Plumas County
Biographies
Walter Ede
This gentleman is one of the leading farmers and stock growers of Sierra valley. He was born in Sussex county, England, on the twenty-ninth day of July, 1835. He came to the United States in 1843, with his parents, and settled in Waukeshaw county, Wisconsin. On the third day of March, 1857, he embarked, via the Isthmus, for California. When he first landed in California he engaged in mining, and pursued this industry in different localities with more than average success; but he was not satisfied with the life of a miner, and in 1863 bought the ranch he now owns, and engaged in stock growing and dairying. Mr. Ede deals extensively in cattle. He has 1,300 acres of land, well watered by the stream known as Adams creek, which waters a considerable portion of Sierra valley. Mr. Ede was married December 31, 1870, to Miss Caroline A. Dean, daughter of Moses and Sarah Dean, who was born in Picaway county, Ohio, October 26, 1854. They now have four children; Cora May, born May 8, 1874; Leonard Greely, December 13, 1875; Charles Walter, January 17, 1878; and Irene, January 23, 1880. When Mr. Ede arrived in California he was penniless, and with a limited education, obtained in the common schools of Wisconsin; but he has been successful in business, and by tact and industry has surrounded himself with a good property and comfortable home. He handles about three hundred head of cattle annually, and the amount of business done is above $10,000 per annum
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
Claude Francois Seltier
He is the son of Antoine and Jeannie (Segu) Seltier; was born January 20, 1818, in St. Gaud, Canton de Fresne, rue Mames, department de la Haute, Saone, France. His father was a farmer; and young Claude spent his time at work on the farm until thirty-three years of age, excepting five years’ service in the army. In the autumn of 1851 he left his home, and after a short time spent in traveling in his native land, embarked for the United States, sailing from Havre. A thirty-eight days’ trip brought him to New York. From there he journeyed to Meadville, Pennsylvania, and to Clearfield county, where he engaged in lumbering. He next went south to Vicksburg, and from there to St. Croix Falls, Minnesota. In the fall of 1855 he journeyed, via Panama, to California, to join his brother who had come the year previous. In 1858, in company with his brother John F., and James Calvin and Abel Adams, he came to Sierra valley and located in what is known as Adam’s Neck. At that time there were but two settlers on that side of the valley. Mr. Seltier is now the only one of the original settlers who remains in the “Neck.” The first cabin erected in the vicinity was by himself and brother, a half-mile from our subject’s present home. In 1856 he opened a store at Harrison’s diggings, which he kept for about eighteen months, when the camp disappeared, and there was no longer need of his merchandise. Mr. Seltier is a member of the Masonic lodge at Beckwourth, of Lassen Chapter No. 47, and of Lassen Commandery No. 13, at Susanville. A view of his residence may be seen on another page. He is now the possessor of 320 acres of land, and is regarded one of the substantial men of Beckwourth valley.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 264-265
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004
W. A. Sperry
Mr. Sperry was born September 9, 1837 in New York. While a young man, his parents removed to Wisconsin, settling in Dodge county, where our subject lived until he had attained the age of twenty-five; when in 1863, he came to California, via Panama, and mined at Howland flat, Sierra county, for seven years. In 1870 he located 320 acres of land six miles southeast of Beckwourth, where he has since lived. He was married July 16, 1869, to Miss Annie McFarlan, of Lower Canada, then a resident of Howland flat. Their children are Nettie M., born May 3, 1871; Nellie M., July 7, 1872; Lilly B., August 2, 1874.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 265
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004
Thomas Black
He was born in Derry county, Ireland in the year 1833. He came to the United States when sixteen years of age, landed at New Orleans, and proceeded direct to Cincinnati, where he lived until the fall of 1852, when he came to California, via Panama. He arrived at San Francisco December 22, and began mining on the North Yuba. He followed this occupation until 1870, when he came to Sierra valley, and with his brother James, bought the Burney ranch, which now covers 480 acres. The land is well improved, and is situated four miles south of Beckwourth. Mr. Black was married in August, 1876, to Miss Kate Sharkey, who died in May, 1877. He was again united in marriage September 26, 1880, to Miss Ellen A. Fitzpatrick of Honey Lake valley, who borne him one son, John William, born September 3, 1881.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 265
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004
Albert Pickett Chapman
The subject of this sketch is the son of Horace Chapman, and was born November 9, 1816. He is a lineal descendant of Robert Chapman, one of the first settlers of Saybrook, Connecticut, who came from Hull, England, to Boston in the year 1635. His ancestors were sea-going people. When a lad of thirteen he learned the tailor’s trade, which he followed nearly twenty years, and for five years carried on a business in Boston under the firm name of Haskell & Chapman. He started for California February 8, 1849, sailing around the Horn on the ship Rodolph, and was two hundred and nineteen days on the voyage. Early in June, 1850, with George F. Kent, William E. Jones, or Paul Jones, he discovered Sierra valley, and located his present ranch the next year. In December of 1851, Mr. Chapman returned east, but came back the following year, via Panama. Prior to this time he had been extensively engaged in mining, and was president of the Buttes Quartz Company. Upon his return he went to Sierra valley, in July, and put up a cabin on the ground now covered by his residence. During the year 1852 Mr. Chapman opened a livery stable at Downieville, where the Armory stable now stands. This he sold in 1862, and removed with his family to his valley home where he has since resided. He was married October 1, 1843, to Miss Caroline S. Chapman, daughter of George Chapman. His wife belongs to the ninth generation of Chapmans in this country, and he to the tenth generation of another branch of descent. They have had two sons; Albert Franklin, born July 13, 1844, and Charles, born March 28, 1848. Albert F. was married April 5, 1868, to Theresa M. Secritan, and their children are Martha Washington, Albert Julius, Carrie Aime (deceased), and Clarence Poysingian. Our subject is a member of Susanville Lodge N. 140, I. O. O. F., and of Blue Range Encampment at Downieville. He was first initiated into the order in Boston in 1846. A view of Mr. Chapman’s residence may be seen on another page of this work.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 265-266
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004