In what seems like another life time, when I began my research, I interviewed many people on a regular basis. When I look back, there were quite a few individuals who were born in the 1880s. One of those was Alphozene Perry Terril, a granddaughter of Ben Leavitt (1835-1915). Leavitt is considered the father of the Susan River Irrigation System, best known today as Lassen Irrigation District. It began, in 1875, when Leavitt constructed a small reservoir, east of Johnstonville, known today as Leavitt Lake. One of the interesting anecdotes Alphozene relayed to me about her grandfather, was on occasion she made him breakfast—it consisted of two raw eggs put in a glass of rock & rye whiskey.
