San Francisco County
Biographies
J.
P. P. VAN DEN BERGH, M. D.
J. P. P. Van Den
Bergh, M.D., who has retired from active practice, is one of the pioneer
physicians of California, having been in practice in this State since 1850,
most of the time in San Francisco. He
was born in Aix-la-Chapelle, on the Rhine, Germany, in 1815, soon after the
defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, the son of Casper Lietrio
Van Den Bergh, who was also a physician, and practiced for many years in
Germany and France. He was an army
physician with Napoleon I, and in the French invasion to Moscow lost his nose
and upper lip.
The subject of
this sketch received his early education in the gymnasium off his native city,
and later entered the University of Bonn, where he graduated in 1834, receiving
the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He at
once went to Brussels, where for three years he was engaged in medical
practice. He was then commissioned an
Assistant Surgeon to the British army in the East India service, but through
the influence of a medical friend he resigned his commission and remained in
the hospital service in England for three years. In 1839 he came to the United States, where
he engaged in the practice of medicine in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and later in
Richland county, Ohio.
In 1847 he removed to Iowa, where he was among the early settlers, and
where he was engaged in his profession until 1850. In the spring of that year he crossed the
plains to California, arriving in August, and after a short time devoted to
merchandising, Dr. Van Den Bergh again took up the practice of medicine, which
he continued until twelve years ago, when he was disabled by an accident in
which his hip was crushed. Since that
time he has devoted himself to real estate operations and building.
The Doctor has
been three times married and has had twenty-four children, ten of whom are now
living. He has had for many years an
extensive practice, and is one of the very few men yet living, who was in
practice in this State in 1850.
Transcribed by Donna L. Becker.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2,
pages 83-84, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Donna L. Becker.