Sierra County
Biographies
Jerome A. Vaughn
son of Jesse and Betsey Vaughn, was born at Chardon, Geauga county, Ohio, December 20, 1837. He resided at his home until nineteen years of age, acquiring an education at the Hiram institute, and learning the printer’s trade, when he went to Chicago, and for several months worked in various printing-offices. He then removed to Waukegan, Illinois, and worked on the Gazette two years; after which, in 1858, he worked on the Transcript at Peoria, Illinois, until the fall of 1859, when he again changed to Delevan, Wisconsin, and became one of the proprietors of the Delevan Northron, that was burned out in 1860. Mr. Vaughn, then became foreman of the Janesville Republican job department, but on the first of April, 1861, started overland for California, arriving in Marysville August 10. For a short time he worked on the Express and Appeal, but in September, went to La Porte, then to Sacramento, and to San Francisco, laboring at his profession. In April, 1862, he was employed as a guard in the prison at San Quentin, but soon worked on the Argus at Petaluma. During that winter’s session of the legislature Mr. Vaughn was clerk for the sergeant-at-arms of the assembly. In the spring of 1863 he went to Carson on horseback, then to Virginia City, and in October returned to La Porte, where he bought a half-interest in the Messenger, in November, with which he has since been connected, part of the time as senior editor. Mr. Vaughn was one of the original locators of the Bald Mountain Extension mine, and is now largely interested in it, together with several other mines. He was married December 24, 1865, to Miss Eva Passage of Delevan, Wisconsin. Their children are Altie, Jessie, Eva, and George. Mr. Vaughn is a member of the Masonic order, and is district deputy and grand master workman of the Workmen’s order.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 496
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
John Scott
treasurer of Sierra county, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, March 1, 1830, being the son of James G. and Mary Scott. He lived at his birthplace in Ohio until February, 1853, when he came by steamer to California, going directly to Chandlerville, in the northern part of Sierra. In August, 1853 he came to Downieville, resided there a year, and in August, 1854 went to Eureka North, where he engaged in mining and lumbering until October, 1876, being associated for ten years in the lumber traffic with Hon. G. Meredith. At that time he met with an accident in a hydraulic claim, which cost him the loss of his right leg, G. B. Crooks being his mining partner at the time. Mr. Scott was elected county treasurer in September, 1877, on the republican ticket, defeating W. H. Burgess of Goodyear’s bar, the democratic nominee. He was re-elected to the office in September, 1879, over his former opponent. Mr. Scott is a member of Mountain Shade Lodge No. 18, F. & A. M.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 495
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
John T. West
is a native of Denmark, where he was born in 1835. He was raised at home, learned the clock-making trade, and came to New York in 1854. In a few months he came around the Horn to San Francisco, where he lived a year, and then, in 1855, went to Nevada City, working at Cherokee during the winter. In the following spring Mr. West came to Kanaka creek, Sierra county, and from there to Alleghany in 1857, where he began mining with the Knickerbocker company, of which he was a shareholder. Mr. West was engaged in mining at Alleghany and Smith’s flat until 1868, when he opened a saloon. In 1873 he moved to Forest City, bought another saloon, retaining his interest in the old one. In 1880 he, with James McNaughton, bought the Forest house of Henry Ellery, and now is a partner with S. A. Scullin in the same popular hotel. Mr. West is interested in the South Fork mining company. He is a member of Forest Lodge No. 66, F. & A. M., at Alleghany; of Mistletoe Lodge No. 54, I. O. O. F., at Alleghany; and of the Knights of Pythias No. 44, at Forest City.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 497
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004