Tehama County
Biographies
HIRAM B. CHASE
is one of the oldest settlers of California. Having come to this State in 1846, and having seen much of the wonderful transformation which has taken place on this coast since that time, it is eminently fitting that a sketch of his life be given in this work.
Mr. Chase was born in Fulton County, Illinois, March 14, 1823. He was reared on a farm, and, like the majority of farmer boys, went to school in the winter and worked on the farm in summer, and thus laid the foundation for an active and useful life. The Mexican war came on, and, at the age of twenty-one, he enlisted in Company A, Mormon Battalion, entering the service as a private and being promoted to Second Sergeant of his company. He came to California under the command of General King, but was afterward in the command of General Cook. The war ended and they were mustered out at Los Angeles, in 1847. Mr. Chase went to Monterey and engaged in making lumber with a whip-saw, which he continued that winter. When gold was discovered he went to the mines on the American River; was successful in finding gold, but received an injury which compelled him to cease work. He then went to Salt Lake, where he remained until spring. At that time he returned to the mines and took out $2,000. During his mining experience he has taken out $5 in one pan, and as high as two hundred dollars in a day. After leaving the mines he located on a ranch, twenty-five miles below Sacramento, and lived there fifteen years. Then sold out and went to Oregon; spent a season there and at one or two other places; came to Red Bluff in 1870; lived in the city eight years; and then went to his present ranch, three miles northwest of Red Bluff. Here he owns eighty acres of choice land.
Mr. Chase was married in 1861, to Miss May Maria Childers, a native of Missouri. Nine children were born to them, only three of whom are now living: Arthur, born on the Sacramento, is now living on an eighty-acre ranch, near his father; Newton, born at the same place; and Lorenzo, born in Oregon. Mrs. Chase died in 1872. Mr. Chase has been a life-long Republican. For services rendered in the war, he receives a pension of $8 per month. His mental faculties are remarkably well preserved fro a man of his years.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
pp 582-583
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
LUKE GARDINER, SR.
was one of the old-time settlers of Red Bluff, having come to California in March, 1854. He was born in Ireland, August 13, 1818; was a farmer and a civil engineer. His father, Thomas Gardiner, a civil engineer and school-teacher, was born in Drumera, County Armagh, Ireland, August 12, 1767. Luke Gardiner, Sr., emigrated to Canada, when a boy, and settled on the Thames River, forty-two miles from London. In 1854 he came from that place direct to Red Bluff, and spent his first night in the house kept by Captain Reed. For three years he resided in Red Bluff and worked at the carpenter’s trade. He took up a Government ranch of 320 acres, built his home on it, farmed and also did civil engineering and worked at the wheelwright business.
Mr. Gardiner wedded Mary Douglas, a native of St. Thomas. To them were born four children, three sons and a daughter. The latter is deceased, and the three sons are: Luke, Jr.., Nathaniel and Joseph. Mr. Gardiner added to his land until he had 1,400 acres, and he kept large droves of cattle, sheep and hogs. His sons are reared to this business, and traversed the country in every direction, both night and day, until the farmers prohibited such wide range. The whole county was once a delightful stock country, there being an abundance of wild oats. Wild Mexican cattle, herds of deer and antelope and other game roamed over hill and plain. Indians were quite plentiful and often troublesome.
Luke Gardiner, Jr., was born in Canada, August 16, 1844; received his education in Red Bluff, California; in 1879 married Miss Ida Brown, a native of Kansas. They have four children: Erle, Thomas, Gronlof and Pearl.
Nathaniel Gardiner was born June 9, 1852, and is a miner and rancher.
Joseph Gardiner was born in 1863, in Tehama County. He married Ollie Heavener, a native of Shasta County, California. They have two children: Oscar and Mabel.
The father died in 1884. The sons inherited the ranch, and each of them has a home on the property.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
pp 583-584
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler