USA > California > Lassen County > Illustrated history of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra counties, with California from 1513 to 1850 > Part 38
USA > California > Plumas County > Illustrated history of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra counties, with California from 1513 to 1850 > Part 38
USA > California > Sierra County > Illustrated history of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra counties, with California from 1513 to 1850 > Part 38
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ALEXANDER KIRBY .- He is a veteran of the Mexican war; was born near Bowling Green, Warren county, Kentucky, on the thirteenth of March, 1821. His parents were Samuel and Mary Kirby, who emigrated to Missouri in 1830. On the fourth of June, 1846, Alexander volunteered for the Mexican war at Fort Leavenworth, and while in the service passed through the engage- ments of Brasceto, Saltello, Buena Vista, and was with General Wool at Monterey. On the second of May, 1849, he started from Independence, Missouri, across the plains, and landed at Hangtown (Placerville) September 13. He was married January 24, 1860, to Miss Harriett J. Honn, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio. By this union there have been eleven children : Mary, Susan (de- ceased), Lonisa, Cora, Henry H., George M., Kate, Laura, Eva, Annette, and Frances .. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kirby belong to long-lived and large families. In his family were ten children, and in hers twelve. His grandfather lived to the age of 102, his grandmother to 97, having lived to- gether for eighty years. Mr. Kirby owns the old Beckwourth ranch in Sierra valley.
MARION C. BRINGHAM .- 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 mill- wright. In 1861 his father, with Benjamin Bobo, located 320 acres of land ten miles east of Beck- wourth, 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.
RICHARD MARTIN .- This gentleman was born November 29, 1835, in St. Lawrence county, New York. He was the third child of Richard Martin, and had an elder brother who also went by the favorite sobriquet of Richard. His father was a Cornish miner. After the death of his wife, which occurred in 1847, he removed to the lead mines in Grant county, Wisconsin. The boys were then obliged to look out for themselves, and the younger Richard made his first venture on a farm. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, and after a short time spent in travel, . . located at Forest City, Sierra county, where he mined until 1856. In 1857 he went to Truckee Meadows, now in Nevada, and engaged in dairying. Two years after, he raised hay and vegetables for the Virginia City market, and says that he was one of the first white men to spend a winter on the Meadows. In 1861 he lived in Virginia City, and in 1862 settled in Sierra valley. He began merchandising at the Summit in 1880, in which occupation he has been very successful. He was married March 5, 1881, to Martha Austin. Mr. Martin is a member of Loyalton Lodge No. 187, I. O. O. F., and of Hope Lodge No. 234, F. & A. M.
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WILLIAM E. JONES .- This is one of the early settlers of Plumas county. He is the oldest of a family of three children of Dr. Hiram and Harriett Jones, of Acomac county, Virginia, where he was born February 15, 1830. When a lad of fourteen he went to Philadelphia, and learned the plastering trade, which he followed till January, 1849, when he started for California, going by way of New Orleans to Galveston, and thence across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona; his party being the first to go the southern route. They arrived at Mariposa mines September 15, 1849. Some time after, he leased a ranch near Sacramento, but was driven away by the floods, and then went to Sutter's fort. He mined at Hangtown and at Gold Run in Nevada county. From there, in company with seventy-five persons, headed by Stoddard, he started in search of Gold lake. The company disbanded in Sierra valley, many going to Downieville. Mr. Jones went on into Plumas county. He was in Honey Lake valley when there was not a house, and in Indian valley when Peter Lassen was hanling timber for his cabin. When he, with his friends, got to American valley, where Quincy now stands, they found a Spaniard there with a number of horses. Mr. Tate also had a cabin at the spot. From here he went to Rich bar in June, 1851, and mined until 1856. On the second of September, 1855, he was married to Nancy A. Said, from Iowa. This was the first wedding on the river, and a royal good time was had. His associates each carried in some useful present. F. B. Whiting contributed a wash-tub, a wash-board, and a bar of soap. In 1862 Mr. Jones removed to Long valley, and engaged in farming. In 1867 he bought the Junction House, which he kept until removing to the Summit. By his first marriage six children were born : Charles E., Clara E., Laura F., Robert Fenton, William L., and Zella. Mr. Jones was married again September 19, 1881, to Miss Lizzie Sharkey of Sierra City. Mr. Jones is familiarly known among his associates as Paul Jones.
ALEXANDER BEATON .- 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.
JARED STRANG .- The subject of this sketch is a son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Strang, and was born on Prince Edward's Island, March 12, 1837. His ancestors were early settlers of New York, and his grandfather on his mother's side was a participant in the Revolutionary war. Jared's boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. When ten years old, his father removed to West Duxbury, Massachusetts. In the spring of 1858 Jared came to California, via the Isthmus, and soon settled in Sierra valley, joining his father, who had come in 1856, his mother having died when he was a small boy. They went into the cattle business, which they continued until 1867, when Jared purchased his father's interest. He located a quarter-section of land, to which he has since added 260 acres, making 420 acres in all. Mr. Strang is a member of two firms, the heaviest cattle dealers in Sierra valley, handling from five to ten thousand head annually. The firms are Rowland, Flint, Hainten, & Strang, and Strang & Humphrey, and they have been associated together for nine years. Mr. Strang mines to some extent, and is the sole owner of the Blue Gravel mine. He was married in November, 1865, to Eleanor Mickey of Illinois, by whom he had
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four children ; viz., Ada, born October 6, 1866, died in 1870; Steven L., born October 20, 1867 ; Jared W., born October 1, 1871; Ida, born June 20, 1875. He was again married August 1, 1880, to Mrs. Lula Currier Robbins, daughter of Isaac C. and Elizabeth Currier of Androscoggin, Maine. By this union there has been one son, Earle L., born April 30, 1881. By her first husband, Mrs. Strang had one son, Herbert S. Robbins, born November 3, 1877. A view of their residence and surroundings can be seen on another page. Mr. Strang is a member of the Sierra Valley Lodge No. 184, F. & A. M.
FRANCIS M. ROWLAND .- He is the son of Clark and Agnes Rowland, and was borni at Inde- pendence, Missouri, April 23, 1834. Francis and his older brother, John R. (now in Oregon), learned the blacksmithing trade, their father being a cabinet-maker, wagon-maker, and a farmer. In May, 1852, Francis left his native home, and arrived at San Jose, October 6, where he was engaged in teaming for two years. He then went to Downieville, and for seven years followed the packing business. In 1862 he purchased the claim of John Reeves to one thousand acres of land in Sierra valley, where he still resides. He was united in marriage May 18, 1862, to Miss Mary Church, daughter of Ezra and Harriett Church of Ferrisburg, Vermont, where she was born July 5, 1843. Her parents are now living in Sierra valley. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland have had six chil- dren, born as follows : Hattie, May 15, 1864; Agnes, July 9, 1867 ; Edgar, December 9, 1870; Iva, February 17, 1872; Clark, June 3, 1875; Frances, June 9, 1880. Mr. Rowland is one of the heaviest cattle dealers in the valley. On his home ranch he feeds from 100 to 150 head every winter ; and in company with Jared Strang, handles from ten to twelve hundred on their Nevada range. The Feather river runs through his farm, which, with many never-failing springs, supplies water for stock and the meadows. The fire of 1881, which destroyed the business portion of Sierraville, consumed his fine, brick store-building and stock of goods. Mr. Rowland is one of the company that projected and built the telegraph line from Truckee to the valley. He is a member of the Sierraville Lodge No. 184, F. & A. M.
WALTER EDE .- This gentleman is one of the leading farmers and stock growers of Sierra valley. He was born in Sussex county, England, on the twenty-ninth day of July, 1835. He came to the United States in 1843, with his parents, and settled in Waukeshaw county, Wisconsin. On the third day of March, 1857, he embarked, via the Isthmus, for California. When he first landed in California he engaged in mining, and pursued this industry in different localities with more than average success; but he was not satisfied with the life of a miner, and in 1863 bought the ranch he now owns, and engaged in stock growing and dairying. Mr. Ede deals extensively in cattle. He has 1,300 acres of land, well watered by the stream known as Adams creek, which waters a consid- erable portion of Sierra valley. Mr. Ede was married December 31, 1870, to Miss Caroline A. Dean, daughter of Moses and Sarah Dean, who was born in Picaway county, Ohio, October 26, 1854. They have now four children : Cora May, born May 8, 1874; Leonard Greely, December 13, 1875; Charles Walter, January 17, 1878; and Irene, January 23, 1880. When Mr. Ede arrived . in California he was penniless, and with a limited education, obtained in the common schools of Wisconsin ; but he has been successful in business, and by tact and industry has surrounded himself with a good property and comfortable home. He handles about three hundred head of cattle annually, and the amount of business done is above $10,000 per annum.
CLAUDE FRANCOIS SELTIER .- He is the son of Antoine and Jeannie (Segu) Seltier; was born January 20, 1818, in St. Gaud, Canton de Fresne, rue Mames, department de la Haute, Saone, France. His father was a farmer; and young Claude spent his time at work on the farm until thirty-three years of age, excepting five years' service in the army. In the autumn of 1851 he left
WILLIAM WAGNER.
'BUCK'S RANCH". PROPERTY OF WM. WAGNER & JULIA HALEY, PLUMAS COUNTY, CAL.
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his home, and after a short time spent in traveling in his native land, embarked for the United States, sailing from Havre. A thirty-eight days' trip brought him to New York. From there he journeyed to Meadville, Pennsylvania, and to Clearfield county, where he engaged in lumbering. He next went south to Vicksburg, and from there to St. Croix Falls, Minnesota. In the fall of 1855 he journeyed, via Panama, to California, to join his brother who had come the year previous. In 1858, in company with his brother John F., and James Calvin and Abel Adams, he came to Sierra valley and located in what is known as Adam's Neck. At that time there were but two settlers on that side of the valley. Mr. Seltier is now the only one of the original settlers who remains in the " Neck." The first cabin erected in the vicinity was by himself and brother, a half- mile from our subject's present home. In 1856 he opened a store at Harrison's diggings, which he kept for about eighteen months, when the camp disappeared, and there was no longer need of his merchandise. Mr. Seltier is a member of the Masonic lodge at Beckwourth, of Lassen Chapter No. 47, and of Lassen Commandery No. 13, at Susanville. A view of his residence may be seen on another page. He is now the possessor of 320 acres of land, and is regarded one of the substantial men of Beckwourth valley.
W. A. SPERRY .- Mr. Sperry was born September 9, 1837, in New York. While a young man, · his parents removed to Wisconsin, settling in Dodge county, where our subject lived until he had attained the age of twenty-five; when, in 1863, he came to California, via Panama, and mined at Howland flat, Sierra county, for seven years. In 1870 he located 320 acres of land six miles south- cast of Beckwourth, where he has since lived. He was married July 16, 1869, to Miss Annie McFarlan, of Lower Canada, then a resident of Howland flat. Their children are Nettie M., born May 3, 1871; Nellie M., July 7, 1872; Lilly B., August 2, 1874.
THOMAS BLACK .- 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 Cincin- nati, 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 occupa- tion 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 has borne him one son, John William, born September 3, 1881.
ALBERT PICKETT CHAPMAN .- 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 an- cestors 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
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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 an- other 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 Poy- singian. Our subject is a member of Susanville Lodge No. 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.
GEORGE WILSON HUMPHREY .- He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Lufkin) Humphrey; was born in Cumberland county, Maine, June 8, 1834. He left the school of his native town in 1852, and came to California. The first two years he spent in the Sacramento valley, clerking a portion of the time. Early in the spring of 1854 he went to the mountains, and drove cattle for two years, living at Forest City. He then clerked for a time at Smith's flat, near what is now Alleghany. In the spring of 1855 he had been employed on Langton's pioneer express as a rider, and after a time established a saddle-train business on his own account, carrying the mail and express until 1859, when he moved his headquarters to Sierra valley, and ran a stage line to Virginia City, connecting with his saddle-train to Downieville. These he conducted until the completion of the Central Pacific railroad over the mountains. In 1864 he purchased and began to reside on the ranch he now owns. It consists of 1,500 acres of land, and he handles from one to two thousand head of cattle annually. Mr. Humphrey was married October 27, 1862, to Edith A. Lockhart, daughter of William and Mary A. Lockhart of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where she was born September 18, 1844. Their children are Henrietta Elizabeth, born October 10, 1864; John E., September 17, 1866; Frank E., July 9, 1868; May Josephine, July 28, 1870; Herbert, Janu- ary 3, 1872; James L., January 16, 1874; Jacob Butler, April 22, 1876; Susan Winnefred, March 22, 1878 ; infant daughter, July 7, 1881. Mr. Humphrey's present residence and buildings were erected in 1879, a view of which may be seen elsewhere.
DAVID B. KEYES .- He was born at Barry, Vermont, April 19, 1829. He started out in life for himself when fourteen years of age, going first to New York, and then to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he worked in the Tremont cotton manufactory for four years. From there he proceeded to Boston, and in 1851 purchased a farm at Belrica, which he worked until the spring of 1855, when he came to California, via Panama. From San Francisco he went to Downieville, and engaged in packing until the fall of 1856, when he bought an interest with his brother John in a milk business at Nevada City, which occupation he followed for a number of years. In the fall of 1864 he came into Sierra valley, Sierra county, and rented a dairy ranch for four years, when he located what is now the G. W. Keyes ranch, and carried on dairying there for three years more. In 1874 he sold the ranch and bought the Doom hotel in Loyalton, which he ran for two years, leased it for the same length of time, and then traded it for the Antelope Neck ranch, which he still owns. In 1881 he bought the Dodge hotel in Loyalton, of which he is at present manager and proprietor. Mr. Keyes was married January 13, 1851, to Eliza Gardner of Winthrop, Maine, by whom he has had eight · children: Harry G. (deceased), Katie G. (now Mrs. Dory), Annie W., Eddie (deceased), Edwin B., Zenas W., May S., and Harry. He is a member of Sierra Valley Lodge No. 184, F. & A. M.
COREL HOWK .- Mr. Howk was the first of five children, three sons and two daughters, of Alanson Howk, and was born at Wellington, Lorain county, Ohio, April 6, 1829. Alanson Howk was of Holland descent, and was born September 15, 1800, in New York. He was one of a party of five men the first to settle in Lorain county, Ohio, being then nineteen years of age, In 1828 he was
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married to Theodocia Clifford of Rhode Island. Alanson Howk died April 6, 1851, and his wife March 31, 1880. Corel Howk worked on the farm until March, 1852, when he came overland to California. He conducted the Iowa hotel at Placerville until June, 1853, when he sold out and came with his family to Sierra valley, Sierra county, and located on the Beatty & Stewart ranch. Shortly after he sold this and located the Suphur springs in Sierra valley. Here he built a house and lived until 1861, when he sold out and went into stock-raising, changing his residence to Beck- wourth. In 1864 he went east, intending to remain, but came back the following year. Upon his return he bought a ranch from Dr. Webber, and raised stock until 1872, when he again sold out, and has since been dealing in horses. In 1876 he purchased a comfortable home in Loyalton, where the family has since resided. He was married January 1, 1848, to Miss Ordelle Caroline Freeman, who was born in Cayuga county, New York, April 13, 1831, and was the daughter of Simeon and Olive (Jackson) Freeman. They have two children, Electa Jeannette, born November 29, 1864, and Simeon Jonathan, born February 1, 1868. Mrs. Howk is a woman of high literary tastes, and years ago contributed many valuable articles and sketches for the newspapers and periodicals of the coast. Some of her best efforts were published in Hutching's California Magazine, and the Golden Era. Her various nom de plumes were Alice, Dolly Dodson, and Chatterbox, under which she is quite widely known. Their accomplished daughter possesses rare musical talent, and is also a fre- quent contributor to various publications.
DAVID GOULD WEBBER .- This gentleman is the son of William and Susanna Webber, and was born in Livingston county, New York, September 12, 1809. When sixteen years old he began working on a canal in summer, attending school in winter, and followed this for two years, when he engaged as a drug clerk and student with Dr. Woodworth of Springfield, Pennsylvania. Three years after, young Webber bought him out, and continued in business for twelve years. In 1843 he closed out his business there, and dealt in stock for two years. He went to Chicago in 1845, and bought a half-interest in a steam flouring mill, and was also a contractor on the Illinois canal for about four years. He started for California in December, 1849, via Panama, and upon his arrival in April, 1850, went to Downieville, and mined during the summer of 1850. In 1851 he located the Oak ranch near Monte Christo, but sold out the next year and bought a saw-mill in Downieville, going also into stock-raising in Scott valley. During the four years following, Dr. Webber superin- tended the building of the first wagon road to Downieville, the first bridge across Yuba river, and the court-house, jail, and jailer's house. He was school superintendent of Sierra county two years. During this time, in 1852, he located all the land around what was then called Little Truckee lake (now known as Webber lake), for a stock range, and in 1854 stocked the lake with trout, there having been previously no fish in it, because of the falls a mile below. In 1860 he built the Webber Lake hotel there, and opened it to the public that year. The ranch he now lives on, four miles north of Loyalton, was located by him in 1859, where he spent the winters, and ran the hotel at the lake during the remainder of the year, until 1877. The doctor has practiced medicine in Loyal- ton for three years. The lake property is still owned by him. In 1833 he was married to Miss Margaret Bradish of Cranerville, Pennsylvania, by whom he had one child, James W., who was born in 1835, and died in Sacramento in 1856. Mrs. Webber died in 1842. The doctor has raised and educated nine orphan children, two of whom are practicing medicine, another is a merchant, another a lawyer, and another a book-keeper. One of his pupils in medicine he sent to Europe for two years. He is a member of the Summit lodge of Odd Fellows.
WALTER M. BANET .-- He was born at Hudsonville, Mississippi, June 26, 1855. At the age of nine he, with his parents, removed to Covington, Tennessee. Here he was reared and educated,
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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.
DAVID DERR NEWMAN .- This gentleman was born at Philadelphia May 29, 1833. His father was engaged in the stage business. David attended school in his native city until seventeen years of age, when he became a salesman in a wholesale and retail store at Norristown, and was after- wards in a dry-goods house. In the spring of 1853 he started for California, via Panama, arriving in San Francisco June 19, 1853. He mined first at Downieville, and until the winter of 1856. when he ran a dairy and meat market at Forest City for two years. In 1858 he sold out and moved to Sierra valley, settling on the ranch he now owns. It consists of 400 acres. Mr. Newman has been more or less interested in mining since he first came to the state. He was married June 27, 1857, to Miss Roxy Ann Lockart of Meadville, Pennsylvania, who was born February 15, 1842. Their children are : Mary Emma, Albion K., William D., Charles F., Ferdinand, and Bradford U. Mary was married in September, 1877, to Allan Nicholson of Sierra valley.
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