Lassen County
Biographies
E. Dalton
This gentleman was born September 23, 1837, in Richland county, Indiana. In the spring of 1860 he came to California, via the Isthmus. He mined in Placer and Merced counties. In the spring of 1862 he came to Long valley in this county, which has since been his home. In 1875 he bought a farm of J. C. Wright, to which he has added and proved up titles to 200 acres of land. It lies on the west side of Long valley, fifteen miles from Milford. Mr. Dalton’s politics are republican. February 3, 1872, he married Miss Mary J. McKissick, of Long valley, born in Sacramento county, May 16, 1855. They have four children, all born at home; Ida May, born February 19, 1873; Hattie E., August 14, 1876; Annie E., December 29, 1878; Lizzie B., March 8, 1881.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 404
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
George W. Fry
This gentleman was born January 22, 1834, in Stark county, Ohio. He lived there and in Ashland county until February, 1852, when he started for California, via Panama, arriving in June. For six years he mined in El Dorado, Yuba, Sierra, and Plumas counties. In November, 1858 he went into the stock business in Honey Lake valley, locating near Janesville. In 1864, he sold this place and bought his present ranch, twenty miles east of Susanville, on the river, and in the Tule Confederacy. He has now 640 acres of hay and agricultural land, all fenced and improved. Politically, Mr. Fry is a democrat. October 28, 1870, he married Mrs. Louisa De Witt, born in Hallowell, Maine, October 2, 1839. She was the widow of Franklin De Witt, by whom she had five children: Arthur F., born in Iowa, May 17, 1859; Carrie E., Iowa, March 8, 1862; Walter B., Honey Lake valley, October 22, 1864, Oscar M., Honey Lake valley, December 31, 1865; George Orrin, Honey Lake valley, December 22, 1867. She has borne to Mr. Fry three children, all in Honey Lake valley: William Herbert, May 26, 1872; Harvey Ray, April 7, 1876; Cora Bell, November 7, 1877. Carrie was married in January, 1877, to S. C. Whitten, and resides in Modoc county.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 405
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Hon. William H. Crane
Senator Crane was born at Mount Morris, Livingston county, New York, June 22, 1838. His father, James Crane, was a farmer, and William worked on the farm and attended the district school until he was fifteen, when he entered the Genesee Wesleyan Institute, and continued about two years. In 1855 he went to Cass county, Michigan, where he engaged in carpentering and teaching until the spring of 1858, when he started west. On reaching the Missouri river he felt a prompting to take a hand in the Mormon war, and headed for Utah, arriving after the difficulty had been adjusted. He then pushed on to California, and arrived in Susanville, October 10, 1858. He worked at carpentering until 1866, then went into Bowman & Lockwood’s store as accountant, continuing there and in other establishments. In 1871 he went into the U. S. land office, just then established, and from that time has transacted most of the business of that office. In June, 1880, he was appointed register. In 1871 he was elected county treasurer, and held the office three terms. In 1877 he was elected to represent Butte, Plumas, and Lassen counties in the senate, on the republican ticket. Mr. Crane is a man in whom his constituents and friends repose the utmost confidence. He is a member of the Masonic lodge chapter, and commandery, and of the A. O. U. W., at Susanville. August 18, 1868, he married Miss Marcelin Wedekind, of Chico, born in Iowa, May 9, 1849. Their children are: Paul, born July 29, 1869; Myrtle, February 18, 1873; Ollie, April 22, 1875.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 403-404
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
John C. Davis
He was born in Germany, April 24, 1824, and at the age of twelve years went to sea. In March, 1850, he abandoned the sea at the port of San Francisco, and for a year ran a boat between that place and Stockton. He then mined two years, ranched one year, ran a pack-train four years, and in February, 1858, came to Honey Lake valley, and engaged in various pursuits until 1866. He then purchased 160 acres of land four miles east of Susanville, where he still resides. Politically, he adheres to the republican party. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Susanville. May 26, 1877, he married Mrs. Annie Compton, born in Pennsylvania, May 7, 1845. They have two children: John Lassen, born March 14, 1878; and Willis, November 28, 1880. His wife also has a daughter by her former marriage, Eva Compton, born in Pennsylvania, March 19, 1871.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 404
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004