California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


JOHN L. CARSON, M. D., and EMMA M. (NEWCOMER) CARSON, M. D. The medical profession 
of Bakersfield, Kern county, has among its able representatives John L. Carson, M. D., a 
physician of skill and acknowledged ability, and his talented wife, Emma M. (Newcomer) 
Carson, M.D., who has recently obtained her degree, and become actively associated with her 
husband in his practice. 

A native of Illinois, John L. Carson was born in Washburn, Woodford county, and after com- 
pleting the course of study in the grammar and high schools was graduated from Eureka College. 
He was subsequently employed as a clerk in drug stores in different places in Illinois and 
Kansas, and for two and one-half years was in business for himself as a druggist in Conway 
Springs, Kans. Going then to Chicago, Ill., he studied at Rush Medical College for a year, after 
which he was in business in Mobile, Ala., for a year, as a pharmacist. Having to leave the 
south on account of ill health, Mr. Carson came to California, locating in Los Angeles, where he 
attended medical lectures a year. Returning to Chicago, he then went to St. Joseph, Mo., where 
he was graduated from the Northwestern Medical College in 1894. Beginning the practice of 
his profession in Oakland, Cal, Dr. Carson remained there six months, and was afterward in 
Livermore, Alameda county, two years. In 1896 he removed to Bakersfield, and has here built 
up a lucrative patronage, his success having been assured from the first. He has a large general 
practice, and is also surgeon for the Santa Fe Railway Company at this place. He is very 
active in numerous medical associations, including the following named : the American, the San 
Joaquin valley, the Kern County, the California State and the International Railway Surgeons' 
Association. 

August 12, 1889, in Los Angeles, Dr. John L. Carson married Emma M. Newcomer, who was 
born in Vanwert, Ohio, the daughter of a prominent merchant and capitalist. Her mother, who 
was the daughter of a physician of note, and had three brothers that were practicing physi- 
cians, was herself a graduate of both the old school and the homeopathic medical colleges, 
but never practiced medicine. Miss Newcomer was graduated from the Vanwert high school, 
and from her earliest days had greatly desired to study medicine. In 1885, on account of her 
health, she came to Los Angeles, and soon after began to read medicine. Owing to the urgent 
solicitations of her friends, she dropped the study for awhile, but resumed it in the winter of 1888 
and 1889. In the fall of 1893 Mrs. Carson entered the medical college at St. Joseph, Mo., and con- 
tinued her studies there "for awhile, but was again persuaded to relinquish them. In 1900, 
determining to complete her medical education, she entered the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons in San Francisco, and remained there until the spring of 1903. Anxious then to finish her 
course of study as soon as possible, she entered the Illinois State Medical College, in Chicago, 
and at the close of the summer term was graduated with honors. Returning to Bakersfield, Dr. 
Emma M. (Newcomer) Carson immediately began the practice of her profession with her hus- 
band, and being a woman of rare culture, talent and judgment, will doubtless henceforth share 
with him the successes and honors of their professional lives. The Drs. Carson have a finely 
equipped office, among other things of use to them in their profession being a sixteen-plate 
static machine, the only one in Kern county. Dr. John L. Carson is a prominent member of 
the Masonic fraternity, and is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.