January has been an interesting month, especially research wise. While working on a story about noted archaeologist Francis Riddell, I came across something he compiled that escaped my attention. It was account of the Papoose Massacre of 1866 that was relayed to him by Kitty Joaquin. There are three versions, which will be explored in the future.

While doing some research on Marion May Hapgood, born 1902 at Likely (her parents owned the South Fork Hotel), I came across an article about how Stover Mountain was in eruption at the same time as Lassen Peak. Then I was re-reading Marion’s grandfather Eber Bangham’s 1906 biography. This has the earliest history of Granite Creek Station. Then, in turn, I remembered that Thomas Bare who owned the nearby Deep Hole Station, also owned the meadow at Granite Creek. More about that in the future.

In the course of all of this, the Milford Cemetery pops up. According to Asa Fairfield, Mrs. Mary Harris was the first person buried there in 1867. However, in that cemetery is a marker for Philip Wales who died on June 6, 1864. Both Wales and Jacob Boody were found dead in proximity of each other, and case was never solved., Again more on that in the future.

One topic, has a way of mushrooming into several, and its an interesting journey.

Tim

This was a short-lived station on the Nobles Emigrant Trail. It was located a few miles east of present day Gerlach, Nevada. During the 1850s, stations/trading post along Nobles were few and far between. This was particularly the case through the Smoke Creek and Black Rock Deserts. A lot of this was attributed to hostilities between the Indians and Anglos, which culminated into the Pyramid Lake War of 1860.

This changed in the early 1860s with the discovery of the Humboldt mines that created such towns as Star City and Unionville. With the increased traffic on the route, Lucius Arcularius and Andrew Litch saw a lucrative opportunity to establish an outpost at Granite Creek in 1862.

In early March 1865, Arcularius left Granite Creek for a trip to Susanville.  He did not make it very far, being ambushed by Indians only several miles to west of Granite Creek. When he was a no show in Susanville, a posse went in search and found his body covered by brush, his clothing removed. Arcularius’ body was brought back to Susanville for burial.

A few weeks later, Litch needed to leave the Granite Creek Station to handle some of his late partner’s affairs. Litch recruited A.J. Curry, Cyrus Creele and Al Simmons. Some time around April 1, 1865 witnessed what was referred to as the “Granite Creek Butchery”.  All three men stationed at Granite Creek were slain by the Indians and the station burned down.  A complete account can be found in Asa Fairfield’s Pioneer History of Lassen County.  Litch would relocate in the Honey Lake Valley, where he remained until 1883, when he moved to Reno, though he retained his ranch, where his daughter and son-in-law Clara and B.F. Gibson would reside.

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