Tehama County
Biographies
JACOB H. EPPERSON
is one of the successful business men of Red Bluff. He was born in Allen County, Kentucky, March 30, 1845. He comes of an old Virginia family; his father, Silas Epperson, was born in Virginia, and his mother, Nancy Boheler, was a native of Kentucky, her father and grandfather having been pioneers of that State. Mr. Epperson is the third of a family of seven children, five of whom are living. His father removed to Missouri in 1854, and he was reared on a farm in that State and completed his education in a high school. Before coming to the Pacific Coast he engaged in the profession of teaching for three years.
In 1875 Mr. Epperson came to California and settled in Chico, where he worked at the carpenter’s trade a short time, and then engaged in mining on Butte Creek, meeting with fair success. He entered into an engagement with F. A. Crumt to learn dentistry, remaining with him two years. Next he was with Dr. Wilson, and afterward with Dr. Moad, whom he subsequently bought out. He continued the business at Chico until 1880. Mr. Epperson’s health failed at that time and he went to Susanville and remained there until 1885. In that year he came to Red Bluff and purchased the dental office of Dr. Sehorn, and has conducted the business here since that time. He occupies a suite of office rooms fronting on Main street, in the business center of the city, and employs two young men as assistants. Dr. Epperson is enthusiastic and progressive in his profession, gives strict attention to his business, and keeps himself well posted on the latest and best authorities on dentistry, and attends all the dental associations held in the State, where he gives the profession the benefit of his inventions without any patents on them. Among his patrons are the best citizens of Red Bluff and surrounding country.
He was married in 1881, to Miss Annie West, a native of Vermont. To them have been born two sons. Mrs. Epperson is a member of the Episcopal Church. The Doctor is a member of the California Dental Association. Politically he is a Democrat; was born and raised one, and could not well be anything else. He does not, however, give much attention to politics. He is Recorder of Red Bluff Commandery, No. 17, and Secretary of Red Bluff Chapter, No. 40, and is a zealous worker, courteous to his fellows, honorable in his profession, and never asks something for nothing; and his motto is to serve the public with the latest and best improved appliances that the dental art affords.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
pp 588
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
NATHANIEL MERRILL
a Forty-niner, was born among the White Hills of New Hampshire, in Conway, Carroll County, April 23, 1823. His father, Samuel Merrill, and his ancestors for two generations before him, were natives of the State of Maine. Samuel Merrill was born at Brownfield, and was a blacksmith by trade. He married Miss Dorcas Eastman, a native of Conway, New Hampshire. They were members of the Congregational Church. Her father, Richard Eastman, was a pioneer of Conway, and had many fights with the Indians. He had to go to Concord, seventy-five miles distant, on snow-shoes, drawing a sled to bring provisions to his family. Mr. Merrill had eight brothers and sisters, but only four of them are now living. He received his education at his native place, and learned the wheelwright trade with his brother, in Littleton, New Hampshire. After working at it two years, he traveled in Canada and New York, in the employ of the celebrated scale company, Fairbanks, putting up scales.
In 1848 Mr. Merrill was employed at his trade in Lowell, Massachusetts, and during that winter he was one of a party of thirty-five young men who formed a company to go to California. They went to New York by rail, and there chartered the schooner Florida to take them to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. From that place they took teams to Fort Brown, following the Rio Grande, on the Texas side, to Romeo, where they crossed the river on a ferryboat, and thence made their way to Monterey, California. They party were divided, and Mr. Merrill and his part of the company came on the old Graham trail and arrived at the mines on the Merced River in August, 1849. He mined there with good success until the rainy season set in. The first day he worked Mr. Merrill washed two ounces of gold, and he presumes that two ounces more went down the River. The most he ever got in one day was $200, but he says he never met with any big find. In December of that year he went to San Francisco where he spent the winter, and in the spring he went to Murphy’s camp and mined two months. From there he went to Stockton and purchased four mules and a wagon and engaged in freighting, which was then a very paying business and which he followed until the rainy season.
About this time he learned that his cousin, Captain Ford, whom he had supposed was dead, was at Moon’s ranch in Tehama County. Mr. Merrill would have traveled any distance to see him, as they had been like brothers; so he came to this county, found him and formed a partnership with him. Each of them took their pre-emptions and secured a section with school land warrants. Mr. Merrill has since added to his property until he is now the owner of 1,500 acres of land in one body, located on the Sacramento River, opposite the Stanford ranch. There he built his home and reared his family, and there he has been engaged in general farming, raising grain and stock. He also purchased lots in Red Bluff, and, in 1886, built a fine city residence.
In 1857 he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Thomas, a native of New Hampshire. They have a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, all born on their ranch in Tehama County. They are as follows: Frank P.: Alice, now the wife of Dr. W. F. Maggard; Catharine A., wife of James R. Tapscott, an attorney of Yreka; and Nathaniel Edward. Mr. Merrill is a prominent Knight Templar Mason, and has held all the offices of his lodge, and is High Priest of the Chapter and Captain General of the Commandery. Politically he is a Republican.
Nat Merrill, as he is familiarly called, is one of the well-known pioneers of California, and justly deserves his pleasant home in this sunny clime. Long may he live to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
pp 588-589
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler