Sierra County
Biographies
G. B. Castagneto
was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1834. He was raised a farmer, and came to the United States in 1854, stopping one year in New York and Massachusetts, when he came to California, arriving in San Francisco in May, 1855. Soon after, he went to mining in Calaveras county. He came to Sierra county in 1857, and stopped at Downieville till January, 1859, when he removed to Sierra City, where he has since resided, engaged in ranching and merchandising until 1870.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 487
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
George H. Abbe
was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, March 6, 1830. In 1842 his parents moved to Boone county, Illinois, where he lived till the fall of 1851, when he “came the Horn around,” and landed in San Francisco in August, 1852. On the first of September he commenced mining on Kanaka flat. In the fall of 1853 he bought an interest in a mine in Birchville, Nevada county. In April, 1854, this was sold out. He went to Forest City, where he mined until April, 1857. He then bought an interest in a livery stable, which he sold in 1863; and in 1865 he moved to Grass valley, mining there and at Meadow lake for a year. In 1867 he went to Downieville, remained two years, and moved to Sierra City, where he has since resided, engaged in the livery business. Mr. Abbe was married in 1860 to Miss Kate Reily of Forest City, and to them have been born four children; all living.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 485
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
H. H. Bigelow
is a New Yorker by birth, and a native of Essex county, where he was born in 1820. In 1835 he began as a sailor between New York and Montreal, which occupation he followed until 1856, serving as a captain from 1843. At that time he went to Minnesota, and farmed there four years; and in December, 1860, started for California, arriving in San Francisco in March, 1861. From there he came directly to Sierra county, and located in Sierra City. In 1869 he returned to Minnesota with the intention of remaining, but found that the Pacific coast was more congenial to his health, and he came back the same year. In 1870 he built the Bigelow house, which he kept until 1881. He was married in 1845 to Miss. S. J. Webster of Essex county, New York.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 485-486
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
J. W. Brown
is a native of Troy, New York, and was born June 26, 1828. In 1833 his parents moved to New York city, where our subject clerked in a dry-goods house from 1842 till 1849, when he came to California, via the Horn, and arrived in San Francisco July 1, 1849. Soon after, he started for the mines on the Yuba, and spent a short time on Rose’s bar, Lander’s bar, Ousley’s bar, and Kenebec bar. In July, 1851 he came to Sierra county, and located at Goodyear’s bar, where he mined until 1854. He was in the employ of L. T. Fox from 1856 to 1861, when he went into partnership with John Giddings in the clothing business, and ran a pack-train from there to Eureka. Mr. Brown bought Gidding’s interest in the store, in 1863, and in the spring of 1866 sold out and moved to Downieville. He was elected county auditor in 1865, and re-elected in 1867. In 1873 he went into the hardware store of Cole, Ward & Co. In 1874, bought a two-thirds interest, and the balance in 1881. Mr. Brown was married in 1862 to Miss C. Harran, at Goodyear’s. To them they have been born four children, one of whom is still living.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 486
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Jason Campbell
was born at St. Joseph, Missouri in 1834, where he was raised a farmer. In the spring of 1847, when thirteen years old, he went to Mexico and drove a government team till the war closed. In 1849 he started for California, but after getting as far as Chihuahua, the company decided to go back, and he had to return with them. In 1850 he started again across the plains, arrived at Placerville in September, and went to mining. In the spring of 1851 he came to Sierra county, and mined on Nelson creek. In July he went to Goodyear’s bar, and mined there till 1853, when he opened a livery stable. In 1857 he sold the stable and purchased a ranch, which he worked for many years. In 1876 he sold his ranch to H. H. Kennedy, and came to Downieville, where has been engaged in teaming ever since. Among his mining experiences may be mentioned that of 1852, when, in company with nine others, he flumed the river below Goodyear’s and took out $12,000 a week for six weeks. He was married in 1857 to Mrs. S. Dutton of Goodyear’s.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 487
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004