and left on the steamer Orizaba on the voyage down the coast. 
After visiting Santa Barbara and LosAngeles, during the time the steamer 
stopped at those places, he landed in San Diego on the 14th day of April, 1872. 
He was in poor health, hardly able to speak the English language, without friends, 
and his whole capital had dwindled down to one solitary twenty-dollar gold piece.
He went to the Horton House, and in a few days his throat began to improve, 
and his voice, which had been lost for nearly six months, returned like magic. 
He determined to advertise his profession and begin work at the hotel with what 
few instruments he had. He met with such success that in a short time he was 
able to establish him self in the business part of the town, in one of the best 
localities, and to furnish his offices in the best style. He was thus enabled to 
do the finest kind of work, and soon gained a  reputation as a skilled operator 
that was not confined to the limits of San Diego. He is the only dentist that has 
remained here through all the ups and downs of the community for fifteen 
successive years.His practice has steadily increased until he retired from 
business a short time ago, when he turned over to his successors a practice 
of over one thousand dollars cash receipts per month.
	Dr.Cave has been the tutor of two of San Diego's young men, and 
so high was his reputation that they were grantedl icenses by the California 
Board of Dental Examiners without attendance at any college of dentistry. 
Both now have a lucrative practice of their own, and have gained a reputation 
for their skill. He is an active member of the California State Dental Association,
and also of the Southern California Odentological Society. Heaided, too, in 
organizing the San Diego Dental Society, of which he is President. Dr.Cave 
has not confined his usefulness to his profession, however, but has been 
prominent in all movements having for their object the advancement of San 
Diego. To him belongs the credit of having organized the San Diego County 
Immigration Association, in the latter part of 1885. He was President of the 
Committee of Celebration at the time of the completion of the Atchison system 
to the Pacific Ocean via San Diego. He served a term as President of the 
Chamber of Commerce, in 1885, and while occupying that position, 
demonstrated the advantages of the soil of San Diego for raising cereals, fruit 
trees, plants, etc., by showing what had been produced on his own land. He 
was at this time, ex-officio, a member of the Board of Pilot Commissioners.
He has been President of the San Diego Fire Company and is now an exempt 
member. He has been Chancellor Commander and is a charter member of San 
Diego Lodge No. 28, Knights of Pythias; and Master of San Diego Lodge No. 
35, F. and A. M. He is now President of the Board of Directors of the Free 
Public Library, and Vice-Presidentof the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty 
to Animals, which he aided in organizing. He is a Director in the San Diego 
Building and Loan Association; Treasurer of the Morena Land and Town Co.; 
a member of the San Diego Horticultura lAssociation, in the work of which he 
has taken an especial interest; a member of the San Diego Natural History 
Society; a member of the San Diego Benevolent Association, and, infact, is 
identified with about every public organization in the city.
	Dr. Cave was naturalized in 1877, and has always been an earnest 
and consisten tRepublican. He has taken an active part in political affairs, 
but has steadily refused,although repeatedly urged to do so, to be a candidate 
for any political position. He was married in SanDiego, June 19, 1878, to Miss
Rosa Meyer, a native of France, and a graduate of a high schoo lin Paris. He 
has two children. He is the largest stockholder in the new town of Morena, and 
contemplates erecting a fine residence there the coming season.

The city and county of San Diego, illustrated and containing biographical 
sketches of prominent men and pioneers. by Theodore S. Van Dyke
Published in 1888, Leberthon & Taylor (San Diego, Calif.)