From the Arthur Family Tree by Judy Kiesel:

"Benjamin Arthur was born in Ohio, the youngest of four boys. About the time of his father's death Benjamin left home. He was twelve years old at the time. Not much is known about his travel to California, but he arrived there in 1843. According to records the first attempted wagon train into California in 1843 was that of Joseph Ballinger Chiles and Joseph Walker. Joseph Walker was the discover of the Yosemite Valley. And Joseph Chiles was the man who adopted Eliza Adaline Murphy, the sister of Benjamin's future wife Elizabeth Murphy. So Benjamin must have joined them. Benjamin owned one of the largest sheep ranches in California. The ranch was 3,000 acres along the Eel River near Alderpoint, California. And he owned 15 Placer mines. In the spring of 1884 while rounding up sheep from his summer ranch in Ruth Valley to bring back along the Benjamin Arthur trail to his ranch, they ran into George Erickson who owned a ranch along the Mad River. Benjamin was missing about a 1000 sheep, so he mention this to Erickson. Ben had suspected about the 13th of May that Erickson had taken sheep and altered the brand. So on June 23, 1884, he went to Weaverville in Trinity County and filled out a criminal complaint against Erickson. Sheriff James Bowie found the sheep with altered bands in Erickson's pens, and arrested him. In the George Erickson trial, it is reported by the Humboldt Times newspaper that the jury first considered the watermelon provided by the sheriff, then turning their attention to the case, gave an acquittal for George Erickson. On September 7th, George Erickson was found murdered and Benjamin Arthur was arrested. He was tried at the court house in Weaverville, the judge was T. E. Jones. It was the largest and most expensive case that was ever tried there. Benjamin was acquitted, and even collected money for 300 head of sheep from the estate of George Erickson. However, needing money for the trial he had taken out a loan. The bank foreclosed on his ranch and mines. Before leaving the ranch, his wife Elizabeth would leave until she drove into Eureka and order a gravestone for her daughter's grave. Susan Foster had died from a rattle snake bite when she was about ten years old. Benjamin and Elizabeth moved to Briceland, Humboldt County. Before Benjamin had moved, he had found a large vein of gold up along the river. But before he could return, heavy rains had washed the area away and he could never find the gold vein again. Years later the ranch and property was bought by the Dean Whittier Company and is still own by them today. Only the chimney remains of the Arthurs' house along the creek. By the orchard is the fenced grave of Susan Foster."


Name: Benjamin Arthur
Age in 1910: 78
Birthplace: Ohio
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Virginia
Mother's Birth Place: Maryland
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Arthur
Home in 1910: Briceland, Humboldt, California