Lassen County
Biographies
A. E. DeForest
This gentleman was born September 2, 1853, in Johnson county, Iowa, When ten years of age he, with his parents, came overland to California, arriving in Honey Lake valley in September, 1863, where they have since lived. While yet young Mr. DeForest engaged in stock-herding, and has managed for himself ever since. He was married December 23, 1877, to Miss Florence Edwards of Susanville, who was born in Windom county, Vermont, November 24, 1857. Their only child is Lorenzo Eugene, born November 17, 1876. In the fall of 1878, Mr. DeForest, purchased a farm of 320 acres, seven miles south-east of Susanville, on which he now resides. In politics, he is a republican.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 502
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Captain Charles A. Merrill
He was born in Jackson, Maine, November 25, 1838, from which place his parents removed, while he was yet young, to Bangor, where his father owned a large hardware business, and carried on a tannery and leather manufacturing establishment until his death, in 1845. The following year his mother died, after which he lived with an uncle, Ezekiel T. Hatch, a leading ship-builder of Belfast, Maine. Until fifteen years of age, Charles attended school regularly either in Jackson or Bangor, but in that year he commenced going to sea during the summer time, and attending school in the winter. This he continued until eighteen, in which year he made his first voyage to the island of Martinique, from where he went to the Spanish Main, and in after years cruised all over the world. In 1864, he abandoned the sea at San Francisco, and engaged in land speculations in California. In 1870 he was engaged by the settlers of Santa Barbara and vicinity, to proceed to Washington and resist,and if possible prevent, the confirmation by Congress of a large Spanish land grant of twenty-two leagues (66 miles) of land to a syndicate of speculators, headed by Tom Scott and Levi Parsons, which would have amounted to wholesale robbery of the settlers in that county. With the able assistance of George W. Julian, chairman of the House Committee of Public Lands, he succeeded in defeating its confirmation, and in having the pueblo ratified, thereby giving to the Santa Barbara people a government title to their lands. During the years 1872-3 he engaged in mining and stock speculations with great success, and in 1874 came to Lassen county, and located an extensive tract of fine timber land, just west of Susanville, in the midst of which he erected a saw-mill, which he operated for three years. In 1874, he conceived of the idea of that vast irrigation scheme for the reclamation of those extensive tracts of desert lands which lie north and east of Honey lake. In winter of 1874-5 he went to Washington, and had passed “The Desert Land” bill, which then applied to Lassen county only, but which has since become general. The details of this enterprise are given elsewhere. Mr. Merrill is a live, shrewd, energetic man, and with his enterprise has caused large sums of money to be put into circulation in the county, and will continue so to do, to his and the settlers’ material benefit. He was married in February, 1875, in Belfast, Maine, to Miss Clara A. Shibles (they had been engaged for fifteen years) of that place. He returned with his bride to San Francisco, where they resided until his business began to require his constant attention, since which time they have made their home in Belfast in this county. They have had two children: Florence E., born November 1, 1876, in San Francisco; and Charles A., February 1, 1878, but living only two years and twenty-one days.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 504
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Charles Mulholland
He is the son of Peter and Catherine Mulholland, and was born August 25, 1838, in the county of Londonderry, Ireland. When nine years of age he, with his parents, went to Scotland, where they remained until 1862, when he came to the United States. He served throughout the late civil war, being at Hampton Roads, and taking part in the conquering of the confederate iron-clad Merrimac. He was with Farragut’s fleet on the Mississippi river, was in front of Vicksburg, and in 1863 was on the U. S. steamer Wachusett when the Florida was captured. At the close of the war he withdrew from the Navy, and settled in Pennsylvania. In 1873 he went to Illinois, where he remained four years, when he came to California and settled in Lassen county. Here he was a preacher in the Methodist church until the fall of 1879, when he was elected to the legislature on the republican ticket, as joint representative for Plumas and Lassen counties, serving in this body with ability, and satisfaction to his constituents. In 1881 he removed to Greenville, Plumas county, and purchased the Bulletin, in charge of which he still continues. Under his guidance this paper is wielding a moral and political influence enjoyed by few papers in Northern California. Mr. Mulholland was married May 4, 1865, to Miss Mary Havey of Dover, New Jersey, where she was born June 6, 1846. Their children are Irving, born February 7, 1866, in New Jersey; Katie, June 6, 1868, in Pennsylvania; and Mary, June 4, 1874, in Illinois.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 503
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Dr. George Hurley
He was born at Pomeroy, Meigs county, Ohio, June 15, 1850. When fifteen years of age his parents, with his family, removed to Kansas, where he soon commenced the study of medicine, and graduated at the Medical college of Keokuk, Iowa. In 1871 he came to California, and to Susanville in 1875, where he practiced his profession until his death, which occurred August 6, 1880. He was married February 16, 1880, to Mrs. M. E. Bennett. Doctor Hurley was a man of fine education, and was esteemed by all who knew him. He was a Master Mason before coming to Susanville, having received the degrees of the chapter and commandery, and was buried by the Masonic order here. A large concourse of citizens attended the funeral.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 503
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004