Benjamin Burrell Baugh, Lawrence County ‘49er in the “Wild” West
(c) 2018, Ross J Cameron
Benjamin Burrell Baugh (1) was born August 18, 1827 (2), in Powhatan County, Virginia , the first child of Archibald Bolling Baugh and Caroline E. Wash. The A. B. Baugh family moved to Amelia County, Virginia by 1828. The Baughs had four more children while living in Virginia: Ann Eliza “Middy”, born 1829; Mariah Boland “Prissy”, born April 27, 1831; Sarah F., born May 19, 1833; Andrew Jackson “Jack”, born July 25, 1836. In 1837 they moved to southwest Missouri and settled along Spring River in what was then Spring River Township, Barry County. When the land was opened for sale by the Federal government in September, 1839, A B. Baugh pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 3, Township 27 North, Range 27 West on % Sep 1839. After moving to Missouri they had two more sons: George Henry, born ca. 1838-1839, and William Edward [a/k/a Eggleston], born April 2, 1843. Caroline E. (Wash) Baugh died in April 1843, shortly after William’s birth and was buried on the family farm. When Lawrence County was organized February 14, 1845, the Baugh farm was part Mount Vernon Township in the newly organized county. Their farm was located about three miles west of the new county seat of Mount Vernon. In the 1850 Federal census, Benjamin Baugh, age 22, was listed in his father’s household with his younger brothers and sisters. However Benjamin probably was not living in Lawrence County in 1850 but was reported there while temporarily on his "Gold Rush" trip and expected to return home.
Benjamin B. Baugh was one of those argonautic '49ers drawn by gold fever to California. He was twenty-one years old when he and eight other Lawrence County men -- James R. Williamson, also twenty-one; Winfield S. M. Wright, twenty-eight and married; Joseph Wright, twenty-three; Leland Mullins, thirty-six and married; Elias Seles, age and identity unknown; Martin Bobbitt, thirty-nine and married; William Hill, twenty-three; and Russell Ferguson, twenty-eight -- left for the California Gold Rush on April 22, 1849, according to the story as it was told many years later. The only reason that this date is questioned is that all of these men, except for the unidentified Elias Seles, were listed as residents in the 1850 census of Lawrence County. It is possible that their families included them in the household even though they had gone to California because Lawrence County was still considered their residence while they were on this trip. Or it is possible that their departure date was incorrectly remembered or reported when they told their story many years later.
It was a six-month trip to the day through Black Rock Springs country, down the Pitt River, across Big Meadows, down the Feather River and over Lassen Meadows into the Sacramento Valley to Bidwell's Bar, a gold mining camp in Butte County, California, which lay at the end of the California Trail. This camp was founded by John Bidwell, who discovered gold near the Middle Fork of the Feather River in 1848. Oxen and sturdy legs provided the power for the trip. Benjamin first mined at Stringtown, on the south fork of the Feather River, in Butte County, east of present-day Oroville. He erected the first house in Stringtown. The last remnants of Stringtown were submerged under Lake Oroville in 1968. He mined at various camps in Yuba and other counties until 1855, when he moved northeast to Plumas County, where he resided for all but one year of the remainder of his life. He spent a short time mining or engaging in some activity at Rich Bar on the East Branch of the North Fork Feather River before moving to Mount Pleasant, also known as Mountain House No. 2, on the ridge top between Rich Bar and Spanish Ranch. He was a saloon owner at Mount Pleasant until about 1860, although his occupation was listed as gold miner in the 1860 census. Perhaps he considered gold mining to be his career and operating a saloon just a means of supporting himself. In late 1860, during the Comstock Lode excitement, he went to Virginia City, Utah Territory (later Nevada) and remained there about a year before returning to Plumas County.
When he returned to Plumas County, he went to Round Valley, near Greenville, where there was a gold strike. While there, he became embroiled in a bitter card game that resulted in the shooting death of a man. On the evening of January 18, 1862, Baugh was dealing monte at Muma & Hughes' Saloon. Jack Crawford was betting and losing money at a rapid rate. He wanted credit in order to continue playing the game but was refused. Crawford then began calling Baugh rough names. Baugh responded by beating Crawford over the head with a wooden stool. The stool broke and Baugh was left holding only one leg of it. He continued beating Crawford with the stool leg. Someone intervened between them, and Baugh drew his pistol, known as a 'patent five shooter.' Bystander John R. Holt grasped the gun, exclaiming, 'Don't shoot!' Baugh freed his right arm from Holt's grasp, and began hitting Holt over the head with the pistol. The two men scuffled and fell to the floor of the saloon. Holt tried to get on his feet. He was halfway up when Baugh, still lying on the floor, aimed and fired his pistol at Holt, killing him. Baugh was taken into custody and a complaint was filed January 29, 1862, for the murder of Holt. On May 7, 1862, a complaint was also filed against Baugh for dealing monte for money on the night of the shooting, because this was illegal to do on Sunday. Baugh was found not guilty of murder and released. After this he moved to Crescent Mills where he operated a saloon independently and in partnership over the next 20 or so years. In the newspapers, it is listed as Baugh & Frazer, Baugh & Firmstone, Baugh & Davis, and Harris & Baugh at various times. He and Davis also operated a saloon at Indian. He engaged principally in the liquor business at Meadow Valley and at Crescent. In 1885, he was a hotel keeper in Quincy, the county seat of Plumas County.
According to a newspaper story in May 1883, Ben Baugh had been visiting family in Missouri and started back to Plumas, but was robbed of his money before he purchased his ticket, so his return was delayed until the fall. This was probably the last time his family in Missouri saw him. Ben never married. He was a Democrat in politics. He died December 31, 1885, at Shoofly, which is now called Indian Falls, twelve miles north of Quincy. His obituary said “Whatever may be said of his irregular habits, Ben was kind hearted and generous to a fault, ‘peace to his ashes.’” He was buried at Crescent Mills Cemetery in Plumas County. His tombstone was repaired and reset in 1996.
Sources:
Powhatan County, Virginia, Marriage Records.
Richmond Enquirer, 22 Feb 1827.
Powhatan County, Virginia, property tax lists, 1827-1837.
1830 Federal Population Census, Virginia, Amelia County, p. 160, line 8.
General Land Office Records, Land Entry Papers, Springfield, Missouri, File 2718.
1840 Census, Missouri, Barry County, Spring River Township, p. 20, line 18.
1850 Census, Missouri, Lawrence County, Mount Vernon Township, p. 10, line 40 - p. 11,
line 5.
1860 Census, California, Plumas County, Mount Pleasant Township, Meadow Valley P. O.,
14 Jun 1860, sheet 911, p. 13, line 18, dwelling and family 232.
1870 Census, California, Plumas Co., Indian Township, Crescent Mills P. O., 30 Jul 1870,
sheet 18B, p. 20, line 12, dwelling 1175, family 1191.
1880 Census, California, Plumas County, Indian Township, E. D. 35, 1 Jun 1880, sheet 453A,
p. 1, line 8, dwelling and family 2.
Great Register [Voter Registration Book], Plumas County, California, 1867.
Great Register [Voter Registration Book], Plumas County, California, 1879.
Quincy, Plumas County, California, City Directory of 1885.
“Poll Lists—Plumas Co., Crescent Election District, The Plumas National [Quincy, CA], 17 Aug 1867, Vol. 1, No. 51, p. 4, col. 1.
“Poll Lists—Plumas Co., Judicial Election Oct. 16, 1867, Crescent Election District, 21 Sep 1867, Vol. 2, No. 5, p. 3, col. 4.
Plumas National [Quincy, CA],
Saturday, 22 Jan 1876, Vol. 10, No. 18, p. 3, col. 2:
Saturday, 15 Apr 1876, Vol. 10, No. 30, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 5 Aug 1876, Vol. 10, No. 46, p. ?, col. ?:
Saturday, 17 Feb 1877, Vol. 11, No. 22, p. 7, col. 1:
Saturday, 31 Mar 1877, Vol. 11, No. 28, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 5 May 1877, Vol. 11, No. 33, p. 3, col. 5:
Saturday, 12 May 1877, Vol. 11, No. 34, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 3 Nov 1877, Vol. 12, No. 7, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 2 Mar 1878, Vol.12, No. 22, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 6 Apr 1878, Vol. 12, No. 29, p. 3, col. 3:
Saturday, 16 Aug 1879, Vol. 13, No. 48, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 20 Mar 1880, Vol. 14, No. 27, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 21 Aug 1880, Vol. 14, No. 49, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 20 Nov 1880, Vol. 15, No. 10, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 27 Nov 1880, Vol. 15, No. 11, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 11 Dec 1880, Vol. 15, No. 13, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 19 Mar 1881, Vol. 15, No. 27, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 12 May 1883, Vol. 17, No. 35, p. 3, col. 3:
Benjamin B. Baugh, obituary, Plumas National [Quincy, CA], Sat., 2 Jan 1886, p. 3, col. 3.
Benjamin B. Baugh, obituary, Greenville Weekly Bulletin [CA], Wed., 6 Jan 1886, p. 3, col. 4.
“Just Fifty Years Ago,” Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Saturday, April 22, 1899.
“Just Fifty Years Ago,” Lawrence County Chieftain, May 11, 1899.
Indian Valley Record, Nov. 26, 1996.
Tombstone inscription, Crescent Mills Cemetery, Plumas County, California.
Lawrence County, Missouri, Tombstone Inscriptions, Vol. 2, Mount Vernon and Hoberg
Townships, Mount Vernon IOOF Cemetery, p. 42; Williams Cemetery, p. 77;
Neeley Graveyard, p. 142; Hoberg Cemetery, p. 146.
Mount Olive Church Cemetery, Taney Co., Missouri, http://www.wrvhs.org/taney/mtolive.html.
Benjamin B. Baugh file, Plumas County Museum, Quincy, California.
Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, 1882, and
biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers, Berkeley, CA: reprint by
Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310.
Reprint Lawrence County Section of Goodspeed’s Newton, Lawrence, Barry and McDonald
Counties History, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888, reprint, Cassville, Mo.: Litho
Printers, 1973, pp. 12, 16, 172-173.
The Ozark Region: Its History and Its People, Vol. 1, pp. 245, 273, 289.
“Archibald Boland Baugh,” Lawrence County, Missouri, History, Mount Vernon, Mo.:
Lawrence County Historical Society, 1974, p. 444.
“Some Early Settlers,” Lawrence County, Missouri, History, Mount Vernon, Mo.: Lawrence
County Historical Society, 1974, p. 6.
Reference Notes.
(1) The sources for Benjamin B. Baugh’s middle name are the Great Register, 1867, Plumas County, California, and the Great Register, 1879, Plumas County, California, both of which give his full name as Benjamin Burral Baugh. A second entry in the Great Register of 1879 spells it Burril. His middle name is given as Burrell in the "Poll Lists - Plumas County. Crescent Election District,” published in The Plumas National [Quincy, CA], Aug. 17, 1867, Vol. 1, No. 51, p. 4, col. 1, which is what is used in his file at the Plumas County Museum and in a 1996 local newspaper article about him.
(2) Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers, Berkeley, CA, 1882, reprint by Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310. His tombstone gives his date of birth as 23 August 1827. Although the county history biographies often contain errors, I have decided to use the date that he likely provided for his published biographical sketch rather than the one inscribed on his tombstone after his death based on information given by others.
Reproduction of Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, 1882, and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers. Berkeley, CA: Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310.
"B. B. Baugh, son of A. B. and C. L. Baugh, was born in Powhatan county, Virginia, August 18, 1827. At the age of twenty-two he became one of the argonautic '49ers who crossed the plains to the Pacific coast, and first mined at Stringtown, on the south fork of the Feather river, in the winter of 1849, being the one to erect the first house in the place. He mined at various camps until 1855, when he came to Plumas county, where he has since resided, with the exception of a year spent in Virginia City, Nevada. He has been engaged principally in the liquor business at Meadow valley, and at Crescent, his present home. In politics he is democratic."
[Note: His date of birth is five days earlier than that given on his tombstone. His mother’s initials were C. E. not C. L.]
(c) 2018, Ross J Cameron
Benjamin Burrell Baugh (1) was born August 18, 1827 (2), in Powhatan County, Virginia , the first child of Archibald Bolling Baugh and Caroline E. Wash. The A. B. Baugh family moved to Amelia County, Virginia by 1828. The Baughs had four more children while living in Virginia: Ann Eliza “Middy”, born 1829; Mariah Boland “Prissy”, born April 27, 1831; Sarah F., born May 19, 1833; Andrew Jackson “Jack”, born July 25, 1836. In 1837 they moved to southwest Missouri and settled along Spring River in what was then Spring River Township, Barry County. When the land was opened for sale by the Federal government in September, 1839, A B. Baugh pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 3, Township 27 North, Range 27 West on % Sep 1839. After moving to Missouri they had two more sons: George Henry, born ca. 1838-1839, and William Edward [a/k/a Eggleston], born April 2, 1843. Caroline E. (Wash) Baugh died in April 1843, shortly after William’s birth and was buried on the family farm. When Lawrence County was organized February 14, 1845, the Baugh farm was part Mount Vernon Township in the newly organized county. Their farm was located about three miles west of the new county seat of Mount Vernon. In the 1850 Federal census, Benjamin Baugh, age 22, was listed in his father’s household with his younger brothers and sisters. However Benjamin probably was not living in Lawrence County in 1850 but was reported there while temporarily on his "Gold Rush" trip and expected to return home.
Benjamin B. Baugh was one of those argonautic '49ers drawn by gold fever to California. He was twenty-one years old when he and eight other Lawrence County men -- James R. Williamson, also twenty-one; Winfield S. M. Wright, twenty-eight and married; Joseph Wright, twenty-three; Leland Mullins, thirty-six and married; Elias Seles, age and identity unknown; Martin Bobbitt, thirty-nine and married; William Hill, twenty-three; and Russell Ferguson, twenty-eight -- left for the California Gold Rush on April 22, 1849, according to the story as it was told many years later. The only reason that this date is questioned is that all of these men, except for the unidentified Elias Seles, were listed as residents in the 1850 census of Lawrence County. It is possible that their families included them in the household even though they had gone to California because Lawrence County was still considered their residence while they were on this trip. Or it is possible that their departure date was incorrectly remembered or reported when they told their story many years later.
It was a six-month trip to the day through Black Rock Springs country, down the Pitt River, across Big Meadows, down the Feather River and over Lassen Meadows into the Sacramento Valley to Bidwell's Bar, a gold mining camp in Butte County, California, which lay at the end of the California Trail. This camp was founded by John Bidwell, who discovered gold near the Middle Fork of the Feather River in 1848. Oxen and sturdy legs provided the power for the trip. Benjamin first mined at Stringtown, on the south fork of the Feather River, in Butte County, east of present-day Oroville. He erected the first house in Stringtown. The last remnants of Stringtown were submerged under Lake Oroville in 1968. He mined at various camps in Yuba and other counties until 1855, when he moved northeast to Plumas County, where he resided for all but one year of the remainder of his life. He spent a short time mining or engaging in some activity at Rich Bar on the East Branch of the North Fork Feather River before moving to Mount Pleasant, also known as Mountain House No. 2, on the ridge top between Rich Bar and Spanish Ranch. He was a saloon owner at Mount Pleasant until about 1860, although his occupation was listed as gold miner in the 1860 census. Perhaps he considered gold mining to be his career and operating a saloon just a means of supporting himself. In late 1860, during the Comstock Lode excitement, he went to Virginia City, Utah Territory (later Nevada) and remained there about a year before returning to Plumas County.
When he returned to Plumas County, he went to Round Valley, near Greenville, where there was a gold strike. While there, he became embroiled in a bitter card game that resulted in the shooting death of a man. On the evening of January 18, 1862, Baugh was dealing monte at Muma & Hughes' Saloon. Jack Crawford was betting and losing money at a rapid rate. He wanted credit in order to continue playing the game but was refused. Crawford then began calling Baugh rough names. Baugh responded by beating Crawford over the head with a wooden stool. The stool broke and Baugh was left holding only one leg of it. He continued beating Crawford with the stool leg. Someone intervened between them, and Baugh drew his pistol, known as a 'patent five shooter.' Bystander John R. Holt grasped the gun, exclaiming, 'Don't shoot!' Baugh freed his right arm from Holt's grasp, and began hitting Holt over the head with the pistol. The two men scuffled and fell to the floor of the saloon. Holt tried to get on his feet. He was halfway up when Baugh, still lying on the floor, aimed and fired his pistol at Holt, killing him. Baugh was taken into custody and a complaint was filed January 29, 1862, for the murder of Holt. On May 7, 1862, a complaint was also filed against Baugh for dealing monte for money on the night of the shooting, because this was illegal to do on Sunday. Baugh was found not guilty of murder and released. After this he moved to Crescent Mills where he operated a saloon independently and in partnership over the next 20 or so years. In the newspapers, it is listed as Baugh & Frazer, Baugh & Firmstone, Baugh & Davis, and Harris & Baugh at various times. He and Davis also operated a saloon at Indian. He engaged principally in the liquor business at Meadow Valley and at Crescent. In 1885, he was a hotel keeper in Quincy, the county seat of Plumas County.
According to a newspaper story in May 1883, Ben Baugh had been visiting family in Missouri and started back to Plumas, but was robbed of his money before he purchased his ticket, so his return was delayed until the fall. This was probably the last time his family in Missouri saw him. Ben never married. He was a Democrat in politics. He died December 31, 1885, at Shoofly, which is now called Indian Falls, twelve miles north of Quincy. His obituary said “Whatever may be said of his irregular habits, Ben was kind hearted and generous to a fault, ‘peace to his ashes.’” He was buried at Crescent Mills Cemetery in Plumas County. His tombstone was repaired and reset in 1996.
Sources:
Powhatan County, Virginia, Marriage Records.
Richmond Enquirer, 22 Feb 1827.
Powhatan County, Virginia, property tax lists, 1827-1837.
1830 Federal Population Census, Virginia, Amelia County, p. 160, line 8.
General Land Office Records, Land Entry Papers, Springfield, Missouri, File 2718.
1840 Census, Missouri, Barry County, Spring River Township, p. 20, line 18.
1850 Census, Missouri, Lawrence County, Mount Vernon Township, p. 10, line 40 - p. 11,
line 5.
1860 Census, California, Plumas County, Mount Pleasant Township, Meadow Valley P. O.,
14 Jun 1860, sheet 911, p. 13, line 18, dwelling and family 232.
1870 Census, California, Plumas Co., Indian Township, Crescent Mills P. O., 30 Jul 1870,
sheet 18B, p. 20, line 12, dwelling 1175, family 1191.
1880 Census, California, Plumas County, Indian Township, E. D. 35, 1 Jun 1880, sheet 453A,
p. 1, line 8, dwelling and family 2.
Great Register [Voter Registration Book], Plumas County, California, 1867.
Great Register [Voter Registration Book], Plumas County, California, 1879.
Quincy, Plumas County, California, City Directory of 1885.
“Poll Lists—Plumas Co., Crescent Election District, The Plumas National [Quincy, CA], 17 Aug 1867, Vol. 1, No. 51, p. 4, col. 1.
“Poll Lists—Plumas Co., Judicial Election Oct. 16, 1867, Crescent Election District, 21 Sep 1867, Vol. 2, No. 5, p. 3, col. 4.
Plumas National [Quincy, CA],
Saturday, 22 Jan 1876, Vol. 10, No. 18, p. 3, col. 2:
Saturday, 15 Apr 1876, Vol. 10, No. 30, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 5 Aug 1876, Vol. 10, No. 46, p. ?, col. ?:
Saturday, 17 Feb 1877, Vol. 11, No. 22, p. 7, col. 1:
Saturday, 31 Mar 1877, Vol. 11, No. 28, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 5 May 1877, Vol. 11, No. 33, p. 3, col. 5:
Saturday, 12 May 1877, Vol. 11, No. 34, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 3 Nov 1877, Vol. 12, No. 7, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 2 Mar 1878, Vol.12, No. 22, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 6 Apr 1878, Vol. 12, No. 29, p. 3, col. 3:
Saturday, 16 Aug 1879, Vol. 13, No. 48, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 20 Mar 1880, Vol. 14, No. 27, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 21 Aug 1880, Vol. 14, No. 49, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 20 Nov 1880, Vol. 15, No. 10, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 27 Nov 1880, Vol. 15, No. 11, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 11 Dec 1880, Vol. 15, No. 13, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 19 Mar 1881, Vol. 15, No. 27, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 12 May 1883, Vol. 17, No. 35, p. 3, col. 3:
Benjamin B. Baugh, obituary, Plumas National [Quincy, CA], Sat., 2 Jan 1886, p. 3, col. 3.
Benjamin B. Baugh, obituary, Greenville Weekly Bulletin [CA], Wed., 6 Jan 1886, p. 3, col. 4.
“Just Fifty Years Ago,” Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Saturday, April 22, 1899.
“Just Fifty Years Ago,” Lawrence County Chieftain, May 11, 1899.
Indian Valley Record, Nov. 26, 1996.
Tombstone inscription, Crescent Mills Cemetery, Plumas County, California.
Lawrence County, Missouri, Tombstone Inscriptions, Vol. 2, Mount Vernon and Hoberg
Townships, Mount Vernon IOOF Cemetery, p. 42; Williams Cemetery, p. 77;
Neeley Graveyard, p. 142; Hoberg Cemetery, p. 146.
Mount Olive Church Cemetery, Taney Co., Missouri, http://www.wrvhs.org/taney/mtolive.html.
Benjamin B. Baugh file, Plumas County Museum, Quincy, California.
Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, 1882, and
biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers, Berkeley, CA: reprint by
Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310.
Reprint Lawrence County Section of Goodspeed’s Newton, Lawrence, Barry and McDonald
Counties History, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888, reprint, Cassville, Mo.: Litho
Printers, 1973, pp. 12, 16, 172-173.
The Ozark Region: Its History and Its People, Vol. 1, pp. 245, 273, 289.
“Archibald Boland Baugh,” Lawrence County, Missouri, History, Mount Vernon, Mo.:
Lawrence County Historical Society, 1974, p. 444.
“Some Early Settlers,” Lawrence County, Missouri, History, Mount Vernon, Mo.: Lawrence
County Historical Society, 1974, p. 6.
Reference Notes.
(1) The sources for Benjamin B. Baugh’s middle name are the Great Register, 1867, Plumas County, California, and the Great Register, 1879, Plumas County, California, both of which give his full name as Benjamin Burral Baugh. A second entry in the Great Register of 1879 spells it Burril. His middle name is given as Burrell in the "Poll Lists - Plumas County. Crescent Election District,” published in The Plumas National [Quincy, CA], Aug. 17, 1867, Vol. 1, No. 51, p. 4, col. 1, which is what is used in his file at the Plumas County Museum and in a 1996 local newspaper article about him.
(2) Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers, Berkeley, CA, 1882, reprint by Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310. His tombstone gives his date of birth as 23 August 1827. Although the county history biographies often contain errors, I have decided to use the date that he likely provided for his published biographical sketch rather than the one inscribed on his tombstone after his death based on information given by others.
Reproduction of Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, 1882, and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers. Berkeley, CA: Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310.
"B. B. Baugh, son of A. B. and C. L. Baugh, was born in Powhatan county, Virginia, August 18, 1827. At the age of twenty-two he became one of the argonautic '49ers who crossed the plains to the Pacific coast, and first mined at Stringtown, on the south fork of the Feather river, in the winter of 1849, being the one to erect the first house in the place. He mined at various camps until 1855, when he came to Plumas county, where he has since resided, with the exception of a year spent in Virginia City, Nevada. He has been engaged principally in the liquor business at Meadow valley, and at Crescent, his present home. In politics he is democratic."
[Note: His date of birth is five days earlier than that given on his tombstone. His mother’s initials were C. E. not C. L.]
Benjamin Burrell Baugh, Lawrence County ‘49er in the “Wild” West
(c) 2018, Ross J Cameron
Benjamin Burrell Baugh (1) was born August 18, 1827 (2), in Powhatan County, Virginia , the first child of Archibald Bolling Baugh and Caroline E. Wash. The A. B. Baugh family moved to Amelia County, Virginia by 1828. The Baughs had four more children while living in Virginia: Ann Eliza “Middy”, born 1829; Mariah Boland “Prissy”, born April 27, 1831; Sarah F., born May 19, 1833; Andrew Jackson “Jack”, born July 25, 1836. In 1837 they moved to southwest Missouri and settled along Spring River in what was then Spring River Township, Barry County. When the land was opened for sale by the Federal government in September, 1839, A B. Baugh pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 3, Township 27 North, Range 27 West on % Sep 1839. After moving to Missouri they had two more sons: George Henry, born ca. 1838-1839, and William Edward [a/k/a Eggleston], born April 2, 1843. Caroline E. (Wash) Baugh died in April 1843, shortly after William’s birth and was buried on the family farm. When Lawrence County was organized February 14, 1845, the Baugh farm was part Mount Vernon Township in the newly organized county. Their farm was located about three miles west of the new county seat of Mount Vernon. In the 1850 Federal census, Benjamin Baugh, age 22, was listed in his father’s household with his younger brothers and sisters. However Benjamin probably was not living in Lawrence County in 1850 but was reported there while temporarily on his "Gold Rush" trip and expected to return home.
Benjamin B. Baugh was one of those argonautic '49ers drawn by gold fever to California. He was twenty-one years old when he and eight other Lawrence County men -- James R. Williamson, also twenty-one; Winfield S. M. Wright, twenty-eight and married; Joseph Wright, twenty-three; Leland Mullins, thirty-six and married; Elias Seles, age and identity unknown; Martin Bobbitt, thirty-nine and married; William Hill, twenty-three; and Russell Ferguson, twenty-eight -- left for the California Gold Rush on April 22, 1849, according to the story as it was told many years later. The only reason that this date is questioned is that all of these men, except for the unidentified Elias Seles, were listed as residents in the 1850 census of Lawrence County. It is possible that their families included them in the household even though they had gone to California because Lawrence County was still considered their residence while they were on this trip. Or it is possible that their departure date was incorrectly remembered or reported when they told their story many years later.
It was a six-month trip to the day through Black Rock Springs country, down the Pitt River, across Big Meadows, down the Feather River and over Lassen Meadows into the Sacramento Valley to Bidwell's Bar, a gold mining camp in Butte County, California, which lay at the end of the California Trail. This camp was founded by John Bidwell, who discovered gold near the Middle Fork of the Feather River in 1848. Oxen and sturdy legs provided the power for the trip. Benjamin first mined at Stringtown, on the south fork of the Feather River, in Butte County, east of present-day Oroville. He erected the first house in Stringtown. The last remnants of Stringtown were submerged under Lake Oroville in 1968. He mined at various camps in Yuba and other counties until 1855, when he moved northeast to Plumas County, where he resided for all but one year of the remainder of his life. He spent a short time mining or engaging in some activity at Rich Bar on the East Branch of the North Fork Feather River before moving to Mount Pleasant, also known as Mountain House No. 2, on the ridge top between Rich Bar and Spanish Ranch. He was a saloon owner at Mount Pleasant until about 1860, although his occupation was listed as gold miner in the 1860 census. Perhaps he considered gold mining to be his career and operating a saloon just a means of supporting himself. In late 1860, during the Comstock Lode excitement, he went to Virginia City, Utah Territory (later Nevada) and remained there about a year before returning to Plumas County.
When he returned to Plumas County, he went to Round Valley, near Greenville, where there was a gold strike. While there, he became embroiled in a bitter card game that resulted in the shooting death of a man. On the evening of January 18, 1862, Baugh was dealing monte at Muma & Hughes' Saloon. Jack Crawford was betting and losing money at a rapid rate. He wanted credit in order to continue playing the game but was refused. Crawford then began calling Baugh rough names. Baugh responded by beating Crawford over the head with a wooden stool. The stool broke and Baugh was left holding only one leg of it. He continued beating Crawford with the stool leg. Someone intervened between them, and Baugh drew his pistol, known as a 'patent five shooter.' Bystander John R. Holt grasped the gun, exclaiming, 'Don't shoot!' Baugh freed his right arm from Holt's grasp, and began hitting Holt over the head with the pistol. The two men scuffled and fell to the floor of the saloon. Holt tried to get on his feet. He was halfway up when Baugh, still lying on the floor, aimed and fired his pistol at Holt, killing him. Baugh was taken into custody and a complaint was filed January 29, 1862, for the murder of Holt. On May 7, 1862, a complaint was also filed against Baugh for dealing monte for money on the night of the shooting, because this was illegal to do on Sunday. Baugh was found not guilty of murder and released. After this he moved to Crescent Mills where he operated a saloon independently and in partnership over the next 20 or so years. In the newspapers, it is listed as Baugh & Frazer, Baugh & Firmstone, Baugh & Davis, and Harris & Baugh at various times. He and Davis also operated a saloon at Indian. He engaged principally in the liquor business at Meadow Valley and at Crescent. In 1885, he was a hotel keeper in Quincy, the county seat of Plumas County.
According to a newspaper story in May 1883, Ben Baugh had been visiting family in Missouri and started back to Plumas, but was robbed of his money before he purchased his ticket, so his return was delayed until the fall. This was probably the last time his family in Missouri saw him. Ben never married. He was a Democrat in politics. He died December 31, 1885, at Shoofly, which is now called Indian Falls, twelve miles north of Quincy. His obituary said “Whatever may be said of his irregular habits, Ben was kind hearted and generous to a fault, ‘peace to his ashes.’” He was buried at Crescent Mills Cemetery in Plumas County. His tombstone was repaired and reset in 1996.
Sources:
Powhatan County, Virginia, Marriage Records.
Richmond Enquirer, 22 Feb 1827.
Powhatan County, Virginia, property tax lists, 1827-1837.
1830 Federal Population Census, Virginia, Amelia County, p. 160, line 8.
General Land Office Records, Land Entry Papers, Springfield, Missouri, File 2718.
1840 Census, Missouri, Barry County, Spring River Township, p. 20, line 18.
1850 Census, Missouri, Lawrence County, Mount Vernon Township, p. 10, line 40 - p. 11,
line 5.
1860 Census, California, Plumas County, Mount Pleasant Township, Meadow Valley P. O.,
14 Jun 1860, sheet 911, p. 13, line 18, dwelling and family 232.
1870 Census, California, Plumas Co., Indian Township, Crescent Mills P. O., 30 Jul 1870,
sheet 18B, p. 20, line 12, dwelling 1175, family 1191.
1880 Census, California, Plumas County, Indian Township, E. D. 35, 1 Jun 1880, sheet 453A,
p. 1, line 8, dwelling and family 2.
Great Register [Voter Registration Book], Plumas County, California, 1867.
Great Register [Voter Registration Book], Plumas County, California, 1879.
Quincy, Plumas County, California, City Directory of 1885.
“Poll Lists—Plumas Co., Crescent Election District, The Plumas National [Quincy, CA], 17 Aug 1867, Vol. 1, No. 51, p. 4, col. 1.
“Poll Lists—Plumas Co., Judicial Election Oct. 16, 1867, Crescent Election District, 21 Sep 1867, Vol. 2, No. 5, p. 3, col. 4.
Plumas National [Quincy, CA],
Saturday, 22 Jan 1876, Vol. 10, No. 18, p. 3, col. 2:
Saturday, 15 Apr 1876, Vol. 10, No. 30, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 5 Aug 1876, Vol. 10, No. 46, p. ?, col. ?:
Saturday, 17 Feb 1877, Vol. 11, No. 22, p. 7, col. 1:
Saturday, 31 Mar 1877, Vol. 11, No. 28, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 5 May 1877, Vol. 11, No. 33, p. 3, col. 5:
Saturday, 12 May 1877, Vol. 11, No. 34, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 3 Nov 1877, Vol. 12, No. 7, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 2 Mar 1878, Vol.12, No. 22, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 6 Apr 1878, Vol. 12, No. 29, p. 3, col. 3:
Saturday, 16 Aug 1879, Vol. 13, No. 48, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 20 Mar 1880, Vol. 14, No. 27, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 21 Aug 1880, Vol. 14, No. 49, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 20 Nov 1880, Vol. 15, No. 10, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 27 Nov 1880, Vol. 15, No. 11, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 11 Dec 1880, Vol. 15, No. 13, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 19 Mar 1881, Vol. 15, No. 27, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 12 May 1883, Vol. 17, No. 35, p. 3, col. 3:
Benjamin B. Baugh, obituary, Plumas National [Quincy, CA], Sat., 2 Jan 1886, p. 3, col. 3.
Benjamin B. Baugh, obituary, Greenville Weekly Bulletin [CA], Wed., 6 Jan 1886, p. 3, col. 4.
“Just Fifty Years Ago,” Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Saturday, April 22, 1899.
“Just Fifty Years Ago,” Lawrence County Chieftain, May 11, 1899.
Indian Valley Record, Nov. 26, 1996.
Tombstone inscription, Crescent Mills Cemetery, Plumas County, California.
Lawrence County, Missouri, Tombstone Inscriptions, Vol. 2, Mount Vernon and Hoberg
Townships, Mount Vernon IOOF Cemetery, p. 42; Williams Cemetery, p. 77;
Neeley Graveyard, p. 142; Hoberg Cemetery, p. 146.
Mount Olive Church Cemetery, Taney Co., Missouri, http://www.wrvhs.org/taney/mtolive.html.
Benjamin B. Baugh file, Plumas County Museum, Quincy, California.
Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, 1882, and
biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers, Berkeley, CA: reprint by
Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310.
Reprint Lawrence County Section of Goodspeed’s Newton, Lawrence, Barry and McDonald
Counties History, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888, reprint, Cassville, Mo.: Litho
Printers, 1973, pp. 12, 16, 172-173.
The Ozark Region: Its History and Its People, Vol. 1, pp. 245, 273, 289.
“Archibald Boland Baugh,” Lawrence County, Missouri, History, Mount Vernon, Mo.:
Lawrence County Historical Society, 1974, p. 444.
“Some Early Settlers,” Lawrence County, Missouri, History, Mount Vernon, Mo.: Lawrence
County Historical Society, 1974, p. 6.
Reference Notes.
(1) The sources for Benjamin B. Baugh’s middle name are the Great Register, 1867, Plumas County, California, and the Great Register, 1879, Plumas County, California, both of which give his full name as Benjamin Burral Baugh. A second entry in the Great Register of 1879 spells it Burril. His middle name is given as Burrell in the "Poll Lists - Plumas County. Crescent Election District,” published in The Plumas National [Quincy, CA], Aug. 17, 1867, Vol. 1, No. 51, p. 4, col. 1, which is what is used in his file at the Plumas County Museum and in a 1996 local newspaper article about him.
(2) Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers, Berkeley, CA, 1882, reprint by Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310. His tombstone gives his date of birth as 23 August 1827. Although the county history biographies often contain errors, I have decided to use the date that he likely provided for his published biographical sketch rather than the one inscribed on his tombstone after his death based on information given by others.
Reproduction of Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, 1882, and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers. Berkeley, CA: Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310.
"B. B. Baugh, son of A. B. and C. L. Baugh, was born in Powhatan county, Virginia, August 18, 1827. At the age of twenty-two he became one of the argonautic '49ers who crossed the plains to the Pacific coast, and first mined at Stringtown, on the south fork of the Feather river, in the winter of 1849, being the one to erect the first house in the place. He mined at various camps until 1855, when he came to Plumas county, where he has since resided, with the exception of a year spent in Virginia City, Nevada. He has been engaged principally in the liquor business at Meadow valley, and at Crescent, his present home. In politics he is democratic."
[Note: His date of birth is five days earlier than that given on his tombstone. His mother’s initials were C. E. not C. L.]
(c) 2018, Ross J Cameron
Benjamin Burrell Baugh (1) was born August 18, 1827 (2), in Powhatan County, Virginia , the first child of Archibald Bolling Baugh and Caroline E. Wash. The A. B. Baugh family moved to Amelia County, Virginia by 1828. The Baughs had four more children while living in Virginia: Ann Eliza “Middy”, born 1829; Mariah Boland “Prissy”, born April 27, 1831; Sarah F., born May 19, 1833; Andrew Jackson “Jack”, born July 25, 1836. In 1837 they moved to southwest Missouri and settled along Spring River in what was then Spring River Township, Barry County. When the land was opened for sale by the Federal government in September, 1839, A B. Baugh pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 3, Township 27 North, Range 27 West on % Sep 1839. After moving to Missouri they had two more sons: George Henry, born ca. 1838-1839, and William Edward [a/k/a Eggleston], born April 2, 1843. Caroline E. (Wash) Baugh died in April 1843, shortly after William’s birth and was buried on the family farm. When Lawrence County was organized February 14, 1845, the Baugh farm was part Mount Vernon Township in the newly organized county. Their farm was located about three miles west of the new county seat of Mount Vernon. In the 1850 Federal census, Benjamin Baugh, age 22, was listed in his father’s household with his younger brothers and sisters. However Benjamin probably was not living in Lawrence County in 1850 but was reported there while temporarily on his "Gold Rush" trip and expected to return home.
Benjamin B. Baugh was one of those argonautic '49ers drawn by gold fever to California. He was twenty-one years old when he and eight other Lawrence County men -- James R. Williamson, also twenty-one; Winfield S. M. Wright, twenty-eight and married; Joseph Wright, twenty-three; Leland Mullins, thirty-six and married; Elias Seles, age and identity unknown; Martin Bobbitt, thirty-nine and married; William Hill, twenty-three; and Russell Ferguson, twenty-eight -- left for the California Gold Rush on April 22, 1849, according to the story as it was told many years later. The only reason that this date is questioned is that all of these men, except for the unidentified Elias Seles, were listed as residents in the 1850 census of Lawrence County. It is possible that their families included them in the household even though they had gone to California because Lawrence County was still considered their residence while they were on this trip. Or it is possible that their departure date was incorrectly remembered or reported when they told their story many years later.
It was a six-month trip to the day through Black Rock Springs country, down the Pitt River, across Big Meadows, down the Feather River and over Lassen Meadows into the Sacramento Valley to Bidwell's Bar, a gold mining camp in Butte County, California, which lay at the end of the California Trail. This camp was founded by John Bidwell, who discovered gold near the Middle Fork of the Feather River in 1848. Oxen and sturdy legs provided the power for the trip. Benjamin first mined at Stringtown, on the south fork of the Feather River, in Butte County, east of present-day Oroville. He erected the first house in Stringtown. The last remnants of Stringtown were submerged under Lake Oroville in 1968. He mined at various camps in Yuba and other counties until 1855, when he moved northeast to Plumas County, where he resided for all but one year of the remainder of his life. He spent a short time mining or engaging in some activity at Rich Bar on the East Branch of the North Fork Feather River before moving to Mount Pleasant, also known as Mountain House No. 2, on the ridge top between Rich Bar and Spanish Ranch. He was a saloon owner at Mount Pleasant until about 1860, although his occupation was listed as gold miner in the 1860 census. Perhaps he considered gold mining to be his career and operating a saloon just a means of supporting himself. In late 1860, during the Comstock Lode excitement, he went to Virginia City, Utah Territory (later Nevada) and remained there about a year before returning to Plumas County.
When he returned to Plumas County, he went to Round Valley, near Greenville, where there was a gold strike. While there, he became embroiled in a bitter card game that resulted in the shooting death of a man. On the evening of January 18, 1862, Baugh was dealing monte at Muma & Hughes' Saloon. Jack Crawford was betting and losing money at a rapid rate. He wanted credit in order to continue playing the game but was refused. Crawford then began calling Baugh rough names. Baugh responded by beating Crawford over the head with a wooden stool. The stool broke and Baugh was left holding only one leg of it. He continued beating Crawford with the stool leg. Someone intervened between them, and Baugh drew his pistol, known as a 'patent five shooter.' Bystander John R. Holt grasped the gun, exclaiming, 'Don't shoot!' Baugh freed his right arm from Holt's grasp, and began hitting Holt over the head with the pistol. The two men scuffled and fell to the floor of the saloon. Holt tried to get on his feet. He was halfway up when Baugh, still lying on the floor, aimed and fired his pistol at Holt, killing him. Baugh was taken into custody and a complaint was filed January 29, 1862, for the murder of Holt. On May 7, 1862, a complaint was also filed against Baugh for dealing monte for money on the night of the shooting, because this was illegal to do on Sunday. Baugh was found not guilty of murder and released. After this he moved to Crescent Mills where he operated a saloon independently and in partnership over the next 20 or so years. In the newspapers, it is listed as Baugh & Frazer, Baugh & Firmstone, Baugh & Davis, and Harris & Baugh at various times. He and Davis also operated a saloon at Indian. He engaged principally in the liquor business at Meadow Valley and at Crescent. In 1885, he was a hotel keeper in Quincy, the county seat of Plumas County.
According to a newspaper story in May 1883, Ben Baugh had been visiting family in Missouri and started back to Plumas, but was robbed of his money before he purchased his ticket, so his return was delayed until the fall. This was probably the last time his family in Missouri saw him. Ben never married. He was a Democrat in politics. He died December 31, 1885, at Shoofly, which is now called Indian Falls, twelve miles north of Quincy. His obituary said “Whatever may be said of his irregular habits, Ben was kind hearted and generous to a fault, ‘peace to his ashes.’” He was buried at Crescent Mills Cemetery in Plumas County. His tombstone was repaired and reset in 1996.
Sources:
Powhatan County, Virginia, Marriage Records.
Richmond Enquirer, 22 Feb 1827.
Powhatan County, Virginia, property tax lists, 1827-1837.
1830 Federal Population Census, Virginia, Amelia County, p. 160, line 8.
General Land Office Records, Land Entry Papers, Springfield, Missouri, File 2718.
1840 Census, Missouri, Barry County, Spring River Township, p. 20, line 18.
1850 Census, Missouri, Lawrence County, Mount Vernon Township, p. 10, line 40 - p. 11,
line 5.
1860 Census, California, Plumas County, Mount Pleasant Township, Meadow Valley P. O.,
14 Jun 1860, sheet 911, p. 13, line 18, dwelling and family 232.
1870 Census, California, Plumas Co., Indian Township, Crescent Mills P. O., 30 Jul 1870,
sheet 18B, p. 20, line 12, dwelling 1175, family 1191.
1880 Census, California, Plumas County, Indian Township, E. D. 35, 1 Jun 1880, sheet 453A,
p. 1, line 8, dwelling and family 2.
Great Register [Voter Registration Book], Plumas County, California, 1867.
Great Register [Voter Registration Book], Plumas County, California, 1879.
Quincy, Plumas County, California, City Directory of 1885.
“Poll Lists—Plumas Co., Crescent Election District, The Plumas National [Quincy, CA], 17 Aug 1867, Vol. 1, No. 51, p. 4, col. 1.
“Poll Lists—Plumas Co., Judicial Election Oct. 16, 1867, Crescent Election District, 21 Sep 1867, Vol. 2, No. 5, p. 3, col. 4.
Plumas National [Quincy, CA],
Saturday, 22 Jan 1876, Vol. 10, No. 18, p. 3, col. 2:
Saturday, 15 Apr 1876, Vol. 10, No. 30, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 5 Aug 1876, Vol. 10, No. 46, p. ?, col. ?:
Saturday, 17 Feb 1877, Vol. 11, No. 22, p. 7, col. 1:
Saturday, 31 Mar 1877, Vol. 11, No. 28, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 5 May 1877, Vol. 11, No. 33, p. 3, col. 5:
Saturday, 12 May 1877, Vol. 11, No. 34, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 3 Nov 1877, Vol. 12, No. 7, p. 3, col. 1:
Saturday, 2 Mar 1878, Vol.12, No. 22, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 6 Apr 1878, Vol. 12, No. 29, p. 3, col. 3:
Saturday, 16 Aug 1879, Vol. 13, No. 48, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 20 Mar 1880, Vol. 14, No. 27, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 21 Aug 1880, Vol. 14, No. 49, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 20 Nov 1880, Vol. 15, No. 10, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 27 Nov 1880, Vol. 15, No. 11, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 11 Dec 1880, Vol. 15, No. 13, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 19 Mar 1881, Vol. 15, No. 27, p. 3, col. ?:
Saturday, 12 May 1883, Vol. 17, No. 35, p. 3, col. 3:
Benjamin B. Baugh, obituary, Plumas National [Quincy, CA], Sat., 2 Jan 1886, p. 3, col. 3.
Benjamin B. Baugh, obituary, Greenville Weekly Bulletin [CA], Wed., 6 Jan 1886, p. 3, col. 4.
“Just Fifty Years Ago,” Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Saturday, April 22, 1899.
“Just Fifty Years Ago,” Lawrence County Chieftain, May 11, 1899.
Indian Valley Record, Nov. 26, 1996.
Tombstone inscription, Crescent Mills Cemetery, Plumas County, California.
Lawrence County, Missouri, Tombstone Inscriptions, Vol. 2, Mount Vernon and Hoberg
Townships, Mount Vernon IOOF Cemetery, p. 42; Williams Cemetery, p. 77;
Neeley Graveyard, p. 142; Hoberg Cemetery, p. 146.
Mount Olive Church Cemetery, Taney Co., Missouri, http://www.wrvhs.org/taney/mtolive.html.
Benjamin B. Baugh file, Plumas County Museum, Quincy, California.
Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, 1882, and
biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers, Berkeley, CA: reprint by
Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310.
Reprint Lawrence County Section of Goodspeed’s Newton, Lawrence, Barry and McDonald
Counties History, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888, reprint, Cassville, Mo.: Litho
Printers, 1973, pp. 12, 16, 172-173.
The Ozark Region: Its History and Its People, Vol. 1, pp. 245, 273, 289.
“Archibald Boland Baugh,” Lawrence County, Missouri, History, Mount Vernon, Mo.:
Lawrence County Historical Society, 1974, p. 444.
“Some Early Settlers,” Lawrence County, Missouri, History, Mount Vernon, Mo.: Lawrence
County Historical Society, 1974, p. 6.
Reference Notes.
(1) The sources for Benjamin B. Baugh’s middle name are the Great Register, 1867, Plumas County, California, and the Great Register, 1879, Plumas County, California, both of which give his full name as Benjamin Burral Baugh. A second entry in the Great Register of 1879 spells it Burril. His middle name is given as Burrell in the "Poll Lists - Plumas County. Crescent Election District,” published in The Plumas National [Quincy, CA], Aug. 17, 1867, Vol. 1, No. 51, p. 4, col. 1, which is what is used in his file at the Plumas County Museum and in a 1996 local newspaper article about him.
(2) Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers, Berkeley, CA, 1882, reprint by Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310. His tombstone gives his date of birth as 23 August 1827. Although the county history biographies often contain errors, I have decided to use the date that he likely provided for his published biographical sketch rather than the one inscribed on his tombstone after his death based on information given by others.
Reproduction of Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, California, 1882, and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers. Berkeley, CA: Howell - North Books, 1971, p. 310.
"B. B. Baugh, son of A. B. and C. L. Baugh, was born in Powhatan county, Virginia, August 18, 1827. At the age of twenty-two he became one of the argonautic '49ers who crossed the plains to the Pacific coast, and first mined at Stringtown, on the south fork of the Feather river, in the winter of 1849, being the one to erect the first house in the place. He mined at various camps until 1855, when he came to Plumas county, where he has since resided, with the exception of a year spent in Virginia City, Nevada. He has been engaged principally in the liquor business at Meadow valley, and at Crescent, his present home. In politics he is democratic."
[Note: His date of birth is five days earlier than that given on his tombstone. His mother’s initials were C. E. not C. L.]
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