Lassen-Nevada-Plumas County CA Archives Biographies.....Byers, James D. 1825 - 
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Author: Fariss & Smith (1882)

JAMES D. BYERS.—The first sheriff of Lassen county was born near Meadville,
Pennsylvania, February 6, 1825. Five years later his father died. His attendance
at school amounted to about two years. At the age of thirteen he entered the
store of John McFann, Hartstown, Pennsylvania, and remained until 1842, when he
accompanied his mother to Licking county, Ohio. He entered the store of John
Taylor at Newark, continuing there at intervals for eight years. In the spring
of 1848 he was elected constable, at the same time acting as deputy sheriff. In
1858 he started for California with his elder brother, J. H., reaching
Sacramento in July. He opened a store in Rough and Ready, Nevada county. In the
spring of 1851 he commenced mining on Hopkins creek, Plumas county, and soon
after became one of the 76 locators of the Washington quartz-claim on Eureka
mountain. In 1854 he opened the first butcher-shop in Jamison. In the fall of
1855 he was elected on the know-nothing ticket to the office of sheriff of
Plumas county. In 1856 he was re-elected on the republican ticket. In the fall
of 1858 he came to Honey Lake valley, and bought from Dr. Slater a possessory
claim to a section of land on Baxter creek, which he has ever since considered
his home. He then engaged in the stock business. In 1862 he was appointed a
special deputy by Sheriff Pierce of Plumas county, and participated in the
events of the Sage-Brush War. He took an active part in Sacramento in having a
bill passed to create Lassen county, suggesting the name of the old pioneer
himself; and in May, 1864, was elected sheriff of the new county. In 1869 he was
the republican nominee for assemblyman, but was defeated by John Lambert. In
1873 he was elected to the same office on the same ticket. In 1868 he was
elected supervisor, and served three years. He is now engaged in raising stock
and hay, and owns, besides his home farm, 3,000 acres in the Tule Confederacy,
and 160 acres of timber near Janesville. Mr. Byers is an unmarried man,
thoroughly energetic and enterprising, and of the true pioneer character.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

San Francisco: Fariss & Smith
(1882)

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/lassen/bios/byers415nbs.txt

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