Tehama County, California
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |

Tehama County was created on April 9, 1856 from territory in Colusa, Shasta, and Butte County. Territory which at one time was in Tehama County is now in Butte County and Glenn County. The County has had seven Boundary Changes:

  1. Much of Tehama County territory was in Colusa County from 1850 to 1856 when it was placed in the new county.
  2. Territory in Colusa County from 1850 to 1851 was in Shasta County from 1851 to 1856 when it was placed in the new Tehama County.
  3. Territory in Colusa County from 1850 to 1851 was in Shasta County from 1851 to 1857 when it was added to Tehama County.
  4. Territory was in Shasta County from 1850 to 1857 when it was added to Tehama County.
  5. Territory was in Shasta County from 1850 to 1856 when it was placed in Tehama County.
  6. Territory was in Butte County from 1850 to 1857 when it was added to Tehama County.
  7. Territory in Butte County from 1850 to 1851, was in Shasta County from 1851 until 1856 when it was placed in Tehama County.

The County is named for the City of Tehama. Suggested possible roots are the Arabic word tehama ("hot low-lands"), the Mexican word tejamanil (shingle), or "high water" in the dialect of local Indians. The County Seat is Red Bluff . See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Tehama County are Butte County (south), Glenn County (south), Mendocino County (southwest), Trinity County (west), Shasta County (north), Plumas County (east).

Tehama County Cities Include Corning, Red Bluff, Tehama. CDPs (A census-designated place (CDP) is a type of place or area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes) Include Gerber-Las Flores, Los Molinos, Manton, Mineral, Rancho Tehama Reserve. Unincorporated Communities Include Cottonwood, Dales, Paskenta, Paynes Creek

County Court Courthouse Records

See Also California Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Tehama County Clerk-Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1889, Marriage Records from 1856, Death Records from 1889 and , Land Records from 1856.

The County Recorder-Clerk is responsible for examination and recording of all documents presented for recording that deal with establishing ownership of land in the County or as required by statute; administers the real property transfer tax law and maintains a permanent record and indexes of all documents for public viewing plus providing certified copies requested by the public; recording of all lawful documents such as deeds, deeds of trust, judgments, liens, affidavits, Uniform Commercial Code Financial Statements, etc; and the filing of Births, Deaths, and Marriages.

Tehama County Clerk of Superior Court has Probate Records from 1856 and Court Records from 1856.

The county Superior Court clerk has probate books and files from the county's superior court, civil court records, and naturalizations. Divorces may be here or in the Recorders Office, depending on how it was filed.

 Some early court records from the various courts may have been sent to the California State Archives. Besides court minutes and judgements, these records include tax lists, wills, deeds, estate inventories, and marriage bonds. The California State Archives has microfilm of selected county records, 1850–1919.

Below is a list of online resources for Tehama County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Tehama County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Tehama County, California Court Books at Amazon.com
  • California Voter Registrations, 1900-1968: This database contains indexes to voter registration lists from various counties in California from 1900-1968. Information listed in these records includes: name of voter, age, address, occupation, and political affiliation.
  • Naturalization Petitions for the Southern District Of California, 1887-1940icon (The National Archives): NARA M1524. Naturalization Petitions for the Southern District Of California, 1887-1949.
  • California Passenger and Crew Lists, 1893-1957: This database is an index to passenger and crew lists of ships and some airplanes arriving at Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Pedro, and Ventura in the U.S. state of California, between 1893 and 1957. Information contained in the index includes name of passenger, their age, gender, ethnicity, nationality or last country of permanent residence, arrival date, port of arrival, port of departure, and ship name. If a name of a friend or relative whom the passenger was going to join with, or place of nativity was provided, that information is included as well.
  • San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists Vol. I [1850-1864]: The volume offered here is a reprint of the first volume in a series dealing with passenger arrivals at the port of San Francisco between 1850 and 1875, though this first volume contains a selection of passenger lists extending only though 1864.
  • San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists Vol. II [1850-1851]: Volume II is based on completely different sources than the first volume in the series, which covered the years 1850-1864, and it encompasses an additional 16,500 passenger arrivals at San Francisco Bay during the 20-month period from April 1850 to November 1851.
  • San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists. Vol. III: November 7, 1851 to June 17, 1852: Volume III covers a seven-month period during which approximately 25,000 persons arrived at the port of San Francisco--nearly 50% more than the number of arrivals for the preceding 18-month period covered in Volume II. The year 1852 witnessed a surge in migration to California, and this volume reflects the initial thrust of that surge.
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.

County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in California

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! A certified copy fee must accompany all requests for copies of vital records. Requests received without the appropriate fee will be returned to the sender. Make your check or money order payable to the Office of Vital Records. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. Money orders must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. Do not send cash. If no record is found, they will issue a Certificate of No Public Record and retain the fee for the search according to State law. Before submitting your application to the Office of Vital Records, please view the processing times to make sure they are acceptable for your needs. 

California Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records, MS 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410; (916) 445-2684. They have the following records:


  • Birth & Death Certificates: The state of California began issuing certificates for births and Deaths in July 1905. Birth and death records for current year events and one year prior are available from the county health department; records for all years are maintained by the county recorder. If not, you should submit your request to the County Recorder’s Office in the county where the birth or death took place or order the birth / death certificate online through VitalChek.
    • Cost: $14.00 per birth certificate & $12.00 per death certificate.
    • Processing Time: 12-14 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Birth or Death Certificate) or 2-5 Days when you Order Online.
  • Marriage Certificates: The state of California began issuing certificates for marriages since July 1905, except for 1987 to 1995 (The state does not have indexes for the years 1987-1995 so you must request these from the county). Certified copies of public marriage records are available from both the California Office of Vital Records and the County Recorder’s Office in the county where the public marriage license was issued. However, the Office of Vital Records is limited in its ability to search the records, and it can take up to 2-3 years to obtain a certified copy from thier office. Therefore, we recommend that certified copies of public marriage records be requested directly from the County Recorder’s Office or online.
    • Cost: $13.00 per certificate.
    • Processing Time: 2-3 years when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you Order Online.
  • Divorce Certificates: Certified copies are not available from State Health Department. Certified copies of actual divorce decrees are only available from the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was filed. The Office of Vital Records issues a Certificate of Record that includes only the names of the parties to the divorce, the county where the divorce was filed, and the court case number – it is not a certified copy of the divorce decree and does not indicate whether the divorce was ever finalized in court. The Office of Vital Records only has information for divorces that were filed with the court between 1962 and June 1984, and our processing times can take up to 2-3 years or Online with VitalChek.
    • Cost: $12.00 per certificate. Fee is for search and identification of county where certified copy can be obtained.
    • Processing Time: 2-3 years when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you Order Online.

Below is a list of online resources for Tehama County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Tehama County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service. - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical California newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • California Birth Index, 1905-1995: This database is an index to over 24.5 million births occurring in California between 1905 and 1995.
  • California Death Index, 1940-1997: his database is an index to the death records in State of California, USA, from 1940 through 1997. The database provides such valuable information as first, last and middle names of the descendants, birth dates, mother's maiden name, father's last name, sex, birth place, death place, residence at time of death, death date, social security number (when available), and the age of the individual when they died.
  • California Divorce Index, 1966-1984: This database is an index to over 3.5 million divorces that were filed in California (U.S.A.) from 1966-1984. Information that may be found in this database includes spouses' names, divorce date, and divorce county or city.
  • California Marriage Index, 1960-1985: This database contains a statewide index to over 4.8 million marriages that were performed in California between 1960 and 1985. Information that may be found in this database includes the bride's and groom's names, their ages, the marriage county, and the marriage date.
  • California Marriages, 1850-1877: This database contains information on individuals who were married in select areas of California between 1850 and 1960. Note that not all counties are included in this index and within the counties that are included not all years within the date range...
  • California Death Index 1940-1997
  • Tehama County, California Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.

County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for California

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

  Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Tehama County, California are1860 ,1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Tehama County, California are Industry and Agriculture Schedules available for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Tehama County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Tehama County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Census Online - California Census Records
  • California Census, 1790-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 Census Substitute; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index (excluding San Francisco County); 1870 San Francisco County Census Index; 1834 Census Index of Santa Barbara; 1890 Veterans Schedule; 1890 Naval Veterans Schedule.
  • Tehama County, California Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

California Antique Maps & Atlases has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for California and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for California showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for California showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps.

Below is a list of online resources for Tehama County Maps. Email us with websites containing Tehama County Maps by clicking the link below:

County Military Records

See Also Military Records in California

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Tehama County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Tehama County Military Records by clicking the link below:

County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service Assessment List for California, 1862–66, is available on thirty-three microfilm rolls at the California State Library in Sacramento. The lists include names, location and description of business, and tax rate for individuals taxed.

Similar to tax records in their yearly listing of residents are the “Great Register” of California, which are miscellaneous county voting registers that exist from the mid-nineteenth century. The registers were compiled and printed about every two years. Before 1900, they show name, address, and age (but the age may remain the same after a man's first entry). From about the mid-1800s, physical descriptions are included, but after the 1898 register, only the name, address, party affiliation, and sometimes occupation are listed.

Before 1892, the lists are county-wide, but usually alphabetical only by first letter or surname. They are particularly valuable for foreign-born voters, as the date and court of naturalization are listed. Copies of the "Great Registers," (1866–1944) are at the California State Library, which also has alphabetical card file abstracts for some of the earlier registers for San Francisco. Records from 1946 are with the individual county registrars of voters.

Below is a list of online resources for Tehama County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Tehama County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other California Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Tehama County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Tehama County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Colusi County Historical Society
  • Tehama County Genealogical and Historical Society, P. 0. Box 415, Red Bluff, CA 96080
  • California Genealogical Society, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland, CA 94612-3031; 510-663-1358 fax: 510-663-1596
  • The California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, California 94105; 415-357-1848 — voice; 415-357-1850 — fax; info@calhist.org — e-mail
  • California State Genealogical Alliance, 19765 Grand Avenue, Lake Elsinore, CA 92330
    One way to access many local and county genealogical and historical societies is through the Alliance, which publishes its own newsletter.
  • California State Archives, Office of Secretary of State, 1020 O Street, Room 130, Sacramento, CA 95814; Reference Desk: (916) 653-2246; General Information: (916) 653-7715; FAX: (916) 653-7363; E-Mail:ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
  • California State Library, 914 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814
  • The National Archives-Pacific Region
  • California Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.

County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in California

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Tehama County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Tehama County Tombstone Transcription Project.

There are no centralized repositories dealing with church records in California. Scattered records can be found in genealogical publications, the DAR compilations, and on microfilm. The Spanish missions have played a central role in California's religious history.

   Printed secondary sources of transcribed cemeteries exist for most California counties. The California State Society of the DAR has collected hundreds of such records. Transcripts are housed both at the national DAR and with some local chapters and libraries.

Below is a list of online resources for Tehama County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Tehama County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Tehama County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Tehama County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

Extended History

 


Image of historic Sutter County courthouse - click to enlarge
Tehama County Courthouse
Completed 1860

A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California - Chicago, Lewis Publ. Co., 1891

TEHAMA COUNTY.

Tehama is an Indian word of unknown signification. Although frequently visited at a previous date by trappers and hunters on their way from Oregon to California, the first recorded visit paid to that portion of the State subsequently laid off as Tehama County, was made by General Bidwell in 1843. Like all others who visit that part for the first time he was very favorably impressed. He mapped the country from memory, named most of the streams and described it so enthusiastically that as a result attention was aroused and in 1844 the first American settlers came in. They were four in number, William G. Chard, A. G. Toomes, R. H. Thomes, and Job F. Dye. They were given grants on the Sacramento River of five leagues each. Thomes and Chard chose their grant on the western border of the river, one above and the other below Elder Creek. Toomes and Dye selected locations immediately opposite them on the eastern bank of the Sacramento. In this same year Major Redding [Reading] went still higher up and located in what is now Shasta County. These grants were taken up in the spring of 1844. Later in the same year Josiah Belden also located a grant of five leagues in the valley. This grant was sold in 1847 to William B. Ide, one of the most prominent of the early settlers in the Upper Sacramento Valley.

In the fall of this year also came Peter Lassen, after whom are named the Lassen Buttes, Lassen County, etc. He was a marked character, a man of no education and a thorough pioneer. Some time later he built a large adobe house and blacksmith shop, and obtained great local distinction as a manufacturer of bridle bits and Spanish spurs. He went to the mines in the early days and got very rich, but, like so many other western pioneers, let it slip easily through his fingers. One of his freaks was to go to San. Francisco in 1849, and buy the steamer "Lady Washington," load her with goods and make the voyage to the new town he was attempting to found at the mouth of Deer Creek. She took the whole five winter months of 1849–'50 to reach the spot, but she did so, being the pioneer steamer to breast the waters of the Sacramento as far as Tehama County. Uncle Peter gave a square league of the best of his land on Deer Creek in 1846 to another old trapper, Daniel Sill, Senior. Sill afterward started a rival town to that of his friend, but neither of the places came to anything. Lassen was unfitted for civilization, lost his money, sold his ranch to Henry Gerke, who in 1881 sold to Senator Stanford the celebrated "Vina " rancho.

The first house put up in Tehama County was an adobe put up in 1845 by R. H. Thomes, where the town of Tehama now is. It was destroyed by fire in 1858. This year (1845) saw only the addition of W. C. Moon to the list of grant-holders.

In 1846 Mr. Toomes built an adobe on the opposite side of the Sacramento, and Mr. Chard put up a log cabin, four miles north of Tehama. This was a public stopping place for years.

In 1847, Mr. Dye put up the adobe on Antelope Creek, which is still in existence in good repair on Major Cone's place, the oldest building in the county. In the same year Judge Ide built on what was known as Ide's Bottom a few miles below the site of Red Cliff. In the spring of this year began to appear occasional emigrant parties on the Oregon trail. They caused a good deal of trouble in running off or killing horses and stock.

In 1848, besides those already named, there should be added to those in the county Captain Henry L. Ford and William (Uncle Billy) Meyers, the latter living with Lassen. All of these parties acquired large fortunes in the mines in the fall of 1848 and spring of 1849.

In the fall of 1849 begins a new epoch, as people began to flock in, and we will no longer attempt to keep track of them all. On September 9, 1850, was held the first election for the purpose of choosing alcaldes. The election was held at Lassen's ranch on Deer Creek. Captain J. D. Potts was elected Chief Alcalde, and Colonel Wilson as his assistant.

The Mexican land grants that were made within the present limits of Tehama County were as follows: Las Baulinas, 17,707 acres, patented to W. B. Ide in 1860; Las Flores, 13,315 acres, to William G. Chard in 1859; Primer Cañon ó Rio de los Berrendos, 26,637 acres, to J. F. Dye in 1871; Rio de los Molinos 22,172 acres, to A. G. Toomes in 1858; Saucos, 22,212 acres, to R. H. Thomas in 1857.

The town of Tehama is the oldest in date of foundation of all in the county, springing up on the Thomes ranch. During 1850 it was a flourishing place with great hopes for the future. A good hotel was kept in the old Thomes adobe by a Mr. Leonard. Two rival towns, called Danville and Benton, were also laid out on Deer Creek, one on the Sill place and the other by Lassen, but they both came to naught. Tehama was mapped and a city platted, but Red Bluff, which was afterward started by S. Woods at the head of navigation and first named Leodocia, had too great an advantage and soon distanced it. It is to-day, however, a growing town of considerable business activity and of importance as a railway point.

The first house where Red Bluff now is was an adobe put up late in 1849 by John Myers, who conducted it for a short time as a hotel. In the following spring Mr. Cooper erected a small adobe there, and Judge Ide built another at the "Adobe" Ferry, one mile north. The town was laid out in 1850. In 1851 Captain E. G. Reed, still one of the energetic men of Red Bluff, built and started a hotel and conducted it with great success for years. The first brick building was the Empire Stables, erected by Major John Brady. Being at the head of navigation, Red Bluff soon forged ahead, and during the early mining excitements in the northern mines was a great staging town, and did an immense amount of transhipping and teaming of goods. It languished later on with the subsidence of activity in the mines, reviving again in, the early '70's on the advent of the Oregon & California Railroad. Since then it has progressed rapidly, and has a promising future. In 1854 Red Bluff had a population of 1,000 people. In 1860 it had twice as many. The railroad made its advent in December, 1872, superseding river travel, and wholly changing the order of affairs. On the organization of the county in 1856, there was a strong attempt to locate the county-seat at Tehama, but in March, 1857, Red Bluff was chosen. One of the characters of the flush early days was "Captain Jane," a woman of uncertain virtue, who dressed as a sport, flourished a revolver, and could use it too, and who had all the sturdy, independent characteristics of the time. She ran a farm on Thomes Creek for some time, conducting it alone.

In early days land was considered as worthless for farming purposes, and nothing, was attempted except stock-raising. Early :in 1852, however, Nathaniel Merrill and Augustus Eastman began farming on the Moon ranch. In the fall of that year Henry Wilson and James M. Kendricks located on Thomes Creek and also went to farming. At the same time Andy Winemiller settled on Elder Creek, and during the winter kept a public house at the crossing. Robert E. Warren also settled on Thomes Creek. In the same winter Thornelson and Woods settled about four miles north of Tehama. This was the beginning of farming. In the spring of 1853 J. C. Tyler bought out Winemiller. From that time on agriculture spread successfully, until it covered the whole county and is now being displaced by fruit-raising, the land being capable of anything that can be raised in a semi-tropical climate.

The steamer Orient, in 1850, was the first one to enter Red Bluff. Later on she and the Plumas ran regularly to that point. From that time on till the completion of the railroad regular water communication was held. In May, 1854, the Belle, Captain Pierce, pilot, made her way through the cañon above Red Bluff. Later several other boats went above the town, but it was only an occasional thing.. See page 77.

The industrial beginning in Tehama County seems to have been made in 1845 when W. C. Moon, a hunter named Merritt and Peter Lassen made a canoe load of grindstones on Stony Creek, and carried them down the Sacramento. They did not make a financial success of the undertaking, however, and never repeated it. In 1851 the first saw-mill was erected by a Mr. Payne on the Sacramento River above Mill Creek. The first grist-mill was put up on Mill Creek by Dr. Crosby in the same year. The representative of saw-milling now is the great Sierra Lumber Company, formerly the Sierra Flume and Lumber Company. It has 75,000 acres of timber land, has five saw-mills and a flume thirty-five miles long to carry lumber to Red Bluff, where its offices and factories are situated, in addition to as long a flume, chiefly in Butte County, to its office and yards at Chico. It began operations in 1875. In the flour-milling business there is more detail. In 1854 Bull, Baker & Co. erected, a mill on the left bank of the Sacramento, removing afterward to Colusa. In 1855 J. F. Dye built a small mill on Antelope Creek, six miles from Red Bluff. In 1857 Crosby & Kuetzer put up a mill one mile east of Red Bluff, being twice burned out. In 1870 M. C. Ellis put up the Red Bluff Flouring Mills.

Tehama County was organized pursuant to the act of the Legislature approved April 9, 1856. Until 1860 the county rented premises for court-house and other county purposes, except jail, which was erected in 1857. The present court-house was built in 1860.

At the close of 1853 the first school meeting in the county was held at Red Bluff to organize a school district. In the fall of 1855 the first school building was erected in Red Bluff on the corner of Oak and Jefferson streets, at a cost of $3,000.

The first marriage ceremony in the county was performed by First Alcalde Captain J. D. Potts in 1849. The high contracting parties were a Mr. Webber and Miss May Hall. Miss Hall was a sister of Judge Newton Hall, who came to the county in the fall of 1849 with his mother, brother and three sisters, and started a hotel, long very popular, at a point seven miles south of Tehama. The second marriage took place in 1850 between Mr. Bessy and Miss Harriet daughter of Daniel Sill, Sr., to whom Lassen gave land. He brought out his family in 1849.

Among notable old landmarks in the county may be mentioned the "Massachusetts House," on the redlands south of Red Bluff, long used as a hotel. In the spring of 1851 the first stage line from. Colusa to Shasta was started by Baxter & Monroe. In the spring of 1852 an opposition line was put on the other side of the river by Hall & Crandall, between Marysville and Shasta. Marshall McCummings was the first man to drive a stage coach into Tehama.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was the pioneer church of Tehama County, coming up and holding services in 1854. In 1855 they rented a building in which to hold services, but did not build until 1878. The Baptist Church was organized July 21, 1860. They built in 1874. The Presbyterians organized a church November 11, 1860. They built their church in 1862, but have added to it since. The Roman Catholic Church came in 1864 for the first time.

The Red Bluff Beacon was the first paper issued in Tehama County, appearing at Red Bluff in June, 1857. Its proprietors were Steve Clark and Blanton. In September, 1858, the Tehama Gazette was published at Tehama. In August, 1860, the Independent was issued as a semi-weekly. In October, 1865, the Tehama Observer made its debut. In March, 1867, was published the Sentinel. In March, 1872, the Tehama Independent appeared for a season. All these have died. The Sentinel was afterward revived and is now ably conducted by Dr. W. B. H. Dodson & Son, as a daily and weekly. In. September, 1874, the People's Cause, now the oldest paper, was first issued. The Pendleton 'Brothers now carry it on, making it a bright and spicy paper, also daily and weekly. In August, 1875, the Tocsin was first published. In 1883 the name was changed to the Democrat, and again in 1887 to the News, under which name a lively and interesting daily and weekly is now published by E. F. Lennon. The central importance of Red Bluff may be seen when it affords field and scope for three such able papers as the Sentinel, People's Cause, and News. The latter is Democratic, and the two former, Republican in politics.

MODERN TIMES.

Tehama County is situated in the north central part of California. It is bounded on the north by Shasta County; on the east by Plumas and Butte; on the south by Butte and Colusa, and on the west by Mendocino and Trinity.

The county extends across the Sacramento Valley from the Sierras on the east to the Coast Range on the west. The Sacramento river flows through the county from north to south, dividing it into two nearly equal divisions. Cottonwood and Battle Creeks on the northern boundary, Antelope, Reed's, Red Bank, Payne's, Dibble, Mill, Elder and Thomes creeks are among the principal streams of the county flowing into the Sacramento.

The California & Oregon Railway, under the control of the Southern Pacific Company, enters the northern part of the county at Cottonwood and passes through Red Bluff to Tehama along the western bank of the Sacramento. At Tehama the railway diverges, one line continuing on the same side as before, through Corning into Colusa County; the other division crosses the river on one of the finest bridges in northern California, and passes through Vina into Butte County. These two routes again unite at Davisville, Yolo County.

The principal occupations of the people of the county are farming and sheep-raising, though fruit-raising is beginning to attract many persons. The Sierra Lumber Mills at Red Bluff give employment to about seventy-five or 100 men. The grain crops of the county are large, Tehama standing in the front rank as a wheat and barley county. The lands lying immediately along the river cannot be surpassed in the State for fertility.

The leading farmers of the county are J. S. Cone, J. S. Butler, J. C. Tyler, W. W. Finnell, John Finnell, Fountain Finnell, R. H. Blossom, A. Gallatin, Hiram Rawson, H. Kraft and Leland Stanford.

"Berendos" is a beautiful tract of land east of Red Bluff and about two and one-half miles distant. Though planted to trees but three years many of the orchards are now bearing. Many of the citizens of Red Bluff own ten or fifteen acres here. It promises to be the garden spot of northern Tehama.

RED BLUFF,

the county-seat, is situated on the right bank of the Sacramento River, between Reed's Creek on the south and Brewery Creek on the north. The city is about 200 miles distant from San Francisco. Red Bluff is a growing steadily town; there has never been a boom here yet; still, the population has nearly doubled during the past ten years, and is now in the neighborhood of 5,000. The town is situated on a low plateau, not as high as the surrounding country. The streets are wide and cleanly kept, the town is lighted by electricity, the plant being on Antelope Creek, about five miles east of town. The water used by the town is brought from the same creek.

The court-house, between Washington and Jefferson streets, is one of the finest structures of its kind in northern California. The hall of records was added to the northern part of the court-house about five years ago. The jail is on the south side of the court-house and is neatly and comfortably kept.

The county hospital is one mile west of Red Bluff, and is valued at about $20,000. It is a neat, commodious building, well ventilated and supplied with modern contrivances.

The railroad company have here a large semi circular round-house, with stalls for fifteen engines. The depot is large and does a heavy business, the receipts often reaching $2,000 daily. Tickets are sold to all parts of the Eastern States.

Wool, wheat, lumber, and produce are exported, and machinery, merchandise and provisions imported.

Recently the citizens held a mass meeting to consider C. P. Huntington's probable railroad from Eureka to Red Bluff, and from Fruito to Red Bluff. If these roads are completed, and it is probable they will, they will open a rich country and make Red Bluff an important center.

Besides the railroad works there are several other manufacturing enterprises in Red Bluff among them; Bidwell's carriage factory, a broom factory, glove factory, and the Sierra Lumber Company's door and sash factory.

The latter factory manufactured last year about 45,500 doors, 27,700 sash, and several thousand blinds—not counting the thousands of feet of lumber cleared, moldings, etc. The company owns 60,000 acres of timber, seventy miles of flume, and about twenty miles of rail­way.

About 200 men are employed by the corporation here and in the forests.

The wool industry is enormous, Tehama County producing as much if not more than Wyoming, Utah, Montana and other States in that vicinity. The annual exportation is about 2,000,000 pounds. Red Bluff has the handling of this vast amount, which is about one-fifth of the product of the State. Much interest is taken in the proposed woolen-mill, which would enhance the value of Red Bluff property greatly.

The finest business house in Red Bluff is that of the Cone & Kimball Company. This building is situated on the corner of Main and Walnut streets, in the business center of the city. It was completed in 1886, at a cost of $65,000. The dimensions are 100 x 115 feet, two stories high. The lower story is used by the company in their extensive general merchandise trade. The upper story is fitted for offices. The whole structure is of brick. A large tower surmounts the whole—containing a town clock. The company have large warehouses in town and a store in Vina.

The I. O. O. F. building was dedicated March 26, 1883. It is situated on the corner of Washington and Oak streets, fronting Oak. The building is 45 x 100 feet, with twenty feet ceiling in the upper story. The building with the grounds is owned by the lodge. The cost was $16,000—lot, $3,500, and furniture $2,000; total, $21,500. The lodge rooms are on the second story, the lower being fitted up and occupied by business men. Swain & Hudson were the contractors.

The Opera House, owned by G. L. Kingsley, situated on Main street near Oak, is one of the largest houses in town.

The Postoffice building, corner of Oak and Main, is owned by H. W. Brown. The lower portion contains the postoffice and a grocery store. The upper story is occupied by several fraternal lodges—F. & A. M., K. T., I. O. G. T., G. A. R., W. R. C., S. V., etc.

The Bank of Tehama County is on Main, between Pine and Oak streets. In the same building are the offices of Wells, Fargo & Co., the Western Union Telegraph Company and County Treasurer's office.

Nearly opposite the Bank of Tehama is the banking building of H. Kraft. The upper story is occupied by Chipman & Garter, attorneys at law.

The Town Hall on Main street deserves but little mention. The main things the town needs at present are a good town hall and hotel. The town has a very efficient fire company, consisting of a steam engine and a hook and ladder company. Many dollars have been saved by the efforts of the gallant citizens who are in the organization.

The residences of Red Bluff are beautiful and attractive. The main dwellings are on Washington and Jefferson streets, which are as delightful places for homes as can be found in California. Among the fine residences are the homes of G. G. Kimball, G. W. Westlake, V. P. Baker, H. Kraft, C. B. Ashurst, and many others. Major Cone has a delightful residence on Antelope Creek east of Red Bluff.

Many drug stores, clothing stores and general merchandise houses with two hardware firms speak well for the prosperity of the metropolis of Northern California. Besides these there are several stables, a candy factory, and two photographers.

The Tremont and National hotels are the leading hotels in Red Bluff and do a good business.

In many portions of the town various handsome church edifices, well attended, and neatly kept, argue well for the religious tendencies of the people of the city. The Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Catholics, Christians, Baptists, Methodists (North and South), have churches.

But the crowning gems of the many in Red Bluff are her public schools. These are two in number--the Oak Street, which is a fine brick structure, and the Lincoln Street School, completed in 1888, one of the finest public schools in the State. The system of instruction is well developed under the able supervision of Prof. O. E. Graves, who for ten years has been principal.

In 1880 there were but six or seven teachers, now (1890) there are thirteen, and the school really needs more. There are about 900 census children in the district, out of which about 800 are enrolled on the school register. In the county there are but about 2,700 school children, so it can readily be seen that almost one-third of the children attend school in Red Bluff. Well may Red Bluff be proud of her educational facilities, which are something unusual in a town of her size.

In addition to the public schools an academy conducted by the Sisters of "Our Lady of Mercy," gives instruction to seventy-five or eighty young ladies.

Taking all in all Red Bluff is picturesque and attractive. It will compare favorably with any town in the State in regard to healthfulness, the death rate being but a little less than nine per cent during the past few years. It is steadily growing and increasing both in population and wealth.

TEHAMA,

situated about twelve miles south of Red Bluff, is the second town in the county. In the early history of the county this place was the county seat. The population is about 350. The country round about Tehama is among the finest in the State, and immense quantities of grain are annually grown here. The most thrifty farmers of the county are found in the vicinity of Tehama; among these are the Finnell Bros., J. S. Butler, S. Chard, L. Schultz, Hon. W. P. Mathews, Charles Tait, S. A. Gyle & Co., Andrew Simpson and J. C. Tyler.

The river is here spanned by a large railroad and wagon bridge. The California & Oregon Railroad, from the east side of the river here connects with that from the west, and makes Tehama a central point for trade and travel.

The Star Flour Mills just across the river furnish excellent flour, and the demand is such that the mill often runs day and night.

John Simpson runs one of the best and largest assorted hardware stores north of Sacramento; one can find anything in that line from a sewing-machine needle to a harvester if necessary.

Christain Heider, proprietor of the noted Heider House, is one of the most enterprising citizens. His house is as well conducted as many of the hotels in large towns. Mr. Heider owns a number of dwelling houses in town and also conducts a large livery stable.

The Tait House is ably conducted by Charles Tait, one of the heavy men of the county, and does a thriving business. Mr. Tait is a farmer on a large scale.

I. B. Ashbrook and S. A. Giles & Company are the leading general merchants:

Dr. W. .P. Mathews owns and conducts a neat drug store.

John Tait and J. R. Kelly are the leading blacksmiths.

The Presbyterian and Catholic churches are both neat and commodious.

The public school of Tehama is a fine frame building, two-stories high; and crowned with a belfry. The school is the second in the county, being next to Red Bluff. The number of pupils enrolled is 100, average daily attendance seventy-five. The principal at present is J. D. Sweeney, who is a very popular young teacher. Misses Sallie Owens and Nellie Lowry are his able assistants.

Corning, southwest of Tehama, is the third town in the county, and is situated on a tree­less plain in the midst of a grain growing country. The town supports one weekly newspaper, The Observer. The public school is one of the best of the kind in the State. Professor Webb has been the principal for a number of years.

VINA.

If one wishes to see a vineyard—the largest in the world—he must visit that of "The Leland Stanford, Jr., University" property at Vina, near the southern part of the county. The town though small is pleasantly situated on the railroad not far from the river, which is west of town. A goodly number of business houses are found in the little hamlet.

The vineyard is the leading feature in this vicinity; about 4,000 acres are planted to vines and fruit trees. Besides a vineyard and orchard a large grain farm is owned by the same institution. The large wineries contain millions of gallons of wines and brandies. A number of thoroughbred stock is to be found on the farm. About 200 persons find employment in and about the ranch.

OTHER POINTS.

Kirkwood, near the Colusa County line, is a small village in the midst of a fine farming land. Paskenta and Henleyville are small towns southwest of Red Bluff. Champion and Belle Mills are lumber camps high up in the Sierras. Proberta is a small station south of Red Bluff.

A chrome mine of some value is operated near Lowrey's, southwest of Red Bluff.

The land west of Red Bluff is at present not very fertile. A scheme is on foot to build a reservoir on Red Bank Creek, near Jackson Eby's place, about fifteen miles west of Red Bluff. If such a plan can be found feasible and the reservoir constructed, thousands of acres will be rendered valuable which are now comparatively barren. The hills west of town afford abundant location for such reservoirs.

GRAIN AND FRUIT.

Tehama is really a great county and ranks among the first in the State in the production of grain. The area of the county is about 3;000 square miles, or about 1,920,000 acres; of these 400,000 are under cultivation and about 700,000 yet unsold. The average yield during the past few years has been about 10,000,000 bushels of grain, the average acreage being about twenty bushels of wheat and thirty bushels of barley.

Near Tehama fifty-eight bushels have been harvested and forty bushels is nothing unusual.

The land here can defy the State to equal the above.

All varieties of fruit grow in abundance. The lemon and peach, orange and pear, olive and apricot, citron and apple, grow side by side. Bartlett pears, of the finest quality, grow. Prunes and grapes also grow abundantly. Oranges at present bid fair to rival those of Riverside in Southern California, and may become a staple product.

May Tehama come to the front in the next ten years, and when the new century is ushered in may there be none to compare with grand Tehama with her glorious climate, rich soil and picturesque landscapes.

In the State Assembly Tehama County has been represented by John F. Ellison, in 1885.

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