In the spring of 1874, Iowa resident, Sylvester Daniels (1828-1908) left his home in Iowa to travel west, specifically near Janesville, Lassen County, California where his sister, Polly Parks resided.  He was in search of a new home, with a more desirable climate for him and his family. During his ventures, he kept a daily journal, which once full of entries he sent back to his family about the findings of this unfamiliar territory. Like so many, of that era, he kept a journal most of his life.

In the fall of 1875, Daniels went north of investigate Surprise Valley, Modoc County. He spent a couple of days in Cedarville and this was his observation of that frontier community:  “Cedarville is a quiet little town. There is one steam flouring mill, one store, two hotels, two harness shops one tin and stove store, one blacksmith and wagon shop and one saloon, the latter I consider no credit to any town.

”I think the land here is great deal better than the Honey Lake Valley and a great deal more of it and can be had for less money and as near as I can learn the climate is about the same. It is newer, the land is not worn out so much here..”

In the end Daniels decided to locate in Surprise Valley. In December 1875 he acquired some land at Lake City,  He moved his family and would remain there the rest of his life, and descendants still reside in the region.

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