Santa Barbara County Biographies

H. C. DIMOCK

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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

H. C. DIMOCK, whose home is so pleasantly located in the San Miguelito Canon, was 
born in the town of Newport, Hants County, Nova Scotia, November 9, 1842. .He 
attended a private school for several years, and then attended the Wolfville Academy 
at the beautiful village of the same name, situate in Kings County, Nova Scotia. 

At an early age he studied medicine with J. H. Dennison, M. D., of Brooklyn, same 
province, when he became proficient in Materia Medica by attending the doctor's drug 
store, and in a short time compounded all prescriptions, and manufactured nearly all 
articles there dispensed. Leaving the doctor's home he next found employment with the 
nursery firm of Chase Brothers, then of Sidney, Maine, now of Rochester, New York. The 
Doctor stayed with this company until he had earned enough money to complete his 
medical education, and matriculated in Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, medical term 
of 1864, and graduated at Berkshire Medical College, at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1866. 
He began the practice of medicine at Renfrew Gold Mines, Nova Scotia, but the mines 
failing he gave it up and came to Boston, where he studied dentistry with J. R. Dillingham. 
Soon becoming skilled at this business he started for California, and on arriving in the 
Golden State he settled at Gilroy, and soon had a flourishing dental practice; was there 
when the railroad was built to the town; and, seeing how easy money could be made in a 
booming town, went to San Diego and invested the earnings of a year in town lots, which 
he was glad to relinquish at a small percentage of cost, and returned to Gilroy and resumed 
the practice of dentistry, at which he continued until the Bacon Hard Rubber Company of 
Boston compelled him to quit. He then reviewed medicine for one term at the Toland 
Medical College, San Francisco. Soon afterward he settled in Oakland, Douglas County, 
Oregon, where he enjoyed a large and very lucrative practice, and made money rapidly, 
but by an unfortunate land speculation he lost his hard-earned money and became quite 
discouraged, gave up his practice and returned to California, and after visiting old friends 
at Gilroy settled in Bakersfield, Kern County, and commenced anew, and enjoyed a successful 
practice of over two years. 

He was elected Coroner and Public Administrator while there, but owing to illness 
was compelled to leave and seek a different climate. He visited Lompoc, in Santa Bar- 
bara County, in October, 1875, where be had a brother residing. He then went East and 
passed the winter at his old home in Nova Scotia. Early in the spring of 1876 he went 
to New York, and visited many of the noted places East and South; was at Philadelphia 
at the opening of the Centennial Exposition, and spent two months viewing the wonderful 
things to be seen at the greatest of shows. Returned to the Golden State in the summer 
of 1876, settled at Lompoc and commenced the practice of medicine, doing all the work 
of the valley, also establishing and managing a drug store. In 1882 Dr. Dimock sold a 
one-half interest in his business to Dr. Saunders, who attended the practice of medicine 
while Dr. Dimock managed the drug store. After one year he bought the interest 
of Dr. Saunders in the drug store, and soon after sold out to J. B. Dean, who has since 
continued the business. In 1879 Dr. Dimock bought his present ranch in San Miguelito 
Canon, which he improved by building a residence and planting an orchard. In 1886 
he began shipping horses from Lompoc to Los Angeles, which proved very profitable. 
He then invested in Santa Barbara, and engaged in the real-estate business, with Judge 
E. H. Heacock, which interest lie continued until 1889, when he returned to his ranch, 
still holding considerable property in Santa Barbara, [art of which he improved. He 
now owns 640 acres of white-pine lumber ill Oregon, from which he anticipates great 
returns, and also a four-acre walnut grove at Carpenteria. 

Dr. Dimrock was married at Lompoc, November 9, 1880, to Miss Anna L. Ruffner, 
a daughter of Joseph Ruffner. Dr. Dimock rents his ranch; and after a varied and 
eventful life, is now enjoying the fruits of his labors. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.