California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


ANDREW J. LAFEVER. Of the old army of '49, composed of men of positive natures, and 
sufficient number of years to realize the importance of the events into which they were ush- 
ered, comparatively few remain. Soon their deeds and hardships will be told only by their 
children and children's children, or gained through the medium of narrative and history. 
The charm of the brave and courageous and unusual surrounds these men, not only those who 
have passed the borderland which separates them from their fellows, but those who remain to tell 
their own stories and dream their own dreams of the past. To the latter class belongs Andrew J. 
Lafever, the inheritor of a name connected with early American history, and a representative of 
a family which on both sides has counted fearlessness and justice as priceless heritages. Mr. 
Lafever was born in Knox county, Tenn., November 14, 1826, and is the third child in a family 
of fourteen, seven sons and seven daughters, who, with the exception of one daughter, at- 
tained maturity. 

Before the war with England the paternal great-grandfather, Henry Lafever, came to 
America with his family, and for two years made his home in Virginia, after which he returned 
to France. Later, when LaFayette came to this country to help liberate the colonies, he accom- 
panied him, and when the war was over again returned to France. He also served under Na- 
poleon in the battle of Waterloo. The grandfather, John Lafever, was born in Virginia, but 
the greater part of his life was spent in Tennessee, where he attained a competence as a cotton 
raiser. He served through the Revolutionary war and gave up his life for his country in the 
war of 18 12. During the Revolutionary war some British soldiers sought to refresh the inner 
man by stealing some sweet potatoes from the farm of this soldier, and his wife, in maidenhood 
Lucy Barbankez, with the courage of her side of the house, shot seven of them and was ar- 
rested for the deed. She was, of course, never prosecuted, as the soldiers were appropriating 
her property, and she gained a deserved reputation for courage and justice. She became the 
mother of two children, and died at the age of eighty-seven years. William Lafever, the father 
of Andrew J., was born in Tennessee, moved to Missouri in 1834, and purchased and entered 
land in Ray county. In time he became one of the large land owners of that territory, raising 
hemp, tobacco, corn and stock, and having many slaves to do his bidding. He took a great in- 
terest in the state militia and in the training of soldiers. He served in the war of 1812, Black 
Hawk war and Seminole war. A temperate and moderate life told in his favor, for at the time 
of his death he had attained the age of ninety-seven years. Longevity appeared on the ma- 
ternal side also, for his wife, formerly Elizabeth Roberts, a native of South Carolina, lived to be 
eighty-four years old. 

Andrew J. Lafever was the third in order of birth of fourteen children. What early educa- 
tion he received was in a private school, and he worked at cotton scraping with the slaves, and 
engaged in horse trading on his father's plantation. In 1846 he enlisted as a volunteer under 
General Taylor, being assigned to Colonel Willock's division; he re-enlisted in 1847 an d was as- 
signed to Company C, Santa Fe Battalion, U. S. A., becoming sergeant under Gen. Sterling- 
Price. In 1847-48 he was one of the escort of the general, as his second choice, and in 1848 
he returned to Missouri, stopping for about twenty days at Independence, where he was dis- 
charged from the service in October, 1848. November 4, 1848, he cast his first presidential vote 
for General Taylor. Engaging in a butchering and packing business in Camden, Ray county, 
Mo., he had opportunity to hear much of the great gold discovery on the coast, and April 4, 
1849, set out across the plains with ox-teams, I eventually arriving at the Peter Lawson ranch, 
near Bidwell�s bar, Cal, at the end of about seven months' travel. For the first thirteen 
months he engaged in mining at Bidwell's bar and other camps in the vicinity. While at Bid- 
well's bar a thief was discovered in camp who had tried to purloin a can of syrup. A quick 
consultation was held by the other miners and it was decided to hang without ceremony. Mr. 
Lafever, however, objected, owing to the absence of a code of laws governing such misdemeanors. 
The life of the man was spared, but an attempt was made to obviate further trouble of that kind 
by drawing up a code calculated to terrify evildoers. For the first offense of petty larceny the 
penalty was forty-nine lashes and expulsion or hanging; for grand larceny, ninety-eight lashes 
or hanging; for the second offense of petty larceny, ninety-eight lashes or hanging; for the 
third offense, hanging; and for the second offense of grand larceny, hanging. Willful mur- 
der was also punished by hanging. Men condemned to trial had the benefit of the opinion 
and judgment of twenty-four of the substantial men of the community, and every question had 
to be answered by the witness. 

From Bidwell's bar Mr. Lafever went to the South Fork of the Feather river with a pros- 
pecting company, intending to turn the course of the river, a project which signally failed. Re- 
moving to Marysville, on the Yuba river, he engaged in mining for a short time, and then fol- 
lowed the tide of fortune-seekers to Gold Lake, which, however, was never found. For a time 
he prospected in St. Louis, Pine Grove and Howland flat, also Nelson creek and Poor Man's 
creek, and in 1850 mined in Told's Diggings and Forbestown, starting a general merchandise store 
and butchering business in the latter camp. He was successful in his store and mining, and in 
the spring of 1851 built and managed the Lexington house, an unpretentious log structure 
located beside a spring which he had discovered in 1850. He also conducted a general store. 
In 1852 he built a new house at Lexington, near the log cabin, sawing the lumber by hand. Suc- 
cessful beyond his expectations, he started a hotel and butcher shop at Spanish Flat, managed the 
enterprises in both places, but disposed of the Lexington hotel in 1854, and making his head- 
quarters thereafter in Spanish Flat until 1857. In the mean time, in 1856, there had been great 
excitement in camp over the water ditches, resulting in shooting scrapes, and the organizing 
of a mob who were going to hang an innocent man, which, however, was dispersed by Mr. La- 
fever. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Lafever himself escaped serious trouble because of the justi- 
fying circumstances surrounding his act. In self-defense he shot and killed Judge John Chapels, 
the leader of that mob, and though he surrendered to the authorities, nothing ever came of 
the matter. Mr. Lafever showed wonderful clemency for his fallen foe, hired a man to care 
for him, and so far ingratiated himself that the dying man shook hands with him, and expressed 
appreciation of his bravery. 

In the fall of 1857 Mr. Lafever went to Marysville, and then started to Mendocino county, but 
stopped at Petaluma and Santa Rosa for the winter. Purchasing a place near Ukiah, he later 
started for Colorado, but wintered in Merced county with a band of horses and mules. Sick- 
ness invaded his two hundred and fifty head of stock and he was delayed until August, in which 
month he came as far as Visalia, taking his horses to the mountains for the winter. On two 
occasions in Mendocino county thieves tried to take his land away from him, and in 1870 he 
was shot through the left lung by H. Griffiths, in Potter Valley, almost destroying his left hand 
and wrist. In 1873 he purchased a home near Kings river, in Fresno county, added to it from 
time to time, until he owned more than a township of unsurveyed land, including a place called 
Pine Flat, consisting of a quarter of a township, which he presented to his only child and son, 
Henry C. Lafever. When the fence law was passed he experienced serious trouble with his land, 
for grabbers resorted to every device to deprive him of it, even waylaying and killing his son, 
November 17, 1882. During the trial following this brutal murder Mr. Lafever killed Zeb Lashley 
in the courtyard at Fresno, the outlaw being at the bottom of the difficulties over the land and 
the killing of his son. The outlaw was surrounded by forty-eight of his gang. Through the 
prevalence of injustice Mr. Lafever lost his cattle and land, and practically everything that he had 
in the world. During the Indian troubles Mr. and Mrs. Lafever had several narrow escapes from 
the savages. In November, 1885, he came to Visalia and purchased forty acres in the outskirts of 
the town. Here he raised cattle, horses and hogs, and in 1893 he moved to his late home of six 
acres within the city limits, at No. 409 Watson avenue. May 29, 1904, he lost this home and all 
his possessions by fire, entailing a loss of $5,000 over and above $2,200 insurance. Here he was 
extensively interested in raising thoroughbred Poland-China hogs and fine chickens, deriving a 
comfortable income from this peaceful occupation. 

Mr. Lafever's married life began in Marysville, March 19, 1852, his wife, formerly Catherine 
Trullinger, being a native of Baden, Germany, who came to California in 1850. The tragic 
death of the only son of this union cast a shadow over the lives of both Mr. and Mrs. Lafever, 
and was among the heart-breaking disasters which have paved the way for peace in the 
far west. Mr. Lafever is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the California Society of 
Pioneers and a veteran of the Mexican war, in which he has served as commander. Formerly 
he was a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle. There are few men whose early experi- 
ences have been of such a varied character as have been those of Mr. Lafever. The somber 
side of the camps and mines and trails has seemed to predominate, yet he is a cheerful and 
optimistic man, believing in the good of humanity, and evidencing at every turn of his busy life 
generosity for those less fortunate than himself. Books might be written of absorbing interest 
concerning his life, and he has observed intelligently and faithfully, even impartially, consider- 
ing the sorrows which have darkened his pathway and the misfortunes which have resulted 
from man's greed and ingratitude.