LASSEN COUNTY PIONEER SOCIETY

From the "Lassen Advocate" of February 16, 1882:

"At a meeting of a number of the old settlers of Honey Lake Valley at Johnston & Wood's Hall, in Susanville, February 14th, 1882, for the purpose of taking into consideration the practicability of organizing a pioneer society, Dr. H. S. Borrette called the meeting to order, and on motion of A. A. Smith, Hon. J. D. Byers was chosen chairman; W. H. Crane was selected as secretary. A brief but feeling address was made by the chairman, concluding with the statement that the meeting had been called for the purpose of, as he understood it, organizing a society of pioneers who settled in the territory of what is now Lassen County prior to January 1, 1860.

''Dr. H. S. Borrette read the following paper: 'The territory now forming the boundary of Lassen County was but a few short years ago a wilderness occupied by the Piute and Washoe Indians. Up to the year 1856 but very few whites had permanently settled in Honey Lake Valley, and those were principally occupied in stock raising or as traders— yet these few settlers formed a nucleus of pioneers battling for years with the savages and undergoing the many privations and annoyances of border life, until they were finally joined by others, making the settlement of sufficient strength to compel the Red Man to retire, and give to the hardy pioneer peaceable possession of the territory. But as the years rolled on—from the many exigencies and diversities of interests—many of the first settlers removed from our midst, and the few that remain are being absorbed in the general mass and are becoming lost to view; but the ties of friendship that bound them together as pioneers for the protection of life and property can never be effaced from memory; and although seas and continents may separate them, the kindest thoughts and well wishes with the hand of friendship will always he extended to all the old friends of pioneer days; and to this end it is desirable that a pioneer association or club be formed, to be known as the Lassen County Pioneer Association, and the object to perpetuate and cement the friendship of the long-ago.'

"E. V. Spencer being called upon spoke in favor of an organization, and alluded with feeling to many of the incidents of early settlement, and the differences caused by them, and hoped that all the old settlers would join in forming the society, and in meeting together once a year, and recounting and keeping fresh the many occurrences of border life.

"A. A. Smith, Dr. Z. N. Spalding, N. Clark, Dr. P. Chamberlain, D. Titherington, E. G. Bangham, and W. H. Crane spoke briefly in favor of the organization, and on motion a committee consisting of W. H. Crane, E. V. Spencer, and Dr. M. P. Chamberlain was appointed to draft a constitution and a code of by-laws, to be submitted to a meeting to be held March 4, 1882, at the same place.
"There were present of the old settlers William H. Clark, William Dow, Robert Johnston, Loyal Woodstock, Leroy Arnold, Edward Rice, Samuel R. Hall, Frank S. Strong, John Baxter, James D. Byers, William H. Crane, Dr. H. S. Borrette, E. V. Spencer, N. Clark, Dr. P. Chamberlain, David Titherington, E. G. Bangham, A. A. Smith, Dr. Z. N. Spalding, Thomas J. Mulroney, Dr. M. P. Chamberlain, J. E. Bass, and A. B. Jenison."

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From the "Lassen Advocate" of March 9, 1882:
"The Old Timers Second Meeting Of The Lassen County Pioneer Club

"At a meeting of the Pioneers of Lassen County, held at the Steward House Hall, March 4th, 1882, James D. Byers presided and W. H. Crane acted as Secretary.

"W. H. Crane, from the committee on Constitution and By-Laws, reported a code of laws which after some amendments, principally as to dates, was adopted.

"The following were elected officers for the first term: James D. Byers, President; E. V. Spencer and N. Clark, vice-presidents; Richard D. Bass, Treasurer; Wright P. Hall, Secretary; L. N. Breed, A. A. Smith, and Dr. Z. N. Spalding, Trustees.

'' On motion of L. N. Breed a committee of Three, consisting of W. P. Hall, James P. Sharp, and William Dow, was appointed, to whom all applications for membership are to be referred.''

The following became members of the Society: James D. Byers, Frank S. Strong, John C. Davis, John Baxter, Jerry Tyler, David Titherington, Dr. Z. N. Spalding, Dr. P. Chamberlain, L. N. Breed, Dr. H. S. Borrette, N. Clark, Loyal Woodstock, James P. Sharp, Dr. M. P. Chamberlain, A. G. Eppstein, William H. Clark, Robert Johnston, Richard D. Bass, William Dow, George W. Fry, Stephen S. Bass, John Edward Bass, Wright P. Hall, Eber G. Bangham, Thomas J. Mulroney, Albert A. Smith, Leroy Arnold, John Lowe, Jr., Ephraim V. Spencer, Samuel R. Hall, Philip Boody, Davis C. Hall, William H. Crane, and George Greeno.

Article 1 of the Constitution and By-Laws was as follows: '' This organization shall be known as the Lassen County Pioneer Society."

Article 2 was "Eligibility to membership shall consist of being a male citizen who was born or actually settled within the territory of what is now Lassen County prior to July 1st, 1860."

It will be observed that only males were considered to be pioneers. The writer didn't follow this rule, but put in the names of the women pioneers also.

Source: "HISTORY of LASSEN COUNTY CALIFORNIA..." By ASA MERRILL FAIRFIELD, 1916
Submitted by K. Torp BACK