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 EDWARD STEPHEN O'BRIEN, M. D. Occupying a position of prominence among the successful and best-known physicians of .Merced county is Edward S. O'Brien, M. D., who has been in almost continuous practice in the city of Merced since 1881. Bringing to his professional work a well-trained mind, enthusiastic zeal, and a sympathetic nature, he has met with rare success in his labors, and has won the respect and esteem of his numerous patrons, and of the community in which he resides. A son of the late Bernard O'Brien, he was born February 24, 1854, in Boston, Mass. A native of Ireland, Bernard O'Brien was born in the city of Waterford, of excellent an- cestry, his mother, whose maiden name was Power, belonging to one of the most noted families of county Waterford. Emigrating to this country when young, he was prosperous- ly engaged in mercantile pursuits in Boston until the breaking out of the Civil war. In 1861, selling his store in Boston, he enlisted in Company A, First Maine Cavalry, under Captain Thaxter, and at once went to the front. During Banks' retreat, in the Shenandoah val- ley, he was severely wounded, receiving two saber cuts, one over the head and the other across the right side of his face, inflicting such serious wounds that he was soon honorably discharged from the army on account of physical disability. Coming by way of the Isthmus of Panama to California in 1863, he located in Mendocino county, where he engaged in stock- raising and subsequently became identified with the transportation of lumber, being finan- cially interested in several schooners employed in the lumber trade. On retiring from busi- ness pursuits, he removed to San Francisco, where he resided until his death, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Walsh, survived him, and is now a resident of San Francisco. He was a true blue Republican in politics, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Of the nine children born of their union, five are liv- ing, Edward Stephen being the only resident, however, of the San Joaquin valley. At the age of eleven years Edward S. O'Brien left Boston, and came by way of Panama, on the ship Golden Gate, to San Francisco, from there joining his father in Mendocino county. After attending the Mendocino schools for awhile he completed his early education in the public schools of San Francisco. For two years thereafter he was in the employ of the J. G. Jackson Company, in which his father had an interest, going as a sailor on board a schooner engaged in the coasting trade, running from Coos Bay to San Diego. Becoming interested then in the study of medicine, Mr. O'Brien spent a year in the office of Dr. W. A. McCornack, in Mendocino, after which he continued his studies under Dr. C. G. Kenyon, of San Francisco. Subsequently entering the medical department of the College of the Pacific, which was afterward merged in the Cooper Medical College, he was graduated from there in November, 1879, with the degree of M. D. During the last two years of his college course, Dr. O'Brien, with his classmates, Dr. George Adams and Dr. John F. Dillon, were internes at the United States Marine Hospital, securing the position by competitive examination, and being the first board of internes appointed in San Francisco. After his graduation Dr. O'Brien continued his studies for a year with his former tutor, Dr. Kenyon. In 1881 he began the practice of his profession in Merced, and has been here most of the time since, being the longest-established physician in the city. He has built up an ex- tensive practice in medicine and surgery, his office being now located in the Packer Build- ing, on Main street, and by his professional knowledge and skill has won the respect and esteem of the medical fraternity and of the community. The doctor is now serving as county health officer, and for many years has been county physician. For four terms, from 1885 until 1893, he was county coroner. In 1897, Dr. O'Brien was appointed, by Governor Budd, superintendent of the lone Reform School, in Amador county, but at the end of a year in that capacity resigned the position, and resumed his practice in Merced. By thrift, sound financial judgment and keen foresight, the doctor has accumulated a fine estate, and in addition to owning a valuable residence in the city has good business property. He was one of the organizers, and one of the first presidents, of the Merced Milling Company, which erected the Merced Flour Mill, with a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels a day, and a large warehouse, and is still a director, and a large stockholder in the plant. The doctor also has large mining interests in Mariposa county, owning the Mabel and Ethel quartz mines, which are rich in mineral ores. Dr. O'Brien married, in San Francisco, Mary Ragesdale, who was born in California, a daughter of John Ragesdale, who came here in 1849, and was engaged in mining and stock- raising for many years, and was also an educator of some note. He spent his last years in Nevada. The doctor and Mrs. O'Brien have two children, namely: Mabel Genevieve, a graduate of the high school, is now attending the Leland Stanford, Jr., University, being a member of the class of 1906; and Ethel, a pupil in the Merced high school, belonging to the class of 1906. The doctor is surgeon for the Merced district of the Santa Fe Railway, and is a member of the Pacific Coast Railroad Surgeons' Association. He is also a member of the American and State Medical associations, and of the San Joaquin Valley and the Merced County Medical societies, being also president of the latter society. He belongs to the Cooper Medical College Alumni Association, and is an active member and ex-president of the Merced Board of Trade. Politically Dr. O'Brien is a steadfast Democrat, and served as chairman of the Democratic county central committee. Fraternally the doctor is a member and past master of LaGrange Lodge No. 99, F. & A. M. ; of Merced Chapter No. 9, R. A. M. ; a member and past grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen ; and of the Woodmen of the World.