Plumas County
Biographies
Arthur W. Keddie
He was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1842, and was brought by his parents to America in the following year, and settled in Ontario county, Canada, where he lived till 1863. He was educated to the profession of land surveyor, and served under a provincial land surveyor in the town of Whitby, the county seat of Ontario county, the three years’ apprenticeship required by the provincial laws. He passed his examinations successfully before the provincial board of examiners in the city of Toronto. Immediately on attaining his majority, he left Canada for California, via Panama, arriving in San Francisco September 8, 1863. His first work in the state was the compiling of Holt’s maps of California and Nevada. He went to Plumas county in 1864, to survey the road between Indian and American valleys, and was afterward employed in making preliminary surveys of a railroad line from Oroville, via the north fork of Feather river, American valley, and Beckwourth pass, to Reno. In 1869 he returned to Canada (on the first train on the C. P. R. R.), married the eldest daughter of William Barnes, Esq. of Whitby, but soon returned to California, and has since been resident of Quincy. He has several times been elected county surveyor of Plumas. Mr. Keddie is a P. G. of the Odd Fellows lodge, and is now, and has been for the past five years, Master of Plumas Lodge No. 60, F. & A. M. He is a United States deputy surveyor, notary public, etc.
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
James E. Edwards
He was born in the town of Eardington, near Bridge North, Shropshire, England, in the year 1832. He came to the United States in 1851, settling in New London, New York, where for a short time he clerked in a store and meat market. In October, 1854, Mr. Edwards came to California, and engaged in the manufacture of English mustard, near San Jose, and planted the first yellow Durham mustard in the state. He settled in Plumas county in 1855, having charge of the New England ranch for one season, and afterwards followed mining at Nelson creek and at Poplar bar, on the middle fork of Feather river, building a house, store, and butcher shop at the latter place. He afterwards purchased the ground upon which stands the Plumas House, and erected this commodious hotel, which has the reputation among travelers and tourists as being one of the very best hotels in the mountains. His estimable wife, who is ever to be found looking to the comfort of their guests, has in great measure made the house what it is. A view of the hotel may be found on another page.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 323
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
Judge Greenleaf Greeley Clough
This gentleman is a native of Mt. Vernon, Kennebec county, Maine, where he was born October 9, 1835. His parents, Nathaniel Clough and Rebecca W., whose maiden name was Greeley, were also natives of Maine. The judge arrived in California September 24, 1859, and settled in Sierra county at Gibsonville. He had studied the law as his profession early in life, and soon after commenced its practice, making his debut at Downieville. He also practiced in the courts of Plumas, frequently coming from the former place to Quincy during the winter months, with commendable zeal and fidelity in behalf of his client, on snow-shoes. In 1877 he was presented by his party (the republicans) as their choice for the judgeship of the Twenty-first Judicial District, composed of Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc counties, his opponent being the Hon. J. D. Goodwin, then presiding judge of the district, over whom he was successful. He served two years. In 1879 he was again placed before the people for the position of superior judge—a position created by the new constitution, then about to go into effect. On this occasion he was opposed to Judge E. T. Hogan, the democratic candidate. Judge Clough was married on July 5, 1879, to Miss Metta S. Lowell, the second daughter of James M Lowell, from Maine also. The union has been blessed with one child, a son Leon Clough, now two years of age. The judge has ever been and still is a hard student, devoted to the law. Has many warm friends in all parties, and has a fine appreciation of them. He resides in Quincy. He is a man of energy, industry, and of strict temperate habits.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 321-322
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
R. Stover
Mr. Stover was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, where he remained until 1839, when he went to Iowa. He came across the plains to California in 1850, with his father, and brother. He mined one month at Bidwell’s bar, then went to Sacramento, but soon went to Marysville, and settled on a ranch one mile south of town. He remained here two years. Then mined one year in Nevada county, and six years in Placer. He then engaged in stock-raising in Butte county. June 20, 1859, he came to Big Meadows, and located his present ranch, spending his summer months here and winters in Butte county, until 1863, since which time he has been a permanent resident. Mr. Stover is in the dairy business, and has a model farm. He keeps from fifty to seventy-five cows, and makes from 6,000 to 8,000 pounds of an excellent quality of butter each season. He has all the modern appliances for butter-making. Numerous springs of cold water are on his farm. He was married in 1862 to Mary Ann Rose, who was born in Wisconsin in 1846 and came overland to California in 1852. Their children are four girls and three boys.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 322-323
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004