Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-03

With the Mexican forces, and on the 10th
the command arrived at San Diego with
its wounded, Commodore Stockton hav-
ing arrived short time previously with
the United States squadron. January l,
l847 the commands of General Kearney
and Commodore Stockton were united,
the doctor being the ranking medical off
Ger. A march was then made towards
Los Angeles. On the 9th of January,
meeting the Mexican forces at San Ga
briel river, an engagement took place,
and driving them back, they crossed the
river some ten miles south of Los An
geles. On the 9th of January another
engagement with the Mexicans took
place at La Mesa, and on the 10Th they
took possession of Los Angeles, then
containing some 5000 or 1000 in
habitants. On the 18th or 14.h of
January, frees under General J.
Q. Fremont arriving at Los Angeles
from the north, General Ksarney's COM
mand was transferred to San Diego.
where the doctor was placed in charge of
the General hospital. In May, 1874, he
was ordered to report for duty at Los
Angeles, under Colonel j. D. Stephenson,
where he was on duty until May, 1849,
when he Was transferred to the ataff of
General Persifef Smith, as Medical Of
ticer. In 1850 he was stationed st Beni-
cia, where he rem aimed until 1852, when
he was ordered to San Diego to accom-
pany Msjor Heintzelman on an expedi-
ton against the Yuma Indians, on the
Colorado river. He then returned to
duty at Benicia. In 1858 he was ordered
By the War Department to report for
duty at Washington, d. O.. He remained
there until 1854, when, resigning his
commission, he returned to California
and permanently located at Los Angeles,
where he has since been engaged in the
practice Of medicine.
Dr. Griffin, after DR.. R. S. Den. is be-
lieved to be the oldest physician and
surgeon in Los Angeles, in which capa-
cities he has enjoyed the confidence of
some Of the best families in Los Angeles
for something like forty years, for his
skill became known to them while he
was yet an army surgeon.
Having in early times acquired large
tract of land east of the river, he may in
a sense be called the father of that beau
tiful suburb. East Los Angeles. He was
one of the original incorporators and
stockholder and director OF both the Los
Angeles City Water Company and the
Farmers and Merchants Bank. For
many years DIR. Griffin has been prom
inent as an influential and public spirited
citizen, as we'll as in his profession. He
is likewise one of the most genial Of gen.
tlemen.
The doctor was married in 1856, in Los
Angeles, to Miss Louisa Hays, native
of Maryland. She died in this city, May
| 2, 1888, at the age of 67 years.
[The foregoing sketch of our we'll
known fellow citizen is taken from the
publication, "Los Angeles County," to
which we have lately referred. DIR.
| Griffin is undoubtedly the father of East
Los Angeles. The writer, away back in
1873, visited the DOCTORS home place,
which afterwards passed into the hands
of his nephew, Hancock M. Johnston,
Esq, was purchased later by millionaire
Schiefelin, of Tombstone notoriety, and
presented to his father, and which was
the pioneer residence in what is now
known as East Los Angeles. The doctor
dearly loves joke, and in the old days
was wont TO tell one on himself. Years
and years ago-probably when General
Winfield Scott Hancock, Gen. Magruder
and score or more of the
most famous leaders in both the
Federal and Confederate armies and
the doctor were cumming together in
Los Angeles, DIR. Griffin was appointed
County Physician. Ddcats were scarce
in those days-much scarcer than acres,
and the DOCTORS salary ran greatly into
arrears. Finally novel idea occurred
! to the Board of Supervisors. They sug.
gested that while it would be difficult tc
remunerate the doctor in money it was
perfectly possible to hand him almost
any acreage desired. The doctor having
| signified HE acceptance, surveyor was
sent over to what is now known as East
Los Angeles to measure off the domain.
| That official kept on chaining 60 inter.
minably that, in the doctors own Ian
guage, he was obliged to take shotgun
to make the surveyor stop. There wal
an alarming probability that the sur
veyor would take in the whole county
outside the San Gabriel if he had beer
let alone. At that time no visions of the
fabulous growth of the East Side dis
turbed the DOCTORS vision or it would
have been very unlikely that he would
have interposed such formidable OBJ
stacle to the increase Of his worldly pos.
sessions as double barreled gun, loaded
with double B shot.
The doctor associated with himself il
the development of East Los Angeles his
nephew, Mr.. Hancock M. Johnston, anC
the East Side city was pushed with
pluck and sagacity: Its growth ha