Tehama-El Dorado-Shasta County CA Archives Biographies.....Tyler, Jonathan C. 1830 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 29, 2007, 5:32 pm Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) JONATHAN C. TYLER, prominent among the old and respected pioneers of California, was born in Pigeon Prairie, Michigan, January 11, 1830, the son of Isaac and Eleanor (Knapp) Tyler. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and his ancestors were of English origin. His mother was born in Canada, and her ancestors on the paternal side were English, and on the maternal side of German extraction. Our subject was reared and schooled in his native State until eighteen years of age, when he concluded to battle with the world on his own account. On leaving the home of his childhood he proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there down the river to Gaines' Landing, Arkansas, thence to New Orleans, intending to come to California by water; but on his arrival in that city he found that no regular vessels were sailing from that port to the Golden State; and the cholera was at that time raging fiercely as an epidemic. He remained but ten days in the Crescent City, when he returned North to St. Louis, thence to Beardstown, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for a time. In 1849 he crossed the plains by ox teams, arriving the following year at Hangtown. He became engaged in mining at various camps, his first experience being on Weber Creek, then Nevada City, Grass Valley and Boston Ravine, occupying his time in those camps the first year. Later he visited Feather River and Spanish Ranch, remaining in the latter camp some four weeks. Thence he went to what was known as Rich Bar, on Feather River, remaining there a few months. He next visited the Wyandot diggings, and from there he next went to Shasta County, where he built the old Eagle Hotel. In the fall of the same year, 1853, he came to his present place and purchased 600 acres of land, and from this period he has followed the life of a practical farmer. In 1856 he purchased a portion of the Spanish grant then owned by Robert Thombs, this being the first purchase of Spanish grant land made in the State of California. His present farm consists of 2,000 acres, located two miles north of the flourishing and prosperous town of Tehama, and is a portion of the Thombs and of the old Sicard grants, all under full cultivation and used for grain-growing and stock-raising. Mr. Tyler and Miss Mary Dement, a native of Iowa, who crossed the plains in 1853, were the first white couple married in Red Bluff, the marriage taking place March 10, 1854. They have five children living: George A., John W., Ulysses B., Sierra Nevada and Mary E. Mr. Tyler is politically a Republican, and takes an active part in politics. He also affiliates with the F. & A. M. of Molino Lodge, No. 150, of Tehama; also Commandery No. 17, K. T., of Red Bluff. Of this commandery Mr. Tyler was one of the founders. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/tehama/bios/tyler588gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb