Lives of Nevada County Pioneers v5 (2024) (559 pages)

Lives of Nevada County Pioneers (version 2020) Dec 17, 1853—Henry S. Davidge, age 19, of Kentucky, was shot in a fight with L. Davidson caused by dispute over Davidge’s actions as post office clerk at Nevada City. Jan 17, 1854—Sold his interest in paper to Niles Searls and left Nevada City after Henry Davidge died. July 14, 1854—Had returned to Nevada City and resumed office as postmaster. Jan 17, 1855—Davidge attacked Nevada City attorney James Churchman and “caned” him in the face at Sacramento. 1855—Returned to Kentucky. April 8, 1859—Congress passed a bill to relieve him of debts occured while he was postmaster. Nevada Journal said he was a “protegé of Dr. Gwin.” —Edited a newspaper in Kentucky. Spring 1861—Enlisted in a rebel regiment while he was in Texas. 1861-62 —Served in Confederate Army in Virginia for a while and then deserted. Arrested by rebels in Tennessee, but released after friends intervened. —Arrested by federal authorities near Nashville for alleged disloyalty. He signed a loyalty oath and enlisted in Union Army, but deserted after a few weeks. —Joined Ray’s band of guerillas. —Captured and imprisoned at Nashville, charged with desertion and murder. Feb 27, 1864—Died in federal prison at Nashville while awaiting trial. (See Sacramento Union June 9, 1864, and Nevada Transcript June 8, 1864, which printed excerpts from Niles Searls’ letter to Addison Niles.) Mr. E. M. DAVIDSON (c1831-1858) (DEM) ca 1831—Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia. ca 1852-53—Came to Rough and Ready, Nevada County, Calif., from Lexington, Virginia, and mined. Aug 20, 1856—Member Democratic county committee. Sept 6, 1856—Delegate to Democratic county convention. Oct 22, 1856—Married Miss Ellen Corbin (from New Harmony, Indiana) at Rough and Ready. Nov 4, 1856—Elected to state assembly (DEM). Aug 26 or 28, 1857— Daughter born. June 13, 1858 Committed suicide at Rough and Ready. LOUIS DAVIDSON( -_ ) —Came to Calif. 1853 — Partner of H. Baruh at Nevada City, Nevada County. Sept 24, 1853—Withdrew from partnership with Baruh. Dec 17, 1853—Shot postoffice clerk Henry S. Davidge at Nevada City and claimed self-defense. Jan 17, 1854—Davidge died. Jan 30, 1854—Denied charge in Young America that he was guilty of murder. (See Feb. 3, 1854 Nevada Journal.) SAMUEL B. DAVIDSON (1821_) (REP, UNION) March 6, 1821—Born in New Brunswick, Canada. Brother of Frederick and William H. Davidson. 1847— Admitted to practice law in superior court of New Brunswick. 1849—Sailed to Valparaiso, Chile, where he remained for a year. June 1851—Came to San Francisco, Calif. and went to Downieville, Sierra County, and mined with James Haslam. 1853—Went to San Juan, Nevada County, and helped open the San Juan diggings before mining on Kanaka Creek. Jan 1854—He and W. E. Riley opened a store and express office at Chip’s Flat. 1857—Was mining at Chip’s and Smith’s flats. 1860—Opened a law office at Cumberland, Sierra County. Sept 4, 1861—Elected district attorney of Sierra County and moved to Downieville. June 1863—Appointed county judge by Gov. Leland Stanford. Oct 21, 1863—Elected county judge of Sierra Co. (UNION). March 26, 1864— Married Mrs. Adeline Lambert at Moore’s Flat, Nevada County. —Daughter born. Feb 2, 1867—Candidate for reelection. 1868 — Left office and practiced law in Sierra Co. WILLIAM H. DAVIDSON (_ -__) (DEM, UNION) —Came to Nevada County, Calif. Brother of Frederick and Samuel B. Davidson. Nov 2, 1856—Jailer at Nevada County jail in Nevada City when Jim Webster and the Farnsworth brothers escaped. March 14, 1860—Elected 4th Sergeant of Nevada Rifle Co. March 14, 1861—2nd Corporal of Nevada Rifle Co. May 5, 1862—Elected Nevada City marshal. July 22, 1862—Signed the Union Party petition. April 18, 1863—Elected Senior 2nd Lieut. of Nevada Light Guard when it was organized at Nevada City. May 4, 1863 —Reelected Nevada City marshal. June 3, 1863—Appointed deputy U.S. Provost Marshal for Nevada County by C. W. Rand, U.S. Marshal for Calif. His brother Samuel was appointed Sierra County Judge by Gov. Stanford. June 13, 1863—Married to Miss Elizabeth Fitzgerald at Nevada City by Rev John B. Hill. July 14, 1863— Elected sec’y of Nevada City Fire Dept. Jan 1, 1864—Appointed Nevada City agent for Calif. Stage Co. Jan 6, 1864—Town trustees discussed motion to ask him to resign as city marshal because of perceived conflict with duties as deputy U.S. Marshal and agent of Calif. Stage Co. Decision postponed one week. Jan 13, 1864—Trustees asked him to resign and fired his assistant. Constables Venard and Gray were empowered to act as assistant marshals. Jan 21, 1864—Instead of resigning, Davidson appointed Henry Knerr deputy marshal. Knerr was to work nights as well as most of day. Feb 15, 1864—Knerr had resigned and gone to Nevada Territory. March 31, 1864—His bill for $300 for 3 months salary was laid over for one week by city trustees. April 11, 1864—Sec’y of Nevada Fire Dept. May 2, 1864—Replaced by Steve Venard as Nevada City marshal. July 7, 1864—Elected foreman of Protection Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1. July 13, 1864—Nominated by Pennsylvania Engine Co. for chief engineer of fire dept. instead of Steve Venard, who said he had too much to do as city marshal. July 30, 1864—Had been elected chief engineer of Nevada Fire Dept. Oct 12, 1864—Taxable income for 1863 was $800. July 26, 1865—Informed of death of brother Fred in Calif. desert while enroute to Arizona with Co. K of Calif. Volunteers. June 1867—Stage agent at Nevada City, living on Boulder St.

Lives of Nevada County Pioneers (version 2020) Dec 17, 1853—Henry S. Davidge, age 19, of Kentucky, was shot in a fight with L. Davidson caused by dispute over Davidge’s actions as post office clerk at Nevada City. Jan 17, 1854—Sold his interest in paper to Niles Searls and left Nevada City after Henry Davidge died. July 14, 1854—Had returned to Nevada City and resumed office as postmaster. Jan 17, 1855—Davidge attacked Nevada City attorney James Churchman and “caned” him in the face at Sacramento. 1855—Returned to Kentucky. April 8, 1859—Congress passed a bill to relieve him of debts occured while he was postmaster. Nevada Journal said he was a “protegé of Dr. Gwin.” —Edited a newspaper in Kentucky. Spring 1861—Enlisted in a rebel regiment while he was in Texas. 1861-62 —Served in Confederate Army in Virginia for a while and then deserted. Arrested by rebels in Tennessee, but released after friends intervened. —Arrested by federal authorities near Nashville for alleged disloyalty. He signed a loyalty oath and enlisted in Union Army, but deserted after a few weeks. —Joined Ray’s band of guerillas. —Captured and imprisoned at Nashville, charged with desertion and murder. Feb 27, 1864—Died in federal prison at Nashville while awaiting trial. (See Sacramento Union June 9, 1864, and Nevada Transcript June 8, 1864, which printed excerpts from Niles Searls’ letter to Addison Niles.) Mr. E. M. DAVIDSON (c1831-1858) (DEM) ca 1831—Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia. ca 1852-53—Came to Rough and Ready, Nevada County, Calif., from Lexington, Virginia, and mined. Aug 20, 1856—Member Democratic county committee. Sept 6, 1856—Delegate to Democratic county convention. Oct 22, 1856—Married Miss Ellen Corbin (from New Harmony, Indiana) at Rough and Ready. Nov 4, 1856—Elected to state assembly (DEM). Aug 26 or 28, 1857— Daughter born. June 13, 1858 Committed suicide at Rough and Ready. LOUIS DAVIDSON( -_ ) —Came to Calif. 1853 — Partner of H. Baruh at Nevada City, Nevada County. Sept 24, 1853—Withdrew from partnership with Baruh. Dec 17, 1853—Shot postoffice clerk Henry S. Davidge at Nevada City and claimed self-defense. Jan 17, 1854—Davidge died. Jan 30, 1854—Denied charge in Young America that he was guilty of murder. (See Feb. 3, 1854 Nevada Journal.) SAMUEL B. DAVIDSON (1821_) (REP, UNION) March 6, 1821—Born in New Brunswick, Canada. Brother of Frederick and William H. Davidson. 1847— Admitted to practice law in superior court of New Brunswick. 1849—Sailed to Valparaiso, Chile, where he remained for a year. June 1851—Came to San Francisco, Calif. and went to Downieville, Sierra County, and mined with James Haslam. 1853—Went to San Juan, Nevada County, and helped open the San Juan diggings before mining on Kanaka Creek. Jan 1854—He and W. E. Riley opened a store and express office at Chip’s Flat. 1857—Was mining at Chip’s and Smith’s flats.

1860—Opened a law office at Cumberland, Sierra County. Sept 4, 1861—Elected district attorney of Sierra County and moved to Downieville. June 1863—Appointed county judge by Gov. Leland Stanford. Oct 21, 1863—Elected county judge of Sierra Co. (UNION). March 26, 1864— Married Mrs. Adeline Lambert at Moore’s Flat, Nevada County. —Daughter born. Feb 2, 1867—Candidate for reelection. 1868 — Left office and practiced law in Sierra Co. WILLIAM H. DAVIDSON (_ -__) (DEM, UNION) —Came to Nevada County, Calif. Brother of Frederick and Samuel B. Davidson. Nov 2, 1856—Jailer at Nevada County jail in Nevada City when Jim Webster and the Farnsworth brothers escaped. March 14, 1860—Elected 4th Sergeant of Nevada Rifle Co. March 14, 1861—2nd Corporal of Nevada Rifle Co. May 5, 1862—Elected Nevada City marshal. July 22, 1862—Signed the Union Party petition. April 18, 1863—Elected Senior 2nd Lieut. of Nevada Light Guard when it was organized at Nevada City. May 4, 1863 —Reelected Nevada City marshal. June 3, 1863—Appointed deputy U.S. Provost Marshal for Nevada County by C. W. Rand, U.S. Marshal for Calif. His brother Samuel was appointed Sierra County Judge by Gov. Stanford. June 13, 1863—Married to Miss Elizabeth Fitzgerald at Nevada City by Rev John B. Hill. July 14, 1863— Elected sec’y of Nevada City Fire Dept. Jan 1, 1864—Appointed Nevada City agent for Calif. Stage Co. Jan 6, 1864—Town trustees discussed motion to ask him to resign as city marshal because of perceived conflict with duties as deputy U.S. Marshal and agent of Calif. Stage Co. Decision postponed one week. Jan 13, 1864—Trustees asked him to resign and fired his assistant. Constables Venard and Gray were empowered to act as assistant marshals. Jan 21, 1864—Instead of resigning, Davidson appointed Henry Knerr deputy marshal. Knerr was to work nights as well as most of day. Feb 15, 1864—Knerr had resigned and gone to Nevada Territory. March 31, 1864—His bill for $300 for 3 months salary was laid over for one week by city trustees. April 11, 1864—Sec’y of Nevada Fire Dept. May 2, 1864—Replaced by Steve Venard as Nevada City marshal. July 7, 1864—Elected foreman of Protection Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1. July 13, 1864—Nominated by Pennsylvania Engine Co. for chief engineer of fire dept. instead of Steve Venard, who said he had too much to do as city marshal. July 30, 1864—Had been elected chief engineer of Nevada Fire Dept. Oct 12, 1864—Taxable income for 1863 was $800. July 26, 1865—Informed of death of brother Fred in Calif. desert while enroute to Arizona with Co. K of Calif. Volunteers. June 1867—Stage agent at Nevada City, living on Boulder St.