Sonoma County Biography
Fred Newton Folsom, M. D.
A gratifying medical and surgical practice, and an honored place as man and citizen in the community of Forestville, Sonoma county, have not come to Fred N. Folsom through any special advantages of fortune or encouragement along the lines of influence or money. On the other hand, he had to make his own way unaided, obtaining the means to prosecute his medical studies by following the teacher's profession until his studies were completed.
Aside from pride of accomplishment in professional lines, Dr. Folsom is proud to claim birth as a Native Son, being a native of Marysville, Yuba county, where he was born July 6, 1871, the son of Hiram Folsom, who came as a pioneer to the state in 1852 and is now living in Marysville at the age of eighty years. He is a native of New England, born in New Hampshire, while his wife was born in New York state; the latter died in Marysville in March, 1910, at the age of sixty-nine years. The possibilities of the mines had been the chief attraction in bringing the elder Mr. Folsom to the west in 1852 and for some time he followed mining with more or less success in Plumas county. Besides the subject of this sketch the parental family included another son, Clarence E. Folsom, who is now engaged as an electrician in Oakland.
Although a miner during his earliest years in the west, the father later turned his attention to farming, and on the home ranch Fred N. Folsom grew to a sturdy boyhood and youth, and when he had attained school age, was a pupil in the schools of Prairie, Yuba county. After his graduation from grammar school he took an examination for teacher, and passing is successfully, began his career as a teacher at the early age of eighteen, in 1889, and continued to follow it until 1894. With the proceeds of six years efforts he began his medical studies in San Francisco, taking the regular course, from which he graduated May 20, 1896. From the metropolis he returned to Laporte, Plumas county, and opened an office for the practice of his profession, and from the first received the patronage of the b3est and most influential citizens of the town. His identification with Sonoma county dates from the year 1902, when he located in Windsor. From there he removed to Forestville in 1905, continuing his practice there five years, when he located in Sebastopol October 20, 1910, since which time he has built up a fine practice, not confined to the immediate vicinity of this town, but extending to all parts of Sonoma county.
Dr. Folsom's marriage, February 4, 1911, united him with Mrs. Annie McLaren, a native of California. By a former marriage Dr. Folsom had one child, Ortis Fred Folsom, born March 10, 1898, and now a pupil in the schools of Santa Cruz. Politically Dr. Folsom is a Republican, and fraternally his affiliations include membership in the Odd Fellows Lodge at Forestville, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the United Artisans. Next to his love for the profession which he has chosen for his life work Dr. Folsom has a deep fondness for man's best friend, the horse, and has raised many high bred trotting horses. He was formerly the owner of Starlock, a fine standard-bred trotting stallion, which he has recently sold.
History of Sonoma County, California
History by Tom Gregory : Historic Record Company, 1891
Los Angeles, Ca. 1911
Transcribed by Roberta Hester Leatherwood
September 2008 Pages 491-492
Sonoma County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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