In 2017 when I conducted the Lassen County Courthouse Centennial Cemetery Tour I wanted to include the grave of Lassen County Clerk Maud Tombs. I was prudent in the grave selection, because I had no idea what the attendance would be. If it was large, which it was, I wanted the selected graves easily accessible and eliminate as much possible potential hazardous features such as grave copings. Maud’s unfortunately did not fit into the easy accessible category.

Maud Edna Long was born on May 2, 1875, in Susanville, the eldest of ten children of John and Margaret Long. By the time she was born, her family already had an influence in the region’s history. The town of Longville in Humbug Valley, Plumas County, was named for her grandfather, William B. Long back in 1861.

On August 3, 1897, Maud married George L. Tomb. He was a native of New York and came to Susanville in 1890, no doubt influenced by the Pardee family, relatives of his. In 1898, George entered the politcal arena and ran for Lassen County Clerk and won. In 1902, he ran for a second term and was elected. Going for a third term, the voters rejected him and he was replaced by George Bassett. For whatever reasons, in early 1907, George sold his furniture/undertaking business and moved his wife Maud, and two daughters, Nadene and Gladys to Red Bluff. It did not take long for Maud to discover her husband’s dark side, a gambling problem. Before 1907 concluded Maud left him and returned to Susanville with their two daughters. Upon her return there was a distinct little name change in her last name, an “s” was added and she was now Maud Tombs.

In 1918, Maud decided to run for Lassen County Clerk against the incumbent George Bassett who had defeated her husband. Joining her on the ballot was Robert Kyle of Westwood and Elmer Winchell of Standish. The primary held on August 27 showed it was a race between Bassett with 73 votes and Maud with 66, the other two candidates combined only garnered 25 votes. The general election was a close race, and a problematic one on reaching out to the voters due to the outbreak of the Spanish influenza. Maud won the election with 991 votes with Bassett trailing at 976. Maud would go on to be elected seven more times. In 1951, she was succeeded by her daughter Nadene Wemple who would serve four terms as Lassen County Clerk.

Two final notes. Maud was the first woman elected to a county wide office. Secondly, for over a century a woman has always been elected county clerk.

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Today, residents in far northern California will go the polls in a special election to elect a new State Senator. Having worked elections for many moons, so I want to give a special thanks to all the poll workers that make it possible.

With that in mind, here is a bit of local election history.  The race for Lassen County Supervisor, District No. 2 was a cliffhanger. On Thursday after the November 1936 election, incumbent Seymour Case had 1,055 votes and challenger, former Lassen County Sheriff Jim Leavitt had 1,026 votes. There were still ninety absentee ballots to be counted. When the final count was tallied Leavitt won by two votes—1094 to Case 1092.

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If you have been following the national news, then you aware of the Virginia governor linked to a “black face photograph” in his college yearbook.

So you maybe thinking, what does this have to do with Lassen County history.  In the annals of its history, it is something that was part of the culture across the country over a century ago. Take for instance that on Thanksgiving Day 1900, the Milford Dramatic Club held its first entertainment—a Coon Dance.  While attendees were not required to dawn a “black face,” those who wanted to participate in the “Cake Walk” were required. The cost for attendees was $2.00 that included a midnight supper, and to pay for Susanville’s Pastime Orchestra, who provided the music.

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It should be duly noted, that Thomas Newton Long (1833-1917) is not related to the other Long family of Susanville. It is somewhat similar to the Doyle Doyles and the Milford Doyles, as they are not related, just makes things confusing.

This Alabama native came to Susanville in 1861 and with A.R. Leroy operated a saloon. He would have a colorful career in county politics when in the fall of 1867 he was elected sheriff of Lassen County and re-elected in 1868. In 1871 he ran for county treasurer and lost. In 1874 he was elected Lassen County Supervisor, District 1. In 1877, he was elected county treasurer and served one term.  In 1882, he was elected Supervisor District 1 and remained in that capacity until 1900. Outside of county government he operated a livery stable and had a family of fourteen children. On footnote, the location of the livery stable, would later become the Telephone Building, and also the first location of Safeway.

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