Yesterday’s topic concerning Shaffer Mountain, spills over today concerning a natural feature on its western flank.
Every region has its cast of colorful, eccentric or bizarre characters. Isaac Coulthurst would make an interesting case study. He arrived in the Honey Lake Valley in the spring of 1857 and settled in what would later become the Belfast District. Among his firsts, was on September 23, 1857 he married Mary Jane Duvall, the first Anglo wedding in the Honey Lake Valley.
In 1873 Coulthurst stated that the Lord commanded him to go to the top of this hill. Coulthurst held communion with the Lord in a cave there. He spent a portion of the winter in that cave. Coulthurst stated it was warmed by supernatural heat, but the cave became unbearably hot in the summer. It was then that he discarded his name of Coulthurst and changed his name to the “Second Coming of Christ.” His wife, Mary, had him declared insane. Twice he was placed in mental institutions, each time he spent only a few months. In 1881, a third examination was held on his competency. The courts two examining physicians stated he was fine in all aspects, especially keen in business dealings. They admitted to his religious peculiarity but did not think he would derive any benefit from being institutionalized. After that court hearing, the court proceeded with the divorce proceedings that had been filed by his wife and the court approved it. Coulthurst agreed to the divorce and to pay alimony, but would not divide the property with her. Coulthurst’s refusal to divide the ranch property was based on his belief that it would be the site of a new Jerusalem. Coulthurst contended that a large city would be built there, the streets paved with gold. In 1893, Coulthurst transferred the ranch to his son, Henry, with the provision that his son clothe, feed, maintain, and support him during his natural life. Coulthurst signed the deed “Christ the Lord.”
Some attribute Coulthurst’s odd behavior from his discovery and recovery of the drowned body of the frenchman Harry Gordier in 1858. In 2020, there are people who are still intrigued of the story of Gordier and his gold. That aside, Coulthurst died in 1919, at the age of 95 and was the first person buried in the Lassen Cemetery. Even with all their marital strife, his wife, Mary was buried next to him.
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