California Biographies

Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011

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


Jacob B. Brown

Jacob B. Brown - Was born in St. Martins, New Brunswick. Resided at his birthplace until fourteen years 
of age. At the age of eighteen months his father died, leaving his mother with a family of twelve children. 
The mother died when he was seventeen years of age. Then moved to St. Johns, New Brunswick, and 
was bound an apprentice to a firm named Harris & Adams. Served six years, three years in a blacksmith 
shop, and three years in a machine shop. At the expiration of that time he persuaded his brother, W. H. 
Brown, to start in business, which he did, and worked in company with him for two years. Then started 
for Boston, Massachusetts. He worked in Boston and Chelsea at three dollars per day. December 4, 1849, 
started for Bath, Maine, and sailed in the bark “Emma" for California, under contract with a company 
that brought out the steamer "H. T. Clay," to pay his passage on which he agreed to work thirty days, 
putting the machinery in said boat. He worked his thirty days, and at the expiration of that time he was 
paid three hundred dollars a month to finish putting in machinery and run the same from San Francisco 
to Sacramento. February 1, 1851, he started for the mines, on the north fork of Yuba River, Poverty Bar, 
and worked three months. He then returned to San Francisco and placed his money in the bank, and 
continued his trade of machinist and blacksmith, receiving eight dollars a day for several months. He then 
moved to Bidwells Bar, and embarked in mining, remaining there until the first of June, 1852. On the 
discovery of the "Rich Bar diggings," on Butte Creek, he proceeded there, but remained only a short time, 
having but little success. He drew his money out of Adams Express Company's Bank only a few days before 
that institution failed. He then removed to Scotts Bar on the north fork of the Tuba, and continued mining, 
having to put in a flume, and paid one hundred dollars per thousand for the lumber, and then carrying it 
one mile from the top of the mountain. Having finished the construction of the flume he proceeded to 
work, and washed one pan of dirt, which cleared him sixty dollars. A heavy storm coming on the river rose 
to a torrent, and the trees floating down carried away his flume. Mr. Brown again found himself financially 
ruined and fifty dollars in debt. Borrowing some money he again returned to Bidwells Bar, where he got 
employment in a saw mill at one hundred and fifty dollars a month. He remained there until the spring of 
1853, the company then failing. He then started a blacksmith shop at Bidwells Bar under the firm name of 
Brown & Spear, continuing until 1854, when he was burned out, again losing nearly everything. He then 
mined awhile at a new digging called "Sky High," meeting with good success, and then bought an interest in 
a hotel, the "Mountain House No. 1," eighteen miles from Bidwells Bar, and followed this with good success 
until the following spring, and then sold out. He then bought a train of pack mules, which he ran for three 
years. He followed mining and running hotel until I860 when we next find him erecting a quartz mill at Bull 
Frog, Plumas County, running it but a short time. He again bought a lot of pack mules and continued packing 
until 1864. He then moved to Indian Valley Plumas County, and started a blacksmith shop, and here he 
continued until 1874. He then sold out on account of ill-health, and moved to Napa Valley, locating in Calistoga, 
and continued at his trade, and in 1876 bought his present property, erecting thereon the buildings he now 
occupies, and is now doing a prosperous business. Mr. Brown married in Taylorville, Plumas County, in 
March, 1869.