PULASKI BROWN

Butte County

Biographies

PULASKI BROWN

PULASKI BROWN.—A native son of California, Pulaski Brown was born at Drytown, Amador County, Cal., May 11, 1855. His father, James Brown, was born on the Muskingum River, Ohio, migrating to Illinois, where he married Mary Ann Willis, a native of the Buckeye State. In 1852 they crossed the plains in an ox-team train to California, locating in Amador County, where, for several years, he mined with success. He made a rip to the Fraser River at the time of the mining excitement, but lost his money and his health. Continuing to reside in Amador County for a time, he afterwards removed to Knight’s Ferry where he purchased land and engaged in stock-raising, but his health did not return and he died in Stockton, in 1862. Afterwards his widow returned to Illinois, remaining until her death.

There were five children in the paternal family, three of whom grew up, Pulaski being the third eldest. When nine years of age he accompanied his mother to Illinois, crossing the plains with horse teams and wagons. He went to school at New Canton, on the Mississippi River, in Pike County, Illinois. His mother died in 1865 and left him an orphan, and he was bound out to a brother-in-law, but not liking it he ran away to Fairview, Mo., and in 1866 he hired to Walker and Biggs to assist them in driving cattle to Idaho.

Remaining in Boise City, Mr. Brown drove stage for the Ben Holliday Line, for a year, through that Indian-infested country. In 1869 he hired to Mr. Munday to pilot and help drive a bunch of horses from Idaho to Nebraska City. In 1870 he was pilot for Louis Land and Brother, piloting their wagon train to Idaho. Next he rode the range for Ex-Governor Haley till 1875, and then returned to Amador County, Cal., and for two years engaged in mining. He then farmed near Modesto, Stanislaus County, and was foreman of the Huntley Ranch for four years. In 1882, we find Mr. Brown mining near Yakima City, Wash., where he located a claim and started to build a house, but it was the time of the Moses Indian troubles, and he was driven out by the redskins. Returning to Stanislaus County, he farmed for a few years, then followed mining in Amador and Tuolumne Counties, with a trip to Oregon.

In 1899, Mr. Brown came to Butte County and located on the old Drexler place, on Butte Creek. Two years later he purchased his present place on Butte Creek, engaging in teaming between Chino and Inskip, hauling lumber and freight with big teams. He helped haul the machinery and pipe for the Centerville and De Sabla power houses. During these years he was also engaged in raising cattle and desiring a larger range, he purchased a ranch in Little Indian Valley, on the North Fork of the Feather River, four miles below Big Bar, also leasing adjoining land, thus giving him ample range for about one hundred twenty-five head of cattle.

Mr. Brown was married in Stanislaus County, in 1876, to Huldah Pinneo, who was born in Indiana and who came with her parents to California via Panama. She has proven an able assistant and helpmate to her husband. They have eleven children: Maud, who became Mrs. Homer Riddle, died in Chico; Henrietta, who is Mrs. Moak, of Big Bend; Lyman, a farmer in Old Frenchtown; Jessie, who is Mrs. Horning, of Butte Creek; Pulaski, who is farming in Frenchtown; Aury, who is in the United States Service; George who is assisting his father; Goldie, who is Mrs. Lewis, of Chico, and whose husband is in the United States Navy; Perlie, who died at seven years, and Clifford and William, who are at home.

Mr. Brown is trustee of the Diamondville School district, and is clerk of the board. He is serving as road overseer under Henry White, the present supervisor; he also served under E. C. Wilson the preceding overseer. Mr. Brown is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Chico. Few men of his age have had more hazardous frontier experiences than Mr. Brown, in his four trips across the plains, and it is a pleasure to hear him tell of those early days.

Transcribed 11-10-07 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 502-503, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.

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