San Joaquin County
Biographies
DR. CHARLES SUMNER SARGENT
DR. C. S. SARGENT.--In the
history of the medical profession in San Joaquin County, many have figured who
have honored the fraternity they represented; but certainly none have advanced
to the front rank of their high profession at an earlier age than the gentleman
whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Stockton, October 21, 1860, his
parents being H. S. and Mary E. (Scammon) Sargent, early and prominent
residents of this city. He was reared in Stockton, and here received his
literary education. This concluded, he began preparation for a career in the
medical profession, commencing with office reading under Drs. L. E. & S. N.
Cross, in 1879. Devoting himself assiduously to his books, he was soon ready to
commence college study and began attendance at Hahnemann College, Philadelphia.
There he applied himself diligently and intelligently to the work before him,
taking advantage of the great opportunities there afforded to those who really
desire to acquire a solid knowledge of the profession, so that, when he was
graduated, in the class of 1881, it was with the prospect of a bright career
before him. It is to his credit that, though a young man, he has much more than
fulfilled this promise.
Returning to California, he located at
Lockeford, San Joaquin County, and there began the actual practice of medicine.
Three years later, desiring to avail himself of the progress made in his
profession since his graduation, he went to New York, where he regularly
attended the Ployclinic for one year. Returning again to this county, he
located in Stockton, and became associated in practice with the Drs. Cross. This
partnership continued until 1886, since which time he has been alone. His
advancement has been rapid, and to-day he is acknowledged among the foremost of
the physicians who have ever practiced in this county. His abilities have been
recognized abroad as well as at home, and in 1889 he was offered the
appointment to a prominent chair in the Hahnemann Hospital College of San
Francisco, in the following letter:
“San Francisco, November 12,
1889.
“Dear Dr. Sargent:
“Would you entertain a proposition looking
to the Chair of Obstetrics and a Directorship in the Hahnemann Hospital College
of this city?
By giving your immediate
reply, you will confer a favor upon, Your most truly,
“G. E. Davis.”
As an acceptance of the duties of the
proposition would entail the giving up of a considerable portion of his
extensive practice, thus involving a long personal sacrifice at such an early
period of his career, he felt compelled to decline the position and forego the
honor attaching to it.
The Doctor is the only physician in San
Joaquin County who performs those delicate operations grouped under the
professional classification of abdominal surgery, such cases, previous to his
undertaking them, having gone to San Francisco. In this field of surgical
skill, however, he has met with nothing but complete and flattering success.
His professional abilities, it may be stated, are not only appreciated by
citizens of the county who take pleasure in the success of a young man born and
reared among them, but his skill receives due credit and recognition at the
hands of his professional brethren.
Dr. Sargent is a member of the California
State Homeopathic Medical Society. He belongs to Morning Star Lodge, F. &
A. M., of Stockton; to the Lockeford Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a member and examining
surgeon of Nemo Lodge, K. of P., and of Stockton Parlor, N. S. G. W.
He was married in this city, in 1879 to
Miss Iddie B. Smith, a native of Kentucky.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 529-530. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
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