An item that I always find intriguing is what prompted a person to locate here whether they arrived five years ago or one hundred fifty years ago. Take for instance long time Willow Creek Valley rancher, Ben Neuhaus. A German immigrant, for Neuhaus it was the gold fields of Australia that lured him away from his native soil. Like others before and after him, the elusive riches were not to be found. In 1860, he left Australia for California, locating in Yolo County and returned to farming as his father had done. For reasons unknown, in 1864, he relocated to Honey Lake Valley. In the fall of 1865, Neuhaus found a permanent home in Willow Creek Valley. He remained there until 1902, when he retired from ranching and moved to Susanville where he passed away in 1915.

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