Sierra County
Biographies
Judge S. J. Pettibone
Upon the resignation of Judge McCann, in 1854, Governor Bigler appointed S. J. Pettibone to fill the unexpired term. He was a miner, and lived near Forest City. His legal attainments were not of a high order, though he held the office of justice of peace at the time of his appointment, and had sat as one of the associate judges in the court of sessions with his predecessor. He also resigned in October, 1854, not considering the office suitable to his taste or sufficiently remunerative. He was succeeded by Judge P. C. Schaffer, who occupied the bench until the election of his successor, in the fall of 1855.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 429
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Judge Samuel B. Davidson
was appointed by Governor Stanford to fill the unexpired term of Judge Campbell, and took his office in June, 1863. In the fall he was elected county judge on the republican ticket, over A. P. Williams, former partner of Ex-Governor Johnson. He served out his full term, reaching to 1868. Prior to coming to California, Judge Davidson practiced law in New Brunswick, where he was born March 6, 1821. He was admitted to the superior court of that province in 1847. In 1849 he came to California, via the Horn, stopping for a year at Valpraiso, and arriving in San Francisco in June, 1851. He came directly to Downieville, and went into partnership on the Texas claim with James Haslam. In 1853 he went to San Juan, Nevada county, and helped to open the San Juan diggings; but not being successful there, he afterward mined on Kanaka creek, which paid better. In January, 1854, in company with W. E. Riley, he opened a store and express office at Chip’s flat, which business he followed until 1857, when he resumed mining at Chip’s and Smith’s flats. In 1860 he opened a law office at Cumberland, and the year following was elected district attorney of Sierra county, and removed to Downieville, where he has since resided. Since the expiration of his term as county judge he has been practicing law. Judge Davidson was married in 1864, at Moore’s flat, Nevada county, to Mrs. Lambert of that place, to whom he was born one daughter.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 429-430
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
Judge William Campbell
was elected to the judgeship on the democratic ticket in 1859. He was an able newspaper man, having been the editor for several years of the Sierra Democrat. In 1855 he had been defeated for the office of county clerk by Alfred Helm. He left the county in 1862, but drew his salary until 1863, when he resigned, went to Virginia City, and entered into a law partnership, there with Judge R. H. Taylor. He was afterwards a district attorney in Nevada, and died in 1876.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 429
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004