Lake County
Biographies
JAMES W. BROWN
Was born in North Carolina, September 16, 1832. When but a child he, with his parents, moved to West Tennessee, where they followed cotton growing until 1841, when they moved to Missouri. Here the subject of this sketch followed farming and lead mining until 1857, when he crossed the plains to California, arriving in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, in October of that year. Two years were spent near Petaluma, engaged in dairying, after which he followed the same business the same length of time near the mouth of Russian River. In May, 1862, he made a trip to Salmon River, but on account of sickness stayed but a short time. Returning he settled near Santa Rosa, and engaged in farming for a while. We next find Mr. Brown in Sebastapol, engaged in the livery business, which he conducted for four years. In 1867 he bought a ranch near Blucher Valley, and farmed until 1870, when he came to Lake County, where he has since resided. He is engaged in farming, about three miles south from Lower Lake. He married December 21, 1864, Miss Sarah J. Wood. Their children are, Harry, Joseph W., Charles W., James T., Walter M., Frank, and Mattie E.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 222
CAPTAIN R. W. CRUMP
Present District Attorney of Lake County, was born in Greenville County, Virginia, September 25, 1828, and is therefore now about fifty-three years of age. At the age of about fifteen years, he moved with his mother and her family, his father having died several years before, to Shelby County, Tennessee, near Memphis. Here he resided until the fall of 1851, when he moved with his wife, having been married to Miss Caroline Pierce, of Halifax, North Carolina, in 1850, to Poinsett County, Arkansas. He was admitted to the practice of law in that county in 1855. In the early part of the year 1860, he moved to Panola County, Mississippi, where he resided until June, 1875, when he moved with his family to Santa Rosa, California, and thence to Lakeport, in the fall of 1877. Captain Crump was admitted to practice law in all the counties of Mississippi in 1860, and again the District Courts of California in Santa Rosa in 1875. Having impaired his voice seriously before coming to California, he did not make the law a specialty after coming to this State until he was elected District Attorney of Lake County in 1879. In the meantime he was engaged on the staff of the Santa Rosa Daily “Democrat” as city editor for about two years, and then took charge of the Lake County “Bee,” and was the principal editor of that paper until the spring of 1880. Captain Crump has been twice married, having married his present wife, Mrs. Lenora B. Clanton, in Sardis, Mississippi, in the fall of 1871. He has living seven children. Though engaged in the practice of law since 1858, he was also engaged in cotton planting from the time of his majority until the close of the war, when his negroes were emancipated. He is a Democrat in politics, and made a strong fight for the adoption of the new Constitution of California, by speeches and through the columns of his paper, the Lake County “Bee.” Lake County having voted for its adoption by a large majority, he was elected as a New Constitution Democrat over very strong opponents to the office he now holds.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 223
JAMES H. CARVER
Was born in Kentucky, May 3, 1840. When but an infant his father, his mother being dead, moved to Missouri. In 1859 the subject of this sketch returned to Kentucky and attended school for two years. He then went to Missouri again, where he remained until the spring of 1863, at which time he crossed the plains to Virginia City, Nevada. Here mining was prosecuted until 1864, when, on account of failing health, he came to California. He was engaged in butchering in Vacaville, Solano County, and farming near Dixon until 1875, when he came to Lake County and settled about four miles south from Lakeport. Here he followed farming and stock raising for three years. He then moved to Lakeport and engaged in butchering one year. In the fall of 1879 he settled on his present place, consisting of two hundred and fifty acres, located in Coyote Valley, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Carver married August 22, 1869, Miss Gertrude Myers, a native of Missouri. They have one child, Emmett E.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 224
H. J. CRUMPTON, M.D.
Was born near Charleston, South Carolina, in 1828. At an early age he was apprenticed to learn the “art preservative,” and while serving as a “printer’s devil,” he resolved to work his way through a medical education. He was thus engaged when gold was discovered in California. He at once determined to visit the new El Dorado, and started out in 1848 to “tramp it” across the continent, and reached the “diggings” the following year. He began operations at Caldwell’s store, now Nevada City, and followed that business with varying fortunes the ensuing ten years, by the end of which time he had amassed a handsome competency. He then returned to the “States” for the purpose of completing his medical education. He returned to California after finishing his medical course, and engaged in the practice of his profession. Having visited the territory now forming Lake County on a hunting excursion some thirty years ago, and being charmed with its natural beauties, he determined to make his residence permanent here. He has a pretty little home on one of Lakeport’s “seven hills,” and extensive practice, and stands well in his profession, being at this time an officer in the State Medical Society. In 1880 he was elected to the State Legislature, and in that body he stood squarely and nobly by the people, and his voice was ever raised against stock-jobbing and tax-shirking. He is a gentleman of unimpeached integrity, generous to a fault, and a citizen of whom the people of Lake County may justly feel proud.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 224-225
J. M. COLLINS
Was born in Indiana. When he was but a child his parents moved to Clay County, Missouri, and settled on a farm. In 1853 the subject of this sketch came across the plains to California, and arrived in El Dorado County in August. Here he engaged in mining until the spring of 1860, when he went to Suisun, Solano County, where he resided until the fall of 1863, when he came to Lake County. Here he bought what is now known as the Howard Springs property, where he resided one year. We next find Mr. Collins engaged in farming near Lower Lake, where he remained until the fall of 1868, when he settled on his present place, consisting of two hundred and one acres, located about one mile west from Middletown. He married March 19, 1865, Miss Lizzie Farmer, a native of Missouri. By this union they have eight children, William M., Edward, Robert, Annie, Emma, Augustus, Eldorado, and Gracie.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 225