Plumas County
Biographies
James H. Larison
He was born in Butler county, Ohio, February 23, 1828. He is the son of James A. and Elizabeth (Olendorff) Larison. He worked on a farm until sixteen years of age, and then learned the coopering trade. He crossed the plains to California in 1850, and began mining in Placer county. In 1852 he returned to Ohio for his family, and brought them out with him the following year. Upon his arrival he settled in Plumas county where he has followed mining continuously for sixteen years. He is now living on his ranch. Mr. Larison was married July 17, 1849, to Miss Arminta Reed, by whom he has had five children: James W. was born April 17, 1850; Ella, August 25, 1855; Charles, August 23, 1858; William, April 7, 1865; Kittie, January 25, 1870. A view of his residence may be seen on another page.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 284
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
Thomas F. Hersey
This gentleman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, May 29, 1821. He followed the sea from the time he was fifteen years of age until he came to this state, leaving home about the first of December, 1854, and arriving at San Francisco on the seventeenth of April, 1855, as first officer of the clipper ship Flying Arrow. He came to Plumas county in May, 1855, and made his home there until his death—for many years being engaged in mining. He was appointed justice of the peace for Plumas township in 1867, and in 1873 ran for county judge, being beaten by a small majority. He was appointed postmaster at Quincy in 1873, and filled that position at the time of his decease, which occurred October 13, 1878. He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and was buried by the lodge at Quincy, with all the beautiful rites and ceremonies used by that organization. The procession which followed his remains to the grave was one of the longest ever seen in the place.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 284
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
LaFayett Cate M. D.
This gentleman is the pioneer physician of the county. He is a native of New Hampshire, and graduated at the Vermont Medical College. He came to Plumas in 1854, and settled at Elizabethtown, and engaged in the practice of his profession. He has devoted much of his attention to mining enterprises, as well as to his profession. He has always enjoyed a full share of practice, and still resides in Quincy. Upon the resignation of County Treasurer Chapman, in December, 1878, Dr. Cate was appointed to fill the vacancy, and served in that office until March, 1880, when he retired from public life, and is quietly pursuing the practice of his profession in Quincy.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 284
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
Colonel Calvin W. Rockwell
The colonel is a native of the state of New York. He came to this state in 1852, and embarked in mining at Galena Hill, Yuba county. He first honored Plumas with his presence in 1856. He is the Colonel Sellers of the day, and his wise counsels are often invoked by the mining fraternity. For several years he was the acting road manager of Whiting & Co.’s express, engineering the dog-team during the winter months, and became famous for his celerity of transits over the snow belt. He never yields the palm for a good story of the days of yore. He is the proprietor of Rockwell Park, near Quincy, and all who patronize his stables on that turf testify to his gentlemanly deportment. He is considered high authority in racing animals, and his famous trotter, Blue Ruin, has long been the admiration of the turf men. He was one of the founders of the town of Camptonville, in Yuba county.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 284-285
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
Donald Robertson Finlayson
He is the seventh son of John and Amelia Finlayson. His father was a native of Scotland; his mother of Nova Scotia, where Donald was born, in the town of Merigomish. When he was sixteen years of age, Donald began to work at milling, which occupation he followed for many years. In 1856 he crossed the Isthmus to California, arriving in San Francisco on the first of June, and went to the mines at Camptonville; thence he moved to Alder creek, Sacramento county. From here he went to Spanish Ranch, where he mined till 1865. In 1866 he purchased the place he now lives on. He was married February 26, 1872, to Mrs. Jane Richards of Plumas county. Her maiden name was Murrish. She was born January 19, 1831, and emigrated to the United States from Cornwall, England, settling with her married sisters at Mineral Point, Wisconsin. She was married to William Richards, an Englishman, August 19, 1848. They came to California in 1855, when Mr. Richards received injuries in the mines that caused his death after six years’ illness. To them were born six children: Martin, born in Wisconsin, June 22, 1849; Sarah Ann, born in Wisconsin, October 18, 1850; Francis V., October 14, 1856; Mary Evaline, December 23, 1858; William M., July 22, 1861; Clara Emma, January 10, 864. The last four children are natives of California. Mrs. Finlayson has born her present husband three children, two of whom are living: John E., born March 26, 1873; Donald R., born March 22, 1875; Nellie, born December 4, 1878, and died when fifteen months old. Mr. Finlayson is a member of Plumas Lodge No. 88, I. O. O. F., at Quincy. A view of his residence and its surroundings may be seen on another page.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 285
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004