In the spring of 1874, Iowa resident Sylvester Daniels came to Janesville to spend some time with sister Polly Parks. The primary reason for the journey was to inspect the country as possible relocation of is family. He kept daily journals, whether such entries was done doing. chores, but equally important was the observations of people and places.
On his first visit to Susanville he wrote on June 9, 1874: “There are some pretty good looking ranches along the Susan River. Susanville is the County Seat of Lassen County. They can boast all they are mind to of this country, but it not here. So far as I have seen there is very small portion of this country that has a soil. All that the greatest part is good for is what mineral can be got out of it and the climate. There is million acres good for nothing so far as man can see, only to hold the world together. It looks to me that here is about as many folks in this valley, it will support..”
In December 1875, Daniels liked what he saw up north in Surprise Valley He relocated there, died in at Lake City in 1908. His descendants still reside there.
Tim