Drown, Ezra

DROWN

Posted By: Bill Rathbun (email)
Date: 2/6/2005 at 19:18:12

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, by the Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, 1889, page 162.

General Ezra Drown came from Iowa in 1853. In that state he had been Brigadier-General of Militia. He, with his wife and two (?) children were passengers on the ill-fated steamer Independence which was burned off the coast of Lower California in the summer of 1853. The General was a cool, brave man and a good swimmer. He placed his wife on a hen coop and cautioned her to keep cool and wait his return. He swam ashore with his two children. He then swam off to the rescue of his wife. When in full view, a human wretch pushed the poor woman off her frail bark and she sank to rise no more, when almost with reach of the saving hand of her husband. The heart-broken man came to Los Angeles with his two children, one of whom now resides here, the honored son of a noble sire. Drown was a scholarly, able and most eloquent advocate. His only fault was his too great generosity. He died here in the 60’s.