Sierra County
Biographies
A. Crignon
is a native of France, and was born November 30, 1819. After leaving school he learned the carpenter’s trade. In 1843 he went to the Marquesas islands, where he remained until 1851, when he came to the Untied States, arriving in San Francisco in June. Shortly after, he began mining on the American river, at Colma. In the spring of 1852 Mr. Crignon came to Downieville, where he has resided continually since, being engaged in mining most of the time.
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
August C. Busch
was born in Hanover, Germany, April 13, 1836. He came to New York in 1850, and remained there four years, when in 1854 he journeyed to the Pacific coast, arriving at San Francisco in June. During that fall he came to Sierra county, and mined at Downieville for a short time. Then he went to Nevada City and spent the winter, but in the spring returned to Downieville, and followed mining till 1866. In 1863 he bought an interest in the Gold Bluff quartz mine, and worked there till 1866, when he and C. A. Heringlake purchased a ranch at Sierra City, and kept the hotel till 1872; at which time they opened the general-merchandise establishment they are now conducting at that place. In 1859 he put in the first rubber belt which was used on the river. The company, thinking it would not work, declined to spend any money on it, but allowed Mr. Busch to try it at his own expense. He was appointed postmaster of Sierra City in 1866, and has held the office continually since, having also been agent for Wells, Fargo, & Co. since 1871. He was married in 1871 to Mrs. K. M. Campbell of Sierra City.
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
B. T. Eggleston
was born in Herkimer county, New York in 1824, where he was raised a farmer. In 1849 he came to the Pacific coast, arriving at San Francisco in September. From there he journeyed to Mormon island, and mined during the winter. He came to Downieville in April, 1850, and has been a resident of that town ever since. His principal occupation has been mining. In 1871 Mr. Eggleston located the Mowry and Eggleston mine, on Craycroft hill, and has been at work in it since that time. His elegant home on Jersey flat is portrayed on another page of this work.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 488
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Eugenio Kincaid Downer,
son of A. L. Downer, was born in Newark, New York in 1847. His father came to California in 1849, where he was joined by his wife and children in the winter of 1852, who came by steamer via Panama. The family settled at Shasta, Shasta county, where our subject received a common-school education, and learned the printing trade in the office of the Shasta Courier. December 24, 1865, he took up his permanent residence at Downieville, where he was employed as journeyman printer on the Mountain Messenger for two years and a half, then owned by Dewey & Vaughn. With D. L. Whitney, he purchased E. M. Dewey’s interest in the paper. A few years later J. H. Ford bought out Mr. Whitney’s share, and afterwards sold it to Mr. Downer, giving him an equal interest with Mr. J. A. Vaughn, which business relationship has since existed. Mr. Downer is at present interested in the Bald Mountain Extension gravel-mine, the Oro quartz-ledge, Grand Prize claim, Wilbourn Consolidate drift diggings, and the Golden Gate quartz-ledge.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 487-488
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
F. A. Eschbacher
was born in Baden, Germany, October 2, 1824. He was raised a farmer, and came to the United States in March, 1854, stopping a short time in Cincinnati, and then coming by way of the Isthmus to California. In the spring of 1855 he arrived at Downieville, and engaged in mining for eight years, three years of which were spent at the Primrose, in Hog canon. In 1862 he went into partnership with A. Heiser in the bakery business, which they conducted until the fire of 1864, after which Mr. Eschbacher put up the St. Charles hotel, where he has since been landlord and proprietor. The hotel is pleasantly located on Main street, and enjoys a popularity and patronage not exceeded by any hotel in the mountains. In the management of the place he is ably seconded by his affable and energetic spouse, who looks carefully after the wants of their numerous guests. A view of the St. Charles hotel appears on another page.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 488
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004