Sierra County
Biographies
Alonzo Ward
was born at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in October, 1822. When seventeen years old he went into a tinshop and learned the trade. In 1844 he went to Niles, Michigan, and during the next eight years resided at that place, at St. Joseph, and at Chicago. In 1852 he came to California, and worked at his trade in Sacramento. In the spring of 1853 he went to ranching on Cache creek in Sacramento county, but soon sold his ranch, came to Sierra county in July, 1853, and stopped at Craig’s flat, mining most of the time until 1854, when he went to Sebastopol. In the spring of 1855, in company with six others, he started the Pioneer tunnel, wherein he lost $9,400. Mr. Ward worked at his trade for C. W. Gilbert in Downieville from 1863 to 1873, when, with Messrs. Cole and Campbell he bought the business. In 1881 it was sold to J. W. Brown, the present proprietor. Mr. Ward was married in 1870, to Miss A. F. Flanders of Downieville. Two children have blessed their union.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 496-497
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004
H. G. Weir
was born in Brooke county, Virginia, in the year 1830. He began work in a marble-shop at the age of fifteen, and learned the trade of marble cutter and engraver, which he followed until he came to California in 1850. He crossed the plains, and arrived at Placerville in July. Here he mined until the following spring, and then came to Poker flat in this county, where he dug for the precious metal for ten years. In 1861 he went to Morristown, and mined there until 1867, when he went to Downieville, and engaged in the livery business, which he has continued to the present time.
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
H. Strange
the present county clerk of Sierra county, was born in Suffolk, England, September 28, 1829. He emigrated to the United States in 1850, and, after spending a year in New York in the employ of the Pacific Steamship Company, came to California, arriving at San Francisco in February, 1852. In March he went to Calaveras county, and mined at Rich gulch nearly a year when he went to San Francisco, with the intention of going to Australia. While waiting for the steamer the Russett house was burned, where the Cosmopolitan since stood; he was present, and in saving some of the inmates, was so badly burned that he was disabled for a year. In March, 1854, he came to Sierra county, and went to mining at Downieville. He mined for six months, in 1855, on the McCloud river, and got back to Downieville in July, 1856, without money. In 1861 he was appointed deputy clerk, which post he held till 1868, when he was elected clerk, and has served the county in this capacity continually since, being an efficient officer and an exceedingly popular man. He was married at Downieville, in 1863, to Miss N. A. Hill of this place, by whom he has had one son and a daughter.
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
Henry Spaulding
He is a Vermonter by nativity, having been born in Orange county, November 30, 1835. At the age of fourteen he went to Boston, entering the employ of Nourse &. Co., wholesale dealers in farming implements. After staying there two years he entered upon an apprenticeship to a carpenter, and served four years at the trade. He came to California in 1857, arriving at San Francisco in July. In September he came to Forest City, where he mined continuously until 1870, when he was appointed under-sheriff. In 1873 he was elected sheriff of Sierra county, and served one term. In company with L. Mowry and W. J. Holmes, Mr. Spaulding, in 1878, established the firm of Spaulding, Mowry, & Co., now doing the heaviest business in the county. He was married in Downieville, April 4, 1864, to Kiss Sarah Egan, who died March 8, 1872. He was married again December 24, 1874, to Miss Carrie Holmes of Forest City.
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
J. C. Stewart
of Goodyear’s bar was born and raised in Montgomery county, Ohio. He started for California, via the Isthmus, in January, 1852, arriving at San Francisco on the first day of April, a troublesome delay of six weeks having occurred at Panama. Upon his arrival, he started immediately up the Sacramento to Marysville, from whence he set out on foot up the Yuba, with several companions, having run short of money. He settled at Goodyear’s bar, where he has since resided, having been connected for many years with the saw-mill, in company with John Schriver. He was married in November, 1870, to Miss Alma Clark, four children having since been born to them. He is a member of Mountain Shade Lodge No. 18, F. & A. M., at Downieville.
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco, 1882. p 495-496
Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004