Sierra
County
Biographies
GEORGE C. BYNON
Among those whose activities in the
Sacramento Valley go back to the early stage days is George C. Bynon, probably
one of the best known and most popular citizens of Sierra County, of which he
is the present efficient sheriff. He was
born on August 15, 1881, at Birchville, twelve miles
west of Nevada City, Nevada County, and is a son of Joseph and Rachel (Jones)
Bynon, natives of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Both were of Welsh descent, their respective families having been
established in this country about 1837.
The father was a teamster and miner, though back in Pennsylvania he
followed the vocation of farming. During
the Civil War he left his plow standing in the furrow, saddled a horse and went
to the front, where, at the age of eighteen years, he enlisted in a
Pennsylvania regiment. Inside of three
weeks his company had captured a Confederate company and the rebel colors, Mr.
Bynon climbing to the top of the staff and pulling down the flag. Prior to the war he served as a messenger in
a local militia company. Following the
cessation of hostilities between the north and the south, Mr. Bynon operated a
large cattle ranch in Wyoming and eventually took up his abode at San Juan
Ridge, Nevada County, California, where he spent the evening of his life in
honorable retirement, passing away at the age of eighty years. His wife died when seventy-two years of
age. To them were born nine children, as
follows: Joe, who died unmarried at the
age of about seventy years, and who was a typical western stockman, buying and
selling horses and cattle in eastern California, Nevada, Oregon and Wyoming;
Hannah, who is supervisor of the fine arts in the public schools of Fresno
County, this state; Maggie, deceased, whose husband, the late Seth Allen, was
in business in San Francisco during the earthquake of 1906; Rachel, who is the
widow of the late J. Bryson and who is the proprietor of an apartment house in
San Francisco; Ben, of Golconda, Nevada, who raises and buys cavalry horses for
the United States Government and owns three thousand of these splendid animals;
Laura, the wife of Jack Harris, who is superintendent for the Crocker-Hoffman
Company, at Snelling, Merced County, California; two children who died in
infancy; and George C., of this review.
George C. Bynon was practically
reared in the saddle, for he remained on his father’s stock ranch until
twenty-one years of age. He attended the
public schools to the eighth grade and is practically self-educated. About the time he attained his majority he
went to work for the Grissel Stage Company, as the driver of the stage from
Nevada City to Washington, Nevada County.
The Grissel Company at that time owned three stage routes, namely, from
Nevada City to Washington, from Nevada City to Bloomfield, Nevada County, and
from Nevada City to Downieville, Sierra County.
Mr. Bynon also drove stages for the McKenzie Stage Company, from Downieville to Blarisden, Plumas
County, which line was then owned by Jack and Alex McKenzie, father and
son. Mr. Bynon drove stages for these
two companies for nineteen years, after which he became a teamster for Bill
Shaughnessy, of Downieville, hauling heavy freight for a number of years. During that engagement he used as many as
twelve or fourteen animals, mostly horses.
He has been a resident of Downieville since 1897 and in 1918 purchased
his present home. In 1926 he was elected
sheriff of Sierra County, and the capable and fearless manner in which he
discharged the duties of the office led to his being nominated for a second
term in 1930.
On February 18, 1913, in
Downieville, Mr. Bynon was united in marriage to Miss Viola Harris, of
Downieville, a daughter of Jim Harris, who was a well known miner at Goodyears Bar. Mr.
Bynon is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Nevada
City, and is a very popular citizen of the community. He has led an active and useful life, enjoys
a wide acquaintance among the best people of the county, and is uniformly
respected.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3 Pages 356-357. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Sierra County Biographies