Plumas County
Biographies
John J. L. Peel,
a Tennesseean by birth, emigrated to California in 1850, and settled at Nevada City, where he was occupied in mining. In January, 1851 he arrived at Nelson Point, and until 1856 followed mining there on Poorman’s creek and Hopkins, when he was elected county assessor, serving one term. He was elected justice of the peace of Indian township in 1861, and three years later he was appointed county surveyor. His principal avocation during the latter portion of his residence in the county was keeping books for persons engaged in mining and other kinds of business. He removed to Truckee, California, in September, 1868, where he was agent for Wells, Fargo, & Co., until June 1, 1881. He is now superintendent of a mercantile and wood contracting firm at Truckee.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 190
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
Thomas L. Haggard
is a native of Roane county, Tennessee. He was born September 30, 1831, and came to California in 1852, at the age of twenty-one, crossing the plains. Mr. Haggard settled in the Plumas portion of Butte county, and engaged in mining on Spanish creek, above Spanish Ranch. The winter of 1852-53 was spent at Bidwell’s bar, which was then the most important place in Butte county. In the spring of 1853 he returned to the Plumas portion, and settled at Rich bar, where he mined for many years, and lived until the summer of 1871. He then settled at Spanish Ranch, and remained until the summer of 1876. He kept the Buckeye House from that time till 1879, when he sold out and removed to Quincy, having been elected county treasurer. Mr. Haggard makes an efficient county officer, and is esteemed by a large circle of friends.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 190
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
William S. Ingersoll
“Old man Ingersoll” came from the state of Ohio, and his advent into Plumas occurred somewhere about 1858. He was mining in Eagle gulch in 1859, when the democracy presented him to the people as a proper man to take care of the county’s cash. He was successful at the election. Ingersoll was an ignorant man; and but for the presence and ability of John G. Corey, he would have been sadly at sea. He did not attempt to keep accounts with the various funds in the treasury, but had separate purses; and when inquiry was made of him as to the condition of a certain fund, he would count the money in the purse, and report accordingly. The firm of Clark, Shannon, & Co., at Meadow valley, induced Ingersoll to deposit the county funds with them for safe keeping; and when they failed, in the fall of 1861, it was found that the public moneys had failed also. The shortage was made good, however. Ingersoll was defeated in the fall of 1861 by S. J. Clark. No stain of dishonesty attaches to his character. Upon his defeat he moved to Butte county, and from there to Ohio.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 189
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
William S. Price
Mr. Price is a native of Maryland, and a wagon-maker by trade. His political record dates from the year 1865, when at the union convention he received the nomination for county treasurer. His political opponents were R. S. Flournoy, a democrat, and Oscar D. Peck, a union bolter, both of whom he defeated. He served only one term—two years—and was succeeded by James C. Gentry. He belongs to that class of southern men who were known as union men. He depended largely upon his assistants to do his figuring and balancing up; but his integrity was never questioned, and he left a good record as an honest and faithful official. Price is now 68 years old, and is engaged in business in Taylorville.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 189
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004
Wilson Seaman Dean,
the second county treasurer of Plumas county, was elected in the fall of 1854. He was one of the early emigrants, and settled in Plumas, then a part of Butte county, in May, 1851. He bought what now constitutes the Meadow Valley ranch, and opened a store at that place. In the fall of 1852 he encountered a rival in the firm of Clark, Wagner, & Co., who opened a store near by him. The trade was thus divided; and in the fall of 1854 Mr. Dean moved to Quincy, where he has since lived. In the fall of 1855 he visited his home in Illinois, leaving the treasury affairs in the hands of his deputy, Arron Bradbury. Bradbury at that time was surrounded by vicious associates, who led him into “ways that were dark,” the result being that when Dean returned he found a considerable shortage waiting him, which taxed him sorely to make good. However he left a square record as treasurer. Mr. Dean was deputy sheriff under I. C. Boring until 1880. He was one of the three commissioners to organize the county in 1854.
SOURCE: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. –
Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 189
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004