Mendocino County
Biographies
Busch, John G.
John G. Busch. Was born near Hamburg, Germany, June 16, 1826. When seven years of age he, with his family, immigrated to the United States and settled in St. Charles county, Missouri, where the father engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until about eighteen years of age, when he went to St. Louis, where he engaged with Peck & Barnett to learn the carpenter’s business. He served his term of apprenticeship – three years – and then engaged in contracting and building on his own hook, which he followed until about the first day of May, 1850, when he, in company with two other men, started across the plains for California. When they arrived at Humboldt river they overtook four men who were hiding from the Indians. They united their trains and traveled together the rest of the way. The Indians would not let them cross the river, so they had to travel on the south side, and this was the first train to come through on the southern side of the Humboldt river that year. They arrived at Salt Lake July 2, 1859, where they camped one week and worked for the mormon women, their husbands being in California. Their labor for these women was mowing hay, and pay for the same they received cornmeal and beans. After one week’s sojourn here they proceeded on their way, traveling part of the time by night for fear of the Indians. They arrived at the Consumnes river August 10th of that year. Mr. Busch began operations in the mines at once, which he continued till the fall of 1851, when he was taken sick and confined to his bed for about one month, and for twenty-one days of this time nothing but medicine and water passed his lips. On his recovery he engaged at once in merchandising, which he followed until the fall of 1853, when he sold out and took passage on the steamer Uncle Sam for the East, and on the Atlantic side he took the steamer Yankee Blade. He went with the intention of bringing his mother, one sister, and two younger brothers back with him, but they would not come. After remaining for a period of nine months he returned alone, via Panama, and arrived at San Francisco about October 20th. He engaged at once in merchandising in El Dorado county, which he continued till the fall of 1857, when he sold out and moved to Sonoma county, settling west of Cloverdale. Here he engaged in stock-raising for one year, and then, in 1858, moved into Mendocino county and settled about three miles north of Ukiah. He there followed farming and stock-raising until the fall of 1863, when he moved to Potter valley, where he has since resided. He now owns about one thousand one hundred acres of land and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He married, August 21, 1856, Miss Ann Sweeney, and by this union they have ten children: Charles A., John J.,, Mary A., George H., Stephen H., Owen W., Minnie E., Catherine, Frances, and Hattie W.
SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp. 562, 563
Transcribed by Pat Howard
Compton, N. P.
N. P. Compton. Born in Missouri, August 22, 1832. In 1853, he crossed the plains to California, and followed mining in El Dorado and Sierra counties for about twelve years, after which he spent one year in San Joaquin county farming, and one in Santa Clara. In 1865, he came to Mendocino county and settled in Ukiah, where he resided about four years, then moved to Cow Mountain, where he lived until the spring of 1879, when he bought and moved upon the Baker Spring Ranch, where he is engaged in stock-raising and wool-growing. Married August 7, 1873, Miss Emma Bowers, a native of Ohio. They have three children, David C., Louis, and Willis G.
SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp. 563
Transcribed by Pat Howard