Sierra County
Biographies
Robert Forbes,
a native of Dundas, Ontario, came to Grass Valley, Nevada county, in the fall of 1864, where he remained two years. In 1866 he came to Downieville, and worked in the foundry and machine-shop for a number of years. In 1877, he, in company with James Taylor, purchased a foundry at Downieville, which is now in a flourishing condition. Mr. Forbes was married in 1872 to Henrietta Ann Allen, a native of Downieville. They have had three children, two of whom are living. James Taylor came from Louisville, Kentucky to Grass Valley, where he worked as a machinist for his brother. In 1874 he went to Virginia City, and came to Downieville in 1877, when he entered into partnership with Robert Forbes, in the foundry. Mr. Taylor was married in 1850, at Dublin, Ireland, his wife dying in 1874, and has one child living.
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
S. D. Hill
was born in Walpole, New Hampshire, in the year 1821. Two years afterward his parents moved to Stowe, Massachusetts. When sixteen years old he began work in a woolen factory at Feltsville, Vermont, where he learned the trade. In 1846 he bought the mills, and continued the business for himself until 1849. Mr. Hill came to California in the fall of 1850, and mined first at Salem bar, near Mormon island. In March, 1851 he came to Downieville, and has live there since. In 1854, in company with George Webber, he bought the Durgan saw-mill. In the following year he sold his interest to Webber, and with Bradburn and Smith built a mill on the South fork, a half-mile above Downieville. In 1858 he resumed mining, and has been engaged in this occupation since. In 1859 he located to Slug Canon quartz-lead, which proved very rich. In 1861 he located the Oro mine, near Downieville. He was married in 1842 to Miss E. A. Giddings of Feltsville, who has borne five children, four of them still living.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 490
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
William Haskins
was born in Oxfordshire, England, in 1826. He learned the carpenter’s trade in his native country, and has followed it since. In 1864 he came to Forest City, Sierra county, where he has since resided. He was married in 1852 to Miss S. Vinall of Surrey, England.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 489
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004