Shasta County

History

The history of Shasta county would not be complete without the notice of the natural curiosities situated in the southeastern portion of the county.  The Lassen mountains, towering 11,000 feet above the level of the sea, are in the extreme southeastern portion of the county of Shasta.  The counties of Lassen, Tehama, Plumas and Shasta all corner near this mountain, which is in latitude 41° 15’ north latitude, 120° west.  It is perpetually covered with snow, the melting of which feeds the Hat, Lost, Bailey and Manzanita creeks, and Feather river, with their clear, cold waters through the hot summers.  The geodetic surveyors, who have been operating from the highest peak for the last two summers, say its height has heretofore been estimated too low.  They could see reflected lights from a mountain 40 miles east of Reno, Nevada, and the Coast Range.  A view from its top, up to August, before the smoke obstructs the vision, is sublime, and will repay for an hour or two’s climbing.
Two miles from its western base lies a couple of as pretty mountain lakes as are found anywhere; one of them 100 feet deep, the other over 50 feet.  They have evidently once been dense forests of large pine trees, as they are to be seen, some down, some leaning and others standing erect, as solid and firm as when growing – the tops broken off where they have been exposed to the weather – the water being so clear as to be seen 40 feet down, and they look as if they were almost petrified.  Some of them are five and six feet in diameter.  At the lowest stage of the water hundreds of the broken off tops may be seen.  No lawns in the State, or any other State, can boast of larger, handsomer crimson-sided, fierce-eyed mountain trout than are found in these lakes.  Major P.B. Reading, as he informed this writer, put the first fish that ever swam in the larger of these lakes, in the year 1848.  J.E. Stockton stocked the smaller one in 1875 from the Hat creek with minnows, which are now as long as a man’s arm.  Cat fish were also put in a year ago, but the water is too cold for that species of fish to live in.  The larger lake is the Manzanita lake, and public property, free for any one to fish in; but the smaller ones, the private property of Dr. Stockton and W.H. Coffee, who here have a fish farm, and also raise a superior lot of the hardier vegetables and timothy hay, etc.

A meeting of the miners was held at Shasta on the 5th of February, 1859, for the purpose of expelling and preventing further working in the mines of the Chinese, when the following, among other resolutions, were adopted:
 “Resolved, That we will give the Chinese until the 1st of March next to wind up their business in such mining districts as are represented in this convention, and in such others as may feel disposed to join us in our movement to prevent further mining operations by the Chinese.
“Resolved, That on and after the date above stated if any Chinese are found working in our mines we will, upon a call being made by a convention appointed for such purpose, assemble and expel such Chinese – peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must.”
On the 25th of February, 1859, fifty Chinamen were expelled from the mines about the mouth of Rock creek, and were driven through the town of Shasta by the miners.  Only one arrest was made by Sheriff Stockton – a Mr. Garton, who was charged with malicious mischief, and a preliminary examination resulted in his discharge.
On the 29th of February a large number of men, mostly miners, well armed and equipped, commenced the expulsion of the Chinese from Horsetown, Middletown, Oregon gulch and other places in the vicinity where they were at work, and marched about two hundred of them into Shasta.  The Sheriff, with about sixty Deputies, dispersed the miners.  A fight between the authorities and the miners seemed inevitable; but a few well-timed remarks in front of the Empire hotel by some of the coolest of the rioters, as they were then called, had the effect to disperse the crowd, and peace was again restored.  Our authority does not state that any arrests were made.  Since the expulsion of the Chinese, one attempt was made in the winter of 1860-61 to introduce the Chinese into what is known as the Buckeye mining district, but the men having them employed were promptly waited upon by the miners, and a few hours later the Chinese were gone, and no attempt has been made since that time to introduce them into the district.
Much was written by the papers of the county and of the State, some of them condemning the acts of the miners and some approving; the whole of which would furnish an interesting history.  In placing the simple facts upon record we fill our mission.

The word “Shasta” is derived from the Russian language.  Many years ago, and among the first travelers who visited this portion of the Pacific coast, was a party of Russians who passed through California, going from the north to the south.  They gave a name to many of the more prominent landmarks which they encountered in their journey.  To the peak now called Shasta butte, a mountain clothed with eternal snow, and the highest in Northern California, they gave the name of “Tcheste,” signifying chaste, pure, clear.  Subsequent travelers and geographers changed the name to “Tchasta,” which was again changed, after the discovery of gold, to the present word “Shasta.”  When the counties of the State were first organized, Shasta butte was in Shasta county.  Afterwards a new county was formed, Siskiyou, which embraces this lofty mountain within its boundaries.

The Indians are still quite numerous in some of the more northern sections of the county.  Though they have had no trouble with the whites for some time past, yet their natural tendency to war cannot be entirely repressed, even in their rapidly diminishing numbers.  The following account of a late Indian quarrel, by the Fall River correspondent of the Redding Independent, under date of July 3, 1881, will be found of interest to readers:
“As some rumors may have reached you in regard to the ‘Indian War’ between the Hat Creek Indians and their allies and the Fall Rivers and Big Valleys, I have concluded to inform your readers of the facts in the matter as near as can be ascertained.  About the first of last week the Hat Creeks and their friends, the Big Meadows, and a few Indians from Susanville, to the number of about seventy-five, came over to our town, all well mounted and armed, to demand of the Fall Rivers and Big Valleys the sum o f$600 in payment for some Indian doctors killed by the latter some two years ago.  A council of all the Indians was called, and they all accordingly met in sight of our town, to the number of about two hundred warriors.  After the first day’s deliberations were over, each hostile party made separate encampments within sight of each other and in plain view of town, when they shortly painted their faces in hideous war paint, and arming themselves with their guns, they commenced their war dance, which, together with their frightful yells, was kept up most of the night.  The second day’s deliberations ended as the first, followed by another dance.
“The third day the Fall Rivers and Big Valleys offered to pay the Hat Creeks two horses and one gun, which they refused, when both parties prepared for battle.  Each Indian was stripped to the buff and horribly painted, and each was supplied with about twelve rounds of ammunition and one ration; their positions were taken on an elevated point of land just west of town, and about four hundred yards apart.  The air was rent with their yells, and the ground fairly trembled under them as they leaped frantically into the air, brandishing their guns in a most threatening manner.  Each party was waiting for the other to commence the battle, when, just as the Fall River chief was going to give the signal for his men to open fire, the Hat Creeks concluded to take what was offered them and forever bury the hatchet.  Thus ended the threatened Indian battle, which is not without its lesson to the whites, showing, as it did, that it is a very easy matter for the Indians to collect together at least two hundred well armed men, which, if they were disposed to be hostile to the whites, might do considerable damage before the whites could organize for self-protection.  We hope this may be the beginning of some means to have them all removed to some reservation.  During their council their camps were visited by many of the whites, especially after night, when the war dance was in progress, and when the battle appeared imminent, the available positions for viewing the scene were occupied, especially the juniper trees.  Some of the whites were somewhat frightened, but there was no cause for alarm.”

Following is a list of the newspapers that have been published in the county, some of which have long since ceased to exist:
The Shasta Courier was first issued March 12, 1852, Messrs. Hinckley, Skillman & Dosh, publishers and proprietors.  In 1858 John J. Conmy became proprietor and continued its publication up to March 12, 1869, when it passed into the hands of W.L. Carter, its present proprietor.
The Northern Argus was started in Horsetown, in 1857, by Thomas Hart, who published it three years, when the material was bought by the proprietors of the Shasta Courier, and the publication of the Argus discontinued.
The Copper City Pioneer was started by W.L. Carter in March, 1864, who continued its publication two years before it suspended.
On the 10th day of October, 1855, the first copy of the Shasta Republican was printed at Shasta by Hinckley & Gillette, and run by them until May 28, 1859, when it passed into the hands of Street & Moffett, who changed the name of the paper, calling it the Shasta Herald, which, after running a short time, was suspended.
In 1856 G.K. Godfrey issued a paper at Shasta called the Vigilante, only one number of which was printed.
On the 11th day of October, 1877, the first copy of the Redding Independence was issued by Ben Frank & Co., who continued its publication up to January 30, 1879, when the office was purchased by Frank M. Swasey, who continued its publication up to July 15, 1880, when he associated with him J.H. Cooper, and it is now (1881) owned and run by Swasey & Cooper.
In 1878 Messrs. Weed & Dawson issued the Millville Record, which was run by them a few months, when it passed into the hands of Charles Smith, who continued its publication a few months longer, when its publication was suspended.  In 1880 the material of the office was purchased by J.W. Malone and Henry E. Bedford, and the paper was issued under the name of the Shasta County Democrat.  After a few issues had been printed, Malone sold his half of the office to Francis Carr, and it was published by Carr & Bedford a few months, when the office was purchased by Barnes & Simmons, and by them removed to Redding, where its publication is continued under the name of the Shasta County Democrat.

 Mount Shasta, the great landmark of Northern California, though within the boundaries of what is now Siskiyou county, is so inseparably linked to the history of our own pioneer settlements that it must be forever claimed as belonging to Shasta county, whose boundaries formerly embraced it.  The grand old peak has been immortalized in song and story by writers of no small fame, and this work would be incomplete without some fitting tribute to its grandeur.  We take pleasure, therefore, in presenting three poems on “Mount Shasta,” written respectively by Mrs. F.M. Chappell, wife of one of the compilers of this work, Miss Sarah D. Clark, and the late John R. Ridge.
 

MOUNT SHASTA
By Mrs. F.M. Chappell

How shall I near thee, grey, old guardian of the plain?
How lift my fainting notes aloft to thee?
How shall the evanescent voice of song attain
To those calm heights so far above my world and me?

Alone, incomparable, thy pathless steeps untrod,
Wrapped in they white, eternal robe of snow,
Thy mighty head uplift and bare to Nature’s God,
Thou look’st serene upon the world below.

Thou seest hoar, old Lassen only dwarfed by thee,
And Bureny’s dusky crater snowy-crowned
And green, umbrageous ranges rolling to the sea
In many a haughty hill and swelling mound,

Thou see’st the broad, tree-dotted valleys stretch away
The bosky dingles, dark with shadowy pine
The circling hills, like great, fantastic gnomes at play,
And canyons deep where man bends toiling in the mine.

Thou hear’st the fretful voice of stream of rocky scaur,
And bolder river flowing to the main
And wild shriek of struggling ocean winds at war,
And the weird monotone of ocean’s melancholy strain.

And clouds and storms and wintry winds envelope thee,
And suns of Summer kiss thy forehead hoar,
And dews of night upon thy breast fall noiselessly,
And strange, still birds thy steeps go sailing o’er.

Yet what to thee the soft, benignant dews of night?
And what the spell of sun and Summer show’r?
No song-bird rests upon thy bleak and treeless height,
Upon thy rugged breast no op’ning flow’r.

O still, immutable, untouched of ages past,
Beyond the pow’r of ages yet to be,
With foot on earth and head to heaven upcast,
Grey Shasta, time itself is lost in thee!

 

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MOUNT SHASTA
By Sarah D. Clark

Over fields on fields of snow,
By the canyon’s gorge, where the cataracts flow;
Where deepening sunsets burn and fade
Over the dusk Sierra’s shade;
Where life is a joy and the heart beats free,
Away by the slope to the western sea,
The crown and the pride of those sunny lands,
The beautiful mountain of Shasta stands.
With hues of saffron, pearl and rose,
In tints of beauty its summit glows;
And the ages come, and the ages go,
And still on its peak shines the crested snow.
Leagues away, by the river’s side,
Lies the peaceful valley, deep and wide.
Hid in its heart is a golden store,
Cinnabar and the silver ore.
Glossy madrona and lilies of snow
Fast by the giant oak trees grow;
Chilian clover and purple vine,
Ripe with its growth for the amber wine;
Clustering roses, famed in song,
Damascus roses the whole year long;
Gusty, leaping waters that gleam
Down from the rocks in a crystal stream;
From the Palisades, a mighty wall,
And the great Dome glistening over all.
Years ago, when the shouts of men
From old Coloma and Almaden
Burst on the cliffs of the royal State
As she sat enthroned by her Golden Gate,
Girdling the earth by her magic band,
Clasping the belt with her tawny hand.
Then came the harvest of golden gain,
Thick and fast as the yellow grain
Falls, with the tempest of crimson leaves,
In a molten cloud from the bursting sheaves;
Till every land to old Cathay
Whitened with ships in her shining bay.
By the dark sea wall of oak and pine
Stretched on the long Pacific line,
Cities arose on the virgin soil –
Cities smoking with traffic and toil;
And the sinuous track of the iron band
Mountains and burning prairies spanned,
Over the crag and eagle’s nest,
Threading the continent east and west.
Beautiful land by the sunset sea,
Land of the great Yosemite!
Land where the breezes spring elate,
Blown mid-day through the Golden Gate;
Land of the men of resolute will –
Hearts that thy bounding torrents fill;
Minds at ease with healthful cheer
Day after day through the blissful year,
Women with song those days begin,
Fair as pearls from Comorin.
Beautiful children, ruddy and fleet,
Like clambering roses, in every street;
Not for the gems, or a golden feast,
Shall the heart grown worn in the arid east
Leap to meet thee.  Thy glorious eye
Flames like a star from its canopy.
Richer than gold are thy dark lagoons,
Brighter than ore are thy silver moons,
And deeper than all the voices of men
Thy cataracts thunder again and again;
And nobler in heart and nobler in soul
Should those races be where those torrents roll.
As the ages come and the ages go
Girdling with flame those peaks of snow,
The crown and the pride of that sunny land
Shall the beautiful mountain of Shasta stand,
And the empire star shall rise and rise,
‘Till the moves full-orbed in those western skies.

 

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MOUNT SHASTA
By John Rollin Ridge

Behold the dread Mount Shasta where it stands
Imperial mid the lesser hights, and, like
Some mighty, unimpassioned mind, companionless
And cold.  The storms of heaven may beat in wrath
Against it, but it stands in unpolluted
Grandeur still; and from the rolling mists upheaves
Its tower of pride e’en purer than before.
The wintry showers and white-winged tempests leave
Their frozen tributes on its brow, and it
Doth make of them an everlasting crown.
Thus doth it day by day and age by age,
Defy each stroke of time, still rising highest
Into heaven !
Aspiring to the eagle’s cloudless height.
No human foot has stained its snowy side;
No human breath hath dimmed the icy mirror which
It holds unto the moon and stars and sovereign sun.
We may not grow familiar with the secrets
Of its hoary top, whereon the Genius
Of that mountain builds its glorious throne!
Far lifted in the boundless blue, he doth
Encircle, with his gaze supreme, the broad
Dominions of the West, which lie beneath
His feet, in pictures of sublime repose
No artist ever drew.  He sees the tall
Gigantic hills arise in silentness
And peace, and in the long review of distance
Range themselves in order grand.  He sees the sunlight
Play upon the golden streams which through the valleys
Glide.  He hears the music of the great and solemn sea,
And overlooks the huge old western wall
To view the birth-place of undying Melody!
 

Itself all light, save when some loftiest cloud
Doth for a while embrace its cold, forbidding
Form, that monarch mountain casts its mighty
Shadow down upon the crownless peaks below,
That, like inferior minds to some great
Spirit, stand in strong contrasted littleness!
All through the long and summery months of our
Most tranquil year, it points its icy shaft
On high, to catch the dazzling beams that fall
In showers of splendor round that crystal cone,
And roll in floods of far magnificence
Away from that lone, vast Reflector in
The dome of heaven.
Still watchful of the fertile
Vale and undulating plains below, the grass
Grows greener in its shade, and sweeter bloom
The flowers.  Strong purifier!  From its snowy
Side the breezes cool are wafted to the “peaceful
Homes of men,” who shelter at its feet, and love
To gaze upon its honored form, aye, standing
There the guarantee of health and happiness
Well might it win communities so blest
To loftier feelings and to sober thoughts –
The great material symbol of eternal
Things!  And well I ween, in after years, how
In the middle of his furrowed track the plowman
In some sultry hour will pause, and wiping
From his brow the dusty sweat, with reverence
Gaze upon that hoary peak.  The herdsman
Oft will reign his charger in the plain, and drink
Into his inmost soul the calm sublimity;
And little children, playing on the green, shall
Cease their sport, and, turning to that mountain
Old, shall of their mother ask:  “Who made it?”
And she shall answer, “God!”
 

And well this golden State shall thrive, if like
Its own Mount Shasta, Sovereign Law shall lift
Itself in purer atmospheres – so high
That human feeling, human passion at its base
Shall lie subdued; e’en pity’s tears shall on
Its summit freeze; to warn it e’en the sunlight
Of deep sympathy shall fail;
Its pure administration shall be like
The snow immaculate upon that mountain’s brow!

F. & A. M. (Free and Accepted Masons)

WESTERN STAR LODGE, NO. 2

 A charter from the Grand Lodge of Missouri was granted on the 10th day of May, 1848, A.L. 5848, to Sarchel Woods, Lucien E. Stewart and Peter B. Lassen, to establish a Lodge at Benton City*, Upper California, to be named “Western Stars, No. 98, of Missouri.”  Sarchel Woods was elected W.M.; Lucien E. Stewart, S.W.; Peter B. Lassen, J.W.  The Grand Lodge proceedings for April, May and November, 1850 and 1851, contain reports from the Lodge as of Benton City, Shasta county.  The general impression prevails among the members of the Lodge and other Masons, that Peter B. Lassen brought with him across the plains, in 1848, the charter of Western Stars Lodge, and that he organized the Lodge.  This, however, is not substantiated by sufficient proofs to place it on record as fact.
(* Benton City, we are informed by Dr. J.F. Winsell, was situated about five miles northeast from where Chico now stands.  Nothing, however, remains to mark the exact location.)
Following is a copy of the charter:

Sit Lux et Lux Fuit.
The Most Worshipful Joseph Foster, Esq., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of Missouri,
To all and every our worthy and well-beloved Brethren sends greeting:
KNOW YE, That we, at the petition of our trusty and well-beloved Brethren, Sarchel Woods, Lucien E. Stewart, Peter B. Lassen and several others, residing at or near Benton City, Upper California, do hereby constitute the said brethren into a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, to be held at the aforesaid Benton City, by the name of Western Stars, No. 98.
And further, at the petition of the brethren aforesaid, and of the great trust and confidence reposed in the above-named three brethren, do hereby appoint Sarchel Woods Master, Lucien E. Stewart Senior Warden, and Peter B. Lassen Junior Warden, for opening said Lodge, and for such further time as may be thought proper by the brethren thereof.
Hereby authorizing them, the said Master, Wardens and brethren aforesaid [here follows the usual authority to initiate, pass and raise, and the usual Lodge authority.]
And, moreover, we require of you, the said Sarchel Woods, as soon as convenience permits, to send an account, in writing, of what shall be done by virtue of these presents.
Given at St. Louis, in said State of Missouri, under our hand and seal of said Grand Lodge, this 10th day of May, A.D. 1848, A.L. 5848.
(Signed,)
JOSEPH FOSTER, Grand Master.
E.S. RUGGLES, D.G.M.
C. OSBORN, G.S.W.
JAS. MEGGUIRE, G.J.W.
[Seal]  Attest: E.W.S. MITCHELL, Grand Secretary

 The first records of this Lodge were destroyed by fire about the middle of June, 1852, leaving now in possession of the Lodge as the earliest records dated December, 1852.  Although the charter of Western Stars Lodge was dated May 10, 1848, A.L. 5848, it does not appear from any source that the Lodge was organized or any meetings held until October, 1849.  In 1850, the name of the Lodge was changed from “Western Stars, No. 98, of Missouri,” to  Western Star, No. 2, of California.  In November, 1851, Western Star is reported to the Grand Lodge as being located at Shasta, Shasta county.  Following we give a list of the officers from 1851 to 1881:

1851
DeWitt Spencer, Worshipful Master – Austin Hawkins, Senior Warden – W. Oppenheimer, Junior Warden – Robert W. Crenshaw, Treasurer – W. Robinson, Secretary.

1852
W. Robinson, Worshipful Master – R.W. Crenshaw, Senior Warden – Thos. E. Swan, Junior Warden – Jeremiah Calahan, Treasurer – M.C. Collins, Secretary.

1853
A.E. Callaway, Worshipful Master – J.G. Doll, Senior Warden – Isaac Roop, Junior Warden – James M. Rhodes, Treasurer – James T. Glen, Secretary..

1854
J.A. Raymond, Worshipful Master – P.J. Curtis, Senior Warden – P.F. Turbush, Junior Warden – J.M. Rhodes, Treasurer – J.L. Holmes, Secretary.

1855
J.A. Raymond, Worshipful Master – J. Isaacs, Senior Warden – J. Ryan, Junior Warden – H. Gettleson, Treasurer – H.A. Curtiss, Secretary.

1856
Whiting G. West, Worshipful Master – Joseph Isaacs, Senior Warden – Wm. D. Olendorf, Junior Warden – Ebenezer Robbins, Treasurer – Homer A. Curtiss, Treasurer <Secretary>.

1857
J. Isaacs, Worshipful Master – W.D. Olendorf, Senior Warden – L.G. Chapman, Junior Warden – G.C. Farquhar, Treasurer – M.H. Myrick, Secretary.

1858
John A. Raymond, Worshipful Master – H.H. Shuffleton, Senior Warden – S.R. Merrill, Junior Warden – A.B. Brown, Treasurer – H.A. Curtiss, Secretary.

1859
C.L. Danielson, Worshipful Master – Daniel P. Bystle, Senior Warden – William Parker, Junior Warden – A. Coleman, Treasurer – H.A. Curtiss, Secretary.

1860
C.L. Danielson, Worshipful Master – L.G. Chapman, Senior Warden – John W. Brewer, Junior Warden – A. Coleman, Treasurer – H.A. Curtiss, Secretary.

1861
C.L. Danielson, Worshipful Master – Wm. Parker, Senior Warden – A. Dobrowsky, Junior Warden – A. Coleman, Treasurer – W.G. West, Secretary.

1862
C.L. Danielson, Worshipful Master – H.A. Curtiss, Senior Warden – John Cushing, Junior Warden – A. Coleman, Treasurer – W.G. West, Secretary.

1863
Joseph Isaacs, Worshipful Master – Daniel P. Bystle, Senior Warden – Alex. C. Swain, Junior Warden – A. Coleman, Treasurer – H.A. Curtiss, Secretary.

1864
Daniel P. Bystle, Worshipful Master – Alex. C. Swain, Senior Warden – Fred. B. Chandler, Junior Warden – A. Coleman, Treasurer – Homer A. Curtiss, Secretary.

1865
C.L. Danielson, Worshipful Master – A. Dobrowsky, Senior Warden – F.B. Chandler, Junior Warden – A. Coleman, Treasurer – Geo. D. Forbes, Secretary.

1866
C.L. Danielson, Worshipful Master – A. Dobrowsky, Senior Warden – F.B. Chandler, Junior Warden – A. Coleman, Treasurer – Geo. D. Forbes, Secretary.

1867
A. Dobrowsky, Worshipful Master – F.B. Chandler, Senior Warden – L. Wellendorff, Junior Warden – A. Coleman, Treasurer – C.L. Danielson, Secretary.

1868
A. Dobrowsky, Worshipful Master – F.B. Chandler, Senior Warden – Thos. Green, Junior Warden – B. Shurtleff, Treasurer – L. Wellendorff, Secretary.

1869
F.B. Chandler, Worshipful Master – Daniel P. Bystle, Senior Warden – J.W. Garden, Junior Warden – B. Shurtleff, Treasurer – L. Wellendorff, Secretary.

1870
F.B. Chandler, Worshipful Master – Daniel P. Bystle, Senior Warden – Grant I. Taggart, Junior Warden – B. Shurtleff, Treasurer – A. Dobrowsky, Secretary.

1871
Louis Wellendorff, Worshipful Master – John V. Scott, Senior Warden – Chauncey C. Bush, Junior Warden – Benjamin Shurtleff, Treasurer – Adolph Dobrowsky, Secretary.

1872
Louis Wellendorff, Worshipful Master – John V. Scott, Senior Warden – Chauncey C. Bush, Junior Warden – Benjamin Shurtleff, Treasurer – Adolph Dobrowsky, Secretary.

1873
Louis Wellendorff, Worshipful Master – John V. Scott, Senior Warden – Chauncey C. Bush, Junior Warden – Benjamin Shurtleff, Treasurer – Adolph Dobrowsky, Secretary.

1874
Wm. E. Hopping, Worshipful Master – Chauncey C. Bush, Senior Warden – Clay W. Taylor, Junior Warden – Alexander R. Andrews, Treasurer – Adolph Dobrowsky, Secretary.

1875
Wm. E. Hopping, Worshipful Master – Clay W. Taylor, Senior Warden – Joseph Pryor, Junior Warden – L. Wellendorff, Treasurer – Adolph Dobrowsky, Secretary.

1876
Chauncey C. Bush, Worshipful Master – Clay W. Taylor, Senior Warden – Joseph Pryor, Junior Warden – L. Wellendorff, Treasurer – Adolph Dobrowsky, Secretary.

1877
Chauncey C. Bush, Worshipful Master – Clay W. Taylor, Senior Warden – J.D. Blair, Junior Warden – L. Wellendorff, Treasurer – Adolph Dobrowsky, Secretary.

1878
Clay W. Taylor, Worshipful Master – James D. Blair, Senior Warden – Edward A. Reid, Junior Warden – L. Wellendorff, Treasurer – Adolph Dobrowsky, Secretary.

1879
Clay W. Taylor, Worshipful Master – J.D. Blair, Senior Warden – Edward A. Reid, Junior Warden – W.H. Bickford, Treasurer – Wm. E. Hopping, Secretary.

1880
J.D. Blair, Worshipful Master – Joseph Weil, Senior Warden – M.C. Allen, Junior Warden – Adolph Dobrowsky, Treasurer – Wm. E. Hopping, Secretary.

1881
J.D. Blair, Worshipful Master – M.C. Allen, Senior Warden – E.L. Baldwin, Junior Warden – Adolph Dobrowsky, Treasurer – Wm. E. Hopping, Secretary.

 In 1852 Peter B. Lassen was killed by Indians 80 miles from Shasta.  He was buried by the fraternity at Susanville and a monument erected to his memory.  His pipe, found lying by his body, is treasured by the fraternity, and can be seen in the lodge room of the Western Star No. 2, of which he was a member at the time of his death.

CLINTON LODGE, NO. 119

 This Lodge was instituted at Horsetown, January 27, 1857.  The first officers of the Lodge were:  Thomas Hart, W.M.; Henry Collins, S.W.; H.H. Lull, J.W.; Peter Cohen, Treas.; John H. Hough, Sec.

NORTHERN LIGHT LODGE, NO. 190

 The first meeting of this Lodge was held at Millville, under dispensation from Most Worthy Wm. A. Davies, G.M., June 13, A.L. 5868, A.D. 1868.  First officers:  U.D., Herman F. Ross, Master; Oliver H. P. Tanquary, S.W.; Henry Anklin, J.W.; Sylvester Hull, Treas.; Wm. N. Guptill, Sec.; Henry Johnson, S.D.; John P. Webb, J.D.; Joseph Randles, Tyler; James F. Winsell and DeWitt C. Johnson, being in all 10 charter members.  The first meeting under the charter was convened November 13, A.L. 5868, when the Lodge was regularly instituted and its officers installed by P.M. Adolph Dobrowsky, of Western Star Lodge, Shasta, acting as Deputy Grand Master, assisted by the following brethren:   F.B. Chandler, S.G.W.; D.P. Bystle, J.G.W.; Dave Weil, G.S.; Joseph Isaacs, G.M.  The regular officers under the charter:  H.F. Ross, Master; O.H.P. Tanquary, S.W.; H. Anklin, J.W.; S. Hull, Treas.; W.N. Guptill, Sec.; H. Johnson, S.D.; J.P. Webb, J.D.; G.W. Sheridan and E.T. Thatcher Stewards, and L.H. Benton, Tyler.  W.N. Guptill was the first representative to the Grand Lodge.

READING LODGE, NO. 254

 On February 22, 1879, a dispensation was granted, and on the 6th of March following the Lodge was formed, U.D., with the following officers: M.A. Mitchell, S.W.; J.N. Major, J.W.; J.S. Smithson, Treas.: S. Weil, Sec.  The last two officers resigned at the first stated meeting afterward, and Frank Miller was chosen Treas., and J.M. Gleaves, Sec.  At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge, in October, 1879, J.N. Major, J.W., Representative, a charter was granted to the Lodge.  On November 26, ’79, Reading Lodge, 254, was by the Senior Grand Warden, Clay W. Taylore, formally dedicated.  At the annual election held December, ’79, the following officers were duly elected and have held their respective offices continuously to the present time:  C.C. Bush, Master; M.A. Mitchell, S.W.; W.A. Smith, J.W.; Frank Miller, Treas.; J.M. Gleaves, Sec.  The following were members before charter was granted:  C.C. Bush, M.A. Mitchell, W.A. Smith, J.N. Major, J.A. Dunham, W.A. Wood, S. Weil, J.E. Reynolds, J.S. Smithson, J.M. Gleaves, Frank Miller, James Ashfield, E.G. Parker, W.W. Williams, J.F. Scamman, C.W. Eames, J.N. Chappell, E. Dickinson, A. Levy, Jos. Mullen, H. Derby.
 

O. E. S. (Order of Eastern Star)

WELCOME CHAPTER, NO. 17.

 This Lodge was instituted April 5th, 1875, by W.J. Tinnin.  The following were the first officers:  Mrs. Viola Taylor, Worthy Matron; William Ely Hopping, Worthy Patron; Mrs. Harriet Hopping, Associate Patron; Mrs. Nellie Dobrowsky, Treasurer; Louis Wellendorff, Secretary; Miss Hettie M. Pryor, Conductress; Mrs. Elizabeth J. Eames, Associate Conductress; Mrs. Martha Hall, Adah; Mrs. Maria Andrew, Ruth; Mrs. Eunice Blair, Esther; Mrs. Sarah H. Kies, Martha; Mrs. Nancy Crocker, Electa; Joseph Pryor, Senior Warden; U.R. Lord, Sentinel.  Charter members, Ulysses R. Lord, Elizabeth J. Eames, Louis Wellendorff, Maria A. Andrews, Joseph Pryor, Senior, Eunice F. Blair, Sarah H. Kies, Nancy Crocker, Viola Taylor, Martha F. Hall, Hettie M. Pryor, Hattie Hopping, Nellie M. Dobrowsky, William Ely Hopping.

REDDING CHAPTER, NO. 44

 Instituted in Redding by Nellie M. Owens and Jerome Banks, on the 18th day of June, 1880, with the following officers:  Hattie E. Major, W.M.; Sigmond Weil, W.P.; Ella N. Dunham, A.M.; Anna L. Chappell, R.S.; Mrs. J.N. Chappell, Treas.

I. O. O. F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows)
 

SHASTA ENCAMPMENT, NO. 14

 This Encampment was instituted April 30, 1858, by David Kendell, M.W.G.P.  The charter members were:  Wm. M. Allen, P.C.P.; W.G. West, P.H.P.; S.B. Westcott, P.H.P.; G.W. Swartz, P.H.P.; John C. Spencer, Geo. R. Knox, John Anderson, J.K. Richards.  The first officers were:  W.G. West, C.P.; S.B. Westcott, H.P.; Geo. R. Knox, S.W.; J.S. Drummond, S.; John C. Spencer, T.; John Anderson, J.W.

SHASTA LODGE, NO. 57.

 This lodge was instituted in Shasta, April 25, 1856, by H.M. Thurstan, with the following charter members:  R.T. Sprague, J.S. Drummond, W.S. Wills, Geo. R. Knox, Wm. M. Allen, E. Robbins, B.H. Ward, Charles LeBeau, R.H. Mosebaugh, G.W. Swartz, A. Stephens, J.A. Raymond, T. B. Vosburg.  The following were elected officers:  J.A. Raymond, N.G.; B.H. Ward, V.G.; J.S. Drummond, P.S.; Geo. R. Knox, R.S.; R.T. Sprague, Treas.  Wm. M. Allen represented the Grand Lodge in 1856.

FRENCH GULCH LODGE, NO. 75.

 This Lodge was instituted May 5, 1858.  Following are the charter members:  Erastus Dickinson, P.G.; Geo. W. Swartz, P.G.; Wm. B. Stoddard, Marquis Levy, Theo. Dickinson, Jude Prince, A. Pouluac, Timothy Sequin and Robert Martin.  Officers:  E. Dickinson, N.G.; Wm. B. Stoddard, V.G.; M. Levy, Sec.; Geo. W. Swartz, Treas.  The first representatives to Grand Lodge, Erastus Dickinson and Thomas Simpson, in 1859.  Burned out  June 24th, 1864; lost everything.

MILLVILLE LODGE, NO. 141

 Charter members:  John Ellis, E. Wagoner, Caleb Watkins, David King, T.J. Simpson, Ruben Pearce, Wm. Bidwell, Augustus Chatham, James Mues, T.J. Webb.  Instituted January 15th, 1868, by Grand Master C.N. Fox.  The first officers were John Ellis, N.G.; Erastus Wagoner, V.G.; D.C. Stevenson, R.S.; Ruben Pearce, Treas.  The Lodge was first represented in Grand Lodge by John Ellis in 1869.

WELCOME LODGE, NO. 209

 This lodge was instituted at Piety Hill, October 1, 1872, by Samuel Isacks, D.D.G.M.  Charter members:  H.C. Jacobson, P.G.; Theo. Dickinson, P.G.; T.B. Smith, Lorin Scott, J.J. Wheelock, A.W. Baker and V. Doll.  Officers at institution of Lodge:  H.C. Jacobson, N.G.; T.B. Smith, V.G.; Theo. Dickinson, R.S.; J.J. Wheelock, Treas.  First representative to Grand Lodge, T.B. Smith, P.G.

ANDERSON LODGE, NO. 254

 This lodge was instituted at Anderson, October 19, 1876, by T.B. Smith, D.D.G.M., assisted by Samuel Isacks, P.G., G.R. Knox, P.G., D.C. Stevenson, P.G., and T.J. Simpson, P.G.  Charter members: W.W. Elmore, P.G.; J.S. Schleigh, P.G.; J.D. Snow, Wm. Stull, Wm. Howard, D. Parr, W.S. Anderson, George Snow and A. McKillop.  Officers at the institution of the Lodge:  W.W. Elmore, N.G.; J.D. Snow, V.G.; T.B. Bell, R.S.; D. Parr, Treas.  First representative to Grand Lodge, W.W. Elmore, P.G.

READING LODGE, NO. 271

 This Lodge was instituted March 6th, 1878, by Thos. B. Smith, D.D.G.M., with the following charter members:  H.F. Johnson, P.G.; B.F. Frank,P.G.; Joseph Mullen, P.G.; E. Dickinson, P.G.; J.N. Chappell, P.G.; R.O. Carmer, P.G.; Jackson McConnell, R.M.  Saeltzer, John E. Reynolds, Lawrence Mullen, F. Michaaelson, A. Levy, H. Cochran, A. Wood, Jas. Rogers, Frank Drew, R. Close, S.A.J. Eckles, J.N. Logan, T.C. Ten Eyck.  Following were the first officers of the Lodge:  Fred Michaelson, N.G.; A. Wood, V.G.; Jas. Rogers, Secretary; A. Levy, Treasurer.  The Lodge was first represented in Grand Lodge in June, 1878, by B.F. Frank, P.G.

MILLVILLE REBEKAH DEGREE LODGE, NO. 3

 This Degree Lodge was instituted February 4th, 1871, by Samuel Isacks, D.D.G.M.  The following officers were installed:  H.N. Willkinson, N.G.; Patsey Ann Chatham, V.G.; Sarah E. Powers, R.S.; Martha J. Martin, Treas.  [The charter of this Lodge was surrendered January 30th, 1875.]  The Lodge was again organized March 21st, 1881, and the following officers installed by Samuel Isacks, D.D.G.M.:  Ann Frances Snow, N.G.; Hattie Wheatley, V.G.; Julia Agnes Brown, R.S.; Sarah E. Stevenson, Treas.

IGO REBEKAH DEGREE LODGE, NO. 43.

 This Degree Lodge was instituted at Igo, April 26, 1878, by T.B. Smith, D.D.G.M., assisted by S. Isacks, P.G., N.A. Beeves, P.G., A.W. Baker, P.G., and G.W. McFarland, P.G.  Charter members:  Mrs. M.A. Smith, Mrs. W. Brummett, N.A. Beeves, Mrs. N.A. Beeves, A.W. Baker, Mrs. S. Baker, G.W. McFarland, H. Hillsman, J.J. Wheelcok, Mrs. H. Wheelock, W. W. Elmore, Mrs. D. Elmore, W. Dunham, Mrs. E. Dunham, J.M. Gleaves, Mrs. J.M. Gleaves, T.C. Voss, Mrs. W. Voss, F. Weidenbach, W.M. McFarlin, B.K. Hemminger, Mrs. B.K. Hemminger, M.N. Dickerson, Mrs. M.N. Dickerson.  Officers at institution of Lodge:  N.A. Beeves, N.G.; Mrs. M.A. Smith, V.G.; A.W. Baker, R.S.; Mrs. W. Voss, T.; Mrs. S. Baker, W.; Mrs. W. Brummett, C.; Mrs. B.K. Hemminger, I.S.G.; Mrs. H. Wheelock, O.S.G.; Mrs. N.A. Beeves, R.S. to N.G.; Mrs. M.N. Dickerson, L.S. to N.G.; T.B. Smith, R.S. to V.G.; J.J. Wheelock, L.S. to V.G.

A. O. U. W. (Ancient Order United Workmen)
 

SHASTA LODGE, NO. 71

 This Lodge was instituted in December, 1878, with the following charter members:  Clay W. Taylor, Aaron Bell, Wm. E. Hopping, U.R. Lord, Arthur Sprague, Frank Litsch, Chas. McDonald, Chas. W. Eames, G.C. Schroter, John Craddock, S.L. Albro, L. Behrle, Jas. Mullen, Warren Dunham, Louis Prehn, W.T. Hiatt, Peter Hoff, Wm. C. Whiting.   The first officers were:  Clay W. Taylor, P.M.W.; W.E. Hopping, M.W.; Aaron Bell, G.F.; U.R. Lord, O.; J.G. Frahner, G.; Chas. McDonald, I.W.; S.L. Albro, O.W.; Clay W. Taylor was the first representative to the Grand Lodge at Oakland, in February, 1879.

READING LODGE, NO. 72

 Reading Lodge, No. 72, A.O.U.W., was instituted December 19, 1878, with the following officers and members:  J.M. Gleaves, P.M.W.; J.N. Major, M.W.; O.J. Lawry, G.F.; Lee J. Fader, O.; F.M. Swasey, G.; Chas. E. Berry, R.; Jos. Mullen, Financier; N. Willard, Receiver; W.G. Ransom, I.W.; D.A. Sloan, O.W.; Alexander Levy, N. Breslauer and S.A.J. Eckles.  Before the charter closed the following persons were received as charter members:  Lawrence Mullen, John Critchlow, D.J. Girard, S. Weil, Peter Glaszer, Jos. Bailey, T.B. Smith, O. Griittner and Jackson McConnell.  J.M. Gleaves was the first representative to the Grand Lodge at Oaklan in February, 1879.
 

I. O. G. T. (Independent Order Good Templars)
 

REDDING LODGE, NO. 102.

 Redding Lodge, No. 102, Independent Order of Good Templars, was organized November 1st, 1873, by Deputy Grand Worthy Chief Templar  Chas. A. Garter.  The first meeting was held at the residence of J.W. Brackett, Esq., and the following names appear on the charter, which is signed by Albert D. Wood, Grand Worthy Chief Templar, and Geo. B. Katzenstein, Grand Worthy Secretary;  J.F. Scamman, E.A. Reid, J.W. Brackett, John E. Tiffin, C.H.M. Brackett, James Rogers, John Davis, H.A. Williams, Margaret Williams, E. Dickinson, L.S. Dickinson, S.A.J. Eckles and W.A. Smith.  The first officers elected were as follows:   J.E. Tiffin, W.C.T.; L.S. Dickinson, W.V.T.; J.F. Scamman, W.C.; J.W. Brackett, W.S.; Carrie Dickinson, W.A.S.; E.A. Reid, W.F.S.; C.H.M. Brackett, W.T.; James Rogers, W.M.; Lottie Woods, W.D.M.; M. Williams, W.I.G.; S.A.J. Eckles, W.O.G.; H.A. Williams, W.R.H.S.; John Davis, W.L.H.S.; W.A. Smith, P.W.C.T.  The Lodge met in Thompson’s Hall, after the first meeting, until the completion of their present hall in 1878.  This Lodge is at present in a prosperous condition, with a good membership.
 

C. of H. (Champions of Honor)
 

MOUNT SHASTA GRAND COUNCIL

 A new Temperance organization, bearing the above title, supposed to be an offshoot from the Champions of the Red Cross, was started by one Dr. L. E.V. Coon, at Susanville, Lassen county, in the year 1879.  A Grand Council was organized, but owing to the inefficiency of its officers, and lack of sufficient energy and ability, the Grand Council and the Subordinates under it were for the most part unable to continue and soon gave up their existence.  In Redding, Shasta county, State of California, a Grand Council, C. of H., was organized January 6, 1880, by Dr. Coon, called Mt. Shasta Grand Council, and independent of the Grand Council at Susanville, Lassen county, which was then in existence.  The following Subordinate Councils were represented in grand session:  Defender, No. 1, of Burgettville; Reveille, No. 2, of Pittville; Advance, No. 3, of Millville; Refuge, No. 4, of Shasta; Defiance, No. 5, of Anderson; Victory, No. 6, of Cottonwood, and Justice, No. 7, of Redding.  Josiah O’Neal, of Advance No. 3, was elected Past Worthy Grand Commander; Judge Aaron Bell, of Refuge No. 4, Worthy Grand Commander; Mrs. P.A. M. Frisbie, of Defiance No. 5, Worthy Grand Lt. Commander; F.M. Swasey, of Justice No. 7, Worthy Grand Scribe; J.M. Gleaves, of Justice No. 7, Worthy Grand Treasurer; L.H. Rowlee, of Victory No. 6, Worthy Grand Herald; A.W. Hammond, of Justice No. 7, Worthy Grand Warder.  The jurisdiction of this Grand Council comprised the counties of Tehama, Shasta, Trinity and Siskiyou, but at their session December 6, 1880, its jurisdiction was extended to the whole State of California.  Since its organization a few Subordinate Councils have passed out of existence, and many new councils have been organized.  At present there are seventeen Subordinate Councils in good standing.

REVEILLE COUNCIL, NO. 2

 This Council was organized at Pittville, December 6, 1879, with the following officers:  Seth Gassaway, P.W.C.; F.Z. Palmer, W.C.; Miss May Tartar, Lt. C.; C.T. Wise, Scribe; J.E. Garrison, F.S.; A.F. Dixon, Herald; Thomas Vestal, Treas.; John Hollenbeak, Warder; N. Pernall and E. Dixon, Aids to C; J. Vestal, T. Anglin, Aids to Lt. C.; S.H. Williams, Asst. S.; Mrs. Jos. W. Hollenbeak, Usher; Miss Sarah Smith, P.; M.E. Palmer, Mes.; W.W. Parker, Sent.

REFUGE COUNCIL, NO. 4

 This Council was organized at Shasta, December 22, 1879, with the following officers:  S.W. Hull, P.W.C.; Aaron Bell, W.C.; Mrs. C.W. Eames, Lt. C.; Miss Crocker, Scribe; A. Lewin, F.S.; W.A. Scott, Herald; H. Jones, Treas.; L. Crocker, Warder; C.J. Prackle and A. Chauncey, Aids to C.; A. Weil and B. Lewin, Aids to Lt. C.; Mrs. W.A. Scott, Usher; N.Briceland, Mes.; Rev. C.H. Darling, P.

DEFIANCE COUNCIL, NO. 5

 This Council was instituted in Anderson in 1880, with the following officers:  R.B. Keeler, W.C.; Miss A.L. Frisbie, Lt. C.; W.W. Elmore, H.; E.F. Anderson, S.; John Tyson, F.S.; Mrs. E. Anderson, Treas.; Thos. Robinson, W.; Mrs. Emily Keeler, U.; Miss Lulu Spann, M.; Frank Nichols, S.; George Anderson, P.W.C.

VICTORY COUNCIL, NO. 6

 This Council was organized at Cottonwood, January 1, 1880, with the following officers:  L.H. Rowlee, W.C.; Miss S.J. Cadwell, Lt. C.; Miss L. Way, Scribe; John Barry, F.S.; Jas. Barry, Herald; Wm. Howard, Treas.; T.S. Nemnagh, Warder; Wm. Holman and O. McCollister, Aids to C.; C. Forster and M. Jones, Aids to Lt. C.; Miss C. McCollister, Assistant Scribe; Wm. Howard, Mes.; Rev. M.V. Howard, P.

JUSTICE COUNCIL, NO. 7

 This Council was organized at Redding, January 2, 1880, with the following officers:  W.A. Smith, P.W.C.; J.M. Gleaves, W.C.; Mrs. Geo. Groves, Lt. C.; F.M. Swasey, Scribe; Wm. Eaton, F.S.; Jas. Eaton, Herald; A.W. Hammond, Treas.; Julius Witzel, Warder; Geo. Simmons, Usher; L.W. Wells, Mes.; Rev. I.N. Waterman, P.; R.N. Cunningham, Sent.

SECPTER COUNCIL,  NO. 10

 This Council was organized at French Gulch, January 18, 1880, with the following officers:  F.W. Wheeler, P.W.C.; Thomas Lowdon, W.C.; Miss Nancy Sevedge, Lt. C.; Mrs. Amy C.V. Schaeggs, Scribe; Mrs. Julia Syme, F.S.; Chas. Plumb, Herald; Miss Julia Franck, Treas.; John Hooper, Warder; John Syme and Victor Kearn, Aids to C.; Belle Lowdon, Asst. S.; Robert Bennett, Usher; Lottie Maguire, Mes.; M. Plumb, P.; Tim Foley, Sent.