Butte County
Biographies
JAMES N. CRABB, M. D.
JAMES N. CRABB, M. D.--A prominent
old-time physician of Northern California, who was as favorably spoken of as he
was widely known, and who, as might be expected, had much to do with founding
the neighborhoods in which he lived and directing the development of their
healthful social conditions, was Dr. James N. Crabb,
a resident of California from 1879 until his death, January 4, 1917. He was
born near Oxford, Benton County,
Ind., on June 9, 1851, the son of a farmer,
from which circumstance he was brought up on a farm and began his education at
the local public school. Later, he went to the Green
Hill Academy, and
then attended the State Normal
School at Terre Haute.
Graduating from that institution he engaged in teaching, and almost at the same
time began the study of medicine. In this way he made his entrance into the Cincinnati
Medical College,
and after a course of two years he again taught school and finally completed
his medical studies at the Keokuk Medical
College, from which, in 1878, he
graduated with the degree of M. D. Soon after graduation he began to practice
at Fisher, Ill.
On
March 25, 1879, Dr. Crabb was married at
Williamsport, Warren County, Ind., to Miss Hermina R.
Lesher, a native of that county, and the daughter of
Nathan and Caroline (Stout) Lesher, both of whom were
born in Berks County, Pa., and settled in Warren County, where they busied
themselves as farmers, and where they each died at the age of eighty-two. Two
children were born to them, and Mrs. Crabb is the
elder.
During
the July following his marriage Dr. Crabb brought his
bride to Vina, Tehama County, Cal., and there resumed
the practice of medicine. In 1882 he located at Millville,
Shasta County,
where he was soon known as the pioneer physician, and where he continued to
practice for eighteen years. No telephone bound together the scattered
residences in those days, and the work of the physician was arduous and often
accompanied with peril. While there he was county coroner and public
administrator.
In
1901, Dr. and Mrs. Crabb removed to Chico,
the doctor opening an office here and serving the community as a skilled
practitioner until his demise. He was a temperate man of high morals and guided
by the golden rule; and consequently he was widely esteemed and beloved. He was
a leader in the medical society in Shasta County,
was made a Mason at Millville, was
a member of the Chico Lodge, and in national politics was a Republican.
Three
daughters bore the honored name of Crabb: Caroline A.
became the wife and the widow of H. R. Washburn, and now resides in San
Francisco. She has a daughter, Lois R., who makes her
home with Mrs. Crabb. Alta resides at home, and Mina
C. lives in San Francisco. Mrs. Crabb continues to occupy the old homestead.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 785-786, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Sande Beach.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library