Sierra County
Biographies
David B. Patterson
He was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, March 26, 1829. He crossed the plains to California in 1852, stopping in Sierra county, on the North Yuba, where he mined for awhile, and then was interested for some years in a saw-mill. In 1858 he sold out and went east, but was back in less than a year; and in partnership with L. T. Fox kept stock on the ranch now owned by Mr. Patterson, and ran the butchering business in Downieville, Goodyear’s bar, Monte Christo, Eureka North, Poker Flat, and St. Louis. In 1862 he sold out of the meat business, and bought Mr. Fox’s interest in the stock-ranch, which he still operates. December 25, 1860, he was married to Jane Newell of Goodyear’s bar, who died August 6, 1864. He was a second time married to Annie Parker of Canton, New York, December 25, 1865, by whom he had three children: Jane, born September 27, 1866; Cora V., February 14, 1869; and Mary, July 20, 1877. He is a member of Sierra Valley Lodge No. 184, F. & A. M.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 268
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
David Derr Newman
This gentleman was born at Philadelphia May 29, 1833. His father was engaged in the stage business. David attended school in his native city until seventeen years of age, when he became a salesman in a wholesale and retail store at Norristown, and was afterwards in a dry-goods house. In the spring of 1853 he started for California, via Panama, arriving in San Francisco June 19, 1853, He mined first at Downieville, and until the winter of 1856 when he ran a dairy and meat market at Forest City for two years. In 1858 he sold out and moved to Sierra valley, settling on the ranch he now owns. It consists of 400 acres. Mr. Newman has been more or less interested in mining since he first came to the state. He was married June 27, 1857, to Miss Roxy Ann Lockhart of Meadville, Pennsylvania, who was born February 15, 1842. Their children are: Mary Emma, Albion K., William D., Charles F., Ferdinand, and Bradford U. Mary was married in September, 1877, to Allan Nicholson of Sierra valley.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 268
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
David Gould Webber
This gentleman is the son of William and Susanna Webber and was born in Livingston county, New York, September 12, 1809. When sixteen years old he began working on a canal in summer, attending school in winter, and followed this for two years, when he engaged as a drug clerk and student with Dr. Woodworth of Springfield, Pennsylvania. Three years after, young Webber bought him out, and continued in business for twelve years. In 1843 he closed out his business there, and dealt in stock for two years. He went to Chicago in 1845, and bought a half-interest in a steam flouring mill, and was also a contractor on the Illinois canal for about four years. He started for California in December, 1849, via Panama, and upon his arrival in April, 1850, went to Downieville, and mined during the summer of 1850. In 1851 he located the Oak ranch near Monte Christo, but sold out the next year and bought a saw-mill in Downieville, going also into stock-raising in Scott valley. During the four years following, Dr. Webber superintended the building of the first wagon road to Downieville, the first bridge across Yuba river, and the court-house, jail, and jailer’s house. He was school superintendent of Sierra county two years. During this time, in 1852, he located all the land around what was then called Little Truckee lake (now known as Webber lake), for a stock range, and in 1854 stocked the lake with trout, there have been previously no fish in it, because of the falls a mile below. In 1860 he built the Webber Lake hotel there, and opened it to the public that year. The ranch he now lives on, four miles north of Loyalton, was located by him in 1859, where he spent the winters, and ran the hotel at the lake during the remainder of the year, until 1877. The doctor has practiced medicine in Loyalton for three years. The lake property is still owned by him. In 1833 he was married to Miss Margaret Bradish of Cranerville, Pennsylvania, by whom he had one child, James W., who was born in 1835, and died in Sacramento in 1856. Mrs. Webber died in 1842. The doctor has raised and educated nine orphan children, two of whom are practicing medicine, another is a merchant, another a lawyer, and another a book-keeper. One of his pupils in medicine he sent to Europe for two years. He is a member of the Summit lodge of Odd Fellows.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 267
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004