San
Joaquin County
Biographies
IRA B. LADD, M. D.
A distinguished representative of
the medical profession in California whom prosperity will always delight to
honor was the late Dr. Ira B. Ladd, who was born at Stockton on May 28, 1868, the
son of George S. and Abigail (Bourland) Ladd, the former a Vermonter, and the
latter a native of Arkansas. George Ladd
was born at Danville on May 28, 1832, came out to California in 1853, reaching
Stockton by way of Panama on January 14, 1853.
He died at Stockton on April 25, 1902.
He was one of Stockton’s most honored citizens, and was closely
identified with educational progress and real estate and commercial enterprises
there. As a result of his particular
interest in educational movements he was in 1867 appointed superintendent of
schools; and he held that office until 1880.
He also served as a member of the city council, and was appointed by
Governor George Perkins state commissioner of the Yosemite Valley. Mrs. Ladd, the mother of our subject, was
born on January 30, 1840, and is a charming lady of enviable accomplishments.
Ira B. Ladd was educated in the
public schools of Stockton, was graduated from the Cooper Medical College of
San Francisco, and became one of Stockton’s leading physicians. He was a skillful surgeon, and built up a
large practice. He was city health
officer of Stockton for a number of years, and when the Emergency Hospital was
opened in Stockton he became surgeon-in-charge, and occupied that position of
responsibility until his death, which occurred on June 5, 1913. Then, in his lamented passing, the city lost
one of its most progressive and public-spirited citizens. He had ardently loved the city of his birth,
and was always interested in any movement that promised to advance its
interests. He also enlisted in the
Spanish-American War, and served with distinction as chief-surgeon, with the
rank of captain, while he was stationed at Manila, in the Philippine
Islands. He belonged to the National and
State Medical Associations and County Medical Society, and was also prominent
in fraternal orders, being a member of Lodge No. 218, Stockton Elks, and also
the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities.
He had a fine tenor voice, and was prominent in musical circles in
Stockton, where he often participated with enthusiasm in benefit programs. While attending college he had taken up the
study of the pipe organ, and had played in the churches of San Francisco.
Dr. Ladd’s first wife, Mrs. Mollie
Ladd, was the daughter of Mrs. Christopher Grattan. On December 29, 1910, Dr. Ladd was united
with Miss Mabel Elliott, a native of the state of Washington, and this union
was blessed with the birth of two sons, Ira M. and Bourland E. Ladd. Shortly before his death, he bought a
twenty-acre ranch on the Farmington Road, near Nightingale, which he planted to
peaches and walnuts. Mrs. Ladd, upon the
demise of her esteemed husband, took charge of the ranch and brought it to a
high state of cultivation; and then she disposed of the property. From all of which it will be seen that,
distinguished as he was in the medical world, Dr. Ladd was something more than
a mere professional man; and active and successful as he was in promoting and
caring for his own affairs, he was influential and helpful, as a broad-minded,
progressive leader, in giving direction and impetus to movements, and in
co-operating with others in public activities, likely to be of the greatest
good to the greatest number.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
832-835. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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