A long time ago I had a research request from the Huntington Library. It had to do with wealth, and they wanted to know everyone in Lassen County who had assessed value of assets of over $20,000 in 1880.  So off to the Assessor’s Office I go to examine the Assessment Roll for Lassen County for 1880.

There were six individuals. At the top of the list was Susanville merchant David Knoch at $30, 167. Knoch who came there in 1864, was not only a successful at his store, he found another lucrative venture—loaning money. It should be noted, there were no banks in the area, so it did not take long for people to learn who had money to lend. Knoch made sure there was collateral involved, usually in the form of a mortgage to real property.  Another Susanville merchant on the list was William Greehn, who operated in the same manner as Knoch.

The other big players were the ranching community. These consisted of James Byers of the Honey Lake Valley, Andrew Reavis of Big/Dixie Valleys and Jacob McKissick of Long Valley.

McKissick’s wealth was much larger than reported for Lassen County. McKissick had extensive land holdings not only throughout Lassen County, but Washoe County. McKissick’s owned such places in the latter as an obscure place in far northern Washoe such as Hole in the Ground, to well known Reno landmark known today as Rancho San Rafael Park.

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