Casey, Bridget (Sharkey)

On March 4, 1929, in the fullness of years and at the end of an active, useful and noble life, Mrs. Bridget Casey, worn out with old age, passed to the Life Beyond the grave.

She was taken ill on February 3, with the flu.  Despite all care and effort on the part of her ever-devoted son, this finally carried her off.

Mrs. Bridget Casey (nee Miss Bridget Sharkey) was born in Ireland in 1832, and at the time of her death was 96 years 3 months and 4 days old.

With some friends she came to New York in 1858, but soon moved to California, where in her early womanhood she was united in marriage to Mr. Lawrence Casey.  She and her husband moved to Sierra Valley in 1860, where the latter died in 1883, leaving her to care for a family of five children, all of whom she reared to manhood and womanhood.

Two sons survive her, one who tenderly and affectionately cared for her in her declining years.

Like many others in those early days, many perplexing conditions confronted Mrs. Casey.  But blessed by nature with a bright mind, imbued with a progressive spirit, and having an abundance of energy, she set about to establish a home in the wilds of a new country, and like all the grand old pioneers, few people can look over the broad span of 97 years with a conviction that they have performed Life's Duties as earnestly, as faithfully and as devotedly as this Christian woman did hers.

She earned a crown of glory, the prize of a noble and well-spent life.

The remains will be prepared for burial by the Rees Mortuary of Portola, funeral services being held at the Catholic Church on Thursday, March 7, at 11 P.M.

"When at last, we wait expectant,
Til this Weary Life shall cease,
When we only look beyond us
To the Shady Realm of Peace,
When we see the bright dawn
breaking
O'er the hilltops far away,
Then the heart shall know no
aching
In that calm, Eternal Day.
Peaceful rest, now Dearest Mother,
That your Life is past and done,
God has promised Life is Immortal
And it's He that bids you come.
[Unknown Newspaper, dated Beckwith, March 7, 1929. Submitted by Michael Little.]

 

 

 

Evans

Died in Long Valley , Sierra County , California , James A. Evans, aged about 50 years.

[Daily Nevada State Journal ( Reno , Nevada ) June 27,  1891. Submitted by Nancy Piper]

 

 Jenkins, Abigail

Died at St. Louis, Sierra County, June 2d, Mrs. Abigail wife of Henry Jenkins, aged 20 years

[Daily Alta California June 15 1857. Submitted by B. Ziegenmeyer]

 

 

JONES, WILLIAM EDWARD

JONES - At his residence in Sierraville, Sierra county, California. October 11, 1888, of pneumonia, William Edward Jones, a native of Accomac county, Virginia, in the 59th year of his age.

Mr. Jones, familiarly called "Paul," was one of the earliest explorers of this part of the State, having with hundreds of others in the early Spring of 1850, followed the crank, Stoddard, in search of the myth, "Gold Lake."  Paul came to California early in 1849, among the first emigrants through Mexico.  Settled down to mining first in the Southern mines, and in 1851 on Rich Bar, East Branch of Feather River, where in September 1855 he married Miss Nancy A. Said, who bore him six children, all now grown and living.  Subsequently, he removed to Summit, where he opened a hotel, and in a few years death removed his wife.  In September 1881, he married Miss Lizzie Sharkey of Sierra City, who, with her babe, survives him.

Paul Jones was one of the most generous and liberal-hearted of men.  He made many friends and always retained their friendship. He cherished the sentiment through life:  "The friends thou hast, and their adoption proved, grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel."  He was one of the best known among the pioneers of California, and those who knew him best, will cherish the memories of his good deeds through life, hold his memory dear, and many a silent tear will be shed by those of his old comrades now living, when they learn of his death.  The terrible disease was rapid in its work, and barely allowed his children time to gather around his death-bed.

The following story about the death of W.E. Jones has been handed down (via Melba Freeman and her grandmother, Clara Ellen (Jones) Roberts Bond:  "Seems Jones used to sit out on a balcony every evening early, and enjoy the view.  He caught pneumonia there.  He had always said, 'If I ever get pneumonia, just hang up my boots.'  While he was lying ill in the hotel, the Indians came to mourn his illness and knew he was dying.  They peered into the windows and milled around, moaning endlessly, 'poor Paul, poor, poor Paul....poor Paul, no more flour.'  He had been accustomed to giving them flour when they needed food in the severe wintertime snow periods." [Unknown paper, 10/12/1888. Submitted by Michael Little.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McKenzie

Died in Mohawk Valley , Cal. , August 11, Hiram W., son of John and Elvie McKenzie, aged 5 years, 1 month and 22 days.

[Reno Evening Gazette ( Reno , Nevada ) August 25, 1888. Submitted by Nancy Piper]

 

Pon

Anniversary Requiem Mass

An anniversary requiem mass for the repose of the soul of the late Mrs. Catherine Pon will be held by Rev. Father Tubman at the convent tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock.  Mrs. Pon was the wife of one of the most prominent residents of Sierra county, California . She was an estimable woman with a host of friends throughout Northern California and Nevada .  A number of relatives as well as many friends from Sierra county will be in attendance.

[Nevada State Journal ( Reno , Nevada ) February 12,  1908 . Submitted by Nancy Piper]

 

Russell

California Pioneer Died in Sierra Valley

Dave Russell, Well Known in Nevada, Suddenly Called by Death as Result of an Accident – C. T. Bender of This City Leaves for Scene

News of the sudden death, due to accident of an old time citizen of the west and pioneer of Sierra county, California was brought to Reno yesterday morning when C. T. Bender was advised that Dave Russell, aged 50 years, had passed away.  The message was brief and lacking in details, so the cause of the death in not yet ascertained beyond the fact that it was due to an accident.

The deceased is widely known in Eastern California and Nevada .  He leaves an estate valued at about $30,000 in Sierra county.

Immediately on learning the news, C. T. Bender, an old time friend of the deceased, started with a team of Sierra valley.

[Daily Nevada State Journal ( Reno , Nevada ) September 9,  1906. Submitted by Nancy Piper]

 

Squires

Early Day Bad Man Died in California

The newspapers announce the death of J. H. Squires near Forest Hill, Sierra County , California , where he had been engaged in prospecting for a great many years, says the Yerington Times.  He was aged 86 years.  Mr. Squires thrived on the Comstock during the sixties, and in 1868, after the railroad was built past Reno and a stage line established from that place to Virginia .  Mr. Squires, in company with a few others, built a little mill in Sixmile canyon, below Virginia City , and operated a little mine.  The mill used to have a little run after the robbery of any stage on the Geiger grade.

Mr. Squires was one of the Verdi car robbers, which robbery occurred near Verdi in 1869. Some of the other members were Tilton Cockrell, Jack Davis (the leader), Gilcrest, Chapman, Parsons.  Chapman was in San Francisco and telegraphed Davis in Virginia “Mollie is dead.” This meant that the treasure was aboard a certain train.  The treasure was about $10,000 and the robbers got it.  The great bulk was finally recovered by Wells Fargo & Co.’s Express, through whom it was shipped.

[Nevada State Journal ( Reno , Nevada ) March 6,  1913.Submitted by Nany Piper]