Butte County Biographies

LEWIS WAGONER 

Transcribed by:  Betty Wilson

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was born in Knox county, Ohio, April 26, 1825, where he lived 
until twenty-four years of age.  In April, 1849, he started overland for 
California, arriving above Steep Hollow, on Bear creek, in the month of August 
of that year.  From there Mr. Wagoner went to Rose bar, on the Yuba, and ran a 
bakery and boarding-house until January, 1850, when he went to Bear river.  He 
was at Downieville during a large part of the year.  In the spring of 1851 he 
took up a claim in Plumas county, which he has held thirty years.  From 1851 to 
1858 he was engaged in packing and selling merchandise.  He packed goods between 
Rich bar, on East branch, and Meadow valley, and passed through some pretty 
rough experience.  He afterwards engaged in farming, which continues to be his 
sole occupation, and since 1858 has traded extensively in cattle.  He came to 
Butte county in March, 1881, when he purchased his present residence.  Mr. 
Wagoner was married in Oroville, in 1858, to Lucy Culver, a native of Vermont.  
She died in June, 1876.  He was again married, on the fourteenth of July, 1880, 
to Miss Annie Stewart, who is proud of having been born, raised and married near 
Yuba city, Sutter county.  Mr. and Mrs. Wagoner’s present residence was formerly 
owned by Thomas Dignen.
 
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.