Sutter-Yuba County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
 
JAMES BROWN
 
            Born in Humboldt county, Nevada, on March 19, 1875, James Brown is 
the son of Joseph Brown, whose death, in 1916, was widely lamented.  He was a 
real Argonaut, and came across the great plains and mountains with his parents 
in 1849, as one of an ox-team wagon train of 500 men, women and children. 
Grandfather and Grandmother Brown, themselves, had six children in their family. 
 They set out on May 15, and camped for the first time in California on October 
25, at the base of  Table Mountain.  There were 110 wagons, and there were also 
horse and mule-teams.  The train traveled from fifteen to twenty miles a day, 
and the emigrants saw large herds of buffalo, and narrowly escaped trouble with 
the Indians who had attacked the train just ahead of them, at which time 
eighteen of the redmen were killed.
            Joseph Brown�s first mining experience was on the Feather River, 
when his first day�s work netted him thirty dollars.  There he met General 
Bidwell, and Mr. Brown and his family spent the winter there.  At that time, he 
paid $1.50 per pound for flour, $7.50 for a paper of needles and two spools of 
thread, $28.00 per pair of rubber boots.  From $100 to $150 per day was made in 
washing pan-gold, every day except Sunday.  The next camp was at Forbestown; and 
there he mined for James Forbes, and remained until the spring of 1852.  Then he 
removed to Sutter County and located near Captain Sutter�s place, now Hock Farm. 
 In the winter of 1852, he removed to Yuba City, a lively camp with two stores 
and two saloons; two ferry-boats in the river carried passengers from Yuba City 
to Marysville for $1.00 for the round trip.  Marysville was then the best 
business town on the Coast; from ten to fifteen big freight teams left daily 
with supplies for the miners, and there were from six to eight horse-stages.  
Most of the freight came to Marysville by water, from five to six boats making 
regular trips.  Marysville had the first State Fair which was held in 1853; and 
Captain Sutter, Major Bidwell, Peter Lassen and Kit Carson attended.
            In 1854, the family moved to West Butte, and there �Joe� Brown 
remained for a number of years, working on the stock range for Esquire Hamlin, 
who had large herds of cattle in the hills.  In 1862, he went to Nevada, on 
account of the silver excitement.  Later still he engaged in the cattle industry 
for himself, and he was also in the butcher business in Battle Mountain.  In the 
autumn of 1880, he closed out his cattle and sheep business and returned to Yuba 
County, where he bought the Fort Hawley place, near Olive Hill, and remained 
there until the Fall of 1888, when he sold out and came to Marysville.  Joseph 
Brown had married Melissa Sadorus, a native of San Diego, Cal., born November 
26, 1850. Her parents had come from Champaign County, Ill., across the plains in 
1849, by the Southern route to San Diego.  Two years later they came on to Butte 
County, where they settled on Rock Creek.  In 1882 Mr. Sadorus returned to 
Illinois and there he passed away October 13, 1915.  Joseph Brown died in 
Marysville in the fall of 1916, in his seventy-second year; while his widow 
still makes her home in this city.  Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Joseph Brown, nine of whom are still living:  Minnie is Mrs. Lynch of Seattle; 
Frank lives in Yuba County; Edward is in Sutter County; James, of whom we write; 
Miss May Brown lives in Marysville; Dora is the wife of Capt. Jack Dooley of 
Marysville; Walter is a resident of San Francisco; Mrs. Hazel McRae and William 
reside in Marysville.  James attended the public school in Yuba County.  He 
assisted his father on the home ranch near Browns Valley until he established 
himself as a sheep and cattle raiser on 900 acres adjoining his father, 400 
acres being under irrigation.  He is a member of the California Wool Growers� 
Association.
            In Sacramento, on January 31, 1907, Mr. Brown was married to Miss 
Grace L. Haling, born near Browns Valley, Yuba County, the daughter of George 
Haling, the pioneer of that district, who was born in Connecticut and crossed 
the plains to Yuba County in the early days.  He married Alice Sivils, who was 
born near Honcut, Butte County.  Mr. Haling has passed on, being survived by his 
widow and four children, Grace being the youngest child.  One daughter has 
blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and she is named Geraldine Lucile.  Mr. 
Brown belongs to Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E., and to the Modern Woodmen 
of America.  Mrs. Brown is a member of St. John�s Episcopal Church.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1175-1176