Lassen County
Biographies
James D. Byers
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.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 402-403
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Jerry Bond
He was born May 27, 1842, in Monroe (now Noble) county, Ohio. He worked on his father’s farm and attended school until he was seventeen years of age, and then went to Brown county, Indiana, and farmed until 1861. He then returned to his old home, and during 1862 was with the government supply train to Tennessee and Mississippi. In the spring of 1863 he went to Boise City, Idaho, and engaged in mining, and teaming until the fall of 1866, having spent the winter of 1864 at the Dalles, and of 1865 at Salem. He then came to Susanville and lived until the fall of 1869, when he located 160 acres of land four miles east of Janesville, where he has since resided. Mr. Bond is a member of Janesville Lodge, F. & A. M., and Honey Lake Lodge, I. O. O. F. He is a democrat in politics. October 24, 1869, he married Miss Mary I. Painter, born in Andrew county, Missouri, August 14, 1852. They have five children: Samuel H., born September 21, 1870; James W., May 1, 1872; Charles S., August 28, 1874; Amy J., February 8, 1878; Wirt D., June 20, 1881.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 401-402
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
John Baxter
A native of Dundee, Scotland, Mr. Baxter was born December 25, 1812. At the age of eighteen he went to sea, which he followed seven years. He navigated the Mississippi two years, and farmed for a time in Texas. He served all through the Mexican war. In April, 1849, he started from San Antonio, Texas, for California, arriving on the Tuolumne in September. He mined on that stream until 1852, and then on the north fork of Feather river, in Plumas county. In the summer of 1852 he went out trading with the emigrants, with Jim Beckwourth, and then ranched in Yuba county until 1857. He then came to Honey Lake valley, and located the ranch on which J. D. Byers now resides. On this he built a log cabin and lived a year, when he traded the property for a mule. Since then he has farmed some, and prospected all over the coast, always making this county his home. He is one of the genuine pioneers of Lassen county.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 401
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Levi Newton Breed
Mr. Breed was born in Manlius, Onondaga county, New York, December 6, 1832. When he was four years old the family removed to Hannibal, in the same state, where he worked on his father’s farm, and attended school until the spring of 1850. He then went to Schuyler county, Illinois, and farmed and went to school two years. In 1853 he came across the plains, and reached Plumas county with four bits in his pocket. He went to San Francisco, where his brother, who was then in the drug business, purchased for him a newspaper route of the Times and Transcript, for $700. Within two months the paper suspended, and the investment was lost. He then mined for a year in Plumas county, then sold goods a year, and in the spring of 1856 opened a trading-post in Honey Lake valley. He continued merchandising until 1859, when he went overland to Frazer river. In the fall of 1860, he returned to Honey Lake valley, and settled on the Epley ranch. A year later he removed to Indian valley, and kept a livery stable for a year. He then came again to this valley, and bought a merchandising business in Janesville, where he has since been in business. He also owns 500 acres of farm land and 500 acres of timber near the town. Mr. Breed was one of the commissioners to organize Lassen county. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Janesville. In politics, he is a republican. September 21, 1861, he was married to Miss Samantha Blood, born in New York, August 10, 1843. She died August 19, 1867, leaving one son, Frederick Arthur, born July 7, 1862. He was again married May 28, 1870, to Miss Annie J. Blunt, born in Summerset county, Maine, September 20, 1852. They have one daughter, Lillian, born June 24, 1871.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 402
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004