In 1863, Arkansas native, George Washington Long came to Lassen County. His brothers, Arthur and William had already settled there, and a fourth brother, John would follow.
George first settled on Atlas Fredonyer’s abandoned ranch in Mountain Meadows. Three years later, he located to Devil’s Corral and shortly thereafter married Ermina Wright. In the fall of 1869, Long along with his brother-in-law, Carson Wright, John W. Tuttle and Roscoe F. Gates filed land claims to Dixie Valley, in the northwestern portion of Lassen County, and were the first people to do so. The following year, Long sold his Devil’s Corral property to Morgan and William Williams for $2,300. In 1872, Long sold his Dixie Valley holdings for $5,350 and relocated to Susanville.*
Back in Susanville, Long operated a butcher/meat market among other things. He dabbled in some real estate matters and invested in some mining ventures on Diamond Mountain. All these ventures paid off well for Long and his family were enjoying the “finer things in life.” In March 1894, Long experienced some major health issues and it was finally determined that a psoas abscess had developed in his lower back. This required constant care and the administering of various drugs to offset the pain. Within a short time frame he was dead.
In the findings of the coroner’s inquest of March 16, 1894: “We find that the remote cause of death resulted from a psoas abscess and the immediate cause of death appear to be clouded in mystery and we recommend the proper authorities to make a rigid investigation.” Within a month’s time, his widow, Ermina was charged with murder of poisoning her husband. She was acquitted. After everything was done, she sold all her husband’s properties and moved to San Francisco never to return to Susanville. She died in 1905.
*The Williams Brothers will be featured in upcoming. post.