Plumas County
Biographies
William E. Jones
This is one of the early settlers of Plumas county. He is the oldest of a family of three children of Dr. Hiram and Harriett Jones, of Acomac county, Virginia, where he was born February 15, 1830. When a lad of fourteen he went to Philadelphia, and learned the plastering trade, which he followed till January, 1849, when he started for California, going by way of New Orleans to Galveston, and thence across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona; his party being the first to go the southern route. They arrived at Mariposa mines September 15, 1849. Some time after, he leased a ranch near Sacramento, but was driven away by the floods, and then went to Sutter’s fort. He mined at Hangtown and at Gold Run in Nevada county. From there, in company with seventy-five persons, headed by Stoddard, he started in search of Gold lake. The company disbanded in Sierra valley, many going to Downieville. Mr. Jones went on into Plumas county. He was in Honey Lake valley when there was not a house, and in Indian valley when Peter Lassen was hauling timber for his cabin. When he, with his friends, got to American valley, where Quincy now stands, they found a Spaniard there with a number of horses. Mr. Tate also had a cabin at the spot. From here he went to Rich bar in June, 1851, and mined until 1856. On the second of September, 1855, he was married to Nancy A. Said, from Iowa. This was the first wedding on the river, and a royal good time was had. His associates each carried in some useful present. F. B. Whiting contributed a wash-tub, a wash-board, and a bar of soap. In 1862 Mr. Jones removed to Long valley, and engaged in farming. In 1867 he bought the Junction House, which he kept until removing to the Summit. By his first marriage six children were born: Charles E., Clara E., Laura F., Robert Fenton, William L., and Zella. Mr. Jones was married again September 19, 1881, to Miss Lizzie Sharkey of Sierra City. Mr. Jones is familiarly known among his associates as Paul Jones.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 263
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004
Alexander Beaton
He is a native of Cumberland county, Nova Scotia. His parents were Francis and Janet Beaton of Scotch nativity. Alexander worked on a farm until twenty-six years of age, and then lived for a time in Boston, New York, and other places. In 1866 he came to California, via Panama, and settled in Tuolumne county, where he was engaged in teaming. In 1870 he bought his present home in Sierra valley, which consists of 160 acres of grazing land. Mr. Beaton was married December 11, 1870 to Mrs. Elvira M. Colby, widow of Hiram T. Colby, and a native of Vermont, where she was first married. Her children by the first marriage are Elvie A., born September 20, 1857, and Leland A., born October 11, 1866. Mr. Beaton’s children are Arial F., born December 12, 1871, and Hattie L., born June 19, 1874. Mr. Beaton is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Sierraville.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 263
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004
Jared Strang
The subject of this sketch is a son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Strang, and was born on Prince Edward’s Island, March 12, 1837. His ancestors were early settlers of New York, and his grandfather on his mother’s side was a participant in the Revolutionary war. Jared’s boyhood days were spent on his father’s farm. When ten years old, his father removed to West Duxbury, Massachusetts. In the spring of 1858 Jared came to California, via the Isthmus and soon settled in Sierra valley, joining his father, who had come in 1856, his mother having died when he was a small boy. They went into the cattle business, which they continued until 1867, when Jared purchased his father’s interest. He located a quarter-section of land, to which he has since added 260 acres, making 420 acres in all. Mr. Strang is a member of two firms, the heaviest cattle dealers in Sierra valley, handling from five to ten thousand heads annually. The firms are Rowland, Flint, Hainten, & Strang, and Strang & Humphrey, and they have been associated together for nine years. Mr. Strang mines to some extent, and is the sole owner of the Blue Gravel mine. He was married in November, 1865 to Eleanor Mickey of Illinois, by whom he had four children; viz., Ada, born October 6, 1866, died in 1870; Steven L., born October 20, 1867; Jared W., born October 1, 1871; Ida, born June 20, 1875. He was again married August 1, 1880 to Mrs. Lula Currier Robbins, daughter of Isaac C. and Elizabeth Currier of Androscoggin, Maine. By this union there has been one son, Earle L, born April 30, 1881. By her first husband, Mrs. Strang had one son, Herbert S. Robbins, born November 3, 1877. A view of their residence and surroundings can be seen on another page. Mr. Strang is a member of the Sierra Valley Lodge No. 184, F. &. A. M.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 263-264
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004
Francis M. Rowland
He is the son of Clark and Agnes Rowland, and was born at Independence, Missouri, April 23, 1834. Francis and his older brother, John R. (now in Oregon), learned the blacksmithing trade, their father being a cabinet-maker, wagon-maker, and a farmer. In May, 1852, Francis left his native home, and arrived at San Jose, October 6, where he was engaged in teaming for two years. He then went to Downieville, and for seven years followed the packing business. In 1862 he purchased the claim of John Reeves to one thousand acres of land in Sierra valley, where he still resides. He was united in marriage May 18, 1862, to Miss Mary Church, daughter of Ezra and Harriett Church of Ferrisburg, Vermont, where she was born July 5, 1843. Her parents are now living in Sierra valley. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland have had six children, born as follows: Hattie, May 15, 1864; Agnes, July 9, 1867; Edgar, December 9, 1870; Iva, February 17, 1872; Clark, June 3, 1875; Frances, June 9, 1880. Mr. Rowland is one of the heaviest cattle dealers in the valley. On his home ranch he feeds from 100 to 150 head every winter; and in company with Jared Strang, handles from ten to twelve hundred on their Nevada range. The Feather river runs through his farm, which, with many never-failing springs, supplies water for stock and the meadows. The fire of 1881, which destroyed the business portion of Sierraville, consumed his fine, brick store-building and stock of goods. Mr. Rowland is one of the company that projected and built the telegraph line from Truckee to the valley. He is a member of the Sierraville Lodge No. 184, F. & A. M.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 264
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004