Plumas County
Biographies
Joshua C. Abbott
“Old Man Abbott,” the first settler in Big Meadows, built a cabin near the present town of Prattville, in 1855. In 1860 he located near the Abbott spring, now the Dotta ranch. He sold out in 1873, and moved to Modoc county in the vicinity of Goose lake. He was only seventy-five years of age, and said he wanted to “grow up with the country.” At last account he was still growing.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 294
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
L. Wellington Bunnell
This old pioneer is a native of New Hampshire, and came to this state in 1852. He engaged in mining at Rocky bar on the middle fork of Feather river, but shouldered his blankets and moved to the north fork the next season. Subsequently he engaged in ranching and merchandising with the late William H. Miller at Butt valley. October 12, 1869, he was married to Mrs. Julia E. Lee, a pioneer lady of Big Meadows, in which valley they now reside and keep a popular summer resort. Mr. Bunnell is largely engaged in the dairy business.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 294
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
L. W. Bunnell
He is a native of New Hampshire, and came to California, via the Isthmus in 1851, arriving in San Francisco the latter part of June. He first mined on Poorman’s creek, Nevada. From there he went to Plumas county, and mined on the middle fork of Feather river until 1853, when he went to the north fork and mined until 1855, in which year he went to Butt valley, Plumas county, and commenced farming and stock-raising, where he remained until 1867, at which time he came to Big Meadows, and erected his present fine hotel. In connection with his hotel, he has about 940 acres of land. Mr. Bunnell was married in 1869 to Mrs. Julia E. Lee. The hotel is beautifully situated near the banks of the north fork of Feather river, with groves of pines in the immediate background, and Lassen’s peak in the distance. The rooms are commodious and comfortable. The table is supplied from the dairy with plenty of fresh milk and butter. The mountain streams in the immediate vicinity furnish an abundance of trout. Mr. Bunnell is an agreeable gentleman and a popular landlord. During the warm season the house is filled with guests from all parts of the state. Excursions are made weekly to Lassen’s peak, the Hot Springs, Mud Springs, and other places of interest. Many invalids have derived permanent benefit from passing a few weeks in Big Meadows.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 322
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
Dr. Willard Pratt
was born at Canton, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1826. His father was a physician at Canton, and Willard followed in his footsteps. At the age of twenty-two he graduated as a physician from the Pennsylvania University, Philadelphia, and emigrated to Grant county, Wisconsin, residing at Fennimore, and practicing medicine. He was married June 14, 1848, in Marshall, Wisconsin, to Miss Sarah H. Hart, daughter of Thomas Hart, and born in Huntingdonshire, England, February 15, 1825. Dr. Pratt removed to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1850, and practiced until 1853, when he crossed the plains to the Pacific coast. He spent four years in Placerville, then Hangtown, after which he went to Colusa, where he remained until 1860. Then he settled in Butte county, near Chico. Here his health began to fail, and having a call to visit Thomas Bidwell at the Big Springs hotel, his attention was called to the beauties of Big Meadows. He spent two summers there, and in 1867, having decided to make it a permanent home, he erected a residence and hotel, the first one in Prattville, or the neighborhood. He went to the centennial exposition at Philadelphia, and while there his property was destroyed by fire. He came back to find no home; but in 1877 he built his present house, which cost $10,000, and is one of the best in the mountains. It has twenty-six sleeping rooms, besides parlors, family rooms, etc., and is crowded with guests every summer. Mr. And Mrs. Pratt have six children, as follows: Emily Charlotte, born April 17, 1849; Anna E., June 21, 1851; Willie N., April 21, 1853; Thomas E., March 5, 1860; Mattie J., July 5, 1862; Marion N., December 17, 1866.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 294
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004