It was some what prevalent in the late 1800s, that titles were bestowed to individuals–after all San Francisco had Emperor Norton.

Take case that Susanville’s namesake, Susan Roop Arnold (1841-1921). She came there in 1862, and in 1864 she married Alex Arnold. While she kept a low profile,  it was her benevolence to others of the community that she was affectionally known as “Aunt Susie.” At Janesville, there was “Uncle Johnny” Baxter (1812-1880), whom Baxter Creek is named for and shared same traits of Susan Arnold.

The title Colonel is a perplexing one. In 1864, Benjamin Leavitt (1835-1915) who settled in the Honey Lake Valley. Through years someone applied Colonel to  his name and it stuck. Captain William Weatherlow, (1814-1864 ) a self-proclaimed Indian fighter, was not affiliated any military institution. The same with Captain C.A. Merrill (1838-1901) who spent his life attempting to tap Eagle Lake  as a supply of irrigation a reclamation project he had dreamed. Oddly enough yours truly has been called Captain and even Doctor, though the latter appellation is an amusing tale.

Tim

While I have addressed this topic before, a reader sent the above 1908 postcard. He was wondering if this ws how the Russian immigrants of the Madeline Plains conducted their rabbit drives.  There were several methods, many with common theme or driving the rabbits into a fence enclosure. The rabbits were either clubbed or shot to death.

In 1920, the residents of the Madeline Plains requested aid from their Congressman John E. Raker, to help them with the jack rabbit problem. A study sent to Raker reported: “As soon as the crops are up and making good progress the rabbits begin work on them. The heaviest damage is done in August. One rancher reported losing 100 acres of wheat last summer. They take this crop in preference to oats and rye. It was reported that 70 tons of rabbit meat [to make tamales] had been shipped to the San Francisco market. It appears that the animals cannot be killed fast enough in this region to furnish relief to the ranches.”

One of the reasons for the proliferation of jack rabbits was that in 1891 California passed a bounty on coyotes at five dollars each. Thus, one of the rabbits predators was eliminated.

On March 10, 1932 a rabbit drive was held at Milford and an observer wrote: “Blooey! and another jack rabbit bit the dust! In fact 1200 rabbits pulled this little trick as some 30 marksmen armed with shotguns blazed away continuously all day in a big rabbit drive. The drive was one of the most successful ever held in the valley. The drive started at the Harwood ranch and covered about a two-mile area. With the termination of the drive, a lunch was served to the hunters by various ladies of the community.

“Smoking gun barrels and black and blue arms were quite apparent throughout the day. Those participating were thoroughly pleased with the results and voted the occasion as most enjoyable form of hunter’s sport.”

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For many Christmas a special time year to spread happiness and joy. Yet, for some the Christmas cheer is not. Usually, but not always, a tragic event has happened, and a family member passed away during the holidays.

This happened to Long Valley residents. Albert and Mary Ross. On December 23, 1881, they lost six year old daughter, Rosie Arrowsmith Ross. Her death announcement included the following statement: “Rosie the bright flower of the flock is gone. She died of the dread disease typhoid pneumonia. She was buried near her home on Christmas day, in a shady nook of oak trees overlooking the valley, where a mother’s hand will care for it. Many kind friends assisted and attended the funeral.”

It should be noted that Ross Ranch would later became known Constantia.

Tim

It is nearing the end of year, so I can wrap up dumpster diving tales. This is a peculiar tale. In the late 1970s and early 1980s the Lassen County Clerk’s Office was discarding historic records left and right. While I expressed my displeasure to the powers to be, it was a fruitless effort.  Instead of being confrontal, I was passive. It worked wonders. By the early 1980s, that office have discarded over 70% of its archives dating back to 1864, but I was able to salvage most of them.

In 1912, Susan Roop Arnold donated her father’s land register to the County Clerk for safe keeping. Isaac Roop’s Land Register is the oldest document of the area, where individual in 1855 began to file their land claim. The book had been tucked away in a drawer and ignored. In fact, no one knew in the office, of its historical significance. For over forty years I have been the custodian this register. Ultimately, much of my archives, this included, its future home will be lodged at Special Collections, University of Nevada, Reno, there being no safe and secure facility in Susanville.

Tim

Chinese cooks on large ranches were common the late 1800s and early 1900s. This is one of many stories about Chin Sin Yu, known to many as Chinaman Joe Folsom. Joe worked as the cook on the Folsom Ranch, in Willow Creek Valley, north of Susanville and now a State Wildlife Refuge during 1890s and early 1900s.  Joe  possessed many skills. As Mary Dale Folsom recounted, “It amazes me how Joe found time to do all the things he did. Not only was he the cook, but he had a garden and raised chickens and ducks. He made feather pillows from the duck and goose down. When they were shorthanded he would also get on a horse and help cowboy.” However, he was also known for his skills as a telegraph/telephone operator, that Folsom has installed at the ranch.

Mary Dale wrote: “A wealthy man from the Bay Area, I believe his name was Butters, had some cattle on the Folsom Ranch at Willow Creek. that my grandfather [M.O. Folsom] was feeding for the winter. Mr. B was an avid duck hunter and belonged to an exclusive duck club in the Bay Area. Joe was an excellent duck shot and had a well trained dog. Mr. Butters came up to the ranch at my grandfather’s invitation to hunt ducks. when he arrived, everyone was busy, so Grampy sent Joe to hunt with Mr. Butters. Afterwards Mr. Butters told Grampy he had been rather insulted to have the Chinese cook sent with him. Mr. B. had an expensive shotgun and a professionally trained purebred retriever. Joe had an ordinary shotgun and his dog was not purebred. After they had been shooting for sometime, the ducks were thick and Joe let Mr. B. do all the shooting. Mr. B. had been able only to bag a few and his dog had not worked well. Joe’s dog did most of retrieving. Joe was getting nervous as it was becoming late and he had to get back to ranch and get dinner. He started shooting and bagged a bunch of ducks to make the hunt successful. Mr. B. was completely amazed and impressed with Joe’s shooting and his dog. He asked Grampy if he could take Joe down to his duck club and show the other members what a super shot and good dog were like. Grampy was afraid the members  would make fun of Joe and hurt his feelings so he said they were too busy to let Joe go. Not long after Mr. B. sent Joe an imported English shotgun and a green English Shootingsuit. Joe was thrilled and proudly wore his suit whenever he went hunting. As I remember father [Lou Folsom] said it was quite elaborate and included knicker type breeches. He said it was too bad they didn’t have a picture of Joe in his English regalia.”

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