Anna M. Stiles

Anna M. Stiles. Courtesy of Philip S. Hall
Anna M. Stiles. Courtesy of Philip S. Hall

Born Anna Marie Goumaz on July 22, 1839 and  was a small minority of German Swiss immigrants to Lassen County. By the 1890s, a second wave arrived, but from the Canton Ticino, better known as Swiss Italians, but that is another story. In 1851, her parents along with nine children migrated to the United States finally locating in Illinois.  In 1863, Anna and her two brothers, Philip and Isadore decided to go west and found a new home in the Honey Lake Valley. On March 10, 1864, Anna married rancher Lyman C. Stiles.

Life was good until the devastating winter of 1873-74. Due to heavy snows, sub-zero temperatures for long periods, it was estimated that over 75% of the livestock in the region perished.  Stiles was one of those ranchers who was hit hard. In 1875, Stiles sold his ranch and moved to Susanville and changed his occupation to capitalist, though he would have interest in ranching operations. It should be noted, there were no banks, but there were individuals who would loan money, and for collateral received a mortgage to real property. It turned out to be a very lucrative move for the Stiles family.

Anna and Lyman had five children: Alice, Laura, Stella, Marietta “Molly” and Lyman. All received formal college education, and the four daughters at one time or another were school teachers prior to their marriages.

In 1905, Lyman Stiles passed away. Anna followed in her husband’s footsteps and carried on with the financial business.  She did this for another decade , but for the most part it consisted of leasing and or selling of properties. It was the Gold Run property of 300 acres remained in the Stiles ownership for an unusually long time. Lyman had purchased it in 1904 for $6,000, from Margaret Blaisdell, who had inherited it.  Lyman, and then Anna leased at a rate of $500 per year. In one of her last transactions, on March 1, 1921, she sold the Gold Run property to Robert Satica for $12,000.

In the last few years of her life, she made her home with her son, Lyman. She passed away in Susanville on New Year’s Eve, 1929.

Note: The current location of Sacred Heart Church was purchased from Anna Stiles. Where Monsignor Moran Hall is located, was the site of the Stiles residence.

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2 thoughts on “Anna M. Stiles”

  1. Hi Tim
    This must be the same stiles that had the ranch in Milford? Claude Harwood had it and we bought from Claude , where our pit is?
    Was it stiles that built the house that’s there now ? About 1864 when Lyman stiles came? Thanks Irene

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