History

In the fall of 1867, Thomas C. Still was a frontier doctor in pueblo San Luis Obispo. His medical cases were the usual ones found in the western edge: children saved after being badly burned while playing with matches near tumbleweeds; and angry woman talked out of a demand or an abortion; a vaquero’s toes bandage after surgery because of a drunken rage he had tried to shoot off his aching corns, knife slashing, and gunshot wounds. Births and deaths. Doctor Still attended his numerous patients, improving and doing the best he could under difficult circumstances.
Thomas Chalmers Still was born July 6, 1833 in western Virginia. In due time, he completed the “prescribed courses” in medical college and became a doctor. On March 24, 1858. In Kansas he married Martha Ann Allen. After the birth of their second child Martha became gravely ill from an attack of the “black measles” and found her recovery slow and uncertain. Because of this, Thomas, Martha and their two young sons, in the spirit of 1863, joined a wagon train heading to California, where they desperately sought a frier climate for Martha’s health.
They had lived in several California communities before moving to San Luis Obispo, where Dr. Still built a considerable practice. After five years however, Martha has a relapse because of the damp coastal climate. The growing Still family them moved inland to the dry climate of Ortiga Springs and late, to was to become their home place, La Panza. With the aid of seven children, the Stills set up a store, an Inn, and the La Panza Post Office (1879) within their home. Family members tried their luck at mining near Vasquez Canyon where gold had been discovered in 878.
Doctor Still continued practice medicine, later adding to his skills a medical treatment called Osteopathy, which was developed by his brother Andrew Still in Missouri.
Speaking about his grandmother’s health. Othor (Angus) MacLean, noted present day author of area legends said, “The dry mountain air of La Panza did seem the answer, Martha lived to 1907, raised her family and was fairly active up to the time of her death.”
Eighty nine-year-old Thomas C. Still was an energetic doctor until his death, August 20, 1922. He as buried in San Luis Obispo by the side of his wife who had preceded him by fifteen years.
After their parent’s death, the Still children remained in the area, mostly farming in Annette country, Abram married Minnie Wolf: William raised sheep in Annette country; Edward married Lelia Penwell; Aruna married Albert Davies; Othor farmed Annette country, La Panza and Carrisa Plains; Birma married John MacLean; and Mentley, known as “California’s Blind Poet” married Ann Ross.
One of Birma (Still) MacLean daughters was Ione (MacLean) Bowman, 87 Pioneer Day Queen, who died in 1988. Ione and John Bowman had two daughters, Judith B Foss and Patricia B. McDonald and grandson John Bowman McDonald.
Ione’s sister, Una (MacLean) Todd, who lives ub Santa Margarita with her husband Leonard, was one of Ione’s queen attendants. Una and Leonard were the Queen and King of the Santa Margarita’s “Day of the Dons” on September 10, 986. The Todds have three children, Leonard MacLean, James Samici and Leonie Alene.
Una’s brother, Duncan and Othor MacLean, still live in the North County area along with many other descendants of the Still family.
Related Families: Allen, Wolf, Penwell, Davies, MacLean, Ros, Wallin, Newsom, Hatch, Bowman, Todd.