These are Plumas County biographies that were published in the book Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties (Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882). These biographies are available in full-text form by clicking on a specific name. Some Lassen County and some Sierra County biographies may be included here. Wherever possible, full names have been provided where, in the book, individuals were listed by initials only. This additional information was provided by Elizabeth E. Bullard, using Plumas County census records, vital records, voter registrations, court records, and other historical documents as source materials. Known misspellings and typographical errors in the book also have been corrected on this page. Corrections to names and errors are {bracketed}.
Joshua C. Abbott { Joshua Chandler Abbott } (p. 294)
“Old Man Abbott,” the first settler in Big Meadows, built a cabin near the present town of Prattville, in 1855. In 1860 he located near the Abbott spring, now the Dotta ranch. He sold out in 1873, and moved to Modoc county in the vicinity of Goose lake. He was only seventy-five years of age, and said he wanted to “grow up with the country.” At last account he was still growing.
J. C. Adams { John Charles Adams } (p. 271)
This gentleman was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, July 8, 1835. In 1837 his parents removed to Illinois, where our subject lived until 1862, when he came to California overland. He arrived in Virginia City, Nevada, in September, where he remained a short time. In August, 1863, he came to Sierra valley, where he located a ranch of 160 acres, to which he has since added 120 acres. September 16, 1856, he was married to Miss Mary E. Miller, who was born in Will county, Illinois, September 4, 1840. The children were born as follows: Angeline, June 30, 1857, died July 1, 1857; Almeda, May 14, 1858, died January 2, 1869; B. Franklin, September 13, 1860, died January 8, 1861; Charles C., October 29, 1861, died December 18, 1869; Lydia J., January 5, 1864; Alva, June 26, 1866, died January 7, 1869; Loren W., July 1, 1868, died May 21, 1869; Edgar, October 27, 1871, died December 1, 1872; Horace G., April 24, 1873; William A., August 2, 1875.
Antone Bacher (p. 307)
Was born January 6, 1832, at Baden, Germany. At the age of fourteen he left home to learn the baker’s trade, and after an apprenticeship of two years he worked as a journeyman for three years. In 1851 he came to America, and lived three years in Clinton county, Pennsylvania. He then removed to Jackson county, Iowa, where he bought a farm and lived on it seven years. In the spring of 1861 he came overland to California, arriving at Indian valley, Plumas county, September 22, 1861. In the fall of 1865 he bought the Ross ranch, first containing 86 acres, to which he has added 338 acres. In June, 1851, he was married to Elizabeth Weshing of Germany, and to them have been born the following children: Joseph, Andrew, Sarah, Albert, Frank, Levy, and George, all of whom are living.
Walter M. Banet { should be Barret - Walter Melville Barret } (pp. 267-268)
He was born in Hudsonville, Mississippi, June 26, 1855. At the age of nine he, with his parents, removed to Covington, Tennessee. Here he was reared and educated, and when eighteen years of age commenced the study of medicine at the Missouri medical college, from which he graduated with credit to himself, after finishing two courses. He then commenced the practice of medicine in Covington, Tennessee, and became county physician, which place he filled two years. In April, 1881, he came to Nevada, and served until October as surgeon in the United States Indian service at Wadsworth. He then removed to Loyalton, Sierra valley, and has already acquired a very large and lucrative practice in Sierra, Clover, and Mohawk valleys.
Robert I. Barnett { Robert Irvine Barnett } (p. 182)
Mr. Barnett was a native of Richmond, Kentucky, but at an early age removed to Missouri. He served in the Mexican war under Colonel Doniphan of Missouri. In 1849 he emigrated to California, and came to the Plumas part of Butte before its organization into a county. Immediately after the organization he settled in Quincy, and assisted County Clerk Harbison in his office during the summer of 1854. He had been admitted to the bar in Missouri, and on the nineteenth of June, 1854, was admitted by Judge Joseph W. McCorkle to practice in the court of this district. He was elected district attorney in the fall of 1856, and served two years. He was married at Spanish Ranch, October 26, 1857, to Miss Caroline F. Doggett, by whom he had four children. Mr. Barnett resided in Quincy until 1860, when he went to San Jose, where, on the eighth of January, 1880, he committed suicide.
T. S. Battelle { Thomas Smith Battelle } (p. 270)
This is one of the early settlers in the valley. He was born in Washington county, Ohio, August 20, 1812. His father, Ebenezer Battelle, was one of the earliest settlers of that state, and died in his ninety-eighth year. When twenty-two years of age, our subject went to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and dealt in merchandise for three years. Then he spent another three years in the same business at Clarksburg, Virginia, and several years at Muscatine, boating on the Mississippi. In 1852 he came overland to California, and farmed two years near Marysville. In 1854 he came to the Sierra valley, and located a ranch of 480 acres close to Sierraville, where he has since lived. He was married August 29, 1833, to Grace A. Fleming of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and she died June 19, 1849. By her he had eight children, three of whom are living. On the first of March, 1850, he was again married, to Louisa Anderson of Pennsylvania, who died October 26, 1870. Mr. Battelle was married a third time, April 25, 1872, to Mrs. S. L. West of Waseca, Minnesota.
B. B. Baugh { Benjamin Burrall Baugh } (p. 310)
Son of A. B. { Archibald Bolling } and C. L. { Caroline E. Wash } Baugh, was born in Powhatan county, Virginia, August 18, 1827. At the age of twenty-two he became one of the argonautic ‘49ers who crossed the plains to the Pacific coast, and first mined at Stringtown, on the south fork of Feather river, in the winter of 1849, being the one to erect the first house in the place. He mined at various camps until 1855, when he came to Plumas county, where he since resided, with the exception of a year spent in Virginia City, Nevada. He has been engaged principally in the liquor business at Meadow valley, and at Crescent, his present home. In politics he is democratic.
Alexander Beaton (p. 263)
He is a native of Cumberland county, Nova Scotia. His parents were Francis and Janet Beaton of Scotch nativity. Alexander worked on a farm until twenty-six years of age, and then lived for a time in Boston, New York, and other places. In 1866 he came to California, via Panama, and settled in Tuolumne county, where he was engaged in teaming. In 1870 he bought his present home in Sierra valley, which consists of 160 acres of grazing land. Mr. Beaton was married December 11, 1870 to Mrs. Elvira M. Colby, widow of Hiram T. Colby, and a native of Vermont, where she was first married. Her children by the first marriage are Elvie A., born September 20, 1857, and Leland A., born October 11, 1866. Mr. Beaton’s children are Arial F., born December 12, 1871, and Hattie L., born June 19, 1874. Mr. Beaton is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Sierraville.
James P. Beckwourth { James Pierson Beckwourth } (pp. 256-259)
Lying partly in Plumas and partly in Sierra county is the largest valley to be found in the whole Sierra chain. With an altitude of 5,000 feet above the level of the sea, its atmosphere is cool, clear, and healthful. Since 1853 it has been settled by an agricultural population, and is now one of the most prosperous sections of the state, containing six villages, Beckwourth, Summit, Sierraville, Loyalton, Randolph, and Craycroft, the last four being in Sierra county, in which the larger portion of the valley lies.
The valley is entered at its north-eastern end through Beckwourth pass, discovered by James P. Beckwourth, whose name was also applied in former years to the valley. Beckwourth was an old “mountain man,” or trapper, a story of whose life, dictated by himself and written by Thomas D. Bonner, was published in 1856 by Harper & Brothers of New York. The narrative abounds with the exaggeration usual to the mountaineers in relating their adventures to auditors who have no means of disproving them – and art in which Beckwourth excelled his companions because of his long residence with the boastful savages. In fact, it contains hundreds of what a miner characterized as “some of Jim Beckwourth’s lies.” The book reveals the fact that the hero was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, February 26, 1798, from whence the family moved to Missouri a few years later. When quite a young man he began his life on the plains and in the mountains, accompanying General Ashley in his trapping expeditions. For years he lived among the Crow Indians, of which tribe he claims to have been for a long time the head chief and ruler. He came to California in 1844, and remained until the war with Mexico. His part in the struggle in this state consisted of stealing a large band of horses (1,800 he says), and getting out of the country as rapidly as possible with five valiant companions, leaving others to fight the battles. In 1849 he again came back to California. We give the particulars of the discovery of the pass and settlement in the valley as they appear in the book. By following the chronology of the volume, the discovery is placed in the year 1850; but it will appear, as the narrative progresses, that it must have been in 1851. After speaking of a prospecting trip to Pit river, he says:
“While on this excursion I discovered what is now known as Beckwourth’s pass in the Sierra Nevada. From some of the elevations over which we passed I remarked a place far away to the southward that seemed lower than any other. I made no mention of it to my companion, but thought that at some future time I would examine into it further. I continued on to Shasta with my fellow-traveler, and returned after a fruitless journey of eighteen days. After a short stay in the American valley, I again started with a prospecting party of twelve men. We killed a bullock before starting [there were no bullocks in American valley in April, 1850], and dried the meat, in order to have provisions to last us during the trip. We proceeded in an easterly direction, and all busied themselves in searching for gold; but my errand was of a different character. I had come to discover what I suspected to be a pass."
“It was the latter end of April [it was impossible for him to have traveled through this region as early as March, 1850, as he must have done to have gone up the Pit river, then to Shasta, then made a stop in American valley, and finally reach Sierra valley in the last of April, a month before the Gold-lakers started; in the spring of 1851 it could have been done, and he could also then get a “bullock” in American valley of the Turner brothers] when we entered upon an extensive valley at the north-west extremity of the Sierra range. The valley was already robed in freshest verdure, contrasting most delightfully with the huge snow-clad masses of rock we had just left. Flowers of every variety and hue spread their variegated charms before us; magpies were chattering, and gorgeously-plumaged birds were caroling their delights of unmolested solitude. Swarms of wild geese and ducks were swimming on the surface of the cool, crystal stream, which was the central fork of the Rio de las Plumas, or sailed the air in clouds over our heads. Deer and antelope filled the plains, and their boldness was conclusive that the hunter’s rifle was to them unknown. Nowhere visible were any traces of the white man’s approach, and it is probable that our steps were the first that marked the spot. [Some of the searchers for Gold lake had seen the valley from the mountains, in June, 1850.] We struck across this beautiful valley to the waters of the Yuba, from thence to the waters of the Trucky (Truckee), which latter flowed in an easterly direction, telling us we were on the eastern slope of the mountain range. This I at once saw would afford the best wagon road into the American valley, approaching from the eastward; and I imparted my views to three of my companions in whose judgment I placed the most confidence. They thought highly of the discovery, and even proposed to associate with me in opening the road. We also found gold, but not in sufficient quantity to warrant our working it; and furthermore, the ground was too wet to admit of our prospecting to any advantage."
“On my return to the American valley, I made known my discovery to Mr. Turner, proprietor of the American ranch [Turner brothers did not settle there until late in the summer of 1850], who entered enthusiastically into my views; it was a thing, he said, he had never dreamed of before. If I could but carry out my plan, and divert travel into that road, he thought I should be a made man for life. Thereupon he drew up a subscription list, setting forth the merits of the project, and showing how the road could be made practicable to Bidwell’s bar, and thence to Marysville, which latter place would derive peculiar advantages from the discovery. He headed the subscription with two hundred dollars. When I reached Bidwell’s bar and unfolded my project, the town was seized with a perfect mania for the opening of the route. The subscriptions toward the fund required for its accomplishment amounted to five hundred dollars. I then proceeded to Marysville, a place which would unquestionably derive greater benefit from the newly discovered route than any other place on the way, since this must be the entrepot or principal starting-place for emigrants. I communicated with several of the most influential residents on the subject in hand. They also spoke very encouragingly of my undertaking, and referred me, before all others, to the mayor of the city. Accordingly I waited upon that gentleman (a Mr. Miles), and brought the matter under his notice, representing it as being a legitimate matter for his interference, and offering substantial advantages to the commercial prosperity of the city. [Here the facts show beyond dispute that this all occurred in 1851 instead of 1850. The city of Marysville was incorporated by Act of February 5, 1851, and S. M. Miles was elected mayor in March – the first mayor the city ever had.] The mayor entered warmly into my views, and pronounced it as his opinion that the profits resulting from the speculation could not be less than from six to ten thousand dollars; and as the benefits accruing to the city would be incalculable, he would insure my expenses while engaged upon it. I mentioned that I should prefer some guaranty before entering upon my labors, to secure me against loss of what money I might lay out. ‘Leave that to me,’ said the mayor; ‘I will attend to the whole affair. I feel confident that a subject of so great importance to our interests will engage the earliest attention'."
“I thereupon left the whole proceeding in his hands, and immediately setting men to work upon the road, went out to the Trucky (Truckee) to turn emigration into my newly discovered route. While thus busily engaged I was seized with erysipelas, and abandoned all hopes of recovery; I was over one hundred miles away from medical assistance, and my only shelter was a brush tent. I made my will, and resigned myself to death. Life still lingered in me, however, and a train of wagons came up and encamped near to where I lay. I was reduced to a very low condition, but I saw the drivers, and acquainted them with the object which had brought me out there. They offered to attempt the new road if I thought myself sufficiently strong to guide them through it. The women, God bless them! came to my assistance, and through their kind attentions and excellent nursing I rapidly recovered from my lingering sickness, until I was soon able to mount my horse and lead the first train, consisting of seventeen wagons, through Beckwourth’s pass. We reached the American valley without the least accident, and the emigrants expressed entire satisfaction with the route. I returned with the train through to Marysville, and upon the intelligence being communicated of the practicability of my road, there was quite a public rejoicing. A northern route had been discovered, and the city had received an impetus that would advance her beyond all her sisters on the Pacific shore. [Rather an exaggerated idea of importance of the road.] I felt proud of my achievement and was foolish enough to promise myself a substantial recognition of my labors."
“I was destined to disappointment, for that same night Marysville was laid in ashes. [The first fire of consequence in Marysville occurred on the night of August 31, 1851. This fact also fixes the year of the discovery of the pass.] The mayor of the ruined town congratulated me upon bringing a train through. He expressed great delight at my good fortune, but regretted that their recent calamity had placed it entirely beyond his power to obtain for me any substantial reward. With the exception of some two hundred dollars subscribed by some liberal-minded citizens of Marysville, I have received no indemnifications for the money and labor I have expended upon my discovery. The city had been greatly benefited by it, as all must acknowledge, for the emigrants that now flock to Marysville would otherwise have gone to Sacramento."
“In the spring of 1852 I established myself in Beckwourth valley, and finally found myself transformed into a hotel-keeper and chief of a trading post. My house is considered the emigrant’s landing-place, as it is the first ranch he arrives at in the golden state, and is the only house between this point and Salt lake. Here is a valley two hundred and forty miles in circumference, containing some of the choicest land in the world. Its yield of hay is incalculable; the red and white clovers spring up spontaneously, and the grass that covers its smooth surface is of the most nutritious nature. When the weary, toil-worn emigrant reaches this valley, he feels himself secure; he can lay himself down and taste refreshing repose, undisturbed by the fear of Indians. His cattle can graze around him in pasture up to their eyes, without running any danger of being driven off by the Arabs of the forest; and springs flow before them, as pure as any that refresh this verdant earth.”
That Beckwourth discovered this pass in the spring of 1851, led a train of emigrants through it that summer, and in the spring of 1852 established himself in the valley on the route from the pass, took up a land claim, built a hotel, and began trading with the emigrants, are facts beyond dispute, and to him should be given all the credit due. His complaint about losing his time and money in opening the road was not well founded; for at his ranch he reaped his proper and ample reward in the profitable trade he carried on with the emigrants who came over the new route. The supposition that this pass and route may have been after Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith is an erroneous one, for that gentleman did not come through this pass; in 1854 he surveyed a railroad route through Noble’s pass from Honey lake to Ft. Reading [see history of Lassen county], two years after Beckwourth settled in the valley.
Henry C. Bidwell { Henry Codman Bidwell } (pp. 302-303)
Mr. Bidwell was born in Middlebury, Vermont, June 9, 1831. He left Middlebury for Boston, at the age of thirteen years, and went to work in a store, remaining until 1847, when he joined the First Regiment of Mexican volunteers, and went to the war. He remained in Mexico until 1849, becoming familiar with the language. On the discovery of gold in California, he started for this coast, and arrived at San Francisco about the first of July of that year. For a while he was connected with the Sacramento Steamboat Company, after which he went to Chico with his father, Mr. Daniel Bidwell. From Chico he moved to Pescadero, where he engaged actively in mercantile pursuits. In 1860 he first came to Plumas county, and was engaged in mining in the county until the time of his death. For a few years before he died he was very successful, and at the time of his death was president of the Green Mountain G. M. Co., the Cherokee G. M. Co., the Gold Stripe M. Co., the Round Valley Water Co., the Rising Sun Co., and besides, had heavy interests in Idaho mines, which promised large returns. Mr. Bidwell was an old member of the Society of California Pioneers, and took a lively interest in the affairs of the organization. He left an invalid wife, a son and daughter, and a host of friends to mourn him. He was one of the most enterprising citizens of the county, and may be said to have been the father of Greenville, in which town he died November 28, 1880. His funeral was attended by hundreds from all over the county, all business in Greenville being suspended. The body was taken to Oakland for burial, where his family was residing at the time of his death.
Thomas Black (p. 265)
He was born in Derry county, Ireland in the year 1833. He came to the United States when sixteen years of age, landed at New Orleans, and proceeded direct to Cincinnati, where he lived until the fall of 1852, when he came to California, via Panama. He arrived at San Francisco December 22, and began mining on the North Yuba. He followed this occupation until 1870, when he came to Sierra valley, and with his brother James, bought the Burney ranch, which now covers 480 acres. The land is well improved, and is situated four miles south of Beckwourth. Mr. Black was married in August, 1876, to Miss Kate Sharkey, who died in May, 1877. He was again united in marriage September 26, 1880, to Miss Ellen A. Fitzpatrick of Honey Lake valley, who borne him one son, John William, born September 3, 1881.
Robert M. Blakemore (p. 250)
Among the thousands whom the golden magnet drew to this coast, none had more true nobility of character than Blakemore. He was a Virginian by birth, received a fair English education in his native state, and in the company of B. F. Washington and J. E. N. Lewis, came to this state in 1849. He was unsuccessful in mining, and began packing goods to the northern mines. In 1855 he formed a partnership with Richard Irwin, and purchased the mercantile establishment of Clark, Wagner, & Co., on Rich bar, east branch of Feather. While in business here, one of his former schoolmates came from Nevada, took sick, and died. Blakemore was very much attached to his friend, and after the burial, took a mule and went eight miles up the river, where he quarried out several slabs of slate. These he packed back, and with chisels made by the village blacksmith of the period, he worked out a tombstone to mark the last resting place of the deceased. Three weeks were consumed in this part of the work. The slabs were carefully bolted together with iron bolts, and on the face was inscribed, “Edward Davis, of Jefferson Co., Va.” Around the grave Blakemore constructed a stone wall and wood palings before the last offices prompted by friendship were completed. Some years later a stone-cutter came along that way, and remarked to his friends, “Boys, the man is a master of his art.” Blakemore went back to Virginia in 1865. Upon his departure, he gave all his business interests to his partner, instead of selling out. In 1866 he was in New Orleans on business, when he took the yellow fever and died.
J. M. Blood { should be J. N. Blood – John Nelson Blood } (p. 301)
Son of Joseph and Rachel Blood, was born in Monroe county, New York, October 9, 1830. At the age of fourteen he went to Rochester to learn the trade of molder; and four years after he emigrated to Peoria, Illinois, where he worked as his trade until 1852, when he crossed the plains to California. He was married January 1, 1852, to Miss Ellen Brady, eldest daughter of John and Mary Brady, at Peoria, and on the third of April they started on the long western journey. They arrived at Marysville in the fall, and Mr. Blood worked at carpentering and building until 1856, when he removed to Elizabethtown, where he, in company with his brother James A., and E. D. Hasselkus, opened a general merchandise store. In 1858 he and his brother sold out and went into the cattle business. In the fall of 1859 our subject bought the Conant ranch of 600 acres in Indian valley, on which he resided until 1877, when he sold it and removed to Greenville. Two years after, he bought it back again, and again lived on the place. Mr. Blood died December 8, 1879, leaving his wife and seven children: Laura C., born October 29, 1854; Rachael S., December 19, 1857; John M., February 20, 1861; Ira E., April 19, 1863; William W., March 26, 1865; George D., September 17, 1869; May Ella, May 18, 1872. Of these, Rachael was married to John S. Bransford, July 31, 1878; Laura C. was married to John R. Murray, August 18, 1880. Since her husband’s death, Mrs. Blood has traveled most of the time, but now resides in Greenville.
W. Blough { William Blough } (p. 309)
Son of John and Mary Blough, was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1826. At the age of twenty-three he went to Illinois, and lived there two years and a half. In 1852 he came to California, via the Isthmus, being 142 days on the voyage from Panama to San Francisco. He spent a year in Placer county, and then went to Yuba county, where he owned and ran a grist-mill for two years. In 1856 he sold out and returned to the east, but repeated his western journey in 1858, and finally settled in Plumas county. He ran a mill for Judkins & Hardwell in American valley for a year, and then located what is now the Corbin & Mason claim at Elizabethtown; but his company failed to make anything out of it, though it has since proved rich. He then went to Quincy, and afterwards to Taylorville, and ran the first mill built in Indian valley, in which he is now interested. Part of his time has been spent in building quartz-mills. He was married November 27, 1875 to Mrs. Louisa Batch of Taylorville. Mr. Blough is a member of Sincerity Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M., at Taylorville, and of Quincy chapter No. 11.
Thomas D. Bonner (pp. 208-209)
Among the early institutions of the county was the migratory court of his honor Squire Bonner. In the summer of 1852 Thomas D. Bonner was elected justice of the peace in Quartz township. He was not the only justice in the Plumas section of Butte county, as is generally supposed and frequently asserted, for the records of Butte county show that Edwin Fitch in 1851, J B. McGee, in 1852, and William Robertson in 1853, qualified as justices of Quartz township, and S. S. Horton, Samuel Carpenter, D. F. H. Dow, Lewis Stark, and H. M. Gazley for Mineral township during the same period. Nevertheless, Mr. Bonner seems to have been the only one who made any effort of consequences to discharge the duties of his office. Justice, in his hands, was not merely a blind goddess, with balances and sword, standing by her altar, ready to hear the plaints of the afflicted. Far from it. She was rather a lynx-eyed detective; or, more properly, a knight errant, going from place to place seeking for an opportunity to apply the balances, and use the sword. Realizing that but little business would come to him at Holme’s Hole, on Rush creek, where he resided, Squire Bonner put his “justice shop” on wheels, metaphorically speaking, and traveled from camp to camp in search of controversies upon which to adjudicate and collect the necessary fees. Upon all such journeys he was accompanied and fortified by a book, commonly supposed to be a law book of some kind, which served not only as a badge of authority, but a book of reference and a convenient substitute for the holy scriptures upon which to swear witnesses. Thus equipped, he made his appearance one day at Nelson Point, and announced himself as prepared to deal out justice with a liberal hand to all who felt called upon to indulge in the commodity. There appeared before his honor one Ransmire, who sued for a writ of restitution and $500 damages against a certain party who held adverse possession of a mining claim to which he felt himself entitled. The suit was commenced, and created much dissatisfaction among the miners, who had been accustomed to adjust all difficulties, and looked upon the invasion of a migratory justice with an unfriendly eye. Let it be remarked that this was one of the inflexible rules of Bonner’s court that the fees must be paid. That was what he held court for, he said, and unless the costs of court were promptly liquidated, there was no joy in life for the worthy justice. It was customary for him to decide against the party whom he thought was best able to pay the costs. Good business principles would not permit him to do otherwise. Another rule of his court was to allow no witness to testify until he had exhibited his poll-tax receipt; and at one time, on Rich bar, middle fork, he made Aaron Winters and several others weigh out three dollars in dust, and pay it to him for their poll tax, before he would permit them to go upon the stand to give testimony. But to return to the case at hand. As the trial progressed, his honor began to feel uneasy about the costs. The plaintiff had nothing, and so the acute justice had already determined to decide in his favor, and thus throw the costs upon the defendant, but he feared he would be unable to collect them. He therefore made an order that the defendant be required to give bonds for costs of suit, and five hundred dollars damages, so that a decision in favor of the plaintiff would be sure to gain this modern Solomon his coveted fees. The defendant was not over anxious to have the trial proceed, and refused to give the required sureties. Quite an indignant crowd has assembled to witness the contest, and when the mandate for bonds was issued they became doubly indignant. A meeting was at once called, and a committee appointed to wait upon the dignified justice, and request him to adjourn his court sine die. The members of the committee, J. H. Whitlock, Dr. Vaughan, J. Bass, Dr. Lewis, and Mr. Walker, walked into the court-room, and the spokesman thus addressed the court:
“May it please your honor, I have been instructed by the people of the state to say to you that we find no precedent in law where the defendant in a civil suit can be compelled to give security either for costs or damages in advance of judgment.”
“Whom do you represent in this case, sir?”
“I represent the people.”
“The people have nothing to do with this case. My ruling must be complied with, or the parties will be bound over in contempt of court.”
“If this court chooses to place itself in contempt of the people,” answered the spokesman, “it must take the consequences. In the name of the people, I now command you to adjourn this court, and not convene it again.”
It was now supper-time, and the worthy justice adjourned court till ten o’clock the next morning; but before the hour arrived he was seen ascending the mountain, his legs dangling on either side of a patient pack-mule. He had a seat of justice in Onion valley, many feet higher in the air than the river, which he called his higher court, where he sat to hear appeals from his decisions in his lower courts. He continued the case without the presence of the defendant, and gave judgment, being unable to either enforce the judgment or collect the desired costs. At another time, he undertook to hold court at Rocky bar, but was compelled to hastily adjourn proceedings to his higher court in Onion valley.
He sent his constable, Tom Schooley, to Rich bar in 1852, to serve a summons and attachment on a certain miner. When Schooley found the defendant in the suit, he made known his business and read his papers. The defendant was surrounded by a number of fellow-miners, who one and all laid down their implements, and listened to the reading. When this was done, they told the constable, in the expressive language of the miners, to “git,” to climb the hill without delay. After some hesitation he accepted the advice, but happening to drop some offensive remarks, the sovereigns started after him with sticks and stones, and it is asserted that the best time ever made up Rich bar hill was made by Tom Schooley that day. This valiant constable was afterwards hanged at Victoria for murder. Squire Bonner’s official career was brought to an end upon the organization of Plumas county. He wrote a history of the life of James Beckwourth (spoken of in the early history of Sierra valley), and soon after left for more congenial scenes.
Isaac C. Boring { Isaac Campbell Boring } (p. 188)
Was a native of Albany, Kentucky. He came to California and settled in Camptonville, Yuba county, and from there went to La Porte, where he engaged in mining. In March, 1870, he was appointed under-sheriff by Sheriff Yeates, and served in that capacity until March, 1874, when having been elected sheriff, he assumed the duties of that office. He was re-elected in the fall of 1875, and served a second term. In 1878 he retired from public life, and on the twenty-third of November of that year died at Quincy, at the age of 46 years, leaving a wife and two children.
Dixon Brabban (pp. 292-293)
Was born in England, at New Castle on Tine, April 13, 1829. At the age of twenty-four he came to the United States, remained two years in the east, and then came to California, via Nicaragua, landing at San Francisco in May, 1855. During the year he mined at various places, and in 1856 came to La Porte, then in Sierra county, since which time he has been extensively engaged in mining and merchandising. In 1848 he was married to Miss Margaret Fairley of England, who died in the following year. January 14, 1861, he was again married to Miss Elizabeth Brown of England, by whom he has had nine children: May (deceased), Maggie, Lizzie, Isabella (deceased), James, Annie, Susie, Nellie, and the baby. Mr. Brabban is a member of Jefferson Lodge, F. &. A. M., of La Porte; Alturas Chapter No. 34, R. A. M., of Quincy; Marysville Commandery No. 7; and of Alturas Lodge No. 80, I. O. O. F., of La Porte.
Marion C. Bringham { Marion Castor Bringham} (p. 262)
He was born in Nebraska City, Nebraska, October 22, 1857. His father came to Plumas county when he was two years old, and settled at Eureka North as a millwright. In 1861 his father, with Benjamin Bobo, located 320 acres of land ten miles east of Beckwourth, where he remained with his family until 1865, when he sold out his interest, removed to Beckwourth, and built the Bringham hotel, which he owned and managed until 1881. Since that time Marion has been a partner in and manager of the business. He owns a quarter section of land adjoining the town of Beckwourth, while his father owns the farm of 320 acres on which the hotel property stands. July 4, 1877, he was married to Miss Hattie E. Trimble, of Sierra valley, by whom he has had one child, Mabel Jeannette, born October 12, 1879.
A. M. Brown { Albert Melvin Brown } (p. 274)
He was born in Franklin county, Maine, January 28, 1847. His father John Brown, was a farmer, and died when our subject was seventeen years of age. When twenty-two years old he came by rail to California, arriving in Sierra valley September 18, 1869. He was employed the first year in a saw-mill, and since has been engaged in farming. In the fall of 1876 he bought from A. M. Haselton a farm of forty acres, two miles west of Randolph, on which he has since lived with his mother, who made her home with him.
J. C. Brown { John Combs Brown } (p. 268)
Mr. Brown was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, June 11, 1855. His parents came across the plains in 1861, settling at Virginia City, Nevada, where they remained a year and a half, when they removed to Sonoma county, California, and lived on a farm until 1874. At that time they sold out and came to Sierra county, purchasing the Lee ranch of 160 acres, two miles west of Loyalton. Our subject’s father, J. B. Brown, died November 17, 1876; his mother now sixty-one years old, lives on the farm with her son, J. C. Brown, and her daughters Maud and Rosa. Her son Alexander is married and lives in Los Angeles; while Marcus D. is a resident of Washington Territory. Her daughter Emily was married to William Hand, in 1865, and now lives in Chico. J. C. Brown has managed the farm since his father’s death. In politics he is democratic.
John R. Buckbee { John Randolph Buckbee } (Hon.) (p. 182)
Mr. Buckbee’s first labors in Plumas county were at mining at Smith’s bar on the east branch of the north fork of Feather river. On the fourth of July, 1852, John delivered the oration at the celebration. He was a man of considerable native talent, with a fair education. He came from New York, where he had studied medicine, but never practiced in California, being engaged in mining. His legal attainments were first made known to the public some time in July, 1852, when he prosecuted the man Joshua for the murder of Bacon, before a miner’s court. In the spring of 1854 he took up his residence at Quincy, and turned his attention to the law, and was admitted to practice at the first session of the district court held in Plumas county in July, 1854. In the fall of that year he was elected district attorney, and held it till the spring of 1857, when he returned to New York, married, and emigrated to Wisconsin. In 1860 he came back to Quincy and resumed the practice of law. He also associated himself with Matt Lynch in the Plumas Standard, a democratic sheet. He was a strong advocate of the right of states to secede, until the war broke out, when he became a Douglas unionist. He ran for district attorney in the fall of 1861, and was defeated by P. O. Hundley. He was elected to the office in 1863 by a fusion of the Douglas democrats and the republicans, and was re-elected in 1865. Buckbee was retained by James H. Yeates in the lawsuit about the shrievalty which occurred at this time. S. J. Clark was the republican contestant for sheriff, and Buckbee’s advocacy of Yeates got him out of favor with the old-line republicans. The county court decided in Yeates’s favor, which decision in the supreme court first sustained and then reversed. Mr. Buckbee gave his whole time to politics. He took an active part in the senatorial fight between his relative, Cole, and Sargent, in which the latter was defeated. Buckbee was elected to the assembly in 1867, defeating John D. Goodwin, the democratic candidate. The Virginia and Oroville railroad act, in which Buckbee was concerned, proved the death-blow to his political existence in Plumas. He returned to his constituents to find the people fearfully indignant, and it was apprehended by some that he would be mobbed. It was some time before the public became sufficiently tranquil to listen to Buckbee in vindicating his course. In a short time he went to San Francisco and obtained a situation in the mint. A softening of the brain finally resulted in insanity, and he was taken to the asylum in February, 1873, where he died June 29, 1873.
L. Wellington Bunnell { Luther Wellington Bunnell } (p. 294)
This old pioneer is a native of New Hampshire, and came to this state in 1852. He engaged in mining at Rocky bar on the middle fork of Feather river, but shouldered his blankets and moved to the north fork the next season. Subsequently he engaged in ranching and merchandising with the late William H. Miller at Butt valley. October 12, 1869, he was married to Mrs. Julia E. Lee, a pioneer lady of Big Meadows, in which valley they now reside and keep a popular summer resort. Mr. Bunnell is largely engaged in the dairy business.
-and p. 322-
He is a native of New Hampshire, and came to California, via the Isthmus in 1851, arriving in San Francisco the latter part of June. He first mined on Poorman’s creek, Nevada. From there he went to Plumas county, and mined on the middle fork of Feather river until 1853, when he went to the north fork and mined until 1855, in which year he went to Butt valley, Plumas county, and commenced farming and stock-raising, where he remained until 1867, at which time he came to Big Meadows, and erected his present fine hotel. In connection with his hotel, he has about 940 acres of land. Mr. Bunnell was married in 1869 to Mrs. Julia E. Lee. The hotel is beautifully situated near the banks of the north fork of Feather river, with groves of pines in the immediate background, and Lassen’s peak in the distance. The rooms are commodious and comfortable. The table is supplied from the dairy with plenty of fresh milk and butter. The mountain streams in the immediate vicinity furnish an abundance of trout. Mr. Bunnell is an agreeable gentleman and a popular landlord. During the warm season the house is filled with guests from all parts of the state. Excursions are made weekly to Lassen’s peak, the Hot Springs, Mud Springs, and other places of interest. Many invalids have derived permanent benefit from passing a few weeks in Big Meadows.
G. Q. Buxton { George Quimby Buxton } (p. 273)
He is the son of E. G. and Lydia (Chase) Buxton, and was born October 3, 1837, at North Yarmouth, Cumberland county, Maine. His father was engaged in mercantile pursuits at North Yarmouth until 1859, and followed hotel and livery business to the time of his death, in January, 1880. His mother is still living at the same place. Our subject was educated in the schools and academy at Yarmouth. He early manifested a desire to become a sailor; and from the time he was sixteen till twenty-one he went cruising up the Atlantic coast every summer. In 1859 he came to California, via Panama, arriving in San Francisco in April, and proceeded directly to Michigan Bluff, where he mined for four years with good success. He then invested a great deal in bed-rock tunneling at Turkey hill, Placer county, which never proved remunerative until recently. In 1864 he opened a mercantile establishment at Michigan Bluff, and continued it four years, when he went to Cisco, and took charge of a store for two years. In 1870 he visited his home in the east, and remained with his parents a year, when he came to Randolph, Sierra county, and bought the farm and hotel property of H. Northup, consisting of 160 acres of land and the Randolph hotel, both of which he has owned and managed since. In 1876 he bought the stage line running between Truckee and Eureka Mills, which he still operates. He was married May 3, 1865, to Miss Lucetta Salsig of Auburn, Placer county. She was born in St. Joseph county, Michigan, January 23, 1848, and came to California with her parents in 1852. The children of Mr. And Mrs. Buxton are Frank L., born January 6, 1867; infant, born June 30, 1872, died three days later; George E., born June 19, 1875.
James D. Byers { James Davis Byers } (p. 186)
Was the second sheriff of Plumas county. He came from the state of Ohio, and early engaged in quartz-mining at Jamison creek, being one of the company known as the Washington or Seventy-six. He was elected, in the fall of 1855, to fill the vacancy caused by the absconding of Sheriff Sharpe, and in 1856 he was again a candidate for the office, and defeated R. C. Chambers, running on the know-nothing ticket. Byers served until the fall of 1858, when he was succeeded by R. C. Chambers, the democratic candidate. Mr. Byers made a very active and efficient officer. He has always been a dealer in cattle, and has become quite wealthy in the business. Most of the property he had acquired during his sojourn at Quincy was destroyed in the fire of 1861. He has resided in Lassen county many years, and is a rich old bachelor.
-and pp. 402-403-
The first sheriff of Lassen county was born near Meadville, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1825. Five years later his father died. His attendance at school amounted to about two years. At the age of thirteen he entered the store of John McFann, Hartstown, Pennsylvania, and remained until 1842, when he accompanied his mother to Licking county, Ohio. He entered the store of John Taylor at Newark, continuing there at intervals for eight years. In the spring of 1848 he was elected constable, at he same time acting as deputy sheriff. In 1858 he started for California with his elder brother, J. H., reaching Sacramento in July. He opened a store in Rough and Ready, Nevada county. In the spring of 1851 he commenced mining on Hopkins creek, Plumas county, and soon after became one of the 76 locators of the Washington quartz-claim on Eureka mountain. In 1854 he opened the first butcher-shop in Jamison. In the fall of 1855 he was elected on the know-nothing ticket to the office of sheriff of Plumas county. In 1856 he was re-elected on the republican ticket. In the fall of 1858 he came to Honey Lake valley, and bought from Dr. Slater a possessory claim to a section of land on Baxter creek, which he ever since considered his home. He then engaged in the stock business. In 1862 he was appointed a special deputy by Sheriff Pierce of Plumas county, and participated in the events of the Sage-Brush War. He took an active part in Sacramento in having a bill passed to create Lassen county, suggesting the name of the old pioneer himself; and in May, 1864, was elected sheriff of the new county. In 1869 he was the republican nominee for assemblyman, but was defeated by John Lambert. In 1873 he was elected to the same office on the same ticket. In 1868 he was elected supervisor, and served three years. He is now engaged in raising stock and hay, and owns, besides his home farm, 3,000 acres in the Tule Confederacy, and 160 acres of timber near Janesville. Mr. Byers is an unmarried man, thoroughly energetic and enterprising, and of the true pioneer character.
William T. Byers { William Thomas Byers } (p. 185)
Was born in Columbia, Boone county, Missouri, July 6, 1831, crossed the plains in 1850, and arrived at Ringgold, El Dorado county, August 9 of that year. Here he engaged in mining. He came to Plumas county June 10, 1863, and kept hotel for many years. He was elected county clerk in the fall of 1877, retiring from public life in March, 1880. Mr. Byers is one of the most public-spirited men in the county, and the people are indebted to him, not only for an efficient administration of county affairs during his term of office, but for many improvements made in and around the court-house. Mr. Byers now superintends the Plumas House in Quincy. Since living in California he has made three trips back to Missouri, the last one in 1877.
J. S. Carter (Dr.) { Josiah Starr Carter } (pp. 307-308)
Son of Francis and Ellen Carter, was born in Ohio county, Virginia, March 31, 1836. His father was a practicing physician, and died in 1841. He attended school at Tuscumbia, Alabama, and at Lexington, Kentucky. In 1853 he went to Missouri, and in 1854 he started from there for California in the White Star train, owned by himself and four others, bringing out some blooded horses. About the first of October they reached Downieville, where Dr. Carter remained two months, and then went to Marysville. From there he moved to Butte county in a few months, and remained until June, 1855, when he came to Plumas county and worked all summer on the north fork of the Feather, without making anything. In the fall of 1856 he made the first discovery of gold on Mosquito creek while hunting deer. Here he remained until the following August, when he went back to Missouri for a few months, returning and locating near Inskip, in Butte county. After mining in various localities, late in the fall of 1862 he came to Plumas county and settled at Crescent Mills, where he has since resided. In the fall of 1865 he with five others located the Plumas mine. He has practiced his profession since living at Crescent. He was married January 27, 1880 to Miss Sarah Barker of Indian Valley. Dr. Carter is a member of the lodge of Odd Fellows at Indian valley.
Daniel Rogers Cate (p. 188)
The first treasurer of Plumas county, was born at Northfield, Merimack county, New Hampshire, November 24, 1832, and is the son of Simon and Lydia (Durgin) Cate, both natives of New Hampshire. When fifteen years old his father died, and Daniel went to work the following year in a country store. At nineteen he went to Boston and clerked most of the time until October, 1849, when he came, via Panama, to California, arriving at the port of San Francisco on the first of December. In a few days he went to Stockton, and had the misfortune to lose by fire everything he possessed except the clothes he wore. He accepted the first job that offered, boating goods from Stockton to the French camp, receiving an ounce a day for his services. The winter of 1850-51 he spent in Central America, and upon his return in the spring he went to Downieville. Here he engaged in all kinds of mining, from fluming the Yuba to working a drift-claim on Durgan flat for one year; and then, with his partners, E. W. Judkins and Joseph S. Boynton, came to his present home in American valley. Soon after settlement, he with others built a saw-mill on Mill creek. Mr. Boynton retiring, Mr. Judkins and Mr. Cate afterwards built the Plumas flour and saw mills. The first store and blacksmith-shop in American valley were kept at their ranch in the fall of 1852, by Judkins & Cate. In the spring of 1853 Mr. Cate began packing merchandise from Marysville to the store in American valley, and continued it until 1856, since which time he has devoted most of his attention to his farm. While engaged in packing, he once became snow-blind, from which his eyes never fully recovered. Mr. Cate was elected county treasurer of Plumas county in April, 1854, being the first to hold that position. He was married November 5, 1863, to Miss Hannah A. Loring, daughter of John H. and Ann B. (Trafter) Loring, a native of Somerset county, Maine, where she was born January 18, 1844. They have had five children, as follows: Alice Lydia, born November 26, 1864; Mary Louise, October 9, 1869; Henry Loring, May 21, 1871; Lafayette, June 29, 1875; Daniel Rogers, November 17, 1880.
LaFayett Cate (M.D.) { LaFayette Cate } (p. 284)
This gentleman is the pioneer physician of the county. He is a native of New Hampshire, and graduated at the Vermont Medical College. He came to Plumas in 1854, and settled at Elizabethtown, and engaged in the practice of his profession. He has devoted much of his attention to mining enterprises, as well as to his profession. He has always enjoyed a full share of practice, and still resides in Quincy. Upon the resignation of County Treasurer Chapman, in December, 1878, Dr. Cate was appointed to fill the vacancy, and served in that office until March, 1880, when he retired from public life, and is quietly pursuing the practice of his profession in Quincy.
Robert Craig Chambers (p. 186)
The third sheriff of Plumas county, is a native of Ohio, and came to California in the year 1850. His first mining in Plumas was on the east branch at Rich bar. He then tried ranching in American valley, and was afterwards in the service of Clark, Shannon, & Co., at Meadow valley. Mr. Chambers was the democratic candidate in the fall of 1856 for sheriff against J. D. Byers, the know-nothing candidate, and S. J. Clark, the first republican candidate in Plumas. Chambers and Clark were both defeated. Our subject again appeared in the field in 1858, and obtained the shrievalty over his opponent, L. C. Charles. He was re-elected in 1859, but was succeeded in 1861 by Elisha H. Pierce. He then resided in Meadow valley, being the assignee of the bankrupt firm of Clark, Shannon, & Co., and afterwards superintended the Plumas or Whitney quartz-mine until it proved a failure. He subsequently became identified with the Oroville and Virginia City Railroad Company, and remained in the state until it collapsed, and then went to Utah, where he now resides.
Albert Picket Chapman (pp. 265-266)
The subject of this sketch is the son of Horace Chapman, and was born November 9, 1816. He is a lineal descendant of Robert Chapman, one of the first settlers of Saybrook, Connecticut, who came from Hull, England, to Boston in the year 1635. His ancestors were sea-going people. When a lad of thirteen he learned the tailor’s trade, which he followed nearly twenty years, and for five years carried on a business in Boston under the firm name of Haskell & Chapman. He started for California February 8, 1849, sailing around the Horn on the ship Rodolph, and was two hundred and nineteen days on the voyage. Early in June, 1850, with George F. Kent, William E. Jones, or Paul Jones, he discovered Sierra valley, and located his present ranch the next year. In December of 1851, Mr. Chapman returned east, but came back the following year, via Panama. Prior to this time he had been extensively engaged in mining, and was president of the Buttes Quartz Company. Upon his return he went to Sierra valley, in July, and put up a cabin on the ground now covered by his residence. During the year 1852 Mr. Chapman opened a livery stable at Downieville, where the Armory stable now stands. This he sold in 1862, and removed with his family to his valley home where he has since resided. He was married October 1, 1843, to Miss Caroline S. Chapman, daughter of George Chapman. His wife belongs to the ninth generation of Chapmans in this country, and he to the tenth generation of another branch of descent. They have had two sons; Albert Franklin, born July 13, 1844, and Charles, born March 28, 1848. Albert F. was married April 5, 1868, to Theresa M. Secritan, and their children are Martha Washington, Albert Julius, Carrie Aime (deceased), and Clarence Poysingian. Our subject is a member of Susanville Lodge N. 140, I. O. O. F., and of Blue Range Encampment at Downieville. He was first initiated into the order in Boston in 1846. A view of Mr. Chapman’s residence may be seen on another page of this work.
John C. Chapman { John Carmichael Chapman } (p. 190)
Is a native of Ohio. He learned the trade of smelting, and was engaged in smelting copper near Iron Mountain, Missouri, in 1852, when he started overland to California. On their arrival he and his brother settled on a ranch in American valley, but John did not succeed, and moved to Indian Valley. Here he tried farming, but though a very industrious and temperate man, he failed to make his husbandry pay. He then built a furnace for the smelting and manufacture of copper, in Genesee valley, and this enterprise failed for the want of ore. In 1869 he was put in nomination by the democratic convention for county treasurer, and defeated James C. Gentry by a large majority. He was re-elected in 1871, again in 1873, also in 1875, and was put in for a fifth term in 1877. Late in the year 1878 he resigned the office because of a deficiency in his accounts [see article on Finances], and retired to private life. His successor was Dr. L. F. Cate, who was appointed in January, 1879, to fill the unexpired term.
William A. Cheney (Judge) { William Atwell Cheney } (p. 180)
This gentleman is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and settled in La Porte in the fall of 1876, as a minister of the gospel. He remained there during the winter, and came to Quincy to attend the republican convention of 1877, entering the lists as a candidate for the county judgeship. He received the nomination over T. F. Emmons of Greenville and J. W. Walker of Taylorville. The delegation from La Porte demanded the nomination of Cheney, and the leaders of the party, remembering how, on a former occasion in 1869, a bolt had occurred under similar circumstances, whereby Pappy B. W. Barnes had been defeated by G. C. Charles, conceded the point, and put the La Porte man on the ticket. Walker, an intelligent young Louisiana man, and Emmons, a pioneer of the party in Plumas, felt greatly aggrieved, and left the convention in disgust. Jackson Urie was the democratic nominee, and though a pioneer, familiarly known, was defeated by Cheney at the election by a small majority. Judge Cheney, though not a law student, had the advantage of being a man of education. After his election, Judge Cheney moved to Quincy, abandoned the pulpit, and turned his attention to the law. In 1879 Judge Cheney ran for joint senator from Butte and Plumas counties, having opposed to him George H. Crossette, democratic, of Chico, and John C. Gray, new constitution, of Oroville. Both of these he defeated by a large plurality. In December, 1879 he was admitted to practice in the supreme court. He now resides in Sacramento. His overweening self-esteem and confidence in his own superiority have not endeared him to the people of Plumas county.
Isaac S. Church { Isaac Satley Church } (p. 274)
Mr. Church was born October 25, 1829, at Ferrisburg, Vermont. He came to California, via Panama, in the spring of 1850. He mined a short time at Horse Shoe Bend on the Merced river, and then went to Nelson Point on Nelson creek. He finally went to Downieville, and in 1851 was fluming the river. In the fall he began packing from Marysville, which he followed for ten years. He went east in 1859, returned in 1860, and located in Sierra valley; and has the oldest patent for land in the valley. He was married in Vermont, February 16, 1860 to Sarah Ellen Geer, daughter of Seth and Mary Geer, and by this union they have seven children; viz, Francis S., Charles Pease, Mary Piert, Charlotte Abbie, Albert B., Roxy E. J., and Harriett.
William S. Church { William Smithers Church } (p. 183)
He is the eldest son of James C. Church, who settled in American valley before the organization of Plumas county. William S. was born in Kentucky. In 1873 he was elected county superintendent of schools on the democratic ticket, and was re-elected in 1875. He taught school in various districts of Plumas county until 1880, when he prepared himself for the law, and was admitted to practice in the supreme court in the winter of that year, when he opened a law office at La Porte, where he now resides.
-also from An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California, Hon. Win. J. Davis, Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. (pp. 376-377):
City Attorney of Sacramento, is a native of Woodford County, Kentucky, born near Versailles May 19, 1851. His father, James C. Church, was a native of Indiana but located in Kentucky, where he studied surveying, and where he was married to Miss Fannie Smithers, a native of Kentucky. In 1852 he removed with his family to Kansas City, Missouri, and the following year came out across the plains to California, locating in American Valley, Plumas County, where he bought a ranch. He afterward removed to Indian Valley, where he died in 1886. His widow yet resides there. He followed his profession of surveyor for some time after coming to the State, and held the office of county surveyor for one term; but his fine set of instruments were destroyed by fire, and thereafter he devoted his attention to ranching. William S. Church, subject of this sketch, was but two years old when the family removed to this State, and he was reared in Plumas County. He was educated in the public schools, and in the winter of 1867 commenced attendance at Heald’s College, San Francisco, where he was graduated in May 1868. He then came to Sacramento and obtained employment on Whitcomb’s ranch, in the southern part of the county. He worked there some time and then went home on a visit. In 1870 he went to Yolo County, and clerked in a store in Capay Valley for a year and a half. He next engaged in teaching school at Fairview. In 1873 he went to Nevada, and taught writing school at Virginia City and at Reno. Later in the same year he returned to California, and while in Solano County was elected superintendent of schools of Plumas County, and by virtue of reelection, served from 1874 to 1878. He then began to think of some permanent profession other than teaching, and turned to the law, for which he then began reading. In 1880 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for district attorney in the county of Sierra, but of course was unsuccessful, as the county was hopelessly Republican. In 1881 he received his life diploma as a teacher. Early in that year he came to Sacramento and read law with Colonel Creed Haymond and W.A. Cheney (now Superior Judge of Los Angeles County). On the 7th of May, 1881, he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of California. After his admission he went to La Porte, Plumas County, and there practiced law for two years. He was a candidate for county clerk on the “New Constitution” ticket in 1881, but was defeated. On account of the stoppage of hydraulic mining, everything was dull in Plumas County, and Mr. Church came to Sacramento and engaged in law writing. He wrote a book titled “Habeas Corpus” for Bancroft & Co., San Francisco. In the Legislature of 1884 he was clerk of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. In 1885 he went to Galt, and practiced there a couple of months, and then went north to Washington Territory and British Columbia. Two or three weeks later he returned to Sacramento, and was engaged on the “American Decisions” for Bancroft & Co., and continued his writing on this work until elected city attorney in 1888. In 1886 he made the race for district attorney of Sacramento unsuccessfully. Mr. Church was married in Sacramento April 11, 1886, to Miss Tillie Beauchamp, a native of Chicago and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Beauchamp. Mr. Church is a member of Tehama Lodge, F. & A.M.; Sacramento R.A. Chapter No. 3; Sacramento Council, No. 1, R. & S.M., and of Court Sutter, No. 7, 246, A.O.F. In the latter he was, at one time, chief ranger. He is a man of broad attainments, and although already considerably experienced in professional and official life, may be said to have just commenced his career, being yet a young man.
Stephen J. Clark { Stephen Jehial Clark } (pp. 187-188) - see also Yeates-Clark Contest
Came from New York, and settled in Elizabethtown, where he engaged in mining. He was not successful, however, and turning his attention to politics, he sought and obtained the republican nomination for county treasurer in 1861, and was elected over C. T. Kaulback and W. S. Ingersoll: the former unconditional union, and the latter democratic. Clark was perhaps the best political organizer the county ever had, and no politician ever had more devoted friends or more inveterate enemies. The fusion between the two wings of the union party was ruptured at the union convention in Quincy in the summer of 1865, when Clark became the nominee for sheriff, defeating Elisha H. Pierce, who led the other wing. The result was a bolt, with another ticket, on which L. F. Cate’s name appeared for sheriff. Clark was defeated by Yeates, the democratic nominee, through a sell-out by others on the ticket. Clark was again pitted against Yeates in the fall of 1867, and was defeated through the action of Overton, candidate for county clerk, who traded him off a second time. Soon after his retirement from office, Clark went to San Francisco, but returned in the campaign of 1869 to defeat Overton’s deputy, who was running for clerk, which he accomplished by hard work. He then went back to San Francisco, and obtained a position in the custom-house, where he remained several years. He is still residing in the city. Clark was as true to his friends as the needle to the pole, and the fidelity of his friends to him has never been excelled in the history of parties.
John Clinch (p. 286)
He is of English nativity, and was born June 6, 1832. His parents were John and Hannah Clinch. John left his native country in 1853, and went to Kokembo, South America. In the year following he came to California, and engaged in mining for sixteen years at Nelson Point, Onion valley, and other places. In June, 1872, he removed to American valley, and bought the ranch he now lives on, which consists of 110 acres. Mr. Clinch was married October 13, 1852, in England, to Eliza J. Oliver, daughter of Henry and Eliza Oliver. Five children have been born to them: John H., born in England, June 28, 1853, Eliza C., born at Sawpit flat, California, July 26, 1869; Anna, October 24, 1870; William J., March 15, 1873; Jane, July 2, 1874. John the eldest, died August 8, 1871. Mr. Clinch is a member of the Odd Fellows and United Workmen lodges at Quincy.
Greenleaf Greeley Clough (Judge) (pp. 321-322)
This gentleman is a native of Mt. Vernon, Kennebec county, Maine, where he was born October 9, 1835. His parents, Nathaniel Clough and Rebecca W., whose maiden name was Greeley, were also natives of Maine. The judge arrived in California September 24, 1859, and settled in Sierra county at Gibsonville. He had studied the law as his profession early in life, and soon after commenced its practice, making his debut at Downieville. He also practiced in the courts of Plumas, frequently coming from the former place to Quincy during the winter months, with commendable zeal and fidelity in behalf of his client, on snow-shoes. In 1877 he was presented by his party (the republicans) as their choice for the judgeship of the Twenty-first Judicial District, composed of Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc counties, his opponent being the Hon. J. D. Goodwin, then presiding judge of the district, over whom he was successful. He served two years. In 1879 he was again placed before the people for the position of superior judge—a position created by the new constitution, then about to go into effect. On this occasion he was opposed to Judge E. T. Hogan, the democratic candidate. Judge Clough was married on July 5, 1879, to Miss Metta S. Lowell, the second daughter of James M Lowell, from Maine also. The union has been blessed with one child, a son Leon Clough, now two years of age. The judge has ever been and still is a hard student, devoted to the law. Has many warm friends in all parties, and has a fine appreciation of them. He resides in Quincy. He is a man of energy, industry, and of strict temperate habits.
John Davenport Compton (p. 307)
Son of David and Sarah Compton, was born at New Egypt, Monmouth county, New Jersey, March 9, 1832. When thirteen years of age he went to Allentown and lived four years. After a residence of short periods in various places he started from New York February 5, 1853, for California, coming via Aspinwall. He sailed from this point for San Francisco on the ill-fated steamer Tennessee, which was lost four miles above the heads, named from this accident Tennessee Cove. The passengers were rescued by the tug Defiance. Mr. Compton kept books a short time in San Francisco, dealt in general merchandise for three years at Union city, Alameda county, and then embarked in the same business in Marysville, in partnership with John Quin. In November, 1862, he came to Round valley and opened a branch store. In 1864 he bought out his partner, and continued the business until 1870. Four years after he came to Greenville, and in 1876 opened the present business with John McBeth. Mr. Compton was engaged in mining at Cherokee from 1870 to 1875, and lost $75,000. He was married in 1878 to Miss M. A. Holland, of Boston, Massachusetts, who has given birth to two children, Virgil D. L., born August 13, 1879, and William H. T., born September 27, 1881. In 1865 Mr. Compton was elected county surveyor and served two terms. He is a member of the Masonic and Workmen orders.
Patrick Connolly (p. 269)
He was born in county Kildare, Ireland, in 1839; came to the United States in 1856, and lived a year and a half in Orange county, New York. He then migrated to Kane county, Illinois, and spent eighteen months in that locality. In 1859 he came overland to California, stopping at Marysville, where he worked for the California Stage Company six months; and from that time until coming to Sierra valley was engaged along the Dutch Flat and Henness Pass road, working for the same company. Mr. Connolly removed to Sierra valley in 1869, and bought a ranch of 480 acres two and one-hale miles north-west of Loyalton, on which he has since lived.
James Cooksey (pp. 310-311)
Son of Jesse and Sarah Cooksey, was born near Linnville, Scott county, Illinois, May 26, 1834. He lived at home until seventeen, when he came overland to California, arriving at Placerville August 19, 1852. In March, 1854, he removed to Plumas county, and located on Nelson creek, where he mined until 1867, when he went to Sierra county, and mined there about four years. Then he went American valley, and farmed until 1875, when he removed to Indian valley, where he has since lived on the Taylor ranch. He is a member of Indian Valley Lodge No. 136, I. O. O. F. He was married September 22, 1862, to Miss Frances E. Seymour of Plumas county. Their children are Edward, born September 30, 1864: William, May 30, 1866; George, December 30, 1867.
T. Corcoran { Timothy Corcoran } (p. 309)
Was born in Henry county, Iowa, October 15, 1854, where he lived until the year 1873. At that time he came to California, and the following year settled in Plumas county, where most of the time since he has been engaged in quartz-milling. He is now foreman at the Kettle quartz-mill, two miles from Greenville. Mr. Corcoran is a member of the lodge of Good Templars in Crescent, and is a single man.
Thomas Cox (pp. 180-181)
The first district attorney of Plumas county, failed to secure the nomination for a second term because of his extremely intemperate habits. A reminiscence of him is given in the history of the court of sessions. He was born in North Carolina, and at an early age removed to Nashville, Tennessee, where he married a most estimable lady, by whom he had at least one child, a son. Some reckless act committed in or near Nashville induced him to remove to California. He was nominated for congress in 1860, but was withdrawn from the ticket by the central committee before the election. One night in 1862 he was on a big drunk in Quincy, and walked into William Schlatter’s beer-saloon, where he deliberately fired his pistol at the proprietor, who was standing quietly behind the bar and had in no way offended. The ball struck the intended victim in the forehead, and he fell to the floor apparently dead. He was picked up, when it was found that the bullet had not penetrated the skull, but was lodged in the bone. It was extracted, and the man recovered in a short time. Cox was indicted, obtained a change of venue to Butte county, and there the indictment was dismissed. Cox afterwards removed to Nevada, and is now practicing law in Virginia City. He left Plumas, regretted by none, and seemed to have few friends even among his political associates.
William H. Crane (Hon.) { William Henry Crane } (p. 196)
A native of the state of New York, came to California from Michigan in 1858. He is an old resident of Lassen county, where he held the office of county treasurer for six years. In 1877 he was elected by the republicans to represent Butte, Plumas, and Lassen counties in the senate. He resides at Susanville.
-and pp. 403-404-
Senator Crane was born at Mount Morris, Livingston county, New York, June 22, 1838. His father, James Crane, was a farmer, and William worked on the farm and attended the district school until he was fifteen, when he entered the Genesee Wesleyan Institute, and continued about two years. In 1855 he went to Cass county, Michigan, where he engaged in carpentering and teaching until the spring of 1858, when he started west. On reaching the Missouri river he felt a prompting to take a hand in the Mormon war, and headed for Utah, arriving after the difficulty had been adjusted. He then pushed on to California, and arrived in Susanville, October 10, 1858. He worked at carpentering until 1866, then went into Bowman & Lockwood’s store as accountant, continuing there and in other establishments. In 1871 he went into the U. S. land office, just then established, and from that time has transacted most of the business of that office. In June, 1880, he was appointed register. In 1871 he was elected county treasurer, and held the office three terms. In 1877 he was elected to represent Butte, Plumas, and Lassen counties in the senate, on the republican ticket. Mr. Crane is a man in whom his constituents and friends repose the utmost confidence. He is a member of the Masonic lodge chapter, and commandery, and of the A. O. U. W., at Susanville. August 18, 1868, he married Miss Marcelin Wedekind, of Chico, born in Iowa, May 9, 1849. Their children are: Paul, born July 29, 1869; Myrtle, February 18, 1873; Ollie, April 22, 1875.
Noble C. Cunningham (p. 302)
Captain Cunningham was a native of Ohio. In early life he removed to Missouri, where he married and settled. He served his country in the Mexican war, having enlisted in Missouri under Colonel Doniphan. Upon his return he went to St. Louis, where he lived until 1849, when he came overland to California. After a brief sojourn in the mines, he settled in Sacramento, where he was elected marshal in 1850, and took an active part in the squatter troubles of that summer. Soon after the organization of Plumas county, he came here and engaged in merchandising at Long valley, Nelson Point, Round valley, and lastly at Taylorville. In 1868 he returned to Missouri, and from there to Texas, where he died in 1878. He was for a time captain of the Plumas Rangers.
*There has been some misinformation about Noble C. Cunningham added to several family trees. Some Plumas County Cunningham descendants believe erroneously that the father of their ancester, Jack M. Cunningham, was Noble C. Cunningham. Jack M. Cunningham (a native of Genessee Valley, Plumas County, California), was born in 1881. Noble C. Cunningham died in 1878 in Texas. Noble C. Cunningham could not have fathered Jack M. Cunningham.
~ Elizabeth E. Bullard