In 1873, the Murrer family located at Round Valley, between Susanville and Willow Creek Valley. On September 24, 1898, Joseph Eddy sold the meadows to the Murrer Brothers–Jacob and edward–for $1,200. Jacob “Jake” resided at the meadows that the family referred to as the Upper Ranch. Jake is best known for an event that occurred there. On September 2, 1907, Jake literally blew up the five-room house he was living in. This feat was accomplished with twenty-five pounds of dynamite. The dynamite had been stored at the nearby Eagle Lake tunnel works of Merrill & Marker. When questioned about the explosion, Jake professed ignorance and stated he was lying on the sofa when the blast occurred. However, this could not be, as nothing remained but shattered pieces of the house with pieces of the fabric from the sofa hanging on the nearby cottonwood trees.
Three days later, Jake found himself in the Lassen County Superior Courtroom for an examination of his mental competency. His mother, Franceska Neuhaus had filed for guardianship of her son. It was decided, in Jake’s best interest, that he receive some form of treatment. Judge Frank A. Kelley committed Jake to the Napa State Insane Asylum for a period of six months. Franceska was appointed the guardian of his real and personal property that was valued at $3,500.
On April 18, 1908, a court hearing was held to determine whether Jake was mentally competent. The Judge declared Jake was. However, Jake had to pay restitution costs for this episode–$128.55 to the Superior Court, $75 to the Napa Asylum, and $161.28 to the County Sheriff for care and transporting him! Now that Jake had his wits back, he returned to the family ranch at Willow Creek Valley. In 1909, Jake relinquished his one-half ownership in the Upper Ranch to his sister-in-law, Mary S. Murrer. The property remains today as a part of the Murrer Ranch.
