Butte County
Biographies
HENRY PARMENAS BRISCOE
HENRY
PARMENAS BRISCOE.--A pioneer who braved much in the stirring early fifties,
both in his search for gold and in contributing his share toward the proper
founding of a wonderfully promising commonwealth, and who had strange
experiences and exciting adventures, including troubles with the hostile
Indians, is Henry Parmenas Briscoe, who was born in
Ralls County, Mo., on January 25, 1830, the son of Ralph Briscoe, a native of
Maryland, who moved to Kentucky and later to Missouri. His ancestors came from
the British Isles, and were among the earliest settlers in colonial America,
when it required months of weary tossing on the waters before reaching land.
They were of French Huguenot stock, and soon showed, in their inheritance of
blood, their capacity for roughing it in the western world. Their names appear
on the honor roll of the Revolution. Ralph Briscoe, the father, married Miss Winnifred Lynch, a member of the well-known family after
whom Lynchburg was named. She was the mother of four children, three of whom
grew up. These included a son, John, who came to California with the subject of
this sketch, but returned to Missouri in 1854.
Having had the misfortune to lose
his father when he was five years old, Henry Parmenas
was brought up on a farm, attended the local school held in a log cabin,
walking three or four miles to get there, and worked from early till late.
Reaching the threshold of manhood in his twentieth year, he heard of the gold
discoveries in California and, with the brother referred to, rigged a light
wagon and a four-horse team, and joined six men in another and larger wagon.
They agreed to mess together, but otherwise to journey somewhat independently;
and setting out, they crossed the Missouri at Ottawa. After crossing the
plains, they passed over the mountains to the Humboldt River, down which they
went until they reached Carson City, Nev., from which point they went on to
Placerville, arriving there on September 9, 1850, four months and eight days
after they had started. At Nevada City, Cal., they remained, trying their hand
at the dubious work of mining, until December, 1850, when they started for the
Klamath River, passing through what is now Chico, then Bidwell's
ranch. They mined on Salmon and Klamath Rivers over summer, taking out about
eight dollars a day, and in the fall came back to Trinity River and wintered at
Shasta City, Shasta County, on Clear Creek, until 1857. However, in 1852, they
came to Placerville to buy emigrant stock, mules and horses, which they drove
to Shasta City and sold - barring some pack mules stolen by the Indians - to
miners for pack and saddle animals. Money then commanded twelve per cent. interest a month, and this limited their purchases and
operations, hence also their profits. When John Briscoe returned East, Henry
continued the buying and selling of stock until 1857, when he came to Colusa.
Purchasing some cattle, Mr. Briscoe
located on a government claim in what is now Glenn County, near Hamilton, on
the Sacramento River; but two years later this turned out to be a grant, and he
had to move a short distance away. After a couple of years, he sold the cattle
business; and thereafter, for four years, he loaned money and traded and
trafficked, making his headquarters, meanwhile, near St. John's. He then
engaged once more in the cattle business, but later gave it up, and in 1868 he
located permanently in Chico. Here he again followed the business of loaning
money, speculating and dealing, with very fair success, his methods and his
principles encouraging others to deal with him.
Mr. Briscoe arrived in California on
Admission Day. He has a natural gift for reminiscence; and few old settlers are
more interesting as conversationalists than is he. Of the eight members of the
pioneer party in which he came to California, he is the only one now surviving.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 415-416, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2006 Sande Beach.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies