Plumas County Biographies

L. Wellington Bunnell

Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004 

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


This old pioneer is a native of New Hampshire, and came to this state in 1852. 
He engaged in mining at Rocky bar on the middle fork of Feather river, but 
shouldered his blankets and moved to the north fork the next season. 
Subsequently he engaged in ranching and merchandising with the late William H. 
Miller at Butt valley. October 12, 1869, he was married to Mrs. Julia E. Lee, a 
pioneer lady of Big Meadows, in which valley they now reside and keep a popular 
summer resort. Mr. Bunnell is largely engaged in the dairy business. 
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. � Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 294

He is a native of New Hampshire, and came to California, via the Isthmus in 
1851, arriving in San Francisco the latter part of June. He first mined on 
Poorman�s creek, Nevada. From there he went to Plumas county, and mined on the 
middle fork of Feather river until 1853, when he went to the north fork and 
mined until 1855, in which year he went to Butt valley, Plumas county, and 
commenced farming and stock-raising, where he remained until 1867, at which time 
he came to Big Meadows, and erected his present fine hotel. In connection with 
his hotel, he has about 940 acres of land. Mr. Bunnell was married in 1869 to 
Mrs. Julia E. Lee. The hotel is beautifully situated near the banks of the north 
fork of Feather river, with groves of pines in the immediate background, and 
Lassen�s peak in the distance. The rooms are commodious and comfortable. The 
table is supplied from the dairy with plenty of fresh milk and butter. The 
mountain streams in the immediate vicinity furnish an abundance of trout. Mr. 
Bunnell is an agreeable gentleman and a popular landlord. During the warm season 
the house is filled with guests from all parts of the state. Excursions are made 
weekly to Lassen�s peak, the Hot Springs, Mud Springs, and other places of 
interest. Many invalids have derived permanent benefit from passing a few weeks 
in Big Meadows.
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. � Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 322