Alonzo Ainsworth (1831-1865) was an American physician, in San Bernardino County, and its first official county physician in 1862. One of two physicians whose personal quarrel in September 1859, escalated into the Ainsworth - Gentry Affair.
Early Life
editAlonzo Ainsworth was born in 1831 in, Lisbon, St. Lawrence County, New York.[1]
Dr. Ainsworth, was a physician when he came to San Benardino County, California, sometime in 1858 or early 1859.
An 1890 history of Southern California asserted he was the second physician to come to San Bernardino after Dr. Ira Burris, in 1852.[2]: 436 However contempory sources, The State Register and Year Book of Facts, 1857, and that of 1859, which lists the physicians in the county in 1857 and 1858 do not list him. [3][4] He is first mentioned in contemporary sources as a doctor in the county in connection with the Ainsworth - Gentry Affair in September, 1859.[5]
Ainsworth - Gentry Affair, 1859
editThe origin of the affair was described by the Los Angeles Star:
- "a disagreement arises between two citizens, leading to a personal conflict,..."
The Daily Alta California 27 September 1859, wrote that: "a difficulty took place between Dr. Gentry and Dr. Ensworth [Ainsworth], the former narrowly escaping being shot dead, the ball cutting part of the flesh from his forehead. The friends of Gentry raised a cry of Mormonism, and sent for reinforcements of guns and men to the Monte, which was readily granted. When the assistance arrived, the friends of both parties prevailed on the Monte party to return, which they did after a good deal of persuasion. The second day after, a man named Frank Green and Bethel Coopwood met on the street, when they commenced firing at each other. In less than five minutes, friends, of each party came up, armed with rifles, shot guns, pistols, &c. Upwards of fifty shots were fired from houses and the open street. The Mormon party, as the friends of Gentry call them, being defeated, three of their number being badly wounded. ... On the other side, Frank Green is the only one known to be wounded. The most intense excitement prevailed, stores all closed and business suspended. The authorities were unable to stop the proceedings."[5]
Later Life
editThe 1860 Census taken in June of that year showed that Dr. Ainsworth was now married to 17 year old Elisa Ellen Wixom the daughter of a neighbor, Nathan Wixom, a Mormon farmer and stockman who had returned to his San Bernardino farm in 1858, after leaving in the Mormon Exodus for Utah in the fall of 1857.[6] Alonzo and Eliza would have a daughter Olive Jane Ainsworth, in 1863.[1]
-O'Donnell death of malpractice by Dr. Ainsworth, quarrel over money with court, jailed for contempt. [7]
-Bitter Springs incident, Mar. 1860. Ainsworth treats Jackman, takes home to nurse. [7] see L A. Star March - April 1860
During the 1862-1863 smallpox epidemic in Southern California, the San Bernardino County board of supervisors designated Dr. Ainsworth as its first official county physician. His job was to treat the indigent who were sick. Much of the Native American population in the county and Southern California in general suffered especially from this disease and many died. Due to the collapse of the property tax revenue of the county, caused by the drought of 1863-1864, Anisworth's post of county physician was eliminated in 1863.[8]
Alonzo Ainsworth died September 4, 1865, in San Bernardino, and was buried in its Pioneer Memorial Cemetery.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Alonzo Ainsworth, from findagrave.com, accessed May 1, 2017
- ^ Illustrated history of Southern California: embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill. 1890.
- ^ The State Register and Year Book of Facts, 1857, San Bernardino County pp.300-302 San Bernardino County
- ^ The State Register and Year Book of Facts for the Year 1859, Henry G. Langley and Samuel A. Morrison, San Francisco, 1859, p.360-362 San Bernardino County
- ^ a b Daily Alta California, Volume 11, Number 268, 27 September 1859, p.1, col.2 OUR LOS ANGELES CORRESPONDENCE - September 24
- ^ Nathan Jasper Wixom from findagrave.com accessed December 11, 2016
- ^ a b Pioneer of the Mojave: The Life and Times of Aaron G. Lane Page 5 LANE'S CROSSING
- ^ Roger A. Smith, M.D., Portraits in History: The San Bernardino County Medical Center 1855-1998, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, Ca., 1999