Volume 33, Number 1 Red Bluff, California September/October 2013

…Although the distance is PETER LASSEN FINALLY much greater [on the Lassen Trail]…and VINDICATED? some of the emigrants were much longer in getting in, I cannot but think it a fortunate circumstance they did so [take the Lassen After reading many Trail] for the loss of property would have disparaging comments over the years about been much greater on the old trail [Carson or our not-so-venerated pioneer, Peter Lassen, Truckee], as the grass would have been and his “horrendous” Lassen Trail, we now eaten off long before they arrived. have a book that claims to set the record The author contrasts this statement straight and present a more balanced with one by Simon Doyle, one of the viewpoint on old “Uncle Peter.” The book is unhappy emigrants (exactly as written): entitled Legendary Truths, Peter Lassen and At the [Lassen’s] Ranch everything is His Gold Rush Trail in Fact and Fable, by a regular jam. Men going hither and yon, Ken Johnston, 2012. Mr. Johnston was a whiskey, some meals victuals, others to get park ranger naturalist/interpreter at Lassen the meal without buying for they have National Park in the 1970s and has been nothing to buy with, some to pore forth researching Lassen ever since, in his career curses and abuse upon Lassen for his as an educator. His bibliography includes rascally deceitfulness in making the 180 items! Northern road [Lassen Trail]. In this all The major puzzle regarding Lassen is hands join and the Old Dutchman is in that while he was respected and many eminent danger of losing his life and makes geographical locations have been named for himself as humble as possible. him (Lassen Peak, Park, National Forest, Mr. Johnston states that these County, College, Trail, Creek, et al), many tired, disgruntled emigrants were disillusioned, trail-weary emigrants, and scapegoating Lassen, rather than taking some highly regarded historians, have responsibility for being late on the trail and denounced him and his achievements. following others, some of whom knew the One of the author’s major points is distance involved. Many reports of Lassen’s that it was more the lateness of the later hospitality, plus the fact that a government parties, rather than the route they chose, survey party hired him as a guide that that caused the winter hardships. He points summer, indicate his character and also his out that Major Rucker, head of the relief activities and whereabouts that summer. teams sent out by the Army to aid the This brings into question why the “legendary” emigrants on the Carson, Truckee, and charges against him, suggesting profiteering Lassen Trails in September 1849, reported to his superiors: (Continued on page 2)

1 (Lassen: Continued from page 1) the law, took from us our lands and our motives for establishing the trail and accusing houses without the least scruple…” Vallejo him of misleading emigrants at the turnoff on even mentioned “Missouri and other states” the Humboldt River. as the source of “the swollen torrent of William Nobles claimed credit for shysters.” discovering the much-shorter Nobles Trail The author’s final quote is from The about 1851 and was paid $2,000 by the Alta California, August 4, 1859, after merchants of Shasta City for showing them Lassen’s death that year: the route. However, Lassen claimed that he The poor, sick, and unfortunate, who knew the route before Nobles came to the formed so large a part of the immigration of area. Mr. Johnston believes that Lassen that year, found in the worthy old Dane, a should get the credit. He states that warm-hearted and true friend…It may be “considering Nobles’ character and easily imagined that a man possessed of so predilection to exaggeration and self- generous a heart would soonest become a aggrandizement, as opposed to the victim to the wiles of speculators…Lassen testimonies toward Lassen’s integrity and was eventually deprived of nearly all his honesty, one would conclude that Lassen was property, and finally settled down at Honey the one who should have received the credit.” Lake… The author quotes the Red Bluff Beacon, Old “Uncle Peter” Lassen has October 27, 1858: “Whoever shakes the hand received a lot of bad press over the years. of Peter Lassen, shakes the hand of an This new book indicates that much of this honest man.” was undeserved. Author Ken Johnston is to One chapter is entitled “Dealing with be praised for balancing the record and the Wilsons,” and discusses Lassen’s giving us a much more nuanced picture of financial disaster in working with General John the famous but unlucky and too-trusting old Wilson and his family. This family was one of Dane. the last on the trail that received help from Lassen. Wilson was a Missouri lawyer and a Gene Serr kinsman to President Zachary Taylor. Taylor had appointed Wilson as a Special Agent for the Indians in what was then called the Deseret-California region. Wilson convinced Lassen to take him and his friend Joel Palmer as partners. To make a long and complicated HELP NEEDED! story short, Wilson ended up with ownership of half of Lassen’s rancho, with Lassen apparently receiving nothing in return. Ruby Swartzlow, in Lassen, His Life Over the years we have had some very and Legacy, states that, “The reason for good programs. That was the work of Jim & Pat Lassen’s lack of financial success was Brink. They are stepping down so now we are probably poor business ability.” Author looking for someone to replace them. The job is Johnston believes that a major factor was the as simple as a phone call or email and setting up deceit and greed of General Wilson and a meeting place. If you are interested please family, who took advantage of Lassen’s email Carol Mieske at [email protected], or generosity and trust in others. call 527-6677. General Mariano Vallejo once wrote “…these legal thieves, clothed in the robes of

2 Woman’s First Book She is a member of the Tehama County Highlights Tehama’s Black Genealogical and Historical Society Board of History Directors and is a, Board of Supervisor’s appointed, member of the Tehama County Heritage and Historical Records Commission. Alice also assisted in the writing of Tehama Tehama County history is a favorite County 150 Years of Photos and History. During subject of Grace Alice Jackson and when she the past ten years several short stories she wrote found the information of the county’s early were published in the TCGHS annual publication African American population lacking in the Memories. For the past five years she has been Tehama County Library’s Depository, it became the Editor of Memories. a desire—and a challenge—to find out more. Copies of this unique book are available Using skills acquired in her life-long through the Tehama County Genealogical and genealogy hobby, Jackson has successfully Historical Society (at the Wednesday Night documented in a book nearly five-hundred local Farmer’s Market and on line at pioneers of color who lived in Tehama County www.tcghsoc.org,) and at the Tehama County between 1858 and about 1920, Black Pioneers in Museum at Tehama during open hours (one to Tehama County California History. four on Saturdays and Sundays) and at their To pull together so much scattered Jubilee September 7, 2013. The Tehama County information, Jackson employed many sources, Library, Red Bluff branch, has one copy in the including federal census records, local city Depository and one for circulation. directories, old court house records, old Written and submitted by Alice Jackson, 530 newspapers, cemetery records, and voter 527-4035, 20650 Walnut Street, Red Bluff. registrations. She communicated with descendants of some of the pioneers, plowed through old newspapers, and learned to decipher survey information to find out where the schools and churches were located. In so doing, Jackson brings to life in varying degrees pioneers such as the P. D. and A.J. Logans, the A.A. Coffeys, the Snadens and the Graffells, people for whom much history might otherwise have been forgotten or lost. In the process, Jackson also has accomplished something for herself: writing her first complete book. Jackson has been a resident of Tehama County for almost fifty years. She has an extensive background in genealogical research having become interested in her own family history at the age of seventeen. She served as a volunteer at the Mormon Family History center for several years helping others with genealogical research; and is currently a volunteer at the Tehama County Library in the Depository assisting patrons with local history.

3 32nd Annual Tehama County -eryone out there to help us out by taking a Museum Jubilee chance on winning some wonderful prizes through the purchase of raffle tickets. This year we will let raffle prize winners make their own The 32nd Annual Tehama County Mu- selection from the prize table so that they have a seum Jubilee is right around the corner. On better chance of getting something that fits their Saturday, September 7, the area around the personality. Museum will be abuzz with all kinds of activi- Additional information and the schedule ties. Our theme this year is “Branding Tehama of events is available on our website. Go to ‘Country’...the olde fashioned way,” which is tehamacountymuseum.org and, enter the “32nd intended to create a link between the historic Annual Tehama County Museum Jubilee” function of branding in the Tehama County heading, click on “Jubilee ‘13 Tidings cattle industry and the modern “Tehama Coun- Newsletter.”This year’s event looks to be another try” branding movement going on in the county good one-a day filled with good “olde-time” today. My mid-summer night’s dream is that family fun. We invite everyone to put the Tehama you will pack up the kids or grandkids and County Museum’s Jubilee on their calendar for come early to the quiet little City of Tehama by all day September 7th. the Sacramento River, join us for breakfast, enjoy the live entertainment, browse the Chris Bauer, TCM President venders in the park, enjoy the art show, watch the fiber arts demos, and study the branding display in the Annex. And, while you’re there, ROUND BARN shop at Judy’s Country Store and maybe even have a family heirloom appraised. The Central Tehama Kiwanis Club will get us started with a “complete and balanced breakfast,” the Los The society is looking for a picture of the Molinos Women’s Club will be selling home- round barn that was on Kauffman Avenue in the made pie ala mode, and Jim and Nancy Fortier Dairyville area. The barn was built by the Morgan will be available with their 1926 Ford “Tin family in about 1941. If you can provide us with Lizzy” Model -T to take you for a ride. We are a copy please contact the society at P.O. Box also working getting vintage truck display lined 415, Red Bluff, CA 96080. up, and we will have a Civil War encampment under the trees in the west end of Habert Park, RED DOT? and the re-enactors are always ready to talk about their passion for history. Be sure to visit them. Every year the Tehama County business Does your mailing label on this newsletter community amazes us. This year we are thrilled have a red dot on it? If it does, it indicates that to announce the the Sierra Pacific Foundation our records show that you have not renewed your and the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of membership for 2013-2014, and this will be your Commerce are sponsoring a portion of the last newsletter. If you wish to renew please send event. A number of other businesses are supply- your dues plus $2.00 to cover the cost of the ing us with terrific prizes for our big raffle, and special mailing of your Memories booklet. we certainly want them to know that they are very much appreciated. The raffle is a very significant fundraiser for us, and we’d like ev-

4 TEHAMA COUNTY GENEALOGICAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFICERS LIFE MEMBERS President—————-——--Carol Mieske [email protected] Welcome to our newest life members Charlene Burch & Shirley Felder from 1st Vice-President————-——Jim Brink 2nd Vice-President—-————-Pat Brink Red Bluff, Donald Houghton from San Secretary———————Clarisse Cottier Francisco, and Butch Sartori from Treasurer——————Teresa Lindeman Anderson. Genealogy Chairman-—--Carol Mieske Membership Chairman—-—Sandy Tuttle Other life members are: Newsletter Chairman——--Sandy Tuttle Arthur Abbott, Anna Bahme, Chris Bauer, Chris Memories Editor———— Alice Jackson Bedell, Jerry Bedell, B. Lee Black, Lorna Bonham, Historian——————-Opal Mendenhall Linton A. Brown, Charles C. Burch, Marguerite Carpenter, Douglas Dale, Leonora Robbins DIRECTORS-at-LARGE Davidson, Elizabeth Dillabo-Mills, Alonzo H. Eaton, Jim Edwards, Glenn Felder, Leslie Floyd, Ann Arthur Abbott Descygne “Dee” Eskridge Forward, Richard Forward, Maylon Susan Friday, Gale Gilbert Marilynn Gittings, R. Judd Hanna, Neva Hardgrave, Gene Serr Melanie Headrick, William Hedden, Hilda Kay Willard Hendricks, Dennis Holliday, Alma Directors-Emeritus Hunerlach, Eletta Jacobson, Hub Johnson, Dave John Bedford Kinner, Christine Klukkert, Jarith (Jary) Kraft, Ken Dr. Marvin Locke Mildred Williams Lindauer, Teresa Stroing Lindeman, Targe Lindsay, Dee Linton, Marvin Locke, Marilyn Long, Gloria Maples, Jon W. Mathis, J. Rock McClellan, Maylene McCoach, Nancy McCullough, Everett G. McDonough, Jr., Opal Mendenhall, Betty Joe Morales, Margot O’Dell, Venita Philbrick, Ann C. Read, Hank Sandbach, Gene Serr, Martha Slade, Frank Spanfelner, JoAn Spanfelner, Dixie L. Stevenson, Carol Hall Sutherland, Kathryn Website: www.tcghsoc.org Thompson, Ray Wahl, Ren Wakefield, Dennis Whitehead, and Helen Young PHOEBE LARNE-Webmaster

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION REGULAR/BUSINESS MEETINGS Individual—————————-—-$15 Family————————————$20 Supporting——————————-$30 The next Regular/Business meetings Sustaining——————————--$50 of the society are Tuesday September 10 Life (per individual)——————$200 & Tuesday October 8, 6:30 at the Tehama Fiscal Year May 1 to April 30 County Library in Red Bluff . All interested members are encouraged to attend

5 CORNING FAMILY SEPTEMBER PROGRAM HISTORY FAIRE ISHI’S UNTOLD STORY The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Coroner Marguerite & Blackburn Saturday Sept. 14, 2014 Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 Free Open to the Public Author Richard Burrill presents Exhibits/displays Classes: “Ishi’s Untold Story: Reflections About the Beginning Genealogy Man Called Ishi” Using Family Search/Family Tree Using Ancestry.com 7 PM Red Bluff Community Center 8:00 - 8:30 Sign in, no pre-registration required 8:30 - 9:00 Opening Program 1500 S Jackson St Red Bluff, CA 96080 9:00 - 1:30 Classes For more information call (530) 824-2277

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