William J. Mellinger knew he needed to leave the Indiana farm of his birth and difficult childhood. In 1906, with only a 7th grade education, he left for Toronto, Canada, attended veterinary school, and set out to live life on his own terms. In time, he was practicing medicine in Santa Barbara,California, taking every available opportunity to add to the history of the city he loved. There were good times and troubled times which led him to his final times. You will wonder how he did it all.