Sierra County
Biographies
H. H. Purdy
was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1828. In 1831 his parents moved to Oneida county, where our subject live until 1846, when he went to Utica to learn the jeweler’s trade. Three years after, he opened a shop in Rome, New York, and remained there until he came to California, in 1852, starting in March, via the Isthmus, and arriving in San Francisco in July. In August, 1852, he came to Downieville, and purchased an interest in the jewelry store of Benjamin Green, which they ran for four years. In 1856 Mr. Purdy acted as deputy county treasurer, and with Mr. Green, was engaged in constructing a ditch at Eureka, doing their banking with Langton & Co. This house failed and Mr. Purdy lost heavily; sustaining losses also on the Minnesota ditch, which proved unremunerative. In 1859 he was engaged with his father, S. Purdy, in a foundry at Downieville. In the following year he went to Silver City, Nevada and worked at his trade there a year. In 1861 he went on his ranch in Long valley, and remained there until 1869, when he returned to Downieville, and opened the store in which he is now interested.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 494
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
I. Martinetti
was born in Switzerland in 1841, and emigrated to the United States in 1860. He came direct to California, arriving in June. He mined in El Dorado county three years, and then went to Gold Hill, Nevada, where he conducted a bakery for eighteen months. He then came to Sierra county and settled at Sierra City. Here he mined two years, and in 1869 built a hotel, which he kept until 1872. At that time he formed a partnership in general merchandise business with N. Tartini. He was married in 1877, to Miss M. Williams of Monte Christo.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 492
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
J. W. Orear
is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, and was born January 6, 1836. In 1854 he came across the plains to California, arriving at Sacramento in September, and from there came directly to Downieville, where he has resided ever since. After mining nearly a year he entered the employ of the Alta California Telegraph company; helped put up the line from Nevada City to Downieville; opened the offices at Forest City and Camptonville, and soon after took charge of the Downieville office, which place he still holds. He was married in 1861, in Downieville, to Mrs. C. Fox, and again in 1875, to Miss Ida Secretan of Downieville. He has had one son by his first wife, and a son and daughter by his second wife.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 493
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
L. H. Osgood
was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, May 14, 1833. In 1845 his parents moved to Winnebago county, Illinois, where our subject remained till 1854, in the fall of which year he came to California, stopping a short time in San Francisco, and moving to Sierra county in May, 1855, where he mined for a season at Craig’s flat. He then went to Poker flat, and remained until 1865. Mr. Osgood was engaged in the dairying business form 1858 to 1861, and in butchering from 1859 to 1864. In 1859 he was appointed under-sheriff. In 1873 he commenced reading law, and in 1877 was admitted to the bar, since which time he has been engaged in practicing law.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 493
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
L. Nessler
was born in the province of Vorarlberg, Austria, in 1825, on the seventeenth of March. He began as a butcher in 1843, and worked at the business until he came to the United States, in 1854. After stopping a year in Wisconsin, he came to California, and arrived in Downieville November, 1855, where he was engaged in mining until the following spring. Then he went to Camptonville, Yuba county, and was engaged in the occupation of a ferrier for a year, after which he returned to Downieville and worked in a brewery three years, when, in company with Joe Wackman, he bought the business. In 1864 the brewery was burned, and they lost $10,000. They immediately rebuilt, at a cost of $8,000. Two years after, Mr. Nessler bought out his partner, and ran the business alone for two years, when he formed a partnership with J. A. Blohm, which existed for eight years. In 1870 the brewery was again burned. Mr. Nessler now conducts the business alone. He was married in 1863 to Miss M. Garibaldi of Downieville, who has borne him four children, three of whom are living.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 493
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004