Sierra County Biographies

John T. West 

Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004

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


 
is a native of Denmark, where he was born in 1835. He was raised at home, 
learned the clock-making trade, and came to New York in 1854. In a few months he 
came around the Horn to San Francisco, where he lived a year, and then, in 1855, 
went to Nevada City, working at Cherokee during the winter. In the following 
spring Mr. West came to Kanaka creek, Sierra county, and from there to Alleghany 
in 1857, where he began mining with the Knickerbocker company, of which he was a 
shareholder. Mr. West was engaged in mining at Alleghany and Smith�s flat until 
1868, when he opened a saloon. In 1873 he moved to Forest City, bought another 
saloon, retaining his interest in the old one. In 1880 he, with James 
McNaughton, bought the Forest house of Henry Ellery, and now is a partner with 
S. A. Scullin in the same popular hotel. Mr. West is interested in the South 
Fork mining company. He is a member of Forest Lodge No. 66, F. & A. M., at 
Alleghany; of Mistletoe Lodge No. 54, I. O. O. F., at Alleghany; and of the 
Knights of Pythias No. 44, at Forest City. 
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 497