Los Angeles County
Biographies
EDWIN GILMORE GOODRICH
GOODRICH, EDWIN GILMORE, Physician and Surgeon, Los Angeles, California, was born at Fulton, Wisconsin, October 19, 1867, the son of George Washington Goodrich and Mary Asenith (Cutlin) Goodrich. He married Ruth Anna Prosser at Kearney, Nebraska, December 19, 1890, and to them there have been born two children Ayleen Ellen and Edwin Glenn Goodrich.
Dr. Goodrich began his education in the public schools of Janesville, Wisconsin, but quite his studies when he was fifteen years of age when his family moved to Nebraska and for the next two years worked on the farm of his father, which was located near Northwest Minden, Nebraska.
When he was less than seventeen years of age the Doctor left his father’s farm and started out to make his own way in the world. He first went to Axtell, Nebraska, where he became a clerk in a hotel and remained there for about a year. He was of a self-reliant nature, with higher ambitions in life, and for several years after leaving the hotel business, traveled to various parts of Nebraska in different capacities. He work in different lines for the next few years and mastered several crafts, including the manufacture of harvester machinery. In association with C. D. Ayres, at Kearney, Nebraska, he came to be regarded as an expert in harvester machine construction and remained there until he moved to Cozad, Nebraska, in 1890, a period of about two and a half years.
At Cozad Dr. Goodrich went into business for himself and conducted a store for about two years, but at the end of that time sold out an moved further west. Locating in Los Angeles in 1892, he worked for several years in commercial lines, and while so engaged became interested in the study of medicine, a profession which he fully determined to follow as soon as practical. He devoted his leisure time to reading medical works and in 1899 he entered the Medical College of the University of Southern California. After four years of study he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
Immediately after his graduation, Dr. Goodrich passed the examinations for a post as interne in the County Hospital of Los Angeles and he served there for several years. In addition to his duties at the hospital, he was assigned to other public work, this including the care of all surgical cases at the public institutions, such as the County Jail and the Detention Home. When this latter department was established, Dr. Goodrich was chosen as chief physician and surgeon and he handled the first cases brought to the attention of the medical authorities of that institution. He also had charge of the medical work for the Associated Charities of Los Angeles and in this capacity was called upon to minister to thousands of the city’s needy. Dr. Goodrich was engaged in this public work for about a year and during that time came to be known as one of the most competent physicians and surgeons who had served the county in many years.
In 1904, he decided to go into private practice and opened offices in Los Angeles, but at the end of three years he was prevailed upon to accept another public office, being appointed Assistant Police Surgeon for the city of Los Angeles. He performed the duties of this office in addition to his private work and about the same time organized the Fraternal Hospital Association of Los Angeles. He was chosen as surgeon for this institution and he has handled all of its surgical cases for the last five years.
Dr. Goodrich is one of the prominent surgeons of the Southwest. In addition to the work already mentioned, he is physician to various fraternal organizations in Los Angeles, these including the Modern Woodmen, Woodmen of the World, Independent Foresters and the Odd Fellows. He holds membership in all of these orders and in addition is prominent in Masonic circles in the Southern California district.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 537,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2010 Joyce
Rugeroni.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPIES