Lassen County
Biographies
Hon. Israel Jones
This gentleman was another of the members of the old Roop county bar. He was born in the state of New York, August 4, 1838, and read law for a time before coming to Susanville, where he arrived in 1862. During the Sage-Brush War, James D. Byers, deputy sheriff of Plumas county, was arrested in Susanville upon the charge of having obstructed an officer in the discharge of his duty, by snatching from his hand a warrant of arrest which the official was about to serve. Young Jones had taken the Plumas side of the controversy, and now defended Byers, procuring his discharge by producing the warrant in court, and showing that the Roop county judge had neglected to sign it in his haste to have it served. This gave Jones considerable popularity, particularly among the people of Plumas; and in the fall of 1863 he was elected county judge of Plumas county by the Union party. He went to Quincy, to take his seat on the first of January, 1864, but died that very morning, after an illness of but three days. He was buried with Masonic honors, at Susanville, which order erected a fine monument to mark his grave. He was a peculiarly bright and versatile young man, and destined to make a high mark in the world had his life been spared.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. -
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 376
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Hon. John S. Chapman
Judge Chapman came from Arkansas to Honey Lake valley in 1859. In 1866 he was appointed deputy county clerk, in which position he continued three years, devoting his leisure hours to the study of the law. In 1869 he was chosen county judge on the democratic ticket, and the following year was admitted to the bar of the district court. In 1872, the judicial salary being too small to warrant him retaining his position, he resigned and began the regular practice of his profession at the bar. He was a diligent student, and soon became quite profound in legal lore. Desiring to widen his field of practice, he removed to Los Angeles in 1879, where his ability has won him success in his practice before the higher courts.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. -
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 375
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Hon. John S. Ward
This gentleman took a very prominent part in the efforts of the citizens to form a county government in this section. He was born at Vergennes, Vermont, December 16, 1825, and came to the coast in an early day, having lived in Indiana and Wisconsin. His father came to California in 1853, and settled in Indian valley, Plumas county, where the father, Hon. William T. Ward, became the first county judge. John came in 1855, and settled in Honey Lake valley in 1858, and was admitted to the practice of law by Judge Gordon N. Mott, of Nevada Territory, in July, 1862. The following December he was appointed probate judge of Roop county, by the governor of Nevada Territory, and held that position through the conflict for jurisdiction known as the Sage-Brush War. He devoted himself studiously to his books, and soon ranked among the best lawyers in this section of the state; and had he lived, his career would have been a brilliant one, so full of promise was it when he was cut down in the prime of life. He died in Susanville in 1872, and was buried with honors and imposing ceremonies by the Odd Fellows and Masonic orders. In 1871 he went to Washington, and secured the establishment of a U. S. land office at Susanville, of which he was appointed Register. He was married at Madison, Wisconsin, January 1, 1849, to Miss Anna E. Hyer. Of their children, two were born in Wisconsin—T. H., September 25, 1851, and Jennie S., January 16, 1755 <1855>; one in Plumas county, California—Frank G., February 5, 1857; the others in Lassen county—Charles R., September 13, 1859; Annie H., October 13, 1861; William C., September 10, 1868. Jennie S. married Hon. John S. Chapman, January 1, 1871. T. H. married Miss Wileta Edwards, February 16, 1872. Frank G. Married Miss Ada Myers, in September 1876. Annie H. married Hon. J. W. Hendrick, January 1, 1878.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. -
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 374-375
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Hon. W. R. Harrison
The successor to Judge Harvey on the county bench was Hon. W. R. Harrison, one of the early practitioners at the Lassen county bar. He was elected county judge in October, 1865, holding the position two years. In 1869 he was elected district attorney, but died in 1870 before his term had expired. He was a very fine scholar, learned in the law, and of exemplary private character. His loss was deeply deplored by all who had come within the circle of his friendship.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. -
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 375
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004