Dr. Edwin K. Abbott was born in Hatley, Canada on December 27, 1840. During the Civil War, he enlisted into the 9^th Illinois Calvary in Company “I” on October 7, 1864 out of Chicago and was mustered out on October 13, 1865 in Chicago.  He moved to California and located himself in “Salinas City”. In 1873 he married Millie E. French. Dr. Abbott died in Monterey at his residence on Alvarado Street on June 11, 1918; he was taken to the IOOF Cemetery in Salinas, California.

There is a decent amount of information on this man; the following are transcriptions from local sketches and obituary, and a incident article.

ABBOTT, Edwin K. 1840-1918; Monterey IOOF Cemetery Salinas, CA.

Monterey and San Benito Counties History and Biological Record Pg. 604

Edwin K Abbott

In the medical profession of Monterey county Dr. E.K. Abbott occupies a position of importance and influence.  Noted for his keen intellectual and mental attainments and for his professional knowledge and enterprise, he has met with satisfactory results in his practice of medicine and surgery since coming to the Pacific coast and has built up an extensive practice throughout Monterey county, where he holds the rank of being the oldest practitioner in point of continuous practice.

Dr. Abbott was born in the town of Hatley, Canada, December 27, 1840, the son of Abiel B. and Sabrie (Young) Abbott.  The progenitor of this family came to the United States from England and settled in Massachusetts in 1640 and since that time the family have been closely identified in all movements for the up building of the country.  When Edwin K. was but five years of age his parents moved to the Middle West and settled in DeKalb County, Ill., where the father engaged in farming.  It was on this farm that the son was reared and where he received his early education in the district schools near his home; this was later supplemented by a course taken in a literary college in Hillsdale, Mich., form which he was graduated with a degree of A.B. in 1869.  In the meantime he had decided to follow the medical profession, and with this object in view matriculated in the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from which, in 1871 he received his MD.  He then came to California and settled in Salinas, where in addition to the practice of his profession he also established a drug business.  His place of location, no less than the calling which he had chosen for his life work, had been well selected, and during the thirty-four years that he was associated with this city and surrounding country he gained a professional eminence and business standing worthy of his knowledge and skill.  In 1904 Dr. Abbott located in the town of Monterey, whether his fame had preceded him, and here as in Salinas he stands at the head of the medical profession; indeed it may well be said of him that he holds this position throughout the county.

Dr. Abbot's marriage, which was solemnized in 1873, in Medina, Ohio, united him with Miss Millie E. French and by this marriage five children have been born, viz; Dana L., employed with the Spreckles Company; Mary, who died in early childhood; E. Ruth, a teacher in the Salinas schools, Frederick A., deceased; and Bertha M., the wife of Carl H. Abbott, residents of Monterey County.  For many years Dr. Abbott has been affiliated with the Masonic order, having joined the lodge in Hillsdale, Mich., in 1868, and since coming to California has transferred his membership to the lodge in Salinas.  he is president of the Monterey County medical Society, a member of the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.  The doctor is one of the directors of the Pacific Grove museum and has contributed many botanical specimens to the institution.  

Monterey County, Harrison Page 54

E.K. Abbott was born in Canada, in December, 1840, but passed his boyhood in Northern Illinois.  He received his education at Hillsdale College, Michigan, where the literary degree of A.B. was conferred upon him.  He afterwards graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor.  He served Uncle Sam faithfully under the old flag for one year during the war.  In 1871 he came to California and located in Salinas City, where he began the practice of medicine.  Two years later he went east and was married in Medina Ohio, to Miss Millie E. French of that place, and returned with his bride to Salinas where they have resided ever since.  The Doctor owns a fine drug store, to which he has added the book and stationery business.  And he is one of Salinas City's representative Prohibitionists.  He has kept the meteorological record for the United States Government since 1872.

Salinas Daily Index July 14, 1909

Dr. Abbott Hurt

He and Dr. Carlotta Deckelman Hurled Out of Runaway Rig

Dr. Carlotta Deckelman and Dr. E.K. Abbott were both injured yesterday by being thrown out of the buggy in which they were riding.  The two doctors were returning from Idlewild when the horses they were driving became frightened and ran away on Sierra hill.

Dr. Deckelman sustained a fracture of the knee and had several teeth knocked out and her body was considerably bruises.  She was picked up unconscious and taken to Monterey.  Dr. Abbott was only slightly hurt.

Both are well known physicians of this county.  Dr. Abbott’s family lives in Salinas.

Salinas Daily Index June 11, 1918

The Passing of Dr. E.K. Abbott

Dr. E.K. Abbott a well known Monterey physician and one of the oldest practitioners of the county passed away at his home in Monterey last night.  His family was present as death was not unexpected.

The deceased was born in Canada, December 27, 1840, and is a direct descendent of the noted Abbott family of New England.  He was educated in Illinois and received a literary degree at Hillsdale College in 1869. In 1871 he graduated from the University of Michigan received the degree MD

Dr. Abbott came to Salinas the same year and began the practice of medicine, removing to Monterey about ten or eleven years ago.  He had three children.  His many friends have learned of his death with sorrow.

Monterey Daily Cypress June 11, 1918

Pioneer Doctor Has Passed Away

Dr. E.K. Abbott Answers Final Summons This Morning

Dr. E.K. Abbott, who had been practicing medicine in this county for nearly half a century, passed away at his residence on Alvarado street at an early hour this morning.  Dr. Abbott had been in a rather weak condition for some time but he had at all times until the very last insisted upon taking care of his practice.

Dr. Abbott was born in Canada on November 27th 1840.  His people were of the old and well known New England Abbott family, but had moved to Canada some time before. While he was yet a boy they moved to Illinois, where he grew to manhood.

He took an active part in the Civil War for several years and afterwards completed his studies in medicine at the University of Michigan in 1871.  After that he came west to try his fortune, and landed in Salinas when that place was just beginning to show itself as a town.  There he practiced his profession and conducted a pharmacy until 1904, when he came to Monterey.

He joined the Masonic lodge at a very early age and had been a member for nearly half a century at the time of his death, being a Past Master of Salinas Lodge.  He was also a member of a number of other orders and was always a staunch support of the Chamber of Commerce here.

Dr. Abbott was a man of strong convictions.  Many years ago, before most of our present day reformers were born, he took up the prohibition cause and was to the time of his death an outspoken enemy of strong drink.  He was a virile American and sincerely advocated a sound trouncing for the Kaiser at our hands before most of our people looked at it that way.

He was widely acquainted throughout the country and had a host of friends among all classes of people, bother here and in Salinas.  He is survived by his widow and three children- Mrs. Edwin Clough of Watsonville, Mrs. Carl Abbott of King City and Dana L. Abbott of Salinas.  Three brothers also survive him, A.H. Abbott of Soledad, P.R. Abbott of Wyoming and O.A. Abbott of Nebraska.  He had many cousins in this country and was a nephew of the well known pioneer, Carr Abbott of Salinas.

The Cypress-American joins the many friends of the decedent in extending condolences to the bereaved family.  The funeral will take place in Salinas at two o’clock Thursday afternoon.

Compiled and Submitted: by Tim P. Reese, PCC  
Camp Abe Lincoln #10 based out of Santa Cruz, Ca  
Dept. of Calif. and Pacific  
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War  
Sep 2009

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