Plumas County
Biographies
Cyrus Laufman,
son of Jacob and Margaret Laufman, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, November 11, 1830. His father moved to Illinois when Cyrus was eight years of age, and settled in Edgar county, where he carried on a tanning business. He left for California April 30, 1849, and arrived at Deer creek in October. He mined on Feather river during the winter, and as soon as he could travel in the spring started out with hundred of others to find Stoddard’s Gold lake, arriving in Plumas county at Nelson Point, about the last of April. In May he came over into American valley, in company with half a dozen others, searching for Rich bar, of which Hobbs, one of the party, had been given an inkling by a brother Mason. They failed to find it, however, and returned to Nelson creek, but in a couple of weeks it became generally known where Rich bar was, and they went to it, but all the ground had been located before they arrived. They then mined at Nelson creek, and on the south fork of Feather river until the winter of 1851, when he went back to Illinois for a visit, and upon his return mined on Jamison creek and on the south fork. Again, in 1853, he went east, and on the first of January, 1854, was married to Miss Laura Price, daughter of William and Rebecca Price, now of Taylorville. In the spring of 1854 he settled in south-western Missouri; but in 1856 he sold out and came back to Plumas county, settling in Indian valley, where he has been engaged since in farming and mining. His first wife died January 24, 1870. He was married a second time to Maria S. Henderson of Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, who died February 1, 1878. The children by his first wife were Florence (deceased), Juan, Annette, Jacob B., Mary, Susan (deceased), Robert E. Lee, Margaret, and Philip (deceased). By his second wife he had one daughter, Susie H. Laufman.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 299-300
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
James Ford,
son of James and Polly (Wing) Ford, was born in Grafton, Grafton county, New Hampshire, October 18, 1817. When nineteen years old he joined a U. S. surveying party, and assisted in the survey of the southern part of the Black Hawk purchase, which embraced a large territory now in Iowa. In 1840 he accompanied his father to Randolph county, Illinois, where they were engaged in running steam and water saw-mills for several years. In April, 1852, he started for California, coming overland with his wife, and spent his first year mining on Spanish creek. In March, 1853, he located the ranch of 460 acres he now lives on, having to pay fabulous prices for the first seeds planted. At the time he settled in the north arm of Indian valley, there were only two other farms, those of A. G. Light and William Hussey, Mrs. Ford being the only white woman in the north arm for two years. James Ford was married March 3, 1852, to Mrs. Martha McCord of DeWitt county, Illinois, where she was born October 6, 1835. The children born to them are as follows: Maggie B., born February 1, 1856; Frances Rowena, April 12, 1857; Mary Alice, March 28, 1859; Harriett L., January 11, 1862; Jesse M., April 29, 1864; James Trumbull, April 20, 1866; Sheridan J., September 23, 1868; Sallie M., April 5, 1871; Martha Grace E., June 5, 1873; Annie E., June 17, 1875; Albertie W., December 6, 1878—all of whom are living.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 300
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
Jobe Tyrrill Taylor
The founder of the town of Taylorville, and the first permanent residence of Indian valley, was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1811. At an early age he emigrated to Illinois, and for a time held the position of surveyor of U. S. public lands. Upon the breaking out of gold excitement, he started across the plains for California early in 1849. He took the Lassen route, and on the night of October 31, 1849, camped in Big Meadows, in this county near Bunnell’s. He began mining on Long’s bar, Butte county; then went near Bidwell’s. In February, 1850, he went still farther up the middle fork, to Crooked bar, and in August went to Nelson creek. Early in the spring of 1851 he settled in Indian valley, which he made his home till the time of his death. The particulars of this settlement have already been given. Mr. Taylor was a public-spirited and energetic man, and has been engaged in many movements for the public benefit. He has taken a leading position in the development of Indian valley in particular, and the county generally. No citizen of Plumas enjoyed more of the trust and confidence of the people, or whose death was so universally lamented. His decease occurred at his home in Taylorville, March 5, 1878. His funeral was largely attended, and was conducted by the Masonic lodge of which he was an old and worthy member; the Grangers and Good Templars also following the remains of their deceased brother to the grave. Mr. Taylor left a widow and one son. Mr. Taylor held the office of county surveyor and supervisor from his district, but never sought political honors.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 299
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
Nathaniel B. Forgay
was born at Natchez, Mississippi, November 7, 1839. In the year 1854 he came overland with a team to California, settling at Spring Garden ranch, and mining for six months. From there he went to Indian valley, and worked on a farm until 1857, and then mined at Rich gulch until 1863. For a few months he freighted from Indian valley to Virginia City, Nevada. In 1864 he bought the farm now owned by William Foreman, and sold it in 1868, when he went to Big Meadows, purchased another ranch, sold it the following year, and went to Indian valley. He then bought the Maxwell place, near Greenville, on which he has since resided. With additions made, he now has 388 acres. He was married April 25, 1865, to Miss Lucretia Johnston, who was born in Pennsylvania, May 12, 1840, and came to Plumas county in 1864. Their children are Lizzie, born January 29, 1866; Paradine, March 14, 1867; James A., April 12, 1868; Arnold, June 12, 1870; Alma, September 26, 1872; Leota, October 28, 1878—all of whom are living in Indian valley. Mr. Forgay is a member of Indian Valley Lodge No. 136, I. O. O. F.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 300
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004