Benjamin Shurtleff
From WesternStarWiki
1821-1911
Arrived in Shasta in 1849. Goldmined on Middle Creek for a short time. Elected in 1850 as the second and last Alcalde to hold office in Shasta County, a position of almost unlimited power under the Mexican form of government. Resigned as Alcalde later the same year when the first county elections were held; was elected as the first County Treasurer. Practiced medicine at Shasta and treated Indians for free. Established City Drug at Shasta in 1850 with partner A.C. Brown; in 1851 with partner Dr. Jesse R. Robinson. Also conducted a mercantile business and a brick business for a short time. Built his two-story house in 1851 high on the hill overlooking downtown Shasta (his house burned in 1967). Portions of house material were shipped around the Horn from Maine. Here he established a five-acre orchard with 400 assorted fruit trees and many grapevines. Married Ann Griffith in 1853. Established the first public school in northern California at Shasta with Isaac Roop and Royal T. Sprague in 1853. Served as county physician for ten years. Elected as State Senator in 1862-1864. Moved to Napa in 1874. [1]
References
- ↑ Smith, Dottie (1999). The Dictionary of Early Shasta County History (2nd ed.). self-published.
