Plumas County
Biographies
Alexander Kirby
He is a veteran of the Mexican war; was born near Bowling Green, Warren county, Kentucky, on the thirteenth of March, 1821. His parents were Samuel and Mary Kirby, who emigrated to Missouri in 1830. On the fourth of June, 1846, Alexander volunteered for the Mexican war at Fort Leavenworth, and while in the service passed through the engagements of Brasceto, Saltello, Buena Vista, and was with General Wool at Monterey. On the second of May, 1849, he started from Independence, Missouri, across the plains, and landed at Hangtown (Placerville) September 13. He was married January 24, 1860, to Miss Harriett J. Honn, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio. By this union there have been eleven children: Mary, Susan (deceased), Louisa, Cora, Henry H., George M., Kate, Laura, Eva, Annette, and Frances. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kirby belong to long-lived and large families. In his family were ten children, and in hers twelve. His grandfather lived to the age of 102, his grandmother to 97, having lived together for eighty years. Mr. Kirby owns the old Beckwourth ranch in Sierra valley.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 262
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004
Marion C. Bringham
He was born in Nebraska City, Nebraska, October 22, 1857. His father came to Plumas county when he was two years old, and settled at Eureka North as a millwright. In 1861 his father, with Benjamin Bobo, located 320 acres of land ten miles east of Beckwourth, where he remained with his family until 1865, when he sold out his interest, removed to Beckwourth, and built the Bringham hotel, which he owned and managed until 1881. Since that time Marion has been a partner in and manager of the business. He owns a quarter section of land adjoining the town of Beckwourth, while his father owns the farm of 320 acres on which the hotel property stands. July 4, 1877, he was married to Miss Hattie E. Trimble, of Sierra valley, by whom he has had one child, Mabel Jeannette, born October 12, 1879
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 262
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004
Richard Martin
This gentleman was born November 29, 1835 in St. Lawrence county, New York. He was the third child of Richard Martin, and had an elder brother who also went by the favorite sobriquet of Richard. His father was a Cornish miner. After the death of his wife, which occurred in 1847, he removed to the lead mines in Grant county, Wisconsin. The boys were then obliged to look out for themselves, and the younger Richard made his first venture on a farm. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, and after a short time spent in travel, located at Forest City, Sierra county, where he mined until 1856. In 1857 he went to Truckee Meadows, now in Nevada, and engaged in dairying. Two years after, he raised hay and vegetables for the Virginia City market, and says that he was one of the first white men to spend a winter on the Meadows. In 1861 he lived in Virginia City, and in 1862 settled in Sierra valley. He began merchandising at the Summit in 1880, in which occupation he has been very successful. He was married March 5, 1881, to Martha Austin. Mr. Martin is a member of Loyalton Lodge No. 187, I. O. O. F., and Hope Lodge No. 234, F. & A. M.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 262
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004