PETER LASSEN NEW EVIDENCE FOUND News from the President

Volume 35, Number 2 Red Bluff, California November/December 2015

PETER LASSEN News from the President NEW EVIDENCE FOUND The Society is very excited to let you know that Please join us on Thursday, November we have been able to obtain a complete listing of 12th, at 7 pm in the West Room of the Red all interred at both Oak Hill and St. Mary's Bluff Community Center for a new cemeteries on our web page. It lists names, presentation by historian Dave Freeman on the location of grave, birth, death and interment dates works of Peter Lassen as he developed his and will be a very valuable tool for those rancho on the banks of Deer Creek near the researchers attempting to find this information, present-day town of Vina. especially if they visit the cemetery on a weekend A self-proclaimed “amateur” or after hours. Go to our home page archaeologist, Freeman has a impressive body of www.tcghsoc.org and click on "Up Dated". If you work and is a columnist for the Colusi County need a map click on "Cemeteries" then on "Red Historical Society. This spring he was invited to Bluff Oak Hill". speak about his continuing research on Lassen at When you visit our web page check out and the California-Nevada Chapter OCTA (Oregon- download the Tehama County Museum Flyer. California Trails Assoc.) symposium. This is a helpful flyer that has a list of nine Dave is known for his uniting of records museums in Tehama County, their address and research with extensive boots-on-the-ground contact information. On the back it lists Points of field investigation. Interest and Tehama County Fairs & Historians now have been hard at work Festivals.This is compiled by the Tehama County examining the land near Deer Creek and on the Heritage & Historical Records Commission. grounds of Vina Monastery looking for remains of Lassen’s presence. It is well known that We are so excited to find out about a new link to Lassen went back to Missouri and his party Red Bluff Daily News digital Newspapers, returned with a charter to establish a Masonic available online at www.cdnc.ucr.edu Lodge and that he wished to establish a town called Benton City. Just type in "Red Bluff Daily News" in the search Has Benton been found and it and did it engine. These records are from 5 May 1892 thru have a building meant to be the first Masonic 30 Dec 1922. Lodge in California? How did Lassen modify the flow of Deer Creek to fit his needs? The new owners of the Red Bluff Women's Club house on Rio Street, now The Prescott, is looking This promises to be a provocative program. for old Photos, memorabilia, history, and the minutes of the club. If you have any of these or know anyone who does, please write to me at Carol Mieske, P.O. Box 415, Red Bluff, Ca 96080

1 WIDOW WILSON FIELD year after her husband died in Red Bluff. It is surprising that she was a widow for only a year. One of the interesting names on the Her estate was divided evenly among the seven maps of the western foothills of Tehama County children. Her daughter, Ida M. Jobe, was given is Widow Wilson Field, about 24 miles west of sole title to the property in discussion in 1925. Red Bluff (T28N, R7W, Sec. 28). This name is It was apparently sold to P. Hoff, et al, in 1926. listed in Durham’s Place Names of California’s It is currently owned by Bentley Ranch, North Sacramento Valley, 2001, which includes headquartered in Minton, Nevada, as part of all of the geographic features named on the U.S their 50,000 acres of grazing land in Northern Geological Survey quadrangle maps, generally California and Nevada. considered the final authority. So who was Inquiry to the Board of Geographic Widow Wilson and why is this field forever Names tells us that the first USGS map on which named for her? the name Widow Wilson Field appears is the On the 1887 Official County Map we find 1949 edition of the Colyear Springs, CA, that this section (Sec. 28) was owned by Mrs. E. 1:62,500 map. In the course of collecting names M. Wilson. Since it was not common for for such maps, the USGS field man verifies the property to be held in the wife’s name in those name, spelling, and location of such local days, this may be a clue that Mrs. Wilson was features with local residents. He is not required possibly independently wealthy. In the deed to note anything about the names, or even the records at the Courthouse we find that Mrs. names of the individuals he spoke to, unless Wilson of Sacramento bought this property as there is a controversy. So when the 1949 USGS high bidder at the sale of the estate of J. N. map was being prepared in 1945, local Montgomery in 1882. This section was part of a residents must have agreed that the name group of properties in Tehama, Butte, and should be Widow Wilson Field. Since Widow Glenn Counties for which she apparently paid Wilson became a widow in 1923, the name $2,280 (at least $50,000 today). Mrs. Wilson could have been used locally since that time was not your stereotypical “poor widow trying despite changes in ownership. Since the Wilson to scrape by.” She was apparently a wealthy family sold the property in 1926, it is surprising person who could afford to invest in property. that the name Widow Wilson Field stuck even No structure was ever built on the field. though it was owned by Mrs. E. M. Wilson as a Confusingly, there are a Wilson Field and widow for only a year, 1923-24. It appears that a Wilson Flat a few miles northwest of Widow the name Widow Wilson Field is probably on Wilson Field, but no connection to the E. M the maps forever because Mrs. Elias M. Wilson Wilson family has been found. In addition, a owned the property for 43 years (1882-1925) Wilson School existed a few miles southwest in and the name is a way to distinguish it from the 1911-15, but again there appears to be no nearby Wilson Field and Wilson Flat, once connection to the E. M. Wilson family. owned by a different Wilson family. Unfortunately, Wilson is a common surname. Gene Serr In Lingenfelter’s Tehama County Pioneers we find that Mrs. Martha Ellen (Crumrine) Wilson was born in Pennsylvania in 1849, married Elias McCarty Wilson in 1869, and came to California in 1876. She had seven "If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you children, three born in Illinois and four in may as well make it dance." - George Bernard California. She died in Corning in 1924, one Shaw

2 HACKING MILLENNIALS problem, solution, and how it works as follows:

The Problem This was the title of the workshop at the Millennials now make up the largest Fall Symposium, Conference of California percentage of the population and average out Historical at just 23 years old. How can your historical Societies, October 16, Old City Hall, Redding. It societies attract and sustain relationships with means reaching the millennials, roughly the 15- this group? 35-year-olds, part of the perennial problem of most historical societies—how to get more The Solution young people involved. #Hacking, created by the independent The workshop was put on by the three firm Museum Hack and adapted by the Shasta young staff members of the Shasta Historical Historical Society, utilizes proven and simple Society, led by Kara Downing, Curator of steps to create a Millennial program that serves Education. The Shasta Society is fortunate in to develop new audience relationships being large enough to have such people. sustainable over time. Because of them the Society has adapted a program called #Hacking, created by an How It Works independent firm in New York called Museum Step 1—Online Engagement Hack, formed in 2013. Museum Hack *Those who cannot or will not specializes in museum tours for people who come through the door don’t like museums, particularly millennials. *Those who are uncomfortable Basically, their technique is to make the tour visiting more interesting by “presenting an alternative Step 2—In-Person Interaction spin…featuring other sides to the story…some *Social groups of the strangest, wildest, sexiest stories hidden *Off the streets throughout the museum.” *Self-guided tours The workshop also emphasized that the *Creating a conversation use of social media, particularly Facebook and Step 3—Tying It Together Twitter, gives societies a better chance than *Never-ending conversation ever before to tap into millennials. Larger *Social gathering place societies are slowly realizing that they need a Twitter Facebook account to help counteract some Instagram notion that their work and the related work of Facebook museums is boring, irrelevant, and lacks entertainment. The workshop hand-out said that millennials expect to; * Be part of the conversation (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) * Find more information online (QR Genealogists are time travelers Codes) * Be a VIP and access “behind the Genealogists love to branch out scenes information” (Curator blogs, short films) Genealogy - Life in the Past Lane!

The workshop hand-out summarized the

3 The Lassen Peak Eruptions and Their immediate area of devastation. Lingering Legacy In Alan’s words: In 1975, I completed my thesis titled The Lassen Peak Eruptions and Their Lingering Legacy. In 1983, William Hutchinson, the former distinguished Date: November 7, 2015 Professor Emeritus of history from Chico State, who had been on my committee, contacted me. He was a Time: 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. board member of the Northern California Records Where: 2565 Zanella Way, Chico, CA 95928 (Shelley and Research Society, and told me that this Anderson’s Creative Catering)(from Hwy 99 take organization wanted to publish my work in its Skyway exit to Paradise, turn right onto Zanella Way original form. and go to the end) Over the years, my publication became a useful Menu: Garden salad with two dressings resource at colleges and universities, local libraries, and historical societies. But it was never widely Dinner rolls and butter circulated and, for the most part, largely forgotten.

Fresh fruit salad One spring morning earlier this year (while I was in Italy AND getting ready to climb Mt. Vesuvius that Tortellini with butternut squash morning, believe it or not), I received an email by ANCHR (formerly Northern California Records and Chicken Parmesan Research Society) with a proposal to reprint the Ice tea/coffee/ice water work. I was genuinely interested. And when they told me they wanted to market the work to reach a The Association for Northern California Historical larger audience and that it would include Research (ANCHR) invites you and your guests to photographs, my interest turned to ecstatic attend the 2015 ANCHR annual meeting and enthusiasm! luncheon. We welcome your help in spreading the word to your membership and others who may be The 1914-15 eruption received sensational and very interested. exaggerated national coverage. This book sets the story straight. It was my great fortune and privilege Speaker: Alan Willendrup has rewritten his ANCHR to interview a number of eyewitnesses to the published book, The Lassen Peak Eruptions and eruptions in 1975, sixty years later. Their vivid Their Lingering Legacy, which has been completely recollections of this geological milestone brought revised to add photos heretofore unseen. He will my narrative to life and were the real “meat and speak on his experiences of writing this work 40 potatoes” of the book. They are all gone now, but years ago and revising it this year. their spirits and memories live on in the pages of my work. Forty years ago, Alan Willendrup, a Chico State Master’s student, wrote his thesis about the Lassen Peak eruptions 100 years ago. Alan concentrated on the human-interest stories at the time: Lance RSVP: $18 per person Graham’s near fatal encounter during one of the (Those wishing to participate in ANCHR Annual momentous eruptions, Elmer Sorahan’s mad dash at Meeting and Luncheon, should call or email Dave night through the Hat Creek valley to warn residents Brown(530-521-0398, of the impending mud flow, B.F. Loomis and his now ([email protected]) to make famous photographs of Lassen, and the effects the reservations and arrange to pay by mail or at the blasts and mudflows had on the families living in the door.

4 GENEALOGICAL & Family———————————— $20 HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFICERS Supporting——————————-$30 Sustaining LIFE—————————— MEMBERS--$50 President—————-—————--Carol Life (per individual)——————$200 Mieske Arthur Abbott, Chris Bauer, Chris Bedell, [email protected] Jerry Bedell, B. Lee Black, Linton A. Brown, Charlene Burch, Charles C. Burch, Marguerite 1st Vice-President————————-Doug Carpenter, Richard Crooker, Douglas Dale, Leonora Dale Robbins Davidson, Elizabeth Dillabo-Mills, Alonzo 2nd Vice-President——-—-————Josie H. Eaton, Jim Edwards, Glenn Felder, Shirley Smith Felder, Leslie Floyd, Ann Forward, Richard Secretary—————-———--—Clarisse Forward, Maylon Susan Friday, Janey Gibson, Cottier Marilynn Gittings, R. Judd Hanna, Jean Hanson, Neva Hardgrave, Melanie Headrick, William Treasurer—————————Teresa Hedden, Hilda Kay Willard Hendricks, Dennis Lindeman Genealogy Chairman—————— Holliday, Donald Houghton, Alma Hunerlach, Eletta -Carol Mieske Jacobson, Hub Johnson, Dave Kinner, Christine Membership Chairman—--————-Sandy Klukkert, Jarith (Jary) Kraft, Ken Lindauer, Teresa Tuttle Stroing Lindeman, Targe Lindsay, Dee Linton, Newsletter Chairman———--———Sandy Marilyn Long, Gloria Maples, Jon W. Mathis, Tuttle Maylene McCoach, Nancy McCullough, Everett G. Memories Editor—————— ——-Josie McDonough, Jr., Opal Mendenhall, Betty Joe Smith Morales, Margot O’Dell, Venita Philbrick, Ann C. Read, Hank Sandbach, Butch Sartori, Carol Sartori, Historian——-——-————--Opal Gene Serr, Carole J. Sobke, Frank Spanfelner, JoAn Mendenhall Spanfelner, Dixie L. Stevenson, Carol Hall Events————-—-—————-——Art Sutherland, Kathryn Thompson, Ray Wahl, Millicent Abbott Waits, Ren Wakefield, Dennis Whitehead, and Helen Young DIRECTORS-at-LARGE

Carolyn Barber Janey Gibson Gale Gilbert Alice Jackson IN MEMORIUM-LIFE MEMBER Maurice Ness Dixie L. Stevenson Gene Serr Directors-Emeritus John Bedford Pat Felthouse Mildred Williams REGULAR/BUSINESS MEETINGS Website: www.tcghsoc.org

PHOEBE DEAN LARNE-Webmaster The next Regular/Business meeting of the society will be Tuesday, November 10, 6:30 at the Tehama County Library in Red Bluff. All

interested members are encouraged to MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION attend.

Individual—————————-—-$15 There will be no meeting in

5 New Book- Pictorial History of the Lassen Volcano by B. F. Loomis. $34.50. GENEALOGICAL DIGGINS Reprinted from his earlier book. Available at the Loomis Museum at Manzanita Lake and the Lassen Park Visitor Center at the south entrance. Also at the Book Barn in Red Bluff. Birth record - Francis Frank Gilmore Death record - Hiram McMillian, Samuel ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Amond Saffell Marriage record - Charles Kerr & Cecelia We are looking for the history and Norvall minutes of the Women's Club house on Rio St. Looking for - Indentured Indian list 1860s It is now the Prescott. If anyone has any information or knows of any past members, Looking for history of the old adobe at 15 please call Carol Mieske 527-6677 Gilmore Road. Ramburg's Auto Court in 1950s- 1960s. Now called River's Edge RV Park