Biographies
MRS. MAY HELENE BACON BOGGS
MRS. BOGGS has ever been an outstanding figure in the life of Shasta
County. She came to Shasta as a small child in 1871, accompanied by
her mother. Here she found her uncle, Williamson Lyncoya Smith, who was then
division agent for the California-Oregon Stage Company, and who became to
her as a father, as her own father died soon after her birth. Then she did
not know she was to become an important part of the life of her adopted
county.
To her the city of Redding is indebted as founder of the
Woman's Improvement Club, for her tireless work in the club's endeavors, and
for the presentation of lot on which the society's clubhouse is situated.
S. F. SOUTHERN
Simeon Fisher Southern came to Shasta County in 1855, operated the Eagle
Hotel in Shasta in 1855, the Empire Hotel in French Gulch in 1856. In the
fall of 1859 he built himself a house along the Soda Springs Turnpike road
(now Highway 99), felling the trees, hewing the timbers and splitting the
shakes by hand. Here he carved "Southern Station" out of the wilderness.
This came to be a well-known tourist place until 1911, when it was sold,
after the death of Mr. Southern in 1892. Many celebrities stopped there. In
1880 President R. D. Hayes and Mrs. Hayes, Gen. W. T. Sherman, Gen. Philip
Sheridan. Later, Collis P. Huntington, Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins, Sir
Thomas Hesketh, Secretary of the Navy Medcalf, Governor Pardee and many
others.
HINCKLEY, SKILLMAN AND DOSH
Though mentioned elsewhere as the publishers of the first Shasta County
newspaper, the Shasta Courier, we include them as 1852 pioneers, along with
Pierson Barton Reading and Benjamin Shurtleff.
PROMINENT PEOPLE
George Albro, son of Stephen L. Albro and Mary (Exely) Albro. Born May 24,
1862. Entered into the service of the Shasta County courthouse in 1870, 2
and has continued ever since.
Rudolph M. Saeltzer of Germany, nephew of Dr. Louis Wellendorf of Shasta,
came to Shasta County in 1872. On May 7, 1877, he entered into partnership
with James McCormick and Louis Wellendorf, his uncle, and remained in the
business up to the present time. This business was the first merchandise
store in Redding, started by C. C. Bush in 1872. On the date above, 1877, he
sold out to the above firm, which then became that of "The Big Store,"
McCormick, Saeltzer Company, to the present.
Williamson Lyncoya Smith, for many years general superintendent of the Northern California & Oregon Stage District, operating from Shasta City to Jacksonville, Oregon. In the employ of the California Stage Company from 1853, he, as division agent, established the stage line through the Sacramento River route which the railroad was to follow. For many years and at the date of his death he was director of the Bank of Northern California in Redding. This is now the Anglo-California National Bank, E. C. Frisbie, manager.
W. L. Smith was one of the McCormick-Saeltzer company partners in the organization of the company in 1877, and is the uncle of Mae Helene Bacon Boggs, author of "My Playhouse Was a Concord Coach." He was a native of Virginia, born August 6, 1830. He arrived in California April 6, 1850, and died at his home in Redding May 31, 1902. The site of his home on the southeast corner of West and Tehama streets was presented to the Woman's Improvement Club by his niece, Mrs. Boggs, one of the founders and first treasurer of the club.
"The person who pads an expense account is as much of a thief as the person who takes money from the till." Williamson Lyncoya Smith.
DAVID POTTER BYSTLE
David Potter Bystle was born in Pennsylvania September 2, 1821, and came to
California in 1850. Engaged in hotel keeping, mining, as carpenter,
furniture dealer and undertaker in Shasta. Mr. Bystle was one of the oldest
members of Western Star No. 2, F. & A. M., in Shasta. Initiated in that
lodge in June, 1852.
WILLIAM LLOYD CARTER
Born in Fairfield, Wayne County, Illinois, October 6, 1840, he, as a
youth,had a great fondness for reading and a flair for newspaper work. At
the age of 17 he published a newspaper, The Prairie Pioneer. In one
number he copied "Toast to the Nation.” It was copied by a paper on the
Pacific Coast, the Shasta Courier. Then he little knew that some day he
would cross the plains and own that paper. He came overland to California
in 1860, and early in that decade he started the Copper City Pioneer. He
taught school in Shasta County and was county school superintendent from
1866-1874. In 1869 he purchased the Shasta Courier, established in 1852. He
married Miss Ella Gage in 1867. Died July 31, 1901.
THE PREHN FAMILY
Frederick Prehn was born in Germany September 13, 1833. Being engaged in the
German Rebellion in 1848, he found it wise to leave that country, which he
did, and came to America and to the northern California gold -fields. Later
he sent for his wife and three children, Mary, Amelia and Louis. Mr. Prehn
had built a house in Shasta. Mrs. Prehn established a boarding house in
Shasta and he kept a store located north of the present Litsch store. Louis
married Miss Nettie Grotefend, Amelia married Lorenz Garrecht, and she died
in 1894. Louis followed her in 1895. Mrs. Nettie Prehn and her daughter,
Miss Bessie Prehn, live in Shasta in the original home.
ELLEN WHITTAL ROGERS
Ellen Whittal Rogers was the first white woman settler to come to Fall River
Valley. Born May 8, 1848, in Taas, Mexico, she came to Fall River Valley in
1864. Ellen made friends with some of the Indians, particularly with Susie,
a squaw who did washing for her. The Indians were generally hostile and the
woman, Susie, told Ellen of an Indian plot to attack and kill all the white
settlers. Assuring Susie all would be well, Ellen mounted her horse and rode
to warn all the settlers. Word was sent to Fort Crook. The soldiers joined
the settlers, surprised the Indians in their hidden rendezvous and stopped
the planned massacre.
She and her husband, George Rogers, kept a stopping place at Bear Flat
for stage horses. Planting trees from the woods was her hobby. To be
successful, the secret lies in planting them with the north side to the
north just as they stood when taken up.
THE SCAMMON FAMILY
James Freeman Scammon, pioneer ancestor, born March 7, 1827, in Maine, was
the founder of the family in California. Direct descendant of William
Brewster, founder of the Puritan church at Scrooby Manor, Eng-
land, who came to America in the ship, Mayflower, he married Laura Jane
Abbott of Saco, Maine, July 8, 1849. He came to California in the early
18SO's, and arrived in Shasta in 1853. There he became a wagonmaker.
Enlisted in the Civil War, was one of the Shasta Guards. Moved to Redding in
1872, and died in Redding September 7, 1903.
THE SHURTLEFF FAMILY
Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff was born in Carver, Massachusetts, and received his
medical degree August 23, 1848. He came to California July 6, 1849. Arrived
in Reading Springs (Shasta) in October, 1849. There he carried on his
profession, conducted a drugstore and took an active part in the up-building
of Shasta. On February 21, 1853, he and Miss Ann Graham were married in
Massachusetts whence he had returned for his bride. They immediately started
for California and Shasta. Dr. Shurtleff was the first county treasurer of
Shasta County, State Senator for Shasta-Trinity counties in 1861, and held
other positions of trust in the state of California. Charles A. Shurtleff of
the State Supreme Court was his son.
THE SPRAGUE FAMILY
Royal T. Sprague came to Reading Springs (Shasta) in 1849 and mined on Clear
Creek that winter. His family arrived a few years later and in 1852 he built
the house on Main street now owned by Mrs. Ethel Blair. He was elected State
Senator in 1852, and later was elected Chief Justice of Supreme Court. He
died in 1872.
THE THATCHER FAMILY
Ezekial Thomas Thatcher was born October 6, 1825, son of Mark C. Thatcher
and Hannah Thomas Thatcher, both natives of Virginia. While still a small
child his parents moved to Ohio to escape the slavery toils. From Ohio in
1850 Ezekial Thatcher started with an ox team for the California gold
fields. He arrived in Shasta County, and in 1851 had a part in building Fort
Reading in Shasta County. He married Catherine Harrington in 1858 and lived
on the old Parkville section, four miles north of the Reading rancho on the
east side of the Sacramento River. He died at Millville May 9, 1908, at the
age of 82 years. Catherine died May 23, 1924. Both are interred in the
Parkville cemetery.
THE BLUMB FAMILY
Henri Blumb arrived in Shasta in the year 1854. He was a native of Germany.
Mari A. Garrecht was also a native of Germany. Her family including herself
arrived in Shasta December 31, 1860. They had come
by way of the Isthmus. The two mentioned were married in Shasta in 1861 and
lived a few years at Copper City before moving to Shasta where they spent
the rest of their lives.
MENTION OF PEOPLE PRIOR TO 1915
Jean Parker, for whom the Jean Parker School in San Francisco was named,
taught school in Shasta County in 1863.
James R. Keene, a spectacular figure in Wall Street and one time guest of
King Edward of Great Britain, delivered milk in Shasta City in the early
1850's.
Andrew Westervelt and Trueman Head, early settlers of Shasta County,
belonged to Berdon's Sharpshooters during the Civil War.
J. M. Gleaves of Shasta County became United States surveyor general for
California.
Christian Lintz of Cottonwood, a Shasta County soldier, was on the
battleship Oregon at the defeat of Cervera's Squadron. Edward Isaacs was
also on the Oregon and went around the Horn during the Spanish-American War.
Amelia B. Kline, Army nurse, was a prominent nurse in Manila during the
Spanish-American War.
T. W. H. Shanahan, member of the California State Legislature for five
terms, had a fruit ranch in Shasta County near Balls Ferry. He was code
commissioner of California in 1892.
Dr. Ferdinand Stabel, graduate of the Wurtzburg University, Bavaria, and medical associate of the German Hospital staff in San Francisco, settled in Redding in October, 1898. In 1901 the nephew of Japan's mikado passed through Redding en route to Chicago. Mae Eleanor Gates (Mrs. Richard Tully), author of "The Autobiography of a Prairie Girl," spent her girlhood in Anderson, Shasta County, and taught school there in 1890.
Judge Edward Sweeny of Shasta County was Superior judge of the county for twelve years, from 1891-1903.
Count Riggio Salvatore of the Island of Sicily passed through Redding in 1903 on his trip "Around the World on Foot."
Thomas Hill, the artist, climbed Mt. Shasta in 1855.
Cincinatus Heiner Miller, the "Poet of the Sierras," spent much of his
youth in Shasta County and was a familiar figure in northern California in
the early days.
Charles Butters, one of the foremost metallurgists in the world, was called
"The Father of Kennett."
Gen. John B. Hood of the Confederate Army and Gen. Philip H. Sheridan both
saw service as young lieutenants at Fort Reading in 1855.
Gen. John Bidwell, Augustus Sutter, Col. John C. Fremont and Kit Carson were present in Shasta County in the 1840's. The former two at Buena Ventura and the latter at Bloody Island, 1846.
President Theodore Roosevelt visited Redding in 1903.
President Hayes with a distinguished party passed a short time at Sim Southern's in September, 1880. Gen. W. T. Sherman and Gen. Philip Sheridan were in the party. Reception given in Redding September 24, 1880, to this party.
Governor Leland Stanford and Mrs. Stanford were entertained in Redding in 1889.
Governor Pardee, Sir Thomas Hesketh of the Navy, Robert Ingersoll, William Keith, noted artist, Thomas B. Walker, lumber king, John L. Sullivan, noted heavyweight champion, "Black Bart," Death Valley Scotty also visited Redding in their time.
Peter Duffy of Anderson, who invented and manufactured the "Peter Duffy Waterproof Match" and refused many tempting offers for his patent, lived and died in Anderson, taking his secret with him, in the 1900's.
Governor Gooding of Idaho raised turkeys at Gas Point, Shasta County in
the early 1880's. He married Amanda Thomas of that place, moved to Idaho and
subsequently became governor of that state.
Mrs. Eliza Hartsough, wife of Rev. J. B. Hartsough of Redding and daughter
of Alexander Hamilton Willard, member of the Lewis and Clark expedition
through Oregon territory in 1804-05, lived many years in Shasta County, and
died March 1, 1911, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. K. Giles of Balls
Ferry. In 1871
Thomas Starr King lectured in the Union church, Shasta, in behalf of the Union. In July, 1897, William Jennings Bryan, "silver-tongued orator of the west," spoke in Shasta.
Rear Admiral Jas. H. Glennon, commander of the Massachusetts during the Spanish War, was born in French Gulch, Shasta County.
First settler of Soda Springs was Joe Deblondy (Mountain Joe). He claimed
he was a frontier guide under Fremont, driving the pack trail with horses
and mules to Oregon.
Harrill's rose garden was a show spot in Shasta in the early 1850's. Located
about due west of the Catholic church foundation, about as large as a city
square and enclosed by a high fence festooned with roses of many hues, it
was entered through a secret and winding path through an old apple orchard
by way of a hole in the fence. Inside was a perfect heaven of roses over the
fences, hanging from the trees and smiling from every nook and corner. A
rock fountain and pool were fed by a hillside spring trickling from under a
weeping willow shade. Gold fish darted through the water like streams of
new-mined gold. Huge tall glass bottles, which as children, we could not
reach the top with our hands, stood in among the roses.
All the children of Shasta were welcome to this retreat to play and to
bring lunch and eat in a vine-covered summer house in one corner of the
garden. In another corner lived "Old Man Harrill," beloved of every child in
Shasta. Here in a screened room dozens of golden canaries made the hours
golden with their singing.
In time all Shasta mourned for the keeper of this garden. The church bell
tolled and the band played "Love Among the Roses" as was his expressed
desire. Drury Harrill and a cluster of roses are engraved on his stone where
he sleeps in the Shasta cemetery.
Strange that this man should have erected a prosaic flour mill at
Millville. J. E. Hoyle, "Smiling Warden from Shasta," became noted for
abolishing the "incorrigible cells" and other inhuman practices at San
Quentin.
Some of the prominent attorneys in Shasta County : Clay W. Taylor,
E. Garter, T. W. H. Shanahan, Aaron Bell, Edward Sweeney, Thomas B. Dozier. Physicians : Dr. B. F. Shurtleff, Dr. Briceland, S. T. White, O. J. Lawery, O. J. Smith, Ferdinand Stable, J. T. Rohm, B. F. Saylor, Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Read.
Many, many names must be omitted in these lists, in the professions, the
arts and business world. The effort has been that of exclusion rather than
of inclusion as Shasta County has been favored by being the chosen home of
many outstanding citizens. The passage of years has lost some of them and
the date of this history has not caught up with many others. Perhaps another
chronicler will uncover more of the former and find that his stretch of
years will include many of the latter.
PIONEER NAMES IN THE 1850's
Anderson, Elias, operated "Prairie House" in 1852. American Ranch, 1855.
Arnold, Sanford Noah, Shasta, 1851.
Atkins, Quintus Barcisses, Shasta, 1851.
Anklin, Henry, Shasta, 1854.
Andrews, Alexander Robertson, Clear Creek, 1849.
Bedford, John Franklin, Texas Springs, 1858.
Bell, J. J., Clear Creek, Bell's toll road, 1853.
Bell, Aaron, Shasta, 1852.
Bergh, Henry, Shasta, 1852.
Bidwell, John H., Shasta, 1852.
Blumb, Henri, Shasta, 1852.
Becker, Wilhelmina, Cottonwood, 1853.
Bainbridge, John Pope, Shasta, 1854.
Bass, J. S. P., Shasta County, 1851; in California Legislature, 1880-82.
Bradley, Lucinda, first woman in Shasta County, 1849.
Bystle, Daniel Potter, Shasta, 1851; charter member of Western Star lodge,
No. 2, F. & A. M.
Craddock, John, Sr., Shasta, 1853.
Chauncey, Alfred, "Good Medicine Man," 1854; by ox team to Shasta.
Cunningham, Adam, Readings Bar, 1848-49.
Chappell, John Nathan, Shasta, 1853. Crocker, Everette Francis, Shasta,
1850. Dersch, George, Shasta, 1853.
Diestelhorst, John G. J., Shasta, 1852.
Dobrowsky, Adolph, Shasta, 1854.
Franck, Frederick, French Gulch, 1851; built fireproof store in French
Gulch.
Gage, Jonathan, Lower Springs, 1852.
George, John, Shasta, 1854.
Gilbert, Jonathan Reynolds, Shasta, 1853. Greene, Thomas, Shasta, 1852.
Grotefend, Chas., Shasta, 1854.
Grotefend, George Adolph, Shasta, 1854.
Harrill, Drury Dobbins, Shasta, 1849; Harrill's rose garden.
Harrison, W. R., Shasta, 1850; first judge, Shasta County.
Hubbard, Stephen Return, Piety Hill, 1852; taught adult classes using the
Bible as textbook.
Hufford, John Wesley, Shasta, 1855. Hull, Sylvester, Shasta, 1855;
sheriff of Shasta County, 1872-74. Hopping, Wm. E., Shasta, 1855; sheriff of
Shasta County, 1864-66. Jones, Thadeous Alonza, Ono, 1852. Johnson, Henry
Fiske, Shasta, 1849; via Lassen Trail. Kidder, Rev. Wm. Samuel, Shasta,
1858. Kingsbury, Chas., Ono, 1857. King, David Reese, Shasta County, 1852;
came around the Horn. Klotz, Rudolph. Shasta, 1853. Knox, George R., Shasta,
1852; member of Noble party. Logan, Jas. Nelson, Shasta, 1853. Lane, Gen.
Jos., Reading Springs, 1849; later Governor of Oregon. Lord, Ulysses, Texas
Springs, 1854. Ludwig, Wm., Cottonwood, 1855. Myers, John, Shasta, 1852.
Reid, Nellie, Shasta, 1854; taught school in Shasta, 1850.
Roop, Isaac, Shasta, 1852; postmaster in Shasta, 1852; later Governor of
Nevada, 1859.
Simmons, Jas. M., Shasta, 1853.
Sprague, Royal T., Shasta, 1852; member of California Supreme Court.
Wilcox, Wm. Semple, came to California in 1852; employed by P. B. Reading at
Buena Ventura.
Nick Shuman, baker in Shasta and miner on Rock Creek in 1850. At his death
in 1902 he left a request that the stone from Rock Creek on which he had sat
for many noons to eat his lunch, be placed at the head of his grave. This
granite stone was engraved by Mr. Masterson of Redding with the following
inscription :
"This humble stone its lonely vigil keeps And marks the spot where
honest Shuman sleeps.
These foregoing names are all familiar in Shasta County. Economy of space
prevents greater detail. They are in the Shasta Historical Society files, in
the Redding Carnegie Library and can be consulted by any interested party
wishing for added vital statistics of these herein named, as well as many
later arrivals in Shasta County.
Shasta County, California : a history
:
City
of Publication: Oakland, Calif. - 1949
Transcribed by Steve Baumann
Pages 277 - 285
