Butte County
Biographies
ALEXANDER DICK
ALEXANDER DICK.—Robert Dick, the father of our subject, was a Scotchman and captain of a vessel. He was drowned three months before the birth of his son (Alexander), which occurred at Irven, Ayershire, Scotland, July 22, 1833. In 1849, Alexander came to America via New Orleans, to Illinois, and remained there until the first of April, 1852, when he crossed the plains to California, being just seven months on the road. He stayed a short time at or near Mt. Onyett’s, and then lived on the Clark ranch, but was run off by the Indians and moved over to Pence’s for safety. In 1855, he located on the place he now owns. On his land, under a large tree, was once a camping-place of Fremont’s. He discovered this fact by finding a tin can in the forks of a tree, which contained a paper that proved its correctness. His place consists of 240 acres; he owns 160 acres near the buttes, and also has a mountain home, where he spends many summers. He was married March 20, 1859, to Miss Jane Sliger, now deceased. She bore him five sons and one daughter. He was married again in March, 1877, to Miss Harriet E. Haycock, of Canada, by whom he has had one child, a son. Mr. Dick is an earnest worker for the public schools, having been a trustee for seventeen years. He was foremost in organizing the first school at Biggs and in getting the fine school-building erected. Having had limited facilities himself for getting an education, he is unusually interested in having the best of advantages given to his own and neighbors’ children. In religion he is a protestant, though making no profession, and a republican in politics. He is a member of the United Workmen and Odd Fellow lodges at Biggs. His residence, which is shown on another page, was erected by his own hands.
History of Butte County, California: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vol. II - Harry L. Wells & W. L. Chambers - 547 Clay Street, San Francisco, Cal., 1882.
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson
HON. LEON D. FREER
HON. LEON D. FREER.—L. D. Freer was the son of Peter Freer, for several years sheriff of Butte county. He was born at Rome, Oneida county, New York, May 31, 1845. At the age of ten years he came to the coast and lived with his father in Butte county. He received his education at Benicia and Oakland, worked in San Francisco in 1864-65, and then returned to his home in Oroville. In 1867, desiring to turn his attention to the law, he commenced the study of that noble profession, which has given to the country four-fifths of her statesmen, and by patient application was enabled in 1869 to be admitted to practice both in the supreme court of the state and the district court. At this time sickness prevented him from entering into active life, and three years were spent in recovering his health. In 1872 he commenced to practice. He was elected district attorney of Butte county in 1875, and held the position for two terms, during which time his name became widely known because of his able prosecuti8on and conviction of the Chico rioters and murderers of 1877. In 1880, Mr. Freer formed a partnership with Judge T.B. Reardan, formerly district judge of Nevada county, for ten years. Reardan & Freer still continue to enjoy a large and lucrative practice in Butte county. Mr. Freer represented Butte county in the legislature of 1881, being a member of the assembly. Politically he is a democrat. In November, 1874, he married to Miss Clara G. Helms, which union has been blessed by three healthy children. Mr. Freer holds the honorable position of deputy general master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in May, 1882, will become grand master of the state. Personally he is a man of fine physique, possessing unusual talent of high order and an engaging and attractive style. His genial manners have made him popular, not only among members of his own political faith, but within the lines of the republicans as well. The record he made is without blemish, and his name is being spoken of in connection with future congressional honors.
History of Butte County, California: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vol. II - Harry L. Wells & W. L. Chambers - 547 Clay Street, San Francisco, Cal., 1882.
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson
PETER FREER
PETER FREER was born December 31, 1813, at Duchess county, New York, from whence he removed at an early age to Chester county. He learned the trade of harness-making, and moved to Rome, Oneida county, in the same state, where he followed his trade till leaving for California, in 1849. At Rome, in 1843, he was married to Ellen McCarty. Six children were born to them, of whom three are now living—L.D. Freer, E.D. Freer and Lewis Freer. He was among the venturesome band of Argonauts who peopled this state in its infancy. Upon reaching California, he struck out for the interior, to seek the “root of all evil,” and brought up in what is now Plumas county, then a party of Butte. He started at mining on Poor Man’s creek, and afterwards kept a hotel at Nelson’s Point. The fickle goddess fortune smiled on him in all his early ventures, and, in the year 1852, he was joined by his wife, and together they shared the toils of California life. In 1853, he was elected sheriff of Butte county, to which office he was re-elected in 1855, at which time he resided at Bidwell’s bar, Plumas having been created from Butte in 1854. In 1855, his family was made complete by the arrival of his only other remaining son, Leon. They all remove to Oroville with the archives of the county. The office of sheriff was a very rich one, but though his revenues therefrom ran into the hundreds of thousands, he had saved but little when his term expired. His hospitality and open-heartedness, characteristics proverbial with him, even in all his after years, never allowed him to say no to a request. For six years he served Butte county as one of her supervisors. In 1869, he was again a candidate for sheriff, but was defeated by 43 votes. He took a very active part in politics, and was always called into the councils of his party, democratic, for his advice. He died September 11, 1881, at Oroville, leaving a widow and three grown sons, and mourned by a legion of friends.
History of Butte County, California: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vol. II - Harry L. Wells & W. L. Chambers - 547 Clay Street, San Francisco, Cal., 1882.
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson