JAMES LOUGHRIDGE, M.D.

Sacramento County

Biographies

JAMES LOUGHRIDGE, M.D.

JAMES LOUGHRIDGE, M.D.--A distinguished representative of the medical profession in California, who will long be pleasantly recalled for his enviable record in public office, is Dr. James Loughridge, formerly health officer of Sacramento County, during 1919-1920, now resident at Folsom City, where he is well-known as a leading physician and surgeon. A native of the Hawkeye State, he was born on January 12, 1867, at Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, and was the son of John Mitchell and Emily (Bean) Loughridge, descending from Scotch-Irish ancestry on his father's side, and Scotch-English ancestry on the maternal side. When seven years of age, he began to attend the public school, at the same time that he began to make himself useful on his father's farm; and when he was old enough to do so, he attended and completed the literary courses at a Presbyterian institution of higher learning of excellent standing in and beyond Iowa.

James Loughridge then returned to the farm, and for nine long years successfully followed agricultural pursuits; but owing to the dismal prospect of a farmer's son in those days, he grew to dislike farm-work and resolved to abandon the country and to do something for which he was better fitted. Very fortunately, he was led to take up the study of medicine, for he has not only demonstrated his native gifts, but has come to find his highest pleasure in that field in serving his fellow-men. He entered the medical college of the state university at Kansas City in 1895, and four years later he was awarded the coveted degree of M.D., having evinced excellent scholarship through all his academic courses, and passed the examinations with high honors. He served a short time as interne at the State University Hospital under Dr. Jabez N. Jackson, and in July, 1899, he removed to Lincoln Center, Kans., where he opened his first offices and for thirteen years actively practiced medicine. During his stay at Lincoln Center he served for four years as county health officer, and for the last six years as official resident surgeon for the Union Pacific Railroad.

In 1912, he removed to California to reside in the Golden State, and for a short time resided at Ontario. In April, 1913, he passed the state board examination at Los Angeles, and soon after that chose Folsom City as his permanent place of residence. He is active in the county and state medical societies, and in the American Medical Association, whose conventions he has attended on numerous occasions. He has done considerable research work, and at present is much occupied with the duties of public health counsel of the American Health Association, cooperating in their prime object, the attainment of the immediate checking of all disease and contagion by an accurate and prompt dispatch of reports, and the quarantining of all cases which may come under the observation of the members in their respective districts.

Dr. Loughridge has built up a lucrative practice not limited to the city of Folsom alone, but he is frequently called upon to respond to appeals from outlying territory. He goes to the north as far as Salmon Falls, west for ten or twelve miles, south for twenty miles, and to the east as far as Shingle Springs, and some idea of the extent to which he has been called upon to serve continuously in this exceptionally extensive territory may be gathered from the fact that he has worn out on business calls alone at least four high-powered motor cars, having been overworked during 1918-1920 on account of the prevalence of influenza when it was epidemic. During the past six years he has been retained by the Natomas Company of California as the company's physician. He has one hobby, and one only --- devotion to the sick.

At Abilene, Kans., in 1904, Dr. Loughridge was married to Miss Anna Sholl, a native of Kansas, where she was born the daughter of a prominent farmer; and two children have blessed this union; Jack Malone is a student in the San Juan high school, a member of the class of '24, and he is popular for his excellent work and his interest in the R. O. T. C.; John S., who was also born in Kansas, attends the Granite Grammar School at Folsom. Dr. Loughridge is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Encampment, belonging to Granite Lodge No. 63, in which he is a past noble grand. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and a past commander in that order. He is liberal in his views, and delights in contributing, as far as he is able, to charity. Mrs. Loughridge must be commended on her untiring work in the establishing and conducting of the Red Cross store at Folsom City, and her leadership is never questioned. Her corps of able assistants will also be remembered by hundreds of people who patronized this store and its remarkable exhibits, during the dark days of the World War. In view of such a record, it is pleasant to note that Dr. Loughridge has valuable ranch property near Ontario in San Bernardino County, embracing sixteen acres of fine citrus grove, nine years old; and he also owns his residence at Folsom City.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 865. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.