Butte County
Biographies
MRS. MARY
JANE RICHARDSON
MRS.
MARY JANE RICHARDSON.—Mrs. Mary Jane Richardson was, in maidenhood, Mary
Jane Coon, born in Illinois,
April 2, 1854. When
six years of age she crossed the plains with her parents to Butte County. She well remembers the Indian scares along
the overland trail, and how frightened the children were, but they all came
through safely. She assisted her mother
and father in their pioneer home, and attended the district school. Her marriage, in Oroville, October 23, 1879,
united her with P. C. Richardson, a native of Indiana.
For four years they engaged in ranching on
the Richardson Brothers Ranch. When the Richardsons bought the Captain Batcheller place they moved onto it and farmed and raised
stock there for about twenty years. In
1903 Richardson Brothers dissolved partnership and they moved their cattle on
Little Dry Creek, where they purchased the old Robert Williams Ranch of two
hundred forty acres and here Mrs. Richardson runs her cattle. Aside from this place, she owns eighty acres
of the old William Coon Ranch, just west of Durham. Her place is a good stock ranch, well watered
by creeks and springs.
Mrs. Richardson has four children: Robert
Bruce, in the Philippine Islands; Alonzo Allen, a carpenter
in Chico; Orel Gilson; and Mrs. Nellie Henderson of Durham.
Mrs. Richardson well remembers the early
days and the times of the Indian troubles, when the three Lewis children were
taken prisoners, and two of them killed, the tragedy occurring on Little Dry
Creek; the Lewis family at that time lived on her place. She is a member of the Neighbors of Woodcraft
and in politics she has always been a Democrat.
Transcribed 4-25-08 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Page 902, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
©
2008 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
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