Lassen County
Biographies
Hiram N. Skaddan
The present sheriff of Lassen county was born in Coschocton county, Ohio, May 19, 1836. When he was three years old the family removed to New York, and two years later to Michigan, where they still live in Ingham county. In 1862 Hiram came overland to Honey Lake valley, and soon went to Gold Hill, Nevada, engaging in hauling ore for a year. He then went home, and came back to this valley again in 1864, and farmed and teamed for two years. He then engaged in the livery business in Reno for one year. He began staging from Reno to Susanville, and followed that business six years. After this he engaged in the sheep business three years. He was then appointed deputy by Sheriff Washburn, and in the fall of 1879 was elected sheriff on the democratic ticket. December 25, 1875, he married Miss Fannie Lovell of Susanville, who died November 25, 1879. There was born to them, in 1877, a son, Vaughn, who died in infancy. November 16, 1880, he married Grace N., daughter of Captain E. S. and Sophia Talbot. Their only child, Hiram T. was born November 16, 1881, and the mother died four days later.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. -
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 499
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Hon. J. W. Hendrick
The superior judge of Lassen county was born at Bowling Green, Pike county, Missouri, November 4, 1851. When eleven years of age, he accompanied his mother to California, settling in Napa. He attended school at Oakland until 1866, when he went to Providence, R. I., and entered Brown University, from which he graduated with honor in 1872. He then returned to this state, and commenced the study of law with Messrs. Daingerfield & Olney of San Francisco. In 1873 he removed to Lassen county, and continued his studies in the office of Judge John S. Chapman, until 1875, when he was admitted to the bar of the supreme court at Sacramento. He then began the practice of his profession in Susanville, and has continued it successfully to the present time. In 1877 he received the republican nomination for district attorney, and was elected. He gave general satisfaction with the manner in which he conducted the office, and in 1879 was elected superior judge of the county. He has been on the bench two years, and by prompt, terse, and logical decisions, has won the respect of the bar and the confidence of the people. January 1, 1879, he married Miss Annie H., daughter of Hon. John S. Ward. They have two children: Jennie E., born October 25, 1879, and Mary E., August 7, 1881.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. -
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 377
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
J. P. Sharp
This gentleman was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, April 24, 1829. In 1849 he went to Arkansas, and in the spring of 1853 came overland to this state. He spent the winter in Marysville, and then he came to Plumas county, mining until 1857. He then came to Honey Lake valley, and purchased the ranch of Marion Lawrence, in partnership with Lewis Stark. In the spring of 1859 he traded for cattle, which all perished that winter. In the spring of 1860 he went to Virginia City, and mined six months. He then teamed three years from Honey Lake valley to Virginia City and Humboldt mines. In 1864 he bought the ranch now a portion of the old Hamilton ranch. In 1866 he sold it to Hamilton, and bought the Chandler ranch. Five years later he sold that, and bought the ranch on which he now lives, three miles south-east of Janesville, containing 276 acres. Mr. Sharp is a member of the Janesville lodge and Susanville chapter F. & A. M. He is a democrat in politics. April 15, 1866, he married Miss Lurana Walker, born in Randolph county, Indiana, March 28, 1840. Their children are Annie B., born February 17, 1867; Harriett Hill, March 11, 1869; William Walker, May 28, 1871; John Thomas, August 1, 1873; Mary Cordelia, February 15, 1876; Ivy Marble, December 21, 1878; Fenton, July 25, 1881.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. -
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 499
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Massillon Marstella
This gentleman was born in Prince William county, Virginia, October 14, 1853. He received a collegiate education at Georgetown, D. C. In 1872 he went to Mendocino county, in this state, where commenced reading law in the office of Harrison & Carothers, of Ukiah. Late in 1873 he returned to the Georgetown college, and entered the law department, from which he graduated in 1874, and was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the District of Columbia. He again came to this state, and practiced in Mendocino county, where for a time he was deputy district attorney. In 1875 he came to Lassen county, and was that fall elected district attorney on the Democratic ticket, serving until 1878. Since that time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Susanville. He is a young man of good, studious habits, and is rapidly winning an enviable position in his chosen profession. January 9, 1878, he married Miss Nannie Tanner, born in New York in 1860. They have been blessed with three children: Massillon, born October 13, 1878, in Prince William county, Virginia; Dorsey, born March 20, 1881, in Susanville, and died March 27, 1881; infant child, born February 1, 1882.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. -
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 377-378
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004