Luman H. Gaskill

The personal record books of San Diego pioneers are often a surprising source of contemporary lore. Business ledgers–sometimes used like personal filing cabinets, recorded everything from commercial activities and receipts, to family history and kitchen recipes.

Campo pioneer Luman Gaskill kept such a ledger book handy, writing entries for several decades. Luman would serve as the town storekeeper, banker, marshal, justice of the peace, dentist, and doctor. His book would become a remarkable compendium of folk remedies and household notes, as well as store receipts and accounts.

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