Plumas County Biographies

James Hughes Yeates 

Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004 

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

 
was born in Washington county, Virginia, December 15, 1815. His parents were 
John and Hannah (Hughes) Yeates, both natives of Virginia. When quite young, 
James emigrated to Kentucky, where he learned the trade of stone-cutting. Here 
he remained for three years, and then removed to Iowa, where he still followed 
his profession until 1850, when he crossed the plains to California. In 
February, 1851, he came to Plumas county, and settled on the farm he now owns, 
in November, 1862. In 1865 he became a candidate for sheriff against S. J. 
Clark, and had a contest for the office, which was decided in favor of Mr. 
Clark. In 1867 he defeated Mr. Clark for the same office, and was twice 
re-elected, giving way in 1874 to I. C. Boring. He was again elected in 1877 for 
one term. He now resides on his farm in the American valley, and enjoys the 
confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Yeates was married in 
Indiana, January 17, 1843, to Miss Nancy T. Reed, daughter of Hon. John Reed of 
that state. He has reared a family of eight children.    
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. � Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 187

Yeates � Clark Contest
 
At the election in September, 1865, Stephen J. Clark and James H. Yeates ran for 
the office of sheriff. When the votes were canvassed, the supervisors declared 
Yeates elected by a majority of five. He qualified, and entered upon the 
discharge of the duties of the office. The majority was so small that William H. 
Knowles, a warm personal friend of Clark, commenced action for the office in the 
county court before Judge A. P. Moore. Peter Van Clief and H. L. Gear 
represented Clark, while John R. Buckbee and John D. Goodwin conducted the case 
for the defendant. The decision was in favor of Yeates, and Knowles appealed to 
the supreme court. Creed Haymond represented Yeates in the higher court, and 
secured a decision sustaining the decree of Judge Moore. This was not the end. A 
petition for rehearing was granted, and in October, 1866, the supreme court 
reversed its former judgment, and declared Clark the rightful possessor of the 
office upon a majority over Yeates of two votes. Yeates lost $1,500 in fees that 
the supervisors gave to Clark, on the ground that Yeates had not been in lawful 
possession of the office. The case created intense excitement in the county, and 
party feeling ran high; and in the following year, when Clark and Yeates were 
again pitted against each other for the same office, Clark was defeated, and 
Yeates held the office for several successive terms. 
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. � Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 187